Year of projects (wk11)

This week has taken me rather by surprise, it being the half-term holidays and with no school runs to do, I made myself a big to-do list.

I'm quite big on lists, and being able to tick off even a few jobs gives me a great sense of satisfaction.  At the beginning of the week, between other things I saw the tape measure and got oldest boy on measuring my granny stripe and my bed.  Not so long ago, it was a good way off being finished, but this time when measured it was about three stripes off..........totally do-able!

So first things first I have a finished item on my Year of projects........drum rolls please...............

This is already in full use with three boys snuggled under it on any given opportunity!

So onto another project, I've been carrying on with the flower motifs for a shawl/scarf as a Christmas present.

After asking advice from you clever, fellow bloggers about joining these flowers I was given a great idea from Marie at Underground Crafter so when I think I have made enough I will plan my layout and begin to join.!

Staying with the flowers, I bought a ball of Rico Creative about a week ago and after looking at this link here

suggested by goodpurlgonebad (don't you just love the blogging community!) I decided that I would give it a whirl.  I must admit, I haven't stuck to the pattern really as I liked the look of the flowers when I got to round three so rather than carrying on, I stopped there.

This yarn is absolutely beautiful and the colours (not shown well here!) are glorious.  This will definitely do well from blocking I'm sure.  I had in mind that this would make a shawl too, but hubby says he thinks it should be something less showey like a cushion.............hhhmmmmm, not sure.  The person who I have in mind for it, likes cheerful......... so why not wear it........what d'ya think?

So all in all a good week on lots of fronts........crochet........fun........housework..........sorting......... lots of ticks on my list!!

Before I forget, I would like to point you all in the direction of Fee at Chipper Nelly who is giving away some of her gorgeous handmade wooden blocks........take a look

As others have said before me.......never entirely sure why you want to alert any one's attention to these things when it clearly makes your own chance of winning less........hhhhhmmmmmm.........

Anyway, it's all go in my house today as it is Hubby's birthday ('And you're sat here blogging?' I hear you ask incredulously). I have a roast in the oven, although after the amount of chocolate coconut cake we've all eaten I'm not sure there will be anyone much interested in supper!  There are veg that need doing and batter for Yorkshire puds.....so must go!

I'm looking forward to having a good nosey about later at all your blogs too........thanks as ever for all the lovely comments and ideas.........always appreciated!

To check out other Year of projects work - please look here.



Reasons to be cheerful

I'm linking in with Planet Penny today on three reasons that I am cheerful!

Actually I have a lot to be thankful for, but here are just three..............

Days out during the school half-term holidays

(this particular garden centre had some really strange garden gnomes!)

Feeding the swans.........and appreciating our wonderful surroundings.

It's finished!

Please check out Planet Penny's blog to see other peoples' Reasons to be cheerful posts.

One-a-day Tuesday's tallie (wk7)

I'm feeling very cheery today!

• Its the school holidays..........

• I'm actually finding time for some proper sorting through the chaos this week......

• I've nearly finished my stripe (I can't believe it, I think the crochet elves must have be working on it at night, as it was nowhere near big enough, and now it nearly is!)

• I found two balls of cotton for my one-a-day that I somehow misplaced, and all is right with the world again! (I am officially not going mad!!)

That is 48 squares!

I went into my LYS on Saturday and I bought their last ball of the cotton that I've been using, and resigned myself to a re-think.  Last night I decided that I would do one more row of six and call it a day at 54, to make sure I had enough cotton to do the border...........but today..................I have been given a gift in the shape of two more balls hiding upstairs.  Therefore the (now) plan is to carry on to the 64 squares intended in the pattern, knowing I will have enough for those and the border...................pheeewww!

I must be a simple girl, as it is the simple things that make me feel like I'm going to burst with happiness!

I am so excited at the prospect of finishing my stripe this week that I am having difficulty containing myself!

