the blue blog archives: afghan sudoku

How to arrange 64 blocks of 8 colors plus one variegated in an afghan in an interesting pattern such that the same color doesn't ever meet up with itself? It's afghan sudoku!

With this afghan, I decided that I want it to be made up of four-patches, that is, larger blocks combining two squares each of two different colors (see my earlier posts this week to see some of the four-patches). This lets the diagonal mitre lines come together to form an "x" through the center of each four-patch. Since the entire afghan is also a square (8 squares by 8 squares), I've also been toying with the idea of having 16 variegated squares form a larger "x" through the middle of the afghan. With eight colors, that means each color will appear once in a four-patch with the variegated colorway along the diagonal. The trick is to figure out how to arrange the other colors so the same color doesn't end up being repeated in the same row or column and so that the overall look is pleasing. I can try to solve the first problem on paper, but for the second, there's no other way but to lay them all out and see how they look.

posted by alison at 10:26 am | in a crafty christmas , an afghan

Comments

The afghan looks GREAT!! Can't wait to see it further along down the road. I've been faced with the same problem when putting together a fabric quilt. Nothing beats laying it out on the floor and shuffling and reshuffling and re reshuffling the blocs! Keep up the good work!!

Posted by: Alotta.knittin at November 30, 2007 11:02 AM

Hooray! That is so cool. I've seen quilt patterns that do this too. It's always baffled me. I am such a language/arts type mind that the math escapes me.

Posted by: nikkapotamus at November 30, 2007 11:51 AM

I like the diagonal effect you're getting with the varigated yarn and the blue.

Posted by: heather t at November 30, 2007 12:36 PM

Switch the green square--fourth in the top row, with the gold square--second in the third row...oh sorry, I forgot I'm not playing sudoku. It is beautiful! I can't wait to see it finished.

Posted by: Katherine at November 30, 2007 12:50 PM

Wow - this will be stunning. I am so excited to see what the final layout will be. It's so much like your quilts. :) Beautiful!

Posted by: Chelsea at November 30, 2007 1:15 PM

What a challenge - planned randomness!

It looks great!

Posted by: m.o.M. at November 30, 2007 1:39 PM

http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa010999.htm

Here is a way to put those squares together, painlessly.

Posted by: Rita at November 30, 2007 1:48 PM

Looks great. I ended up making a spreadsheet on my computer and doing the squares in different colors. I only had 3 colors to deal with though. I think the fun part for me was the planning of the color layout. I found out how many squares I could get out of one ball of yarn first and I knew how much yarn I had. Then I played with my spreadsheet till I had something that I could accomplish with the yarn I had.

You are so close to finishing and it will be great.

Posted by: Suzanne at November 30, 2007 6:55 PM

I love that idea. Funny enough, I just got my mom, a quilter and sudoku fiend, this Sudoku Quilts book: http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/item--i-B-834--m-279_283.html

Posted by: Lauren at November 30, 2007 6:56 PM

Such a speedy knitter! You have been making amazing progress. I like what you have so far. It looks great.

Posted by: Anita at November 30, 2007 11:58 PM

I completely understand your machinations and dilemma based on my "log cabin" afghan. Apparently knitters and "random" do. not. go. together. Best wishes.

Posted by: PainterWoman at December 1, 2007 12:45 AM

Your doing great! I have faith that you will get this done on time. One square, one row, at a time. It's not like you don't have so many other things to take care of. Wish I could help, but since I live so far away, I'll just cheer you on. You go girl!

Posted by: Marcia at December 1, 2007 7:17 AM

I admire your mathematical genius and your devotion to making the most beautiful afghan possible. Now, me, I put the squares in by random (in my leftover sock yarn afghan), as soon as I knit a square, since I can't possibly live with the higher math of arranging more than 120 squares!! You go!

Posted by: gail at December 1, 2007 11:37 AM

It's like one of those hand held games where you can move the squares around. I am amazed that your have the floor space to lay it out.

Posted by: Gayle at December 1, 2007 3:30 PM

You're a machine! Great job! I sometimes create an Excel spreadsheet and just color each square so that I can see what they'll look like. Of course, it isn't the exact color, but it still gives me a pretty close idea.

Posted by: hopalong682003 at December 1, 2007 7:07 PM

It is beautiful. I've been contemplating an afghan for awhile and this is the inspiration I needed!

Posted by: Chesley at December 2, 2007 9:21 AM

If you want to try out something new in sudoku, try shendoku, using the sudoku rules but playing two people, one against the other, like battleshipps. They have a free version to download at http://www.shendoku.com/sample.pdf . Anything else they are bringing out or they are working on you can find at www.shendoku.com or at they´r blog www.shendoku.blogspot.com . Have fun, I am. I specially like one slogan I heard about Shendoku: SUDOKU is like masturbation (on your own)…. SHENDOKU is like sex (it takes two).

Posted by: armando at December 2, 2007 6:44 PM