Short 'n Sweet...

...is finished! I am not sure if I like it or not, I think the yarn is far too 'sproingy' (I can't think of another way to describe it) and I am fairly certain I should've made the Large size and not the Medium because it fits but it doesn't look very nice on me. It fits my arms, shoulders and back but there is quite a massive gap between the two "Fronts" - I knew there would be a small gap but this is a bit too wide for my liking. I have had a lot of fun with it though and I'm really hoping I've got all the mistakes out of my system so I can make some nice ones for this Summer.

Speaking of nice "Short 'n Sweets" for this Summer, I realised I miscalculated the yarn I would require when I placed an order yesterday so I have just e-mailed the shop and asked if I can add the extra skeins or if I have to place a new order. Either way is fine with me but I would rather add them to this order because I know I just won't be able to order three skeins and leave it at that, plus I hate paying shipping twice. Funnily enough, I had intended on making the Large for the next ones and I thought I had worked out the yarn...it's a wonder I'm as functional as I am, considering my stupidity sometimes.

All my eBay purchases are paid for so now I just get to wait until they arrive, I'm really looking forward to this lace weight merino, I've never really used lace weight anything, even the cotton doilies I make are with 4ply. I keep coming across pictures and patterns for absolutely beautiful knitted lace shawls and stoles and I am almost mad with envy...one day I am going to give in and try properly but I know it will all end in tears.

I'm thinking of what I should make for my Spoilee, I haven't decided yet but when I have a few more solid ideas I might e-mail her and ask what she would like. Still, I would like it to be a nice surprise so I don't want to give too much away. Anyway, I have to weave in some ends and get some photos taken...

Happy Days Are Here Again!

I'm really very excited but I will get to that in a minute, I have to get this Short 'n Sweet out of the way. I have completed R Front and am two rows from completing L Front -

The pictures are dreadful but the best I could do. So far, it is riddled with mistakes and I am sure I have done it upside down and back to front. I had a lot of trouble with R Front and actually used the chart to sort it out, I've never crocheted from a chart before and can I say it is so much easier! I'm really very impressed by how clear the chart was compared to written instructions but then I suppose it did help having the basic pattern memorised from following it for a while. Still, next time I think I will try from the chart and see how I go.

I am pretty sure it will need to be pinned out to open the stitches up but I have no clue how I am going to do it or where, I will cross that bridge when I get to it.

Now, onto the exciting news. I must apologise to Secret Pal for not posting this earlier but the reason I haven't is because I have been spending every free minute looking up yarn online. Secret Pal sent me "Loop-d-Loop Crochet" which I have had on my Amazon wishlist for a while but didn't want to commit to buying it - I find the reviews at Amazon are useless, there are always the 5 star reviews and then there are the 1 star reviews and I never know which one(s) I should trust for myself...I wish I had a good bookstore locally where I could check these books out, although I would probably end up ordering from Amazon myself since they would no doubt be far too pricey here.

Anyway, I have ordered some lace weight merino which looks gorgeous and I hope it is gorgeous when I get it...I am going to make (try to make) the Knotwork Socks (although I would call them "Knotwork Short Stockings" because there isn't much substance to them).

I absolutely adore the coat, the author is right - it is like the Wedding Dress of the collection, I think it's lovely and I might even try to make it myself for next Winter (since I just sent all my Winter coats to St. Vinnies) - sometimes there is an advantage to being short, I won't have to crochet near as much as a taller person would...although I think the coat would be terribly unflattering, I wore an unflattering coat a lot this Winter anyway.

Anyway, I am rambling but I received the book on Wednesday when I got home and I had a friend with me so we both oohed and aahed over it - I really like the Tiered Capelet too but I have no idea where I would get the lace for it which is a bit disappointing because I would love to make it. Hmph. I will try and find some online (if anyone could point me in the right direction, I would be delighted).

Out of the 25 patterns, I actually want to make 11 of them right now which I think is pretty good for a pattern book. I am wondering how I can make the Bolero fit me, it is a child size pattern but I think it's very cute.

