Crochet Today

Yesterday the postman brought me the latest copy of Crochet Today. Although there is not much in this issue that I will crochet I have posted the photos for you to see before you decide to buy this issue. Everyone's tastes are different and this might be the issue for you.

The photo of the red wellingtons is actually showing a pair of socks and there is a close up photo in the magazine.The feet and legs are black whilst the tops are multi coloured.

Not sure why anyone would want a crochet tea set but I suppose the crochet croquet balls would stop any windows getting broken, The strange red thing is a mushroom pouffe.

Nothing for me on this page although the granny square sofa throw has used pretty colours.

The sheep and numbers pram blanket is quite sweet which is why I have put an single close up photo of it below. The scrubby animals would make bathtime fun for a young child.

I have finished off one front and started the back of this jacket. I have now made this jacket about 6 times and it is always a favourite and not as complicated to crochet as it looks.

This is the sweater book that I got the jacket pattern from. Although it is quite an old book I have seen it available on some book sites although I think that the cover photo is different now. I have made several 'cabled' designs from this book.

I am still plodding away on the collar of this jacket. I have knitted about 3" on the collar but it has to be 5 1/2" so I have a bit of knitting still to go. The front bands extend along the edge of the collar so they will take a while to knit. Everyday I think that I will finish it off today but everyday something distracts me. I am determined to finish it off by the weekend.

This storage box caused quite a bit of hilarity yesterday. I had never been into a newish shop on the village that sells household things. I noticed that they sold storage boxes and so went in. I did cause a bit of havoc in there as their aisles were a bit crowded and I was taking waste paper bins and trays along the aisle with me and the scooter. I got rescued by a very nice man who guided me forward and moved a few things. I saw this over sized box and thought that it would be ideal for storing the machine cones in tidily. I obviously hadn't thought this through as when I bought it I then had the problem of getting it home. Once again the same young man came to my rescue and tied it to the front basket of my scooter trolley. I did cause a few stares on the way home and kept bursting out laughing at peoples faces as I struggled to see over the box on the way home. I wish there had been a video of me, and people's faces, as this box on wheels made it's way towards them with a head poking over the top of the box. I will go up again to get some smaller boxes but next time I will take my son's bungee straps that he used to use to fasten his tent and sleeping bag on his motorbike. I might not have such an unsteady load next time.

The cat has come in for his daily sleep. I didn't see him yesterday as the sun was shining and it was quite a warm day. He usually only visits me when it is dull or rainy so perhaps he knows more about today's weather than I do. At the moment it is lovely and sunny.

Today I plan to do a bit more tidying as the postman knocked whilst I was writing today's blog and has delivered me some small storage trugs. I am going to be so stash tidy in a bit that I won't know myself. As you know I am not the most organised of people and normally find the chaos of my crafting things quite acceptable but I must be turning over a new leaf as I now want everything to be in separate tubs or boxes. I doubt if I will ever be Kim or Aggie but there is some hope for me. I belong to the Quentin Crisp school of housework. He once remarked that no matter how long you left the dust it never got any higher than an inch. I have partially tested his theory and he is quite right! I want a housekeeping fairy that does my housework overnight. Has anybody got one? Are they expensive?

I must away now to wash up the dishes. I do wish that I had a dishwasher as the sink is at the wrong height for my back and even with my perching stool my back starts to ache the moment I put my hands in the sink. Still it must be done. I will treat myself to a coffee after that and then go back to the never ending collar and bands whilst I watch Loose Women.

Crochet Today Nov - Dec Issue

Photos from the latest crochet Today magazine that arrived yesterday. Sadly another issue where there isn't much that I will use. If I was an afghan crocheter then there are a couple of stitches that I like.

I do wish that I had somewhere local who stocked crochet magazines and then I could browse before I buy but as it is I have to subscribe to get them which means I get a lot of magazines that I would not otherwise have bought. I can sometimes pick up copies of crochet magazines in W.H.Smith but I have to travel into Manchester as the one in Bury does not stock them all. Interweave crochet is one that I have to subscribe to as most places only stock the Interweave Knitting.

The fingerless mittens and the green baby jacket are, to me, the best of the patterns this issue. The Kings Arms Knitters Club are doing a Happy Knitmas with tree and other decorations for the Knit Club so the Christmas Trees Garland might come in useful for that project.

The baby crochet book that arrived at the same time has some things in it that I will use and I will post photos tomorrow.

Sylvia got me a set of scales for weighing wool. I admired her set and said how useful they are when making things when the wool appears to be running out. I can weigh the one sleeve, bootee or sock that I have made and then weigh the remaining wool to check there is enough before I carry on with the second one.

