Question of the Week - 4

1) What yarn (that you don’t have/haven’t used) would make your stash “complete”?

Hmm, that's a tough one. I don't think I have an answer to that at all. I have a lot of different yarn in my stash - most of which, I haven't used (there are more yarns that I haven't used than those that I have). I don't actually think there's any particular yarn that would make my stash complete, the same way I don't feel that by not having a particular yarn in my stash that it is 'incomplete'.

Just for reference, some yarns I haven't got in my stash (off the top of my head):

Hemp
Recycled silk
Linen
Anything "Tilli Thomas"
Any of the popular sock yarns everyone else writes about in their blogs
Camel
Angora

2) What yarn do you never want to be without?

I originally interpreted this part to be "if you had to choose one yarn to use for the rest of your life, which would it be?" and it did my head in. I have since interpreted the question to simply be what yarn would I always like to have, without necessarily having to do away with all the rest. To that, I would have to say - a good quality finer weight yarn in a variety of colours, like a 4ply which is quite a versatile sort of yarn, good for baby items, shawls, socks (I will finish them one day!), toys etc.

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.

Rocks or Diamonds?

I say diamonds!

Today has been a better day - no accidents to speak of and I did a perfect reverse park in a tight spot in the dark...it doesn't take much to keep me happy, does it? I was waiting to hear the melodious screech of metal against metal but it never came! I am just delighted. I hope I haven't jinxed myself with my pride but it was just what I needed after Saturday morning...and speaking of Saturday morning, I did revisit the scene of the crime today when I went to the Medical Centre and I must say - there wasn't a scratch on the guardrail, no evidence at all that I had ever been there and left my indicator cover behind (in many pieces, I assume) so I don't know what's up with that.

At any rate, I'm off work for the next couple of days and I don't feel that much better today health-wise than I did yesterday but yesterday was a real shocker so even a marginal improvement is something to be glad of.

What else? I brought some yarn home with me so I can play with a few ideas although I am not expecting to complete much at this stage. I also wound some of the odd skeins of yarn I had at home into balls so I can use them - I am feeling inclined towards beanie-crocheting because it is quite cold on my balcony in the evenings and early mornings (and I do spend a lot of time out there, watching the sunrise and enjoying my coffee). Anyway, while I was with mum and watching the football I started to crochet a scarf but I didn't like how it was turning out and then I started a few beanie-attempts but I didn't have a pattern and my mind is too fuzzy to improvise. Who knows what I'll come up with tomorrow while I have time on my hands to relax and crochet?

I was going to take some photos of my place but it is a bit messy at the moment, I'll tidy up tomorrow and then get some photos taken and uploaded...I'm still waiting on my microwave (which I have to go and pick up), my two bedside tables (as far as I'm aware, they haven't arrived yet) and two nice lamps from Freedom (I have to pick those up, too).

Right now I'm going to finish my cup of tea and go to bed.

Some News! (And A Belated Thanks)

Although I can only use Christmas and the busy New Year season as an excuse for not writing much in December & January, I have a valid excuse for not writing much in February and thus far in March - what has been occupying all my time and thoughts outside of work has been something I did not want to write about until it was "signed, sealed and delivered".

I am so happy to be able to blog that I am now the proud owner of a mortgage (that I will be paying off until I am in my 50s, although I will try to do it sooner!). The contracts were exchanged yesterday and in about 7 weeks I'll take some time off work and move myself in - to my very own apartment. It's a far cry from the ol' Aussie dream of a 1/4 acre block with a Hills Hoist in the backyard and a lawn to mow every other weekend but it'll do me - for now. I figure it's not a bad time to get my foot in the door (any door!)...it's certainly a good time to buy on one hand, with prices being relatively low but the reason for that is high interest rates so it's six of one and half a dozen of the other.

I am tempted to put up some of the real estate photos but I don't want to because the place is shown with the current furniture and layout, I might wait until I can show it off with all my stuff in there (and boy, do I have a lot of useless stuff and hardly any of the important things - like a lounge!).

