03/23/2014: Skein 1
(ordered more Aster, 6 balls/$23.04 using discount rav2014)

NOTE: 1 100-g ball of DK yarn = 4 octagons.

04/10/2014: I have 9 octagons completed and added (it’s JAYG with the flat braid technique). I decided to add a square or few so when it comes time to add the squares it won’t be quiiiiiite so many.

I’m using a G-hook on this blanket, but when I used the G-hook on the square, it was all puckery. So I frogged it back to Row 2, and beginning with Row 3 I used an F-hook. It now lies all nice and flat.

So Tip#1: Go down a hook size on the square, at least after the first 2 rows. I’m not sure if I would use a smaller hook for the whole square or not. Maybe I’ll try it today and see if it’s too stretchy that way.
Tip#2: Row 2 is actually PC, ch-1. The instructions only say PC 12 times, doesn’t say anything about the PC being separated by a ch-1. Until you get to Row 3 where it tells you to stitch in the PC, then the ch-1 space. And trust me, if you don’t want to make a tiny hat, add the ch-1 space! It’s what makes it lie flat.

04/24/2014: ordered more Aster, 3 balls/$14.24, on sale)

NOTE: 04/25/2014: Have completed 15 octagons + 5 squares. Looking nice! The texture is gorgeous! At this time I have 4 balls left (ordered 3 more yesterday) + some leftovers pieces I’ll join together with the Russian technique to use for squares. I am beginning a new ball of yarn for octagan #16.
Current plans are to reach 30 octagons, go back and do all the squares, and will see then what I have enough left for. I do not plan on buying more yarn for this project.

I am aware those are terrible pictures. When I am finished I plan to use Hubs’ big bad camera for some quality pics.

05/06/2014: I am now at 5x4 with most of the little inside squares done as well. I think I’ll bring it up to 6x4 motif size before I consider being finished. I may or may not continue on from there, we’ll see.

05/19/2014: Added random picture of my daughter’s White Shepherd enjoying a little vacuuming. Seriously. He LOVES being vacuumed.

VARIATION ON EDGING:

In each ch-3 space: sc; sc, ch-1, HDC into side of sc; sc. (3 sc in each ch-3 space, with center sc adding the ch-1, HDC back into it)
In each valley: 1 decrease DC into the 2 corner ch-3 spaces. (yo, insert hook into first corner ch-3 space, pull up yarn, yo, pull through 2, repeat into second ch-3 space, yo, pull through 3 loops on hook)