Loop n' Lace Tutorial

Now it's time to put everything together! I got the idea off a technique not commonly used called loop n' lace. I took the basic idea from that technique but I needed to figure out a way to connect the corners. That was a little tricky.

I started in the top right corner and laid out all of my squares according to my above pictures chart. Go up to the square in the top right and begin to loop n' lace in between squares 3 and 4 going down. In order to do the loop n' lace technique you take the ch 10 loops and the ch 15 loops and keep them separate. It is important to remember that the ch 15 connect to the square across from it and the ch 10 stay on the square to which they are attached.

Start at a corner and I always begin with the ch 10. Take the top chain and loop then ch 10 below it through the first ch. Then you take the third ch 10 and loop it up through the second ch. Continue to the bottom of the square and repeat of the other square.

Then move onto the ch 15. Take the ch 15 on the left side and slide the ch 15 on the right side through the ch on the left. Then loop the second ch 15 on the left through the first ch on the right. Continue all the way to the bottom of the square.

The corners are the hardest part of this process. Mostly because I didn't use an exact science to connect the corners. There however are a few things that are important to remember. First of all, make sure you are lining up the squares. They can shift during the process. Second, you will need to use some of the loops twice in order to create the effect through the corners.

The technique I used was to keep the ch 10 on the top and continue to ch 15 underneath the ch 10. I also made sure That I started in the top corner and worked from top to bottom and right to left.

Loop' N Lace Blanket Pattern

I have previously posted pictures of the baby blanket for Baby Carter. It was the Michigan color themed blanket but can be made in any colors. I have even thought of doing some double stitching for logos on the squares. At any rate, here is now I did the original blanket.

First I made the 16 squares.

Size 8 needles. I used circular but that's simply a preference.

Cast on 30 stitches.

Row 1: K to end

Continue in row 1 till you have a perfect square. What I did instead of counting rows was simply pull the corner of the cast on edge up to the opposite corner. If everything lined up correctly then I would cast off.

This square is obviously not a complete square. But that's the very technical way I used to tell if it was a square haha.

Easy so far right?? Here comes the fun part!

Now you have to take all 16 squares (or however many you choose to do this pattern allows for a lot of customization) and crochet around the squares.

I started by making a simple chart of where the squares where going to go on the blanket because depending on what square depends on how you crochet. Also a very technical way to do this. Sharpie and a scrap piece of paper gets the job done!

Squares 6, 7, 10, 11. Start with a slip stitch in one of the corners. Chain 15. Slip stitch back into square. Chain 10. Slip stitch back into square. Continue all the way around the squares and tie off at the end.

You want all of your squares to line up with the rows and columns facing the same way so after doing the middle squares I did the corners.

Squares 1: Only ch 10 across the top and the left side of the square. Alternate between ch 15 and ch 10 on the other two sides (just like you alternate in the middle squares).

Square 4: Only ch 10 across the top and the right side of the square. Alternate between ch 15 and ch 10 on the other two sides

Square 13: Only ch 10 across the bottom and the left side of the square. Alternate between ch 15 and ch 10 on the other two sides

Square 16:Only ch 10 across the bottom and the right side of the square. Alternate between ch 15 and ch 10 on the other two sides

Square 2, 3: Only ch 10 across the top. Alternate between ch 15 and ch 10 on the other three sides

Square 5, 9: Only ch 10 across the left side. Alternate between ch 15 and ch 10 on the other three sides

Square 8, 12: Only ch 10 across the right side. Alternate between ch 15 and ch 10 on the other three sides

Square 14, 15: Only ch 10 across the bottom. Alternate between ch 15 and ch 10 on the other three sides

Now you need to loop n' lace everything together! I will have a tutorial about how to do the loop n' lace in an upcoming post!

Today's Letdown...

Which can however, be remedied. I finally finished baby Carter's baby blanket. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of the finished project. So I happily gave them the blanket Easter Sunday at church and on my way home realize my little mistake. Hopefully, I will remember to bring my camera next time I see them. That way I could even get a picture of the little guy and the blanket!!

Baby Blanket #2

These are pictures of the second baby blanket I am making. This one is for a baby that we still don't know the gender. Everyone is hoping for a boy so I am making this in faith that the baby is going to be a boy!

I made this all from cotton yarn that can be easily laundered, since it is for a baby. I love how these colors go to together and I can't wait till it is finished so I can post the finished product.

Knitting on the Beach!

I spent so much of my time on vacation knitting. Between my mom and I, we knit 8 or 9 squares for one baby blanket. I myself knit 3 driver covers for golf clubs and started a new scarf pattern.

Later this week I will try to get the pictures and the patterns up for the driver covers, as they are really cool and I am excited about them.

Here is a picture of one of my squares for the baby blanket sitting in the sand at West Palm Beach in Florida.