On to crochet-y news, I did receive my last SP11 package from my Secret Pal Minnie - and thank you so much, I loved the yarn you sent and those non-melty "chocolates" - they are very much like Choco's here, which are chocolate flavoured jelly-babies but not as jelly-ish and I have enjoyed them! My camera is currently residing at work but I will get a photo and put it up. Sorry it's taken me so long to thank you, Minnie but I really have been sidetracked! The yarn is gorgeous, truly lovely colours. Very "me" (lots of pink).

I am actually really looking forward to sitting down and doing some crocheting for my new places - throw rugs and the like, I will get around to it!

The hair still looks shocking, I think I need some emergency hair surgery but I'm a bit frightened of going, in case I'm told the only way to save the mess I made (and I did make a right mess of it) is to cut it all off. We shall see.

Nothing Exciting

Saturday was a busy day, I voted early in the morning, spent the rest of the day shopping like a mad woman and then I stayed up most of the night watching the election coverage. Yesterday was much quieter - I watched TV, I crocheted, I napped...

Today, I have to work so no TV, no crocheting until I get home and no sleeping until late. I am fairly sure my boss isn't keen on employees who snooze at work, as tempting as it sometimes is!

The yarn I liked at Lincraft is "Romance", more acrylic than anything else (80%) with a bit of mohair thrown in (20%). It's soft and fluffy and I am enjoying using it...of course, as is the way lately, a little frog has the potential to turn into a Big Toad because the yarn snags on itself and breaks easily. The first few attempts of a pattern ended in wrong stitch counts so I just cut the yarn and started again, now I've made some progress I really don't want to do that, so I am being extra careful not to make any mistakes. They are all simple ones, just missing a stitch or repeating the wrong row of the pattern, so there's no excuse for them. I'm counting as I go and double-checking each half of the pattern before I move on, I can undo a few stitches without too much drama, it's undoing rows I want to avoid.

I haven't worked on Second Sock much, I still have a bit to go but I would like to get it finished fairly soon, I have a lot of Christmas crocheting still to do - and time is getting away from me.

I ordered more of the Tapestry in two different colourways - "Antique" and "Moorland". I received two balls less of the Antique than I bought but the seller replied to my query and said she had made a mistake and will send them out to me so I am happy with that. The Moorland has green in it and my boss likes green, so I don't know if I should make her something from it...I probably won't but I'm still thinking.

I should get my order (another one!) from CrochetAustralia today - at least I hope I do, I have ordered a few patterns and some hankies to play with. At some stage I need to get back to the 4ply doilies and also attempt that Crinoline Doll Table Runner - I should've ordered the pink #10 thread from CrochetAustralia but I didn't - I checked at Lincraft and I still can't see any #10 thread there, I am sure it is there but I must be overlooking it. I'm fairly sure next weekend will involve a pilgrimage to Spotlight so if I can get a few things finished this week, I'll feel better about buying stuff again on Saturday.

My Spoilee must forgive me, I have not sent her package yet! I was supposed to send it last week but I didn't so I will have to send it this afternoon - it's ready to go except for the card I want to include so I must get that done today.

Bit o' This, Bit o' That...

I was very naughty yesterday morning, bright and early before I went to work, I put in an Amazon order! There should be a law about spending money before 7am...it just doesn't seem right - but I couldn't help myself! One of the books I ordered was "Amazing Crochet Lace" by Doris Chan, it's been on my wishlist for a Very Long Time and I decided I wanted it enough to order it. With the Aussie dollar being as good as it is, it's really not too bad. The few times I do come across crochet books here, they're very pricey so I'm better off ordering through Amazon, even with the shipping costs. Now I am looking forward to my Amazon order arriving.

I came home from work yesterday to find my eBay order had turned up and I was very pleased - now I have my swift and my slipper patterns! What more could a girl want? I read through the patterns and they seemed simple enough for me to follow so that makes me happy. If I can muster the energy and make some space, I will attempt some winding with the swift today. I don't know if I'm game to try the lace-weight Merino or if I should try something a bit more substantial?

I got confused last night and thought I was using my 3.50mm hook for the CTDC and I couldn't find the 3.50mm hook so I didn't work on it - I just checked the pattern and I am using the 2.50mm hook, so I am using the 3.50mm hook for the Matinee Jacket. I took the 2.50mm hook with me to work on the Matinee Jacket so it's just as well I didn't attempt it, isn't it? I went to a friends' place for dinner and my God, over 12 hours later and I still feel full. To be honest, I was full half-way through dinner but I valiantly persevered and it was the last half of a potato scallop that brought me to my knees. I could have finished it...

