I Am Sure That Dogs Laugh

I must have been a restless sleeper last night. I have woken up many times lately to find that I am pinned by the duvet as I have rolled myself up in it during the night like a swaddled baby. About five this morning I woke up with a bang. Literally. I must have rolled over and out of bed and the first thing I knew about it was waking up on the floor with a sore head, arm, hip and knee. Fortunately falling when asleep must be like falling when drunk, As I didn't put my hands out to save, me as I would if I had been awake, I probably saved myself a broken wrist or arm. For a couple of minutes I just lay there, stunned, wondering what the hell just happened. Then I realized that I hurt all over and realized that I had fallen out of bed. For the record I was stone cold sober. It took me ages to get back up again as I still cannot kneel on either knee. I had to have a plan of action. Eventually I shuffled to the edge of the bed and managed to haul myself up with the bedding. I didn't want to use the radiator to lever myself up as I was afraid of pulling it off the wall.

Buster, during all of this, was wondering what game we were playing and was wagging his tail and dancing around me. Whoever said dogs don't have expressions was wrong. It may have been only half light but I will swear that he was laughing! He definitely found it all very amusing.

I checked that I wasn't bleeding anywhere and got back into bed. This morning when I was taking my shower I saw purple bruising coming out on my hip, my bum, my knee that has been replaced and also my shoulder and arm. Thankfully I didn't put my arms out to save myself or I could have done something to my wrists and then how could I knit or crochet? I had a duck egg sized bump on my right eyebrow but at the moment apart from the spot in the middle where I must have nutted the bedside table corner I don't have any bruising there so far. I am stiffening up as the day is going along.

I have managed to finish off the first (for 20 yrs) baby cardigan knitted on the Knitmaster 360 machine. I had previously made parts of cardigans on my chunky machine but this machine is finer and a lot more complicated. I still have a lot of practising to do as this little cardigan has a few mistakes on it and has one sleeve slightly longer and wider than the other. The machine has a tension dial. It's a bit like changing needle sizes. As everything is counted by a row counter then I must have had the tension dial set slightly differently for one sleeve. Another thing to watch out for next time. I have had some advice on curing the frilly cast on edge from the Ravelry knitters forum which I will try out with my next project. The buttons are slightly the wrong shade but as it is only my practise cardigan I am not going to change them.

I bought a new ball winder. I have two already but one works with plastic cones. The drawback with that is I would have to buy a lot more cones plus the fact that it is not working 100%. I have another just like the one that I have bought but as all the moving parts are plastic and it is 20 yrs old the cog wheels slip when I am using it and the ball goes all lop sided. Winders are a must when I am using commercial balls of wool to get the tension correct.

The grey cropped top is finally finished but I have not yet stitched the buttons on so I will show you that tomorrow. I am pleased with the way that it has turned out but only after I undid the crochet ribbing and re-did it all. I know that I am a slack crocheter but instead of holding firm the bands were all coming out too large for the top. If I am not satisfied with something then I have to re-do it until it looks right. I rarely follow a pattern from start to finish if I don't think that it looks quite right.

I don't know what I will start tonight. All the things that I have to make are for other people and darkish colours so I will wait until Buster goes home tomorrow to continue with those. I don't machine knit at night so I will probably just start something small like a baby jacket or hat.Buster is full of energy despite a short walk for him and a scoot for me so no doubt it will be several games of catch tonight after dinner. He never tires of chasing a ball. At home he doesn't have balls as the Rottweiler rips them all up so they don't last a minute. It's a novelty now for him to play ball so he makes the most of it whilst he is here.

I Think I've Got It

I think I've got it. Not the Inside Crochet book but I have got the hang of the knitting machine. After a lot of cursing, a few bent needles,plus a new part I have managed to turn out my first piece of knitting. As the Multi coloured wool that I used was too thick and too splitty for the machine I am not going to continue with it as I doubt if a child would want a cardigan with the consistency of cardboard. I feel that at least I have now mastered plain and rib so will have another try tomorrow with some finer wool.

