A Work in Progress: c2c Blanket

I have been wanting to add another blog post for a while, but it seems that my technology is conspiring against me. I managed to solve the slow phone problem, but now I'm having a problem with my home computer. Ugh. I guess that's what I get for still using Windows Vista as my operating system.

Anyway, all of my creative energies have been focused on a bigger-than-usual project. My baby cousin's Baptism is coming up and I wanted to do something special. It seemed like the perfect oppourtunity to try something I've seen on Pinterest - a c2c crochet blanket.

Corner-to-corner (c2c) crochet is a technique that involves making a blanket (or other object) out of little squares, following a chart, and changing colours at the right points that in the end it makes a picture. Honestly, when I first saw it I was amazed. Also, I couldn't help but think of all the geeky 8-bit patterns I could make. The squares are basically the same as pixels.

I've been looking up patterns in all sorts of places. Obviously starting with c2c patterns, but also searching cross stitch patterns, perler bead patterns, and pixelated pictures. I'm excited to play around with a few websites that claim to turn any picture into a chart.

Here is the chart I chose:

Armed with this information and a few blogs detailing exactly how to do the stitch, I went yarn shopping. Good thing I took my mom with me because, oh boy, yarn shopping is intimidating. Not that I don't have an entire bin stuffed full of yarn at home. But when you're making a new type of project that's also a present for someone, it helps to have a second opinion. I went with Caron, and totally guessed at home much I would need.

Stocked up, I started my project, working each square diagonally to the last. I also marked off on the chart where I was so I wouldn't get lost, which I think is the hardest part of c2c. I'm about halfway through at the moment and I'd say it's going very well. I've paused to weave in the ends a few times, which the sore spot on my thumb can attest to. Overall, I think it's going really well, especially for a first try at this style. Hopefully I can get it finished in time!