I'm Still around

Sorry folks. Just not been in the mood for blogging of late. Just feeling generally out of sorts. You know the feeling. Nothing specifically wrong with me. I just call it my winter blues. It happens around this time of year. Usually it's not this bad but this year for some reason I have had a real case of lack of motivation.

I am still crocheting but just not taking many photos. A lot of the small stuff that I made got sold at the last craft fair so I am trying to motivate myself to make more.

I bought a 'new to me' chunky Brother 230 knitting machine with a ribber but apart from a few practise pieces I haven't actually made anything as yet. I am still in the learning curve.

Here are some of the things for Christmas presents and the next craft fair.

Headbands from patterns that I bought on Etsy. It's a great place to find patterns and as they get sent to your e mail they are usually much cheaper than any other place.

This is a cowl/hood. I made it from a US pattern and my wool wasn't as thick so it has come out a bit smaller (tighter) than it should have. Now I know what to do I will just add more stitches next time. I made the fingerless mitts from a rectangle of crochet in the same stitch. Sewed them up leaving holes for the thumbs and adding a small flower for decoration.

Some more jazzy fingerless mitts made in the same method but this time I crocheted around the thumb hole to make small thumb cozies. No pattern for these just a bit of improvisation.

I have had lots of patterns from Etsy and eBay and also my usual magazines including the Interweave Crochet accessories 2011 which has some good ideas for winter warmers.

Some photos from the last craft fair that I did at the Longfield Suite in November. The next one is on Dec 18th so although I still have heaps of things left from the last fair I need to make more of the small things that did sell such as headbands and fingerless mitts as well as some other bits and pieces perhaps with a more Christmassy theme.

Sadly no-one bought my bride dolls or my bridesmaid doll even though I was asking a ridiculously low price (in my eyes) for them as they took ages to make. Maybe they will sell at the Christmas fair. I should really update my Etsy store or try Folksy which is the UK version of Etsy. I just haven't had the motivation lately. I really should do it before Christmas if I want any sales.

I bought this pattern on Etsy. It is called the San Francisco bag should you wish to buy a pettern. I was really easy to make. The hardest part was doiing the linings as I am not much good at sewing. They will make nice small gifts for little girls this Christmas and have used up a lot of oddments.

I continue to keep buying more wool so will be in the poor house soon. My credit card bill is now bordering on the ridiculous. I need to sell more than I buy and I haven't got to that part yet. I know that I need to speculate to accumulate but so far all I am doing is parting with my money (or rather money that I don't have)

This is just the tip of the iceberg of my latest purchases. Plus I now have enough machine yarn on cones to open my own shop! My house is rapidly disappearing under a mountain of yarn. I will be being filmed for Hoarders as my family will be contacting the show if I don't tidy up soon. I just have no interest in housework whatsoever. I do the bare minimum of washing dishes and clothes and push the hoover about but I am just so untidy that I dread any visitors. It has now gone past the lived in look and gone to woolly untidiness. I never used to be like this. Maybe it's just part of my general depression issues. Maybe I just need a kick up the rear! I could do with a buddy to direct me along the path of tidiness and chat to me whilst I do it.

I went to a friend's wedding on Saturday and had a lovely time. It did me good to get out of the house for a while. Tonight I am going out for tea with my niece and my 'honorary niece' who has been around in the family so long that she is part of it in everything but blood. It's an early Birthday treat for me. It does feel so nice not to have to think about what to cook for myself.

My spine and knees continue to be a pain. I go to see a specialist on Dec 16th. Not for another replacement yet just to have an operation to see what is going on inside the left knee. I have now reached an all time weight high which isn't helping my mobility. I know that this will be the main topic of conversation when I get to the hospital. I weighed around 160 lbs before all of the problems with my spine and knees started but now because of immobility I am probably almost double that. I am a dieting failure. I eat when I am depressed and I am depressed about my lack of mobility so I eat. Join the circle as it goes around. 

Last, but not least, is my little furry neighbour Poppy who regularly comes through the hedge to amuse me. This day she got hold of a ball of wool and was chasing it all around the house. She has never shown any interest in my wool before. I couldn't do anything for laughing as she wound it in and out and around furniture legs. She is usually such a quiet serious dog as she is not as young as she once was but that day she was definitely having a puppy moment.