In other news, I have bought more yarn for my Spoilee as well as more yarn for me - I bought mercerised worsted weight cotton for another Short 'n Sweet (I think it will look much better in the cotton) and because I was buying cotton, I decided to buy some for the Sweet Pea shawl, too. I started one in a fine mohair sort of blend when I was making scarves for my C'ville Winter Scarf Swap partner but I read the trebles as Aussie trebles and not as US trebles and then I got disgusted with myself and stopped so I am looking forward to starting it again, it is not a difficult pattern and we're really heading into weather here where items like that are good, especially if you're like me and refuse to go out with bare arms (some days I need to be very creative with my current wardrobe)...and because I have been buying yarns for other patterns in Stitch 'n Bitch Happy Hooker, I thought why not buy some yarn for the Cold Shoulders capelet? So I did. I hope all my yarn arrives quickly because if I don't make the Cold Shoulders capelet now, it will be too hot to wear it this year.

I am getting a bit braver with buying yarn online and buying more expensive yarn than I ordinarily would, so I am going through all my pattern books and picking out things I think I would actually be able to make without too much difficulty (fingers crossed) and things I would like to wear...and things that don't require exact gauge because I am still very anti-gauge-swatching...

Anyway, I must get back to my Short 'n Sweet 1 and see if I can work out this L Front bit that is giving me a headache.

Thanks again, Secret Pal, I hope to be able to show some finished items from the book at some stage in the near future and to previous-Secret-Pal-Jerry, I am going through the books you sent me and the yarn so one way or another, I hope to show you some items I've made with your gifts, too - you've been waiting a while.

Too Much Cleaning!

Blogger is giving me the pips lately, I have tried to upload two posts and it will not work - I don't know what the problem is but I am trying again before I disappear from Blog-land entirely.

I was working on Short 'n Sweet and I got about 8 rows into it, all the while saying to myself "there's something wrong with this pattern!" - I thought I'd check for any corrections online and, sure enough, those pesky, missing Ch 2's reared their ugly heads. I probably should've checked before I started but am I likely to do something sensible like that?

That was my progress at that point, I had to rip it all back but the yarn kept snagging and I ended up leaving about five rows of crocheting intact because the yarn broke - I hope those metres aren't the vital few I need to finish it off! I started again and I finished the first section (the back piece) and I will start the Front pieces at some stage soon.

I've been working on some art examples for work, and I've been having a lovely time colouring in - I feel like I'm revisiting my childhood. It's been far too long since I've sat down with an outline and my coloured pencils and scribbled away. I will have to get some photos because they've actually turned out quite well and I'm just a teensy bit impressed by the results. It doesn't take much to impress me, obviously.

Anyway, not much else to report, I did a massive clean-up in here on Saturday and culled my books down by about 95% (not the crochet / craft books though), and I was quite ruthless when I culled my clothes (the books were harder than the clothes) - I've sent about six big bags of clothes to St. Vinnies and I've got another one here to get rid of, too. I'm hoping this diet works because I'll be buying all new clothes next Winter and I will be mighty peeved if I end up buying exactly the same size as all the ones I have gotten rid of. That should be another incentive for me.

I went to a few garage sales on Saturday, too, didn't find anything really amazing but I got a serviette holder for $2 which pleased me no end, as I had considered buying one but I was too cheap to pay $12 for it. $2 was much better. I did go shopping afterwards and bought a nice, pink colander and a little set of tongs with pink ends. I don't think this pink phase is ever going to end. Kitchen utensils look so much nicer in pink!

I looked at two places on Saturday as well (Saturday was a busy day for me!) but they were both absolute dumps and I was shocked at the rent they were asking for, considering neither even had a proper kitchen - I just couldn't fathom anyone paying $200 plus per week for these crap places but it's sad to say, with the market being what it is, a lot of people haven't got any other options. I'm almost at that stage but not quite. I bought some lotto tickets, one for last night and one for Saturday's lotto, so you never know...

