I have looked through other patterns from this designer using this ctc (corner to corner) sort of filet method. It’s not filet but looks a little bit like it.

The other projects look better when crocheted tightly. If done too loose, the pattern doesn’t hold well. I have to keep this in mind as I work the pattern.

I know in advance that I have trouble reading this designer’s patterns. She likes BIG pictures (which eat up your ink when you print and takes up way too much room on the paper) and squished small written instructions in columns that are hard to follow. I know this and so I am girding up my loins to try to work from her instructions. I think she has beautiful patterns. But if you can’t reproduce them and have fun doing it, then it’s not a pattern to work.

I am hoping I have more success with this pattern than I did the last one. I frogged the last one because the stitch pattern just wasn’t showing up.

I do think that what she is calling an “antimacassar” is just a smaller doily than the centerpiece. But hey, it’s fun to use them in new and exciting ways. Although no one I know wants to put their head against lumpy beads on the back of a chair. It looks pretty though.

I love her upside down goblets used as candle holders. Awesome idea!

NOT Printer friendly
I wish this designer had print friendly versions of her patterns. This pattern has cost me a fortune to print. I don’t mind having access to photos on the computer but I just need (large enough to see what it is and no larger) for the first page of my printed pattern. Sigh ….

Row 3 of Table Runner
There should be a law against splitting up instructions from one column to another column - AND never allowing it to go to another page. How hard is that to track what you are doing? Did I mention I hate squishy columns for crochet instructions?

I am having to flip pages back and forth and work from the PDF on screen at the same time to get the stitch definitions. It’s a bit more work than there should be just to follow one tiny row of instructions. Literally there are only 3 blocks in this row.

Gauge
WOW!!!!! Once again, my gauge is so much tinier than hers.

Pattern gauge with #10 thread and 1.5 mm hook

8 by 8 grid of blocks = 3 inches

My gauge with #10 Aunt Lydia’s thread and 1.5 mm hook
8 by 8 grid of blocks = 2 inches

WOW! That is some difference.

I am going to continue because I can’t see where it’s going to make that much difference. I planned on using my table runner on a coffee table.

Stitch Pattern Visibility
The stitch pattern doesn’t really look like much. I guess I am used to filet where you can tell that you are doing the right thing by being able to look at your pattern. I have tried spreading this out with my fingers but …. I am going to have to trust the pattern at this point.

The problem is that the holes are so small. I think the pattern shows up better when the background is open blocks instead of solid blocks.

Row 33 - Oh man. This is the one place where a picture or a graph or something would help. This is the row where you go from working diagonally on increases to starting straight sides. Her instructions are a bit sparse here.

From what I can tell the begin and end of Row 33 will be loops? I will just have to see how that turns out.

I have searched the internet for instructions. Her method seems to be unique. The only thing that makes sense is that one side is increased and the other decreased to make the straight (rectangle) sides.

My problem is where it says to finish Row 33 with a tr in next ch, turn. Then Row 44 says Work 4 blocks.

Where do you start the 1st block? I put it in the top of the tr stitch. Row 34 ends with a ch 6 turn. This is leaving me “open spaces on one side. There are no picture of the sides of this piece without the border. The charts are not “stitch” charts.

I am just guessing.

I stopped from Nov 7-21 to make a beaded afghan for a Xmas present.

Nov 21
Working on this project again.

11/22
Frogged - I cannot make this look nice, no matter how I try to spread out the work.

The holes are small and the pattern doesn’t show up very well. Maybe a lot larger hook?

I cannot get my squares to look square. I don’t know why. It might be because my gauge is so much smaller than hers. Which is strange because usually, I have a gauge that is not tight enough.

I am frustrated with the instructions for the ends of the rows. Once you reach Row 33, there are no graphs or pictures or detailed written instructions to tell you what to do. I searched the internet and could find nothing where anyone else finished the ends of their rows in the same way. I have no idea if I am doing it correctly or not.

Too much frustration. Frogging.

Width (once it started having straight sides) - 12 inches