Expert: Marla - 12/5/2007

Question
QUESTION: I want to make a baby afghan and use the squares to spell baby.  How do I do this and how do I finish it?

ANSWER: Hi Dee!
Thanks for asking! Are you referring to granny squares? If so, I have a pattern for them. Or do you just want to do regular crochet?  I crocheted a mat for my dog using single crochet with his name on it. The first thing I did was I used a piece of graph paper and shaded in the squares to spell his name. I just used block letters. If you want to get fancy with the lettering, perhaps you could find some patterns in a cross stitch or plastic canvas craft book.  That would be the first step. Then I figured out how large to make the mat, and this helped me determine the size of the letters. For starters, you could do the same thing, regardless on which way you want to make the afghan. But please let me know which way you want to make the afghan. Hope to hear from you again.

Marla

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I thank you for the reply, however I want to make the afghan using square.  Do you have a picture of the one you made your dog?

Answer
Hi Dee!
I don't think I have a picture of the mat, but I don't know how to send a picture anyway. I hate to use someone's efforts to show you what my work looks like, but I found a picture of a cute afghan that would show you what crocheting  letters would look like. My dog's mat looks similar, except his letter style is simple, just block letters. The website is  http://forums.allcrafts.net/. Scroll down, and click on the picture of  the "Love a lot bear" afghan. Another website I found has a fancier lettered afghan: http://www.crochetkim.com/patterns/perbaby.html
Working with granny squares would probably make it look nicer and more detailed that my dogs mat,  but working with single or double crochet would be a little easier. If you decide to go with granny squares, let me know and I have instructions for the square. I hope this helps. Good luck!

Marla