Wednesday, February 29, 2012

we are what we make?

Head up, lenses up SoCal , there're Photography for Knitter workshops heading your way mid March. If you're a member of the El Segundo Slipt Stitchers Knitting Guild, I am honored to be your March program and hope you'll sign up for the workshop (march 17/18). If you're not a member , find me at Wildfiber in Santa Monica on march 18th (call them to register) and at Loop & Leaf in Santa Barbara  for a Photo Safari on March 20. We're working on some Craft Activism booksignings, too, stay tuned
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
About a year ago, under the influence of Ellen, Maryse  and a massive quantity of partial skeins, I started crocheting my Big Ass Granny Square afghan.
Little did I know that by the time I finally finished the last long round of edging last week....
I would actually BE one.
  0886_0212GZuckerFV 
The Big Ass Granny Square afghan is one continuous square of worsted weight, natural fiber yarn -mostly wool with some alpaca and silk blends in there. It's the Chocolate Box Square in Jan Eaton's 200 Crochet Blocks . Awesome resource. It's an alternative to your basic granny square--I like that the little tiles of color line up instead of being  staggered.
0573_0212GZuckerFamV There's no sequence or repeats or plan - I chose colors  by contrast or by varying warms and colds. I ended up buying 3 skeins, when I ran out of their colors but thought I'd miss having them in the mix: orange,  grey and a green. Other than that, I love that I can see bits of sweaters and hats I knit,  yarns from gifts for loved ones, yarn for test knitting projects for both Shear Spirit and Craft Activism, yarn I dyed myself , and yarn my dear knitting friends enabler, Mary Lou,  sent me when I worried I might be running low.
I've already put Bobo on notice that he is NOT allowed to cozy up on this one. And I'm  plotting another, for a gift request.

Credit to my friend & colleague Edwina Stevensonhttp://www.edwinastevenson.com, she photographed me in my afghan  at The Inn at Montpelier, where we stayed while working on a photo shoot for a client up in Vermont last week. I wonder if the inn staff thought we were crazy, dancing around in an afghan on a chilly VT back porch?

16 comments:

Carole Knits said...

This is fantastic, Gale! And you are a granny, that's pretty funny, too!

Maryse said...

Omg it is beautiful. I love it!

cauchy09 said...

hooray! this is a colorful blanket of happiness!

Unknown said...

That's a sweeeet granny square blanket!

margene said...

The blanket could not be more perfect! It looks cozy, beautiful and fun!

Kathy said...

Love it!

Jan (jcoop on ravelry) said...

Wow, that is spectacular! You've made me want to make one, and I haven't crocheted in years! So beautiful!

Mary Lou said...

That IS one big ass Granny. Square. It isn't a real granny -- I like that Choc. Box version.

gayle said...

I'm sure the inn staff had seen crazier things than that...
Love your granny square! The colors just sing.

twinsetellen said...

I've been wondering what this project was up to! It is fab, as are the photos.

Kay said...

I want one but I'm not sure I'm ready to take the risk of grannification!

Jan (jcoop on ravelry&twitter) said...

I keep coming back to look at these pictures. The colors are so cheerful!

craftivore said...

Awesome granny, both of you!! I particularly like the blurry one of you where you look like you're flying. Someday I will make a granny, maybe when I'm a granny which might not be too far off at the rate my kids are growing. Blogged Craftitude Vest today.

Kate said...

That is utterly fab and wonderful, and it makes me want to learn to crochet (even though previous attempts have needed in disaster).... beautiful!

Marilla said...

Love your afghan! I made six of these last year-one for me and five as Christmas gifts for children. It was fun to figure out different color combinations of leftover yarn for each child. I'll have to check out the block you used for my next afghan. Love that book.

Aidan's Mom said...

Loved your talk at the El Segundo Slipt Stitchers meeting. I didn't write down the name of the book that you are shooting now. And I'm obsessed with the patterns - especially the men's sweater with the zipper. What is the title?