I am having a PJ day today. I had a rather sleepless night and that has left me a bit droopy so I have just been nodding off on my recliner in between doing a bit of crochet and watching a bit of daytime TV. I have knitted 100 grams into Louise's scarf and asked my niece to get me some extra wool as Louise wants a long wrap around the neck scarf. I have worked a bit more on the sleeve of my crochet jacket but I am having to amend the pattern as the sleeves on the pattern are straight without shaping and my arms are quite chunky at the top so I am increasing and so will then have to do a bit of altering for the sleeve head shaping. I had made the armhole a bit deeper than the pattern as when I tried it on that was also a bit too snug so the larger sleeve head will still fit it. I am getting quite used to doing this sort of thing. Lots of patterns for plus sizes seem to forget that if a lady is plus sized then she is likely to have wider arms at the top.

Hopefully I will stay awake this evening to do some more knitting and crocheting. My niece has gone to the Yarn Barn in Shaw today to get some aran for my other niece's friend's Navy jacket and has hopefully picked me up another couple of balls of the grey for Louise's scarf. I have quite a lot of things to make before Christmas so I had better find my energy and my mojo before then.

Start Of A Brand New Week

Today is the start of a brand new week. The sun is trying to shine and it's time for me to stop languishing and start pulling myself up by my boot straps. I have been rather guilty over the last two days of just allowing myself to sleep and doing my exercises as and when I felt like it (which wasn't very often)

I got woken up sharply in the night in extreme pain as I must have moved my knee in a direction that it didn't want to go but it made me realize that I have to get more mobility back into the joint and that isn't going to happen on it's own. Thanks Ailsa and everyone for the prods that I need to get me on the right track. There is no point in my having this operation if I am not going to reap the benefits afterwards.

A special edition of Crochet Today arrived whilst I was in hospital. I have just briefly photographed the multi pages as a lot of the items have been in other editions of the magazine. I have just chosen to highlight the three that I like. The small shawl is a definite as an easy present for someone and I rather like the fingerless mitts for myself. Although I do love the granny afghan I seem to lack the staying power to complete anything that big.

Crochet wise I haven't been doing much as I have spent most of the weekend asleep. I had a spinal anesthetic but it still took ages to come out of my system so I just let my body do what it wanted and that was mostly sleep! I have done a few rows of crochet here and there but nothing worth mentioning. I started the blue random shawl whilst I was in hospital but I don't know when it will be finished. I have to start a white fluffy Blue Curacao shawl for a friend that I made in hospital. Luckily I already have some brushed white in my stash so I don't have to order any in.

I decided to blog early today before I got an attack of the sleepies. Hopefully I will be back to normal speed soon.

Sorry if the photo of my knee upsets anyone. I just wanted to show how swollen my knee is and why I am having a bit of difficulty in doing my exercises. The surgeon said a lot of the tissue has built up slowly over the years to protect the knee from further damage so I have a lot of hard work in front of me to try to disperse it back into my body. Plus I now have additional swelling from the operation. I will be so glad to get a reasonably sized knee sometime in the future. It is very embarrassing having one knee twice as big as the other.

Time for some breakfast. I am trying to watch what I eat from now on as I am so pleased to have come out of hospital weighing a stone (14lbs) less so I would like to use that as an incentive to carry on losing some more weight. Luckily my appetite hasn't returned much as yet but once it does and I return to cooking properly for myself I am going to make every effort to eat more healthily as the more weight I can lose the more successful my knee operation will be.

Crochet Today Sept/Oct Issue

I didn't get any wool deliveries today but I did get my copy of Crochet Today Magazine Sept/October issue. As per usual with Crochet Today I find that there are to many nick knack patterns and not much that I will actually crochet. This issue I like the Tailored Blazer by Mati Lynn Patrick on the cover but I would make it with long sleeves as I wouldn't wear anything that thick with a short sleeve.

The grey Everyday Cardi by Robyn Chachula is one that I definitely will make. It has very neat raglan type shaping and could come in useful over a fine sweater in the winter.

Although I like the red Perfect Pullover by Drew Emborsky I feel that a whole sweater made from around the post crochet is more suited to someone slimmer and not someone my size. This stitch does make a rather bulky sweater.

As I am past the age where I bother with Halloween the hats are of no interest to me. I don't think that the UK goes as mad over Halloween as the US does. Personally I am an old misery at Halloween. I don't open my door after dark to anyone unless I am expecting them and I don't want to encourage all that sugar consumption with all the candy bars.

