Making the afghan

1. Pattern produced by using Microrevolt to turn graphic into small squares. Each block of the pattern was 1 SC. Many of the squares were in-between colors and a decision had to be made on the yarn color to be used. That is, there were squares that were half yellow/half gray from Microrevolt that had to be all yellow or all gray.
2. My swatch gave me the number of SC’s per yard of yarn.
3. I did not cut the yarn in each row as I changed colors. I estimated how many stitches were in each “pool” of color, then made a bobbin with the amount of yards needed to create the number of stitches. As I changed colors, I simply dropped the old color and picked up the new color in the final part of the SC. In the next row, I could pick up the color again. Because of this, the back of the afghan had small strands of yarn if the yarn had to jump a couple of stitches to pick it up on subsequent row.

Making the wallhanging

1. Initial “afghan” was stretched to shape and steam blocked. The length had to be stretched close to 12 inches. The width was more uneven. In places, it needed no stretching to reach 37 inches. In other places, it needed to be stretched 4 to 5 inches.

2. I let the afghan remain on the blocking cloth pinned in place for a week to thoroughly dry. A frame of 3 rows was then applied. 2 rows of SC and final row of twisted SC.

3. I then stretched out the afghan again to shape and wove in all the ends. I tried simply knotting at first, but realized that I could hide the ends if woven. I removed the knots and wove.

4. A backing of fleece interfacing was cut to size and the first side of a dowel pocket sewn to it.

5. Interfacing attached to the back of the afghan by steam blocking. Cell phone timer used to keep each setting down of the iron to a consistent 15 seconds.

6. Second half of dowel pocket hand-stitched to afghan, now truly a wall hanging.

7. Small nails hammered into both ends of a dowel to hold wire for hanging. A curtain rod with decorative ends could also be used.

Changes for the future:
(1) I think I’d crochet the 3 rows of border AFTER the interfacing is ironed on the back. The border would then go through the actual afghan and the interfacing.

Or, the border could be stitched at the same time as the afghan. This would eliminate the zig zags where the border touched another color. Or one row of the border could be done with the afghan. The other 2 rows could be done when the afghan has a backing on it.

(2) There was a heavier interfacing available but the store was out of it. I’d try to get that one next time.

(3) Before using microrevolt, I’d run the jpeg through a photo software and stretch the photo so it’s distorted to be longer. I tend to crochet SC’s shorter than wider. Microrevolt assumes SC’s are square.

(4) A much more attractive dowel for hanging it: curtain rod with finials.