2018 3rd Quarter Crochet Along
/We are gearing up to start our 3rd Quarter Crochet Along for 2018! If you've never participated in a CAL, it is a community project where we all work together on the same pattern. This quarter's pattern has already been voted on and we are going to be doing "Selma." Not every Crochet Along you'll encounter is done the same way. So this post's purpose is to inform you of everything you need in order to join.
If you have done one of my CALs before, you can pretty much skip this post. If this is new to you, you have a lot of reading to do! Please make sure you don't skip any of it. I tend to spend a lot of time answering the same questions, which I've tried to make sure are all answered in this post. So please read through it before asking. But if you do end up with questions, you can ask them on this post.
MATERIALS
- 325-350 yards of size 10 thread
- 2.00mm crochet hook
- Blocking materials
- The pattern ("Selma" by Grace Fearon)
Please read through these notes pertaining to each of the materials listed above.
- Your hook size should complement your personal crochet gauge. If you find your work to be too tight, go up a size or two. If you find it too loose, go down in size. This is very important. We want you to be happy with your finished piece. And if the experience is not enjoyable, you may lose your motivation to finish. It is recommend that if you do not know what your preferred size hook is, that you work PART 1 of the CAL using the recommend size listed above, and then adjust accordingly. This may mean you might have to work PART 1 more than once.
- Your required yardage will depend heavily on what size hook you end up working with. Most people find a 1.75mm hook to be comfortable when working with size 10 thread. However, not all size 10 threads are created equal: some are thinner, and some are thicker. Once you've matched your hook size to your thread of choice and also your gauge, you might find yourself using less or even more yardage than I do. I personally use a 2.25mm hook because my tension is very tight. If you are ever curious about how much yardage I use, you can find the exact measurements on any of my projects here on my Ravelry project page. I usually take the time to go back and add the weight (g) of the piece, and then I convert that to the exact yardage (y and m).
- Not everyone blocks their work the same way. Depending on how you block, you will need different blocking materials. Please do not skip this step. I cannot stress enough to you how important it is to block your finished work. Not only does it refine your stitches, but it creates a much more even look. Your opinion of the piece will change dramatically if you block it. You can see my personally preferred method of blocking down this page where I have linked a video you can watch.
- In order to participate, the only additional thing you need is the pattern. It does not matter in what form you have the pattern (individual pattern, ebook, or book). If you have the pattern, you can follow along just fine. However, one thing that is provided by me as an extra resource during Crochet Alongs is a full picture tutorial. In order to obtain this, you must have purchased (or will purchase) the individual pattern through Ravelry. This is the only way to obtain the photo tutorial. If you already have purchased it sometime in the past directly from that page, you are set. Your pattern will be automatically updated to include the tutorial according to the schedule listed below further down the page. If you own the pattern in some other form, you can choose to purchase the individual pattern through Ravelry right now while it is on sale for 50% off.
- If you are going to purchase the pattern right now, please sign in to your Ravelry account first. I am not responsible for lost emails or lost patterns. If you are a registered Ravelry user, you will never lose your pattern. It will be in your Ravelry account forever. If you do not register or accidentally purchase while you are not signed in, you alone are responsible for your pattern. You will receive update emails according to the schedule, but you must have provided an accurate email address. I cannot troubleshoot this problem for you if you do not follow the steps I have recommended here. {If you purchased while you were not signed in but you do have an account, simply click the link in the email that was sent to you with your pattern purchase and then click "add to library" after you have made sure you are signed in. Then the pattern will be saved to your library.}
SCHEDULE
The way we do our Crochet Alongs is rather simple. The pattern will be broken up into several parts and then we will work only the scheduled rounds according to the dates listed below. On each day, I will update the Ravelry pattern to include the new part of the tutorial and if you purchased the pattern from there, you will automatically receive an email telling you to update your files in your Ravelry library. You don't have to wait for the email, you can simply follow along in our group and wait for each of my announcements. As soon as I post, you should be able to update your file in your Ravelry library.
Each part of the CAL will be released between 10-11am EST according to the schedule below. This gives me a 1 hour buffer in case I run into snags during upload. On the dates below you will receive an email from Ravelry with a link to update your pattern files to include the parts of the photo tutorial released on the appropriate days.
- August 6th = TODAY! Introductory post. Pattern discount (50% off) begins.
- August 13th = Part 1 (rounds 1-8) Pattern returns to full price.
- August 17th = Part 2 (rounds 9-15)
- August 20th = Part 3 (rounds 16-20)
- August 24th = Part 4 (rounds 21-25)
- August 27th = Part 5 (rounds 26-29) Finished!
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- Please join our Facebook group! You can ask questions, post progress pictures, and share your finished work! You will receive the fastest help by asking in our group.
- You do not have to work at the same pace. If you get behind, don't worry. Finish when you're ready. The idea of a Crochet Along is that since we are all working together, we can often support each other through the experience. If you choose to work faster or slower, you will lose out on this benefit, but you should still be able to come out on top.
- If you have never worked any of my patterns, you will find this to be an challenge. I strongly suggest you work one or two of my free patterns first to become familiar with the way I write patterns. Most of my patterns are complicated, but the text itself isn't. I attempt to write my patterns with extreme clarity. If you follow my instructions to the letter, you will progress. Don't make assumptions about what I may mean, I try to be quite literal. But if you still get stumped, ask!
- Block your finished piece. Do not skip this step. See the video below for my blocking method.