The cushions throws, pot holders and afghans are things that occur in most editions of Crochet Today. I am sure that some people will find them interesting but they don't inspire me. Once again a crochet book with only 2 things that I would make. The upsetting thing is that I have heard that the new edition of Interweave Crochet has 7 knitted items in it. OK I have heard that they have crochet edgings but that is not what I buy a crochet book for so I will feel cheated when that book arrives. I always look forward to Interweave crochet coming as there are always things in it that I like. Now my chances are reduced by 7. On Ravelry lots of people have complained so I do hope that the magazine takes heed and doesn't add knitting on a regular basis. There are dozens of knitting magazines and so few crochet ones that I do feel annoyed that they have to diminish the crochet patterns in favour of knitting trimmed with crochet. As usual crochet has been relegated to second class craft just when I thought that times were getting better for us crocheters.

I am crocheting away on the No Sweat pullover but this time I am sure that I will need to buy at least one more ball of wool. I am doing my usual trick of crocheting the sleeves before the body is completed and I will have used 4 balls when the second sleeve is finished. There is no way that 2 balls will finish the rest of the body so I had better go online and buy another ball or two. As it is Bank Holiday and the post won't arrive until Tuesday I will crochet all of the wool up before I order any more.

I am thinking of getting my simple DK and chunky machine down from the loft. Yesterday my Foster Carer friend got a phone call that the little one that she had for 14 months has come back into the foster care system and he arrived back to her last night without many clothes. It is all hands to the needles for him but it would help if I could run up a couple of plain cardigans or sweaters quickly so that he can have some woollies to wear.

Wakey Wakey

Last night I went to bed as usual, and as usual tossed and turned trying to get to sleep. Last night was worse than usual so at 4am I gave up and came downstairs for a drink and to watch some TV to see if that sent me to sleep. By 7.30am I had made some breakfast and when I went upstairs to shower and get ready for the day I suddenly felt really tired. I decided to lay on the bed for a short rest and woke up at 1.30pm. My body clock is so out of sync. Why can I not fall asleep during the night and yet sleep for almost 6 hours when I should be awake? Now I am wide awake and probably will be tonight when I try to lie down for a sleep. I have tried everything. Milky drinks, duvet on, duvet off, electric fan on or off, nightdress on or off and nothing has worked. I just toss about all night and can't seem to fall into that deep sleep that we all need.

Ironically enough a letter came today about the sleep study I did a month or so ago. The results were inconclusive as I was tossing and turning about and not falling into a deep sleep so they are going to repeat the study after my knee operation. The good news is that the CPAP machine is keeping my blood oxygenated.

I am still dithering crochet wise. I started the Blue Heaven Sweater from the Crochet Closet book by Lisa Gentry. I am jiggling about with wool as usual as I would like to make it a little longer but as the wool is from my stash a long time ago I cannot match it. I have therefore made one of the sleeves first to see how much length I can put into the body with the wool that I have left over. Being on the rounded side (fat) I do prefer things a little longer to cover the big butt.

I also started Springy Jacket by K Hay from the May/June issue of Crochet today but it seems to be coming out on the small side which is unusual for me as normally I have to downsize my hook to get the tension right. I am sure that it will fit one foster baby even if it turns out a bit small for the baby it is intended for. I only have 100 grams of the James C Brett baby wool so I can't afford to unrip it and start a larger size.

Talking about Crochet Today the latest version arrived in the post today. As usual with any crochet magazine there are just a couple of things in it that catch my eye. I like the cover wrap and the blue sleeveless cardi if I could add a few more rows on the arms to cover the old bingo wings. I like my shoulders to be a little more covered in a deeper cap sleeve. Whilst the bag is cute I am not really into crochet bags as they droop unless they are well lined and as I am no seamstress and my machine is broken that means that the bag is out. The rest of the book may appeal to someone but sadly not to me. I quite like the rug but it is crocheted in a sort of pom pom yarn which I find impossible to hook with.

Today I ordered the latest edition of Inside Crochet so let's hope that there is more in there to appeal to me. When I am back from hospital I must catalogue the things that I like and which book or magazine they are in as when I am in one of my indecisive moods I can look on the list and see what I like and not have to start ploughing through all the books and mags to get inspired.

The day is three quarters over and I have not done anything except write this blog and have breakfast. What a wasted day. Still I may be up half the night instead of sleeping so will catch up on the crochet then.

Thanks once again to everyone for your good wishes. It makes me feel very loved.

