07-24-2018 Setting up the pattern

Calculations:
The swatch was 2x4 inches (8 square inches), so chaining 312 should give a width of 52 inches.
It took 17 yards to make the swatch.
I have 6100 yards available for the afghan.
6100 yards should give me 2870 square inches. If one side of the rectangle is 52 inches, then the other side is about 56 inches.

In proportion of the total, the Beige Bon Tami is about 50% of the total; the Tamm Estillo is about 20%; the Red is about 20% and the black about 10%.

Terminology:

• a band is 3 rows of basketweave stitch
• a stripe occurs when all the bands are the same color
• a set consists of 1 beige stripe; 1 red stripe; 1 ecru stripe and 1 black stripe.

There are 9 sets plus 1 additional stripe of beige to finish it off.

There are 4 stripes of color
The Beige stripe has 4 bands (except for top and first set)
The Red stripe has 2 bands
The Ecru stripe has 2 bands
The Black stripe is 1 band.

09-11-2018 Looking at how far the Boni Tamm will go.

First stripe of Boni Tamm

How much could 1 skein do?
1 starting chain
1 Row DCs
4 bands
1.1 Row of 5th band

Second skein was needed to complete 2 rows of the 5th band. Decision made at this point to make the Beige stripe of 4 bands except the top and bottom

Based off this, I should be able to do 10 stripes of Boni Tamm -- with the first and last stripes having 5 bands. This will give me 9 sets of repeating stripes.

09-12-2018 Discovering the Red yarn is too thick

Examining the feasibility of separating the red into 2 strands and 1 strands and using the 2 strand piece. It’s a better thickness match for the other 3 yarns.

Would this give me enough red for a border? The single strands could be held doubled.

09-25-2018

I’m splitting the red yarn and only using 2 of the 3 strands. If I feel the result with my eyes closed, it feels just a teensy thicker than the Boni Tamm. The choice to split the yarn off while crocheting it means this is no longer a mobile project -- or it’s not a good choice to take on a long trip where space is at a premium.

10-01-2018 Dreaded realization: there won’t be enough black

After beginning work with the black nylon, I realized it was way less than the amount listed in the stash. “Measure twice; cut once” is an axiom for a good reason.

First stripes of colors are complete and measure about 7 inches. I should have enough yarn for 9 repeats plus another 5 bands of beige. So the afghan should be about 60 inches long before a border is added.

10-29-2018 Whoops -- didn’t keep accurate tracking.

The black Sunray is nearly gone and I checked on the projects that used it. I never subtracted the yarn when I used it for a border. Found an Etsy yarn that I think is quite close. Not coned and I can’t really tell if it’s a heavy or light fingering. This was supposed to use stash, not contribute to stash.

11-01-2018 Etsy comes through

The new Sunray black arrived today. No yardage or anything on the band -- that’s how old it is. The seller had 22 skeins -- if I run out, I could get more.

11-18-2018 Splitting the Red while not crocheting

I finally gave in and separated one of the larger sized Red balls so that I can take this project with me. It’s enough yarn for 2 more red stripes, so it will be awhile before I need to separate the final ball of red. Wish there were an efficient way of doing this.

11-26-2018 The new Black Sunray

The skein of black sunray seems to be the same thickness as the cone but is stretchier.
One skein is about 27.5 grams; After doing one band, the leftover weight of the yarn was about 10.2 grams. I should get 4 bands from the 3 skeins. (I may have to buy more Sunray. If I do, I’ll consider extra for the border.)

01-04-2019 More black arrived

3 more skeins of Sunray black purchased and delivered. I was considering purchasing enough black to do a border band, but that would have been at least another $22. Hardly in spirit with a stash buster.

01-16-2019 Calculations as the final stripes draw closer

Don’t know yet if there will be enough taupe for the 9th repeating section.
Definitely there is enough red, black and beige.

Would be nice to have enough red to do a border.

Annoying that the red has consistently held small ‘eyelashes’ of hair that had to be picked off individually. Brushing with masking tape didn’t remove them.

01-20-2019 Plenty of taupe remains

I will have enough taupe to make its final stripe. When I look at the many projects using the taupe, that cone was humongous.

Once I finish the final stripe of red, will have to weigh the red and then weigh it again after the first border row. My intent is to make the border all SCs or SC/CH1 using a single strand of red.

01-20-2019 Beginning 8th set of stripes

I feel as though the finish line is in sight.

02-25-2019 The final Beige Stripe

Finally started the last beige stripe. Then onward to a border.

03-07-2019 The border begins

The single strand of red seems as though it will work nicely for a border. I’ve weighed the ball I’ve begun with and will weigh again at the end of the first found to make sure there’s enough yarn for at least 3 rounds.

The first round is all SC. Down the sides, I’m doing about 1 SC for each row (sometimes an extra SC at the turning chain feels about right).

At the corners, I’m doing (SC, chain 2, SC). It seems easy enough to remember but my experience is that I will forget unless it’s written somewhere.