When All is Done

As promised, I've consolidated ALL the links to Mainly Crochet's By the Sea CAL in one place- right here!
The First Square:
 http://www.mainlycrochet.org/store/p339/By_The_Sea_CAL_First_Square.html

The Second Square:  http://www.mainlycrochet.org/store/p340/Second_Square_for_By_the_Sea_CAL-_Multi_Granny_Square.html

The Third Square:
http://www.mainlycrochet.org/store/p341/Third_Square_for_By_The_Sea_CAL-_Full_Granny.html

The Fourth Square:
http://www.mainlycrochet.org/store/p342/Fourth_Square_for_the_By_The_Sea_CAL-_Waves_Square_pattern.html

The Fifth Square:
http://www.mainlycrochet.org/store/p343/Fifth_BTS_CAL_Square-Beach_Glass.html

The Sixth Square:
http://www.mainlycrochet.org/store/p345/Sixth_By_The_Sea_CAL_Square.html

The Seventh Square:
http://www.mainlycrochet.org/store/p346/Seventh_Square_for_the_By_the_Sea_CAL-Landscapes.html

The Eighth Square:
http://www.mainlycrochet.org/store/p347/By_The_Sea_CAL_8th_Square-_Intarsia.html

The Ninth Square:
http://www.mainlycrochet.org/store/p348/By_The_Sea_CAL_Ninth_Square_C2C.html

The Tenth Square:
http://www.mainlycrochet.org/store/p349/By_The_Sea_CAL_10th_Square-_Whirlpool.html

A Bit on Blocking and Joining for the By The Sea CAL:
http://www.mainlycrochet.org/store/p350/A_Bit_on_Blocking__and_Joining__Info_for_the_By_The_Sea_CAL.html

By The Sea CAL Edgings:
http://www.mainlycrochet.org/store/p352/By_the_Sea_CAL_Edgings.html


Please keep in mind, especially those of you who are not the most expert of crocheters, that the sequence here is intentional. My goal was to help you all learn different color work techniques, without putting too much stress on your systems. While square # 10 may seem impossible to a beginner, it's really not if you've experienced Squares # 6 and 7 first. The HELPS are meant to hand hold you the best I can at this distance and to give you visual reference for what you are aiming for.
I hope that the skills you learn(ed) here will make all the rest of your crochet more pleasurable!

The Edge

If you've made an afghan, you need an edging!

Neither the Homespun Version edge nor the Vanna's Choice edge is difficult, unless you are low on Patience. If that is the case, I'd suggest sticking with just the sc edge, though obviously, I decided to chain and flag far into the night!

The link for both is here:

http://www.mainlycrochet.org/store/p352/By_the_Sea_CAL_Edgings.html

Apologies for the lack of full photos- will hopefully be able to take more this weekend, asuming the downpours stop!


https://youtu.be/QeWBS0JBNzQ
Full Disclosure: I was NOT dressed like Lady Gaga as I worked these edgings!

and because we cjust cannot leave this project without a glorious celebration of music- Georg Frederic Handel's The Water Music,,
https://youtu.be/JH3T6YwwU9s

and because, except for seeing all your photos, it is:
https://youtu.be/ayo75QnDnss

Politics & Crochet

          I am not really a political person, beyond my "buy local, eat organic" stand.
I am, however, prone to sympathy towards anyone who is an immigrant, as three of my four grandparents, with my great aunt, came over to this country from Poland in 1898. My other grandparent's parents came over before that. That grandmother and my grandfather both sponsored people who came over later, and I have fond childhood memories of sitting around my grandmother's dining room table (which I now own), with people who spoke a language not my own. I suspect my own inclination towards communal living in the 70s was in part due to that early experience of merging people and cultures around my grandmother's table.
       I saw the Safety Pin movement on Facebook this morning (thank you Stephen Duneier!) and realized that I could encourage that in spades with this scarf pattern I already had done.
https://www.facebook.com/theguardian/videos/531097203744714/

Simple enough for beginners, and about as inexpensive as it gets:
http://www.mainlycrochet.org/store/p351/Allison_Safety_Pin_Scarf.html

Not enough time to post right now and take a model photo, so here it is, as it is, no matter what country you're in, or what country you come from.

Getting it Together

And now comes the part that most of you like least.....joining the squares, and loose ends.

I do love to sew, and weaving in loose ends just seems like the cherry on the top of the sundae- I don't always want to eat it, but I appreciate the aesthetics of it being there.

This weeks link is here:

http://www.mainlycrochet.org/store/p350/A_Bit_on_Blocking__and_Joining__Info_for_the_By_The_Sea_CAL.html


If this isn't enough to keep you busy this 4th of July weekend, you can always do the preliminary to the final edgings: a simple sc edge, with 3 sc in the corners, done with White or Hepplewhite, depending on which version you're working on.

and because water gets sung about in so many ways:
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3RHZEzVUBPk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

https://youtu.be/OS6-p-IxyHg

https://youtu.be/q6wVijh2n9g


Next Friday, we'll finish up with edges two.Til then!