Working On Clue 5

I'm super happy to say I've finally figured out a method for blocking!
I pin out my squares on my foam blocks (only two squares at a time... not enough pins!), and then spray them both with some water from a spray bottle. Then, with the iron set on 7 (it's highest setting) and steam at it's highest, I steam the squares holding the iron about 1-2 inches above the fabric, patting them down when I switch back and forth between the two. Once I'm satisfied that they've been steamed enough, I cover each square with a dishcloth, pat it down, and leave it to dry for about 2 hours. This method has worked very well so far for the 6 squares that I've blocked, the only (slight) exception being the one clue 2 square I did. It's so stretchy that even though it did get larger, I'll have to stretch it a bit width-wise before sewing that part in the afghan. 

Layout 1

Layout 2

Speaking of sewing the afghan together, even though I've been happy with the blocking so far, I'm still a little afraid that the squares will all snap back to how they were over night. So while some of my squares were still blocking, I laid out two half afghans, took some pictures, and worked some Photoshop magic. 
At first I was leaning towards layout 1, but after I saw layout 2 in better lighting and both of my parents concurred that 2 was better, that's what I went with!


Once the layout was decided on, I was able to sew together the squares that I'd blocked, hopefully so that they will stay the proper size, just in case. ;)
I did run into one issue while seaming though. It was suggested in the clues that you leave 12" yarn tails to use for seaming, and I did, even though my squares are about .75" smaller than the expected size. And yet, when I was seaming, I ran out of yarn tail for seaming about halfway down the squares! Each seam uses one yarn tail from one end, and another yarn tail from the other end for seaming. Even given that unforseen difficulty, seaming has been going incredibly quickly! I hope to finish blocking on Thursday, and seaming hopefully that same day (I'll be seaming as the squares are blocked). Therefore I need to finish up the first square for my second afghan to free up my 5mm straight needles so I can knit the long borders for this afghan! I am so excited for it to be competed... the finish line is in sight! :D

Two 3/4 strips sewn together

Things I learned:

• seaming squares with the overcast stitch
• weaving in ends in knitting (especially in rib and garter stitches)
• a method of blocking that works for me!