I will try to update my blog more regularly. If you have any spare motivation can you send me some please!

Home Alone Again

Just as I wrote the title Home Alone Poppy walked back in through the patio doors. She thinks that she lives in both houses ;-)

The dogs were very good considering that they had never stayed overnight with me before. We were up bright and early as I am used to Buster and his weak bladder so I don't like to leave animals too long without a toilet break. I let the dogs out at 5.30am and then we all went back to sleep again.

Buddy is funny. He has a passion for shoes and slippers and so took pairs of my shoes and slippers out one by one and put them on the lawn. Julie told me today that they have to put all of their footwear out of his reach or they have to search the garden for where he has hidden their shoes. He doesn't chew or destroy anything he just likes people to chase him whilst he has a slipper in his mouth.

The only time that I had to raise my voice to them was at 5.30am when they went outside and decided to have a barking contest. I had to shout them back in so not sure which bit the neighbours will remember the most. Their barking or my shouting!

I spoke to my son last night and he knows someone who deals in motorised scooters so he is going to enquire what prices their scooters are and if they have any secondhand ones. He looked on E bay and said that there were loads for sale on there but I am very nervous of buying anything on the net unless it's wool or crochet books of course LOL

I picked up my crochet again today after the dogs had gone back home and am now past the armholes on the last front. I have the front band to crochet and then decide whether to alter the sleeves and make them longer. It's not so much the elbow length that is worrying me as much as the flared bell shaped edge. I will tack them in and try it on before I unravel the sleeves. I had 500 grams of the blue so I will have about 75 grams left once I crochet the bands. That should be enough to extend the sleeves if need be.

I got a nice surprise today. Julie my neighbour bought me a bottle of dark rum for looking after the dogs for her. I am not a big drinker but I do like a glass of rum and coke now and again. In fact I might just have to unscrew the bottle later tonight just to make sure that it tastes just right.

I had got the dates wrong for Buster. He is coming next weekend for a few days. He gets on well with the dogs from next door and doesn't mind if they pop in through the hedge to see me. Poppy has now gone home again. She just likes to pop in and out when it suits her.

Two Premature Crochet Baby Jackets

I have managed to finish off the other two premature baby jackets ready for my visit to the foster Mum Sylvia and baby tomorrow. I am also knitting a baby jacket in white but as that is a bit larger it is not wanted as urgently as the very small ones are. The three jackets that I have made are very tiny and will only fit him for a couple of weeks but everything else is far too big for him at the moment. I don't want to make too many preemie sized ones as he will grow quite quickly and then will need a newborn size very soon.

The white jacket is one that I adapted from a plain crochet jacket. I altered the pattern stitch and made it smaller by using 4ply wool and a 3mm hook. The stitch is an alternating round the front loop UK treble and ordinary treble on the right side and UK double crochet on the wrong side.

The blue jacket is from pattern 99 by Kay Jones. Once again I made it smaller to fit a preemie by using 4ply instead of the Double Knit specified on the pattern and I used a 3mm hook. The stitch is once again UK treble worked around the stitch to make a rib effect.

I am looking forward to going out tomorrow although rain is forecast. Today has been sunny but windy. Poppy came in for her usual look around and to leave a deposit on my lawn. I took her back home after a while and then she came straight back in the patio door and slept on the sofa snoring away, much louder than a little terrier should, for about 2 hours. Eventually I could hear her owner Julie shouting her. They had thought that she was under the bed sleeping, with the other dog, and had been out shopping. They were alarmed when they got in to find they only had one dog in the house. Poppy was OK with me. My house is fairly quiet and I think that she likes to sleep in peace as she is an elderly dog. I leave the patio door open and she comes in and goes out as she pleases. She has worked out how to sneak under the joint privet hedge and into my garden. My garden is enclosed on 3 sides by fencing so she can't get any further.

I have had a quiet day as my knees are not having a good day. Tonight is a 'try to find something interesting to watch on TV that isn't football' night and do a bit more of the knitted baby coat. For now though it's time for a bit of fish for dinner.

A Tea Cosy For Towneley Hall Burnley

I have finished off the tea cosy that I started last Sunday when I went to Burnley to knit tea cosies for Towneley Hall. it is inspired by a couple of the teapots in the collection that have delicate flowers on them, This tea cosy is meant to be a flower basket with flowers spilling out of it.

