This is my second crocheted portrait. This one was developed using open source versions of GIMP & KPG. The second photo is the original of the cat, upon which I based this project.

Trying to get the yarn colors right was a challenge. I did a swatch of Sebastian’s nose to test my initial color choices and as a result made a couple of changes. In fact, you can see in the last photo that I switched colors in the middle of the swatch.

At 30%, I was questioning my choice of greens. However, since I was pleased with how the cat himself was coming out, I kept going as is, figuring that the greens were just background. At 40%, the greens were looking better. At 80%, the greens were done and I had long made my peace with my color selections.

The main image is 36” wide x 29” high. The border adds another 3-4 inches. There are 15,375 single crochets in the main image.

THE YARNS I USED:

Greys:
0-Vanna’s Choice-404 Dark Grey Heather (darkest grey)
1-Vanna’s Choice-151 Charcoal Grey
4-Impeccable-1044 True Grey
5-Caron Simply Soft-9509 Grey Heather (lightest grey) This is a light worsted weight, so I had to crochet it a bit looser to look even with other stitches.

Greens:
2-RH Super Saver-406 Medium Thyme (darker green)
3-RH Super Saver Chunky-624 Tea Leaf (lighter green) I didn’t realize until I got home that this was a chunky weight yarn. I kept pulling out one of the plies as I went to get a worsted weight equivalent.

Naturals & Whites:
6-Patons Classic Wool-229 Natural Mix (darkest)
7-Vanna’s Choice-099 Linen
8-RH with Love-1101 Eqgshell
9-Vanna’s Choice-100 Angel White (lightest)

Purple:
0-Vanna’s Choice-147 Purple (collar only)

PROGRESS NOTES:

Started 15-JUL-2013
10% 21-JUL-2013
20% 31-JUL-2013
30% 9-AUG-2013 Reached Sebastian’s purple collar.
40% 10-SEP-2013 Can see Sebastian’s chin.
50% 28-MAR-2014 Finally back on track. I reached the nose!
60% 4-APR-2014 - Can fully see the left eye! Collar done.
70% 19-APR-2014 - At the base of the ears. See the photo with my “consultant” Calvin Kitty.
80% 29-APR-2014 - Greenery done. Ears half done.
90% 11-MAY-2014 - Almost done!!! Just two more rows of the cat himself.
100% 12-MAY-2014 - Done!!

There are a couple of photos of me working on the piece at about 65%.

I ordered the stretcher frame for mounting on 13-MAY. Promised by 27-MAY. Took another week for stretcher bars to be ready, because they “lost” my original order. Not happy. Picked up on 3-JUN, which only left me only a couple of days before the County fair to mount the piece on the frame. Will have to reconsider how to mount my next piece.

Piece delivered to fair on 6-JUN. The first, third and fourth photos are of the piece mounted.

Alameda County Fair 2014 Results: 3rd Place in Crocheted Art (including wall hangings & decorations). See a couple of photos at the end of the series of photos. (Green background.)

California State Fair 2015 Results “Sebastian” has won second place at the 2015 California State Fair in the category of Crochet-Other! The Fair opened in mid July. - The last four photos were taken when I dropped off the piece at the State Fair in May 2015 and at the State Fair itself in July 2015, including the crazy selfie with my hubby and son.