Memory Afghan (part 2)
Thought it was time to update
my Memory Afghan with a few pictures & musings. It is still in progress; about 60% complete
when these pics were taken
(now it is
75-80% done). Have visualized the border; still need to put it to hook to
see if it will work. It can wait .....
Some Thoughts / Update :
Small motifs crocheted &
joined in this pattern uses up even small scraps of wool.
As mentioned in my earlier
post, I have used all kinds of yarn, of varied thickness. While the size of each motif remains more or
less the same, the density may vary, as well as the amount of yarn used.
Thicker yarn is used up more & has a denser, fuller appearance.
Pony crochet hook #13 (2.25
mm) used for joining at corners ...
At 190 motifs, the afghan
weighed 500 gms and was one diagonal short of the halfway mark. 250 motifs made
so far. 12 motifs across (42') & 18 or 19 motifs long to get around 72'.
The 35+ colours have kept me motivated, & I am still trying out new
combinations. (Since writing & photographing this, I am now less than 90 motifs
short of completing the afghan! Then on to the border)
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After the initial random
joining of motifs, I systematized & settled to joining from left to right,
diagonally, resulting in a growing triangle (till width of 12 motifs is
complete). And these are some possible alternate uses of this pattern ….
Some
Alternate Applications :
Triangular Wrap
If one works in a triangle,
starting from one corner & joining diagonally as one goes, one can create a
beautiful Wrap !!! In the pic, the ‘last’ row is still incomplete, but it gives
an idea, doesn’t it ?!
Throw Cover or Handbag, with
flap
This same triangle can be
folded from the corners in the manner indicated by the arrows & numbers;
sew on the bottom edge. Voila! We now have a square throw/cushion cover with a
flap ! To make the flap stay in place, simply sew on a beautiful button &
loop.
If you sew on some strings on either side, you have yourself a handbag or shoulder bag or a jhola bag!!!
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Incidental Advantages
Back to Future Memories :
Colour Palette
An incidental advantage of
using so many colours : it acts like a colour palette !!! Trying out various
combinations, some in 'unconventional' and unorthodox combos gives rise to some
really unexpectedly lovely 'mergers'. Such a project can act as a guide to
future colour selections and combinations !
Replacement
In this pattern, not only
does one get to use up small scraps of wool, but Just in case some part gets
frayed in the future, one can Easily Replace it with another motif !
And if one is using colours
in no regular arrangement, then one can replace the motif with whatever colour
& yarn is at hand !
Create Memories
One can Deliberately cut off
a motif & substitute with scrap yarn from new projects !
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Back to School Memories :
Another incidence of why this
has turned out to be truly a Memory Afghan.
It sent me back in time, to school
lessons in Maths & Science !
Pythagoras theorem
Size of each motif, as
mentioned in the pattern : 2½” sides & 5¼” diagonal
I got the sides correct &
carried on. Eventually when I measured the diagonal, it turned out to be only
3¼” !!!
How it That possible ?! If
Both sides are equal, making it a Square, & I got the tension right, why
was the diagonal not conforming ?
Pythagoras Theorem to the
rescue. Applied it, and turned out the dimensions of my motif were right ….
Phew !
Static electricity
There are so many ends to cut
in each motif. (I cut them as soon as one motif is complete). I keep collecting
these yarn bits in a little glass jam jar (that has a lid), & throw them
out when it fills up.
I also needed a needle
frequently, to weave in the ends after each round. To keep the thread lengths
short, I used the shortest needle I had. This needle fit in easily in the jar ;
easy to pick & put back, whether there were yarn bits in the jar or not. Basically, the jar acted both as a temporary litter-container & a pin cushion ;-))
And look what happened :
Static Electricity, resulting in magnetism !!!
Took me way back to my 5th
or 6th grade ;-P
TIP : So, how about using yarn bits
to stuff in a pin cushion ?! Yes, next time I make a pin cushion. Good
recycling, too.
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One minor drawback :
Cannot crochet on the go,
especially if one is using many colours.
This can be minimized by –
* using very few colours,
* letting the thread ends of
each round hang, and
* hiding all the thread ends
together at a later stage. (Not something I relish - too many loose
dangling threads, plus such a chore to tackle it all together.)
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