I have also crocheted some flowers and leaves to finish off the 3 colours of pink tea cosy that I made on Saturday and Sunday whilst in the shop. I hope to take photos of it finished when I hopefully get back to the shop on Tuesday or Wednesday. The tea cosy is striped with pale pink at the top medium pink in the middle and deep pink at the base. The flowers represent the colours in the tea cosy.

The baby blanket is now dry and folded up ready to be collected. Sylvia lives just that bit too far away for me to nip on a bus to deliver it. She banged her damaged leg last weekend and is going to see a specialist next week. I don't think we have a good pair of legs between us.I keep looking at mobility scooters but by the time I get one big enough to support my weight then it will be too big to be allowed on buses and trams. It would be great to have one to shop in the local shops. The small ones not only have a weight limit but would not be powerful enough to get me up the hills where my house is situated.Maybe I should enquire if they have free test drives before I buy one. I would probably have to buy a second hand one anyway as they are so expensive. I will wait and hope that they renew my DLA payments to help to pay for one.

The weather is cooler today but still warm enough to have the doors and windows open. I think I will start another tea cosy and sit in the garden to crochet it this afternoon. I will photograph the Tunisian book tomorrow when there is room on my blog to feature it.

Poppy has been in for her morning visit. She had a sleep, sniffed around and then left. Buster totally ignored her which is good. At least it shows that he accepts the way she trots in and out of my house as if it was her own. He no longer growls at her.

Time for a spot of lunch now and then off into the garden. I just hope that we don't have the rain and thunderstorm like yesterday.

Scrap Crochet Book

As promised here are some photos of inside the Scrap Crochet book 879548 by Annie's attic which contains many ways to use up those annoying scraps of wool left over in stash.

The front cover shows some of the items in the book. Some of which are not photographed in detail due to lack of room.

I love the Quilt rug by Shirley Brown which is just the thing for at the side of my bed. I have a cream carpet which is becoming discoloured despite many shampoo attempts so I think this rug would be an ideal addition to my bedroom.

The Scrap Afghan by Glenda Winkleman is lovely but I would want to co-ordinate the colours as in the photo so would buy colours especially for this and not use scraps. The one pictured shows a distinct colour pattern which I think looks so nice.

The trio of trivets by Rhonda Dodds are ideal for little gifts as are the square Hot Pads by Louise Puchaty which have a flower motif in the centre and are shown on the front page of the book.

The Tape Measure covers by Frances Hughes are such a pretty way of decorating an otherwise boring plastic retractable tape measure. Again they would make lovely small tree gifts for Christmas.

The blue wrap by Ruthie Marks is a good idea as it is a cross between a stole and a shawl. Once again though I would buy toning colours to make this rather than using scrap oddments as I think it tones so well on the project in the book.

The teddy bear party pinafore by Darla Sims is a cute addition for any little girl who has a favourite teddy.

If you look on the front cover there is a pair of cute bootees and a red beaded necklace.

The back cover shows a nice striped bag,toy turtles, the spring tea cosy from yesterday's post, a string bag, glass covers, washcloths and a crinoline cosy for the washing up liquid. There is also a cushion threaded with ribbons with curlicue edging that is quite fancy.

I found a premature baby blanket that I had started a couple of years ago in my stash. I have decided to finish it for the foster baby boy even though I could only find another ball of the white. I must have used the rest for another project. It will be a small blanket but Sylvia says it will be useful for the car seat so I am going to finish it off and trim it with blue.

Buster is coming this afternoon for the weekend. If he is not coming next weekend then I hope to be able go with Rachael and watch her display the crochet and knitted things at Towneley Hall. I have never been before and have been told that it is very beautiful. I am sad that I can't go this weekend and continue working on tea cosies but I hope to make a couple more whilst I am Buster minding this weekend. It sounds like it is going to be a lot of fun this weekend. Ah well my furry grandson comes first.

Poppy from next door is here visiting me at the moment. I opened the patio door as it is nice and warm today and as soon as she hears the door slide back she is in like a shot.

My other Tunisian book still hasn't arrived. It was posted Royal Mail on Saturday so it should be arriving soon. I was hopeful this morning when the postman knocked but it was with a parcel for one of my neighbours who is at work.

