It's been all crochet, all the time over here in Noolieville - not a stitch has been knit since the end of May when I finished a pair of socks for Clover.
I was inspired to make this after seeing a beautiful Noro log cabin blanket that Brenda knit (too bad she never posts on her blog or Ravelry anymore so I could link you to the blanket!) I had been itching to start a crochet project for a while and decided this would be just the thing to crochet. I contemplated crocheting log cabin squares and then decided to do this diagonal shell stitch pattern that my Nana used to use for afghans for all of us. Crocheting always makes me feel close to her; she's been gone nearly 19 years now, but when I'm crocheting it's like she's right there with me. She taught me to crochet when I was ten and I can still remember that day as if it were yesterday. Special memories never die.
Anyway... enough mush... I am nearly finished knitting the Noro; that half finished square in the middle of the picture is the last one. Then I'll be on to crocheting black borders on all 20 squares. Here's a (lousy) picture of four of the completely finished squares (unblocked). The squares are 12" so this will be a pretty good sized blanket!
Awww, I quite enjoyed the mush about Nana, Nanas are the best :^)
Yowzers, your hook must be smokin'! Very Impressive! GORGEOUS! xox
Posted by: marianne | Jun 17, 2010 at 04:04 PM
Nanas Rock!
LOVELOVELOVE the squares, the blanket is gonna be bee-youu-te-ful
Posted by: colleen | Jun 17, 2010 at 04:15 PM
Every time I read your blog I find something else I wanna make. That blanket is going to be a work of art!
Posted by: April | Jun 17, 2010 at 04:26 PM
Love it! And yes, I'm lazy about posting anywhere. Maybe some day I'll catch up and post the things I've knit for the past two years over on Rav ;-)
Posted by: Brenda | Jun 17, 2010 at 05:28 PM
Man it's gonna be a beauty! I love the diagonal of the pattern and color.
Posted by: Carol Thurston | Jun 17, 2010 at 05:46 PM
Those are really pretty!!! I like NORO yarn...
Posted by: Sara | Jun 17, 2010 at 07:37 PM
What a special tribute to a great Nana..
You've definitely been doing some "Happy Hookin'"
That is a gorgeous, gorgeous blanket!!!
Happy Weekend..Wish you guys were here to go KIP with us.
Love you!!
Posted by: Dianne | Jun 18, 2010 at 07:46 AM
The blanket is amazing. I'm really looking forward to seeing it finished. Your nana sounds great and I'm sure you two had some wonderful times together (tho' not nearly enough). Enjoy piecing the squares together and remembering the lady who taught you how to do it.
Posted by: dana | Jun 18, 2010 at 02:46 PM
Julie, this is looking Fabulous! I've pulled out my crochet hooks just in the last few weeks, myself. I'd forgotten how much faster crochet feels for me (or else I'm just a really slow knitter!). :o)
Posted by: Charity | Jun 18, 2010 at 04:49 PM
This is going to be so, so gorgeous.
Posted by: Chris | Jun 18, 2010 at 05:54 PM
This is really fabulous, gorgeous, lovely!!!!!! Almost makes me wanna learn to do more with that hook thingy.
Posted by: lisa | Jun 18, 2010 at 08:51 PM
This is going to be an absolutely gorgeous blanket!
Posted by: Sarah | Jun 19, 2010 at 12:21 PM
Wow, that is beautiful. What a fabulous pattern. I hope you keep up with your crocheting. You can add some really beautiful crochet elements to knit garments!
Posted by: Eryka Jackson | Jun 19, 2010 at 03:53 PM
That is gorgeous. Although my grandmother didn't teach me, she was the inspiration for my knitting and I think of her often as I knit. I love the connection.
Posted by: Hillary | Jun 21, 2010 at 02:06 PM
That's my favorite crochet stitch too, and the one I go to when I'm falling behind on charity squares because it's so quick. But why did I never think to use it with Noro? Brilliant!
Posted by: Lucia | Jun 22, 2010 at 07:59 AM
Loving the afghan. My mother worked and my babysitter taught me to knit and crochet. I made granny squares at age 8 and knit my own mittens at 10. So glad my mother chose "Mrs Hoyt" to be my babysitter. I stayed with her from 5 years old to when I was through Junior High. Protective parents or what?
Posted by: Kathleen | Jun 23, 2010 at 08:42 AM
Hi I saw your blanket on Rav. and fell in love with it. Once i read why your were crocheting it i felt much closer to you i learned the basic chain from my grandmother too and i would have learn more like my older cousin but when i was the same age you learn my grandmother had lung cancer and was on oxygen whenever we cam to visit... but i still remember the joy in her eyes as she watch my cousin show me how to sc. Thank you for bring great memories
Heather aka Loves2design
Posted by: Heather | Feb 14, 2011 at 02:57 PM