Indecision

Yesterday was a lovely but busy day, I was on the go from about 8 o'clock and I didn't get home until 12:30am last night (or this morning, if you want to be technical). It was very nice to get home.

Now, on Friday evening, as I had one eye on the football and the other on my crocheting, I got the sense that this Filet Rose afghan just isn't working. I am of the belief (at this point in time) that the hook I am using is actually too small and I am considering whether I should write-off the yarn I have already used and the progress made (since I can't frog this yarn) and start over, or if I should persevere and finish one block of the pattern and see if it redeems itself.

What I have actually done is start a new Filet Rose afghan, using different yarn and a bigger hook, I'll see how it looks and decide which one to continue. I've got about a month before I need to have a finished baby blanket and thus far, I have not even decided what pattern I'll be using. It took me a little less than a month to start and finish the PCS, so I suppose I can always fall back on that if I have to but...I'd rather choose a different pattern. I had better get cracking, hadn't I?

I should have the first lot of yarn for SP12 to send on it's way on Monday. I'm not sure if I will send it all in one go or if I will not send any of this order yet - I have a few other things in mind as well.

I haven't set up my swift and winder here yet, I don't really need them at the moment but if I do, at least they're not too far away.

Another Rose

I sent off "a little something" to my Spoilee yesterday - nothing major or too exciting, I just want to see how long it takes to arrive and it's a bit of an introduction, I suppose. I heard from the vendor that the yarn I have ordered was posted yesterday so I should get it today or Monday.

I bought "Crochet Today" yesterday while I was out. I often don't find any crochet related magazines (although there are a few knitting ones) so I was happy to see it but there's not a lot in there I actually want to make but...I started one of the patterns anyway - the Filet Rose Afghan pattern. I do like the way this looks.

I haven't tried Filet Crochet before so this is a bit of fun. I think I'm up to Row 5 or so, I don't mind working from the chart but I would personally prefer a shorter, repeating sequence because it is easy to memorise a pattern like that - because this one changes, I have to keep referring back to the pattern and counting but I suppose I'll live. I also prefer working in the round and I don't have to worry about that pesky foundation chain but I couldn't avoid it with this patternl

Another reason I haven't tried Filet before is because I actually don't really like it so I'm not sure how I'll feel about this when it's done (or at least when the first pattern block is completed). I think one of the reasons I find Filet Crochet so unappealing is probably because it's usually done in cotton thread. I'm doing this one in the Lincraft Romance in a pale mauve. I don't mind a bit of fuzziness in my crocheting (helps hide the inevitable mistakes!).

Anyway, tonight I am not allowed to sit on the couch and crochet until I have cleaned this place from top to bottom - it's a mess and I have my sister and her friend coming over for coffee before we go out tomorrow night and I'll be out all day with my 86 year old friend, I'm taking her shopping, so I won't have any time to clean and tidy tomorrow - it has to be tonight. And when everything is nice and tidy, I can resume my position on the couch and crochet to my heart's content.

Question of the Week - 3

What would you consider the perfect amount of stash?

Well, this is a hard one. I should say exactly what I have now is the perfect amount - but it mustn't be, because I still want to buy more (even though I currently have kilometres of gorgeous yarn that hasn't been used).

I'd really rather use what I have but it seems to me as if all the skeins of yarn I have scattered about (and they are scattered, here and at mum's) just mock me every time I try to use them up. Either I haven't enough of any one type for the particular pattern, or the gauge is wrong or something, it's just not suitable in any number of ways.

Sometimes, when I do buy something specifically for a pattern or an idea I have in mind, it doesn't work out (actually, this happens a lot), so I end up with yarn that I have no current use for. I would like to think that eventually, I'll find the right pattern for it, so I'll hang on to it just in case.

There is something to be said for having beautiful yarn around, even if it is just to occasionally pick up and admire...and I do like playing the "now, what can I do with this?" game.

When I organise myself here, and bring all my yarn over, I will take some photos of my very modest stash.

Sunrise & Sunset

Another pretty sunrise, although my photos don't do it justice. It is quite fascinating, the way the colours streak the sky and change so quickly. I know I must look a bit odd out on my balcony early in the morning, snapping photos but it's such a nice way to start the day.






