Saturday 25 July 2015

Around the Bases CAL - Afghan Square Round Up!

Hello everyone! 

It's been another hectic week here, but I've managed to tick one thing off my list - my centre square for the Around the Bases CAL, starting on August 9! 


I'm going to use all Stylecraft Special DK for this afghan, choosing colours with a random pull from my bag of scraps and rejecting only if I've used the same colour in the last 10 rows already. It's made for some interesting colours so far... but that will be part of the charm!

The really special thing about this CAL is that each one is going to be unique, because WE get to choose the starting square! 

I spent quite a long time on Ravelry looking at different square options, before narrowing it down to a shortlist and coming to a decision. It was really hard! I ended up deciding on a square and then converting it to a rectangle - after Sophie and the Lily Pond, I need a break from square afghans :P 

But what to do with all the other pretty squares that I found? It seems a shame to just forget all about the lovely crochet that I found... 

So, shared here for you (and me) are the big afghan squares that tempted me the most as the centre square for this CAL :) They are in no particular order, and all pictures are from the pattern pages and belong to their respective owners. 


Tropical Delight
Published by Mellie Blossom

Cost: Free! 
Link: http://www.mellieblossom.com/free-tropical-delight-crochet-pattern/



Starburst Square
by Tera Kulling

Cost: Free!
Link: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/starburst-square-2



August Sun
by Donna Kay Lacey

Cost: $1.99
Link: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/august-sun---wwbamcal



Firenze
by Julie Yeager

Cost: $2.99
Link: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/firenze-afghan-block



Grand Granny
by Angela Harriman

Cost: $1.00
Link: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/grand-granny



Daisy Centre Mandala Square
by Zooty Owl

Cost: Free!
Link: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/daisy-centre-mandala-square



Denna Square
by Polly Plum

Cost: Free! 
Link: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/denna-square



The Enchanted Garden
by Courtney Jones Laube

Cost: $3 + $1.99 for the Crocodile Stitch Flower pattern
Link: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-enchanted-garden-tote



Sophie's Garden

Cost: Free!
Link: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sophies-garden



The Darkness Held at Bay
by Shan Sevcik

Cost: $1.50
Link: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-darkness-held-at-bay-10-and-12-block


So, what did I go with in the end?

The Darkness Held at Bay, with some extra rows of bphdc after the centre square to make it rectangular, and then an extra row around the edge to get to the right stitch count :) 


What do you think? Are you interested in joining this CAL too?  Which afghan square would you use to start with?

Hugs,
Michelle

16 comments :

  1. I am really really tempted to join, but I have so much in my qeue already! But muze is jelling in my head, she loves the August sun and the Denna square to bits. So maybe...

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    1. I love the CAL structure as I am limited to how much I can do on that project a week - I can't get all excited and zoom ahead, ignoring all my other work and life responsibilities! Do it, you know you want to ;)

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  2. Crochet eye candy! And your afghan is just gorgeous. Gorgeous.
    Amalia
    xo

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  3. IF I was a crocheter, I would start with Denna! Wow . . . all though ALL of them were pretty.

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    1. So many amazing designs :) Some of these designers also do knit - maybe check them out?

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  4. Haha! I am laughing because as soon as I saw "The Darkness Held at Bay" I immediately reacted, "Ooooh! I love that one" and then I scrolled down to see that you had chosen that one. ;-) So I love what you are doing already! :-)
    I have too much going on at the moment to participate in a CAL and I can never predict how I am going to be from week to week and day to day so I prefer to keep away from the pressure of keeping up with a CAL. I know that you can join in at your own pace, but it kind of defeats the purpose to me to work way behind everyone else because it is a crochet ALONG (with other people at the same time).
    I can totally understand how CAL suits you so well and I hope you enjoy this one very much and keep us all up to date with your progress please! :-)

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    1. Shall do! I'm glad you like The Darkness Held at Bay too - it really leapt out at me. Plus, as far as I know noone else is doing that centre square, so mine will be really unique!

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  5. Your blanket looks great! You found some great squares too! xx

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  6. What a tricky choice! I'd go for Zooty Owl's square I think :) Enjoy the CAL!

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    1. Ooh nice, that one was a close second for me - but I couldn't figure out how to sensibly make it into a rectangle!

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  7. Wow, I'd definitely go with Tropical Delight, though these all look great! Enjoy the CAL and keep us updated! ; ) xx

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    1. Thanks Valentina! I definitely will :) xx

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  8. All the squares are gorgeous - I just love crochet! But your is especially nice and so colourful.

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