“Oh, we’re halfway there. Oh, livin’ on a …” Wait! In this case, we’re not living on a prayer. Our learned skill has gotten us this far (and definitely prayer, because what is life without that?).
Block #13 of the Moogly CAL was released last Thursday, and I am constantly amazed that as an experienced crocheter I am still being introduced to new stitches and patterns. I’m even more amazed that each new square is different from the rest.
Rah-Rah mentioned something similar to me. She keeps learning new stitches. If you remember back to the beginning of this journey, I said that if Robin could do these squares, she could crochet anything. If I’m honest, I would say that I had no idea if that was true. But this experience so far has told me that it totally is. I am super impressed by all she’s done.
Since we’re over halfway done, I thought it was time to put Rah-Rah through an interview.
Me: I’m pretending this is a real interview.
Rah-Rah: My stage name was Reel, so it kind of is a “reel” interview. (LOL)
Me: So, Rah-Rah, we’re more than halfway through the CAL now. Tell me, did you honestly think you would make it this far?
Rah-Rah: I honestly thought I would finish this blanket only because I was doing it with a friend. The concern was if my friend gave up would I have a chance in getting this far along with the Moogly 2021 blanket? Without knowing that there was someone else going through the paces with me, I think I would be so far behind that I would have become discouraged and given up. This is a wonderful way to relate to a friend even when you don’t see them every day. And when we are in a crowd, we have a bond made of yarn that no one else has with us. Yarn lasts forever!
Me: What is your favorite square so far? (It’s ok, you’re allowed to play favorites. They won’t hear your response. Honestly…)
Rah-Rah: Oh my. If I have to pick one square as a favorite, hands down square 12—Celtic Knot Square by Jennifer at Celtic Knot Crochet. I love Ireland, so this square was made for me to love. My husband picked up a hook and yarn and had a go at this square himself. I think I am going to make enough of this square to border my blanket, I will start with four to do at least the corners.
A quick aside from the interviewer (me): Did you hear Rah-Rah say that her man-child picked up a hook?? If Randy starts crocheting, we’re ditching the blog and getting a YouTube channel!
Me: What did you learn from blocks #11-13
Rah-Rah: Block 11, The Reversible Secret Handshake, was surprising, because it flowed neatly.
Robin’s Secret Handshake Square 
Heidi’s Secret Handshake Square
Block 12, The Celtic Knot Square, I did over many days and each step went well. I did add too many stitches on the sides and did not want to redo it, so I made it work. This pattern also worked in new stitches and then building the knot on the board was new. This block also had a tutorial for it that spoils a person who continues to struggle with reading a pattern.
Block 13, Elmview Afghan Square, was so easy I thought there was something wrong, so I frogged the whole think and started again. I have started a second one of these squares to add more of my husband’s blue into the blanket. I learned more stitches for this block. (For decreasing the rows.)
Rah-Rah’s #13
My only concern currently is I am worried about becoming overconfident.
Me: On a scale of 1-10 where 1 is the lowest, where do you feel your crochet skill was at the start of this CAL and where do you think it is now?
Rah-Rah: At this time I may not be a “beginner,” but I can’t read a pattern very well so I am going to give myself a 5 or maybe a 6.
Me: Do you currently find yourself in the grammar, dialectic, or rhetoric stage of crocheting? (For those unaware these are skills we learn in the classical method we both use to teach our children. If you can learn to follow these steps, you can learn anything).
Rah-Rah: I stand strong in the dialectic stage. Questions are my favorite thing to do when I look at a pattern. My family feels like it is time for me to begin the journey into the rhetoric stage. Although I am dragging my feet, it is fast approaching. My daughter has a book and hooks, so she is ready for me to jump into the teaching her how to. Even my husband wants me to show him so basics. I got this!
Heidi, here again. I am quite impressed by Robin’s progress. It has been a while since she asked me any questions about crochet. She’s like the Energizer Bunny who keeps bounding ahead. She was caught up this time long before I was.
She also has to contend with a four-legged beast who has little patience for her hobby. But she’s too cute to hold it against her.