I found the lemon top which is from about 20 yrs ago when I used my machine all of the time. Now I look at this, I realize that the ribbing of the multi coloured new knitting isn't quite right so tomorrow it will be back to the manual for another read. I used the lace carriage and fine wool to make lots of cardigans and sweaters but the lemon top is the only thing that I have left. It won't fit me anymore but I am glad that it didn't get thrown away. It inspires me to aim for what I used to be able to make.

The Inside Crochet magazine arrived today. There are a few things in it that I like but I think that I would only actually make two or three of them. The cover Marlene beret by Megan Marshall will be very popular but I just don't suit berets so it's not for me.

The Grace gloves by Bee Clinch look quite easy. They are made using fine wool and a 3mm needle. They could find their way onto my 'to make' list.

The Hepburn Cable sweater by Claire Montgomerie is very pretty but I would have to make it 'normal sized' for me. I think that it looks rather like it has shrunk in the wash with it's short sleeves and body. Maybe it is the fashion and maybe I am too old to appreciate it. I like the pattern stitches though and I am sure that it would easily adapt into something long enough for me to wear.

The purple Monroe wrap coat by Shannon Mullett-Bowlsby is a nice jacket basically but I don't think that I would put the big collar on it for myself. I am not sure which wool has been used as I am not familiar with Malabrigo but it looks a bit furry to me.

The Crawford necklace by Shelby Allaho is very pretty in those colours. Again I am not sure that I would wear anything like this although I have got a book on bead crochet so perhaps I will get converted into wearing necklaces. I used to wear them a lot but since my fingers can't fasten small clasps I don't bother any more. This necklace has a button fastener so I might manage this one.

I first saw the Temple Vest by Shweta Shankar Khatri on Ravelry and thought that the stitch was lovely. The pattern is one that I would definitely think of making but I am not sure about the fastenings, especially the red toggles but as that is a minor thing to change then this vest is on my 'to do ' list when I find a little girl that it will fit.

The Keaton Vest by Robyn Chachula is another pretty stitch. I rarely wear a vest but I do like this one.

The Brando gloves by Maggie Vassie are a useful pattern to have for those oddments we all have in stash. Again it is a close stitch that won't let the wind blow through and would be great over a pair of fine gloves for those extra cold days.

There are also patterns in the magazine for a hot water bottle cover, a crochet rabbit, hair flower corsage, a hairpin crochet dress and an evening bag. I like the articles in this issue. There are links to vintage pattern sites, an interview with Tara Murray on Amigurumi,one on vintage Vogue patterns, an interview with an 82yr old crocheter and an article on Sknitch which is a show that incorporates knitting, sewing and crochet. Apparently they held a show last year and there will be another one in December in Birmingham which I would like to go to see,legs and back permitting. The web site is www.clothesshowlive.com if you want any more information.

The grey crochet crop top is progressing and I have made one rib for the sleeve. I hope to get that finished tonight.

Everything will stop tomorrow night as my best buddy Buster is coming for the weekend. I spoil him and play ball with him so not much of anything else gets done. He sheds so much that I don't like to work on anything for other people as they don't appreciate their woollies being covered in gold coloured dog hair!

Machine Cones From Texere

My New Year's Resolution not to buy any wool unless absolutely necessary didn't last long. As you know I have been getting my knitting machine ready for use and studying the manuals. I haven't, as yet, started to practise anything but I ordered the baby machine cones in readiness. I am going to practise with small things to start with as there are so many babies expected in my friendship circle. Machine cones are ideal as they don't need waxing and I don't have to keep an eye on the wool running out in the middle of a row plus the bonus of no wool to wind. I have two wool winders but they are both elderly and are winding a bit lopsided. If I take to machine knitting I will have to invest in a new one. I thought that I would save the expense for now until I am sure that I will make more use of my machine.

I do prefer to hand knit and crochet but it's nice to be able to add another skill to my craftiness. I think that there is a place for machine knitting in my life just as there is for my hand knitting and crochet.

