Vasarely Blanket Update #9: LAST UPDATE! YAY!

Update! Haha yeaaaaaaas!

That's right, you guys. I did it.  It took me over a year, but I finished the damn thing.  I finished stitching everything together a while back, but weaving in the ends (weaving in the ends of things is the WORST) and crocheting a border around the whole thing was agonizing so obviously those tasks were dragged out.
























ok, now what? because I am definitely not making a blanket ever again.












if you would like to make your own vasarely style blanket, this is the source of the pattern I followed: Le Blog Purple

Crocheted Mochi Golf Club Cover

My dad has been suggesting this thing forever and ever and I finally decided to tackle this project.

I'm not THAT much of a yarn hoarder, but I've been meaning to go through my rubbermaid bin of yarn and use up some stuff that I've had for years.  When my dad first requested making a golf club cover out of my dog's head (I just realized how morbid that sounds),  I knew I had the yarn for it (same yarn used for my turkey tissue cozy), but I didn't have any freaking clue on how I would start such a pattern.  Luckily I found a free pattern from Lion Brand for golf club covers, and just made one in a Mochi-colored shade.  Because the yarn was sport weight, I decided to double the yarn to make the project more sturdy.  I created a snout by crocheting a cylinder-like piece, adding some polyfill inside to make it fuller.  Black satin ribbon was used for the nose and mouth, and I cut out some black stiff felt for the eyes, using hot glue to stick it onto the face, and then stitching around the eyes with thread for added security and to make it look more finished.  For the ears, I kinda played the shape by ear (pun!).   I crocheted small triangles and then single-crocheted all around to make the triangles rounded in shape.  I felt like the overall face wasn't shaggy enough, so I added some yarn whiskers on the top of his nose.  For the final touch, I added a pom pom on the back because Mochi's tail is fluffy like that.  He's so cutie.

Twinsies

I can't stop laughing at this thing.

God, I hope my dad doesn't lose this on the golf course.  He loses everything.

Vasarely Blanket (ongoing project) update #8

Progress! To get a better overview of my blanket layout and to keep track of my pieces, I easily created a handy little printout of my blanket layout using Photoshop:

This way, I get to map out my blanket without having to unfold the blanket and spreading the thing all out onto the floor or bed.  I took some scrap yarn in a different color and tied a bow onto the top left corner to mark the front* side of the blanket so I can match it up with the printout.  This printout is so helpful.  I'm less likely to make any mistakes e.g. sewing a white diamond on one side when it should've been a black piece, or sewing on a piece upside down.

It is way easier to sew smaller groups of the blanket at a time, too.  So when I stitch together a section of a blanket, I outline that section on the printout.  Then when I stitch that particular section to the rest of the blanket, I shade that area in.

Sometimes the length of the sides do not match (because I didn't block my diamonds), but I found that using this hair clip to hold /match the sides together helps me distribute the stitches evenly without any worries of leaving any slack behind.  These hair clips make things so much easier, and are definitely staying in my crochet bag for future projects.  I wonder if there is even a product actual made for this purpose?  I bet you its way more expensive than these clips.

*There really isn't a front or back side of the blanket, just using this to match the printout/pattern layout.

Vasarely Blanket (ongoing project) update #7

Continuing to stitch this blanket together.  So far weaving in the ends is the most annoying part (like I predicted).  My plan is to try and stitch all the diamonds I've already created together, then crochet the remaining diamonds to finish off the blanket.  It's looking like the estimates I made aren't that accurate because I still have about 30-ish or more diamonds more to crochet and the blanket seems bigger than I estimated already.  Man, I'm very bad at gauging my projects!  I still think it looks great, considering I didn't do any blocking (bad at doing this, too).  There is some puckering at some parts where I stitched which bothers me, so I plan to redo these sections.

Planning to finish this by the end of the year  Hopefully!

Vasarely Blanket (ongoing project) update #6

Alright now things are happening!  So... I'm totally not done cranking out diamonds,  but I've started constructing this blanket. YES!  I'm pretty sure I started this project last August?  So this project is almost a year old!  So much for being inspired and crafting my brains out.  I've been lazy and unmotivated but I'm trying.  After finishing up the latest batch of diamonds, I kinda laid out most of them on my bed and I must say, it's making me excited about it.

LOOK! Do you see it?? Do you the Vasarely-ness happening right now?  At this point I realized I didn't have any yarn to start joining the diamonds together, so the very next day I made a trip to Michael's and created my very first cube. How exciting!

And then I got more excited and added another cube to that cube:

And then the excitement died down after attempting to weave all those damn ends.  I cursed a little, and stopped.  I'm pretty sure weaving in those ends will be the most annoying part of the procedure.  I regret not doing them earlier.  But at least the blanket is finally coming along. :-D

Vasarely Blanket (ongoing project) update #5 (sort of)

I totally have been terrible with this blanket as far as progress goes.  I wanted to post an update in hopes that maybe, just maybe,  it will push me to work on it more frequently..  I have been cranking out more diamonds, about 2 1/2 skeins-worth.  But currently do not have the diamond count right now.  Once I finish this current skein, I think I will start constructing the damn thing.  My goal is to be finished with more than half of it before it gets too hot.  There's nothing worse than crocheting big things during the summer.  Its just uncomfortably warm.

okbyesorry


Updated Diamond Count: 3 skeins were done. 38 MORE DIAMONDS TO GO!

