Shawl Test Swatch

I am not making a mini shawl for a doll. I am testing out a pattern for a new Hugs and Hearts shawl pattern for monimcc on Ravelry. She has written this pattern for a full size shawl and wanted me to make a swatch to see if I understood the pattern.



The beauty of this pattern is that the edging is worked at the same time as the main pattern and the increases are hidden in the waffle stitch pattern. When I have the time I am going to make a full sized shawl as it looks like a lovely warm stitch to make a more substantial shawl rather than an openwork lacy one.



I had a surprise this morning. I swear that this bud on last year's amaryllis has appeared overnight. If you remember I got three flowers from it last year and just let it carry on growing leaves over the winter as I wasn't sure what to do with the bulb. One by one the long leaves died off and I was left with just one leaf. I kept watering the plant as I can't bear to get rid of a plant until I know that it is well and truly a hopeless case and completely dead. I will be pleased if I just get the one flower on this year. It truly is the gift that keeps on giving.

My knee is still very stiff but I didn't make it up to the pharmacy to get my leg measured for my sexy compression socks this morning as a guy came to inspect the cavity wall insulation, that I had done a couple of months ago, and by the time he had gone and I had my shower it was no longer first thing in the morning. I will give it a try tomorrow and scoot up there before breakfast when my leg should be at it's slimmest. Apparently the socks have to fit when the leg is at it's best for the correct measurements. If they measure it when it is swollen then the socks will be the wrong size.

I have found the pattern, needles and the wool for my elder niece's Birthday jacket so hopefully it will get cast on tonight.

Last Of The She Ball Competitors

As promised yesterday these are the last of the entries for the Bolton Knitting Noras Sirdar She Ball Challenge. I have repeated Deb's toilet roll cover and bottle cozy as the photo turned out rather small yesterday.

The knitted cabled belt is Bev's entry. Oh how I envy her waistline! The hat complete with a beard is Lisa's entry. I think she deserves a medal just for wearing anything so itchy next to her face even if it was only for the photo. I am not sure how Caroline persuaded her cat to wear the tutu. She must have a very patient cat but even so I don't suppose that it stayed on for long!

I have finished off the red sweater finally. After two attempts to re knit the raglans of the sleeves the wool is looking rather crinkly but luckily it doesn't show as the wool is so randomly striped. I will take photos of it today and put it on the blog tomorrow.

I have been very sleepy so far today. I had a reasonable night's sleep, had my breakfast and then promptly fell asleep with my head resting in my hands on the computer desk. When I woke up I made a drink and then sat in the rocking chair by the patio doors to enjoy a bit of sunshine and fell asleep again. I think that I have got the sleepy sickness today as every time I sit down I fall asleep. Maybe my shower will waken me up. I hope so as I have a GP's visit later this afternoon.

Today is quite sunny. Not warm though as there is still a layer of frost on the neighbours car roofs. The sunshine is helping the amaryllis on it's final flowering of the season. It is going out with a bang instead of a whimper. It's last flowering has four flowers. Well two in bloom at the moment and two in bud ready to open very soon. I have placed it just in front of my sink so every time that I wash the dishes I can look at the lovely flowers.

I am trying to drum up some enthusiasm for returning to the striped knitting but for some reason it just isn't calling to me. I will finish it off eventually but I think it is going to be a case of knit a few rows on it and then do something else. I know from experience that if I try to push myself into finishing something that I am not keen on in one long knit then it stops me in my tracks and I just don't do anything.
I am sure that I will find something else to start and knit or crochet along side the striped sweater. I think that it is going to be a long WIP.

Here I Go Again

Here I go again. Unravelling. I think that I have qualified for a degree in unpicking and unravelling by now. I think that it is fate paying me back for indulging myself in a bit of plain knitting and putting the striped knitting to one side. I had almost finished this sweater and when I came to stitch it together before I made the bands and collar I found that the sleeve raglans didn't fit into the back and front raglans. I have re-read the pattern and I don't know why they don't fit. I have made this sweater two or three times before in the past and didn't have a problem. Anyhow I have unpicked one sleeve back to the start of the raglan and will have to space the decreases out every 4 rows instead of every other for a while to gain the additional rows needed to make the sleeves fit. It's a good thing that it is chunky wool and so won't take that long to re-knit.

