Checking In!

I probably should've listened to my better judgement yesterday and not tried the drop spindle. I think I must've inhaled the fibres because I felt a bit fuzzy in my throat afterwards. In theory, it is all very simple but in practice...well, it is a different story. I had fun with it and I hope I'll have something to show at some stage.

I am still working on the blanket but I haven't done much over the last few days, I'm on round four of the edging (six rounds for the edging in total). It just goes to show how different stitches use different amounts of yarn, I started a new ball of yarn during the first edging round and I have almost finished it whereas the body of the blanket took less than two.

I felt okay this morning but by this afternoon, I was feeling dreadful again. I feel a bit better now, which might have something to do with the two bowls of chicken soup I've just eaten - I am hoping I felt rotten because I haven't eaten much in the last few days. I'm going to work tomorrow - I should've gone in today but no one would've thanked me for spreading my germs around.

I did the dyeing I wanted to do, and ended up with nicely stained hands again. I think the yarn turned out okay, I will wait and see how it is tomorrow when it's mostly dry and maybe re-dye it, there are a few patches which didn't take much colour. I hope my Spoilee will like it, I've had the undyed hank for a while just waiting - it really is deliciously soft and yummy feeling...

Anyway, I guess that it's for tonight, I might go and do some more work on this edging and see where I end up.

Sometimes I hate being right.

Well, I'm sick. I woke up yesterday feeling like absolute crap, I took the day off work and I am off work today, too. I guess I'll be alright to work tomorrow.

I've done absolutely no crocheting for the last two days, yesterday I pretty much slept all day but I started to feel better in the evening. I don't feel as bad today as I did yesterday, so that is good.



That's the current progress on Enchanted Slumber so far, I've actually done a little bit more than that now - the edging is all wonky and ruffled but I'm going to keep going with it. I might lay on the couch and watch some DVDs and do some crocheting but really, nothing appeals to me at the moment.

In the midst of my illness-and-drug-induced haze yesterday, I heard the doorbell ring, so I jumped out of bed, put my jeans on and opened the door. The postal delivery man was driving away but when the front door opened, he waved at me and I noticed a package out the front. Too small to be my yarn order so...



Thank you, Secret Pal! I read the leaflet and, typically, once I pulled everything out, I couldn't fit it all back in (why does this happen?). I am not even letting myself think about trying anything complicated the way my head is at the moment but I am looking forward to giving it a go when I am feeling better. I am sure I will make a big mess of things but I am going to enjoy every minute of it.

I have to dye some yarn to send to my Spoilee but I haven't really felt up to that, either. I should probably go and do that now.

Me again!

I did my shopping this morning, it was raining and miserable today - a good day to stay inside and crochet (which I did, when I got home). I bought some nice gifts for Mum and I hope she enjoys them when I give them to her on Tuesday. She was laid low with the 'flu yesterday and she's still not 100% today...I felt okay until the end of my shopping spree when I felt a bit 'scratchy' in the throat and it's just gotten worse since then. It's not too bad and if this is as far as it progresses, I'll cope - I just don't want it to get worse!

I've been crocheting the blanket and I decided to finish the body a lot earlier (in terms of length) than I had originally planned - it was looking too long for the width so I thought starting the edging might be a good idea. Well...I am sure it would be a good idea if I could wrap my head around the pattern for the sides, the top and bottom is okay, I can do those bits but I think I stuffed up the sides. I guess I will know for sure when I am finished and if it looks halfway decent. It's not the pattern, it's just me. I am starting to feel less optimistic about this project but it isn't a huge problem as this blanket did start off as a test of the pattern...hopefully I can get all the edging related kinks worked out and then I will feel much more confident about the next one. Still, I will get very cranky if I realise I have just wasted a week working on something destined for the bin and if I am cranky enough, that is exactly where it will go. I suppose another option could be using it as a blanket for Angel - I haven't made her one yet, maybe this is meant to be hers? God knows it's got enough of her crocheted into it!

I think I might be a bit of a bipolar crocheter...

Anyway, I might just keep slogging along and maybe watch a DVD while I'm crocheting, I bought a few today - I won't say how many...