Anyway.......enough about me........to see other peoples' one-a-day work, check out Gingerbreadgirl's blog

P.S. A friend sent me this link to the British Sun newspaper yesterday and my liking for crocheted stripes has just been reaffirmed..............check it out

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3881573/Brighton-hotel-is-knitty-gritty.html

Year of projects (wk9)

If there was ever a week that was shorter than previous weeks, last week was it!

We've done it all, seen it all and bought all the relevant t-shirts......first teeth out, birthday cakes, selling cows, nose bleeds, selling cars, meals out, fish and chips, friends for supper, table-top sales where we made -£3 (yes.....I know!)................life in this household is never dull!

In amongst all this, very few new projects have been thought about, but a few stripes have occurred.

I have been uummming and aaahhhhing about whether I should finish my blanket now, as it is heavy and more than big enough for the sofa.  So I figured I would get to the end of the next batch of stripes and call it a day, however on putting it on our bed to take a picture, I figured it is neither here nor there, so I will press on until it reaches the end of our kingsize bed.  So another Lucy pack will be on order tomorrow I think!

I will this week, commit to actually deciding what needs to be added to my list for Christmas, I had a slight wobble this morning when I thought it was only six weeks until Christmas, I am fairly sure that is not right, but let's face it, it won't be long until it is! 

I have said I will take part in the local school's Christmas fayre, which means I will have lots of sewing to do before long, leaving me less crochet time.............I think I may need to make a timetable all in different colours to decide what to do first!

On another note, please check out the fab giveaway at Annaboo's House I love the concept of Pay it Forward and to have something made by the creative Annaboo herself would be fab, so I'm definitely in!

Anyway, time is ticking on and I have reading, uniforms, supper and baths still to do.........I could just hide, but I figure I would soon be discovered.

Looking forward as ever to reading every one's Year of Projects progress later, when littlest, middle and big are safely tucked up, if you would like to see what everyone else is doing too......see here.

I should also say, I am so amazed at all the encouragement and words of wisdom I constantly receive when needed........you really all are a very clever lot, and without you...........I'd be a miserable blogger with lots of unfinished rubbish crochet projects.......so......ahem.......Thanks.........I am constantly blessed by you all!

Year of projects (wk8)

Well, I picked some of you good people's brains this week and decided to put hook to yarn and  get on with it.  Thank you for all the useful suggestions, the most helpful suggestion was that I need to change the habit of a lifetime and ..........plan...........

As part of my YOP list I want to do a flower scarf.

I love the beautiful Japanese scarves I have seen on so many other blogs.  The bit I don't get is that the book that a lot of other crocheters have used is obviously in Japanese, and not being able to read charts that well, I wasn't confident I would get anywhere.

Anyhoo........I bought a book about motifs and was very inspired, but still unsure about working all the shapes together.  I asked about tessellating, but actually it probably isn't the word I was looking for.  If I choose a geometric shape they will fit together and I could join-as-I-go, but with flowers, I guess I had in mind that I could pick a few different designs and join each one by slip-stitching into previous flowers as I go. 

I tried this design first that I found in Rowan's Vintage Knits book from the local library.  This would overcome the joining problem, but it wasn't exactly what I envisaged.

So I used my new crochet book and tried out three different flower motifs.

I want to be able to randomly put them together to make a scarf or shawl, but as of yet, I haven't figured out how.  If I join as I go, I will have to select the design and colours carefully  and I feel that it won't fit into my haphazard style of doing things!

I have also been working on my one-a-day sunnyspread throw and my Attic 24 inspired granny stripe.  The stripe is very comforting to do now, as it is keeping me warm while I work on it. 

I have done 4 repeats, that is 68 colours or 136 rows.  I chained 240 to begin, so it is wide enough hopefully to go on a bed, and I have read somewhere, that with that width I should get 7 repeats out of each ball, so I am over half way! 

I think I will buy another Lucy pack so I have the option to add a bit more, as I'm not sure if the border is included in the one pack with 7 repeats.  I also have two friends expecting babies in the next few months so would like to make a couple of cot blankets, maybe a ripple?  Maybe a round ripple as I have seen some beautiful examples recently.