Today I will have to catch up on the housework. Yesterday I had reached out the mop bucket and was hoovering when I had an unexpected visitor. I love having visitors and the housework can always be done on another day. I haven't seen this friend since before I had my spinal operation so we had a lot of catching up to do. By the time my friend had gone I had lost the urge to mop. It doesn't take much to put me off any housework. I clean but I am not zealous about it anymore. When I was young and fit I was always cleaning and the house was spic and span but as I have got older and am not as fit I do sometimes wish that my house was like it used to be but I decided a few years ago that there was no point in making myself ill just for a lot of cleaning. My cleaning does get done but in dribs and drabs and probably not as efficiently as it used to. But then I have only myself to please and my friends understand my problems and turn a blind eye to my clutter.

The amaryllis is flowering for the third time. I think that this will be it's last time as it has now grown leaves and there are no more budding stems to grow. It has been a lovely Christmas present as it has given me pleasure at the kitchen sink for over 2 months. It's nice to see flowers on a dull and rainy day.

Today I am going to finish some housework and then hopefully manage to unravel and finish off this sweater and then maybe tonight I can force myself back to the striped cotton knitting once again.

Shrove Tuesday

It's Shrove Tuesday today or in other words Pancake Day. As I am such a rubbish pancake maker so I chose the easy route of 'ready made just add water and shake' this year. My ex husband was a whizz at the pancakes. Not much of a cook but pancakes were his speciality. When he left my son took over the pancake reins. I was about to say that they were both expert tossers but somehow that sounds rather rude! I have never had strong wrists and I think the knack to pancake tossing is strong wrists and a firm steady flip. I made a couple of pancakes for lunch but mine stuck to the pan and I had to prise them loose with a spatula so I finished up with broken wrinkly pancakes. They tasted good though sprinkled with sugar and drizzled with lemon juice. Not as good as the homemade variety but I can keep the rest of the mix in the fridge and have more tonight. I think saying the mix makes 6 pancakes was rather over optimistic as the amount that they said per pancake was less than the size of a saucer no matter how much I tried to spread it about in the pan!

It felt so good to get to the Kings Arms for a knit and natter last night. I hadn't realized just how much I had missed going. Once the weather gets better and the nights get lighter I must try to make more of an effort to get there.

The amaryllis flowers are starting to close up and die now but there is a third shoot starting up from the bottom so it is indeed the Christmas gift that keeps on giving. I will look forward to yet more flowers on my kitchen window sill.

I woke up to snow this morning but thankfully it was just a light dusting and has now melted. I am starting to sleep better. I still wake up in the night but manage to go straight back to sleep instead of tossing and turning for ages as I did before. The downside is that I am sleeping much later than I ususally do but at least I feel better. I think it is a combination of things that is making me feel better but whatever it is I am glad not to be feeling the way that I did.

I rang the hospital yesterday just to confirm that I am once again back on the waiting list for the op but the lady who dealt with me on Friday is off for a week's holiday. No-one else seemed to know anything about it. I will write myself a note to ring next Monday to double check. This is how I slipped through the net last time. Although I informed them and my GP faxed details to them they forgot to put me back on the list so I am understandably nervous this time.

My knitting is still progressing slowly. I have now got about half way up the first sleeve. I am still thinking what to make with the She mohair for the Knitting Noras challenge.I did start something last night but am not altogether happy with it but cannot undo it as it seems to have welded itself together as it is fine mohair.I might just have to run with the first idea that I had otherwise I will have to waste the wool that I have already worked with.

I looked at my calendar today and realized that yesterday was the anniversary of the start of this blog. Happy belated third birthday to my blog.

The Sun Is Shining

For the last two days I have woken up to sunshine. No I haven't been using my SAD light this is the natural God given sunshine. it's amazing how the sun lifts my mood. The minute that I walk into the bathroom first thing in the morning and see the sunshine streaming through the window my mood is so good. It doesn't matter what the day has to throw at me I don't care - not if the sun is shining. I am looking forward to the day when I can throw open the patio doors once again and sit outside with my breakfast.

The amaryllis continues to bloom. I took these photos in the electric light last night as the bulb seems to come to life after dark. The colours were so beautiful when I came into the kitchen this morning. Sunshine and an amaryllis flowering. The day can't get any better.

