Sunday, July 15, 2012

Year of Projects 2: Week 1

Project Percentage Complete: 30%
Overall Percentage Complete: 30%

Number of Project Items: 105
Number of Added Items: 0
Total Items: 105

Total Completed Items: 31

I am very well aware this isn't the actual week one but I swayed back and forth between calling it week three or week one. If I called it week 3, someone may wonder "what in the world happened to the first two weeks" ... by calling it week one, that means I'll only end up with 51 weeks.... either way, it doesn't much matter - I have 105 items selected to complete in the next 51 weeks... and this week, I can say I finished none of them!

Oh dear!

Wait... let me go count my SIBOL squares....

GAH - only 31.

And ya know.... did I count that 50 in the total items to the list rather than 1 item...  - let me adjust that overall number again! 31 complete of my total list.

That felt good. Of course, that's only a jedi mind trick - its the only time this list will jump significantly in percentage because I had them done and only needed to report them for the first time.

Now... dear readers - those of you who have followed this blog since early this year know of "The Great White Beast" or commonly called my state fair project - I should be finishing that last row of the border today... if not today - then tomorrow..... so I give you the first recorded picture of the epic-ghan... a picture of me sitting with it in my lap - working intently to complete.

You can see my feet resting on the cat scratch toy... remotes on top of that along with my scissors. This was taken well after 5.5 hours of straight crocheting on the border - 5.5 hours for two rows.

This afghan is a BEAST!

It is not a throw. It is not a lapghan -... it can cover a twin size bed. Wait - it can cover TWO twin sized beds. It is that big.

I have turned in the application for the state fair - that was mailed in earlier this last week. The next step for getting it to the fair is getting the tags in the mail and then delivering the ghan on August 5th. BUT I have a lot to do between now and then.

I have just under 30 days to complete the project and to do that I have to finish the last row (which is reverse single crochet.. a stitch I hate so I'm not sure why I chose it *face palm*) and weave in all the tails. On top of that - I need to wash it and find somewhere big enough to block it. 

closer shot of the Beast-Ghan
The back yard... on a tarp maybe?

I have a feeling, in the end, 3 sheets of plywood and about 200 nails are in my future.


Project List Items (not started/in progress)
- State Fair Afghan
- 5 knit/crochet cloths for Mom (Christmas present)
- 19 squares for SIBOL
 

- Shawl (gift for the fall/spring for DD2)
- Multi-Colored Round Ripple Lapghan (Christmas present)
- 5 knit/crochet cloths for Mom (Christmas present)
- 5 knit/crochet cloths for SIL (Christmas present)
- 10 crochet knockers for donation
- 5 pet beds for donation
- 10 chemo caps for donation
- 2 swiffer covers (for me!)
- 1 swiffer cover for Mom (Christmas present)
- 1 swiffer cover for SIL (Christmas present)
- Knit a Sweater for the Man
- Knit Wingspan Shawl
- 1 pair spat warmers (Christmas present)
- Woven Blocks Crochet Quilt
- Navajo Indian Multi-Color Afghan (Birthday gift)
- Dead Fish Hat (Christmas gift for DS)
- Room Shoes (Christmas gift)
- Amimono Kimono (for me!)

Project List Items (done)
- 31 squares for SIBOL

Added Items (not started/in progress)

Added Items (done)



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This post is part of the Ravelry Group "Come Blog-A-Long" #yearofprojects Project. If you are interested in joining along or finding other posts similar to this one, visit the group on Ravelry.


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39 comments:

ruthmckeown said...

Oh wow you beastghan is looking great, I'm trying to imagine the blocking process on that but I just can't. Best of luck at state fair with such a beauty.

Cris said...

 The good news is that it is VERY VERY warm.... and working on it when its 105 outside makes for an interesting contortionist sitting LOL It will be great in the winter tho.. even if I don't get a ribbon - I get a pretty big afghan!

Marsha said...

The beast is great.  5.5 hours of crocheting for 2 rows?????????  That is a beast!  We all know how fast crocheting goes.  Good luck on the reverse single crochet.  I also dislike that stitch with a passion!

Keri said...

Wow!!! That is looking amazing.  Can't wait to see the finished object.

Lucie Williamson said...

Amazing - you must be a very patient soul! Good luck with the State Fair x

Faith said...

Wow, that is looking amazing.....the blocking makes me shudder though, I wouldn't know where to start....makes me think maybe a massive kids playground where you get that squishy stuff for the to land on!

Have fun doing the border, I feel your pain!

mary (nauget bluff) said...

How bout the side of a barn for blocking...  that will be a great accomplishment when done!

Sally Trollip said...

Your best ghan is beautiful

ChiefKnitterMMOS said...

Oh dear, your beast ghan makes me tired to think of it. Nope, not for me. Give me socks any day! At least the end is in sight! Yay!