I am in the process of stitching up the thick cardigan I am making for my niece. The body is stitched together I just have the sleeves to fit in. I haven't done any more on my younger niece's charcoal jacket. Yesterday I didn't do much of anything as the workmen came to do the cavity wall insulation and whilst they were quite tidy there is still a lot of dust to get rid of and the carpets to hoover again.As they were in and out of the house I could not concentrate on any knitting. I hope that all the mess is worth it and I notice a difference in the house warmth and the utility bills. It's just a pity that it didn't get done before the cold weather set in. After they had left I had to do some shopping so it was about 8pm before I settled down for the evening.

Today I had to take my CPAP machine for another check up. After my sleep test results were analyzed from a couple of months ago they decided that I needed the pressure on the machine altering. I was quite happily surprised today as even with two taxi journeys I managed to get to the hospital, get seen, and come back in a little over an hour. It must be a record for the least time waiting for a hospital appointment ever. I should go up and collect my prescription from the pharmacy today but it is very windy. I don't like going out on my scooter when it is blowing like this although with my weight I don't think that I would get blown over!

I really need to finish off the hoovering. The grit from the wall drilling has got everywhere even though they were careful and put sheets down. I think dust of this kind stays in the air and settles for a few days after the event. Most of the drilling was done outside but I had 3 walls inside the house that are exterior walls upstairs even though they are now inside walls downstairs because of added kitchen and dining room extensions. As they were cavity filling the top of the wall they had to fill the bottom of the wall as well for everything to work. I will have to look in the garage to see if I have any matching paint to cover the refilled holes in the wall.

Military Style

Baby B will be a miniature Guardsman wearing this jacket. When my son was small I bought him an expensive jersey jacket in navy with a red trim and gold buttons to wear at my Brother's wedding. It was worth the money though as he wore it for over a year until it went too small and then a neighbour's boy wore it for another 12 months. I doubt if you can get quality like that these days. I also passed on the lined navy shorts and when I saw the neighbour's child it was like seeing a double of Ian only smaller!

This jacket was made using Patons Fab DK. Once again it is a mixture of crafts. Machine knitting for the main part, hand knit for the garter stitch borders and crochet for the front edging. My buttonholes didn't turn out as neat as I would have liked but as I am only practising my machine knitting at the moment then hopefully I will get better the more I practice. As I had to use about 20 grams of the second 100 gram ball I am hoping to get a small cardigan for Little Legs out of the remaining ball. It won't be double breasted like this one is as I don't think that I have enough wool to do that. I hate wasting part balls of wool though and try to use every scrap of wool when I buy new yarn. Little Legs will probably get a plain red V neck cardigan

Today is a bit windy but warm enough to have the patio doors open. Not much sun though but at least it isn't raining yet although the weatherman have promised us rain for next week. Now there is a change. Rain in Manchester !!


I managed to crochet a bit more on my lilac sweater last night and am almost down to the hips where I divide the sweater into two to make side slits. I am hoping to finish it off tonight. I said that yesterday but I got sidetracked with finishing off the red jacket.

Poppy has been in and out of the garden all day so I now have 3 parcels on my lawn. I bet her owner thinks that she is constipated as she does her poops on my lawn and not her own. I had to tell her off early this morning as she caught sight of next door's cat through the fencing and would not stop barking. I know that my next door neighbour on the other side likes a lie in on a Sunday so I can imagine that Poppy was annoying her. She is a lovely dog but such a yapper. She has gone in to her own garden now and all I can hear is her barking. I stopped Buster from barking unless someone came to the door but as Poppy isn't my dog it's not my place to interfere.

The baby of my neighbours from across the road has almost found his feet. They have a large grey Husky dog and he was grabbing hold of chunks of it's fur to lever himself up to his feet. Fortunately the dog didn't seem to mind him doing that. When I looked across again the baby was almost out of the front door which is a bit dangerous as they have steep steps. His Dad stopped his fun and took him back inside. I have a feeling that they are going to have to have eyes in the back of their heads with that one. The look on his face is pure mischief. He isn't one until a couple of weeks but I think he will be walking before his first birthday.

ETA - Why have I got my Grandma's old creaky Knees today? Sigh. Inside I am buzzing. Outside I am knackered. I wish I could get both sides to meet in the middle!