10-17-2022

No idea what happened with my sun. Totally not round. I think it could be that my yellow yarn was not thick enough.

03-06-2023

Back to working on this WIP!

Ripping back to fix my sun and then moving on to the other squares.

03-06-2023

Blocking to 12 1/2 x 12 1/2

03-07-2023

Skipping the plain squares.

Wondering about making a bag or a poncho with the squares? Maybe something like this poncho? Or maybe this one?

03-08-2023

So as I work on this, I am filled with so much nostalgia.

When I was very young and single and adventurous, I moved to Tokyo for a job. This was before cell phones and email and internet. Before pocket translation and social networking. I didn’t know anyone and I didn’t speak the language and I was functionally illiterate, and it was just an amazing time. It formed me and tested me. Japan was such a spectacular teacher.

04-23-2024

Looking at stitch pattern for joining squares similar to how units in my African Adventure blanket were joined.

Possibilities

From BW’s Second Treasury
Swag stitch, p. 21
Color seeded pattern, p. 39
Roman stripe, p. 219
Garland pattern, p. 252
Broken arrow, p. 334

From BW’s First Treasury
Indian Cross Stitch, p. 112
Shell mesh, p. 166
Faggoting and beehive lace, p. 188
Four sisters medallion, p. 230
Wave of honey, p. 272

So far, heavy preference for Garland pattern or Faggoting and Beehive Lace.

04-26-2024

Now I am loving Four sisters medallion. Have to decide what color to use for borders and joins.

04-26-2024

Now am thinking of something to imitate sashiko technique. Wish I had indigo, but maybe undyed on a dark red background—color-seeded pattern?

04-27-2024

…and now I have come round to just stitching squares together in a folded rectangle (five squares long, two squares wide) for a classic poncho. No fancy joining. I-cord border.

04-28-2024

I sewed it up into a rectangle, but some of the seams are quite bumpy. I had wet blocked each square with wires, but I am going to do the same thing with the whole rectangle and then steam block the seams if they are still bumpy. And then assemble poncho and finally I-cord the edges.

04-28-2024

Contemplating adding herringbone embroidery embellishment along the seams.

04-28-2024

Finishing the edges with attached I-cord.

04-29-2024

Done! But. I think the attached I-cord is too bulky. And dark. Thinking of ripping it out and using a thinner undyed wool.