Apart from that little blip, The Plan is (was?) going well.

A very dear Italian lady I know who is a marvellous knitter and crocheter gave me two little thread filet pieces to "remember her by" and use as a pattern for my own attemps. She is the type of crocheter who makes tablecloths and bedspreads and curtains and trims for towels etc - in other words, a much better crocheter than I am! She can't follow a written pattern but she can look at a piece and work it out, or she asks for a reduced sample of the pattern and uses that. I like written patterns, so it makes us swapping patterns a bit tricky but she gets her point across and I have trouble explaining my written ones to her. She has just completed a knitted baby cardigan and a few booties and some bonnets, all her own patterns and they're very sweet.

I hope she doesn't expect me to turn up next week with my own version of the filet rose trim because it is not going to happen. I am very appreciative that she gave me those two pieces and I do think they're lovely, it just may take some time (eternity?) before I am ready to try them. I will have to count all the stitches and try and write a pattern for myself.

I am starting to think that I made a mistake with the Tapestry - I like it but I don't think it is ideal for the recipient, she prefers pastels and particularly blues, pinks and greens. These colours might be a bit too earthy for her. I will still make Seraphina but I might have to give it to someone else - which is fine, or I can keep it for myself but I still have to find the right colours for her...now I have my swift, I think I will go through all the yarns I do have and try and find some in there. And maybe I'll change my mind (again!) about the Tapestry when I have it here.

Anyway, I had better start tidying and making some swifty-yarn-winding space so I can make a big mess for a few hours and then spend the rest of my life trying to detangle it all. Nothing like the power of positive thinking, is there?

eBay, I Love You

It is my 200th-Post-"Birthday" today. Go me! I was almost late for work this morning ("late" being a relative term, particularly from someone who is often at work an hour before she should be) because I got sidetracked by yarn on eBay - eBay is so good, I am surprised it isn't illegal.

Christmas is almost here, each day we are getting closer and before I know it, Christmas will be tomorrow and I'll have done nothing...which is just my roundabout way of saying I gave in and I bought yarn but it's for a Christmas present so it doesn't count (and no, nothing in the 6 boxes of yarn I have here was suitable, how silly of anyone to think otherwise!). Besides, with that excuse, I can probably buy yarn from now until the end of time because most things I make (not that I finish them all) are for presents (some days I curse whoever invented Presents but today, it works in my favour).

Getting back to the point, I have really wanted to make "Seraphina" for a Very Long Time...and I really wanted to make Seraphina in Rowan Tapestry, since Miss USA posted her Tapestry Seraphina to C'ville in December '06. Typically, all the colours I liked have been out of stock (or too few in stock) or just too pricey so when I found a colour that would "do" on eBay for $5 a ball, I thought I'd better get it and hope it arrives soon. So I did and I am.

Those are the colours I was considering, in order of preference...



...and this is what I ended up buying, a bit different but I decided I did like it (and, more importantly, the recipient should like it) - and then I twigged that, while the photos aren't the same, it is apparently the same colourway as the third photo...so now I am not really sure what to expect. It'll be a bit of a mystery but I am sure I will like what turns up.

Won't it be hilarious if a: I decide I don't want to use the Tapestry for Seraphina and b: if I can't work out the pattern for Seraphina? I still have the 4 skeins of MCY that I am a bit frightened to touch due to the un-wound state and the potential issues with dye, so they may eventually turn into something for Christmas, too.

I should receive my CrochetAustralia order tomorrow and then I can start planning how much thread I will order next time (and thread is not yarn anyway, so it doesn't count - besides, it's smaller and easier to store) for the Dress and Crinoline Runner. I also bought the kit for the Crinoline Tea Cosy so I can get started on that for K as soon as it gets here.

I frogged the Matinee Jacket due to the fact that the sides were getting quite wonky. I will start it again and this time I will use my trusty hoops to mark the first stitch of each row so I know what to crochet into at the end of the next row...I had a nap this afternoon and I dreamt that I started it again and, somehow I had forgotten all the increases so I had to undo it all - I was actually making good progress and, despite the missing increases, it looked exactly as it should (not so much a nightmare as wishful thinking, I imagine).

