If this is your first time reading about my current crochet challenge, make sure you go back and read this post for a refresher of my self-imposed rules.

As I post each square, I will post the name and difficulty rating given to each square by Diana Krenz in her book 100 Vibrant Granny Squares, which I’m using for this challenge. Then I will give my difficulty rating and notes about the yarn I used and any new stitches, etc., that I encounter. See squares 1-2 here and sqaures 3-5 here.

I am currently crushing the gauntlet. I more than doubled my squares this week from five to eleven! This is the pace I need to continue if I’m going to finish the gauntlet in time. I’m also making my way quickly through this stash of yarn and most importantly, I have a plan for my first project.

Project Status: 0/10

The status is the same. I still have no finished project, but I have a plan. It requires 20 squares BUT it’s a front and back situation so I will use 10 squares on the front and 10 solid squares on the back. I’m hoping it comes together as envisioned. Hopefully next week I’ll get to share it with you.

Now, without further ado, the squares:

Though the difficulty rating by the author increased, I’m leaving my rating at a solid 2. I personally feel that if you’ve been able to complete the other squares up to this one, then it will be no problem. I have begun to take a little more license with the color placement.

There’s not much to say about this one other than it’s a lot of fun!

This square looks more complicated than the others, but it really isn’t. I increased my difficulty rating solely on the fact that the author uses three different diagrams to complete it.

I like the layers and texture of this square: ruffled petals, hexagonal and round. I feel like this square is ready for a princess party or maybe it would make a great stocking cap for Tinkerbell.

Have I mentioned that I love pink and green together? This square uses the color combination to its full advantage.

It is amazing to me how many times we can use the same stitches and colors and the squares still appear unique. We can’t possibly keep designing patterns infinitely, right?

You are not seeing the original color choices, but the original had a row of white in the center where I have the light pink. That makes that round the star of the show. In my square, the star of the show are the red puffs that remind me of rose or tulip buds.

This square was not my nemesis. I increased my difficulty rating to 2.5 just because of needing to place the puff stitches in the correct spots on two of the rounds. I’m not completely sure that my dark green puffs are quite right, but I like how it looks.

Can you tell what colors I might be running out of soon? If you guessed green, you’re correct. But I have a plan (see my project status).

Again, the texture and layering on this square are on point.

Does this square feel like it came out of left field or what?!

In all fairness, this square was a welcome relief to the color changing and intricacy. It is still not a level one difficulty as I’ve made four of these and have had to read the pattern each time (Why would I make four? You might have read something about solid squares under the project status. Stay tuned…), so for that reason I would keep it at a two rating.

With each pattern, I am loving the included diagrams more and more. This square is one that I relied more heavily on the diagram than the written instructions.

This square does have one BIG problem. The author gives you an option of changing the single crochet in the final round to a half double crochet to make size. I didn’t include the final round because my squares were already measuring bigger than all of the others. This is decidedly because of the lack of layering in this square. Stitches are worked INTO stiches and chains and not AROUND them. So even though everything was the same (the crocheter, the yarn, the hook), the stitches weren’t quite as compact.

It’s the middle of summer. I’m not “longing for snow.” But I do like this square. If it was worked in multiple colors it would looks similarly intricate to the rest of the squares.

The lacy corners and solid petals on this square give it a new look. I changed up the colors (see note about running out of greens), which made the petals look more solid than they would have otherwise. An all around solid square.

10% Check-in

So, here I find myself just over 10% through my Granny Square Gauntlet. My thoughts so far:

Pros:

• I’m using up my stash yarn.
• I love that all of the squares belong together.
• This challenge is motivating and fun.

Cons:

• I started this challenge in the summer when my schedule is more open. Soon, I have to start planning out my homeschool year, teach, and host co-op. It might be a little more difficult to keep the pace to finish on time.
• Coming up with projects is hard.

Any guesses on what my first project will be? Share in the comments if you know.

In the meantime…

Keep stitching, Heidi