Step Afghan

I finally finished my step afghan.

 

It's really difficult to photograph an afghan this large (62"x71"). I ended up standing on a step ladder holding my camera at a very odd angle just trying to fit it all in the frame. I actually finished it the week before last, but I was sick last week and couldn't get to blogging about it before now. I had to add borders to keep the edges from curling, and I've updated the pattern to reflect this. Also, as you can see from the photos this afghan could definitely benefit from blocking, but I'm not going to do that because 1) I don't have the space, and 2) I can't be bothered. I don't mind if it's a little wonky; it'll still keep me warm and keep this plastic yarn out of the landfill that much longer.

On that note, even after crocheting this monster afghan I still had acrylic yarn left over. I swear the stuff had been breeding.

I've given up on it. I acheived my goal of getting rid of all of my acrylic yarn by simply bagging it up, labelling it "Free Yarn", and leaving it in the laundry room for any of my neighbors who might want it. Except, that is, for 2 balls which I'm using to work out a pattern for an afghan I'm designing. Once I have that pattern worked out, the acrylic yarn goes in the laundry room and I'll buy some good yarn for the afghan.

Now for an update on my stitching schedule. My new schedule is working out really well, although I did have to make a couple of tweaks. I eliminated my weekly walk (I walk and take the bus everywhere, so I get enough exercise), and I divided my chores between Saturday and Sunday rather than trying to cram them all into Sunday. That feels a bit saner.

Also, I shortened my stitching time a bit. I discovered the book Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey, a collection of brief bios of artists' working days. This book was a revelation for me. I don't know about you, but I've always had this picture in my mind of an artist working all day long in their studio, only stopping to eat, drink, or sleep, and sometimes not even then. Well, guess what, folks: that's a myth. There were (and are) artists, to be sure, who did work all day at their art, but they're the exception rather than the rule. Most worked for short periods of time and then went and did other things, even those who were full-time artists. Many had day jobs and did their art when they could. After reading a great many of these bios, I decided to stop guilt tripping myself about not being a "real artist" and get more realistic. I noticed the time period of 3 hours cropping up again and again in these bios, so I decided to limit my stitching time to no more than 3 hours at a stretch (unless, of course, I get really involved in a project). So, now I'm doing my half hour of stitching in the mornings, and 3 hours of stitching in the afternoons, and it feels right. I start to get tired right at the 3 hour mark.

I've been sticking to this new schedule for the most part, lapsing occasionally when I'm ill or "life" happens, but I get right back to it as soon as I can. This looks like it could be a permanent routine.