09-16-2017

I want to make this to give to my boyfriend for his birthday, which is 80 days away. I’ll have to crochet about 3 squares a day to make it in time. I’m going to make the squares 4 x 4 inches. This will be my first ever attempt at a blanket :) Wish me luck!

09-18-2017

I need about 40 red squares, and as of this morning I have about 8 completed. I gotta hustle! I decided today that I will use a light gray color for the background because it will already be such a bright blanket I don’t want it to be too overwhelming and I want Mario to really stand out. I think for the gray squares, I’m going to do a more open stitch too, and I’m hoping that will save me some time since I have to make around 100 of those! Yikes!

09-20-2017

Alright, as of this afternoon, I have 13 completed red squares. I was thinking more about the open stitching for the gray squares and also maybe using a magic circle for the yellow squares to resemble buttons and also the black squares to resemble eyes? I’m not sure yet. I did figure out a schedule tho….

So, there are 110 gray (background) squares and 129 different colored squares that make up Mario. Thats a total of 239 squares. To finish by December 5th, I have to make at least 4 squares a day.

I’m currently working on the red squares, so I should be completed with those by Sep 25.

Sept 26 - start skin colored squares (41 total) and finish by October 5

Oct 6 - start blue squares (31 total) and finish by October 13

Oct 14 - start brown squares (24 total) and finish by Oct 19

Oct 20 - start black squares (7 total) and finish by Oct 21

Oct 22 - yellow squares (only 2)

Oct 23 - start gray squares (110 total) and finish by Nov 19

Then I can assemble for the 11 days between Nov 20 - 30 and wash and dry it for Dec 5th!

Yay!

09-24-2017

I currently have 22 red squares, so I need to make 15 more but I ran out of red yarn. I didn’t really count so the squares aren’t perfect sizes but they’ll work Haha

I already bought the skin colored yarn, so in order to keep to schedule and so I don’t fall behind I’m going to start on those squares and then hit the store when I have time to go get a little bit more red yarn. Just keep crocheting…. just keep crocheting…. just keep crocheting!!!

10-02-2017

I currently have 31 skin colored squares and 22 red squares! I have to finish up the red squares soon to stay on schedule!
If I can do 6 squares a day of both the skin color and the red color then I’ll be able to start on the blue yarn on 10/6

10-10-2017

So I’ve finished the skin colored squares completely! I started the blue yarn a few days early but I currently have my 20 squares so I’m exactly on schedule! I still haven’t had a chance to go back to Joanns and buy more red yarn but hopefully soon!
I’ve been keeping the finished squares in a shoebox and I’ve been crocheting right in front of Rich and he hasn’t asked what I’m making or anything so I think I may get to really surprise him! I don’t think he has any idea what the heck I’m doing! Hahaha

10-24-2017

Okay well I am completely off schedule but I have all the red squares done and all the skin squares done. I still haven’t been able to find the same blue yarn to complete 6 more squares. I bought some brown, black and grey yarn so I can get my hustle on! I should already be done with all the color squares and be working on the grey ones but life got away from me. I’ve been wayyy too busy this month and piled on too many goals for myself I think.

12-11-2017

….Darn it! Too late for his birthday, so I’m rushing and trying to finish this in time for Christmas. Its difficult to start putting the squares together in front of him so I’m stuck finding time when he isn’t home so he wont see the layout of all the squares and figure out what it is! Haha I have about 30 grey squares done, but I’m trying to stitch as many of the colored squares together before I’m too crunched for time. I can always add more grey squares later on, but Mario is the centerpiece so that’s what matters to me right now. I also still haven’t found the right shade of yellow yarn for the 2 squares, but hopefully soon!