Crochet Neverending Work in Progress

I mentioned yesterday in my crochet tutorial post that I am the slowest crocheter in the world. I challenge anyone to try to prove me wrong. 


In support of my case, I present you the afghan that I've been crocheting since April of last year.  Of course, in all honesty, I haven't been crocheting every moment of every day since then.  I mean, I've slept and eaten and gone to the bathroom.  And I guess I've worked and moved twice and taken the dog for walks and gone on vacation.  And started planning a wedding and blogged. Okay fine. I haven't actually been crocheting that much since I started it, but even so, when I am crocheting, it's the slowest crocheting out there.


Part of the hold-up is that I have a problem following directions. I started making this afghan to send to the Hamlin Fistula Relief and Aid Fund. I was planning to make a giant granny square blanket, but then after getting about 30 rows into it, I realized that they actually wanted rectangular blankets instead of square ones (though they've now modified the directions to include square blankets).  So I had to come up with a new plan, preferably without backtracking on the work that I'd already done.


What I came up with was a plan to make four smaller granny squares to put on the ends of the larger square I had already completed.


I attached the smaller squares to each other using the invisible joining method, and I'll use the same method to attach the smaller squares to the large square. Then I'll crochet a border all the way around.


And then I'll block that sucker to try to straighten things out a bit. It'll be my first time blocking anything, and I'm a little nervous about how it will all work. But it's definitely necessary for this blanket, since it's gotten all wonky and will likely get more so as I attach the smaller squares.


Of course, none of this will happen while I'm studying for the bar, but once I take the exam (on Feb 28), I suspect I could complete the blanket in about six episodes of Downton Abbey (the best way to mark time).  So hopefully I'll be sending off a completed blanket this year. And then it'll be time to start on one of the projects I posted yesterday for the next year or two.


Do you have a craft project you've been working on for ages?

Katie