More Supplies From Bury Market

Although the sun wasn't exactly shining today the weather was still mild enough for me to meet up with Sylvia and go to Bury Market. As you can see my stash has been increased. I bought the blue/beige/cream mingled Teddy Picasso from Habiknit but the rest of the stash came from the stall on Bury Market. Sylvia bought the rest of the wool as apart from the navy blue it will all get used up to crochet for the foster babies. The blue is a present to me from Sylvia. She also bought my lunch so all in all I have been one lucky girl today.

By the end of our ramble in the market I think we both had leg issues but it is so nice to get out in the fresh air and meet up with friends. There is nothing like a good browse. I am just sorry that my knees won't allow me to look in more shops.

I will probably be sore tomorrow but what the heck I had a good day out and that's what is important.

I managed to buy some large stretchy shorts whilst I was out. I wanted them to wear when (and if ever) I go into hospital as I have been told that I will have to practise some exercises before I will be allowed to go home and I thought that wearing shorts would be more ladylike whilst I am doing them and also they would fit better over all the bandaging and padding that will be there for a few days. Hopefully it will be warm enough to keep wearing them once I get home and so save having to try to pull long trousers over my knee until it heals. I don't know why I worry about what I look like when whilst we were in Bury we came across a very plus sized lady wearing those thick black tights in place of trousers. Not a pretty sight I can tell you. I felt like asking her if she had forgotten to put on her skirt! Sylvia said that she could see that she had white knickers underneath through the fabric. Yak. I was too busy wondering if she had a pillow stuffed under her tights or whether her rear end really was that large! I am a plus sized lady but like to think that at least I look covered up and ladylike whilst I am out although my sweater did keep riding up today revealing my back support. I did keep getting a 'psst' from Sylvia saying my corset wae showing ;) I wonder if they do back supports in black or red satin with lace?

I am dying to start some more crochet tonight but I am waiting to see if the foster baby does arrive at my friend's tomorrow and if it is a girl. With fostering one never knows what will turn up or when. Also how old and what size is always a bit f a mystery.I have my fingers crossed for a baby girl this time.

I will try to drum up some enthusiasm for doing some of the boy's knitting. I haven't knitted a stitch for over a week now.

I have regularly crocheted whilst out and about but today was a first for sewing up a matinee coat whilst waiting for food at an outdoor cafe. I managed to finish off the second matinee coat in pink but there is only a photos of it in bits as I gave the finished one to my friend today. It is almost identical to the other one I made but is just a row longer in the skirt part, The cream crochet jacket is one that I made for another baby ages ago and never gave it to that baby.

Time for a coffee and a think about what tonight's project will be. I don't want any dinner as I had a big lunch so that's one chore less to do tonight. I am definitely not Nigella Lawson in the kitchen.

I have just had a phone call from my son saying that I am only getting Buster for the weekend. Someone else is looking after Skye. He may arrive tomorrow night or Friday morning so it's a nice long weekend for the two of us. I hope the weather stays nice as Buster likes to play in the garden with his ball.

I Feel Pretty - Oh So Pretty

I often get asked why I am still single. I think that the top photo speaks volumes.I might be able to attract a man but he would have to be someone really special to want to sleep and wake up with me wearing my new CPAP breathing mask that I got today. Not only do I look absolutely fabulous wearing it the CPAP machine that it is attached to hisses and blows air and manages to sound as if someone is hoovering next to the bed. As you can see I am altogether a luscious package. Not much point wearing a sexy negligee when any poor man sleeping next to me would think he was in a force ten gale as the air whistles past his ears. Perhaps I should make potential suitors wear a balaclava helmet and ear plugs in bed?

