Merry Christmas and good-bye 2012

I'm not very energetic these days. I blog in my head, as if I am living my life for an audience sometimes, but finding the motivation to get my fingers to write things is beyond me for the moment. However, some things I do with my hands make me smile. :-)

Here are 3 teenagers, all wearing hats I made for them.

WIPs

Works in Progress
But I am talking knitting and crochet here, and I count 17 of them. Sweaters and hats and gloves and socks all waiting to be completed at some point. And all I want to do is start things. I have no time to finish things, but I like the creative process involved in choosing a project, a pattern, a yarn, a recipient, and getting started.
Somewhere, somebody has no doubt labelled this a syndrome or some kind of disorder. For me it is fun, the only downside being one of storage....

I want to go to sleep with the earth...

The title reflects my feelings of October. It seems that we have done so much, I have been so busy, we've had birthdays and parties and meetings, and yet accomplished so little. There are still salad leaves waiting to be composted, sweaters waiting to be knit, Halloween candy waiting to be bought (Shit, what's the date?) and sleep waiting to be slumbered.

I love autumn. I love the coolness, the slowing down of life and rhythms, the colours of the leaves. I don't like the fact that urban life with children carries on apace.

Tomorrow is November 1st. Less than two months to Christmas. Shit. I already feel exhausted. Have done no Christmas knitting. And it does have to be knitting because I have developed a repetitive strain injury from too much crochet. So the Totoro amigurumi that I started for The Babe is on hold, as well as the hat I was doing for The Boy, and the one I was doing for myself. I will have to knit hats instead.

Except my hands are already tired from typing.

And I have signed up for NANOWRIMO?! What the hell am I thinking? I have no ability to do the things I need to do, as well as the things I want to do, now!? How the hell am I going to fit in 50,000 words in November.

I should be joining The Boy and his dad in Movember. I am getting to that age where whiskers are going to be easier to accomplish than words anyway.

Boring jumpers

I finished The Changeling's jumper.

 It is so soft and comfy and like a giant hug. She loves it. Thank goodness! But I am supposed to be making two other jumpers, 3 actually, which are all stocking stitch. I want to do something a bit more exciting and challenging. But stocking stitch it is. Miles of it. How boring.

This is Vanille for Al. And  Oatmeal for The Meister. Much more stocking stitch. Alas.

Crochet has been happening too.

I finished this bright baby blanket in Sirdar Supersoft Aran for a friend's baby girl. This is one of my square designs. :-)

 And made my self a hat,

with which I am very pleased.

Pattern available here.

There are other things happening, too. But if I told you about them, then my husband might realize just how much yarn there is in the house.

September Slog

I am trying to get a couple of things done for the Changeling, who is off to uni in ten days. She doesn't seem to want the things I want to knit though. I am more than halfway through a baggy top down raglan sweater that she wants. So lots and lots of boring stocking stitch. It will be lovely for her when it is done. A bit like a big warm cuddle, in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky, but it is not fun to make.

I have bought a couple of patterns for things to make as well. One fitted sweater that I would wear if I had the body for it. Funnily enough, she has her own taste, so I will have to convince one of her sisters that they want to wear it. :-)

I spent two days doing two shrugs for the Babe as the weather called for it.

They are both in Sirdar Supersoft Aran which I think is fab for little ones. The green one is the Shortie Sweater from Holland Designs and the pink one is my own design.

My eczema has been bad on and off, which means I keep accumulating things I want to do, and looking at patterns, and not actually doing that much. Still have the two Lily Go shawls to work through. Plus I started something for my on the new Addi click Tunisian crochet hooks. I just wanted to start something with them. And I am making some slippers from a pattern that I can't quite figure out size wise. So I am going to have to make them to see how big they are and who they will be for. :-)

I can already tell that my New Year's Resolution for 2013 is going to be to get a big of focus with my projects, and finish off my WIPs.

So what is it that is up?