Probably overdoing the posts a bit...

It's finished! Well, almost...




As far as I could tell (thanks to my trusty measuring tape), it is just over 100cms / 40inches in diameter. Not too shabby, although I would've liked the patience to continue for a few more rounds. It is quite ruffle-y around the edges, partly due to the thicker yarn and then, of course, the edging itself. I have about 6 ends to weave in, which I will do tomorrow (definitely!) and it really was a very economical blanket to make, costing me less than $10 for the yarn...I think it was either $8 or $9. I did spend a fair few hours on it but when it comes to a hobby, I really don't think the time spent is that significant - which is definitely not to say that the recipient shouldn't appreciate the effort and time put into handmade gifts.

I keep writing "Eternal Slumber" instead of "Enchanted Slumber" - I will have to check my previous posts to make sure I didn't put the wrong pattern name in. Eternal Slumber is a bit depressing at the best of times, particularly so when it is associated with a baby blanket!

This is a close-up of the stitch pattern and yarn, the colours are showing up a bit brighter than they really are, it is more of a pastel yarn. I have not decided what I'm going to do with this one when it is finished, I think I may have to do the nice thing and give it to the lady I used to work with, as I did promise I would make her one...I know Mum would like it if I gave it to her, she asked me to make something a few months ago and I refused and I have felt mean ever since.


Following the pattern for the receiving blanket size but using this 8ply yarn and a 6.00mm hook, it is just on 56cms / 22inches wide and currently about 48cms / 19inches long. I will try and keep working on it until it is about 110cms / 43 inches - the beauty of a pattern worked back and forth is that it will take me as long to do the last row as it did to do the second row, which is not really all that long. I've just started the second ball of yarn so I should have plenty (I have 5) but I am not sure how much the edging will add to the size and yarn required. I guess it is a bit of 'wait and see'. I do like to make things tricky for myself, don't I?

When I get it finished, I will start another one, using this yarn:


It is the same as the yarn I am using but much more vivid, so I think it should work up into a nice, cheerful, suitable-for-a-boy sort of blanket. I hope the pink isn't too overpowering. I can take my time with it (within reason) as I have until November and this blanket will be more suitable for the cooler months.

I have some of the 4ply left over so I am looking through my patterns and online to find some ideas, I love booties and little socks but I am sure I will have trouble getting the sizing right. I wouldn't mind buying some plain bibs and crocheting an edge around them, I've never done that before but it strikes me as a fun idea. I should've thought of it this morning while I was out shopping.

And it's my Dad's birthday today - happy 60th Dad! You were less than halfway through your 50s the last time I spoke to you but I hope you've had a good day. It's Mum's birthday on Tuesday, so I will have to hit the shops again tomorrow morning, nice and early (so I can park easily) and load up on presents.

I think that's about it for tonight, I will get into bed and crochet until I fall asleep or my arm falls off, whichever comes first...I hope I don't regret the very strong coffee I just finished...

Lopsided

I've been to Spotlight, bought a new 6.00mm hook (beautiful, strong metal!), some more yarn and other bits and pieces. I am happily esconced in my chair now, finishing off the edging.

Imagine my embarrassment when I picked up my blanket to continue and found the stitch I'd marked with my earring (hey, it's convenient and it works well) and then realised I'd spent the whole morning walking around with only one earring and I had my hair up. I know, it's not as if people don't wear single earrings but really! I said to myself when I was getting ready this morning "now don't forget to put your earring back in" and then I blithely walked out the door.

I will have to buy some cheap hoops with the same closure because I think they are fabulous as stitch markers and I am not really so high in the instep as to need a rose-gold stitch marker...

I guess I will edit this post to show some pictures a bit later on when I get this one finished and I'll get some photos of my progress with the Enchanted Slumber blanket, too. Looking forward to a movie & popcorn night with Kim so that means I will be listening to the dialogue while I watch each stitch like a hawk. Sounds like a good night to me!

Uh Oh!

So here are some photos of my recent projects.