I have still not got my body in tune with my mind yet. I am now noticing that the housework needs doing which is a big improvement but my body is a little slow at responding with the cleaning. Slowly but surely I will get there. One day soon I will be in sync again. I have stripped the bed this morning and will change the bed and clean the bedroom and bathroom so that is a start on my cleaning regime.I don't want Kim and Aggie coming in and holding up their hands in horror. They would do at the state of my kitchen floor. I haven't yet got the enthusiasm for a couple of months worth of ironing as yet! Yes I know that proves that I have too many clothes if I don't miss what is in the ironing basket!

I am progressing with my knitting slowly but surely. It seems years since I made a raglan sleeve for myself and I had to stop and think out how to work out the lacy pattern as I shaped. At least it proves that my brain is still functioning in some respects. Now I am re-knitting a pattern that I last knitted in the late 70's or early 80's it takes me back in time to the last time that I knitted it. I can remember that I knitted it in pale blue. It's funny how our taste in colours changes. My mother used to despair when I was a teenager as everything I wore was dark. I had a passion for dark olive greens and purples (purple still lingers on) She would point out dresses in pretty summery colours and I would find the one drab dress on the rack.I think I was into grunge long before it became fashion.

Thankfully my taste changed and I went into the brighter colours eventually. My favourite colours are the dark jewel colours but if pushed I am torn between red and purple as my favourite colour. One colour that I never wore was pink but since my colouring has changed with age I find that I quite like myself in pink shades.

Time to push on with the chores or I will be bedding less tonight when I go to bed. First of all though it is Loose Women on TV and a cup of coffee.

SAD Light

I have bought a SAD light in an effort to combat these dull dreary mornings when the sun doesn't shine. My niece went to Argos to pick one up for me. I have used it this morning. It is quite a small lamp but it does give off a bright light. Only time will tell if it works or whether I am the SAD person for buying it. As I paid for half of it with a gift voucher that I received for Christmas I won't feel too bad if it doesn't work. Roll on summer. I always feel better when the sun shines and I can sit outdoors.

I have taken the last of my antibiotics and am off to the GP to give another sample for testing. I hope that this one is OK and I am back on the waiting list again. I just hope that this feeling of well being doesn't disappear now that the medication has finished. I still think that I had an infection after my last operation despite the hospital saying I didn't. I hope that the excessive swelling in my knees doesn't come back again. It has been nice to be able to have more mobility and be able to bend my knees more.

I have started knitting with the vintage Kaftan yarn. Kaftan was a yarn that I used to sell and dates back from the late 70's or 80's. It was donated by a man whose late wife was a knitter but like me had a stash at times bigger than her needles.I had equally vintage patterns in my stash and decided on a cardigan pattern instead of a sweater as if I am running out of wool then I can always have short sleeves. It has been ages since I knitted anything lacy and so I have to keep count of my rows as these days I can't seem to follow patterns by eye as I used to in the past. Too many years of crocheting I suppose. I am having a little break from the hats and scarves although no doubt I will get bored with the knitting and sneak in a couple more crochet hats before I hand them in at the end of the month.

The amaryllis now has 3 flowers and a bud. The second lot of flowers seem a bit darker coloured than the first set. It is a lovely cheerful sight on my kitchen window bottom to greet me each morning when I am making my breakfast or washing the dishes.

My neighbour brought and installed my new PC monitor. I have been borrowing his since my monitor decided to keep switching itself off in the middle of doing things. He has got me a reconditioned Dell so fingers crossed that it stays working as long as the PC does. My printer is now having one of it's moments and refusing to print or let me change the ink cartridge. I will just have to manage without a printer for now as I can't afford any more expenses for a couple of months.

What To Make With A Bag Of Purple Oddments

The funny shaped socks are finished. They fit beautifully so who cares how weird they look. Best pair of crochet socks that I have made so far. I am not sure if it is the pattern stitch or the wool that makes these socks so comfy as usually I find crochet socks a bit uncomfy underfoot to wear them inside my shoes. I normally wear my crochet socks as house socks and my knitted ones in shoes and boots. I will definitely make another pair like this although they are a bit boring to crochet so I will wait a while before I do that. My niece likes a pair of slipper socks from the other book so as soon as I can get out to get some suitable wool then I will make them for her.