I am now a Ravthlete. I have partaken in the Ravelympics - Or rather the Ravellenic Games 2012, since the USOC decided knitters and crocheters were deemed inappropriate people. :-)

This is what I have made

I was working on some hexagons as well, for the modular relay, but I haven't finished those yet and I don't think I will as I have lost my motivation. I am too busy putting up with PITA teenagers and toddlers and moping about being a crap parent. Definitely in a bit of a funk. But at least I made a cool teddy bear.

Hiatus

Not really doing much at the moment. My hands are not really in good shape. My eczema is bad, and my thumbs are cracked and bleeding and I had an infection (sorted thanks to homeopathic remedy) and then I sliced one thumb on the broken tap, and then grated it and sliced the other while doing onions then next day. So basically, bad thumb karma. Trying to take care of myself, so I will be ready for the Ravelympics, which I hope to take part in for the first time this year. Would like to get some things done for the two eldest daughters, one who is graduating from university in July, and the other starting in September. Must stop being distracted by shawls and cotton things for summer! At least I can still look at things on Ravelry, while waiting for my hands to be able to make something.

Plans

I haven't  really finished anything since my last post. Still Zooming along on Gatherings Leaves Shawl, well  not really. I have taken a break so I can make things for other people. I am working on a pair of socks for my eldest who is soon  to graduate from university. Then I have a couple of things I want to make for the next daughter who is flying from the nest and heading to university in September. And I am already thinking of Ravelympics  things to do.

This post is to remind me what events I want to do. :-) I will be on holiday during the mass cast on so I will have to take something with me I guess, and cast on  others the next day when  I get back. I want to do Balance Beads, maybe beading a shawl or scarf: Colourwork crosscountry, maybe doing the fairisle slippers in the Debbie Bliss mag I have; Sock Put, how about some toe-ups? Modular relay, finally do those bobble hexagons I've been wanting to do; Wips Wrestling, maybe finishing the Buttercup or those gloves that have been there for about 4 years...

Nothing exciting to say, or photos to post, just a memory to jog in the coming weeks. :)

Boredom

I'm spending a lot of time being bored these days. I think this is the nature of having a small child, and making yourself available for them all the time. I suppose the other option is to be a working mother, where I could be stressed all of the time instead, but for now, I will choose boredom. I will still complain about it though.

I don't get nearly enough time to crochet -or knit for that matter. Or read a book other than Where the Wild Things Are and One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish.  But I am still going when I can, usually at midnight when I should be asleep but I have the house to myself and desperately want to finish something.

A couple of somethings I finished are these shawls, both from the  Chèche à la sauce bidules chouettes pattern. Here it is in English if your French doesn't go the crafty vocabulary. The translation requires that you know some things about crochet I think, as there some 'just get on with it' areas.

I also managed to finish a very pretty poncho for the Babe. I thought she would like it as sometimes when we go out for a walk and I am wearing a shawl she wants one too. I usually wrap and old woolen woven one that I have around her and she is happy, but I thought if we could stick a poncho on, it would be quicker, and keep her happy.

I was wrong. Here she is taking it off, having had it on for about 38 seconds. She hasn't allowed it to be put on her since.








I also got to finish the Meister's Cookie Monster Hat, which has been crocheted for ages, just waiting for me to get the eyes, mouth and cookies done. She wanted  two chocolate chip cookies, but I ran out of the light brown, so she got a chocolate covered digestive as well. She doesn't mind. :-) I just had a look at ones on Ravelry that others had done, and made it up.

And then I have done a few little photo prop type ones for babies of varying sizes for The Changeling's workplace. She works as a photography assistant and they do family portraits, and newborns and things. I didn'g get photos of most of the hats. How ironic is that? But here are the newborn sized Owl hats.