I have been missing for a couple of days. I have had a busy social life for a change. Today wasn't so good I was out on public transport going to and from the hospital. I thought I had found a better way to eliminate the walking.It was a success as far as that was concerned but I had an unguided tour around Cheetham Hill along streets that were never designed for a bus to travel down them so there were a few hairy moments as it squeezed past cars almost taking of the wing mirrors.We went past where I first worked for the Jobcentre and it is no longer there. The people of Cheetham Hill must all be in work or else they now make them travel more miles to make a claim.I suspect that the latter is the case. I left my house at twelve and didn't get back until after five but I did call at Marks and Spencers on the way home. Thoughts of cooking dinner fled from my head and I settled for something for the oven. I went into the hospital cafe after my appointment but my sandwich was so disgusting that I left it. I had asked for a baked potato and the guy said he didn't have any. Two minutes later three people walked past me with baked potatoes. When I was on my way out I gave him a piece of my mind. I bet he won't forget me in a hurry. I told him exactly what I thought of his service and how rotten his sandwich was.

On Saturday I met up with my friend Sylvia and her foster baby and we went to Bury Market. I bought some black Jarol Heritage DK. It has 55% wool and is lovely and soft. I used some for my niece's Christmas present and she said it has washed really well. Unfortunately the stall holder said that it hasn't sold as well as he hoped so I guess that he won't be restocking it. He sells it for £2 per 100 gram which I think is extremely reasonable for something with so much wool. The aubergine is a mystery yarn without labels. As it was only £5.50 for the whole bag I bought it. If it only lasts a little while I don't mind at that price. I am going to make another Doris Chan sweater with it. I find that I really do wear them every day whereas I have a disgusting amount of fancier crochet items that languish unworn in my wardrobe as I consider them too nice to wear in the house. Sylvia bought some gorgeous fluffy chunky in muted random colours. I was very tempted but I made myself resist as I still have loads of wool in stash yet to work up. There never seems to be the colour that you fancy in stash though does there - or is that just me?

I have put some photos from the Vintage Baby Knits book by Kristen Rengren. I am still disappointed with the book. I was hoping for actual vintage patterns as I do love them but these are nothing like any vintage patterns that I have ever seen with the exception of the pink matinee jacket. The cape wouldn't be so bad if they had chosen a smaller baby to model it and the coat would be better if they chose a slimmer baby as the buttons gape badly. On first glance the red pram set looks OK but in the close up the collar is so big that it swamps the child and wouldn't keep it warm unless it was wearing a scarf underneath it as there is such a gap betwixt neck and collar. I will post some more tomorrow but don't hold your breath for anything wonderful.I have far prettier actual vintage patterns in my stash although I did "lose" a lot of them when a friend borrowed them and then denied she had ever borrowed them. I was and still am heartbroken about that loss. My charity shops never have any loose patterns for me to browse in - nor do they ever have any wool either. I keep asking on the off chance but it never happened. Other people who live in different areas seem to find lots of vintage patterns at car boots and charity shops.

My son and daughter in law visited me yesterday for Mother's Day. I was supposed to be getting a plant that they had chosen for me but Dillon the youngest dog decided that he was a herbivore and ate it! I got a box of emergency chocolates as most places were closed when they discovered the eaten plant. That dog is a real handful. I think that they are trying to re home him as he needs someone with lots of patience and no other dogs or cats. They saved him from going to the dog's home when they got him originally and are trying to re home him. Several people have shown interest in him so hopefully he will have a new home soon. He is a lovely dog but just too full of energy and mischief as he is still a young pup. Unfortunately he is teaching my son's other dog to be naughty and she was really well trained before he arrived. Buster tries to ignore him most of the time but eventually he loses him temper with the pup.

I have almost finished the second piece of the striped knitting. Once I have done the neckband then I will only have the sleeves to make and as the sweater is drop shouldered they shouldn't take as long. I need to start the black wool as it is for a gift but ideally I would like to finish the sweater off first before I start crocheting.

Watch this space. No bets on whether I give in and start to crochet tonight.

Introducing Dillon

Introducing the latest member of our family. This is Dillon who is supposed to be an Akita cross but looks more like a staffy with big ears so we are not quite sure how or what he will turn out like. I mean - just what is going on with those ears? Was his father a bat? He does have a very cute face though. He is staying at my son's at the moment as he is very underweight and has no social skills or toilet training so he will stay with them until such a time as he is ready to either be re-homed or become a permanent member of our family, As you can see in the background Buster is keeping a very close eye on him!