Farmers Market

It's another beautiful day. My niece came early to pick me up for the Farmers Market. We aren't lucky enough to have a regular market but they do come about every 3 months. We have learned that you have to get there early to get the best choice of the food. I love to go there if only for the fresh lamb. I like to get some in for my freezer as it has much more taste that the lamb that I can buy from the supermarket and is virtually the same price.I didn't take any photos of the lamb as it went straight into the freezer the minute I got home. The cutlets are so large that one is sufficient for me with vegetables and you can't say that about the cutlets that you can get at the supermarket.

As you can see the bread is so fresh and it's delicious. It is quite expensive but who cares when it tastes so darn good. The ciabatta rolls just melt in the mouth and are nothing like the rock hard ones that are in the supermarket. The bread sells out like mad and if you don't get there early enough there is nothing left to buy.

My niece bought some items from the Italian stall but I am not a lover of sun dried tomatoes and olives. She also bought some hand made soap which smells absolutely gorgeous but as I have eczema I have to be so careful what I wash with.

We both stayed clear of the chocolate, sweets and cakes stall although my niece did buy her husband some fancy cakes but as he is a slim as can be he can get away with eating them all. My niece is like me she only has to breathe in near a cake stall and she puts on pounds.


I bought a moussaka from the Greek stall, and some jerk chicken with rice and peas from the west Indian stall. I also bought a lamb Pattie. They are a bit like a pasty but filled with much spicier filling. They are a bit of a taste bud shocker but I like them. Well they do say that to eat spicy food and drink hot drinks makes you cooler on a hot day.


Buster went home at lunchtime. Instead I have gained the little dog Poppy from next door. She is a bit of an old girl and they have another younger dog so sometimes she comes in here for a bit of piece and quiet. She is stretched out on the carpet fast asleep at the moment. Next door has laminate flooring and so I think that she likes a bit of comfort in her old age.

I did a bit of crocheting last night but it really is so hot despite the ceiling fan. I am never happy am I? Last week I was moaning that it was too cold and now I say it's too hot. I think it is because we haven't had a slow build up to the hot weather. One day it was freezing and the next hot. By next week it will probably be freezing again.

The good thing about hot weather is that I have a line full of washing that has dried in less than an hour. All the bedding is out now and by the time the next load finishes in the machine the bedding will be dry enough to go back on the bed.

Poppy has a haircut

When Poppy came for a visit today she had been shorn. Her hair was getting long and with this warm weather she was probably a bit hot so Julie took her and Buddy for a trim today. I tried to take her photo but she is such a live wire. She never stops trotting about long enough for me to take her photo. I had to seize the moment when she stopped for a scratch hence the very bad photo. Buster was a total ham he would pose whenever the camera came out so I have lots of lovely photos of him.I am glad that I have them now that I rarely see him. I do miss him but I am still not fit enough to even contemplate having him back again on a permanent basis. He is happy enough with my son and daughter in law and their dog. He is still in the family so it's not like I had to give him away.

Still nothing to report on the knitting scene. I didn't do much crochet or knitting when I got back from the Kings Arms Knit Club last night and today I had to go for physio to the hospital so nothing done today so far.I think that I have done so much over the last few weeks that I am in a bit of a lull. I have so much to do but I just can't seem to motivate myself. I do this for a few days and then I resume again at the same pace as usual. A lot of it is to do with tiredness. If I could just get a night or two of uninterrupted sleep then I would be back to full strength. My physio has referred me for hydrotherapy as my exercises are not producing the expected results. She asked me what I hoped to gain from physio and I said I just want to walk again - that's all I want. To be able to walk relatively pain free again would be a success. All anyone says to me though is that my arthritis is so bad in my knees that I shouldn't expect too much. Bone wearing on bone is painful they admit that bit and say there is not a lot that can be done but then say it's not bad enough yet for a new knee. How bad does it have to get? I bet if it was their knee they would get a new one asap.

The physio has just rung me now and asked me what days/times I can go to hydrotherapy so it sounds promising. I hope that I don't have too long a wait before I get my appointment. I am going to try a bit of crochet or knitting before dinner. I had a very late lunch I won't be ready to eat again for quite a while.