I am continuing with my attepts to focus on 3 projects a month, having strayed a bit. With the weather getting nicer (well, theorhetically as the heating came on yesterday,) I like the idea of doing lighter shawls with the Crochet Shoulder Wrappers group. I want to do about 6 of the CALs in May, June and July. Plus I have bought some of this  in the 180gm size in a grey to teal colourway. I am doing a Lily Go pattern in that as well as another Lily Go pattern as one of my CALs this month. The Gathering Leaves looks like this so far.

 It is slow going because of the whole small child needing attention thing, but the chart is great, and I zoom along when I get the time. The yarn is not as great as the pattern, but at over 2000 metres for under a fiver on ebay I am not going to complain too much. There is 20% wool in there, and the colour is quite nice anyway.

The thing that I really want to finish is the Babe's blanket. I stalled a bit, being distracted by many of the above, but I only have three colours to do of the repeated stripes, and then the border! And then several months to wait until the Babe has her own bedroom and bed on which to put it. But I still want to finish it. It is looking good...

...even if there are a lot of ends to weave in. The Babe wraps up in it already, and calls it, "My Oom?" because told her it was for her room.

Other fun things I have done, include going to the Black Sheep with Caroline and Martine and buying far too much yarn, or just enough yarn depending on your point of view. I did put a lot of things back, but I made the mistake of saying in front of the above witnesses that I won't have to buy any yarn for the rest of the year.  Damn! So between the Postman knowing I am not supposed to be buying yarn, and kids who I have to bribe not to mention any packages that arrive, and now my partners in crime actually thinking I have too much (not just enough, but actaully TOO MUCH - is there such a  thing?) I may have to actually get on with making things, and not just planning on making other things.

Making things for people

So it is April and I am spending most of my free time sowing, and planting, when I can. I suppose I haven't been doing that much, as the weather has been atrocious, but a few things are getting done. The aparagus bed was dug, then filled in and redug when we decided it would be a more efficient use of space to dig the trenches perpendicular to our original plans. :-) This means we probably have room for a strawberry bed in the perennial plot.  Terribly exciting, eh?!

On the wool front, I am trying to make things, and just getting tired. Working on The Babe's blanket, and doing some hearts and starfish and cute things as well. I was completely disappointed by my last craft fair, so am taking some time off from that and then I don't have to worry about making things for that. Just making things for people. Real people in my life.

Which probably means I shall be getting back to knitting soon. But I have not had my fill of crochet yet. I shall continue to work on some things for the Ravelry group, Crochet Shoulder Wrappers, and continue to work on things for the Babe's room, if she ever gets one.

IntNatCroMo

So over in America it is National Crochet Month. On Ravelry, they have declated International Crochet Month, which makes me happy. I have been crocheting my little heart out. Well, when I am not digging and weeding my little heart out. And lactating my little heart out.

These are some things I have made. In addition to these.

We have also been planting and sowing seeds. Look, the Rocket (Arugula) is sprouting.

And the Babe and I are planting and digging and have been out loads on our new bike.

She has a little seat on the back, and off we go. We pootle along. That is my new favourite word...pootle. It is also my new favourite activity! Although I was out last night to see the Meister and the Boy perform in the Music Service Easter Extravaganza, and I ZOOMED home. So Zoom is a good word too. :-)

So let's see, knitting and crochet, planting and gardening, pootling and zooming. Occasional reading and cooking. That is life at moment. It has been a pretty good, IntNatCroMo.

This makes me happy!

I am going to do lots of pretty things from Attic24  like this  or this so when the Babe gets her own room, it will be lovely. I have a few months to prepare, after all, we have to wait for the Changeling to decide on a university or whatever, then we can swap bedrooms around again. :-) Or I maight do some things from this lovely blog. All I have to do, is finish about a dozen other things, then I can get started!

Distraction

So the weather is nicer, there are green shoots appearing, and I am being distracted by the garden and the allotment, and not getting a lot of crocheting done. I started all of these things for Crochet Month, and now I just want to dig and sow seeds. :-)

Today saw me get into the garden to  dig over last years potato and courgette patches. Since we have an allotment of our own now, that is going to be given over to fruit bushes and herbs, maybe some garlic and leeks later in the season.