That's about it for me, I had better get ready for work, we're driving up to Coogee this morning which should be fun, if it the weather is nice and it isn't too windy.

A Short 'n Sweet in Progress!

I didn't do any crocheting last night because...I didn't have anything to crochet! I didn't feel like starting another Enchanted Slumber blanket and I finished the edging for the fleece edging on Monday night (it didn't take very long, an hour and a bit or so?). I suppose I could tackle the bib edging but that seems as if it would take far more patience and skill than I currently possess.

I actually felt at a bit of a loss last night, not having anything to work on. I might start one of the capelets I wanted to make tonight...

Speaking of the fleece blanket edging, I used the same 8ply acrylic that I've used for the two blankets, in a different colour. I wish I hadn't used it because it just seems so cheap and heavy on the edge of the lovely, soft fleece but I think it does look okay and it gives a bit of weight to the blanket. It's really not designed to be anything more than a little rug for the baby to play on, it seems like it would be good to plonk down on the floor...I don't know...a few people who have seen it have different opinions, one thinks I should've used a baby yarn and the others said they liked it and one said it was "unusual" so I'll take from that what I can. I think it looks okay.

I ended up using a 6mm hook and doing one double crochet per blanket stitches and it worked out fairly well, I increased to two double crochets for the ten corner blanket stitches, the corners were a bit tricky, since they were rounded corners but it turned out nicely. That was the first round, the second round, I just did one double crochet in each stitch from the previous round and then the third round was a "dc, skip 1 space, 5 treble in next space, skip one space, dc in next space, skip 1 space, 5 treble in next space, skip one space, dc in next" etc. When that round was finished, I started another shell round, with dc in dc from previous round, 5 treble in middle treble of previous round etc but I didn't like how it looked in the yarn, it just became too much so I ripped it out and ended the border. Anyway, I will get the photo up eventually.

I just started the "Short 'n Sweet" pattern from Happy Hooker. I've wanted to make this one for a long time, since it's just the sort of item of clothing I like to wear. Anyway, I am using a 6.00mm hook (it's the one I've got handy) and a slightly thinner yarn, I have no idea what size it is going to end up as, of course. It's a bit of a surprise! I just really want to see if I can make it and if I can, I might focus a bit more on gauge. I do hope it turns out the right size for me to wear but I admit, I am actually secretly hoping it's just a wee bit too small, which will give me the incentive to stick to this stupid diet.

If it ends up far too small and I don't have that much incentive, I will give it to a friend (the same one who is getting the shrug when I find it and weave in those blasted ends) as she is tiny - kind of like how I "should" be...I really don't think I have that much will power!

I think that's about it, I'll take some photos of my progress and upload them tomorrow, along with some photos of the other two. I am anxious to get back to my crocheting...

"The Itsy Bitsy Spider..."

It took me two and a half hours last night to get the blanket finished, to the last stitch and weaving in the four ends that were left...but I got it finished and gave it to the recipient this morning. I am just delighted it is done! It was a bit wonky towards the end, as I didn't edge it so it flared out a wee bit, nothing really major but it would've looked a bit better with a border of some kind. The sides look nice, since the pattern gives it a scallop-y sort of design. Anyway, that is one more thing off my mind now.

I have a package in the car, ready to be mailed for Secret Pal 11. That's another thing off my mind...

I've started edging the fleece blanket, using the blanket-stitch threads to anchor my crocheting, it's working out pretty well, I've finished one round of double crochet and just started the second, I think I will do a standard shell border for this one.

