Knitted Learning Logs Afghan Completed

Learning Logs Afghan is now complete.  I last blogged about it on April 6th.  You can see how much it's grown.  This afghan started out as a class project to learn how to do color work, knitting with 2 or 3 colors through a class on Crafty's.  The inside square is a bit larger than the class project, as I kept going a bit more.  It's tedious, but also fun.  The original pattern called for making 6 said squares and stitching them together for an afghan.  I thought beside being really time consuming, it was quite busy so elected not to do that.

Used the class square as a center and continued using the same colors, binding off and picking up stitches to try and keep the class square as the center.  The next section is full of lots of textures.  Needing to have it lay a bit nicer, I changed to all garter stitch for the 3rd zone, but still the same colors.  Kept knitting until I ran out of yarn.  I may actually have more of some of these colors down in the basement in my stash; but can't do steps with being in my ortho boot and still limited movement.  

It's laid out here for the photo; but needs to be laundered and blocked yet.  Hubby's been too busy to do that ...laundry is also in the basement.   It should be several inches bigger and lay still a bit nicer after being laundered and blocked.  It's sized large enough for a family afghan and is quite warm.

We're making headway on our goal for afghans.  Though would LOVE to go over goal, as the goal was still pretty low compared to some of our earlier years.

**The counts on our progress bars are current. All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

Resurrecting Learning Logs Afghan

 These aren't good pictures, as I can't properly lay out the afghan for you to see.  I tossed it down by my foot, and as you can see my broken foot is there as well.

Tried a 2nd time and managed to get my boot a bit further away, and tried to hold down the mint green which is curling in above picture, since it's stockinette stitch.  Quite a few colors here.  Some of you might remember when I started this project last summer.  I named it Learning Logs, as it was a project done through a class (on Crafty's) to learn how to do color work.  Some sections/logs are 2 colors, some are 3.  The pattern for the afghan was to be 6 squares like this (though smaller) and then stitched together.  I thought hooking 6 of these together would be far too busy with all the color and textures together, so decided to use this as a center square and continue with the colors, but in solid sections.

Though I am considering doing some striping as I go.  I've been working on this as I try to elevate my foot as much as possible.  Mentioned in a post a few days ago that I had broken a bone in my right foot.  It's the 5th Metarsal bone.

Have been watching Downton Abbey as I knit.  I never got the opportunity to watch it when it was airing before.  A friend brought over all 6 sessions on CD's to help occupy my time.  I'm really enjoying it, but am in season 5 and already not wanting it to end.  Did you all watch it?  Did you enjoy it?  The period clothes are fun to see.

What's everyone currently working on?

**The counts on our progress bars are current. Percentages are current.  All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

Learning Logs, The 2nd Square

It's been awhile since I've shown you Learning Logs, almost done with the 2nd large square.  It's coming along better than the first square...

though it's still quite a labor for me.  I'm having fun with the whole mixing the colors, and by not totalling following the pattern (which only had logs on 2 of the four sides of the center square), and by placing the logs differently to have smooth logs to offset logs who's nature it is to curl etc.  It will be a color explosion when and if it ever gets done.

I also found a bit of a trick to keep from getting myself tangled up in my own yarn when knitting with multiple strands (sometimes you still have 3 attached).  Believe this is something they should have suggested in the lesson.  Take a peak HERE! (I blogged about it on my other blog, and it's not expensive)

2015 DONATIONS:
Hats: 218
Scarves 80
Mittens/Gloves/Wrist Warmers: 45
Slippers: 63
Rain Poncho's:  53
Cotton Washcloths: 126
Afghans: 11
Socks: 131
Cowls/Hoody Combo's/ 17
Shawls 1
Misc: items like personal care and things don't fit into above categories aren't counted