Our garden is small, but I have planted in an L shape - up the left hand side is raspberries which are established. Then a goosberry, to the right is another gooseberry, a blueberry and my new baby bay bush. I have planted a couple of other blueberries in bigger pots there as well.

So far we haven't sown much, basil and courgettes and rocket, but I will get some more things sown soon and transplant a couple of other gooseberries down at the allotment. We are developing a perennial strip which will have an asparagus bed, maybe a strawberry bed, and some gooseberries and eventually some redcurrants, as well as some herbs.

That is the plan. Sorry no photos, but it does mean I have actually been busy in the real world!

PS, I am also reading a book. Never Let Me Go by by Kazuo Ishiguro which Martine has lent me.

Plans A and B for March

So I was gonna do the Fairisle mitts for the Changeling, and try one of the toy patterns I have bought (eek! paid for!)  as well as the Comfy Slipper pattern  (payed for again!) but since the weather is warming up and it is National Crochet month, I thought I would set them aside and concentrate on crocheting.

I am doing lots of squares as I have joined a block a month crochet along on Ravelry. I don't have a single project in mind for this though. I wish I had the money to buy some yarn to actually do something with my squares, but I will just try them out for now, and maybe do an actual project in the future with my favourites. 

I have been watching the Bernat mystery CAL as well. I wish again that I had the money to get some of the Bernat Waverly yarn sent over as it looks lovely. Or even to buy some Aran stuff here and take part, but I will try another time. I have never done a Mystery CAL and it looks like fun!

I am doing one of the CALs with Ravelry's Shoulder Wrappers Group. I was on the verge of giving up, as there were too many CALs to choose from, and then I had to find appropriate yarn in my stash. I was looking through my stash and found some packs that I want to use for Shawls later in the year, so it was a bit productive, but I didn't find anything I really wanted to do the Frosty Night Cowl CAL with.

And then I found it! The undyed yarn that Martine got for us a few years ago. We have done a couple of batches, but there was still some left! So I got it out, and managed to dye it and have it hanging to dry before the allotment society AGM on Saturday! I had wanted more orange than yellow, but what I got was more yellow than orange.

It is cheering me up though and I shall start crocheting today! 

The Babe is happy as well because she has yet another hat. Ok, so she doesn't like to wear hats often but I still keep making them, and this one she actually puts on her head herself and runs around the house going Toowhit Toowhoo!!

Just as an aside, that cardigan she is wearing was knitted for me when I was her age. So it is about 42 years old and still going. I think it is acrylic, because I just chuck it in the washing machine, but it still looks good, if a bit furry now and then. I hope some of my things will be around in 40 years!

I am working on some craft fair things in crochet as well. Here is the beginnings of a poncho...

And the beginnings of a cowl that I am making for myself in the lovely stuff Martine made for me...(It looks better in real life.) I had tried to do some shell patterned cowls from the Lion Brand website, but in the end they just didn't look right. This is a version of crocheted moss stitch which is making a fine texture and showing of the hand dyed yarn much better. :-)

So here I am at my last craft fair as well. It was the first time I was outside, and it was a bit of a cold day to be outside. Of course, when you are outside there is a lot more foot traffic, but this day was dire. 7 hours sitting in the cold, and I sold one hat, which paid for the stall. It was rather depressing. This is me at the beginning, naiveley smiling away. My display is a bit cluttered because I had left some of my acoutrements at home.

These are some of my children's hats. The weather is changing now so I will try to get some more spring and summer things ready.

In further honour of National Crochet Month, some things that make me happy are here and here. I have ordered some of this yarn so I can attempt to emulate those lovely and talented crocheters. (This is where I find out if my husband reads my blog as I am not supposed to be spending money on yarn!)  I want colour and cheer in my life right now and I can't wait to crochet with these colours! I will probably make a couple of baby blankets to sell at the craft fair I have booked at the end of March (after which I think I will give up.)