I went up to Bury yesterday. I was supposed to be buying something for my great grand daughters for Christmas but Bury was so crowded and where I wanted to go was across the market and a main road and my knee just didn't want to walk that far. I will try again in the week when the market isn't on and then maybe I can walk without bumping into crowds with my trolley.

I bought more supplies of cotton for dishcloths. I have an idea how to use these dishcloths to incorporate them into the presents but I will reveal more once I have made the first two and see if my idea will work. I also bought some aran and some double knitting with wool.I bought most of the wool from the market stall and the cotton from Habiknit. I have already started the beige wool as you can see. It is going to be a Haru for those of you familiar with Doris Chan's everyday Crochet book. I have done the worst bit that haa all the shaping so it will be plain sailing from now on. It is for a present as you can see from it's tiny 10 size. I am making it for my sister in law to go with some other things for her Christmas present. As you can see I am progressing with turning the aran cardigan for my niece into a long sleeved version and am about half way up the first sleeve. It did feel SO good to sit and crochet last night. All of this knitting is making my hands hurt.

I got a surprise yesterday. My niece came to pick up the duck motif hats for posting and brought me a pair of purple boots that I had ordered from the catalogue ages ago. She gave them to me as the remaining part of my Birthday Present as she said both the Mary Jane shoes and the boots were half price when she came to order them so my nieces decided to pay for them both for me. How cool is that.I had thought the Mary Jane shoes were a lovely present from them both and so was really surprised to get the boots as well. Purple is my favourite colour and so I will enjoy wearing them. I will have to be careful not to wear them in the rain though as suede marks so easily.

Off now for another mammoth knit and crochet session. My housework has gone to the dogs but I will have a really good clean up before Christmas - possibly after I put the Christmas tree up. I have asked my neighbour if I can borrow her teenage boy to reach the tree down from the loft for me but I am not sure when he will arrive to do it.

The Lure Of Crochet

I admit it. I am a crochet junkie. I have withdrawal symptoms if I am away from my crochet hook too long. Whilst I admit that knitting is very nice and is better for certain garments I am in my heart a crocheter.

I didn't get back to my knitting last night. I finished off the washcloths I had started and made three more. I made myself promise this morning not to pick up another hook until I had at least started the front of the aran jacket for my niece or it will never get finished in time for Christmas,

I need some more cotton for the washcloths but as I cannot face another Saturday melee on the tram and all the pushing and shoving in the market I will wait until a weekday to get more supplies. I also need to buy the handmade soap to go with these washcloths and there is a lovely shop in Bury that sells that. I plan to tie 3 washcloths together with a bar of soap so need to count up how many people I need to make them for. Mother Christmas's work is never done.

It's washing day today. I don't have a set washing day I just wait until the basket gets full and then do a colour sort. I washed the sample square of the wool that I used for the babies hoodies and am pleased to say that not only did it not shrink it softened up a lot. The wool felt a little scratchy when I was knitting with it and I was a bit concerned on how it would feel to a small baby. I am not going to wash the jackets as I know Louise uses special detergent for the babies so I will just recommend that she washes the jackets prior to wear. I think that she might be visiting her family for Christmas so Santa may visit a bit early in case she needs the sweaters and jackets for over Christmas.

Big Matinee Jacket

A couple of Christmas ago I was given 2 packs of super chunky wool but as there was only 600 grams in each pack I didn't know what to make with them. I made the grey fleck up a while ago into a striped short sleeved jacket and decided to make up the cream yesterday as I was going stir crazy with all the knitting I have been doing lately. The jacket hasn't turned out quite as I envisioned it but that's sometimes the case when I make things up as I go along. I would have preferred a longer jacket with longer sleeves but my wool ran out. hence I have christened this jacket my big matinee jacket and I am sure that it will keep me warm during this winter. Better on me than languishing in my stash. I could have made a waistcoat but I don't wear the ones that I have made previously. I like something with a bit of a sleeve even though in this case it is short.

I started off using a baby matinee pattern to get the increases in the right place and then just kept on increasing as set on the yolk until it was the right size. The bottom bit was a bit of improvisation to try to eke the wool out a bit more by making it lacy.

