What'cha Workin' on Wednesday The Never Ending Project

Perhaps you've heard of The Never Ending Story - it is a really good family movie.



And a book which I assume the movie was based on.







Well, I have a never ending story of my own - only I call it The Never Ending Project....do you have one of these? A monumental project that you started with good intentions.....you saw fabric, yarn or material or maybe a pattern you just had to have? Now it's an old favorite you bring out of the closet now and then - get really excited about working on, actually put some effort into for a few weeks now and again only to allow it to be pushed back under the "craft pile" waiting to be rediscovered again?

My Never Ending Project is a crocheted masterpiece in the afghan stitch which uses a really long hook. The stitch affect allows you to cross stitch on top of the background. I found a really interesting pattern I liked - except for the daisies part (sorry Daisy) and adapted it (I like to do that - I can never leave well enough alone! An artist went to great trouble creating this pattern and I go and rip out their heart by "improving it"!) I decided what this afghan really needed was a great big white tail dear in the middle of it! Ok - come on, I was living in Idaho at the time and highly influenced by the wilderness environment. Besides my hubby will love it (and it's a way to introduce sage into our Master Bedroom color scheme.... I know wha'cha sayin' to yourself - "that girl is always thinkin'", huh? ) I used a cross stitch pattern from a book full of wildlife. It had the perfect white tailed deer design - jumping over a log which happened to have sage green leaves as well as autumn colors.


I am ashamed to admit that I bought the yarn and started the background in 1998 - yes folks - I am going on my tenth anniversary of working on this project. I commenced work on the masterpiece while on Marine Corps Recruiting duty in Lewiston Idaho. There was a fab yarn shop up on the plateau in Moscow Idaho - The Needle Nook - I don't know if it is still there but if it's not it is a cry'n shame - I hate to see a good fiber store go down, it is among the great tragedies of the last century - like giving Iwo Jima back, or The Duke passing away or Roslyn Bakeries closing down or Sara Lee ending production of the Banana Cake with that cream cheese frosting (you did have to be careful not to cut your fingers on the aluminum pan when you were bending the corners down over the cardboard cover.) Anyway, I finished the two side panels - because I always do the fun part first and the side panels had lots of color and a cool stitch pattern over the afghan stitch which reminded me of a Burberry checked pattern (spent some time in England also so I have incorporated a lot of memories into this masterpiece don'cha' know) - the center piece is a huge block of boring afghan stitch crochet - I get distracted easily so this part took me about 9 years!

In my defense during this time we moved to Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii as our next duty station with the Marine Corps. I did not feel like working on yarn projects for the three years while stationed in Hawaii - it is so hot and so humid - woe is me (sigh)..... the project did go with me, just in case I got bored in paradise.

I daresay that yarn may be more traveled than some of you (not meaning to offend anyone who prefers to remain at home in a stable environment).....Idaho, Hawaii, Indiana, Tennessee.... Instead of finishing the afghan in Hawaii we had our Princess at Tripler Army Medical Center -
- now she is a project I am also still working on!

The Never Ending Project has been pulled out a few times while here in East Tennesse but never for very long - until this year. Here's a look at the pieces - I have been humming along the last few months. I am determined that it will be on our bed in the master bedroom when the house is complete. Truth be told, it was supposed to be a Christmas present for Super Hubby this year - needless to say that didn't happen 'cause here's where I'm at now!
Is it really my fault he didn't get done with the house by Thanksgiving - I really can't get the afghan done before the house is done - then it would just set in a box until it's unveiling - isn't it better to wait until it can be placed immediatly on it's place of honor?????

This will look lovely on someones bed - I just hope I'm alive to see it!