Another happy thing  is that we have an allotment, which means that I will be digging and planting and weeding and watering, while still trying to crochet and knit every minute that I get left alone to do so. (Not so many of those these days.) I am planning an asparagus bed and a strawberry bed and some other fruiting bushes, so not ambitious at all. :-)

And a very sad thing as well. This was my new teapot.

I got it from Oxfam for £4.99 and I loved it. For about a week. As you can see, it got its handle smashed, and we can't really glue it, because the handle is hollow and the glue would be exposed to the boiling water and  brewing tea. It was one of the few things I was excited about buying myself, and it is just sitting around reminding me why I don't buy myself nice things. :-(

So I will have to get back to making nice things. Happy Crochet Month everybody!

Organisation actually works

So focusing on certain things each month actually works. My brain is usually all over the place, capable thing that it is, but choosing some things to work on, and then actually working on them actually gets things done. Who knew?

As I said before, the shorts are done. OK, so they were a Jan focus, but they are done, so let's not quibble.

The hat to go with the January  Cigar gloves is also done.

He likes to wear it with the brim turned up, in spite of the fact that he asked for it to be baggy. Also, we don't know what it looks like with the gloves, as he has lost those. Cold hands again, but this time, it isn't my fault. :(

I also managed to  do a hat for the Meister, who had asked for a black and sparkly one.

It is made with the lovely Lang Lanulux from Purl City Yarns, which I got on a spontaneous visit. It doesn't photograph well because of the sparkles, I guess, but it looks quite nice, and has a bow.  It is helping to make up for the disappearance of the Frog Hat. On Dec 20th, 2011, on the way back from home ed drama, she was harrassed by a group of 4 kids from St Anthony's Catholic College in Trafford. They knicked her hat and ran off with it. :( It was a well loved Frog Hat (called Frank) and we shall have to make another one, but in the mean time, we have glam and sparkle.

I also finished the fingerless mitts that I was doing for the Changeling.

They are actually being sent to The One Who Has Flown The Coop, as she  didn't seem to mind them too much, and being hard to impress, I'll give her first refusal. That is fine, as I can then make the ones for the Changeling in the colour that I was going to do originally for her. Or I could do a pair to match the Fairisle gloves I am getting ready to start.

I also have a craft fair this weekend, at the Horse and Jockey in Chorlton, but I haven't really done any extra to prepare as I have a lot of stock.  Although I did do this one, which I tried on The Babe for sizing. 

I finished the shorts!!!!!

The plan for February

I am sticking with the 3 project monthly focus plan, but I do have about 6 things planned for Feb. Oh dear. I am still working on the shorts, but I don't know if I should count that as one of the 3? No, I will have another 3 :-)

So we are doing a slouchy hat for the Boy to match his cigar gloves, in the same King Cole Merino blend.  And we are finishing off a pair of fingerless mitts for the Changeling. One is already done, so if I finish that, I may possibly start some Fairlisle ones for her as well.

Then there are the teddies. I have bought some patterns for soft toys that are absolutely lovely, and am really wanting to get started on them...Along with some slippers for me. I have the yarn for the slippers and the toys, so don't have to buy any. :-) And I don't have any crochet projects on the go, so I should start the Small Talk shawl for myself...

See! That adds up to three, doesn't it?

It is working.

So this plan of mine to concentrate on about 3 things a month is working. I finished the Shawl.

And I finished the cigar gloves.

And I have made lots of progress on the cabled shorts. But I haven't finished them. Will keep going!


I also  finished a pair of mittens for the Babe, and a hat for the Meister.

Another resolution?

So it is a New Year (Hello 2012!) and occasional bloggers around the world are resolving to blog more regularly and be better bloggers. :-) Am I one of them? I don't think so. I do experience a general feeling of  'things will be better' and the whole new year / new start thing. But I don't know if I do actual resolutions.