Mum and my sister came over on Friday night to watch the Footy and have dinner with me, we had a rather lacklustre quiche and a not-very-tasty salad, mum brought a rice dish over and I had some left over combination chow mein in the fridge. My sister bought me a lovely bunch of roses, just a small bunch but they are pretty and I couldn't resist getting a few shots and showing them off here They're really gorgeous, I love the orange and pink combination, particularly in roses.

What seems to us a sunset, is a sunrise in another land - I was so sad to hear Jane McGrath passed away today, although I can't say I was surprised. I guess it was just a matter of time before we heard this news, no matter how much I wished it wouldn't come. I hope we are not too far away from a cure.

In other news, I have been at mum's place and I brought my yarn winder and swift with me, now I just need to find somewhere to set them up here (I really don't enjoy setting them up and then having to pack them away again but if I have to do it, I suppose I'll cope). I brought some yarn with me, also, and hopefully I'll be able to get some crocheting done this week. Don't ask me what I am going to crochet - I haven't a clue! There are a few patterns I'd like to try but I don't seem to be having much luck with patterns at the moment. I can't seem to find a crochet pattern for a baby shawl similar in design to the Pineapple Circular Shawl - I really did love how that one turned out but I don't want to do the same one to end up in the same family.

Question Of The Week - 2

As a kid, what did you look forward to most about summer vacation/break/holiday?

When I was at school, our Summer holiday usually started the week before Christmas and we didn't go back to school until the start of February (from memory, it was usually about the 2nd of Feb).

I looked forward to Christmas & New Year (of course) and spending time outside playing, swimming, visiting friends - not having to go to school! As kids, you couldn't keep us inside. I remember the weather being gloriously hot (I was at an age where heat and humidity didn't bother me!) and roaring thunderstorms after two or three particularly hot days. My sister and I would stand on the upstairs balcony and watch the sky turn yellow and we knew we'd be in for a storm worth watching...

SP12 - Question of the Week

What's your favourite Winter drink? (Since I am in the Southern Hemisphere and it's Winter now).

The season doesn't really matter because, Winter or Summer, my favourite drink is coffee. I was quite happy to read this article, it makes a nice change from all those "coffee will kill you!" stories I hear and see on the news.

Day to day, I usually just drink instant coffee but my very favourite coffee of all is from Gloria Jeans (I love their "Irish Nut Creme" coffee) and I like to have that whenever I can. We do drink Turkish coffee every now and then, usually after a Turkish meal or when friends are over - it's a bit of a novelty I suppose, slightly too labour-intensive for us to do it every day.

Over The Rainbow

I set my alarm for 4:45am yesterday morning so I could watch Germany vs. Austria but I was tired so I only watched the first twenty minutes before I went back to bed. I was happy to hear Germany beat Austria 1-nil and I will watch the highlights on SBS this afternoon. Now I'm watching the Netherlands vs. Romania and keeping a nervous ear on the commentary from France vs. Italy. It looks like it'll be Italy and the Netherlands going through and I can't say I'm happy about that.

My weekend was very quiet and I watched a lot of TV again - Series 1 of "Love My Way" as I had previously only watched an episode here and there. I had intended to go to bed early last night but I wanted to watch Andrew Denton's interview with Sir David Attenborough on Enough Rope. I am really looking forward to the rest of this series. Quite honestly, I think I could watch any interview in the world, as long as it's Denton asking the questions.

I saw a pretty rainbow on Sunday afternoon, I am sure my neighbours must think I'm mad when they see me snapping photos off my balcony, I don't know if they can work out what I am taking photos of but it's usually the sunrise. At least there aren't usually many people about early in the morning.



Very faintly, you can see there's a second rainbow. It had been drizzling fairly softly but steadily all day. It actually did look quite striking on an otherwise grey and miserable day. It doesn't really translate well to a photo, or maybe that's the fault of the photographer?

I've got a bee in my bonnet over two patterns that don't currently exist in any form but my imagination...and I wouldn't have a clue how to turn them into something tangible. Not in terms of writing the pattern, that I could do - but the actual pattern. I'm just not sure how to create some of the designs I would want in order for the actual pattern to be how I imagine it to be. I think I'll have to try and draw it out and then see what I end up with.

