Washcloths - or in my case Dishcloths

Not a very exciting post today. All I have to show is 4 washcloths as they call them in the US or dishcloths as we call them in the UK. I suppose I could also use them in the bathroom but as they are this rather revolting colour them somehow I don't think so. I bought this Colorado cotton on a whim in Lidl a couple of years ago and never did much with it so I decided to put it to practical use and make dishcloths as my old ones are getting rather holey. In fairness to the cotton it is lovely and soft despite it's cheapness and had it been a different colour would have made something nicer with it.

The chunky jacket for my niece is still progressing. I have now finished two sleeves, part of the back and most of one front. The reason I am flitting about from piece to piece is that I am trying to gauge the wool as I have my doubts that the pattern states enough wool to make it as described. My niece doesn't mind losing a couple of inches off the length as the jacket is 34" long so I don't want to finish off any of the pieces in case I have to lose a bit of length. I would rather unravel at this armhole stage than after I have finished the pieces off at the shoulders.

The weather has been miserable over the last few days with Manchester living up to it's rainy reputation. The sun is, at the moment, trying to shine after a downpour this morning and I am contemplating walking up to Tesco as I need a Lottery ticket. I will of course be taking my trusty trolley and brolly. I feel like a bag lady pushing it along the pavements but pride takes a backseat when I go shopping as I cannot carry anything heavy and today I need some washing powder.

I don't understand why washing powder has to be in such large boxes as when you open them they are rarely more than two thirds full. I have tried the liquids and the sachets but somehow always come back to the powders. As I am a demon with the green soft soap and a scrubbing brush pre wash then it doesn't seem to matter how cheap/expensive my washing powder is. I never rely on powder alone to get rid of any spills and stains on my clothing. I don't buy those pre wash sprays either as I still find a bit of elbow grease, a scrubbing brush and fairy soap works better.

Blogging whilst I can

I have managed to stay online this morning but for how long I just don't know. I have been disconnected twice already. Orange says it's not their fault it's the phone line. BT says nothing to do with them. So who do I believe?

I will have to try to catch up with reading blogs today as I haven't read any for about 2 days now.

I have been knitting constantly since I last blogged. It takes so much longer than crochet but I must admit that it does look nice. I am having to use my stitch markers as I don't seem to have the eye for keeping a lace pattern correct without them especially when shaping at both ends of a row.

Last night I managed to get to the Knit Club at the Kings Arms as I was lucky enough to be offered a lift there and back. I really am going to miss not having a car for trips out like this. I can use public transport but these days I just don't feel safe out in the streets of Manchester after dark. It's a sad thing to have to say about my own home town. Up to a couple of years ago I would have ventured anywhere at anytime but the yob culture seems to have taken over the cities and as I am getting older and less nimble I fear being out alone after dark. It's a sad situation.

I took my crochet down to the Knit Club but didn't get any done as I didn't have the right wool for the project I was working on (more on that in a later blog) and the substitute I thought that I could use didn't work out so I just helped Rachael with starting her crochet shawl. It is the first one that she has made and so needed to see how the point and the increases started. She did really well and I feel that there will be a finished shawl soon.

I may venture out in the rain later as I need some bits and pieces from the shops. It is so hard to drum up any enthusiasm for a walk, even though I know I need the exercise, when the rain is pouring down. The weather forecast said some sun tomorrow so let's hope that they are right for a change.

I saw on a US blog that Friday 12th Sept is International Crochet Day. Apparently on this day we crocheters are supposed to crochet in public, teach someone to crochet or just swap ideas and patterns. I have no plans for sitting in the rain in my local shopping precinct with my crochet so I shall participate in the comfort of my lounge and swap my knitting for crochet on Friday.

Cristy you asked about the yarn I used in Rah Boom De Ay. I was unsure I would like the sweater so I just used some bargain acrylic Double Knit in Scarlet that I bought from Lidl. Cheap and cheerful - that's me. I would love to work in better quality wools but my crocheting speed exceeds my purse on matters such as these so I tend to stay with the budget yarns unless I can snag a real bargain in a Sale. Usually when I work with decent yarns these days it is when I am making something for someone and they supply the yarn.