Saturday, August 04, 2012

Year of Projects 2: Week 4

Project Percentage Complete: 34%
Overall Percentage Complete: 35%

Number of Project Items: 105
Number of Added Items:2
Total Items: 107

Total Completed Items: 37

Hello, Readers - we are at the end of another week of crafting and that means its time for another update. This is my 4th update into the YOP meme and I'm feeling pretty darn good about it. *smiles*

I finished one simple little item this week - the Magic Potholder. I have never made one before and thought putting some potholders into my mother's Christmas present this year would be a nice addition - something she can use. I found a couple different patterns and all said to start with ch 26 - so that made sense; however, when I did it - my potholder turned out SERIOUSLY small. See....

I finished it. I'll use it most likely as a hot pad considering it is smaller than my actual hand - but I definitely will not be making anymore starting with a ch 26.

I have also continued working in the Spiderman Round Ripple for my grandson. I have been working on it at work and at home but for some reason it is not growing as fast as I thought it would have. That's ok tho - it is definitely worth the time and effort I'm putting into it.

Other than that, the beast-ghan has been washed. I made a serious executive decision last night after pulling it out of the washer - instead of blocking it, why not just dry it. Its not like I can't do a re-do and wash it again and block it. I thought maybe the washing and drying would relax the fiber enough and it would just... lay flat.

It was a long shot BUT it worked. I do think a good blocking wouldn't hurt it - but I don't think it would change it too dramatically from what it is already. So - I'm going with it.

I turn it in on Sunday. The building won't be open until the 10th so I'm assuming I will not be able to see if I have won any ribbons until then. I will check the internet on the 8th and 9th though, in case they judge the crochet afghans early on and post something about it.

I don't know if I have said it before here or not, but I have talked to the Man about my winning a ribbon. I would love to win something but I really don't think I will for 2 reasons: its one color and its one repeated pattern for the square. And that's ok because this is the blanket I wanted for my own personal use. The Man seems to think I'm going to win, hands down. I have explained to him that through my friends from yarn group, they have had issues with the judging comments in the past - like a comment to "cast off in the pattern" when she cast off in knit stitch.... on a garter stitch item. Things that left me scratching my head.

Winning a ribbon doesn't sound anything like winning a foot race. It isn't because you are the fastest runner, but the judges saying someone may have been the fastest, but their posture wasn't that great or their socks didn't match the shoes. I can only hope that the judges realize the time and effort put into the beast-ghan and appreciate it for what it is. But - even if I don't place, I still get a pretty cool afghan for my bed.

I think I'm gonna head out of here and put a few more rows on the spidey-throw before heading out to get my hair cut.

And, because there was only one photo - here is a picture of my son. Its blurry because he realized that I was standing there with the camera. For some reason, he was laying on the floor with his head under his sister's bed... just laying there talking to his sister.



Project List Items (not started/in progress)

- 4 knit/crochet cloths for Mom (Christmas present)
- 17 squares for SIBOL 
- Spidey-colored Round Ripple Lapghan (Christmas present)


- Shawl (gift for the fall/spring for DD2)
- 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)
- State Fair Afghan
- Dead Fish Hat (Birthday gift for DS)

Added Items (not started/in progress)
- Striped Granny Bag (Christmas present for Rabbit)

Added Items (done)
- Magic Square Potholder

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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.



14 comments:

Sandycrochet said...

26 sounds small even without seeing your picture.  I think most of the washcloths I've made I've cast on 35 or more.  A washcloth and a hotpot would be about the same size right?

Sandycrochet said...

Forgot, I wanted to ask you if you're the Cris that joined superpoints after one of my recent posts?  Sorry, I always like to thank people and encourage them to spin etc; but sometimes with the variety of names and where I know people...my head get's jumbled up.  I recently posted on Sandy's Space and on Bridge about some of the books in case you want to check it out.  The other day I said everytime people spin...3 people win.  The person spinning wins, my daughter and I (depending on who signed up under who), and the kids who get the books they so desperately need win  sooooooo that's winning x 3.

Cris said...

 I thought it sounded awful low as well BUT it was the diagonal count, so I was leary but still followed the pattern. I will definitely be increasing that starting chain for future potholders.

Cris said...

Yup - that was me! I am not having much luck winning on the spin hehehe BUT I did read about it and thought I'd give it a go.

JohnnieB said...

Wow,  I see now. You are pretty busy working on a lot of other things. Im still trying to work on the hat but I still didnt get it. I decided to start another one of those blankets while I wait on the video. Keep working. That is a pot holder for tea cups I guess. Lol. Very small.

Cris said...

 Work is really what is keeping me away right now - I'm doing 12 hour days until this project ends :( Hopefully though, once the business consultant leaves this week, the project will go on auto-pilot until implementation (hopefully end of August). I really haven't forgotten you!!!!!!!! (and every time I look at the hotpad on my counter I wonder why in the world it would be just a ch 26 on the diagonal LOL)

Ruth said...

Been waiting to hear what you were going to do with the beast ghan. I think if blocking wouldn't make all that much difference then your right to leave it be. I agree with your son though, I think you should win, course I've not seen any other entries but because I comment here and have been watching it I'm totally biased lol. I think a ribbon would be a lovely acknowledgement of your time and hard work into such a mammoth piece but as you say you still win as you get a great ghan at the end of it. Remember there is such a beauitful simple elegance in simplicity

Cris said...

 I'm actually glad I just dried it and it worked because truthfully, I had NO idea what I was going to do for blocking. I even had "ask the neighbor if she had a place in her basement" - they have no indoor pets hehehe I also had "front yard - sit and wait for it to dry" on the list too. LOL My list was a bit desperate.

When I dropped it off, although earlier in the timeslot, there were no other afghans that I saw. Plenty of ami's though! Last year there were 15 or so afghans, maybe? and some of those were knit, which is a different class.

ChiefKnitterMMOS said...

That is a tiny little potholder! Maybe it could work as a coaster instead? 

I wouldn't put much stock in whether you win a ribbon or not. I'm never entirely sure what's in the judge's heads when they're making their decisions! The afghan is awesome, and everyone knows it!

DeliaKnits said...

Maybe it's a doll potholder? Congrats on finishing the Beast! I hope you win something!

Kate said...

ahhh, cute tiny potholder! I'm sorry that there was no beast-blocking to photograph, but your way is probably the sanest. Good luck for the contest!

Marie/Underground Crafter said...

They sound like some very tough judges.  Did the potholder patterns have a gauge listed?

misty said...

tiny, cute potholder. Would make a fabulous throw rug for a dollhouse. I usually cast the same # on for a dishcloth and just double up on the yarn for a potholder.  I loved the simple elegance of the beast-ghan. If the judges don't, it says much about their taste level. ;p good luck!

Emma (GirlAnachronismE) said...

Teeny tiny pot holder! If it's any consolation it looks very cute! And did you win?

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