Year of Projects 2: Week 2

Project Percentage Complete: 32%

Overall Percentage Complete: 32%

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

Total Completed Items: 34

OK - blog laundry first - I added links to this project at the bottom, below the item list, for previous, first, and last post. I will update these with each posting so you can move freely through my posts IF you are interested in my journey through the year. Otherwise - I'll count it as an exercise in cleaner blogging. *smiles*

I had two finishes in the form of SIBOL squares (2 of those) and one of the washcloths for my mother as part of a Christmas present.

ocean of white - tails slowly disappearing

The BIG news this week is that the Beast-Ghan is off the hook and I'm in the process of weaving in the tails. I have NOT figured out how in God's green earth I'm going to block this bad boy - but I guess I have another solid week to figure it out. I am hoping to be able to report "all tails woven in" by next week's report.

I got my tag in the mail this week from the State Fair people too. So - once its all ready, I just attach the tag and take it on August 5th. I'm actually pretty excited about it. Hopefully I do well - but I keep telling myself that regardless of if I win a ribbon or not, I still get a pretty awesome blanket out of the deal.

A few folks have posted comments/emailed me about the pattern I used and I will say that I used a pattern for the square but the joins and the border are all mine. I'm going to write the original pattern person and ask about doing a video tutorial of the joins and the border - but if I want to show how to do the square, I need permission. I can link you to the pattern, though, which is available for free via Ravelry (gotta be a member) - The pattern is called Topaz 9 Inch Square and was written by Susan Hinton. I will most likely do a review of this pattern (which is obviously favorable since I have made 80 squares with it and love the resulting blanket). I do not *think* I modified the pattern in any way but I make no guarantees simply because I have made 80 of them.. I don't remember what I did 4 months ago when I started this project. I'll have to sit down and really compare the pattern to what I did.

Of course I am not able to work on the beast-ghan 100% of my craft time because quite frankly, it is getting to me. I'm going to be so happy when its done, but I'm at that place in the large-project life cycle (I really should make a flow chart of that) where I want it done, I'm doing it out of obligation ... out of principle, but I know that I will be thrilled in the end. BUT I'm not committed to it. I finished 2 small SIBOL squares this week and a knitted/crocheted combo cloth for my mother's Christmas present. So, three relatively quick wins against the list for this project and a nice break from staring at the Beast-Ghan.

As soon as I'm done with this one though, I am thinking of getting started on either the shawl for Plum (2nd DD) for the fall or get a kick start on the round ripple. I have made an executive decision and am going to make this one for my grandson so it will be spider man colors with some surface crochet to trim. I'm really excited about this one and think it'll be fun. I just have to plan out the color changes so it doesn't look clunky. I've seen them done before and really think they look great - if you have a better pattern in mind for this (other than the one I have linked below) feel free to share it with me. I can use any pattern, I just happen to like how the points work out with the one. Besides, can never have too many patterns in the pattern vault, eh?

I must admit though, the Beast-Ghan has opened my eyes to making afghans again. I normally don't make too many of them, but looking at my list - there is some seriously afghan-age going on. I have the spider throw, the quilt-ghan and the navajo indian blanket planned out. The spiderman ripple has to be done by Christmas. The other two could be given as birthday presents BUT  the birthdays are January and February. *laughs* So I know the navajo is planned for February. That one is for my brother. The other is for my first DD, who I will call Rabbit on the blog - boy, I sure hope they don't start reading my blog now *laughs* They'll know all the goodies planned for them!

So ... I have a lot of blankets to make between now and February, so those will most likely be my focus beyond the shawl. I can use the other stuff as quick wins and filler work. I will not start on the sweater until spring - which will make it rather timely for Christmas (considering I'm such a slow knitter).

So... seems I have a plan.... now - can I stick to it?

probably not.

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Fish heads, fish heads - roly poly fish heads!

I typed everything up on Friday (I do believe) and here is an addition I am making on Sunday - yesterday I started working on the Dead Fish Hat for my son. Yup - as expected I could not stick to the plan. Heck, I forgot about the plan 20 minutes after I typed it.

Basically, I was sitting on the couch, weaving in tails and got extremely bored - so I thought "what can I do that I already have the yarn for" - and the fish hat came to mind. I grabbed some brown and the pattern and went to town. I have put about 5 hours total into the hat and am about halfway done. Obviously, you can tell what it is now so I can only work on it at night after my son goes to sleep. I want it to be a surprise for him - I'm not sure if I'll actually save it for Christmas though simply because he'll need a new hat this year and he might as well have the one he wants, right?

I think that I have only 2 spots where you can see the short row (one showing in the picture) and I am actually very pleased with my color changes so far. They are pretty crisp and clean. Now - I have to figure out how to anchor the tail and weave it in. Very easy with crochet - but I think it will be more of a challenge with knitting.



Project List Items (not started/in progress)
- State Fair Afghan
- 4 knit/crochet cloths for Mom (Christmas present)
- 17 squares for SIBOL
- Dead Fish Hat (Christmas gift for DS)

- Shawl (gift for the fall/spring for DD2)
- Spidey-colored Round Ripple Lapghan (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)

- Room Shoes (Christmas gift)
- Amimono Kimono (for me!)

Project List Items (done)
- 33 squares for SIBOL
- 1 knit/crochet cloths for Mom (Christmas present)

Added Items (not started/in progress)
(none yet)

Added Items (done)
(none yet)

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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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