Yesterday I went up to Bury and found Habiknit and bought a few bits which I will photograph tomorrow. I also nipped into WH Smiths and picked up the latest copy of Inside crochet. I will put some photos of that on the blog tomorrow. I bought it for the pattern of some long slipper socks which I will get around to for myself one day.I had a little wander around but then the rain started pelting down and I came home. As I waited to cross the road a lovely bus driver whooshed through a puddle and drenched me from head to toe. Luckily I was on my way home at the time.

Today I went to the farmers Market that they had in the village. They have had a couple so far this year and I hope that the bad weather and lack of customers today doesn't put them off coming back again. I didn't buy a lot and had gone mainly for the lamb. I took the photo to show my purchases. I thought that the stick of sprouts might make you laugh. Apparently if I keep them somewhere cold then I can just cut a few off as and when required. I also bought a West Indian Lamb Pattie ( a pasty to most people) and am looking forward to that for my lunch.

I will resume my knitting today. I am on the last sleeve of the larger baby jacket and my niece said she things that Louise will want hoods on the jackets so I have a bit more to knit before I can start the smaller jacket. My niece is going to the yarn Barn next week to get the wool for my London niece's jacket so I will carry on with the boys knitting until then. I still have a lot of knitting to do before Christmas.

Cup of coffee time now and then it's upstairs to remake the bed and do some hoovering. I don't think much knitting will get done today as I have a pile of washing and ironing to do before I can sit down.

World Wide Knit In Public Day

Photos today are of the All Shawl by Doris Chan that I made for the Knitting Noras raffle. Alice won the shawl and had a choice of the ones that I had made and chose this one. I had intended to take a photo of her wearing it but I think I got waylaid by one of Deb's chocolate muffins. I intend to do a lot of things these days that I never quite get around to doing. I am sure I have said this before but I love making this shawl it is so easy to do. I really must make one for myself. I have a bag of shades of purple and lilac oddments that I plan on using one day.

Today is World Wide Knit in Public day and I will hopefully be off to try and find the Whitworth Art Gallery to join a few friends in a Knit Out this afternoon. I am ashamed to say that even though I have lived in the Greater Manchester area all of my married and post married life I have never been into the Art Gallery. My intentions when I retired where to find the time to visit all the museums and art galleries that I never found time to visit when I was working but then my spinal problems got in the way. Sigh. I hopefully will have many more years to fulfil my ambitions in the future once this darn knee co-operates.

I went up to Bury Market yesterday and of course came back with some yarn for my stash. Nothing very exciting hence no pictures. I don't think that you want to see a photo of several balls of black do you? Yes I know I am going to Woolfest soon but I really am not a wool orientated kind of girl, due to allergies, irritations and itches, so I knew that I will not be buying much from Woolfest unless they have a stall that sells non wool. I have nothing against wool and can admire it and can actually knit and crochet with it, unless the dye irritates my fingers, but I don't see any point in buying something that I know I will not be able to wear. I do buy wool when it is for a present for my family.

I get a bit annoyed with some of the forums on Ravelry who berate anyone who doesn't use wool saying don't use nasty acrylic and say extremely derogatory things about peoples work when it is not in wool etc. Why can't they just admire the quality of the workmanship and not be so snobby as to presume garments are awful if they are not made in super duper wool. I thought that the site was to encourage camaraderie amongst knitters and crocheters. People have reasons why they don't use wool whether medical or economical so nasty comments are not very friendly. I don't tell people off for using wool. If they like it and can wear and afford it then buy it and use it. I don't mind. When I last checked it is a free country and people have freedom of choice. I read somewhere that one person said surely it is better to save up and make one decent garment a year rather than dozens of things that are tat! Obviously NOT a true crafter. I make things for the joy of doing them and would have to be a millionaire to afford to keep up with my fingers if I only used expensive yarns. As for limiting myself to making one garment a year - well that doesn't bear thinking about. Yes I know all the arguments about acrylic not being biodegradable but as I keep and wear most of my garments for years none of them have yet finished up in landfill. When I have finished with them I unravel and make into other things. Waste not want not is my motto.

