11-21-2021 Acrylic thread

Looking for acrylic about the same size as #10 crochet cotton to flatten and stretch this when finished.

ETA: Could not find any.

12-10-2021 Mulling over bobbins

Progress being made on finalizing a pattern. Will be testing out adjacent thread colors and gauge soon so I can create the necessary bobbins.

How to avoid 50 bobbins? Maybe combining states that aren’t in the same row. Example, Texas, Ohio, and South Dakota could use 1 bobbin. And how would I label bobbins to know. I could label the cups that hold the bobbins, but what happens if the bobbin spills from it.

ETA: went with individual bobbins -- at least 1 per state. I had some small plastic bags -- 1 bobbin per bag. I’ve tried to store them in smaller groups in the order in which they will be called for.

ETA: keeping them in their small plastic bags helps control them a bit better. Less twist and when untwisting is necessary, it’s easy to zip across the thread in the opening and untwist.

ETA: The plastic bags have the state names affixed to them. Makes it easier to cut in the correct location. Never realized I could not place the states on a US map correctly.

ETA: Paper cups to hold the bobbins kept falling. Plastic detergent lids better. Even better, small heavy glass.

Things to figure out

Backing: fusible interfaceing or the stickable backing used to frame needlework?

String to hold it up: German nun twisted cord? What color?

Surface crochet for 12 trails?

If a wallhanging, can I crochet a frame mat around all 4 sides. Really go elegant and crochet a frame mat with slightly raised edges?
Use natural twigs for the top and bottom?

12-30-2021 Bobbin counting

I decided not to precisely count each color block, but to use templates to estimate instead. The sample has shown that there are about 30 SC per yard. I need to get the estimates complete so I can order thread. Block counting is making my eyes cross.

01-01-2022 Have calculated the total bobbin yardage.

Done calculating the bobbin yardage. I rounded everything up to 30, even the smaller states that are less than 10.

Mauve = 128 yards (173 yards)
Yellow = 103 (need to buy)
Blue = 86 (300+ in stash)
Cement = 115 (167 in stash)

Remarkably, unless I have totally miscalculated, I should be able to complete this with only buying a yellow.

ETA: All bobbins are complete except the odds and ends of white. I’m hoping that the bobbins leftover from Jacob Hilliard can be used to fill in. Hate to buy another ball just for a couple of yards.

I think I’d like to try this in a blanket size. It should work in theory. All it would take to create bobbin size would be a swatch to see how many yards of worsted are in 30 stitches.

01-25-2022 Tracking to find a mistake

Went to start one of the rows and I realized I had made a mistake. Trying to find an error is hard for me. I ended up sliding a dark blue contrast thread above Row 25 and could finally see the error in Row 27. Frogged back and realized the error began with Row 26. Frogged back and fixed it.

Basically both of these rows were done late one evening.

I’ve decided to keep the dark blue thread and add another one at the end of Rows 50, 75 and 100. It will be a big help when blocking.

02-04-2022 Finished Row 75

The difficult rows with small NJ, Delaware, split Maryland, and split Virginia are behind me.

Both Lake Erie and Lake Michigan have begun.

02-12-2022 Error in pattern graph

As I finished up to the final rows of Washington state, I figured out that I omitted a line from the graph. It had occurred in an easy line but one with multiple white areas ending/restarting and I had just woven in all prior ends. Luckily I hadn’t woven into an area I had to frog. The next four rows complete Washington and then it will be solid white.

03-01-2022

Bought 3 dark shades for the frame. I made small samples but looking at the images, they all seem fine. Looking at them in person, one of them seems a better choice and photographs a tad better.

The frame should be easy once the first round is done. Just need to calculate how many stitches per inch should go down each side.

03-03-2022 Border

Finished with first round of border. Doing 3 SCs at corner.
Final round is Twisted SC -- the corner is 1 TSC, 1 ch, 1 TSC.

10-12-2022 Decision about the trails

I’m using golden embroidery thread to indicate trail heads.
Make a loop, chain 3, join, and pull thread through. If it’s not picot-enough, tie a knot at base.

12-01-2022

This is finally completed and ready to write up for submission. The addition of the gold thread for trail heads means I can’t vigorously iron it again due to the plastic content in the gold thread. It has been whipstitched to a round stick for hanging on the wall.