Taraduff's 2015 CAL Sampler Afghan Square #24

Well well, here we are.  It's December 31st, 2015, the last day of the year.  Are you ready to close the book on 2015?  Ready or not, it's coming to a close.  I remember thinking last year how glad I was for the year to be over.  I had lost my mother and a baby that year.  And do you know I thought the same thing the year before after losing another baby.  Trials come, whether we are ready for them or not.  It makes me super sad to think of how glad I have been to say goodbye to the last few years.  Can I hope to make 2016 the best year ever?  Who knows what is coming our way, but does it really matter?  I have certainly learned that there are events that occur in life over which we have little to no control.  I can choose to more fully enjoy the gifts that am blessed with each day.  I can choose to alter my perspective to look for the silver lining in all things - regardless of whether they appear to be good or bad.  I am hoping that 2016 will be filled with sunshine and roses, but more than that I hope that I will be successful in seeing the sunshine and roses that undoubtedly will be there.

So here we are, on our last square of the project.  Do you have the other squares all finished?  No worries whether you do or do not, the patterns are there for whenever you get to them.  Here are the links to all of the other squares for this project : Introduction, Square #1, Square #2, Square #3, Square #4, Square #5, Square #6, Square #7, Square #8, Square #9, and Square #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, and #20, # 21, and #22. and #23.  If you are a pinner, you can find them on pinterest here.  And I'd love for you to join me on facebook,  twitter, and instagram!

I'm calling square #24 my puff stitch combo square.  It doesn't have an official name that I know of, but it does have puff stitches combined with other stitches - so puff stitch combo sounds great to me :-)  Anywho, this is a fairly solid stitch pattern with lots of texture and interest.  I used it in the Harvest Poncho to add some fun color and texture.

Block #24 Puff Stitch Combo

Pattern

Special stitch
Puff Stitch:  (Yo, draw up a loop in designated stitch) 3 times.  Yo, pull through all 7 loops.

Note:
Begin this square with C.  Work 1 row with C, then work 2 rows with B.  Next work 2 rows with C.  Continue by alternating colors every 2 rows for remaining squares.  Do not cut the yarn when switching colors, just drop it and pick up the next color.

Foundation ch and Row 1:  Ch 30.  Sc in second ch from hook and in each remaining ch.  (29 sc) Turn.
Row 2:  Ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout).  *Skip 2 stitches.  (Puff stitch, ch 2, puff stitch) in next stitch.  Repeat from * until 2 stitches remain.  Skip one stitch.  Dc in last stitch.  Turn.
Row 3:  Ch 1.  Sc in first stitch.  *(Sc, dc, sc) in next ch-2 sp.  Repeat from * until all ch-2 spaces are worked.  Sc in top of turning ch.  Turn.
Row 4:  Ch 1.  Scblo in each stitch across.  (29 sc)  Turn.
Row 5:  Ch 1.  Sc in each sc.  Turn
Rows 6-24:  Repeat rows 2-5, ending with row 4.

In the next week or so I'll post tips on stitching the squares together and also post the pattern for the lovely border.  And - there will be another crochet-a-long afghan project for 2016.  I'll continue with 10 inch blocks since that's what we've been doing.  I like having a stack of 10 inch blocks around to put together for an whenever I need an afghan for something.

Much love to you crochet friends - enjoy the holiday we'll get to assembling our blocks soon!!!

Taraduff's 2015 CAL Sampler Afghan Square #23

Well, I meant to have this posted a week ago.  So much for that!  I could list all my excuses, but I will spare you the details.  Most of us have pretty busy lives this time of year ;-)

So this square is our last solid square for this project.  Just one more to go and you'll have all 24 squares and we'll be ready to assemble the afghan!   Remember, you can go to the following links for all of the previous squares : Introduction, Square #1, Square #2, Square #3, Square #4, Square #5, Square #6, Square #7, Square #8, Square #9, and Square #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, and #20, # 21, and #22.  They are on pinterest here.  And how about joining me on facebook and twitter too!

The stitch for this square is a 'cross stitch pattern'.  It is called this because one double crochet actually crosses over another one leaving an 'X' look to the stitch pattern.  This is a super versatile pattern that could be used in all sorts of things from scarves to blankets.  I used it in the placemat below in the pineapple motif since the little x's reminded me of the texture on a pineapple.

Perfect Pineapples Crochet Placemat pattern Taraduff 2015

Block #23 Cross Stitch

taraduff's 2015 CAL sampler afghan square #23 Cross Stitch

Pattern

Foundation ch and row 1:  Ch 27.  Sc in second ch from hook and in each remaining ch.  Turn.
Row 2:  Ch 3.  Skip first stitch.  *Skip next stitch, dc in next st.  Working around dc just made, dc in skipped stitch.  Repeat from * across to last stitch.  Dc in last stitch.  Turn.
Rows 3-14:  Repeat row 2.
Row 15:  Ch 1.  Sc in each stitch across. (26 sc)  Fasten off and weave in ends.  
 

taraduff's 2015 CAL sampler afghan square #23 Cross Stitch pattern close-up

Merry Christmas to you!  Here's wishing you time to relax and enjoy the season with your loved ones!