Sue Burkitt said...

wow your beasty-ghan sounds like a major chore...I need to make a couple afghan..normal size however, but havent started them yet....good luck at the fair !!!

CrochetBlogger said...

Nice creative math Cris :)

Nicole said...

Good for you for working on a crazy big afghan when it's hot out! I have a queen sized one that's soooo close to being done but I have no motivation to put that sucker on my lap while I work on it and it's summer...yikes! Really looking forward to seeing yours all done!

Sarah Crafts from the Cwtch said...

Oh my! That is one epic afghan - I can't wait to see all of it! (Or how you block it!!!) 
xxxx

Kate said...

Just Wow. Gorgeous. I too cannot wait for the blocking photos :D

Liz said...

Good luck with the moster-ghan in the state fair! The close up is gorgeous :)

Barbina said...

I can´t wait to see your beautiful afghan finished. You have a lot of patience, I guess, I could never do this!
Have a happy new week!

Emma (GirlAnachronismE) said...

Wow, that afghan is looking, and sounds, incredible, can't wait to see it finished!

Sandycrochet said...

Oh my........I am speechless.  It doesn't sound like you've enjoyed working on this ghan at all.  What happens to the ghan after you do the fair thing?  Years ago, people were trying to talk me into a fair project and I never wanted to, so am most interested in the process.  

Cris said...

 I think I've fallen into standard "big project mode" - it starts out all exciting and I finish a square every day for a week... then I realize I am not liking the pattern as much as before... and then I think "oh no, I have 70  more of these things!) *laughs* then by the end, you are in a place that you just detest working on it because its all you've done for months.... but then when its finished - it'll be the best thing you've ever made *laughs* At least I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now. A month ago - ugh.

After the fair, the blanket will reside on my bed :) It is actually for me, which I don't normally craft for me so I'm excited to have something. Although everyone in my family (immediate and some extended) have asked if they could HAVE it *HAR HAR* have it.... *snorts*

Our state fair process is easy - not sure what state you are in. I went to the website and printed out the application. Checked the booklet thingee online as well to get the rules and the dates. Turned the application in by the deadline listed and then another deadline is listed for the actual item. I have until August 5th to finish it.

Cris said...

 Me either! LOL

Honestly, I think anyone can do it - I just can't believe I am actually going to pull it off in 5 months *laughs*

Cris said...

 Thanks!

Cris said...

 Me too LOL I still have NO idea how I'm going to do that

Cris said...

 I definitely am curious how it is going to get blocked... it'll look SO much better blocked too - that's why I know I need to do it.

Cris said...

Oh - it gets hot. When I work on it now, I sit in front of our air purifier which shoots out cold air.... and once the man came home to me working on it with no pants on LOL it got WAY too hot (can't believe I just admitted that)

Cris said...

 Girls gotta do what a girls gotta do!

Cris said...

 I have two more I need to finish for Christmas but they will be MUUUUUUCH smaller. I can't imagine people who do these things out of thread! craziness!

Cris said...

 I actually took on a couple small projects in the middle just to break up the square-making party LOL and yes, I see the light at the end of the tunnel and its not a train!

Cris said...

 Thanks!

Cris said...

 Not a terrible idea LOL I have been thinking of nailing it to plywood ... a barn isn't much further from that LOL

Cris said...

 I don't know either... with each of these last stitches... I think about blocking LOL

Cris said...

 Sadly - far from it. I am so ready to have it done done DONE! :)

Cris said...

 Me either! hehehehe

Cris said...

 I sat there crocheting and watching movies.... and felt pretty darn good about it.. and then I realized it was ONLY two rows!!! lol I felt so robbed :)

Carolina22 said...

I love your "stats": % completed, # of project items etc. I am a scientist and a "countdown" type of knitter ie I have 32 more rounds on my sweater so I am going to add some stats to my blog :) I commend you for working on the afghan when it's 105!! It's gorgeous! I was working on a wool sweater and I shelved it until it cools down some. Have a good week!

Tara L. said...

Thanks for sharing all of your photos! I love reading you blog... are you following a pattern for the 'Beast-Ghan'? If so, would you mind letting me know what it is? Thanks so much!

Cris said...

 I used a pattern called Topaz for the square. The joins and border are of my own imagination. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/topaz-9-inch-square - you have to be a member of Rav to see taht pattern.

Laura said...

The thought of making something that huge makes my brain hurt. The idea of then *blocking* it?  EEEEEEP!!!  Epic doesn't begin to cover it!  

Fabulous work though, and good luck with the reverse sc.  

Cris said...

Thanks! and to report - the reverse sc is done :) I think it turned out well..... and now I'm on to weaving in tails.... and still trying to figure out how to block this thing.

kimmery4 said...

It might be a beast, but it sure is a beautiful one!  How fun to see a photo of it. Please show us blocking pics too, as I think that process will be epic!  Surely this blue ribbon worthy...
*smiles*

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