I love, love, love this project!

Anyway, I am whizzing off to watch Johnny English with the boys while probably doing a little more striping. 

Looking forward to seeing all your great progress with a cup of tea when all the littlest members of this family are tucked up in bed.

Hope you all have a very successful week!



Year of projects (wk5)

This week I have been mostly................chasing my tail!

As previously mentioned, crocheting-on-the-go has become my new best friend.

I am still to work out the finer details, discovering on my first venture into this new world that I was completely unprepared.

I need a bag.
I need some mini-scissors.
I need to make sure it is a light place....otherwise, I could try a head torch?

Do you reckon I could carry it off?

Oh Granny stripe, how I love thee...........

I have finished the second run of 17 colours and I am still loving every minute.  I am going to stop showing pictures now, for fear of boring you all, but do know that I am striping away and enjoying every moment.

My one-a-day pile is gradually growing

This project is perfect for mobile crocheting (mo-cro?) so will easily be finished for Christmas, as intended.

Ah, the socks........I've started to really stress that I am not going to be able to re-create a second one to match the first, so I have picked them back up and am determined to get them done and dusted.  Admittedly I didn't quite understand the pattern when I did the heel, so I made it up myself ........now you with lots of experience will be saying 'well, that's ok, as obviously you wrote down what you did.'...........hhhhmmmmm, herein lies the problem..............

So there we have it.  I have been thinking on extending my list, and will soon, but as it stands my feet hardly touch the ground during the day due to new school runs so it will have to wait a little longer.

I am really looking forward to sitting now with a cup of tea and reading what all you clever people have been up to.  For more 'Year of project' blogs, look here.

Have a great and productive week!

Year of projects (wk4)

Wow, week four already..........although it has gone quickly, I have definitely achieved more than I would have done without the year of projects, so it is all good!

My time has been a little limited this week, due to 'back to school' and a few busy evenings.  The evenings may prove to get busier with various clubs and things that the boys would like to attend.  I have never really crocheted much in public, but I think it will be on my horizon, otherwise I will never get anything done.

The elusive ball of red arrived on Friday which was so exciting I can tell you (there it is snuggled in my bag)  I have striped it in and it hasn't disappointed.........

My granny stripe has been calling me, but in my head nagging away is also the fact I saw a mahousive spider two days ago, heading for my stripe project bag and I can't quite shake the fact, that it may jump out on me and shout 'BOOO!'.  Most unimpressed with my husband who failed to catch it, this thing must have been on performance-enhancing steroids, as it clearly won the race!

I can't tell you how much I love the colours, the stripes and the yarn, I am so glad I didn't wait longer to start it.

The sock monkey is finished and pretty much as I expected, he is fairly ugly.  I was a bit over enthusiastic with the stuffing, so it looks like he could do with signing up for slimming world and the acrylic used really was quite nasty.  I half read the instructions and started decreasing a little to early on the head, but despite all this, he is extremely popular with all three boys, who all want one now.  I feel it has been a worthwhile project and I will definitely add at least two more to my list for presents this Christmas.  I will modify things a little maybe so he appears a little less obese!

Elephant ears and sausage arms and legs........not a good look!

I have bought a big bag of cotton this week from the LYS which is going to make a sunnyspread throw for the one-a-day project and also a Japanese flower shawl as another present. 

I am motivated and keen, when I finally figure out how I am going to make more hours in the day, there will be no stopping me!

Rollercoaster ride

What a week it has been!

Just before my boys broke up for the summer hols, my husband and I discussed moving them from the local rural village school, into the much larger scarier town school about 9 miles away.  After much to-ing and fro-ing, tears and stress I took the decision to move them.  So this week my two older boys started their new schools and I don't feel like my feet have touched the floor since. 

Previously, the boys were conveniently picked up by the school minibus from the top of our drive and returned in the evening.......so easy I can tell you.  Now I travel in and out from town and once I get home it feels like I get about three things done and then I am back on the road again. 

