Making an afghan, squares 1 & 2

I've been reading the Knitting Daily posts about fearful and fearless knitters. I'm a fearless wannabe who hasn't yet ventured beyond basic knit and purl combinations. I've tried knitting swatches of interesting stitches but I get sooooooo bored . . . and then I saw The Great American Afghan. A knitted afghan is really just a lot of swatches with a purpose, I figured, so I started looking for a less advanced idea along the same lines and discovered Barbara G. Walker's Learn-to-Knit Afghan* (via The Loose Knitter's blog of her experiences with the squares**). Loved the idea (and the blog), so I bought the book and the yarn and am halfway through square 7 (garters and ribs), the last of the knit-purl combos. Next: mosaic knitting!

I'm using Plymouth Encore Worsted yarn (75% acrylic, 25% wool), my fallback yarn for many projects. It's soft, easy to work with, colorful, and relatively inexpensive. Most of my family, including dogs, are allergic to wool but this blend doesn't seem to bother them. I chose colors similar to those used for the afghan on the cover of Walker's book: dark blue, dark green, lavender, and cream. I haven't decided yet what I'll use for the edging.

Squares 1 & 2 were fast and easy: striped garter and striped stockinette. (Obviously not blocked yet. )

*Originally printed 1974, reprinted 1997 by Schoolhouse Press.

** /(p[eu]rls of wisdom)?!/ has posted photographs of his squares and his completed afghan. It's somewhat daunting.