The sun has gone in. It was so lovely when I first got up. I do hope that it doesn't rain as I don't fancy catching a metro and then 2 buses to the art gallery in the rain. Stay sunny please!

Woken from a lovely dream

I was having a lovely dream last night. It involved my last ex M who I love dearly (no it wasn't one of "those" kind of dreams) and so I was a bit aggrieved to be woken abruptly by a banging on my door. Could it be that the old wives tale Friday's dream on Saturday told will come true before it is old? Alas no it wasn't M at the door but the postman with my books from Amazon. In case you are wondering if I am lucky enough to have a postman who calls early I should explain that I had snoozed in and it was after 10am!

Even though I would rather have stayed in my dream I did forgive the postman when I saw my new books. Wrapped in Crochet by Kristin Omdahl (designer of the Belize wrap that I made for Vicky's birthday) and Boutique Knits by Laura Irwin. I have not perused them in depth yet as I don't want to be tempted into starting something before I have finished my Christmas knitting. I have posted a few photos from each book. Ambermoggie will love the crochet circular wrap jacket that is featured on the back cover of the book. There are some wonderful shawls in there but some I will admire but never make. I don't know why but I have an absolute hatred of making circular motifs that have to be joined together as I go along. I also make a hash of very spidery crochet flower motifs involving copious amounts of chains as I always get them twisted and get really annoyed. The scarf I have featured is made up from 3 long curly strips fastened together at intervals with chain.

The knitting book has some weird and wonderful things in it. Mostly I would not make any of them for myself but I can see my daughter in law in the gauntlet fingerless mittens if I make them in black or dark purple. There are some unusual hats in the book and I wish I looked OK in a knitted hat but I just know that if I make any of these for myself they will end up on the donation or gift pile. There are a couple of felted bags that my knitting club members might like. I am old school and it breaks my heart to buy expensive wool and felt it. Felted brings back to me too many memories of lovely sweaters accidentally put in the washer and rendered unwearable. Why does it always have to be one of your best designs that gets ruined?

Yesterday I met up with Sylvia and Bill in Bury market. We browsed the wool stall, got a few balls of wool and then had a bit of lunch in Othello's cafe. On the way home I picked up my prescription from the doctors and then the chemist said it would be 20 mins to wait. I decided to pop into Iceland then met up with a friend who has recently lost her husband so after a half hour of sympathy I walked home. I had, of course, completely forgotten to go back to the chemist so I had to get dressed and quickly dash up there this morning before they closed at 12 to rescue my presription. I didn't fancy a banging headache and fat(ter) ankles this weekend through not having my blood pressure tablets.

I have just started the second sleeve of my niece's jacket so the end is in sight.

Warm winter crochet hat

I made this hat from James C Brett's Marble chunky. I am not sure how many grams it took as the wool comes in 200 gram balls. I don't think I have half a ball left. I have linked the pattern to the blog title so click on it if you want to see which pattern I used.

I have done very little crochet (or knit) over the last 2 days. Yesterday afternoon I had a visit from a friend who I haven't seen for ages. He moved with his family from Manchester to Liverpool but had to be in Manchester on business yesterday so popped in to see me for a few hours. I can't believe his baby is now 6yrs old and going to school. It seems like a couple of years since she was born.

My son came in the evening and spent a few hours looking through his old school photos and scanning the ones that I hadn't managed to scan on Monday.

He has always hated the fact that people say he looks exactly like me. I appease him by saying I look like my father therefore he looks like his grandad. I suppose we do look similar even now despite the fact that he lost his hair quite young. So if you take away my hair and the beard (his) then perhaps we still do look alike.

My neighbour Julie had another operation yesterday at Christies to remove the chemo resistant lump that had welded itself to her pancreas, liver and kidney but I won't know the outcome for a couple of weeks as she is going to her mother's house to recuperate.

I heard today that my neighbour a few doors down died in hospital on Sunday. He was only the same age as me but got dementia along with other medical problems a couple of years ago. It's sad that he has never had the chance to enjoy his retirement. He loved my dog Buster and he was one of the only people (animal) whose name he could remember. Buster continued to look out for him every day when he got taken into hospital. He would walk up to his front window and look in to see if Peter was there.

