Welcome to my blog! I am so excited to actually get started on this wonderful project. I envision this blog to be an extension of the class that we will be starting on March 23. In this class we will be making "The Great American Aran Afghan" and just focus on one square a month. I have knitted basically all my life and this is the most amazing thing I have ever knitted!! It will be fun to share it and knit it again with friends. I will share some of the little techniques I learned along the way and we will all do each square together. I really want everyone to use this blog between classes to share with each other, ask questions, and show your results! My finished afghan is now displayed at Brown's Sheep Company if you want to look at it before you make your decision on the class.

The class will meet once a month at Brown's Sheep Company on the 4th Tuesday of each month from 6:00-8:00 p.m. The charge is $7.00 per class. You can come whenever you can, make whatever squares you want. If you miss a class, hopefully this blog will help you with the square you missed. I don't want this class to be the kind of thing you get tired of having to come every month but instead, something you come when you can and enjoy what you can do. I really recommend that you are at least an advanced beginner to do this project but really as long as you know basic knitting skills and are confident with them, you can do this, even if you don't know how to do cables. We will all be learning new cable techniques along the way!

This whole project for me, started with a desire to knit something special for our son and his fiance for their wedding in May. I saw one square finished at our local knit night (thanks, Brandy), and I was smitten! I bought the book and started right away. Every square was a unique challenge but also very satisfying when you could complete one part quickly and move on to the next exciting square. Some squares are harder than others. But you will learn techniques that you've never dreamed of, and end up with a breathtaking heirloom afghan. Take one square at a time. Don't think about how many squares there are to make - and we will have fun making it together!

Here are some tips and things you need before the first class:

-Purchase the book. Donna will have several copies of this book at Brown's Sheep Company or you can purchase online. Amazon.com has the books or other sites as well.

-Yarn: If you plan on completing the entire afghan, you need to purchase all the yarn at once so you make sure you get the same dye lot. It makes a huge difference! I used Nature Spun (100% wool) from Brown's Sheep Co. It was wonderful to work with and very forgiving when you block it so each square was the same size. You need 13 skeins of the Nature Spun or 3,185 yds. of any worsted weight yarn. Donna said if you want any help choosing yarn, stop in at Brown's any time Monday-Thursday from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and she would be happy to help you.

-Needles: Each square has a specific size needle that they recommend but it depends so much on how your gauge comes out. I ended up using sizes 4,5,6,7 and 8 needles depending on the square. I also found I like using 16" curcular needles better than the straight needles but it is a matter of choice. We can discuss this at the first class.

-Sample gauge swatch: Please use the yarn you will use for the afghan and make a sample gauge swatch and bring it to the first class. This will determine your size of needles you will use. For your gauge, use size 7 needle and knit 19 stitches and 26 rows. Knit one row and purl the next until you reach 26 rows. It should measure 4" across and 4" up and down. If it is too large, go down a needle size and knit again, if too small, go up a needle size, etc.

-Cable Needles: There are several different kinds of cable needles out there but you will need to use a cable on every square. Brown's Sheep Co. has a few different kinds. We can discuss this at the first class also.

-Stitch markers: Needed for the different patterns within each square.

The first square we will do together is the Julie H. Levy square. Bring your yarn, gauge swatch, and size 7 needles or your gauge size. The square is fairly easy AND very rewarding when we get it done. You can do it!