Work today was good but since I didn't get as much sleep as I had hoped, I was already a bit tired before I started. Someone went home sick so that put a bit of pressure on the rest of us but nothing too strenuous. I was looking forward to going home (as I always do) so imagine my horror when I opened my door and saw a Huntsman spider hiding inside? I had my hands full with my handbag, another bag full of stuff and the package so I slammed the door shut but when I opened it the spider was still there and, sadly, not squashed. I threw my bags in the car and tried to get my shoe off before the spider ran away, to give it a good wallop - I was terrified it was going to go in the car...I didn't get my shoe off in time and the spider did run away but thankfully, it ran into the engine area. I was tempted to go in and tell my boss she would have to drive me home but I was just sane enough to be a bit embarrassed by my girlishness, especially considering my job, I didn't want my boss thinking I'd get hysterical during a crisis...I phoned a friend and she promised me that there was no way the spider could crawl up my leg while I was driving. Incidentally, I was wearing a long, ruffle-y skirt, so you can imagine just how much fun I had when it was fluttering around my ankles on the way home...

Not a very attractive fellow...!

To get the image, I looked up a Huntsman Spider Fact Sheet and this bit is going to give me nightmares tonight (and probably for many nights to come): "They are also notorious for entering cars, and being found hiding behind sun visors or running across the dashboard." It says they can measure up to 15cms (6 inches) across the legs, and at the risk of sounding like I'm exaggerating, I reckon this one would've been towards that end of the scale. I can measure the space it was in to give me a more accurate idea of size, but I don't think I want to...

This is the third time in the last year that I have had an encounter with a Huntsman while in the car, but the first time I've been alone. I'm praying it never happens again but I suspect the tree outside has a lot to do with it.

I'm listening to Elvis to soothe my nerves and I think I will get back to my crocheting now.

Secret Pal, can you let me know that you received the link? Thanks.

Ready, Set, Go!

I'm lazy so I figured point form might be quicker and easier than a rambling entry. We'll see.

I am:

• Crocheting for another hour and then that is it! If the blanket gets finished by then, great - if not, too bad. I think I've given myself RSI...
• Getting my Secret Pal Package sent off tomorrow, no ifs ands or buts. My poor spoilee has been waiting long enough. Who would've thought it was so hard to get to the post office?
• Going to iron-on an applique to one of the bibs tomorrow and see how it turns out, if I can manage without screwing it up, I'll get two more appliques and do the other two bibs. I still can't work out the edging business.
• Going to start edging a fleece blanket, it already has blanket stitch around it so I am going to use that to anchor my crochet. Fingers crossed!
• Re-starting my diet tomorrow. I fell off the wagon Big Time - I should be ashamed but I'm not.
• Going to finish cleaning my room and organising everything this week - by Friday! I may end up throwing out a lot but if I haven't used it / worn it / read it etc in the last few months, I can't see that changing in the future.
• Going to try my drop-spindle spinning again when everything else is done and I have some time to practice. I am very much looking forward to it (thank you again, Secret Pal).
• Going to start crocheting some Christmas presents...you know, before the 23rd of December.
• Going to start another two baby blankets (eek).
• Going to go for a walk at least three times this week for at least half an hour each time...not crochet related but still, I figure if I'm going to spend so much time on my bum crocheting, I better do something to help work out all the kinks.

I think that's it.

I went shopping with a friend yesterday and I spent an awful lot of money, we went to Spotlight but I didn't buy any yarn. I bought some blank jigsaw puzzles for work (Art & Craft is fun!)...I bought some dinner plates and bread and butter plates and a "utensil" holder. I bought a set of four cups and saucers and a set of four mugs and two tea-towels and an oven mitt. We went somewhere else and I bought another four mugs (different pattern) and a matching sugar / creamer set...and a new lingerie bag because it was pretty and...four packets of birthday cards (?). When I move, I will have more crockery, china and porcelain than I will ever need in a lifetime...but what I don't have is too lengthy to list here. Hmm...where are my priorities?

Anyway, my hour starts now.

Bits and Bobs (again)...

I've had a stressful day today, it was good at work but then I had to visit a friend at the hospital this evening, which was upsetting - but she seems in good spirits, so I am happy about that.

In crochet news, while I was watching Australia vs. Argentina, I continued the crochet the blanket I wanted to have finished by last Monday. Next Monday will have to be good enough! I've got some photos of my 'progress' - it's still at that early, slow stage. If I can get a few more rows done, it will start to go much quicker, I'm not sure why that is.