Buster will not be coming home to live me with again. My son said last night that they want to keep him. I can't really say anything as he was their dog for 5 yrs and they gave him to me reluctantly when he had a few behavioural issues with the grand babies. Now he has calmed down and their young dog loves him to bits so they think it's a shame to part them now they are so used to being together all day. I am looking after him for a couple of days in November as they can't put him into kennels as he gets distressed. I am going to miss not having Buster back but I don't think I will get another dog even though they are good company. I will see how I feel about getting another animal. I have always had cats so maybe I will get a kitten or a rescue cat one day.

Today I nipped up to Bury and got the greenish autumn shaded wool from the wool shop and got the plain green to go with it and the shaded green along with the paler shaded wool from the market stall. With the wool that I bought wrongly for Sarah last week I am well ahead with my stash for shawls.

Another pink hat and scarf

I think I have done my last pink hat and scarf set for the raffle. I am still using up the bag of spearmint pink wool that I got from Bury market last week. Once all of the raffle items are finished I don't think I want to see any more pink for a while. This hat and scarf has bright pink mohair trim and a crochet flower.

Today I went to Bury market and bought a pack of pink, random for a change, double knit for £5.99. I forgot to buy some aran wool for the curly wurly crochet scarf pattern that Sylvia so kindly got for me from a trip to Stockport. It will be such a hardship to have to go back to the market next week ;) I can always justify it by saying I need some more fish from the market. I got a lovely piece of Salmon for £1 and some Whiting for £1.50p. I also got a piece of Chinese style Pork steak for £1 which I have put in the freezer for later.

Yesterday I got a bargain from my local charity shop 5 x 50 grams green brushed chunky for £3. It's very rare that I manage to see any wool in my local charity shops so I always grab it when I see it. I have no idea what I will use it for but I am sure I will decide soon.

The doctor has put me on Glucosemene tablets and Naproxen tablets. I am not sure which one of these is working but my knee is much better today (3rd day of taking the pills) and I can bend it a lot more as the swelling has gone down a bit. My son put Buster on Glucosemene and he has been leaping around like a puppy and swimming in the ponds with my son's 9 month old Rottweiler. I hope that I don't start diving into any pools or chasing any dogs now I am on the same pills!

I have started knitting a premature baby blanket in the remnants of the bargain pink wool. Knitting seems so slow to me as I am a crocheter at heart but I suppose knitting is better for tiny little fingers. The danger with crochet is that prem babies might get their little fingers stuck in one of the crochet stitches as they are looser than knitting. I will try and make a couple more as it is for the Bliss charity that I mentioned yesterday.

The weather is nice and sunny today and I have washing on the line. I really should rake up the rest of those holly branches and leaves but I think a cup of coffee and a bit of blanket knitting whilst watching 60 minute makeover is what I will actually do next.

Spending my money at Bury Market yet again!

I went up to Bury today to the Wool Shop get another ball of the white that I have run out of for the granny square shawl. I decided to buy 2 balls so that I could use the white again possibly for another shawl. I must be a glutton for punishment as I absolutely HATE sewing in all the tails of wool. I spend most of last night sewing up and still have only darned about half of them in. SIGH!

I also picked up 2 crochet hooks as I must scatter hooks around whenever I go anywhere. I start off with 2 or 3 of each size and manage to lose them over the course of a few months. It's a good job that I don't really like the expensive hooks isn't it? I also picked up 2 rings of glass headed pins to use with my blocking boards.

On the way back to the tram my feet took me towards the market. I had to buy some meat and the fish and meat market just happens to be right next to the wool stall so of course I had to take a peek. I managed to get 2 bargain bags of double knit in 2 shades of pink that will no doubt finish up for the Breast Cancer raffle.

I picked up 2 balls of James C Brett Marble Chunky ( I absolutely LOVE this yarn) The pink one will probably finish up at the raffle but I am going to make a hat for a friend who has Breast Cancer and is about to undergo a course of chemo and so possibly lose her hair. This wool is lovely and soft so would not irritate if her scalp was tender. I know that she likes autumnal colours so I hope that she will like the colour I have chosen.

