Knit and Crochet Ornaments for the Kings Arms Christmas Tree

Last night I went to the Kings Arms Knit Club as it was tree decoration time. The landlady had provided a wire Christmas tree. Rachael (Artyarn) and Marie wrapped the wire in wool and mohair so that the ornaments could be tied onto the tree. Marie provided the lights. The tree isn't finished yet but I thought that I would give you a preview of what it is going to look like. There are still some crochet icicles and snowflakes to be added along with another set of lights. My photos aren't very good ones so hopefully Rachael will take better ones of the finished tree next week.

Yesterday I had an appointment with the Osteo clinic. I didn't get to see Mr Kim, of course, just one of his underlings. She expressed concern about all of the swelling still in my leg and has advised me to go and see my GP for some anti inflammatory tablets or possibly to increase my diuretic tablets as she feels that I am retaining fluid in the tissues around the knee. I still have a knee that closely resembles a large tree trunk and am getting a bit self conscious about the noticeable difference in sizes between my two legs. I am not vain about the scar or anything like that but I do choose my wardrobe with care now whereas I could throw on any pair of pants nowadays I have to choose baggy legged pants so they don't cling to my 'fat' leg or wear a long skirt. If I felt that the swelling was slowly decreasing then I wouldn't mind but it seems to be increasing slowly. She has made me an appointment to see Mr Kim, my surgeon, in a few months time and he will discuss the results of my surgery and review operating on my left knee. The hospital see my knee operation as a success even though I can't bend it properly or kneel on it. Whilst I do see it a successful in that the pain has decreased considerably I would like to see a lot more mobility in it but as the hospital says it is still early days and these things take time. Once the weather improves and I can do more walking that might help to disperse the swelling.

I had quite a busy day yesterday so didn't get much knitting or crocheting done. I did get one of my parcels from E Kemp. It's some sale wool that was 89p a balls so I could not resist adding to my stash. I will have plenty to keep me occupied in the new year.

I am still waiting for a couple more parcels from Purplelinda but I think that they have been held up with the bad weather. I also had to order a couple more balls of the black Patons Diploma as I know that I didn't buy enough for my younger niece's jacket. I hope that they still have the same dye lot. If not I will make a complete sleeve with the new dye lot and hope that there isn't too much of a difference. Last time I had to order extra wool from Purplelinda I was lucky and got the same dye lot.

I am trying to knuckle down to regulated hours for knitting and crochet in an attempt to get everything finished in time for Christmas. I prefer to knit the black in the daylight so that is my day shift project. My evening shift project isn't much better as that is either going to be another brown fleck boy's jacket or another boy's hooded beige jacket. Still the more that I procrastinate the less gets done.

Time to wash the dishes from last night and breakfast. I had so little time to eat and get ready to go out last night after my hospital appointment that the dishes got left in the sink. Bad Jan. Still there was only me to see them when I got back in. I decided not to do them last night and so they greeted me first thing this morning.

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree

Well today I felt very Christmassy. I put the tree decorations on and all the fairy lights. Trimmed the windows and got out the Christmas nativity. It's very old and battered these days but to me it's a part of my Christmas. I have had the figures since I was a little girl so who cares if Baby Jesus is missing a hand and that the other figures are chipped. I love Christmas. The glittery the better. Buster started off being interested in what I was doing but retired to his chair with his monkey and ball after a while as you can see.

I call it Christmas. To me it's the spirit of families, the remembrance of what it is all about, The Nativity, Baby Jesus, Midnight Mass, Father Christmas and the giving of gifts. I make no apologies for loving Christmas. I don't want to call it winter holiday, winter solstice or whatever the PC brigade want us to call it. I don't get offended when the Jews celebrate Hanukkah, the Muslims celebrate Eid, the Indians with Diwali so why should I be made to feel that it's wrong to have a Happy Christmas, sing carols and worship in the way I want? I am not offended in the least by anyone who follows their own religion. It's a free country and it would be an awful thought if we were not free to worship (or not) in our own way. I am not overly religious, I don't press my thoughts onto anyone so why should I be made to feel uncomfortable and worried in case I offend people. I have many friends in the Jewish and Asian community who all wish me a Happy Christmas and some send me cards so who started all this PC business anyway?

