When we saw Block #4 for the 2021 Moogly CAL, both Rah-Rah and I thought we had it made in the shade.
A simple chevron pattern, how hard could this be? (Cue music from The Lorax…)
The Block is Diagonal Chevrons by A Crocheted Simplicity.
I don’t usually have much problem with new squares, but even I had to start the square over once! (It happens to everyone sometimes.) I remembered reading the comments on the Moogly Afghan CAL Facebook page where some people had chosen to do chain 2 in the corners instead of chain 1. This solved my issues…mostly.
Robin was having problems of her own and would soon learn an important lesson: Don’t headache and crochet!
Rah-Rah: It all began on a Saturday morning. Feeling sick to my everything, I thought it was an excellent time to tackle square 4. With everything on my lap and my computer by my side, I started chaining, and all was well. Next single crochets and count this funky stitch here and then one more over there. The start gave me some strange confidence that I was doing it correctly. Another row or two behind me and the overwhelming feeling that something was not correct crawls across my mind. Sinking in, I see it. My points in the chevron are all going in the same direction. Is it suppose to be a wave?
I sent a picture to Heidi and asked her if it looked right. I knew she had not worked on the square yet, because she told me, yes, she believed I was doing as it was supposed to be. This message must have motivated her to begin. An hour later, she sent me hers completed.
Robin exaggerates, of course. It definitely took me longer than an hour to make this square. There were times when I flat-out thought this square was never going to work out. I definitely did not think it would block to a square!
Rah-Rah: With one hand on my forehead, I used the other one to walk my stitches out. I think they call that frogging. Anyway, I began from my chain again, and this time the pattern was correct. With great relief, I continued. The square was coming together, but by this time, it was late in the evening, and I set it aside so I could get some sleep.
Frogging (v) – the act of unraveling all of the work you have just done in a crochet or knit project usually leaving you with a pile of messy yarn
Rah-Rah: On Sunday, I finished the square, and I faked the edges. I liked it, but I could see all the horribly huge horrendous mistakes. I was so sick I just blocked it anyway and went back to bed to cry. From now on, I will not crochet when I feel that sick. The square looks okay in a picture at a great distance.
Like Robin, I also faked the edges of my square. There were some uneven bits on the side that just refused to be hidden. Unlike Robin, I chose not to redo it. I’m hoping the joining border will hide many indiscretions.
Robin’s first attempt 
My finished square with weird edges
Rah-Rah: Monday, I began again because I felt so much better, and there is no way I was going to add this disaster to my blanket. One Zoom meeting later, and I had a new square completed. I did not feel like this pattern was complicated. After making one, I could see what was supposed to happen. This block also really showed me how inconsistent I am with my tension. In the beginning, I used very loose crochet, and it appears I overcompensated and started working things too tightly. By the end of the year, I may have this problem worked out…or not.
Even for an advanced crocheter, this square taught me a lot. There were many new techniques used for the construction of the block. These are techniques I can see using in the future when designing objects of my own. After all, adding to a project with extra chains is right up my alley–I usually do absolutely everything to avoid sewing things together.
This crochet along is really coming together. I might start joining as I go once I find the join I want to use.
The best part about the project this year is that I am crocheting with Robin, whether in person or from 25 miles away. Crochet, like anything, is better when you do it with friends.
My first four squares 
Robin’s first four squares
To catch up on our crazy crochet antics, check out the posts for Square 1, Square 2, and Square 3. Comment and let us know if you’re crocheting along with us.