I also called in the newsagents in Bury as my local shop has closed down and bought a copy of Woman's Weekly Knitting and Crochet special. I had seen a copy at the Noras Knit Out on Sunday that Sylvia had bought and decided to buy one. There are a couple of patterns in there that I think I will make. There is a knitted chunky cabled cardigan in it that might be what my niece is looking for. Also a nice crochet blanket and cardigan plus a cute baby set with a motif edging.

I just love my crochet patterns, Anyone who knows me well knows this and points me in the general direction of any new ones. I do like knitting books but get really excited with anything that has crochet in it.

I am off now to darn in a few more ends - sigh - and then use the white wool to finish off the shawl.

Bury Market Bargains

I went up to Bury Market for the first time since my operation. I was excited to be able to walk around it but it still pains me a lot to do it. I am impatient as I thought that by now all the pain would have disappeared but I guess it will take a lot longer than I thought to be fully fit. I took my little wheeler up to Bury with me as I didn't want to carry anything but I think that the handle is at the wrong height and that didn't help my back any. I had decided not to take the big wheeler as the tram and the market would be crowded but I think, on reflection, I should have done that as the handle is higher and easier to manage.

The wool stall on Bury market has expanded since my last visit and they have bought the stall next door so it is twice as big as before. I bought some of the colours in the first photos from them. It is destined for a birthday present so I can't say too much about it at the moment. I couldn't resist buying the Diploma Aran in the dark red. What a bargain at 1000 grams for £6.99. It was a pity that they only had it in one colour. I wasn't tempted by any of the other bargains that they had as they were similar to the packs I have unused in stash from my last visit. See - I can have willpower sometimes! I had gone for some Aran to try some more pairs of the Mary Jane slippers designed by Zuleika but they didn't have much choice. Most of their Aran is in 400/500 gram balls and I wanted a variety of colours. I just bought a ball of red and lilac. I will have to keep searching for more colours.

I walked around the corner to see if the LYS on the Rock is still open and it is. Someone asked when they are closing down and got told that they don't exactly know. The other shops next to them are all closed. I bought some of the colours in the first photo from there. I had already bought one colour combination from the market but saw another colour combination in the shop so I bought again. Story of my life! I will make the birthday project in both of the colourways and decide which one to give my friend and which one to keep in my Christmas present stash. Scary isn't it thinking about Christmas already but we crafters have to start early.

My sister in law's knitted Christmas cardigan is now on it's second sleeve. I think I have enough wool left to make her a sleeveless tank top. She can either wear them together as a twin set or wear the tank top separately over a blouse. That will be one present less to worry about for Christmas.

I managed to dry the bedding today out on the washing line. A bit of sunshine at last! I will go and re-make the bed before settling down to rest my weary aching back before making some dinner with one of the chops that I bought from Bury market. I am getting so sick of ready meals that I decided to get some "real" meat for a change. I still bought some colcannon and some carrot and swede mash from M&S to go with the chops. I might be up to grilling a chop but not to peeling potatoes and veggies just yet.

I am raring to go with starting some crochet but I am going to be firm with myself and try to finish off the knitting first. If I put that down unfinished then it might take me ages to drum up enough enthusiasm to finish it. Crochet is my first love although I must admit that I have enjoyed knitting this cardigan. It just seems to take hours and hours compared to crochet.

The last photo is some incense sticks I bought from the market. I love my fragrances and am always buying incense and scented candles. Unfortunately these do not seem to have a strong scent unless my nose is blocked. I am not too keen on some of the more popular supermarket scented candles but there isn't a lot of choice locally of anything else. I used to buy Ashleigh and Burwood Incense cones from Tesco but they don't sell them anymore, Incense burning always takes my memory back to the 60's and the wonderful craft shops in St Ives. The Joss sticks in those days had such a pungent smell that is missing from the ones I can buy today. One shop in particular burned Patchouli all the time and anything bought from there kept the smell for ages.