I haven't had a response from Spoilee to my second e-mail but I went ahead and ordered some yarn for her, it'll take some time to get here because it is dyed to order. I also bought a pattern that I hope she hasn't already got and I have a skein of yarn here that I will also send. Based on these items, I've met the monetary committment, and I would also like to make something...still trying to figure out what that will be.

Sick Again

I was up in time this morning to see France get thrashed by the Netherlands in the UEFA Championship. I had hoped France would put up a good fight but they just missed too many opportunities. I enjoyed the game anyway.


I stayed at mum's place on Thursday night and I ducked up to the local post office on Friday morning and managd to pick up 20 postcards for $6.00 - they were listed at .50c each but he gave them to me for .30c each. Unless you head into the touristy areas, like the City itself, it's hard to find postcards, and the ones I have found are at least a couple of dollars each (some are $4 - $5) - which makes Postcrossing an expensive habit when you factor in the postage costs, as well. I was very pleased with my postcard haul and now I have my next batch of postcards all ready to send.

When I was at work on Friday, I discovered I had a flat tyre. In theory, I can change a tyre but I didn't have to put my theory into practice because for some reason there are no tools in the car. I suppose I should've checked at some stage before I needed to use them but I did check that I had a spare so I just assumed that I would have the tools but no dice, I'm going to see if I can pick up a set from a Ford wrecker because I don't want to go through this every time I have a flat tyre (although I hope that is not very frequent!).


Anyway, we (we being mum and myself, mum answered my SOS and came over to help me) managed to badger a nice man who worked at a nearby petrol station into coming over and changing it after he finished work. He took the flat to repair it and mum picked it up for me today - it's in her car. I've got some kind of bronchitis and another cold so I don't feel like doing anything but I'll either go and pick it up tomorrow or she can drop it off to me if she's in the area.

On the crocheting front, I haven't gotten much done - I started two patterns with good intentions but neither is working out the way they should...I think my yarn choices might be to blame. I actually did start looking around Ravelry a bit, even though I've been signed up for a while, I never really spent much time over there - I can see how it becomes addictive.

SP12 - Ready, Set, Go!

There was an absolutely beautiful sunrise yesterday morning - made all the more beautiful by the fact that I haven't seen a nice sunrise for quite a few mornings.

It was a nice way to start the morning!


Here is the Chrysanthemum Tea Shawl, not the best photo - I was trying to watch Game 2 of the State of Origin while I was taking these photos (my boys did well!) and really, my attention was on the TV.

There's a slightly bigger version here, I like how the second round of leaves came out. I wasn't sure if they would fade into the rest of the shawl since they didn't have the open centre to come out of but I think they stand out enough.

I used roughly 8 and a half balls of the Lincraft "Romance" (185m per ball = about 1572.5m total) and I am not sure how it will block, assuming of course that I have a surface big enough to pin it out on (apart from my bed) because of the high percentage of acrylic in the yarn (80% acrylic, 20% mohair). I'm very happy with it - now what do I do with it?

I received another postcard from Finland yesterday - Finnish people must particularly enjoy postcrossing, I think. I also had a request from someone in France who really, really wants a postcard from Sydney and hasn't received one. I haven't had one from France, either, so that will work out nicely. I must buy some more postcards and get a few off in the mail...

I received the details for my Spoilee and sent an e-mail last night, had a reply this morning. I'm really not sure where to go with gifts for this person yet but after a few more conversations, I might have a better idea. I do have a few ideas, I'm just not sure if they're good ones...

That's it from me, time to get ready for work.

Finland, Germany & the US, oh my!

I woke to a beautiful sunrise this morning, which might not seem such a novelty except it feels like such a long time since I have seen a pretty sunrise. Yesterday was another pea-souper in the morning but the day was actually quite nice and I hope today will be just as lovely.

I finished the Chrysanthemum Tea Shawl (except the ends) and took it into work to show the girls, they were all suitably impressed and complimentary. They're very sweet. And I'm very proud of my CTS, it's completely ridiculous as a shawl because of the size, at least on me and the people I know, as we're all lilliputians. Maybe if I had a Very Tall person to give it to, they could use it as a shawl...it'll do fine as a rug to snuggle up in during the cold Winter nights ahead.

I started one of the patterns I wanted to try last night and either the pattern has a mistake or I made a mistake but I can't for the life of me work it out - and I am usually very good at working out my mistakes so I think this might be the pattern. Nevermind, I'll undo it when I get home tonight and start again. Today I'll work on a different pattern, if I have the chance.

