GREAT AMERICAN ARAN AFGHAN ( 24 SQUARES )

 SQUARE # 16

Designed by ANN McCAULEY from Bolder Colorado, (page 38).

Dances, movements, knitting, designs, processes, spontaneity, textures and inspirations: these are just some of the words that can be used to better describe our featured square winner of the GAAA contest.  

That's because she: 

     * Dances (she actually teaches at The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, and

                                                           The Bolder College of Massage Therapy); 

     * Knits (well - of course); 

     * Designs her own patterns; 

     * Relates process with spontaneity;

     * Loves to dabble with all sorts of textures; and, 

     * Typically gets her inspiration from the famous Barbara Walker 

         (she advises any and all to read at least 1 of Walker's books).

This Aran square, my dear friends, has been dubbed ==> "The BOBBLEDY".  

The 'waves of bobbles' can actually be considered to be 'popcorn stitches' since they are worked without turning - clever!  

Just looking at the pattern (as well as the actual square) one can 'feel' the joy put into it's design.  

Lots of fun here - for sure.

THANK YOU ANN!  

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Class Title:    SQUARE 16 (Page 38) of THE GREAT AMERICAN ARAN AFGHAN.

Designer:      ANN McCAULEY

Instructor:     Linda L. Lucente

Materials:  Yarn:    May we suggest Navajo Wool or machine washable COMFORT.

                               If choosing a single color for the entire afghan, we may be required

                               to special order the yarn to ensure dye lot.  (please call in advance.)

                   Yards:    200 (approx.)

Needles:

                   US 8 (straights or circulars)

Skill Level:

                   Intermediate, and the ability to read and use charts.

Homework:

                Cast on 57 sts.  Work 3 ridges, end with a WS row.

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:  

                 APRIL 18, 2009 @ 1:30pm

Fee:              

                 $20.00

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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 

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

The choice is entirely yours! You can choose to even use only 1 design.

So, choose the designs you want and attend only those classes!

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.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~