Comments on: Motif Afghan Crochet-Along: Crochet Techniques, Part I

By: Pam Dyer

Pam Dyer — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 19:28:39 +0000

I have been recieving these e-mails and all of a sudden the Motif Afghan appeared. I have done 2 American Flags, but am working on a Teddy bear afghan for my great nephew. These guidelines will certainly help me along. No time to join the greoup now but love the notebook
Thank you Pam

By: Motif Afghan Crochet-Along: Crochet Techniques, Part II | Lion Brand Notebook

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:01:28 +0000

[...] Motif Afghan Crochet-Along: Crochet Techniques, Part I [...]

By: Ilehlia

Ilehlia — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:00:51 +0000

That was my question too. I’ve done that with lace, so it made sense that it would work with this too. That’s my plan. I have 5 bright colours plus black, so I plan to outline them all in black, joining as I go, and hopefully achieve a kind of stained glass look.

Edie, any thoughts on a half-motif for those of us who like a straight edge? I notice someone else asked about that too.

Edie says: Oops, sorry I forgot to answer that other request about the half-motif. We don’t have a half hexagon shape prepared. The scope of this CAL is to show crocheters how ONE single motif can be laid out as an afghan.
However, you can figure out your own half hexagon. You might need slightly fewer than half the stitches we used for the full hexagon. Hint: In Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs there are a few “half” motifs. If you have that book, you could study how they were created and use what you learn there to help you figure out a half-hex in this design.

By: Kris

Kris — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:13:27 +0000

Hi Edie and all,

I’ve sat here reading thinking…swatching? WHAT? Then I realized that’s what I’ve been doing when I start a project the “frog” it and start over (rinse…repeat) sometimes many times. I love all the information, especially for being a lefty-self-taught crocheter/knitter. I’ve read patterns that call for a slip stitch on hook and proceed with blah and thought WHAT?!! What on earth!! So thank you for clearing that up. Question though…If I like to play and have a few different motifs could I crochet all my “squares” then choose maybe a 4th lighter or darker color and then go around one motif then follow with the join as you go method with the others? So, in case I lost you, can i crochet like a fool till I’m done then use your handy dandy method at the end with a totally different color? Thank You for all the great tips and can’t wait to see everyone’s pictures when they’re done!! ; )

Edie says: Kris, swatching means doing a little piece of the work (not starting the whole thing), and doing it over as many times as needed to match the gauge of the pattern, and to get the feel of a fabric you like. I usually don’t rip out my swatches, but save them as a reference.
And yes, you can absolutely do all the motifs through Round 3, then wait and do Round 4 at the end. Sounds like a plan.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:06:57 +0000

Thanks for the wonderful tips. I am not participating in this CAL but just finished a motif blanket. I am mostly self taught and I don’t know any ‘tricks’. I have always started my new color by doubling the yarn and then I don’t have that end to sew in after, but it is usually thick and a bit unsightly. I look forward to your up-coming tips. Also, I am taking your swatching to heart whether it is knitting or crocheting. Thank you again.

Edie says: Well, if I’ve made a swatching convert, then my job here is done…

By: Jill

Jill — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:55:13 +0000

I have decided to join later for more flexibility, but I do have a question in case I join as I go on a later project like this. You show joining one side. Since these are hexagons, they are actually joined on many sides (the number depending on whether the particular motif is an inner hexagon or outer edge hexagon). So, maybe it should be obvious… but… do you just “join as you go” into rows and then standard joining of those rows together - or do you join all the sides using the technique above - for inner hexagons, it would require joining on all sides. Hope my question makes sense. Thanks for all the great instructions!

Zontee says: Hi Jill, please see Edie’s answer to comment #22 above.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:07:19 +0000

OMG Edie you are a genius! I’m not doing the CAL because I already have WAYYY too many projects on the go, including a bunch of hats I need to make and I think that you just helped me figure them out! They change color alot in the pattern and it was causing that unsightly seam up the back that no matter how good of a crocheter you are it looks terrible, but if I finish off each row, instead of changing colours it should solve that! Thanks! By the way love your motif book, it’s gorgeous, my husband even lets me leave it on our coffee table because it’s so pretty and I’m really enjoying following along on this journey everyone is taking.

Edie says: Oh, Stephanie, you’re making me blush…I’m so happy you AND your husband like the motif book. You may also want to get The Crochet Answer Book, which I also wrote, and where I have answers to lots of questions about color changes, etc.

By: Ilehlia

Ilehlia — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 02:53:07 +0000

Thanks, EL, your suggestion about taking the hook out and untwisting the chain is something I never would have thought of. That’s on a par with the join-as-you-go instruction to take the hook out and come in from the front of the stitch on the other motif. That answers something I had noticed before when making lace motifs for table runners. The instructions just say to insert hook in the picot or whatever on the other motif, and it always seemed awkward and twisted, and I never knew where to put the working yarn. Now I know why! Yay! I agree that the way you turn makes a difference in how easy it is to crochet into that turning chain at the end of the next row, but I had never quite stopped to think about which direction was easier.

To Edie, I got a real boost when you said my question was terrific! The little kid in me said, “oooh, the teacher liked my question!” You are obviously true teacher material, because you make every question feel welcome. (from a former elementary school teacher…)

Edie says: Gee, thanks, Illehia. I love to teach (especially in person!), and I try to *take* classes whenever I can. I think we can learn so much from each other.

By: Helene

Helene — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 02:47:01 +0000

Edie,
I tried joining as I go but it doesn’t go all the way across. After looking at your diagram and how to end the row I think I am supposed to start the 4th round with the second dc in the corner so that I can go all the way across and that is why the join ends with a ch 3 slip stitch. Am I interpreting that correctly?

Edie says: Helene, that’s what I did in the photo, but my photos were just an example of what yours might look like. You won’t be joining every single edge of the motif you are working on–you’ll have 2-5 “free” edges. I find myself doing 1 or 2 full or partial sides, then when I reach a corner, joining all the stitches along that next edge to the previous motif. In practice, I prefer starting a round in the middle of an edge because I don’t like to join a final ch-3 to a beginning dc if I can help it.

By: Lori

Lori — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:19:30 +0000

OMG, I’m just catching up, have been nursing sick grandchild with NIHI Flu..luckily it was caught early and she’s doing great…but, I love the join as you go, and the tip about changing colors, WOW..I have been sooo dissatisfied with past projects and joining colors…this will help alot. I have also avoided projects which require joining, and didnt understand instructions trying to explain join as you go. The pictures really helped. Hope to get more motifs going soon. Maybe during nap time. lol.