This poor, little shrug is still waiting to have the ends woven in:

Then we have a very cute cupcake (waiting for eyes and the blueberry to be added before it is stuffed and sewn together - I just kind of tucked it in):



And then the cute cupcake with a cute cupcake purse:



Then we have a close-up of the stitches & yarn for the blue baby shawl:



The photos aren't really true to the colour but this one is closer. I definitely did more rounds after this photo but how many I couldn't say. Maybe 5.



I've been crocheting like a demon this evening, I really wanted to get the edging finished and I only have one 'panel' left to do. I am at the point just before the last increase and the start of the edging round is about 5 clusters in from the next increase, so I really don't have much to go and then...


...this happens!

I don't know whether to laugh or cry, I am leaning towards crying because I don't have a clue where my other 6.00mm hook is and I dearly want to get this finished tonight. I was using this same hook for the other blanket, too, so I can't keep going with that either. I am just really cranky with myself, I know this happened with the plastic 4.00mm hook, I just assumed it wouldn't with a thicker one but I was wrong - obviously. These are just crappy, cheap hooks - and I must've been putting a lot of stress on it this week, especially with the edging, as it was quite a struggle getting into the double-crochet stitches for the treble clusters.

Man, I am so annoyed right now! I hope I can find my other hook, I'm guessing if the change from 4ply to 8ply and back again didn't make too much of a difference, any discrepancy in the hook sizes should be minor as well...

All that aside, I am really happy with how it has turned out, I want to do another round of edging using a four-treble-cluster but really, I don't think it needs it so I am going to leave it with one round...assuming I can get this last round finished!

This and That

I still haven't found my camera cable but the last few days have been a bit hectic and I haven't looked, so that is not really surprising...to be fair, I know where it is, so I can't really say it's lost and needs to be "found".

I got a lot of crocheting done on Wednesday, I finished the body of the blanket and I am working on the edging now. I'm not going mad so I'm obviously just stupid because I did end up with two balls of 4ply and one of 8ply, I keep showing it to people and saying "see, this section is 4ply, this bit is 8ply and here we are back at the 4ply" and they keep telling me they can't notice it...I can't notice a real difference myself but there is a slight one and it has made the edges buckle a bit. I am not really concerned by it, just worried about my sanity because I was sure I checked each one but it would seem I didn't. Anyway, I should get it finished tonight when I get home.

I decided to do a test of the Enchanted Slumber pattern on Tuesday night, I wanted to make sure I could follow the pattern without any trouble. It is very easy and turning out quite nicely so I will go and buy more of the yarn I'm using for it tomorrow.

No order has arrived so I am hoping I won't have to wait too much longer, I probably won't get it today but maybe next week. I want to see if what looked so nice on the screen is as nice in real life.

My Spoilee has gotten back to me and I have a lot of lists written up now so that makes me feel good about SP11.

I don't know what else I have planned for the weekend, nothing yet apart from going back to Spotlight and, of course, lots of crocheting...(I really should get my eyebrows done this time before they take over my face) ...

It's Madness!

I think I must be going mad, I started a new ball of yarn today while I was at work (sometimes I can crochet at work) and the label clearly stated 8ply so I have no idea why I thought it was 4ply...except I am worried the first ball I had might have been 4ply but I don't know where I put the label so I can't check. It doesn't look any different so I hope I'm just a bit confused.

I was determined to get to 30 rounds last night and I told myself I wasn't allowed to go to bed until I hit Round 30...I think I must've given up at Round 21 because I was far too tired to crochet any longer and, boy, does it take forever to complete the rounds now. I've crocheted a fair bit today (a good 2 hours at least) and I've only just started Round 30. Round 29 consisted of 270 trebles, 280 chains and 20 treble-clusters (or 60 extra trebles). It might not sound like much but my hands and wrists are telling me it's a lot!

I had a brief moment of panic (about 15 minutes, really) when I was crocheting today and I realised I had crocheted right up to a big tangle in the yarn - I just made it into a tighter knot by pulling the yarn the wrong way and then it took me quite some time to undo it - I really didn't want to undo even one of my stitches and cut the yarn so I am glad I didn't have to. Luckily I had a darning needle in my bag and I used it to open the knot up.