HAVE YOU READ ABOUT THE CONTEST?  HAVE YOU STARTED?  DETAILS HERE

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

I Survived The Learning Logs

Well, in the on going story/dilemma that has been associated with the Learning Logs Ghan...I can report progress is being made.  I added a log to the right side of the grey log which helped pull that side out a bit.  Then added the log of bright green and rose to smooth out the bottom a bit.  It was getting closer to being the same size all the way around; but not there yet.  The bright green and rose, like the earlier bright green and blue is such a tight pattern it really pulls so...I added the stripes in garter stitch to the right side.  Bingo...finally that side was smooth, didn't curl, and didn't pull.  I also bumped up my needle size by 1 size.  The good old garter stitch gave it the body it needed I think.  And now the bottom...where you see my toes holding down the yellow log.  That's a pretty heavy log which worked to pull out the green and rose strip on that side.....but still some curling.  However, I think once attached to another square and blocked it will work.  But, the left side, next to the solid tan...needed perhaps one more log to help pull out the ends of the yellow and green striped log.

So, one final log was added.  I used the same stitch pattern as the center square as it laid nicely in the beginning.  I did not start or end rows with slip stitch as the pattern called for, in order to avoid the holes created by doing so previously.  My square has 10 logs plus the center square, the pattern called for the center square and 6 logs, and the logs were only on 2 sides.  I think, though it's been quite a trial, I can consider this square DONE!

I will start the 2nd one, making the changes I learned and NOT follow the pattern next time.  I'm hopeful, things will then go much better and I won't be quite so looney!  There are 9 colors, 8 different stitch patterns.  It measures 23 x 23, so I think making a total of 4 squares to join will make a nice size lapghan.  The pattern called for 6 smaller squares.

2015 Donations:

Hats: 118
Scarves:33
Mittens: 42
Slippers: 47
Rain Poncho's: 3
Cotton Washcloths:53
Afghans:2
Socks: 47
Fingerless gloves/wrist warmers:
Cowls/Infinity scarves: 12
Shawls: 1 
Misc: personal care items and anything not listed above

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

Learning Logs is Making Looney

 Might need to add to the name of this ghan, Learning Logs, thank you SSeger (Sue), might need to name it Looney Learning Logs........cause I am going a bit looney.  I'm like weirdness of the colors, and variety with each section (log) being different with color and stitches......but.  Can you see how much some of the logs are pulling against the other stitches.  I am officially done with the class I took for this Log Cabin Style Afghan, and I've learned alot.....mostly how to alter the pattern do things differently next time.  Seriously, this Lion Brand Pattern leaves alot to be desired.  Notice the bright green and blue log...pointed out in a previous post....the right side edge is no longer curling thanks to the fun 3 color checkerboard log to it's right......but the progressive creeping up of the bottom edge is really bad.  Next to the center square the bright blue, the grey starts the creeps, followed by even more with the vertical stripes log.

Strange how much brighter the first picture is, think this is a bit more true to color.  Just another view from a different angle.  The next log is suppose to be to the right side of the solid tan; but since that's a nice edge....I'm electing not to add the log there and try to pull out the left side.  The 3 color log at the bottom is very think...would be super warm as a hat.......I think.

Will keep you posted on the progress of my looney demise, or the possible improvement on the creeping of the left side, or..........my throwing in the towel all together with this frustrating pattern.  I like mixing the colors in such odd ways, that's kinda fun, and that was the only part of the lesson that was worthwhile.  However, I think they should tell people to use light weight yarn (which would take longer) and then be prepared to back the ghan.  Much discussion in the group about the back side, the rough seams (resulting from where stitches are picked up to avoid holes because they broke some fairly standard rules of knitting about slip stitches at beginning and endings of rows, purls at beginning and ending of rows vs having a border of garter stitches to keep things flat and even), and perhaps the need to put a backing on it.  Thus my thought about lighter weight yarn.  WW yarn and backing....think it would very heavy?

2015 Donations:
Hats: 101
Scarves:31
Mittens: 42
Slippers: 47
Rain Poncho's: 3
Cotton Washcloths:53
Afghans:2
Socks: 47
Fingerless gloves/wrist warmers:
Cowls/Infinity scarves: 11
Shawls: 1 (just realized it wasn't listed, don't think I missed any?)
Misc: personal care items and anything not listed above

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.