AboutMarla Expertise I have crocheted many doilies, I enjoy working with crochet thread. I have crocheted numerous afghans. But I have little to no experience in hairpin lace, or the afghan stitch. If you have a question pertaining to a pattern in a magazine, book or leaflet, please include the name and # of it, and the page or pattern #. There is a slight possibility I may have that pattern, and can refer to it. Although I have crocheted sweaters and slippers,I don't feel I have done enough of them to really give good advice as to assembling the pieces, but can give advice on the type of stitches.
Experience I have been a crocheter for almost 30 years.
Question QUESTION: I am relatively new to crochet - I've completed a couple of afghans many years ago and recently did several scarves.
I have ripped out more times than I want to count this Vintage Lace pattern. It is out of the book "Leisure Arts Best Of Terry Kimbrough Afghans" (printed in 2000) Page 23-24 - Vintage Lace. I 'think' I am doing exactly what the instructions say, however, the result is 'nothing' like the picture. That is 'if' I don't end up with too many or too few stitches at the end of the row :-(
Is there a site where I can get up close photos of what this particular stitch should look like?
Many, many thanks for any help you can give me.
ANSWER: Hi Monica!
Thanks for asking. Don't dismiss the thought that the pattern is incorrect. There have been quite a few times that the pattern WAS incorrect. Although I have several Leisure Arts that contain some of her afghans (Leisure Arts #1446, 2702,3036) I don’t think it has that one in it, at lest not by that name, so I don't have the pattern in front of me.
I went to this web site http://www.123stitch.com/cgi-perl/itemdetail.pl?item=LA3209 and found a picture of the afghans.
I also went to : http://www.superiorhomearts.com/Afghans-Best_of_Terry_Kimbrough_Afghans.html
There may be other websites. I think the only one I have is the white one with roses on it. What you would need to do is to click on each picture and when a larger view is shown, copy and paste it into a word document. At least that is what I did. Then you can enlarge the picture, and see if you can make out the stitches. Are any of these the afghan? I am sorry I am not much help. If you could type up a few rows and send it I'll see if they make any sense. There is a craft store in my area, and I'll see if they carry that leaflet next time I am by there, and check it out. Good luck, and don't give up.
Marla
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QUESTION: Maria, Thank you so much! I never thought the pattern could be incorrect. I went to both sites you suggested. The second site has the afghan as the second one that you can enlarge- all white. The first site has it in the inset picture on the front cover - actually that is the book that I have. I did as you suggested but the photo is no larger than the one I have in the book I purchased. It is just not working. Gauge Swatch (7 1/4 w x 4 h) work for 6 rows - Ch 32 loosely - Row 1 - Working in back ridges of beginning ch, 2 sc in second ch from hook, sc in next 5 chs, skip next 2 chs, sc in next 5 chs, 2 sc in next ch, * [* = Decrease (uses next 4 ch-3sps) * Yarn Over, insert hook in next ch-3sp, Yarn Over and pull up a look, Yarn Over and draw through 2 loops on hook; repeat from * 3 times more, Yarn Over and draw through all 5 loops on hook) ch 3, skip next 3 chs, 2 sc in next ch, sc in next 5 chs, skip next 2 chs, sc in next 5 chs, 2 sc in next ch; repeat from * across: 154 sc and 10 ch-3sps.
Row 2 (right side) Ch 1, turn; working in Back Loops Only, 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 5 sc, skip next 2 sc, sc in next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc, * ch 3, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 5 sc, skip next 2 sc, sc in next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * across
Repeat Row 2 . . . My problem comes in Row 3 - which doesn't seem to make any sense to me.
If you can help great, if not - I'm going to another pattern.
I really appreciate your help and your fast response!
ANSWER: Hi Monica!
Thanks for getting back to me. I'll work on this and see what I come with. Please give me a day or so. I'll keep in touch!
Marla
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QUESTION: Thank you so much. I made a mistake in that the photo inset on the book I have is NOT the afghan I am doing. I didn't want to confuse you. Sorry. I do appreciate your help.
Answer Hi Monica!
I actually found the afghan book at a craft store and took a look at the directions. Maybe the directions were a little misleading. The swatch they tell you to make at first is sort of a practice piece to see if your gauge is the same as the authors. Maybe that is what was confusing. While you are crocheting the afghan itself, ignore the swatch. Some authors think we can read minds. I rarely bother with gauge when it comes to afghans. It gets too frustrating. But at the same time, I don't tell others to ignore it either.
The decreases that are explained occur when you do the border. That is where you see the loopy things.
Also the shape and looks aren’t really noticeable until you do probably four rows or so.
If you want to enlarge the picture you got off the Internet, I can tell you how to do that if you have Microsoft word.
The directions seem to be OK. But don’t get discouraged. There have been many times when I couldn’t make heads or tails out of some directions. Then it made sense after sleeping on it for a few days.
But it is a very pretty afghan. I hope I have helped some. If you need any more help or if I haven’t answered your questions, please let me know. Good luck!