I Am So Indecisive

Usually when I finish off one project I know exactly what I am going to start next. Last night and today I have been dithering about. Shall I do this pattern in that or the other pattern in this other yarn. I am having an indecisive day. I am sure that I will resolve that later today. I could , of course, finish off the knitting for the boys that I started ages ago but I still somehow cannot drum up any enthusiasm for finishing these jackets no matter how guilty I feel.

I finished off a little jacket yesterday. It's another of Rindy's basic patterns once again adapted by me by altering the skirt stitch pattern. I have used a simple stitch that I call a V stitch. I am sure that you will recognise it in the close up. I might even start another baby jacket if I can't decide on anything else.

Thanks to everyone for their good wishes and the love that you have all sent to me. It is much appreciated. It's nice to know that so many people are so supportive of me. I haven't as yet packed my hospital bag so it doesn't seem real to me yet but I am getting a bit nervous now. I think that all this frenzy of crocheting lately has been my nerves getting the better of me as I waited to find out if it was on or off. Maybe that is why I am indecisive today as my nerves are calming down a bit now that I have my letter. I will, of course, be packing some crochet to work on whilst I am in. I can't settle to reading but I can blank my mind with some mundane crochet that doesn't require much concentration.

In my blog title today I have included a link to Artyarn blog. I am hoping to be well enough after my op to go on the scumbling tutorial that she is hoping to organise. If you scroll down a day from this article then you will see lots of photos of sheep, bunnies and alpacas that Rachael took at Woolfest.She bought a smaller version of the peg loom in one of the photos as like me she likes to perfect new crafts and this peg loom is like simple weaving. I do like to go to places like Woolfest just to have a look around as I am interested in watching different crafts and seeing new things. I wasn't fit enough this year but I hope to re-visit it next year. Most people who went this year were remarkably restrained with their buying. I think that it is a sign of the economic times. People just don't have the cash to splash. It is so nice to feel the yarns and see them for yourself so that if you order online later at least you know what to expect. Ordering online is great for those of us who like me can't get out as much but nothing beats a good squish and fondle of something that you want to buy - not to mention that PC changes the colours somewhat and so when stuff arrives it isn't always quite what you expected.

It is rainy and a bit colder today. Still muggy though and still warm enough to wear a T shirt although I have ditched the shorts for a skirt today.

I think I really should try to make a decision on what to start next otherwise I will be cross with myself tonight when I am watching TV with nothing to crochet. I have just subscribed to Crochet today as the subscription that my sister in law gave me as a Christmas present has now run out. What to do when you can't decide what to crochet next from my vast selection of patterns - order more of course. i told you I was a bit crazy! First I should tackle dish washing. Did I mention that I hate dish washing? Almost as much as I hate ironing !!

Crochet Today Special Issue

As I mentioned earlier my sister in law got me a part subscription to Crochet Today for my Christmas present. I was expecting another couple of copies but not this special one.

Although I do admire afghans and people who have the patience to make them I haven't made anything bigger than a cot blanket in the past. I do like the cover afghan Boho Bedspread by Katherine Eng which I think could be an ongoing stash buster type of afghan. I could maybe tackle something like this and put a few rows in here and there rather than make it in one go.

The Granny Update hexagonal blanket by Bobbi Anderson is another favourite as I do like the colours.

I likes the green and white Stripes and Dots Blanket by Marianne Forrestal would make a very pretty pram or cot blanket.

The Blooming Blankie by Donna Childs is another pretty ripple pattern type blanket but I doubt if I would put the flowers around the edges.

The Pocket Blanket by Michele Wilcox is cute with it's little teddy pocket and I like the colours of the Stained Glass Afghan by Regina Rioux Gonzales.

The magazine has some useful tips on joining motifs together. I have always struggled with joining anything that isn't a square or hexagonal shape so hopefully I can read this for some enlightenment for joining circles or anything that needs an infill of crochet.

There are 25 afghan and baby blanket patterns in this special edition but they are not all new patterns as I have seen some of them before in previous copies of Crochet Today.

I have managed to crochet the back and almost two fronts of the baby pink cardigan. Buster seems to be a bit brighter today. Yesterday he slept most of the day in between bathings and he slept late (as did I) this morning. He is still walking with his head on one side but doesn't seem to be in as much pain today and managed to bark at the postman which shows that he is recovering.Yesterday he didn't even notice when I got mail through the letter box nor did he bark at the paper girl when she delivered my evening paper.

My next door neighbour's youngest came home from school with his arm in a sling and she was taking him to the hospital to see whether his arm was broken. He had fallen whilst playing football at school. I haven't seen her today to find out what happened at the hospital yesterday afternoon.