I was hoping to win enough money from my Melbourne Cup bets so my 5am spending spree would be wiped out but, sadly, that was not the case - I don't even think I came out in front (I will find out when I head back to the TAB).

I'm Looking Forward To...

...a cooler day today. I was buggered when I got home from work yesterday but it's not supposed to get so hot today.

Another round of PCS has been completed! Funny how the night before, they didn't seem to take so long but last night, it just went on and on and I thought I'd never finish. I am looking forward to finishing this, so far I think it's coming along quite well and if I can just keep it relatively mistake-free, I'll be delighted.

I heard from Spoilee and the package I sent has been received, she seemed pleased with what I sent so that makes me happy. In particular, it seems she likes the gift I made for her and I hope she posts a photo because the few I took are all quite bad.

I wonder if I should start my next Short 'n Sweet (pink) or if I should try and get a few more Christmas presents out of the way? Speaking of presents, I'll have to sit down and write a list of what I want to make and who's getting what (and what I need for it all) because I am not organised for Christmas yet. I'm still trying to recover from last Christmas...I can't forget the two birthdays right after Christmas, either.

I wonder how long it's going to take for my yarn swift to arrive - and when it does, will I be able to use it? I don't like my chances, I seem to have troubles with my yarn and I don't know if a swift is going to fix those problems. I'm willing to try at any rate! I might just order yarn already wound when that is an option but it just looks so much nicer when it comes in hanks. I probably won't get it for at least another week.

A Good Night's Sleep...

...does wonders for my mood - even though I didn't really have a good sleep last night, I am over my sulk from yesterday. I made some good progress on PCS last night so that has put me in a better "crochet frame of mind"...I'll get back to PCS in a minute but I figure I had better show off little Sweet Pea, since it didn't turn out badly as a shawl, just not exactly the way it should have turned out as Sweet Pea. I do think C will like it and that's the main thing with a gift.







The colours have come through fairly accurately, I will try and get a photo with it being worn because it actually looks a bit nicer on a body than it does flat on my bed.

It hasn't been blocked but I will do that this week, I'm not expecting miracles but it's worth a shot.



The pattern made by the increases and "dtrF" stitch (double treble relief forward) is becoming obvious. No more dtrF's, I'll be starting the pineapples soon instead. Last night I did the rest of Round 34, and then all of 35, 36 & 37, I haven't started Round 38 yet but I'm quite pleased I got as much done in as little time as it took.



I'm reluctant to boast about there being "no mistakes" because when I was giving myself a big pat on the back for not making any mistakes a few days ago, I noticed I had made a mistake in the previous round but I managed to correct it. I'm pretty sure there aren't any glaring errors but I don't want to jinx myself.



It's just about 70cms in diameter now, which is about right for where I'm up to - I do not have a mathematical brain but I guess if it's meant to be 120cms when it is finished and it is 60 rounds in total, each round is 1cm wide and because it is circular, each rounds adds 2cms to the diameter. I am getting just under 2cms and if I times the measurement I've got per round by 60, I end up with about 113.4 which is pretty close to the predicted 114cms based on the gauge from the first five rounds.

114cms is not too shabby! I think it will be a very nicely sized and snuggly shawl and I have decided when I lift my ban on yarn buying, I will buy another 6 balls of this yarn and I will start one to keep for myself - it can be the project I work on between other projects, no "deadline" so no stress with it. Speaking of the yarn, it is acrylic & nylon, it must be the nylon that makes it feel so nice (and the finer ply probably helps, too), each ball of this yarn costs over triple what a ball of the stuff I'm using for the Enchanted Slumber blankets costs - and they are 100g balls compared these that are only 50g. You get what you pay for...

I sent off another package to Spoilee on Friday, she might get it today or tomorrow. I hope she likes what is in there, I had a lot of fun getting it ready. I'll send another one before the end of SP11, I've got everything for it already but I might add more.

That's about it, time to get ready for the first day of another working week. I don't know where the weekend goes - and I don't know what the predicted temperature is for today but it feels like it might be another hot one.

