Another Tetris Afghan

[Malica]

For a dear friend's wedding I wanted to make her a geeky afghan, but a little more subtle than my last one. After buying and flipping through Crochet Stitch Bible I got it in my head to stick to one or two colours and play only with texture and raised stitches, so this is what I came up with:



I had intended to make the brown boarder bigger so that the afghan would be a good size for two, but my procrastination got the better of me and as it was I had all the fans in the house trying to dry it out from blocking and weaving in the ends the morning of the wedding. Oh, well. I'm still happy with it, and hope she was too.

It's made from Lion Brand Fisherman's wool. The raised stitches are various combinations of post stitches in the right places (I think that's what you call them - where instead of going into the normal part of the stitch you go around the post either from the front or back, depending on which side I was working). I had a lot of fun coming up with this (especially since I don't do well with reading patterns still) although I think I'm going to do a few smaller projects next which don't take as much time.

[kwality570]

Amazing.  I applaud your dilligence.  I tried to start an afghan once and gave up after a foot or so. 

[beth8144]

Just amazing. I love this I love the one color look. Great job.

[wewilltaketothesea]

Wow, that's amazing! That must have taken so long! I really admire your knitting skills. 

I'm sure your friend loved this unique and beautiful present!

[fantasticmio]

It's beautiful!  Geek chic!

How did you do the raised parts that run horizontal?  Front/back loop only? (ETA: or was it just a case of back-post when the RS was facing you?)

[clayman]

I have to comment, but I don't have the words to describe how much I love this. 

Thank you for sharing this.  It is just beautiful, I would hang it on a wall.

[Malica]

Thanks everyone!

How did you do the raised parts that run horizontal?  Front/back loop only? (ETA: or was it just a case of back-post when the RS was facing you?)

I tried doing just front/back loop which I know gives a bit of a raised line, but it's not quite definite enough so I opted for going around the post (so if I wanted a horizontal line on the front, I would work the back of each post all the way along). Vertical lines are worked on the front post (rs) and horizontal lines back post (rs). I did a number of samples of each of the 'intersections' of lines up to see which would be better - should I continue the horizontal line or the vertical line and in the end it worked out best to just do a normal DC at the intersections instead.

The horizontal lines aren't as well-defined if you're viewing them head on, but on even a bit of an angle they standout just as much as the vertical lines so I'm happy.

[NotKnit]

Unbelievably awesome! 

[dropoffradar]

i love it. subtle geekiness (or as i like to call it, 'undercover') is my favorite thing to achieve

[skullseamstress]

The incredibility of this piece is melting my brain!

AUUUUUGH!



Edit: I'm sure by now you know, but this afghan made it onto the craftster blog! Which is where I found it. ^_^

[Malica]

Edit: I'm sure by now you know, but this afghan made it onto the craftster blog! Which is where I found it. ^_^

w00t! I hadn't seen that as I often just dive into the completed projects boards. Totally made my day! Thanks!

[fantasticmio]

Wow, ok, after doing up a little swatch using this technique I'm even *more* impressed with this blanket than I was (I didn't think that was possible, to be honest!).

Kudos to you!

[Malica]

Thanks fantasticmio! I had a lot of fun trying to figure out a technique and general futzing around to see what would work. Now if there was a way (and their probably is - just haven't thought it through yet) to do angled post stitches so you weren't limited to just horizontal or vertical lines there's tons of things you could do with that.

[fantasticmio]

Thanks fantasticmio! I had a lot of fun trying to figure out a technique and general futzing around to see what would work. Now if there was a way (and their probably is - just haven't thought it through yet) to do angled post stitches so you weren't limited to just horizontal or vertical lines there's tons of things you could do with that.

I thought of that, too, when I was swatching.  I wonder if the answer might lie in the techniques used in crocheted cables.  I haven't tried them out yet, though, so I'm not sure.

[Malica]

I thought of that, too, when I was swatching.  I wonder if the answer might lie in the techniques used in crocheted cables.  I haven't tried them out yet, though, so I'm not sure.

Ooh - probably. I haven't had any interest in crocheted cables (having learnt knit cables first, and just generally don't like crochet trying too hard to be a craft that it is not), but now I'm interested... If you try it out, could you let me know? I don't have a particular purpose in mind but I'm sure it'll percolate in the back of the noggin and it'll come back out as a crazy project idea.

[fantasticmio]

Ooh - probably. I haven't had any interest in crocheted cables (having learnt knit cables first, and just generally don't like crochet trying too hard to be a craft that it is not), but now I'm interested... If you try it out, could you let me know? I don't have a particular purpose in mind but I'm sure it'll percolate in the back of the noggin and it'll come back out as a crazy project idea.

I've been procrastinating on learning crocheted cables for that reason, too.  They just don't have the same sort of feel that knitted cables do.  Kind of like Tunisian entrelac... I wish we'd stop calling it that, because it's quite a nice technique on its own, but it doesn't look ANYthing like knitting entrelac does.

Another question about your blanket:  did you draw out  a pattern, or just make it up as you went?

[Malica]

Another question about your blanket:  did you draw out  a pattern, or just make it up as you went?

The only 'pattern' I went from was the tetris blocks drawn out on graph paper, and I knew in my head each square was 12 (or was it 14?) stitches by 8 rows. I wanted the pieces to be perfectly interlocking and knew there was no way I'd end up with that if I'd left it to chance.

[clrowi]

I have been pondering a "Tetris" themed wedding gift for my sister, and this is such a mature twist on an old classic (and a LOT easier/cheaper than the bookcase I had settled on!!), that I think it will be perfect for her!!! Thanks so much for sharing, the grey was the perfect colour choice.

[Malica]

I can only imagine. I've had my eye on various sets of tetris-themed shelving units for a while now. I will have to break down and just make them myself some day!

[GathGreine]

I also love the subtle geekyness of it ; )  I think a colorful version, but smaller would make an awesome mini-quilt/wall hanging!

[SciFunk]

Whoo! That is super stylish. Lucky friend you have.

[Malica]

Thanks everyone! I was super surprised to see I was chosen as a featured project. You'll have to forgive the 12 year old girl who lives inside my head sometimes, but SQUEEEE!!!

[SomethingWickedProduction]

I love this blanket. It's a total must have for the sophisticated nerd, the texture is just gorgeous.

[wifeofbath]

I would still think this is a great-looking afghan even if I'd never heard of Tetris. The subtle coloring and use of texture to make the tetris pieces are great and make me think of architecture and old tile mosaics--if that makes any sense.

...for the sophisticated nerd...

That should be the slogan for a whole catalogue of products. I would order that catalogue.

[NotKnit]

...for the sophisticated nerd...

That should be the slogan for a whole catalogue of products. I would order that catalogue.

I would too! LOL

[mrsflibble]

very very very cool.

[Anneliese25]

I once made an afghan as a wedding present, but it wasn't nearly as cool as this and she loved it. I'm sure your friend loved it too!

[twofrogs]

Wow.  How I wish I was handy with the hook.  I couldn't crochet a granny square if you dangled me over a pool of sharks by my ankles and told me it was my only chance at being set free.  Um.  Anyway.  This is gorgeous.  I would have LOVED this as a wedding present.  And I love that it isn't all different colors - it gives the afghan a kind of sophisticated, yet slyly nerdy air.  Really beautiful, and congrats on being featured. 

[CrochetDad]

This is so cool.  What a unique gift.

[Stein]

This is fantastic. I love it! The grey looks amazing.

[kmartkitty]

You did a GREAT job!!!!