Vasarely Blanket (ongoing project) update #4

Ah crap.  So the last time I posted an update on this blanket, I was slacking.  Since then, I've still been slacking. I've picked it up recently though.  I've come to realize that crocheting while listening to podcasts are a perfect match.  Netflix is a close second, but like I've stated before, looking at your work and then looking up really quickly at the television strains my eyes. I'm getting old!

As far as podcasts go,  I'm a fan of the Nerdist interviews where Chris Hardwick talks to celebrities and comedians.  They aren't formal and I always learn the most interesting things.  Plus Chris Hardwick is a total dork and its awesome.  I also kept hearing about those Serial podcasts, so I finally caved in on the hype and started it.  I'm currently on episode 6.  Don't tell me what happens.

Updated Diamond Count: 12 black, 3 white, and 6 grey diamonds done. 74 more diamonds to go!

 I need more ziplocs. Also, it's going to be a b*tch weaving in all those ends. :-O

These project updates are getting pretty repetitive, so I'm probably going to start constructing the blanket soon.  

Vasarely Blanket (ongoing project) update #3

Before you think I've stopped working on this thing, its just been slow.  I've been trying, though.  Luckily, the Giants have been getting it done so far in this post season.  You would think with all the games going on, watching them would be a perfect crocheting time opportunity (one of the games against the Nationals went on for 18 innings!!)  but the weather had been warm, and crocheting during warm weather sucks.  It's a dumb excuse, but it's true, okay?!  It rained today and the weather seems like it has changed dramatically so hopefully I'll crank out more diamonds faster than this past update.  Sorry, self.

Updated Diamond Count: 9 white diamonds. 95 more diamonds to go! No longer in the triple digits.

In ziploc gallon bags. For freshness!

Vasarely Blanket (ongoing project) update #2

Oh yeaaaah, baby.  I've been consistent with this project.  Actually, it might be too early to say that.  Whatever.  I ran out of my first skeins of each color, so now I can kind of gauge how many diamonds I can make with a skein. The 40% off coupons from Michael's will be put to use.  I love those coupons.

Updated Diamond Count: 3 black, 1 white, and 7 grey diamonds done.  1 skein of the white and black each make 11 diamonds, and the grey makes 8.  104 more diamonds to go!

Vasarely Blanket (ongoing project) update #1

I've been trying to crank out these suckers as much as I can.  I've seem to do the most crocheting while watching television/Netflix that doesn't require subtitles.  Only because when I keep looking at my work and then up at the tv screen and then back to my work again, everything looks fuzzy and my eyes need time to adjust.  Does this mean I need glasses?! Aww.

Anyways, I've been crocheting the most while watching baseball.  So... I sure hope the Giants make the postseason.  It would definitely give me more time to crochet these diamonds.  And also, they just need to make it or I will cry.  Tear-stained crochet diamonds do not sound appealing.

Updated Diamond Count: 6 black and 4 white diamonds done.  115 more diamonds to go!

Vasarely Blanket

I wanted to try and tackle a big crochet/knitting project to begin the fall season.  It's been a while since I've made something big, so I thought the beginning of fall season is the perfect time for this challenge.  It takes forever to finish a project for me, so hopefully I can stay on task.  This pattern for a crocheted blanket has been on my Pinterest board for a while, and I really wanted to make it.

Its inspired by the artist Victor Vasarely and the pattern basically looks like 3D cubes, which I think is a total trip.  It's basically a bunch of diamond patches stitched together.  I like it because its not your typical granny square afghan. It is still the same concept though, and the diamond pattern is easy enough that I'm not constantly referring to pattern instructions.  You increase every row for a little bit, and then decrease every row.  I picked white, grey, and black as my color palette, because I've been into the monochromatic look.  My only complaint is when I'm working with the black yarn, its a little difficult to see the stitches.  But I wanted black, so whatevs.

I'm using Red Heart super saver yarn with a size J hook.  The original pattern called for a dk weight yarn with a smaller hook, but I didn't have that hook, so I figured I'd stitch a sample and adjust pattern from there.

I had to sketch the blanket to determine how many diamonds and half diamonds I needed to make.  You can tell I started with a smaller blanket, but increased it once I figured out the measurements.

So basically, I need to make:

Whole Diamonds: 48 in black, 48 in white, 38 in grey  (134 Total)

Half (lengthwise) Diamonds (in grey): 12

Half (widthwise) Diamonds (in grey): 8

If you include the half diamonds, I have to make 48 diamonds of each color. Heh heh, I'm not scurrred.

So far, I've made 2 black, 6 white, 1 grey.  So... 125 more diamonds (135 if you include the half ones) to go. lol.

I will keep you updated, internet!

A Food Post But Not a Food Post

I saw this super cute crochet project by Twinkie Chan online and I knew I had to do it.  Plus, the pattern is free!  I always have allergies, so having a tissue box readily available is a must.  Plus, my favorite holiday is Thanksgiving, so this tissue cozy just made absolute sense.  I didn't have the yarn that it called for on hand, so I used what I had and adjusted the stitches in the pattern since I knew the gauge would be different.  I literally stitched a row and lined up the edges to a tissue box to see if I had to add or subtract stitches.  It was that easy.

Now every time I grab a tissue,  I can't help but chuckle.  It's so freaking hilarious.  I consider myself a knitter, but I love the cutesy and kitschy crochet world of amigurumi.  It is amazing what people can come up with.  If you love things shaped like food, check out Twinkie Chan if you haven't already.  She is super creative and definitely inspires me to craft more.