I heard from my Secret Pal - Hi there, Secret Pal! I haven't replied because I am trying to work out what the problem is with my e-mail, but I will reply very soon - if not from that e-mail, I'll use a different one. How annoying that things choose Secret Pal time to go haywire.

My sister sent me a message yesterday asking me if I tried the cupcakes so she must not have read yesterday's entry. I will send her a message in response, directing her here. If I'm going to go to the trouble of blogging about her cupcakes, she can go to the trouble of reading my blog...

What else? Well, I came home yesterday to three (three!) postcards, two from Postcrossing (Finland & Germany) and one from someone I had sent a Postcrossing postcard to (USA). I like this whole Postcrossing thing! There are some pretty postcards floating about the world...

The test e-mail I just sent myself came through fine, so perhaps whatever glitch existed in the system has worked itself out now? I will investigate further when I get home. As it is, I spent too much time admiring the sunrise this morning so now I really have to get moving.

Photos tomorrow, I hope.

Crocheted Meringues?

I am on the very last round of the Chrysanthemum Tea Shawl. At last count, I was at round 38 which seems slightly excessive for a pattern that originally only calls for 28 rounds but those extra leaves sure added some work for me. I haven't measured it but it's about 150cm in diameter, based on the fact that the bottom edge hits the floor when I hold the top edge up near my forehead. When I'm finished and when I find my measuring tape, I'll get a more accurate measurement.

I'm really pleased with how the shawl turned out (or is turning out so far), it's light and fluffy (like a crocheted meringue!) and very warm - when I have it on my lap while I'm crocheting, I don't need to turn my heater on even though the evenings here have been quite cool. I've crocheted my way through "Just Like Heaven", the football, part of "Casablanca" (I wasn't in the mood), "She's All That", "Dodgeball", "Mulan" and am currently part of the way through "Sweet Home Alabama". Nothing that requires a great deal of concentration, I have been too busy counting stitches and reciting pattern repeats in my head. I don't know if I'll get it finished tonight but I hope I do - it's taken me since last Sunday which is really not very long in days but I've put in quite a few hours.

Mum came over for dinner tonight and she seemed to enjoy herself, I wasn't too pleased with how the meal came out, my bechamel sauce had a few lumps but it tasted pretty good all the same. She was looking through "Amazing Crochet Lace" and found a pattern she liked so my next new project (after I get a couple of others out of the way that I have already started or started planning, at least) will be the top for her.

I've got a baby blanket to get out of the way and I want to finish my Tapestry Seraphina, as well. I'll get there eventually.

In Postcrossing news, I received a very pretty postcard from Finland! I have an album that will suit my received postcards very nicely, so the next time I'm over at mum's place, I'll bring it back here with me.

My sister tells me she stops by here occasionally so I'll take this opportunity to thank her for the cupcakes she sent over with mum, I had one and they were delicious so I think I'll have another one...

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Sunday was a much quieter end to my weekend. If I am brutally honest (and why shouldn't I be?), I was actually a bit bored! I had planned on going shopping but money is a bit tight this fortnight thanks to car-related expenses and not being paid correctly for the last two pays.

Of course, I made up for my abstinence yesterday (after being paid correctly) and spent more money than I should have but I did need a few new things

The weather is miserable - there has been no sunrise to speak of all week. I'm not convinced the sun has broken through the clouds even for a minute. It's been raining fairly steadily now since Sunday and it's quite chilly in the evenings here. I snuggle up on the couch in my dressing gown and put my crocheting over my legs and that keeps me warm and cosy.

I'm still working on the white Chrysanthemum Tea Shawl and my gauge is off (are you surprised?) so I am ad-libbing a few extra rounds. The Lincraft "Romance" is actually quite fine but the furriness of it bulks it up a bit once it's crocheted. I am using a 6.00mm hook instead of the recommended size...I am looking forward to getting this one finished, I am not sure how the extra rounds are going to settle in.

I brought some yarn home with me from mum's place last night - it's annoying having a lot of my stuff over there but, at the same time, the yarn is an issue because I haven't got much space here to store it. I found three skeins of a ribbon yarn I bought years ago and I started crocheting a very simple scarf last night, I would've liked to wear it today but it's not finished - next week is soon enough.

