Sunshine And A New Crochet Magazine

It's been a beautiful warm sunny day and the postman brought the latest copy of Inside Crochet so what more could I wish for. The housework got left as we get so few warm days that I was determined to make the best of this one. The cover sweater is Diamond Sweater by Claire Montgomerie and is a finely crocheted filet sweater.I can see it's appeal but it's not for me at my age. Plus the fact that working with a 2.50mm hook and fine thread is beyond the capabilities of my arthritic fingers. I can't get the tension right with fine hooks and yarn these days.



The inside cover shows all the things in the magazine. I have photographed a lot of the things in more detail but as usual have left some things out.



The Woodblocks Cardigan by Linda Permann is a variation of the granny square motif. Instead of being multi coloured these squares are lacy giving a fine summery openwork feel. The squares are quite small so I would have to make 64 squares plus 2 halves for my size.



The Herringbone Sweater by Janet Kuhlmann appeals to me as I do like an aran style sweater for the winter. This looks like it would be a nice warm chunky one for those cold winter days.



Although I rarely make toys I do think that Stan and Minty by Barbara Lawler are just so cute. Sheep with little scarves on. I can think of many children and a few adults who would fall in love with this duo.



Although at my size and age I would not normally consider a crochet dress I think that I could get away with wearing the Pewter Dress by Shannon Mullett Bowlsby. It has a slight bat wing which could be worn over a long sleeved sweater and a pair of trousers and worn as a tunic. It is done in a 4ply yarn with a 3.25mm hook but the stitch is very openwork.



The Hill of Tara shawl by Aoibhe Ni Shuilleabhain appeals to me partly for the colours and the 5 pointed shape. On her blog the designer shows how to make the willow shawl pin. The shawl is on a 4.50mm hook so I think that a variety of variegated wools could be used to make this shawl. This one has been done in Tivoli Ocean but one of the recommendations is Noro Silk Garden.



The Ryan Jacket by Robyn Chachula has an off set zip rather than a central one. The sleeves look a tad short on the child but I am sure that this could be amended although I think that I would put some sort of a rib on it if I were to make it.The body looks a bit short and chopped off to me.



The Tessera Cami by Aoibhe Ni Shuilleabhain is definitely one for the young and slender figured. It is actually laced up the side seams but that can't be seen from the photo.Once again it is done in lacy squares instead of in one piece. This might appeal to my niece if I crocheted slightly wider straps as ribbon soon looks very tatty after a couple of washes.

The sun has been out most of the day but has now gone in so I suppose that I should do some more housework. To be honest I am not big on housework and I soon get discouraged. When I was fit and younger I used to rip through the house like a whirling dervish but times change and I have to move with them. If I won the lottery one of the first things I would get is a weekly cleaner. I don't want a fancy house or a huge car just a few luxuries in life like a cleaner. I am not bothered about a fancy house as I would spend my time away on holiday in the sunshine. I could do a world tour of all of my online friends. Now that would be super. Getting to meet all the people that I exchange ideas with and general chit chat on Ravelry. Plus visiting different LYS all over the world. Now that would be my idea of a great holiday. I wonder if any travel company does a world wide tour of yarn shops, exhibitions, retreats and Craft fairs holiday? Somehow I doubt it.

I hope that I have enough wool to finish

Eek. I only have one more ball left and still got the front to finish. I know that it is a V neck and so will take less wool than the back but I still have neckbands and armbands to finish. I know that they are only a couple of rows wide but I have a feeling that it will be a squeak with the wool to finish it without having to unravel a few rows from the back. I still haven't stitched the cardigan up as I didn't want to use wool to stitch up when I might need it to finish the top.

I was naughty today. Unfortunately not THAT kind of naughty. I gave the front room a good clean. I took my time doing it and although I am banned from using the hoover I did give the carpet a sweep with my mother's trusty old Ewbank. I just pushed it gently across the carpet. I will no doubt pay the price tomorrow but the shelves on the bookcases and my mother's treasured crystal and silver decanter and glasses were looking very worse for wear. I gave them a polish and a wash and they look much better now.

Julie, from next door, gave my front hedge a trim whilst she was doing hers. She should have gone into hospital next week at her appointment today they said it has been delayed as they have swapped her from one department to another. She has cancer for God's sake. She has had enough setbacks without any more delays. She said she was cutting the hedge to get rid of the aggression that she feels towards the hospital, Her dog is going to the vets tomorrow for the snip. He keeps running off and chasing the ladies and getting lost. He is also trying to mount the males so she decided that the time has come to dampen his ardour. Yesterday she lost him for over an hour. Poor Buddy. He will be a bit sore for a few days but if he is like Buster he will be leaping about in a little while.

I will try to finish off the top tomorrow and then I can treat myself to a bit of crochet! I am going to finish off the granny squares for Vicky's shawl so that it will be ready for her to fringe. I won't see her for a week or two so have plenty time to crochet the squares together.

I might try to do a bit more cleaning tomorrow. If I do a bit every day then eventually the house might start to look a bit tidier and cleaner. I can't do it up to my normal standards but at least it will look OK to a passing glance.

Last night I got a weird disembodied phone message. I almost put the phone down thinking it was one of those "You have been chosen" phone calls from abroad but it was the hospital asking me if I was keeping my next hospital appointment. Please press one if you are the patient blah de blah.

Enchanting Juno

I just had to share this with you. This lady totally rocks over the whole housework issue

http://enchantingjuno.typepad.com/knit/

The link is on the right hand side of my blog is this link doesn't work

I'm so busy, oh so busy

The title should be sung to the tune of I'm so pretty from West Side story. My niece took me to Ramsbottom this morning to Clark's Crafts. Rammy was more than busy and we had a real problem parking as the Santa Special train was running so I can imagine a lot of the car spaces were taken up by doting parents or grand parents of bright eyed youngsters who were looking out for Santa. I hope they managed a glimpse of him.

My stash is as follows 4 colours of Sirdar 4ply (black, grey,brown and beige) for a Kilim crochet cap from Vogue Knitting book - Crochet Hats. I will make a matching scarf from the wool that will be left over from the cap. This is for my niece Vicky as she wanted one after she saw the one I made up a few weeks ago for myself. The Sirdar Blur with Kid Mohair will be for a lacy small scarf for my sister in law. Knit or crochet as yet undecided - depends on the time factor. The Sirdar Bonus DK in the purplish heathery colour is for a crochet wrap over jacket from the Fabulous Flirty Crochet for my niece Kath and the Sirdar Bonus DK in the green fleck is for a hiking hat for Kath's husband to be. The Sirdar crochet scarf pattern is my niece's that she left with me - I think maybe as a hint? It is done with doubled double knit with a 6.00mm hook so will be made in a flash so she might, just might, get one in time for Christmas.

I had better stop blogging and start knitting and crocheting but first I have Buster to walk, the hoover to push and the washer to fill. Woman's work is never done especially at Christmas time! or should I just say sod the housework ( as I usually do) and get straight to the needles?