1-26-2014: Finished. Used 25 total skeins of Kureyon: 24 skeins for blanket and 1 skein with a few left-over lengths to do the 3-needle bind off join. Spit-splicing worked very well throughout. I could finish ends with a few garter stitch rows, but I’ve run out of time and I think leaving it in this more rustic way is fine for a 12 year old boy.
1-20-2014: Finished the 3 wide and 3 narrow strips called for in the pattern. As I have enough Kureyon to continue, and I think the throw looks a bit narrow, I’ll add one more strip of each size. Will stitch strips together as the pattern instructs after I finish knitting the two additional strips. If I can keep my nose to the grindstone, I should be able to finish up; then wash, block, air-dry, and present to grandson next week as planned.