Down in the Dumps

I think the manic phase is over! I hate everything I've been doing lately, I can't seem to follow a pattern without making a mistake and everything I touch knots, tangles or otherwise ends up in a big mess.

Instead of continuing with crocheting my Pineapple Cricular Shawl on Friday night, I spent two hours detangling the 4ply silk. I ended up cutting the yarn but didn't lose any, just wound the beginning bit, cut and detangled then started to wind the rest of it - by hand. I now have another huge tangle but it should be easier to sort out when I can face it again. I don't know when that will be.

Over the last few days when I have attempted to work on PCS, the yarn kept tangling. I am nearing the end of the ball and it seems to have all fallen in on itself and wound it's way into a bit of a birds nest. It got a lot worse not so long ago so I broke it off and I think I am not even going to bother with what's left, I'll just start a new ball. I am going to give this away when I finish it - if I finish it - there's no point in me keeping it for myself and, typically, I am back to hating all the other blankets I have made so this will go some way towards making me feel as if I'm giving something 'worthwhile'. Of course, I've got a little less than half the entire pattern to do and four full balls of yarn to use so it's very likely I'll stuff up and hate this when it's done, too. I can console myself with the thought that at least I am consistent.

I'd like to start my Knotwork Socks but given that I can't follow a simple pattern, it's not as if I'll be able to follow a more complicated pattern like the one in the book and I really don't think I can face any more tangles - particularly not if they involve 900+ yards of lace-weight merino!

I fringed Sweet Pea and, of course, all my fringe is uneven and the whole shawl just looks blah. The problem is that it tapers too dramatically, and it goes from wide top to the bottom point too quickly - all my own fault...

That's about it, I might keep crocheting or I might just put myself into bed, pull the covers over my head and sleep until tomorrow. Of course, since it's ridiculously hot today, I'll cook if I have the covers anywhere near me, let alone over my head, so I can't even enjoy sulking.

Sweet Pea Continues!

Bright and early on a Sunday morning and I've already been to Lincraft (and bought their remaining stock of these particular beads - 3 packets worth, if I need more [and I dearly hope I don't] I'm screwed) and had breakfast-or-lunch, which was a very nice kebab - even though I shall probably regret it for the rest of the day. 11am might be too early for a kebab, even for me...

Kebabs are things I think need to be eaten in the privacy of ones' home. While I don't look elegant when eating at the best of times, it is particularly hard to look elegant eating a kebab and, once you add garlic sauce into the mix, well - let's just say I prefer to be near a sink and a roll of paper towels. I've washed my hands but I think I will wash them a few more times before I get back into my crocheting. It's probably for the best, C doesn't mind garlic but it's hardly a suitable scent for something called "Sweet Pea".

I am feeling very proud because, although I examined and then picked up and placed four skeins of 4ply baby yarn in my basket, I put them back and didn't buy them. I'm also feeling a bit disappointed, because I do want to make that baby cardigan and I need those four skeins if I am to do so...still, I'll be making the 6-month size and it won't be needed until next Winter, so it isn't an urgent project and therefore, I do not need the yarn today. That's what I keep telling myself.
Now I have the joyful task of cutting my yarn (again) and adding more beads. I've already given myself two extra ends to weave in, I really hope two more is as far as it goes.

I wonder if I've ruined the 'functionality' of the Shawl by adding all these beads. I personally don't mind sparklies and beads and glitter and sequins on my day-to-day clothes (I think there is a magpie perched somewhere on the branches of my family tree...) and I don't think C minds, either but now I start to think of it, I just worry that I've turned a nice, pretty and useful item into something that is (in my opinion)nicer, prettier but possibly not as wearable (for people other than me)? I don't care if she just wears it at home after she's been swimming with the kids or whatever, as a bit of a Summer cover-up - and I'll be sure to tell her that, so at the very least, she can get some use out of it.

I would like Lorna's shawl to be a bit more substantial, so I probably won't make her one using this pattern but I did look at some blue beads to add to her shawl when I make it (after I figure out the yarn and the pattern I'll use). I definitely want hers to be functional and more for warmth, a Winter item really but now I'm thinking...can I make two shawls?

Yes, I know. I am my own worst enemy. I am truly in a manic phase at the moment, I wonder how long it will last? I better just enjoy it.

