Going Up In The World

I have gone up in the world. Literally. My new chair has arrived and so I have been playing with the controls like a big kid. I can rise up to almost standing instead of having to use my arms to heave myself out of the chair. The middle photo shows it in a normal chair position and the last photo shows it in recline.

It has passed the crochet/knitting test. The arms are low enough for both of these activities and I can crochet in the semi reclining position which is feet up and back slightly leaning backwards.

I think that I am going to enjoy this chair.

I don't care so much about not having a colour choice as not only did I get it cheaper because of the colour I got the VAT deducted because I took my letter from the DLA saying that I was on high mobility. I can forget about not having a colour choice with both of these savings.

Last night I didn't start any new crochet as I was hoping that my new crochet book would be delivered today. I did manage to do a few rows of the boys knitting. I don't know whether it is the colour or the pattern but I just cannot get into knitting again. I just don't enjoy this. I am more of a crocheter but I don't usually struggle so much with knitting as I have with the boys jackets. If my book doesn't arrive later today I will have to start crocheting something small.

I put the old recliner on Freecycle but no one has shown any interest in it so far. It is a shame as it is still in very good condition. I guess people are not lovers of brown velour! Perhaps I have put people off by including in the description that it isn't suitable for a frail elderly person. It works by pressure and so needs someone with strong leg or arm action to recline it. It's best to be truthful as I would hate for someones Mother or Father to get stranded in the chair when they can't get it back to normal position once it is reclined.

Thanks to everyone for your lovely words about the Blue Heaven Sweater. I wasn't sure about it when I was crocheting but now it is finished I really like it and feel sure that I will use the pattern again. I like to crochet but I don't always want my crochet to be lacy and holey. For everyday wear I prefer a close stitch.

Time for another cup of coffee and to play with the chair. It's like being at the fairground. I keep singing I go up diddly up, up I go down, diddly down, down.
Not quite a magnificent man in a flying machine but I wonder what the neighbours will think if they see me rising up in front of the bay window. The elevating crocheting woman - Yeah .

Blue Heaven Sweater Finished

I have finished the Blue Heaven Sweater From the Crochet Closet book by Lisa Gentry. In the UK this would be called a cardigan or a jacket. A sweater in the UK is something that does not open at the front but simply pulls over the head and has a neckband.

It has been an extremely economical cardigan to make as I had the wool in stash. It has taken 400 grams of Sportimo DK that I bought from Lidl a couple of years ago. I think that I paid £4 for a pack of 500 grams. It is, of course, all acrylic but as I can't wear wool then acrylic is my yarn of choice anyway.

I was very unsure about the sleeves all the time that I was crocheting the cardigan but now it is finished I quite like the bell shape at the end of the sleeves.

I feel sure that I will make it again although next time I will make the sleeves longer and unshaped at the bottom for a bit of extra warmth. The stitch is easy to do. Just one row to repeat and it has made quite a close fabric which is great for any everyday garment. Loose lacy fabrics look very pretty but I tend to get hooked up on doorhandles etc as I pass by. The only alteration that I made to the pattern was to work the body longer than stated on the pattern as waist length cardigans are not very flattering to a plus sized lady. I like to think that a longer cardigan skims over my body and makes me look a wee bit slimmer.

I got an e mail last night telling me that my new Kristin Omdahl book I pre ordered from Amazon is on it's way. This was a nice surprise as it's predicted issue date is a few weeks away. I shall look forward to that arriving. I have seen lots of the patterns previewed on Ravelry but it's not the same as getting the book to drool over.

I got a phone call this morning telling me that they are delivering my new recliner armchair tomorrow morning so I am hoping that someone on Freegle answers me and wants to take the old recliner away very soon as I really don't have room in the lounge for two recliners as well as the two sofas in there.

Maybe I will force myself to get back to the boys knitting now that I have finished off the blue crochet. I don't really want to start anything large in case the crochet book comes tomorrow morning and I have some wool in stash that is suitable for something in the book. I will keep you posted and of course give you a preview of the book should it arrive tomorrow.