I've laid the blanket out on my bed and taken some photos but I was lazy and rummaged through my work bag and just got the camera out when I got home...I have a sneaking suspicion the cable to connect my camera to my computer is still in my car but it might not be. I will check and hopefully upload some pictures tonight. It's been so long since I've logged into photobucket I can't remember my password. I think I have it written down somewhere.

I bought some more patterns yesterday - 3, to be exact. I must be careful because I forget that the few dollars it costs for each pattern will actually end up becoming quite a large amount of money if I purchase too many patterns.

I love Lisa's patterns, she posts on Crochetville (or did, last time I checked) and so do many of her testers (if not all). They are frilly, frippery sort of patterns - and I mean that in the very best possible way - I love frilly, frippery patterns! I would love to have a little girl to make some of her outfits for, not necessarily one of my own (I am not in a hurry for that...). Anyway, back to the point - not having a little girl to crochet for and currently crocheting for a little boy, I looked at her afghan patterns and I chose two:

"Enchanted Slumber" and "Fairy Rainfall" - they may not be the most masculine patterns but if I have to crochet 'em, I have to like 'em and I like these two. I think Fairy Rainfall is a bit beyond my comfort level although I would like to think I could crochet it without too much difficulty but Enchanted Slumber is right up my alley (I hope) and I am planning on buying some suitable yarn on Saturday in some kind of variegated blue. I was never a huge fan of variegated yarns but I am finding them so much more convenient than constantly changing colours - I would rather just have the new yarn joins to weave in than all the ends from changing colours every few rounds. I really hate weaving in ends.

Another pattern I bought from Lisa's Crochet Garden was the "Garden Trellis" Shawl. I love shawls and I find I am actually wearing them a lot now...somewhere inside me is a really old lady! I remember when Lisa posted the pattern results to Crochetville and her testers did, too - I really liked it then and I still really like it so I thought I might try it when I get these blankets done.

One of the patterns I bought from Etsy last week (Friday, I think) was this Cupcake Purse, it appealed to me and even though I probably didn't need a pattern for it, I just preferred not to have to devise one myself. I finished it on Saturday night and it's been living in my bag since then - empty but I just keep pulling it out and saying "Guess what this is?" to people and then showing it off, I just love it. I think I will make another one for the granddaughter of one of the people I work with, I think she will like it. This little girl also seems to have a healthy obsession with hot chocolate and marshmallows, so isn't it just a stroke of luck that this Sweet Tooth crochet pattern set contains a very cute little crocheted mug of hot chocolate complete with a marshmallow?

I think what I like most about the patterns anapaulaoli sells are the very cute faces and little rosy cheeks she adds, mine will probably not look as nice as hers but I will give it my best shot. I just have to remember to buy the right eyes when I go to Spotlight. I always have trouble finding the right eyes...I have made one of the cupcakes in the Sweet Tooth set but until I have the eyes, I am not going to make the blueberry, so it is currently just in pieces until I can stuff it and sew it together.

I don't know if all this cupcake-y crocheting is going to satisfy my sweet tooth or make it worse...

Round 30 is beckoning and I think I gave my wrists enough of a rest for tonight.

I tell fibs!

I promised photos didn't I? I apologise but my camera is still packed up in Frank and I am wearing my nightie, so not likely to go outside and rummage around in my car for a camera dressed like this, am I? Take my word for it, I am definitely not going outside again tonight. I will remember when I get home from work tomorrow to bring my work bag inside - and my camera with it.

I had another busy but fun day today, saw a movie this morning and did some shopping, I picked up some white acrylic since I forgot to get any yesterday and I wanted some...I also bought a few CDs, DVDs and some card-making bits and bobs.