I've been crocheting on and off all day (mostly on, with frequent breaks and a short nap in the middle) and I've finally "hit the hump" where it goes from really, really slow and tedious to a few stitches and turn. I love the few stitches and turn stage, it means I am almost finished! Despite being a teeny, tiny bit sceptical of the speed of this Shawl (as stated by the designer), if I didn't have to stuff around with these beads, I would've had it finished a long time ago - and since I only started it yesterday, I think I would have to agree that it is a very quick project to crochet. I am a bit cranky about having to cut the yarn on the first ball because I think I could just about have finished it on the second ball without another join if I didn't need to do that but never mind. I am almost finished the second ball and then I will go back to the first ball and hopefully that'll be that. I'll need to dig into the third ball to fringe it and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it won't use that much yarn for the fringe so I can have as much left over as possible to do the Fat-Bottom Bag. I'm a bit annoyed that I have to restring all these beads yet again but I am not game to just do a few, I will do what is left on the yarn at the moment (about 35 I think, which, according to my calculations is just about right - which probably means I will end up a few short at the end but I am going on faith here...).

Just a couple of rows and I'm done...got a lot of other stuff I should've done today, too but now it's 9 o'clock. Oh well...

Pleasant Surprises All Week

This will be the last 'received yarns' post for a while, unless someone feels like sending me some, because I am not buying any more for a while...we'll see how long "a while" is, I'm not entirely sure myself!

So yesterday I came home to an eBay order which I was waiting on, and it was from "Mystical Yarn Creations" - the yarn looks good (to me, at least) but I have heard some not-so-flattering things about it...but also a lot of positive things, so I was willing to try but felt a bit wary. The postage was a bit slow but not excessively so and I ended up with the amount of yarn I ordered and the colours are accurate compared to the Auction photos so I haven't got anything to complain about.

I bid on four of these but only won one (I hate Dutch auctions sometimes) - I would've liked enough to use to make "Lorna's Shawl", as blue is her favourite colour and I thought the colours in this were particularly nice. Oh well - anyone have some ideas what I can do with one skein of this?



I bid on and won four of these, so that should be enough to make a shawl for Lorna (I am leaning towards the Seraphina shawl pattern because I think it's beautiful but I haven't decided 100% yet). I quite like the colours in this yarn but I am just not sure if it is right for the recipient, I need to think about that a bit more...

Today I came home to my other two yarn orders, one for Spoilee and one for me:



This is the cotton I purchased to make some more Short 'n Sweets and a Sweet Pea Shawl. The green and pink are for the Short 'n Sweet (and the purple for the Sweet Pea Shawl, obviously). I have been working on the Pineapple Circular Shawl a lot this afternoon and I finished one more repeat and I wanted a break, so I thought I'd start the Sweet Pea Shawl. Imagine my chagrin when I remembered I had left my copy of Happy Hooker at work. I was very sad, so no Sweet Pea yet. I don't know where this cotton rates on the scale of cotton yarns but I'm happy with it.

I decided to continue with the PCS, and this is the current progress:

It is about 48.5cms in diameter thus far (19.4inches), I think it was about 40cms when I measured it last night, so not too bad but still a long way to go.

I checked this morning and found I do, in fact, have a 1.50mm steel hook. I don't know how I got it or when, I may have bought it or it might have been given to me...because I have never had any desire to use a 1.50mm hook before. But there you go, I have no excuse not to start those Knotwork Socks tomorrow night - except my reluctance to wind 900+ yards of lace-weight merino. To err on the side of caution, I decided to buy some more steel hooks today while I was shopping (at the whopping great cost of about $1.60 each) so I bought one each of these sizes: 1.75mm, 1.25mm and a 1.00mm. I think I would have to be a bit mad to want to use the 1.00mm hook but I guess "never say never" is right.

That's about it, more tomorrow - either the start of the Knotwork Socks (or a tale of woe relating to winding lace-weight merino) or the Sweet Pea Shawl.