With all the house trimming and dog walking there hasn't been any knit or crochet done today. I didn't even finish off the hat last night as my hands were feeling the strain and my wrist ached badly. I will try to get some speed up tonight after I have cooked Sunday dinner, Another tradition even though I live alone these days. Got to have my roasted potatoes, chicken and veggies with gravy. Yes sir, I am an old fashioned girl when it comes to Sundays. Bacon and eggs to start the day and a roast dinner to finish it. You can't beat it.

Fetching mittens finished.

My friend Caroline came today to revert me back to a blonde without dark roots and I gave her the pair of fingerless mitts I had knitted for her sister from a Knitty.com pattern called Fetching. I used a double knit and worked an extra set of cables on the hand before the top ribbing. They worked out tighter than the Knitty ones as I think worsted is more like a thick double knit or a fine aran. I forgot to photograph the pair before she took them home with her so the photo here is of the first pair I made without the K1 P1 ribbing. The pattern calls for a different cast off but when I tried it that way it frilled out and the gloves curled back into the palm. This time I made the thumbs with a 2 row rib finish after the 4 stocking stitch rows of the pattern.

I am now making another hat like the one I finished off on Thursday using remnants of the grey wool from the mitts and the green/grey fleck wool left over from the other hat. I though that using some of the grey would make it more of a match to the fingerless mitts. The trouble with using remnants is that there is never quite enough wool! Caroline's son Michael has requested a pair of black mittens. I thought at first he meant gloves as he was trying on the fingerless mitts but making descriptive movements which I took to mean longer fingers. As he is 13 I thought he might have made a mistake with his description so I showed him a pair of my mittens and he said "Yes just like those but in black and not thick ones" He said he wanted his fingers all together for warmth. My hands are already aching like mad today from all the knitting so I just hope I can get everything finished off in time. I have warned Michael that the mitts will probably be after Christmas as I think they had better be in 4ply if I can find a pattern.

My Christmas tree and baubles have been reached down from the loft but I didn't feel like assembling everything tonight. I will leave that joy for tomorrow. I had hoped that Michael and Caroline would help me to decorate but they arrived rather late as Michael had been playing basket ball in the park and they had to leave before 6pm for church service on the way home.

Knit and crochet until I drop day

Well that was what I planned and it is now almost lunch time and not a stitch knitted. I will pick up something after I have finished this and washed the dishes - honest I will. I have now finished the back of Caroline's aran due to some hard knitting last night. I am on the sleeves but they will have to be short ones as even though Caroline is such a wee thing my wool will run out long before I get the sleeves finished. I am knitting both at the same time to eliminate having to unrip one when the second one turns out shorter! Lucky for me she usually wears short sleeved cardigans. Whew!

Next on the hook will be my niece's long cardigan (thankfully crocheted) but that will be after I have finished off the scarf to match the Kilim cap (half done). After that I only have a couple of hats, wrist warmers and a small scarf to do ( Is that all! Wow easy peasy she jokes!) plus any spare time left over I have some Bunny slippers to make. I still have to shop for my son and his wife's present, (I don't think somehow he would like bunny slippers) something for my ex hubby and the great grand children. Surprisingly enough I am more organised this year than I usually am. I am normally the mad Christmas Eve shopper who buys the first thing I see that looks remotely suitable!

I should get the Christmas tree down from the loft but that will use up a day's crafting so maybe I will leave that until I have more crocheting under my belt. At least this year I know where it is since I had the loft re- lagged and boarded. In years past it has been a dark brush with danger balancing on the beams trying to remember which dark dirty corner I put the tree and trimmings in the year before. With my dodgy balance I always had visions of crashing through the boards and finishing up in one of the bedrooms. Now I have a light and safe footing so it should technically be a lot easier. I have been up into the loft a few times for buttons and patterns since I had the work done so it was well worth the money spent. Now if only I could only get my garage roof and doors done I could organise that as well ! My family won't know me soon. I will be too tidy. Hah - as if !!!