You’re welcome! I’m really glad it was helpful.

No. The initial chain you use to begin the FDC does not count. If you go back to the description of the FDC in Clue 1, each FDC consists of 1 base + 1 DC. So after you chain 3, you “yo and pull up lp, yo and pull through 1 lp {base ch made}, yo and pull through 2 lps, yo and pull through 2 lps {DC made}”. The initial chain 3 will anchor the side of the first row, but you won’t work into it and it does not count as a stitch. Hope that helps!

@@writermomo4 thank you very much. Yes it does help.

Aw…that’s so kind of you! I’m glad the video was helpful for you? 😊

You’re welcome! I’m so glad it was helpful for you! 😊

It’s truly my pleasure! I’m glad the video was helpful for you and really appreciate your kind words. 😊

You’re welcome! Is it clear now how the * and ** function in the instructions? I’d be happy to walk through it in more detail, if it isn’t. Just let me know!

You’re welcome!

I was positive there was no way to block my finished square to the correct size, but it actually did. (I describe what I did in detail here: www.ravelry.com/discuss/expression-fiber-arts/4292005/4601-4625#4603 ) If that doesn’t work, then you’ll want to do the following as you’re carrying each color: when switching to a new color, always 1) tug on the color you’ve been carrying to be sure it isn’t gapping out anywhere, then stretch your entire project width-wise to make sure the length of the carried yarn you’re about pick up has plenty of length across the carried portion that it won’t restrict blocking. Likewise, when you bring the color up that’s been carried across the WS, do not tug it or tighten it down to make the first stitch, or with will restrict the blocking height-wise. I really did find that wetting the block sufficiently was enough to be able to block the square that, when dry, seemed impossible to get anywhere close to the right size. While I wouldn’t leave it to soak (as that would risk the darker colors bleeding), I did use a spray bottle filled with water and a few drops of wool wash to THOROUGHLY saturate it, then left it to sit for about 10 minutes before blocking and it did stretch to the correct size with just a bit of effort.

I am so sorry I wasn’t able to get this video released the same day the clue came out! My editing program was constantly crashing on me and made the editing take so much longer than it should have.

You are so welcome! I’m really glad it was helpful for you. 😊

You're very welcome!

Thank you! That’s so kind of you. I’m so glad the tutorial was helpful!

You’re welcome! I’m so glad it was helpful for you!

YAY! You’re so welcome!

You’re welcome! I’m so glad it was helpful!

😂🤣 That’s too funny! I’m so glad the tutorials are helpful for you.

We’d love to have you join us. You’ll need to post this over on the EFA 2024 MKAL forum on Ravelry (here: www.ravelry.com/discuss/expression-fiber-arts/4295022 ) to be officially entered.

@@lindalewis9829 Awww - you’re so kind! I’m so glad the videos have been helpful for you.

You are so welcome!

@@SuzanneGoldthorp Absolutely! I will do my best to remember to do that from now on. Thanks for the suggestion! I’m glad you found the video helpful.

Well now I’m hungry! (And my closest In-N-Out is 1300 miles away, but now that’s what I’m craving!). You’re so welcome! I am so glad they’re helpful!

The swatch instructions are slightly different from the main project instructions (the video demonstrates the main project instructions). The main project version has an additional stitch at either end - just inside the edge markers - which is always purled on the RS and always knit on the WS. If you’re working the swatch while following the tutorial, just follow the written instructions and ignore the first stitch I work after the edge marker at the beginning, and the last stitch I work before the edge marker at the end.

You're welcome 😊

You’re welcome! I’m glad it was helpful!

That’s awesome! I look forward to seeing your progress.

You’re welcome. Let me apologize in advance for sending you down this rabbit hole 😉 Scroll down for the Melody Clips available in silver, gold, and pastel rainbow colors (and no, I don’t get kickbacks for sharing, I just love their products!): twiceshearedsheep.com/collections/removable-stitch-markers-for-knitting-crochet

You're so welcome!

Thank you so much for helping us along! It is so greatly appreciated ❤ Your tutorials are awesome!

You’re welcome! I’m so glad they’re helpful for you. I ended up using a US6/G (4.0mm) hook to get gauge for this square.

Hi Tracey. I actually address this specifically in the Row 9 Introduction (which begins at 22:00 in the video). Yes, you are correct that there is no mention of changing hook size in the pattern. My suggestion for doing so was just a personal recommendation, and was offered specifically because I found that working the single crochet rows with the same hook size prevented those sections from blocking as wide as the other parts of the block. I just went up one hook size - I was using a G hook (US6 / 4mm) and went up to a US7 / 4.5mm - for the single crochet rows. I hope that helps!

@@writermomo4 Thank you so much! My apologies for missing the introduction, I guess that's what I get for skipping ahead. :-) Your videos are so helpful on this project, thank you again.

I stayed at the same size, since the single crochets are interchanged with larger stitches. At the same size, the fabric easily stretched to the correct width without feeling restricted like it had been on the single crochet sections.

Hi Jen, I appreciate all of your tutorials. Thank you.

At the end of each round, you work two slip stitches. The first slip stitch will go into whichever stitch you began the round with - either slip stitch into the top of the chainless starting double crochet (csdc), or slip stitch into the 2nd chain if you began the round with a chain 3. *THEN* you slip stitch a second time around the chain space between the two puffs that began the round. This second slip stitch will move your yarn so your next round will begin in the corner each time. Does that make sense? I can definitely add a video showing that in more detail if it would help?

@@writermomo4 thank you, thank you. I think I got it now. 👍🏻

By popular request, I am going to shoot a tutorial for each MKAL clue. I apologize that the first one (and possibly the second) wont be out before the contest deadlines for those clues. But it is my hope that starting with Clue 4, the remainder of those tutorials will be released closer to when the actual clue comes out. I’m so glad you’re joining us!!!