Now to join them, there is no real method to my layout with the exception of a few rules
Now dont go commenting on my post saying i haven't followed my own rules, lets call them guidelines :)
1) No dark colours next to each other
2) If the center of the square was made using (example) white then any square that was joined to it - either next to or diagonal it couldn't have a white center
Same rule for rows 2 and 3 - this did become hard at certain times as I only used about 10 colours in my blanket
I was originally going to use Hot Red to join them, so there isnt much red used in the squares .......BUT when I went to my stash to get my yarn for joining, I only had 2 balls of red ......which brings me to the statement you can never have enough yarn and multiple balls of the same colour, yes this is compulsory !!
The only colour that I had 5 balls (5 x 200 gram/ 7 oz) was black ..... gaaah, black ....I hate to use black, especially when I knew I was going to be joining at night.... I can almost hear you cursing the black yarn and nighttime crocheting hahahaa.... But black is all I had and black is what i had to use. I am so glad i went with the black as it make the colours just POP out of the blanket
I joined in the day, sewn the ends in at mums appointments ( I had to wait at least 20 minutes whilst mum had radiation, and if they were running late sometimes it could be an hour before mum got to go in) I hate sewing in the ends, but at mums appointments I had to find something to fill in the time, it is also a great conversation starter when you have all these brightly coloured joined granny squares on your lap :)
With averaging joining 13 (1 row) of grannies per day, my blanket was literately growing before my eyes - its so exciting !!!