So, when I confidently put aside my dragon to begin the afghan for my best friends little boy, I did so with the utmost confidence that I would be picking up that pattern by March. After all, it's super easy, with it's great big blocks of color and it's lack of blends. Just a few stitches, a bit of back stitching and voila, watch me pop off these adorable little baby animals as though I was a crazy one-woman assembly line!
Easy peesy, amirite?
But no, I was wrong.
First off, this afghan is a major PITA (for those not in the know, a pita is a pain-in-the-a$$). The cloth is so thick it's like trying to cross-stitch on wool, and the fibers of the cloth regularly get wrapped around my thread. It's worse than stitching with a shedding cat sleeping on your lap.
THEN, the pattern calls for 2 threads, which definitely isn't enough. I picked out my stitching and increased it to 3 threads, which I'm still on the fence about, I think I could go as high as 4.
THEN comes the stitching itself. It has to be done very loosely. As in ridiculously loose. (As in, is this going to fall apart after the first wash?)
I can't say I'm exactly enjoying this project, but I will persevere, and I will overcome!!!! (I say confidently, with a wobbling lower lip)
So, here is my first panel - the owl. This singular panel only took me ... oh ... (looks at calendar) 13 days. I don't know whether to laugh or cry at that admission.
I don't know whether to hate the damn thing, or dance around it proudly and declare "Look! Look what I have made" in a sad rendition of Tom Hanks after he created fire in "Castaway".
Anyway, there it is. I'm off to the next panel, which is a little frog.
Hopefully it won't be another 13 days before you hear from me again.
~Rai Rai
Not good:( What sort of afghan are you using? I done Jungle babies on the afghan it was called for and don't remember any problems.
ReplyDeleteI think it's the afghan that the pattern calls for. I know the last afghan I used was an Aida afghan, which I found much easier.
DeleteI think I'm getting a little more used to this afghan so hopefully I will be a little faster in the upcoming
From the picture it looks good, and your frustrations are probably just getting use to the new medium. I do know that some stitchers will switch to pearl cotton or use all six strands of our normal floss. Best wishes & Happy Stitching, Toni
ReplyDeleteThanks Toni, I think you are exactly right. It's a new medium that is throwing me. It's surprising to me just how long it is taking me.
DeleteBut I must say, the second panel is giving much smoothly.
Oh dear :( I hope the next square is a little easier for you... x
ReplyDeleteSo far it's coming along pretty quickly! Apparently moaning about it on my blog is the mojo I needed. Who knew?
DeleteWell, it may have been a pita but it looks great. I find that sometimes what I think are quick little stitches will take longer than working on a HAED. I haven't figured out why yet.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I know, though. I thought this was going to be a sure thing, quick and easy. I'm almost ashamed at how long it's taking me.
DeleteHow could this possibly take longer than a HaED? How??? LOL Life sure threw me a curve ball with this one, I tell ya!
Oh, it sounds frustrating! But the owl really looks adorable! I want to stitch a baby afghan some day. Wish me luck!
ReplyDeleteI will not only wish you luck, but I will be your shoulder to cry on should you find it frustrating.
DeleteI think I'm Mack on even ground again. Panel 2 is coming much faster.
But he's soooo cute! Maybe it's because you put so much love into it, that's it!
ReplyDeleteWait until you see the frog, Astrid. Oooh, talk about cute!!!!
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