Here's my little "helper" - she wouldn't come near me while the soccer was on but as soon as the crochet is on the couch, she's on top of it. Not seconds after I got that photo she slunk onto the blanket and rolled over for a tummy rub. At least it will be an extra warm blanket with her fur crocheted into it...


...and just for the fun of it, here's a photo I took during the lunar eclipse. It's not a great shot but it's good enough for me. I'm a bit annoyed with myself I didn't get one when the eclipse was full but never mind. Maybe next time.


I'm still on a diet but...


...I made these a while ago so I guess I will have to be content with the memories!

In other news, I am absolutely itching to get some other crocheting started but I am not letting myself until I get these blankets finished. I have some silk yarn in a nice blue colour and I think it will make a very pretty capelet. I have the .pdf saved but I will look up the link later on and add it in, it's really very pretty and I think it will be ideal for Spring and Summer.

Another thing I have here, burning a hole in my 'stash' (such as it is), is a skein of Blue Sky Alpacas "Alpaca Silk". I only bought one skein and I haven't a clue what to do with it but I want to do something. I wanted to see what it was like and I like what I see but right now, it's just a very plain hank of yarn.

Here I am!

Now, I like knitted things - I like the way knitted patterns usually look...but I don't mind so much that I am not a knitter, because I don't actually like knitting. Maybe I would if I was quicker or better but I'm not and I generally don't worry too much about that. But then, sometimes I come across things that make me wish I could knit. I think this stole is so beautiful and very 'me' - why can't it be crocheted? I'm a little bit sad about it, to be honest.

Oh well.

I am planning some intensive crocheting tonight as I want to get all three blankets finished (which means I haven't woven in the ends of the round one yet...) and then maybe I can start something new.

In the yarn order I received, I got some Artful Yarns "Shakespeare" - not for any real reason (what a surprise), but just because it appealed to me. It still appeals to me but I don't know what to do with one ball of it since we're now heading out of hat-and-scarf weather. What a pity. I think it wants to be a beanie...or maybe I just want to make a beanie? I don't really wear them much, unless I've washed my hair and it's cold and I don't feel like driving in a car with no heater in the cold with wet hair...maybe I will wait until next Winter. I just want to make something with it now. I love these blankets, really I do, but I wouldn't mind something else to fiddle with...

That's about it from me...I am cranky and out of sorts because I have put myself on a diet and I am not enjoying it one bit!

SP11 Contest 2

As usual, all knitting references have been changed to crochet:

1. What is the one crochet accessory you could not live without? I don't really have many 'accessories', I guess as long as I have a hook and some yarn, I'm okay...I like my yarn winder though, that's probably one accessory I'm very glad to have. I don't think I'd be able to manage hanks of yarn without the winder and mum.

2. If you're heading on vacation, do you take crocheting with you? If so, how much and what type of project? Yes, although I haven't been on a holiday for a while. I'd take whatever I was working on (or wanted to work on), and maybe some square patterns or patterns for small items and some scraps of yarn.

3. Where have you travelled to that you'd consider your favorite spot? I love the Blue Mountains and Currarong.

4. What is your favorite crochet book at the moment? Do you own it? I don't know that I have a favourite, there are a lot I'd like to have though.

5. Do you listen to podcasts? Which is your favorite(s)? Nope.

6. If you could only crochet with 1 color for the rest of your life, what color would that be? I'm tempted to say pink because that's my favourite colour...but to be practical, I think I'd choose green.

7. If you were far into a project and then noticed a mistake near the beginning what would you do? Well I'd probably leave it alone. If it was a mistake that impacted on the pattern, I'd have noticed it a lot sooner.

8. Where is the most unsual spot you've ever crocheted? I am not one for crocheting in unusual spots, I've taken my crocheting to work, to the beach, in the car, to friends places etc but nowhere really strange.

Still working on the blankets, started a new one that I wanted to get finished by tomorrow, but I've got a lot more work to do on it, so I don't know...we'll see!