GREAT AMERICAN ARAN AFGHAN - 24 SQUARES

THE GREAT AMERICAN ARAN AFGHAN

 SQUARE # 18

Designed by DAGMARA BERZTISS  from Eggenstein, Germany, (page 48).

If there ever was a reason for Dagmara to enter the GAAA contest, well, it's due to her wide range of talents and artistry: from Latvian Mittens, Aran knitting, designing Knitwear, using pagan symbols (geometric/symmetric), knitting sculptural forms, wall hangings and vessels in copper wire ...to... metallurgical engineering, pottery, sculpture - is there anything else?

Gadzooks!  The knitting world is very fortunate to have your GAAA entry for us to study and knit as best we can.

Historian, Dr. Austra Zervins (taught her to use double points, carry yarn etc,), verified this design as Latvian's pagan symbol of the 'The Moon Cross'.  It has multiple interpretations: it is associated with the God of War and Warriors as well as being a symbol for the 'Protector of Orphans'.  Whatever the case, this entry is truly one-of-a-kind and absolutely worthy of praise!

THANK YOU DAGMARA!

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Class Title:

                       SQUARE 18 (Pg.48) of the GREAT AMERICAN ARAN AFGHAN.

Designer:

                       DAGMARA BERZTISS

Instructor:

                       Linda L. Lucente

Materials:

                       Yarn:

                               May we suggest NAVAJO WOOL (Thunderbird Lodge) or machine washable COMFORT (Berroco)..

                               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.

Needles:

                       US7 circular and a Cable needle.

Skill Level:

                       Intermediate to Advanced

Homework:

                Over an ODD number of sts: 

                Row 1: (RS) *K1,P1;rep from *,K1.

                Row 2: K the purl sts and P the knit sts.

                Rep Row 2 for Seed st.

Dates/Times:  

                        JUNE 20, 2009 @ 1:30PM

Fee:              

                       $20.00

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.

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                       NOTE: If class materials are purchased at JSY , the class fee will be only ==> $15.00

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Also, plead read:

20 squares have been designed for the Afghan and 4 squares have been designed for individual pillows.

Your selection (one or all 24 squares) is totally up to you.  You can mix and match any square for your GAAA.

Many have already decided to knit all 24 squares whereas, others have chosen to knit 10 or less designs.

The choice is entirely yours!

A SMALL BIT OF HISTORY ABOUT THE GAAA!

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.

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 new techniques on a small scale.

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