GREAT AMERICAN ARAN AFGHAN - 24 SQUARES

THE GREAT AMERICAN ARAN AFGHAN

 SQUARE # 12

Designed by Vicki Sever  from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, (page 12).

Vicki lost her sister to breast cancer and was therefore motivated to design this wondrous square: 

the Ribbon symbolizes the strength and courage it takes to combat this hideous disease; 

the Diamond Cross represents Faith; 

the Anchor is the symbol for Hope; and, 

the Heart is for all the Love that brings us together.  

Vicki (a self-taught artistic knitter/designer) has not only dedicated this Aran Square to her beloved sister but also wishes everyone, especially those touched by breast cancer, to be blessed by the square's motifs of Faith, Hope and Love!  We hope you all will knit at least this one square as a tribute to those who suffer from breast cancer.

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Class Title:   The Great American Aran Afghan 

               Square #12 designed by Vicki Sever.

Instructor:    Linda Lucente

Materials:    

                  Yarn:    May we suggest NAVAJO Wool or machine washable COMFORT.

                               If choosing a single color for all 20-24 squares, we may be

                               required to special order the yarn to ensure dye lot.  (please contact me in advance.)

                  Yards:   Approximately 200 yards per square.

                  Gauge:   4.75 stitches per inch. (19 stitches over 4 inch square swatch)

Needles:

                  Calls for SIZE US6 -but- I used SIZE US5 to obtain gauge. Preferred type is circular 24".

                  Cable needle (cn)

Skill Level:

                  Intermediate.

Homework:

               Cast on 54 sts. Work 3 ridges. Inc 22 sts evenly across last (RS) row -- 76sts.

Comments:

                  * It is more than likely that your knitting skills will advance by the time you

                        have completed about 7 or 8 squares: this is the nature of the project

                        due to the variability of each square that presents their own challenges.

Dates/Times:  

                 December 13th @ 1:30PM

Fee:           $30.00

                 NOTE: If yarn purchased at JSY , the class fee will be only ==> $20.00

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Note: 20 squares have been designed for the Afghan and 4 squares

have been designed for individual pillows to complement the afghan.

Your selection of one or all 24 squares are totally up to you.  You can

mix and match any square. Many have already decided to knit all 

20 squares whereas, others have chosen to knit less than 10 designs.  

The choice is entirely yours!

A SMALL BIT OF HISTORY!

This Great American Aran Afghan project is the 4th afghan designed and

published in the past issues of KNITTER'S MAGAZINE.  Beginning in the

spring of 1996, prior projects included 1) The Great American Afghan,

2) The Great North American Afghan, 3) The Great American Kid's Afghan

and now, 4) The Great American Aran Afghan (GAAA).  The GAAA was the

result of a Design Contest open to it's readers.  Knitters were challenged

to design a square.  Over 6 issues later and hundreds of submissions the

TOP 24 squares were chosen.  We now present Square 1 in this class.

Not all of the squares are equal in terms of knitting skill.  Some are fairly

simple once you've learned how to use a CABLE needle (we can teach you

how to do a simple cable in minutes!)  The others are going to challenge

you a bit more.  All-in-all, this afghan will provide a perfect opportunity to

try a new technique on a small scale.

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