I started this afghan when I was somewhere around 13 or 14 years old, just after I had first learned how to crochet. I guess you could say it was the first design I ever made. I’d decided to make an afghan and just did row after row of half-double crochets with a variegated Red Heart yarn named Wedgewood.
I love variegated yarns. I love the crazy patterns they end up making. So many times I am surprised at what comes out and I never could have planned it to come out better. I have some other pieces I’ll post shortly that demonstrate this even better. 
So, I worked on this afghan off and on over the years. It started as a way to explore crocheting further and I soon went on to working from patterns and started making all the gifts I came to love to give. But every once in a while I would pull this back out and work on it some more. The row after row of half-double crochets was pretty dull to work on, but the patterns that developed as I worked and changed skeins helped. The hDc stitch makes a very warm blanket too. I finally finished it just a couple of years ago.
It’s just a simple blanket for under the comforter on the bed. You can see the fading at the top of the picture from the yarn I started with 15 years ago, and the difference from the more recent yarn. I don’t feel it’s gift quality, but that’s ok because I really just made it for myself anyway. For me it represents getting past the initial stages of doubt as I learned how to crochet and moving on to having the confidence in myself to be able to crochet anything I set my mind to. Not to mention, it has been the longest running, unfinished project I’ve ever had.
Stitched in Love,
Tatha
Stitched In Love Crocheting 