I'm looking forward to the start of SP12, I've been rummaging through my patterns and picking out items I would like to make and hopefully I will be able to match a few things up with my Pal when I get the details.

My beautiful zygocactus - it doesn't look like much in the picture but it's really quite lovely. It needs to be repotted and I'd like to put it in a hanging basket but I will wait until the flowers are gone.

I was only saying to myself on Saturday "I've never sat out here [the balcony] when it's been raining, I wonder if I'll be sheltered?" - yes, it's quite well sheltered, providing the rain isn't coming in horizontally. Considering those photos were taken from 10am - midday, it really was a black old day.

SP12 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to crochet with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

The more I play with natural fibres, the more I like 'em. I would prefer not to receive plain acrylic yarn (although it has it's place) because that is a yarn cheaply and easily available to me already (but I have nothing against interesting acrylic blends). I am not a big fan of novelty yarns because they are just too cumbersome to crochet with. Thick & thin yarns often don't work well with crochet, in my experience.

2. What do you use to store your hooks in?

A pencil case and I do have a crochet hook case but I have no idea where it is (damn moving).
3. How long have you been crocheting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

A few years now (I forget - 3 or 4), a friend taught me. I suppose I would be an intermediate crocheter, I surprise myself sometimes with complicated patterns and then fail miserably when it comes to simple ones.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Yes, Amazon - I will look up the link.

5. What's your favorite scent?

Sweet scents like vanilla, gardenia, rose.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Sweet teeth! I love chocolate (if I get an American Pal - it's been a long time since I've had those yummy peanut butter cups!).

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I am trying to get the hang of spinning with a drop spindle, kindly gifted to me by my SP11 Pal. I have had a lot of fun dyeing with Kool-Aid in the past, also.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

My taste in music varies a great deal, I'll give anything a go. Yes both my stereo and computer are MP3 capable.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

Hmm, well pink is a favourite and bright 'jewel' colours, not a huge fan of yellow or orange, or muddy sort of browns...rich earthy colours are nice, though.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

Single and I have a dog.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

We're heading into Winter now so they're all appropriate, I tend to wear scarves or shawls a fair bit but I don't usually wear mittens or ponchos.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to crochet?

I like blankets and rugs, shawls...toys and silly items are fun, wearables other than shawls and scarves are a challenge for me but one day I'll get there!

13. What are you crocheting right now?

Doris Chan's Chrysanthemum Tea Shawl in Lincraft "Romance" (mohair and acrylic). I need to get started on a baby blanket soon, too.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Of course, they are the very best kind.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Straight or circular is N/A for me. As far as hooks are concerned, I don't like plastic ones as they tend to break on me. I mainly use my metal hooks.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

Yes, the winder was a gift during SP9 and the swift I purchased from eBay.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

From when I started crocheting - don't ask me to pick just one, I have quite a few! The most recent of which I just discovered is one Rowan Tapestry Seraphina Shawl (and I am sure there's another one floating about in a different colourway but until I see it, I'll pretend it doesn't exist).

18. What is your favorite holiday?

I like all holidays but I do really enjoy Christmas.

19. Is there anything that you collect?

I collect old photographs (wedding photos mainly), porcelain and china (tea cup sets, pretty plates & bowls, figurines, thimbles and various other dust catchers), Russian dolls (nesting dolls), clowns & frogs (not ugly clowns).

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I would like a copy of the Cathedral Rose Window afghan pattern, it's out of stock on the website but I don't know if it's available elsewhere or in stores in the US.

Any interesting crochet patterns for small projects that use up small amounts of yarn (one or two skeins).

I'd like to try this Lace Mohair round shawl pattern from kpixie or any other lacy crocheted shawl pattern.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

How about being able to follow a pattern without making mistakes? Apart from that, I can't think of anything.

22. Are you a sock knitter crocheter? What are your foot measurements?

Not really, I have one completed crocheted sock and one partially completed crocheted sock (not sure where they are at the moment - or what hook I was using at the time). I am very envious of knitted socks. I have to measure my feet again.

23. When is your birthday?

April 4 - been and gone for another year.

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

Yes but I haven't really gotten into Ravelry yet - I will have to look up my ID, it's probably angel_crochets.