Granny Bobble Stripe

Did I ever mention that I like bobbles? ...  perhaps? ... once or twice? ...

Despite feeling sure that there are many now bellowing at their computer, "Karen, will you change the record, give us something different PLEASE...", I must return to an old favourite for just one more tweak.

I was inspired this week by the phrase "I think I can, I think I can" which I came across while blog surfing on MAD MAD ME blog - http://032ad8a.netsolhost.com/madmad/  Charissa used the phrase while blogging her progress on creating her own Almond Blossom Bag (or Bohemian Purse).  Take a look over there; she has a great, humorous style of writing that I personally love... (course,     ahem,  she was very complimentary about me, but that's not why I urge you to take a look honestly ...  she genuinely is really good!)

Anyway, it took me back to when I was working on my Granny Bobble Blanket and while looking at the rounds of colourful bobbles develop it struck me one day how great it would look in stripes rather than rounds.

With usual abandon I flung my granny bobble blanket aside and set about turning the pattern into flat stripes instead of rounds, and to my frustration found that I couldn't...  You see the problem was that the bobbles are only ever worked on the front side of the work, the work is never turned.  Working only on the front side, from right to left, on each row is fine on rounds, but worked flat and never turning can cause the crochet to gradually skew to one side, making your lovely crocheted rectangle turn into the leaning tower of Crochet!  I think this is due to the chain loops at the top of the stitches (the bits that you work your next stitch in) just sitting to the right to the rest of the stitch below, so each subsequent row is slightly to the right. (or could be left don't quote me!)  I tried various ways to get my stripes right, before admitting "I don't think I can"...  and that was that... until I read Charissa's blog this week.  It made me want to look at it again; I knew there must be a way and...  wait for it....  wait for it.....   de dat de dat de dat de daaaaaah..................................  there wasn't!! 

Naaaaaaaaah....  sorry couldn't help myself, there was really....  it was nearly a blog post to nothing there...

I found that where I had been going wrong was in starting my new rows by working my first stitches of the row directly into the stitches of the row below; that doesn't work and sends you squewy.  What does work is to work into the spaces created by the stitches below, that keeps you nice and straight. 

So, do you want the pattern?  Okey dokey...

Granny Bobble Stripe


I NOW HAVE A NEW WEBSITE AND THIS PATTERN CAN BE FOUND AT -

http://psicrochet.com/portfolio-items/granny-bobble-stripe/

I knew I could!!! 

Now, I have a few ends to sew in....

Happy crocheting...
xx