Show Off Baby Blanet Q's?

[BethyM99]

Patti: How should I plan for the project? It's in a beginners book, never done more than sc, dc, treble, etc...

Is it a "long" project?? I'd like to make two amongst my long list of other stuff.

Yarn recommendation? Easy care... solids? varigateds??

[dandelions2]

I'd use a sport weight baby yarn...like red heart baby soft. Easy care acrylic, super soft, cheap...can find it at Walmart. ;) I used a solid that had flecks of other colors in it. I think a varigated might look funky with the different stitches in the pattern...that's just my opinion though.

It took me 3 months to finish it, but I spent a good 6 weeks of that time working on tons of other projects...and then I put it aside for a while...maybe total time a week or so?

[BethyM99]

I was checking out the babysoft. Need to go the day they stock at walmart, there wasn't enough of the color to do it when I was there.

I had the same thought on colors, :) I just found out that one is for a girl!!! I've not gotten to do perty stuff for a girl yet... :)

[BethyM99]

I have yarn, I have a pattern, I'm ready to start....

Do I gauge each pattern stitch first??? I can see I'm gonna learn some new stuff here!!! :)

[dandelions2]

I never do gauge for afghans. :devil

[BethyM99]

I think I'll do a practice piece of a few of each pattern stitch.... this yarn is sooo fine "red heart baby soft"...

I started the popcorn stitch... I don't like the first row of sc into the chain and I had a hard time finding my ch1 spaces on row 3.... any tips??? I think the hookers are my new best friends!!!

[pmcgary]

I was checking out the babysoft. Need to go the day they stock at walmart, there wasn't enough of the color to do it when I was there.

You might want to ask to talk to the "crafts" manager at WalMart. She/he may be able to call some other store to see if there is enough of one dye lot at another location or if they have more of the same lot that the store near you has....They should be willing to shift some around to make a sale.

If you know what color you want you might also be able to request that they place an order for enough of the color you do want....You might have to talk to the Craft managers supervisor in order to make that happen. (They have some sort of automated ordering system based on stock levelss ----and it may take someone higher up to "override" that system.

My best friend happens to be the craft manager at one of the area WalMarts. I have heard her calling around looking for stuff for people! (Of course we have a WalMart about on every major road here - so it is easy for them to "transfer" stuff) But generally, I think they are delighted to MOVE as much yarn as possible!! (My friend frequently complains about how much of the stuff is in the bins in the stock room.)

I keep telling her she needs to get them to let her order Fisherman's.

[BethyM99]

or anything non-acrylic red heart :lol

I went yesterday and they had enough of what I wanted!! :) The craft manager goes to our church, we are good friends even though she's my mother's age.

I'm making a lilac blanket for a little girl...yipppeeee

[pmcgary]

I wonder if Red Heart has an agreeement with them that says "you must not stock natural fibres near Red Heart...."

[BethyM99]

Sooo true. We pretty much have that and peaches/cream. The craft manager said they had wool a while back and noone used it. My guess is that all the die hard red hearters will have to convert ot stop knitting before walmart gets it!

[dandelions2]

I think I'll do a practice piece of a few of each pattern stitch.... this yarn is sooo fine "red heart baby soft"...

I started the popcorn stitch... I don't like the first row of sc into the chain and I had a hard time finding my ch1 spaces on row 3.... any tips??? I think the hookers are my new best friends!!!

What don't you like about your first sc row? And it's been a few years since I made the blanket - what's row 3? We'll help you find those ch sps! :)

[BethyM99]

I hate SC into the chain, but I always have... ;) It's always easier once that first row is done. This yarn kinda splits ... I think I might have chained too tight??? It was kinda hard to fit the hook in the right spot


Popcorn Stitch:
Row 1: SC in second ch from hook and each ch around.

Row 2: Ch1, turn; sc in first sc *ch1, skip next sc, work Popcorn in next sc, ch1, skip next sc, sc in next sc; repeat from * across.

Row 3: Ch1, turn; sc in first sc and in next ch-1 sp, (ch1, sc in next ch-1 sp) across to last sc, sc in last sc

It's finding thsoe ch1 from row 2. I just don't "read" my crochet stitches as well as my knit ones!!

Thanks sooo much for the help :)

[dandelions2]

I think the reason you can't find the ch sps is because your ch st is too tight. Are you pulling on the yarn after making a ch sp? If so, don't!

I figure it'll be easier to show you than to try to explain:

The blue are the sc, the green are the ch sts, and the orange are the ch sps.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/dandelions2/100_1379.jpg

[BethyM99]

Yes, probably pulling on it :) Will give that a try, thank you for the visual!

[BethyM99]

I'm BACK! For my personal baby blanket tutorial. :lol:

Maybe I should just knit a blanket... nahhh... :) I love learning new stuff and you guys rock :)

So, I swatch the popcorn, how cute.... just enough to get a feel for the stitch. The pictures helped as did loosening up a bit.

On to the diamond stitch (page 7, if you want to get out your book Patti :lol:)

You do 3 rows of SC... easy...

Row 4:Ch1, turn; sc in first 2 sc, work FPtr around first sc on third row below, skim next 4 sc on third row below, work FPtr around next sc on third row below,

I think I got all of that...
*skip next 2 sc from last sc made, sc in next 4 sc, work FPtr around next sc....

ok, here, so... I've made the two FPtr, am I now going backwards towards the first one to do these sc?

I'm trying to just trust it and do... these stitches are sooo pretty... this tiny yarn is making my hand cramp up though and I just discovered I don't own an E hook! Drat, must go shopping :lol:

[BethyM99]

lightbulb

third row below

Would that be ROW1 or ROW3?

I did it in row 3, I'm thinking that bold was suppose to make me think Row 1... why didn't they just say that!?!?

[dandelions2]

k, i'm about to answer you...i'll brb.

[dandelions2]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/dandelions2/blankie.jpg

three rows of sc,

then do the fptc in row 1 - you will always be putting them that far below so that they attach to eachother to make the diamond shapes.

Row 4:Ch1, turn; sc in first 2 sc, work FPtr around first sc on third row below (row 1) , skim next 4 sc on third row below (the next 4 sc on row 1 after the st you made the fptr in), work FPtr around next sc on third row below (row 1),

I think I got all of that...
*skip next 2 sc from last sc made (in row 4), sc in next 4 sc (row 4), work FPtr around next sc (in row 1) ....

Does this help?

[BethyM99]

Yes! I got it... but...

my diamonds don't look diamond like? I'm thinking a tension issue on the FPtr?

I have to leave to go to my moms but I'll post a picture when i get home if I haven't figured it out!!

[dandelions2]

yeah, post a pic if you can. :)

[BethyM99]

I've got this project on hold indefinitely.

The girl she was having, is now a boy

The purple yarn returned. They haven't had appropriate GN or boy colors that I like...

I may make a layette set (sweater, hat, booties) instead.... got any great patterns for that

[dandelions2]

That sucks! Yeah, the blue I used for the blanket I made Beth was discontinued. It was the best blue that Baby Soft Sport had.

Let's see...most cute layettes are for girls...did you try looking at the pattern books while you were returning the purple?

Try looking here for free patterns: http://home.inreach.com/marthac/babie.html

[BethyM99]

yeeah, I've loooked. Made a simple one for james that was cute, a free bernat pattern I think.


maybe they'll get the yarn in :)