tackling the hieroglyphics...

A few years ago I was impressed to find out that Mr H could actually knit, yep, for real. It seems it wasn't something he wanted to brag about. (The sight of him demonstrating still makes me chuckle now). In fact, he could knit better than I could at the time. Now that I'm getting to grips with crochet he is in total admiration of my new found skill. He will often joke that 'a row of half treble cluster double decreases would look nice in dk'. It's complete nonsense of course. He calls the patterns 'hieroglyphics' and to be fair, he's not far wrong.

This square (part of a throw design) doesn't seem too complicated now that I've completed it but a few things threw me along the way. I tried it first in a charcoal grey yarn and found it difficult to see the stitches - a big nuisance when you're learning a new pattern and keep having to check or count the stitches. I switched to a nasty white acrylic to correct that problem (just for sampling) and I reckon it shows up the design better in a light colour anyway.

The other issue crochet beginner's will identify with I'm sure, was realising the difference between working into a space or working into a stitch. It could be just me, but I tend to expect one or the other in a pattern and not both. This square has both.

Plus points:
Each square is a whopping 25cm x 25cm
(with a few edging rounds this might make a good cushion front)
It takes about 25 minutes to make one square
You could have a good size throw in just 12 squares
An ideal portable project
No colour changing makes for speedier progress but you could checkerboard the overall throw for a variation.

If I can find a sumptuous chunky yarn with a good drape (oo, hark at me with the jargon!) then I'll eventually make the throw:

Crochet in No Time by Melody Griffiths
Project title: Cosy Creamy Throw

There's a couple of completed throws on ravelry. Both look fabulous.