I'm Done!

At long last the Calendar Ghan is finished!!


Now I just need to get the border instructions written up and we can call this one a done deal! WOOHOO! :)

LYS Review

I'd never stepped foot in a LYS (local yarn store) before yesterday, not because I didn't want to, but because the opportunity had never presented itself. A New Yarn is a brand new LYS in Springfield, MO. I found them via their group on Ravelry earlier this month and knew I must visit!

WOW! is all I can say. I've heard so many LYS stories from different areas of the U.S. (both good and bad) that I really didn't know what to expect. Well there are no horror stories to be found here! I was greeted upon entering by an exceptionally friendly and helpful, but not at all overbearing, staff that obviously strives for a cozy atmousphere. I immediately felt at home.

I was on sensory overload as I perused the stunning displays of fibery goodness. The inventiveness and creativity that went into the displays is impressive. Of course there were the expected "cubbies" full of center pull skeins, and the "wall of hooks" displaying hanks ready to be wound, but what caught my eye was the display of Rowan Cotton seemingly tossed in an old washtub, the Crystal Palace Cotton Chenille arranged on an antique hutch, and even more yarn packed into a strategically opened drawer, all adding to the cozy, homey feeling.

Their spacious layout lends to the comfortable atmousphere. I could have easily strolled Ben around if necessary without feeling like the displays would come crashing down. I was in such awe of the yarn and displays that I almost didn't notice the comfy seating area. I could just picture a group of ladies sitting and talking about the week's events while knitting or crocheting. Such fun!

Much to my amazement, I only walked out with one skein of yarn. I bought a ball of Crystal Palace Yarn's Cotton Chenille in Bubblegum Pink. I've been wanting to play with this yarn ever since I saw the Reverse-Bloom Flower Washcloth in Weekend Knitting a few years ago. I have a few projects I need to wrap up, but I will definately be playing with the chenille soon!



I regret not planning my trip a little better. I really should have made a list of my current WIMs and the proposed fibers for those projects. I knew I needed some feltable wool but had not a clue as to my color needs. I stood there looking at their huge display of Cascade 220 feeling a bit overwhelmed. I know I could have asked for help, and it would have been given without hesitation, but with no idea of the direction I wanted to take with my color effect, it would have been frustrating for both of us. :(

The stress was all in my own head though. I felt rushed because I knew Cyndi and Ben were waiting anxiously in the car for me so we could grab some lunch. But even with feeling rushed, I had a blast petting all of the amazing yarn that I've only seen on the internet or in magazines.

Thank you A New Yarn for providing me with a wonderful shopping experience. The yarns are fabulous and the prices are easy on the wallet. I'm already planning my next shopping trip, and next time I will make sure I have plenty of time to explore!

If you're ever in the area, pay them a visit and tell them DishclothDiaries sent you! Even if you don't knit or crochet, it's definitely worth the trip just to see the colorful and inventive displays alone! :)

Calendar Ghan Joining Instructions

**It was my original intention to do a photo tutorial of the joining method, but Ben decided to "play" with the camera so it is not operating to capacity at the moment(it won't focus properly) so doing a step by step photo tut was out of the question. I will get better pics of the finished ghan up ASAP. In the meanwhile, if you have any questions please leave a comment here. I will do my best to answer!


Materials: US size "I" hook, worsted weight yarn (Soft White was used for example), tapestry needle for weaving in ends

NOTES:
1: December's Mistletoe square has some ch 1 sps on the outermost row. When joining this square each ch 1 sp will count as one stitch.
2: Each of the Calendar 'Ghan squares have 37 stitches along each side PLUS the corner ch 2 sps. If the squares you are using do not have 37 sts you will need to do a row of sc around each square, increasing or decreasing as necessary to bring them all to the proper st count.
3: Alternately, these joining instructions may be used for any square so long as each side (not including the corner ch sp) has a stitch count that is a multiple of 3, + 1. Please note that you will need to adjust the number of repeats of the instructions in the brackets if using with a square other than one that has 37 sts on each side.