No Pineapples Yet

A bit of progress since I last wrote - the Pineapple Circular Shawl has grown, slowly and almost surely. I managed to get a good amount of crocheting time in today at work (which is not as risky as it might sound) but half of it was wasted when I realised I had made a big mistake. I had already made a little mistake which I was able to salvage the next round (completing half a shell instead of a full shell in the previous round meant I had to then work a full shell into the middle treble of the half shell, instead of in the chain space between two lots of three trebles) because I didn't want to undo all my hard work. Imagine my horror when I noticed a round and a half later that I had done something I wouldn't be able to salvage about four rounds ago and would have to undo it all anyway. That'll teach me!

I have trouble visualising sizes, so when the size estimate says "approximately 120cms in diameter"...I had to get out my measuring tape and check what 120cms looked like (48inches). It's actually quite a lot bigger than I expected and I think that estimate is a lot bigger than it will actually be...I then decided to check my gauge (about 20 rounds 'too late') and I was half a centimetre off (8.5cms instead of 9 for the first five rounds). If that carries through the whole pattern, I assume I will end up with something about 114cms in diameter. I could be entirely wrong, I guess I will find out when it is finished.

(After I wrote the majority of this entry, I continued with my crocheting - finished one ball and started the next one for the "PCS". I managed to wind this one without any problems or tangles, I might be getting better at it! One down, five to go...)

In other news, I received another eBay order today - two more orders to go, hopefully one tomorrow and one Friday, or both tomorrow if I'm lucky. I have yarn coming out of my ears and I think I might have to start a few other projects in the next few days. I don't have to count the yarn in my 'stash' if it is being used, do I? I've really gone a bit overboard with the purchasing lately...I guess I should try to limit myself by not buying any more until I've completed some of those projects I've got waiting. I think I'll try those Knotwork Socks on Friday, but I had better check that I have a 1.5mm hook because I don't think I do.

My Secret Pal Gift was dry last night so I took it inside and it has turned out very nicely with my 'budget blocking' - the stitches are stretched out, so it's a better length and isn't as 'sproingy' as my stitches tend to be (see the Short 'n Sweet, which I will try blocking over the weekend). I think I'll post this and some other items to my Spoilee next week.

I'll take some photos of the new items and progress tomorrow.

Another One!

First of all, I was appalled by how ugly the colour was in those pictures of the 8ply merino - I have retaken the photos in the kitchen (the light is better) and uploaded them so the photos in the post are more accurate. Those colours were awful and definitely not true.

I received another order today from one of my eBay purchases - my lace-weight merino, mohair for my "Cold Shoulders" and a skein of something interesting for my Spoilee. I haven't worked with mohair before and I'm not really sure about it but this looks nice and doesn't feel itchy. I am worried that I didn't order enough - the pattern calls for three and that is all I bought. I probably should've been a bit cautious and bought extra...

I had better give lace-weight knitters and crocheters more respect, I somehow didn't realise how thin it would be. I've got some two ply lace-weight silk which I have dyed a myriad of ghastly kool-aid colours somewhere (and despite what I just wrote, I actually like it!) but I guess I viewed it more as a thread rather than a yarn. Does that make sense? Anyway, this merino is lovely, so soft and the colours are beautiful but I am feeling very, very intimidated. I can barely handle a 3ply yarn with a 3.50mm hook, how will I cope with this?




Speaking of being intimidated, here is my progress on the Pineapple Circular Shawl - after 16 rounds:

The rounds are starting to take me a while, although I guess I am not the fastest crocheter at the best of times. I am ashamed to say it but I don't want to work on ES3 at the moment, this yarn is nice and soft which makes the other yarn feel a bit stiff and scratchy...or more than a bit.

To put it into perspective, while the lace-weight is quite fine, it's not that much finer than the 3ply I'm using for the blanket, not as big a difference as between the 3ply and 8ply anyway. It's the hook size that worries me, I think the pattern calls for...a 1.50mm - and I have to make two and they have to be fairly similar (I know they won't be exactly the same if I do them) so I'm feeling a bit nervous. I also have to wind the yarn into balls and I am dreading the mess I will get into (I managed to tangle the 3ply while I was winding it, too, which is why I only did one - but since I've barely made a dent in it, I'm sure it will be a while before I need the second one, let alone all 5 remaining).