I started on the baby blanket, using the Panda pattern I massacred for the ill-fated "Baby Shawl" last year. I am using the 4ply with a 6.00mm hook, I don't think that was a very good idea but I don't dislike how it is turning out so far. I've ended up with a very open and floppy-feeling fabric, which I think will actually work nicely to wrap baby up in - especially in Summer (when he is due) but I just worry that little fingers and toes might get all caught up in the holes. Hmm. If nothing else, it can be a play-rug? I don't know. I love the pattern, even though the stitch definition is next to nil with the big hook and fine yarn but I just can't face struggling through it again with an itty-bitty hook (since when has a 4.00mm hook ever been 'itty-bitty'? I don't know!). I'll just keep going until I can't keep going anymore and then, who knows, I might wise up and use a thicker yarn when I attempt the next one. I am nothing if not a glutton for punishment (or maybe that should just be 'glutton' considering how much rubbish I've eaten for the last two days).

You know, I think I will keep working on it tonight and see how far I get and how it looks...and if I am still not happy, I will go back to Spotlight and buy some of the nice variegated 8ply acrylic I saw yesterday. I bought a few balls of different patterns but none suitable for this project. I don't know why I didn't consider any of them while I was there...

A Busy Little Bee

I've had a great day! I am so delighted that I actually did something constructive and a bit fun for myself today. I didn't get my eyebrows waxed, which I will definitely regret until I can make an appointment and go in next Saturday but I did end up going to Spotlight with Kimmy, we made it there without any incidents, I was able to park without any problems (always a concern for me)...I also didn't send myself broke at Spotlight- I did that before I even left the house by ordering some patterns through etsy and putting in a big yarn order online. Mostly for my spoilee but a few bits and bobs for me. It's not the most I've spent on yarn all up but it's the most I've spent in one hit and for relatively "little" return but there's no doubt the quality will be beyond what I normally buy.

I'm working on one of the patterns now and it's turning out better than I thought although I am really a bit on the rusty side with some of my skills. I'm embarrassed to say it took me a good 4 attempts to get the start right.

Right now, I'm crocheting (and not struggling) and switching between the BeeGees and Eminem on my playlist...

My camera is still packed up with all my work stuff in the back of my car, I'll definitely get it out tomorrow and take some photos of what I'm working now, it should be finished in a little while and then I need to weave in the ends on the shrug and take some photos of that. I've got to sort out my project list to actually reflect what I'm doing...I bought some baby yarn for the blanket, too - it's quite a pretty variegated yarn but I stupidly bought 4ply which means I'm either going to have to use a small hook and it will take me forever (why do I do this to myself?) or I'll need to double-strand it and use a larger hook, which means I'll need to go back and buy more. I think that's a better option! I haven't decided what pattern I'll use, Kim's mum shared one with me today which turns out quite nicely (8ply and 6.5mm hook).

Anyway, I guess that's enough for tonight, I want to get this finished...

Yay, Friday!

Well, it seems as if SP11 is in full-swing already around here. I made contact with my spoilee this morning and I hope I have a reply sometime today...I think it is time to start shopping. I will head off to Spotlight with my friend tomorrow and see what I can find there - probably not much will be exciting but you never know! I do love Spotlight.

About to go to work and then I am looking forward to a lovely weekend of doing very little that is work-related, I've already been working on forms and such this morning and have to take some work home with me tonight - but if I get it finished before I go to bed then I have a work-free weekend! Although, to be honest, none of my days are work free anymore, it just invades my thoughts and I am constantly planning and considering and thinking of new things. I'm not complaining - I am enjoying it a great deal. I can't believe it's been 5 months already, "time flies" is right.

Hello to my SP11 Secret Pal, thanks for your comment!

SP11 Questionnaire

SP11 here we go...all knitting references changed to crochet.

SP11 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to crochet with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I'm not really a "yarn connoisseur" (shocking, I know) - I guess the novelty yarns (like furry, feathery ones) are a bit pointless because I find they are just too difficult to crochet with. I was lucky enough to receive some very nice yarn during SP9 (understatement of the century) and I didn't dislike any of them.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? Umm...usually just store them with whatever I'm working on or in a place I (hopefully) won't lose them.

3. How long have you been crocheting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? Not that long, in the great scheme of things - I think about two years now. I'm an intermediate beginner I guess.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Yes, I am happy to share the link to my amazon wishlist, please ask me for it.

