crochet march

With Crochet & Knit Blog 2012 week coming up soon, I decided to post some recent FO's from the Whimsical Wonderland BAM CAL on Ravelry. This BAM is more challenging - the patterns are all original, designed specifically for the group crochet-along.

This was January's block - done during the last football games of the 2011 season. It's called Ripplin Snowflake and involved more steps than I'm used to. The foundation ripply block was done first, then embroidered top stitching on the middle white line. The circle part was crocheted separately, embellished with top stitching, and attached to the block. Very lovely, I think. My palette for this group CAL in Vanna's Choice yarns are Sapphire, Bluebell, Rust, Brick, Honey and White.











The next block is an extra pattern I made from the same designer, Donna K Lacey. It involved a special crochet stitch called "bullions" which is multiple wraps around the hook creating the "bumpy" stitches. Another new technique for me.











Next is "Anticipation" by the Guest Designer for January in the group. It involved "surface crochet" where stitches are placed on top of existing rounds. Love the effect, although I didn't think I would while I was working the block.











February's block "I Cross My Heart" used a completely new technique to me: Tapestry Crochet. It is a tedious and fiddly process of making one or two single crochet stitches in one color, switching to the other color, and back and forth - following a chart like a counted cross-stitch chart. I like the block, but I doubt I'll make another.













Also in February, I made the block "Firenze." The designer made her blocks using a single color with white contrast, and I chose to use the Brick and Rust colors against the Sapphire background. I really like the pattern which wasn't very difficult. Definitely a keeper











The March square is "Lucky Charms" which was presented by the designer in shades of green, making it a very St Patricks type block. I kept to my palette, making the "shamrocks" in white. I like this block, but I wonder how the little puffs will do if the afghan is actually used. I may go back and tack them down with invisible nylon thread.











The March Guest Designer square is still in process for me. Hoping to finish it this weekend. Here's how they line up if I were to stitch them together now. I have many months of blocks to make and add to this crochet adventure of an afghan.