I think that I like purple. In fact I think that I really like purple otherwise why would I have so many part balls from projects that I have made in the past.After sorting out my oddments into colours and seeing what a huge bag of purples that I have I decided to make yet another All Shawl by Doris Chan.I really must find another pattern that uses up oddments but this pattern just seems to lend itself to crocheting a couple of rows of one colour without looking too striped. I think that it's because I crochet in between the stitches of the previous row rather than into them. The second photo is the next run of colours but on reflection I think that I will take the lighter colour out. It looks a bit too light now that I see it in the daylight.

My cat Oscar (sorry my next door neighbour's cat Oscar) is now sleeping on the sofa. I woke him up with the camera flash but he has now gone back to sleep.Fortunately for me he completely ignores my wool when I am knitting or crocheting. He is a strange cat. Never wants to play. I have tried with bits of wool and balls and he just looks at me as if I am completely mad (he is not far wrong there then)All he does when he visits is sleep and eat.

The amaryllis has bloomed further overnight and is now almost in full flower. It is probably because the house is quite warm. I will worry about the heating bill when it arrives but I am sorry I just cannot stand the cold. My knees hurt on a good day but on a cold day they are unbearable. I had a very bad night again last night. I don't know why but as soon as I get into bed the pain in my knees worsens considerably. I just seem to get in the right comfy position to sleep when I should be getting up. I have tried everything. I have put pillows under my knees, rolled up towels under them. I have rubbed them with Ibuprofen and Peppermint udder cream but none of them have worked. When the snow goes I must discuss with my GP about stronger pain killers if only to take before bedtime. I have an appointment with the specialist next week but he wont prescribe any painkillers. All he does is eventually write to my GP with his recommendations.

The snow is slightly melting and I might try to venture out today. I need to collect a prescription and although I have placed an order with Tesco there are of course several things that I have forgotten.

And Then There Were Two

Not being able to get out because of the snow has it's compensations. I am making small steps into reducing my stash. I now have 2 pairs of red bed socks and am looking through my stash to see what other small projects I can make next out of my bits and pieces. The full packs are OK I can find uses for those at a later date but it's the odd balls that drive me mad. I could start some socks from my sock wool stash but I am still working my up to 4ply and fine needles. Not quite in the mood for it yet.

I will probably make some more bed socks, slippers or mitts. Things that I can pass on if there are too many for me. I haven't made a new winter hat this year so that is something else that I might try. I will see what my stash says to me when I take another dive into it. I am glad now that I took the time earlier in the year to stash my odd balls into colours so I can see at a glance how much I have in one colour theme. I have a huge bag of purples, lilacs and dark pinks that is probably going to end up as another All Shawl one day.

The sun is shining at it looks quite pretty outside but the street is ominously quiet and no-one is stirring outdoors - not even the children. I think that the novelty of snowmen and snowball fights has worn off and they are preferring Cartoon Network, DVDs and electronic games to playing out in the snow. One of the senior schools must have gone back as I saw one brave soul yesterday valiantly trudging his way through the snow wearing his school uniform at school end time so I presume that he had been there all day. The cars that moved off my street yesterday have not returned so I only hope that they are parked somewhere up the hill and not stuck at the bottom with the Tesco home delivery van that got stuck there a few days ago.

I still have food supplies in and the only thing that I will soon be running out of is milk. My niece said that she would try to call down on Saturday and bring me some. There has been no long life milk anywhere local for the last couple of days. Today I think that I might make some corned beef hash as I still have some potatoes, onions and carrots. That will be nice and warming and will last for two or three days. On days like this all thoughts of dieting go out of the window. All I can think about is nice warming stews and soups.

The amaryllis that I got as a Christmas present is thriving. I have forgotten what colour it is supposed to be as I recycled the box so am looking forward to the day that it flowers.

Time for a cup of coffee and a think about what to start next. The only thing that I have on the needles is a 4ply white baby cardigan that I started ages ago and didn't like so it doesn't inspire me to finish it off. The pattern is boring to knit and doesn't even look good in the pieces so I am not drawn to finishing it off. I can see an unravelling stint one day but probably not today.