ABREVIATION NOTE:
S1 = Square 1 (you will only make one of these)
S2 = Square 2 (joined only on one side)
S3 = Square 3 (joined on two sides)
SA = Square A (when joining S1 and S2 this is the square facing you)
SB = Square B (when joining S1 and S2 this is the previously worked square behind SA)
SC = Square C (when joining S1 and S3 this is the next previously worked square behind SA)

*Use the Layout Chart below for square placement

Square 1: With right side facing, join yarn with sl st in any corner ch sp of square, (ch 3, dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in same sp, ch 1, skip next st, [dc in each of next 2 sts, ch 1, skip next st] 12 times, *(2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in next corner ch sp, ch 1, skip next st, [dc in each of next 2 sts, ch 1, skip next st] 12 times, rep from * twice more, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3, fasten off.

Square 2 (one sided join): With right side facing, join yarn with sl st in any corner ch sp of square, (ch 3, dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in same sp, ch 1, skip next st, [dc in each of next 2 sts, ch 1, skip next st] 12 times, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in next corner ch sp, ch 1, skip next st, [dc in each of next 2 sts, ch 1, skip next st] 12 times, (see abreviation note above) holding wrong sides together, on SA work 2 dc, ch 1 in next ch 2 sp, sl st in corner ch 3 sp on SB, ch 1, 2 dc in same ch 3 sp on SA, sl st in next ch 1 sp on SB, [(skip next st, dc in each of next 2 sts) on SA, sl st in next ch 1 sp on SB] 12 times, skip next st on SA, 2 dc in next corner ch sp on SA, sl st in corner ch 3 sp on SB, ch 1, 2 dc in same corner ch sp on SA, working on SA for remainder of square, ch 1, skip next st, [dc in each of next 2 sts, ch 1, skip next st] 12 times, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3, fasten off.

Square 3 (two sided join): With right side facing, join yarn with sl st in any corner ch sp of square, (ch 3, dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in same sp, ch 1, skip next st, [dc in each of next 2 sts, ch 1, skip next st] 12 times, (see abreviation note above) holding wrong sides together, on SA work 2 dc, ch 1 in next ch 2 sp, sl st in corner ch 3 sp on SB, ch 1, 2 dc in same ch 3 sp on SA, sl st in next ch 1 sp on SB, [(skip next st, dc in each of next 2 sts) on SA, sl st in next ch 1 sp on SB] 12 times, on SA work 2 dc, ch 1 in next ch 2 sp, sl st around joining slip st previously joined squares, ch 1, 2 dc in same ch 3 sp on SA, sl st in next ch 1 sp on SC, [(skip next st, dc in each of next 2 sts) on SA, sl st in next ch 1 sp on SC] 12 times, skip next st on SA, 2 dc in next corner ch sp on SA, sl st in corner ch 3 sp on SC, ch 1, 2 dc in same corner ch sp on SA, working on SA for remainder of square, ch 1, skip next st, [dc in each of next 2 sts, ch 1, skip next st] 12 times, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3, fasten off.


Square Layout Chart



Back to CAL Main Page

Pattern designed and written by April Moreland
© 2010 All rights reserved

Coming Soon!

Many of you have been asking about the joining and border intructions for the Calendar Ghan. I know I've fallen to the wayside on this, but I just wanted to let you all know I haven't forgotten about it.

I haven't even put my own squares together yet. BUT I have put it on the agenda for this week and will be developing the details, with photos, and will have the joining instructions up later this week!

The Wonders of Ravelry

I have been spending a lot of time on Ravelry lately. I joined quite a while back but have only recently begun to really learn my way around the site. I've added lots of projects to my projects page as well as many of my free patterns from here on the blog to my designer's page.

Feel free to look me up and add me as a friend. I'm DishclothDiaries over there too. :)

A quick preview of a few of my newly added projects:

A couple of grannyghans for charity...
My roaming gnome I made just for me :)
Cyndi's "Crocheting Crab" that I made for
Ben to give her for Mother's Day last year.
And my own mini version of the popular
bearghan. This one is made baby doll sized. :)

Charity Crochet

Somewhere along my travels today I came across this link: Carewear.org

They have a database of hospitals and various other organizations that accept handmade donations. You can look at the entire list or search by state. They also offer free patterns for you to make baby items for charity.

I encourage you to look up your home state and find a hospital or other organization and donate something that they are in need of. It will make you feel good, I promise! :)

Chainless Crochet

Dislike that unsightly seam created by the ch 3 while working in the round? Or the uneven edge when working in rows? Well TXCr1cket has a solution! She has several videos on her You Tube Channel that eliminate the need for the chain stitch.

How cool is this? Have a look: