I didn't place the squares in the order that they were knit, but I'll describe them in the order of the finished blanket from the top left corner going across.
The top left square is a fair isle pattern for October. By this point, I was running out of the grey color and I didn't want to buy more, so that is why the center part of the pattern used black instead of grey.
Next is the January square, which created a pattern using knits and purls. I remember that this one came out smaller than it was supposed to and I tried to aggressively block it, which stretched it out too much. So the blocking/size issues occurred from the very beginning.
Finishing out the top row is the February square, which taught us about mosaic knitting, a technique that I think it really neat but which I haven't yet used again. I really should try it again.
Starting row two is the December square, which was just garter stitch stripes to use up whatever yarn we had leftover. I actually had only half finished this one so I did finish it up this past week. It's a pretty massive square.
Next to it is the May square with a cable pattern. I like cables. They're not really that difficult but they look really neat.
And at the end of row two is the March square which was another cable square. That's something I like about cables. There are so many different ways of doing them that patterns can look completely different even when using a similar technique.
Row three starts with the November square, which was all about texture with brambles, basketweave, and bobbles. I thought the bobbles were fun to knit. But this square is absolutely massive, the biggest one of the bunch. No wonder I ran out of the grey yarn! I really should have ripped this out and gone down a needle size (or two) when I saw how big it was turning out, but I was convinced that blocking would solve everything. Ha ha!
Then comes the September square. This one was really neat because you start out in the center and knit out. It creates a really interesting pattern. I think I'd like to make more things like this. I need to keep that in mind!
Row three ends with the June square, which used the linen stitch. I'll have to admit that I'm not crazy about how this square turned out. I'm not sure if I should have left the grey out (definitely not as the main color at least) or if I'm just not a fan of linen stitch. Guess I should try it again some time to figure that out.
The last row starts with the August mitered squares block. This was a really awesome technique and I told myself that I wanted to do a whole blanket with blocks like this. Well, that was a few years ago--have I done that? Nope. Guess it's another thing to put on my knitting to do list.
Then comes the other fair isle square, for April. This one was knit in the round and then in October, we had a special class for steeking! For those of you not up to knitting lingo, steeking means that you cut your knitting (in this case to make a tube into a flat square). We reinforced the sides with a sewing machine, and then cut away. Picking up stitches around the edge to create a border helped to also reinforce those stitches. It was my first (and still only) time with steeking, and it was quite exhilarating! I definitely have to do that again. This square also has the year--2010--so I'll always remember when I started it (and completed most of it--and how long I waited before putting the blocks together).
The last block is the lace block, which was July. This one was the smallest block. Once again, I should have ripped this out and started again on larger needles as well as adding more to it. But I told myself that lace can block out much larger. Sure...that obviously didn't happen!
Anyway, I'm happy to have it done and it will always be a reminder of learning lots of lessons, including lessons about finishing and gauge. I love it for that!
