Afghan Checkerboard Patterns with 5 Panels of 5 Colors

Math is everywhere! I finished 5 pink, 5 yellow, 5 blue, 5 white and 5 brown panels for Sarah's Birthday afghan. I was looking online for a program to show me all the combinations (permutations) of the 5 each of 5 colors in a 5x5 grid. But alas, I didn't know how to search so I didn't find it. So I put her to work! Each time she finished a pattern I told her to do another!

After looking at all these photos, she decided she actually wants a different combo...click here for final choice.

Afghan #4-Gift for MB's Birthday

I planned to use the Rise and Shine afghan pattern on the Lion Brand website. I ordered the yarn and then changed my mind. I didn't want to do all the counting for each panel, so I just double-crocheted each skein. I love this afghan! Though the Hometown USA yarn is 100% acrylic, it has such a nice heavy weight cozy feel. Since this blanket is intended for use at UW football games, I didn't put fringe but a double-crochet border.

YARN: Lion Brand Hometown USA-Super Bulky 6-100% acrylic
SKEIN: 5oz/81yards
COLORS: Minneapolis Purple, Pittsburgh Yellow
HOOK: purple translucent plastic P (11mm)?
STITCH: double-crochet
BORDER: double-crochet, 1.5 skeins
RECIPIENT: mb

I was excited to teach myself the border. It MAKES the afghan. I'll be putting borders on my other afghans! I think I'm doing the stitches correctly now!

BUY: On Sale-Joann regular price $4.79/30% off $3.39 per skein, I think I bought 5 purple and 6 yellow=$37.29
WASH: initial machine wash below 105degrees, machine dry on highest heat ok, no bleach

PROS: yarn has gorgeous slip and sheen, love the weight, not quite as heavy as Wool-Ease TQ
CONS: skeins are SHORT!, if yellow is super bulky 6-the purple is a 5.5

THINGS I LEARNED MAKING THIS PROJECT:
-how to do a double-crochet border, 3 stitches per corner