Crochet Baby Surprise Jacket

I am crocheting Jenny King's version of Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket.I was a bit puzzled as to which bit I was crocheting when I started but I think I know which way to fold it all once it is finished.The pattern is available to buy from Ravelry or if you click on my blog title it will take you to the web page.

I am making it from James C Brett's Bliss Baby DK and using a smaller hook as it is for a new born baby. I can't say that I am enjoying working into only one loop of the double crochet and whilst I admire it's ribbed effect I think that I would make it in plain dc next time. By the way the instructions are in UK/Australian terms which confused me at first as I am so used to converting from US to UK. I started it in UK trebles thinking that the pattern's dc were trebles to me but I soon realised that it was wrong when it was turning out rather loose and floppy. The wool was chosen as it has long colour length changes in order to make the striped effect. The pattern states Noro Silk Garden but that is too expensive for a new baby although I must admit that the colours are terrific.

The old deaf guy from yesterday didn't ring me back again but Bev's comments reminded me of wrong numbers from the past. Why do they always ring around 2am? I had a man phone me demanding to speak to Mandy. When I told him that Mandy didn't live here he started ranting on about I didn't want him to marry my daughter because he was Pakistani. I said that I wasn't racist and if I had a daughter and she was in love with him then she could marry him but as I only have a son (who isn't gay) then I couldn't be his mother in law. He ranted on and on and then said that I wouldn't stop him from seeing her. I said that's OK with me and put the phone down.

Another was an irate lady demanding that I go and look for her husband in the bar and send him home. She was convinced that she had rung the local snooker hall and would not take 'wrong number' as an answer. In the end I asked for his name told her I would send him home and put the phone down. Needless to say I took the phone off the hook after that. I do hope that her husband went home eventually!

I had phone call this morning saying that providing I pass another pre operative test then I am scheduled for my first replacement knee surgery on the 6th July. I am not excited in the least as I still have the feeling that something will go wrong and I won't get the operation. With my track record anything can happen. Fingers crossed for me please that they don't find anything wrong again at the pre op tests. I had another rotten night last night so I will welcome anything that can stop some of the pain.

I am not going up to Burnley today as it is another windy, cold and it looks like rain day. Is this really June? It's freezing here in Manchester. I doubt if I will get to wear any summer clothes this year. Hopefully I will make it up to Towneley Hall tomorrow as I am really looking forward to seeing the tea cosies on display.

I Love Parcels

I love parcels. Even when I know exactly what is in them because I ordered it. I still get a thrill when the postman knocks and I have a box to unpack.

I got these yesterday but as it was after I had written my blog I decided to save them for today. The James C Brett Marble chunky is just so scrummy. I love purple and red so no prizes for guessing why I ordered these. I don't know whether I will need the extra ball of the red as I have knitted the back and part of the front of my sweater and hardly used 300 grams. I will always make use of the extra ball for something.Purple wool from Purplelinda - very apt don't you think?

I had to go to the hospital today for a talk on the knee replacement operation and what to expect afterwards and which aids they can offer to make life easier once we are at home. We had a private one to one with the occupational therapist after the main chat. He assessed me as need some aids already and is arranging to have them delivered soon. Frames to help me in the bathroom and a sloping seat to use instead of my little stool in the kitchen so that I can sit to prepare meals, wash the dishes and iron. My house is rapidly turning into an old lady house.

The therapist said I might have problems when I return home as they expect the leg that hasn't been operated on to take the strain and in my case I don't have a good leg to do this. My left knee is giving me more trouble than the right at the moment and it kept me awake most of last night. I think that the GP and I will have to have another chat about pain relief.

In the waiting room were 5 people who were post op by about 6 weeks and all of them said it was the best thing that they have done. I just hope that my knees will be as good as theirs. They said that the worst bit is having to wear the surgical socks on both legs for 6 weeks. I am not looking forward to this bit. I hope that they are cotton as anything synthetic flares up the eczema on my lower legs.

I haven't touched any needles or hook today as I have been out from 11am until 5pm. Maybe tonight I will get something done. I love the layette patterns that I got in the parcel. They are by Carole Prior and published by Leisure Arts. At least this pattern leaflet has a couple of designs that can be made for a baby boy if I changed a bonnet into a helmet. The only snag is that the patterns are only in a 6 months old size. I suppose that I could make them smaller with a smaller hook or slightly finer wool.