As far as knitting goes, for the past couple of years I have resolved to finish on-going projects. Funny, but I have the same on-going projects. I have gotten better (more experienced and focused I think) at finishing things that I start, but I do have a handful of things from the past 4 years or so that I haven't gotten around to finishing, and I would like to find the time and energy and motivation to finish them.

At the moment, I have this idea, that I will have monthly goals, and this month I am working on 3 things. I have joined the Crochet Shoulder Wrappers group on Ravelry, and there are a few shawls and cowls that I would love to make, so I started this month doing the Anna Shawl, which is pretty basic, but nice. This is the first of my 3 January projects and I have finished the crocheting this morning. I have made it big and warm and chunky and comfy. I used James C Brett Marble Chunky, which I have never used before, and would have usually rejected as being 100% acrylic, but  I wanted chunky and cheap, and it was also the only colours that the Meister and I could agree on. We are supposed to be 'sharing' this one.

I think really that has more to do with me wanting to justify buying the yarn, ("But it isn't for ME!") than any practicality. I mean, she is 12 and about a size 8-10 (3-5 US) and I am, well.... NOT! I have made this huge thing, using 600 grams of yarn, and it is rather cuddly. The Meister was not too diplomatic when she said she was happy to use it as a blanket. Just have to sort out if I am going to block it. It needs something, but I have never blocked acrylic before. 

I am also working on a pair of nearly fingerless gloves for the Boy. He wants these  - Cigar Gloves. I made a pair for Al a couple of years ago, and now the Boy wants his as well. I have some King Cole Merino in a medium blue. I have started them, but then got carried away with the shawl. This is number 2 thing I plan to finish in January. I think the matching hat will have to wait until next month.

Number 3 thing is the cabled shorts I started a while back for the Changeling and mentioned briefly before. I really do have to finish these this winter. I will lose all motivation once the weather gets warmer, and next year she will most likely be away at university. I have been struggling with the pattern, and then I was on a roll for a while, and then got distracted by craft fair things and Christmas knitting.

Although, to be honest, I hardly did any Christmas knitting. I made a nice pair of socks for my father in law, a shawl for my Aunt Edith, a hat for Uncle Bob, and a pretty shawlette for my Mum. Do I have any photos of them? No, because I had to get them in the post to get to America for the holidays, and I was so efficient and organised (read headless chicken-like) that I forget to get photos.

The thing I did get photos of, are the ones that were late, and were a very nice New Year's present.  These are Susie's Reading Mitts but apparently you can't get the pattern any longer. There was some confusion about copyright, but I managed to download the pattern during the time when it was up on Ravelry. And I am glad, because they are lovely. They are knitted in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK on 3.25 mm dpns. And since my tension got tighter and tighter the closer we got to Christmas, I actually knitted three of these in order to get a pair that matched in size. ;-) But never fear, I will get some more yarn, and the Changeling wants a pair as well. That will have to be a February project!

And here is a little hat I made for the Babe. Because she doesn't have enough hats. (note sarcasm.) It is a slightly modified Brr Baby Beanie.  She actually keeps this one on her head occasionally. :-) The photo is a crap mobile phone camera photo but it does look sweet in real life. It was made using Sirdar supersoft Aran, which is another 100% acrylic, but great for making things for toddlers that are going to need machine washing regularly. And it is actually super soft, so makes good hats for all ages. I use the Sirdar a lot when making things for my craft fairs.

I think I am losing a bit of snobishness when it comes to acrylic yarns. I am finding that they are nicer than all the ones from the 70s and 80s that come to mind when I think of acrylic.  I really want to make a couple of baby blankets with this yarn.

Here is photo of some more Sirdar supersoft in the same colour. I combined it with the lace mohair to make a really cute little beret for a friend's 1 year old foster baby. But guess what?  Forgot to get a photo.  Maybe that should be my New Year's Resolution - to remember to photograph things?!

But my stated goal for this month is to finish three things.
1) The Anna Shawl
2) Cigar Gloves
3) Rebecca cabled shorts

Guess I better get to it!