Saturday, February 15, 2014


Well a lot has happened since I last wrote, dual knee surgery, gastric bypass, breast cancer, lost my job, fought to get  disability, major depression which lasted 8 years until the right meds were found to work for me, at least 8 hospital stays due to health reasons, 4 of them just in 2013. 2013 was a rough year for hospital stays, I was on a respirator 4 times. Talk about scary!!

 Well on to the new stitch of the month!
 This classic design is an excellent filler block that will complement every afghan style. It is also quick to crochet with a pattern that is easy to memorize. 

http://cdn.lionbrand.com/media/wysiwyg/concentricSquares.jpg


Crochet Block: Concentric Squares

http://www.lionbrand.com/stitchfinder/crochet-block-concentric-squares/

Foundation chain: Ch 35.
Row 1 (right side): (as chart) yo, insert the hook into the 4th ch from the hook, work 1dc, dc into the next ch, this completes the first mesh. Cont to the end of the row using the chart as reference and counting each ch as either a sp or a st. Read the chart from right to left on odd numbered rows and left to right on even numbered rows. Turn.
Row 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1dc) cont to the end of the row, work the last dc into the 2nd ch of the beg-ch. Turn.
Cont to work as the chart, ch 2 (counts as 1dc) at the beginning of each row, and work the last dc into the top of beg-ch before turning.
Fasten off yarn.

Inverted variation

This block works well when surrounded by blocks with firmer edges. These will help to give the outer open mesh blocks shape.  

Foundation chain: Ch 36. Row 1: (as chart) yo, insert the hook into the 6th ch from the hook, work 1dc this completes the first mesh.
Cont to work as the chart, working the solid mesh blocks as open mesh blocks and the open mesh blocks as solid mesh. Ch 2 (counts as 1dc) at the beginning of each row, and work the last dc into the second ch of beg-ch before turning.
Fasten off yarn.
om open mesh-ch 1, sk 1 sp or dc, dc into the next dc st
sm solid mesh-dc into the next sp or st, dc into the next dc st
ABBREVIATIONS / REFERENCES Click for explanation and illustration
beg = begin(s)(ning) foll = follow(s)(ing)
ch(s) = chain(s) sk = skip
cont = continu(e)(s)(ing) sp(s) = space(s)
dc = double crochet st(s) = stitch(es)
Pattern by permission from Crochet Blocks in a Box by Luise Roberts, St. Martin's Griffin, 2007