Day 5 of Crochet Dogwood Afghan Progress

I've started to crochet the first round of squares.  After experimenting, I decided to whip stitch them to the afghan, instead of joining them with slip stitches on the wrong side.  Slip stitch joining is faster and neater, but it leaves a sort of rough line on the reverse side, and I wouldn't want that to rub on a baby's skin and irritate it, so, even though it irks me to do so, whip stitch it is.

Also, I decided to change the last round of granny squares.  The pattern calls for doing a single crochet, turning your work, and then doing the last round.  Instead, I am doing the granny squares by starting in a corner with only the first three stitches (like I do here, in my Granny Square Tutorial), and end with a single crochet instead of a slip stitch joining.  The work will be neater, you won't be able to tell where each round starts, and there is no need to turn your work, all the double crochets will be on the right side of your work.

If I ever do this pattern again, I will also modify the squares to be more diamond-like towards the sides  so I don't have to stretch them.  Just a few things to help me work more quickly.

FINALLY, I will pin the squares to the afghan before joining... ha!  I joined them the first time the squares showing their undersides instead of the front, shame on them for playing tricks on me!  I'll show them!

:D