To most, I guess is sounds like we have done the unimaginable, but for us and our family it has definitely been the right move (if I keep saying it, it might sink in!!)  Our middle boy is happy as larry, not a lot fazes him as he is class clown and very laid back.  Our oldest is taking more time, but has a few new friends and so many amazing opportunities for him in the new school.  The littlest will start in January and I feel sure he will be happy and confident in such a good school with excellent resources.  New beginnings are always a bit daunting, but sometimes hanging on to the familiar because it is comfy and convenient is not the way to go.


On a far less philosophical note..........crochet.........

With great enthusiasm I signed up for the one-a-day challenge set up by gingerbread girl and then with all the organisational skills of a.......very disorganised person........... I missed the start! 

I have decided to do the Sunnyspread throw from ravelry and have spent some time pondering colours for the person it is intended for.  I did show you a square I made up in a yellow ochre cotton.........

But felt a little wobbly about the colour, I loved it, but felt it might be a little strong for someone else.  So rather cautiously, I chose a very pale lilac, far safer and neutral.  ............maybe one day I will make an goldy coloured one for myself........truly sunny.

Anyway I did the second square on a 5 hook (the pattern calls for a 6) but felt it was a bit gappy, so I have settled on doing it on a 4 hook so it is a little tighter.  Each square takes a little over half an hour, so should be do-able and as long as I am disciplined, I will have a tick off my Christmas present list in a couple of months!

I have just about finished off my sock monkey, ready for my Year of Projects post tomorrow.........

..........and...........long awaited and much anticipated, the ball of red has arrived! 

 I will be striping again soon!

Year of projects (wk3)

This project has legs!

I'm not sure if the intention of this Year of Projects challenge is to make lots of WIPs, but in my case it definitely is.  In my defense, I made a flying start on my granny stripe, but was working with only 16 of the 17 colours, unfortunately, like watching paint dry, the last ball has still not arrived so I am being like a small impatient child.  I don't want to go onto the second phase of stripes without using the missing one first, especially as it is red and therefore will possibly cause an imbalance if missed.  I also started to work on the front of my cushion and have had a definite mind block over exactly how I made the small square last week........ridiculous I know, but I have made and frogged so many squares that I have also had a tantrum about that and stuck it back in the bag.

Onwards and upwards anyway...............this week I received my first ball of swirly wool (much excitement I can tell you!) and after a few swear words and a very patient hubbie, I managed to make it into a ball........I did toy with the idea of not making it into a ball and working from the hank...........hmmm, I know........boy, I'm glad I didn't do that!

Anyway..........I have one sock made!!

I also have the other in the making, so there is every chance they may become a pair!  This project has been a good one as I have learnt a few new skills (winding a ball of wool, being one of them) and  new stitches.  Despite being told that crochet socks are not always comfortable, these are really lovely (although I'm not sure the red-ish colours are a good look on my milky white legs!) and have a nice lace pattern to make the project a little less boring.

Alongside my socks I also started a sock monkey last night.  It has to be said that the cheap, scratchy acrylic I am using doesn't make for the best looking monkey, but then I have a feeling that it won't really matter to my littlest monkey.  I am going to use this as a bit of a trial actually, as I think I will make at least another two of these for Christmas presents.....although maybe not out of these carefully thrown together  picked out colours.

On the subject of Christmas, I have decided to put a few more things on my list with just that in mind.  I have started a one-a-day project as suggested by gingerbread girl and am going to make a sunnyspread throw.  This got me to thinking about what else I could make and I rather surprised myself by realising I could maybe get a few things done now and save the last minute spending/panicking that normally takes place in our house the week before Christmas.  So this week, I will start making my list and then tag it on the bottom of what I already have and hope that out of somewhere I will find some drive and sense of urgency to get the job done!

I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone else is getting on with, I am feeling all 'glowy' inside at the encouragement from fellow crocheters.......thankyou!