Sometimes the NHS makes my blood boil

I went for my long awaited follow up appointment for my knee to the hospital today. What a waste of time. I saw a nurse practitioner who hadn't the faintest idea what I was talking about. I asked her why I was in so much pain still after the operation and she said did they not tell you what they did? I said they did briefly when I was in the theatre but nothing since. She prodded my knee and said had I not had any anti inflammatory pills , stronger pain killers or physio. I said no because my GP would not prescribe anything until I saw the specialist again as I was still under his care. She then said my knee muscles were weak and needed physio. I said will having a course of physio take away the pain and she said possibly. I said what happens next and she said the specialist has no plans for any further treatment on you. I said Oh that's great he will leave me worse off than I was before the op then? After standing my ground she decided to refer me back to the specialist and after an argument an appointment was produced out of thin air for this Friday.

I then toddled down to physio as instructed to be told there that as my doctor does not have a practice in Salford then I can't have my physio there I have to be referred to another hospital. She mentioned my local hospital whose idea of physio is to give you a sheet of exercise instructions on a piece of paper and send you home to do them! I said I am not going there and I will have words with the specialist on Friday. I had my operation here and should have my follow up treatment here and not at some hospital where they don't know what I have had done. It's just so stupid in my eyes. Suddenly she produced an appointment for me at that hospital for tomorrow. Amazing isn't it. One minute they have no spaces and the next one gets pulled out of a hat. Salford Royal has a huge physio dept with a hydro pool and all the latest equipment I am not being fobbed off to some second rate hospital where they offer nothing in the way of treatment. I fell for that once before and they did more harm than good and made my back problems far worse with their mis diagnosis. They had me doing the wrong exercises and damned near killed me so can you wonder I am not overanxious to go back there especially as I wrote in to complain about them.

The photos are of Poppy, the dog from next door, who is only happy if she comes in at least once a day for a nosy around and a tummy tickle. Julie has tried planting shrubs and putting boards along the hedge but she still manages to burrow under every day. We will have no hedge left soon. I have told Julie that we should just put a gate in the fence as she is one determined doggie. This shows her finding the waste paper basket that Buster keeps his tennis balls in and tipping them all out. Not satisfied with all of those she tried her hardest to get a "ball" from underneath the sewing machine but as I kept telling her it's a round candle. I had to move it in the end and hide it.

Yesterday Deb was kind enough to give me a lift up the the Sunday Knit Out and we had a great time sitting chatting in the sunshine outside the Cafe. If only every Knit Out Sunday could be like that. When we are indoors we are more spread out and tend to split into groups but when we are outside we are grouped together around linking tables.We had quite a good turnout considering how glorious the weather was. I won't be going to the next Knit Out unless my knee behaves itself and I can get there on the bus as Deb is going to a concert. Let's hope this physio works wonders or my appointment with the specialist gives me hope as at the moment I fervently wish I had never let them touch my knee.

Crochet fine mohair scarf

I was given a ball of Laines Du Nord Kiddy Print Mohair Sh 600 for a raffle item. I had not used this mohair before so decided to crochet an openwork scarf as I wasn't sure how far one ball would go. I was surprised just how far the one ball went.Although the scarf is narrow it is of passable length. It is always difficult to crochet with mohair as I am never quite sure if I have crocheted into the fluff or the whole stitch.

It was sunny this morning so I went out into the garden to do a bit of crochet but finished up chatting to Julie over the fence as Poppy had come through it once again to visit me. I am not sure if I was the attraction or the fact that she had seen Oscar next door's cat (who I am feeding as they are away) come in the house for his breakfast. The cat wisely legged it upstairs and I had to hobble as fast as I could to close the door to the stairs before Poppy chased him. Undeterred Poppy kept trying to get through a closed door to get to the cat.

I haven't done much today. I had planned some housework and some crochet and in the end nothing got done. Ah well tomorrow is another day.

Crochet bookmarks

I have been making bookmarks for the raffles. I looked on Ravelry but quickly realised after making the blue pineapple one that they are designed for very fine crochet cotton which I don't have. I then improvised my own designs but they have all turned out on the bigger side as I only had 4ply wool. They have cost me nothing as they are made from oddments and bits of ribbon that I already had so I shall just have to hope that people like them and read big books!

I have started another scarf with a ball of fine mohair and if it progresses today whilst I am out in the garden I will post a photo tomorrow.