5. What's your favorite scent? Sweet or floral (vanilla, rose, gardenia etc).

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? I have sweet teeth - chocolate is a Very Good Thing.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I don't spin, I like cardmaking and crafty things like that but I'm not really much good. I don't spin but I'd like to try it one day - I did some dyeing courtesy of SP9 and I love it.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) - I'm willing to give almost any music a go and yes, my computer & stereo can play MP3s.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? I really love pink but I quite like any bright and beautiful colours, nothing too garish and nothing really muddy (not a huge fan of browns and khaki sort of colours).

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? 3 doggies living in the house with us.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Yes, mainly scarves but we are heading towards warmer weather here now, so maybe not really ideal at this point.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to crochet? I like making my 4ply doilies because they are not too difficult yet they look pretty, I like making shawls and blankets - if I can ever work out the concept of a gauge swatch, I'd really like to make some wearables. Toys and silly things are fun, too!

13. What are you crocheting right now? Does what I'm thinking about crocheting count? I need to start work on a baby blanket and, of course, the items for my Pal.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? They are the very best kind!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Well, the straight or circular question is N/A for crocheting. I am not fussy about my hooks, I wouldn't say no to any of the very beautiful and interesting hooks that are available though (I like pretty things).

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? I received a yarn winder during SP9, I don't have a swift.

17. How old is your oldest UFO? How long have I been crocheting again? (About that old).

18. What is your favorite holiday? I like Christmas.

19. Is there anything that you collect? I collect lots of things: porcelain and china, particularly teacup and saucer sets & salt & pepper shakers, umm cupcake-related "things", old photos (particularly old wedding photos), clowns and frogs. I like things related to the 1920s and 1930s (art nouveau and art deco).

20. Any books, yarns, hooks or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What crocheting magazine subscriptions do you have? There are a lot of books on my wishlist - and there are some Leisure Arts and other pattern leaflets I would like to get my hands on...I don't have any magazine subscriptions.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I suppose spinning would be the only technique I can think of...

22. Are you a sock crocheter? What are your foot measurements? I will have to look them up from the SP9 questionnaire (or if I am lazy and don't, then whoever is interested - feel free to look up the measurements from the SP9 questionnaire). One day I will try sock-crocheting but sock yarn hasn't really made it to the local stores here yet.

23. When is your birthday? April 4th.

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? Nope.

I hope that was informative :)

Me, again!

I figured I was well overdue for an update...again! It seems SP11 is heading forward in full swing so what better time to throw myself back into the blog? I dunno but it seemed like a good idea at the time.

The shrug has been finished for some time now, if unwoven ends can be considered 'finished'. I know, I know, some things never change. I decided I will give it to a friend of mine, she is petite and it fits her much better than it fits me. The actual shruggy part is fine but the edging is meant to come across the bust (the picture in the book showed it held closed with a pretty crocheted flower pin) but my bust is obviously "too ample" (is there such a thing?) because there is no way the edging can meet across the chest - it won't even go across a little bit. Oh well, I still like it and have 6 balls of the green and 3 of the purple left to play with.

I met up with a friend of mine today and her mother is the lady who taught me to crochet, she is making crochet 'skull caps' (beanies, really) in purple to raise money for where my friend works, it's a very simple pattern and I might make some butI can't think what purpose they would serve. I need to do some mindless crocheting!

My other dear friend who is 85 has found out her granddaughter is having a baby boy so I promised I would make a blanket for her, I don't know if I should do a big granny square blanket, a lots-of-granny-squares blanket or a different blanket entirely. It would be nice if I started it while the weather was still cold or else I may not have it finished in time, I can just see myself throwing it in the cupboard when it starts getting hot. At least I am well aware of my faults and know that I have to keep myself in check when it comes to crocheting and crafts in general...I would like to make a pattern out of one of the Leisure Arts booklets I bought off eBay some time ago but I don't know, I'm not feeling all that confident.

We shall see!

I am really very excited to see what SP11 has in store for me and who my spoilee will be, where they are from - I did ask for someone in this country but I know they may not be able to accommodate that request. Time will tell.