Aiming for 30 squares with alterations to original 20 as follows: Not doing Tabler, Morioka, or Hewitt. Adding O-Wool squares April, August through October, and December; Devorgilla Celtic motifs 4 and 79; Nennir; GAA squares Bunkers, Douglas and Zimmerman; GNAA square Weiner; Cabled Swing square by limegreentoque. Edging TBD but not doing original. All squares knit with recommended needle size unless otherwise noted.
02/10/2013: When Rowan came out with a new color in Pure Wool Aran in 2012 (Tough), I changed my mind about the color of yarn I wanted to use for my GAAA. The original Ivory is just a bit too bright and buttery for me, and although the Tough is not exactly perfect either, it is closer to what I had in mind. So I traded 10 balls of Ivory to Sheep Thrills for 10 of Tough, because I LOVE Pure Wool Aran even if it is a bit pricey and lacking in color range compared to other worsted superwashes.
So between the change of heart regarding color and the fact that I am tired of my 24-inch interchangeable cable AND size 7 interchangeable needles being buried at the bottom of a project bag for almost 2 years, this sadly neglected square came out of hibernation and will be finished this week. Will probably make a pillow out of it. However, the GAAA most certainly WILL go on!!! Some day :-)
Amazing how much easier this project is, especially working with the charts, now that I have a couple of years of experience under my belt :-)
03/02/2013: Urf. Test knitted the Tough on the Levy square and while it’s a great color, I don’t like it for this project. So it’s back to the Ivory (need to order a fresh batch - probably 3 bags to be safe). On the upside, I have one square completed! Yay me :-) Strong square used slightly less than one ball and blocked to 12 x 12.
03/03/2013: Started Levy square in the Ivory PWA.
03/12/2013: Finished Levy square; started Belanger square. Levy square used just about one ball and blocked to 13 x 13.
03/20/2013: Finished Belanger square; started Selesnick square. Belanger used about one ball and is blocking to about 12 x 12.
03/31/2013: Finished Selesnick - currently being blocked. Much wider at top and bottom than in the middle so hope it blocks well. Started Burns but not easy to follow due to Chart B - going to chart entire square in Excel otherwise it will take weeks and I will surely make mistakes. Selesnick square seemed to use less yarn than the other three squares, which is odd because so many other Ravelers indicated their Selesnick was really big. Less cabling, I guess.
04/03/2013: Selesnick blocked to 12 x 12, but is not an even square. If I had blocked the sides out to straight lines, the width would have been around 14. This square either needs more stitches added in the increase row, or the ssk on each side causes it to pull in too much. Hopefully during the construction process I can erase the hourglassness of it. BTW, the Excel Burns chart is done so I should be able to cruise through that now.
04/13/2013: Finished Burns last night, super easy with the Excel chart. Again with the bunchy extra fabric at the top and bottom though! Ah well, hopefully all will come right during seaming. It is blocking to 12 x 12. Will not be starting a new one until May (settling in to one per month so can get Mom and Dad’s projects done).
06/04/2013: Put together my own square but haven’t made time to work on it for a bit. Should have done more of the increases where the center cable is but I think it’ll block OK. CO 52, knit 6 rows, inc 20 on last row, 72 sts total. Patt as foll from 101 Stitches to Knit:
K3, first 4 sts of card 9, 1 rev st st, first 10 sts card 42, 1 rev st st, first 32 sts of card 53, 1 rev st st, first 10 sts card 42, 1 rev st st, first 4 sts of card 9, 2 rev st st, K3. Cont in patt for 62 rows, ending with RS facing. K 6 rows, decreasing 20 sts on first row. Bind off.
07/10/2013: Finished Miller square :) Blocked to 12.25 x 12.25. If I was to do the square again I would leave out the 4 extra rev st st; they aren’t necessary and they just make it needlessly wider. I would also change the order of the cables to the following for better balance: card 42, card 9, card 53, card 9, card 42.
Going to set the project aside for a bit to work on UFOs and Christmas knitting.
08/27/2013: JBW is doing a KAL on this so I will join in and do whatever squares they are doing. If it’s one I’ve already done, I’ll take a break or do one of my non-GAAA squares. First up: Adams.
09/04/2013: Adams is done. Without doubt the easiest and fastest square yet. Required aggressive blocking to just barely get to 12 x 12. Used a bit less than 1 skein.
08/07/2016
Started Fenick.
08/12/2016
Fenick done - fun and pretty. 89 g; 11.5” W x 12” H before blocking. Started Smith - absolutely doing the cool construction. Might be faster to do traditionally but would lose those beautiful columns of slipped and P2tog sts.
08/14/2016
Finished Smith - love the construction. 86 g, 11.5” W x 11.75” H before blocking. Started Sumner.
08/19/2016
Finished Sumner; so much fun! My bug could use some work :-). Started Berztiss.