So that's about all the fun yarn-y related stuff I have for tonight. Still waiting on 3 orders, two for me and one more item for my Spoilee. I missed the boat with the SP11 "Flash Your Stash" competition but that's okay, I don't have the energy to get all my yarn out and take photos but I might do that this weekend, I think I will come across things I have forgotten about.

I'll try and make a dent into what I have and then I might buy some more Karaoke in some of the colours I have had my eye on for a long time now. Speaking of Karaoke, I haven't checked my Spoilee gift today, it is probably not dry yet because we had rain last night, I'll check it in the morning and bring it inside if it is dry enough.

That's about it from me tonight, my crocheting is calling me - and it is impatient!

Hey Mr Postman!

I'm happy! I got two (two!) packages waiting for me when I got home.

I got my order from CrochetAustralia (God bless CrochetAustralia!) which is great since I only ordered it last Thursday (at 10:33pm, no less).

In this order: two crochet patterns for jackets (Lilliana & Lisette), one Patricia Kristoffersen doily book (inspired by a Crochetville post which I will link to in a minute) and the pattern and yarn for the Pineapple Circular Shawl. It is 3ply baby yarn and requires a 3.50mm hook, so I know it is going to drive me mad but I really like how it looks and I'm willing to give it a go. I may surprise myself and make it nicely, too (fingers crossed!).

The Crochetville post was by Krystal16, "Momentous Occasions" Round Baby Christening Blanket - I am secretly (or not so secretly?) quite a fan of doilies but I hate thread. My limit is the 4ply cotton and then I've really only used the Panda 4ply because it's lovely and soft (I tried the Sullivans 4ply and it's like crocheting with wire, very stiff). This seemed like a fun way to utilise the patterns without the stress of itty-bitty hooks and fine thread.

Anyway, I've gone through all my doily pattern books (and I have lots) and picked out patterns I think would still look nice in yarn - but for blankets, particularly baby blankets, I don't think it is a good idea to have a pattern that is too open so that limits my choices somewhat. I've never tried any of Patricia Kristoffersen's patterns but she is very well represented on Crochetville and the patterns I have seen have been very impressive...so I bought "Ultimate Doilies" which contains the Momentous Occasions pattern and other very pretty ones. What a long-winded explanation, when "I really wanted the book, so I bought it" would've been sufficient...

Why say in 10 words what I can say in 100.

My other order was from an eBay seller, I looked at her shop and she had what appeared to be nice yarns but it is hard to tell...so I ordered a "Mystery Box" and I am quite happy with what was sent. The yarns seem quite nice in real life, so I am actually looking forward to figuring out some way to use them all. Maybe a really funky blanket? Maybe a modified "Coat of Many Colours"? I don't know. But I'm thinking and that's the main thing!

So instead of working on ES3, I decided to start the Pineapple Circular Shawl. I wound one of the balls with my winder and put it in a plastic bag (because it's cream and I'm a grub) - it wouldn't fit into the zip-lock bags I have, so a freezer bag will have to do. I've done 10 rounds and it's still tiny - it's not a Lace Weight Merino Christening Gown (and I promise you right now, I am never doing one of those!) but it's a far cry from 8ply and a 6.50mm hook! The pattern seems to be coming along okay, only another 50+ rounds to go. I foresee a lot of "still working on the pineapple shawl" blogposts in my future (and hopefully no "I give up on the pineapple shawl" posts).

I have a feeling (and I have a feeling that my feeling is an accurate one) that I am not going to want to give this away when it is finished. Either I will stuff it up and I won't want to give it away because I don't think it's good enough or I will do it well and I won't want to give it away because I want to keep it for myself! The most likely scenario is that I will stuff it up slightly (I am an optimist tonight) but still be stupidly proud of it and will want to keep it. It is going to be time-consuming to complete this pattern and I don't know if I will ever have the desire to make another one.

I am still waiting on four other orders...maybe soon?

I took some photos of Short 'n Sweet on a friend who stopped by, this is the same friend who will eventually get the purple shrug and I may give her Short 'n Sweet, too. Funny thing is, with both items, they fit her well but fit me almost as well, except she is so much smaller. I must crochet very stretchy fabrics. Anyway, I'll sort out the photos and put them up here tomorrow.

I wore my turquoise sandals today and got a lot of nice compliments.