Today I went to the farmers Market in my local town. I think I expected it to be as good as the one in Ramsbottom and whilst a lot of the stalls were as good the vegetable stall was,to me, a big disappointment. I was so looking forward to all of the varieties of vegetables that the stall in Ramsbottom has but I came away today with just some potatoes, carrots and a string of onions. They didn't have any of the different varieties like purple broccoli and purple cauliflower. All they had was a few spring greens, turnips and ordinary white cauliflowers.

I did get some lovely lamb chops and a shoulder of lamb from the same people who do Ramsbottom market and some garlic and herb cheese (good job that I love alone) so I am looking forward to my Sunday dinner. It's just a shame that I will only have carrots to go with the lamb and new potatoes.

Poppy came back through the fence again today and seems to want to be with me. She is a barker though and drives me mad with her constant barking. Slightest noise and she is wuffing away. She is 9yrs old so it's a bit late to try to change her habits now. Last night I went into the dining room and there was the black cat from 3 houses away striding around as if he owned the place.. I said to Julie my neighbour that I must be Dr Doolittle and talk to the animals as they all gravitate to my open patio door. I am supposed to be feeding next door's cat as they are away but apart from breaking up a cat howling contest early this morning I haven't seen him to feed him. This is rare as he normally is in the house by now. Perhaps Poppy is keeping him away. She has just come back in the patio door again despite Julie trying to mend all the holes in the fence and privets. I suggested that we just get a gate between us and leave it open! When I walk up the road all of the local cats and dogs come to me for a pat and a stroke as I go by. I am rubbish with babies - they cry when they see me but give me an animal and I am fine. I am the one who gets the pub cat sitting on my knee all night, despite the owners sayint that the cat doesn't like people as a rule, and the pub dog curled up under my chair.

I am off into the garden to take advantage of this glorious sunshine as it might be the only day we have for a while. My washing is dry so I might iron in the garden. Can't stay indoors on a day like today.

Crochet Hat and Scarf Set

I finished off the hat and scarf set made from oddments of Rowan RYC Lux. I have made the hat on the small side although it will just about fit me as a beanie as I thought that the colours would appeal more to a child or young teenager.It is destined for the Knitting Noras calendar fund raffles. I found the medallion stitch in my pattern stitch book and thought that it would make a nice change from stripes.

Last night I was playing around with bits of wool to make crochet bookmarks but I think really that fine crochet cotton would be the best thing to make them with. I don't have any of that and don't feel like a trip to a wool shop that sells it so I will just have to manage with the scraps of wool that I have. I will carry making them until I think of something else to make. I will put photos of the finished ones on the blog tomorrow. I keep thinking of small items that would not be too expensive to sell and yet would appeal to people.A lot of the things I think of would be better knitted and I am more of a crocheter especially when quantity is needed.

Today I haven't done any crochet as I have attempted to mow the lawn and then Julie, my next door neighbour, came into my garden and cut my side of the hedge. Both of these chores left me with piles of clippings to shovel up and that took me some time as my back and knee are still not up to too much bending. Poppy, one of the dogs from next door, was determined to come into my garden and house and spent all of the afternoon digging a pathway through the hedge. She had such a triumphant look on her face when she managed it. Julie now has a garden with skirting boards all around it in an attempt to keep her in. She said that she felt like such a bad parent that her dog wanted to be with me instead of her. I think it was more a case of Poppy found the waste paper basket of Buster's squeaky balls the first time she came through and that was the novelty drawing her back again.

Some of the Knitting Noras are attending a Craft Fair tomorrow afternoon at Smithills in Bolton. They will be teaching anyone who wants to knit and of course spreading the word about the Calendar to all and sundry.

Some of the Noras appeared in print in the Bolton Evening News

http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/Launch.aspx?referral=other&pnum=&ref\
resh=jJ178dP0E1c6&EID=5ffe4484-f7ff-49cf-b280-88ca95c05fb1&skip=true

You have to go to the bottom of the page that first appears and then click on the next button (not the next button in the middle) to read it. It is promoting the fact that we will be on BBC TV

Time for tea now and then perhaps a bath before settling down to my crochet. I am looking forward to the Farmers Market tomorrow to stock up on loads of fresh goodies.