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Monday 31 May 2010

Who knows, pigs might fly

I just cannot believe that this bank holiday weekend has gone already! I havent done anything and its not because I havent got the money to go out anywhere. I think I may be getting too old before my time. I've watched the tv a fair bit in the evenings and that sucks the life out of me. Why, I sit and watch the crap thats on is a mystery and I am the first one to complain that its even switched on. Most of the time, when I am home in the day, its not on and I listen to music whilst pottering around or knitting but these light spring evenings are even not inviting me into the garden. Why! I dont flipping know.

I must admit that the past year I have started to realise that my life is changing now. I'm not depressed or nothing, my kids are older now, they dont stay in much and maybe once or twice a week we actually sit down and have a dinner together. Thats why I cant be bothered to cook meals cause its not the same. My husband is quite happy after a hard days work to have his dinner and watch tv all night! Arg!! I think one of us is going to have to start getting our butts kicked and do something once or twice a week in the evenings otherwise we are going to be pensioners before you know it.




I have finished the lace curtain and am really pleased with it. I havent got round to blocking it yet. Have got to find a place where the cats wont sit on it. I have also started a lacey capelet of my own design and am using Reflections Shimmer Yarn which is turning out quite yummy. I just hope it fits me.

Back to work tomorrow, booohooo. Never mind, got to earn the pennies.

Friday 21 May 2010

Winnie the Pooh Crochet Blanket


Oh boy! What a horrible week I have had but its the weekend and I am finally getting a weekend off work. I have almost finished the baby blanket for my cousin in USA and its all crochet. Its took almost two weeks just to complete the front but am now working on the back.

We have had some very warm weather here and I have finally got a chance to go out into the garden and get things done. I have got a whole load of runner bean plants to put in and I hope that they are going to grow well. May also take some to work for the ladies and gents to grow.

TV has been absolutely boring lately, only watched NCIS and The Mentalist and a few history programmes.

Wednesday 12 May 2010

Basketweave & Garter Stitch Baby Blanket


Heres my pattern for the lovely baby blanket I made for my stall. It measures 24 inches by 28 inches.

You will need: 2 x 100g balls of DK Yarn in pale pink and 1 x 100g ball of DK in brighter pink.
Size 4mm circular knitting needle and a 4mm crochet hook.

Method: You will need to know how to crochet.

Cast on 130 stitches.

Rows 1 - 4: Knit 5, purl 5, repeat to end.
Rows 5 - 8: Purl 4, knit 5, repeat to end.
Rows 9 - 12: Knit 5, purl 5, repeat to end.
Rows 13 - 16: Change colour and work 4 rows in garter stitc.

Repeat Row 1 to 16 a second time.

Now work 12 rows in pale pink garter stitch.

Repeat from Row 1 to the 12th row in garter stitch until you have it the length you require. (Mine was 4 repeats - 64 rows)

Crochet edge: In brighter pink and size 4mm crochet hook, do a single crochet stitch all the way along each side. Then do a shell stitch along edge.

Single Crochet: Hook into stitch, yarn over, pull through (2 stitches on hook), yarn over hook, pull through two stitches.

Shell Stitch: This is a half double crochet, 3 trebles, and a half double crochet all in the same stitch.

Tuesday 11 May 2010

My work in progress


I am off work today cause of working Sunday so have decided to post an update of my projects on the go.

Friday 7 May 2010

Chunky Afghan


This is my first pattern, so please contact me if there are any problems.

Chunky Afghan.

You will need: Robin Chunky 100% Acrylic (100g) balls. Colour choices are your decision.

Size 5mm crochet hook (British Term)

Cup of Tea, biscuit and a good film to watch.


Method:

1. Make a slip knot and chain 6. Join with a slip stitch in the first chain to form a circle.
2.Chain 3, (this counts as your first treble) then do 2 trebles, chain 3, 3 trebles, chain 3, 3 trebles, chain 3, 3 trebles, chain 1. Then go into the 3rd chain from beg Chain 3 and do a single crochet.

Picture 2

3. Chain 3, (this counts as your first treble to start a round), one treble in the space.

Then do 3 trebles in the top of each stitch from previous row.



Now your at a corner: Do 2 treble, 2 chain, 2 treble in the corner space. (you should have 7 trebles along the first side) and 2 trebles to start the next side. Now do 3 trebles along the top of the next side, 2 trebles, 2 chain and 2 trebles. (Thats another corner).

Picture 3
Repeat this until you have the next round completed with a ch 1, single crochet in third chain of begining round.

I changed colour at this point, so trim your yarn but not too short. Tie on the next colour and just repeat from No.2 until the blanket is big enough.

Phew; I didnt realise how much time it took to put a pattern together.

Tuesday 4 May 2010

Pinky project is done


My next finished project has only taken about 2 weeks to complete. Its my own design of basketweave and garter stitch. The only bit of sewing to be done are the few ends so thats not going to take too long. It measures 27" by 24" and is currently in the washing machine on a mini wash. So I am typing this whilst holding my breath. Its made with acrylic and you need to wash a baby blanket a lot so thats my excuse for using acrylic. I just love the crochet shells around the edge which I think makes it even more girly.

I am now going to start my Simply Lace Curtain today for the knit along group at www.letsknit2gether.com and its going to be my first real big lace project. I actually did a swatch with some Patons 100% cotton and didnt like it so am now taking a chance at using some 4ply yarn on a cone. I am going to make it for my kitchen window at first and hopefully, all being well, I would like to make one as a christmas present for Mother In Law cause she is so awkward to buy for and she would not expect a hand knitted curtain.

Now changing the subject slightly!! My husband bought me this gorgeous 'Mini Apple Tree' from Homebase, Dagenham and it was only £14.99. It grows to 6 feet and can stay in the pot. Plus it doesnt need another apple tree to polunate apparently. The white blossoms are just so lovely and the thought of sitting in my garden and picking an apple whilst sitting in my chair is just lovely.

We did a lot of tidying up in the garden the weekend, even though it chucked it down with rain, was cold and windy. I planted up a lot of runner bean seeds too because although my garden is small, I really would like to have some veg growing too. The first big job is to re-paint the decking which will take a long time.

Ok back to knitting now! I also am popping to Upminster tomorrow to see if I can get some wool the colour of 'winnie the pooh'. I keep thinking its more like a golden yellow that an actual yellow so I hope I can get it. My husband's cousin in Port Orange, Florida is having her first baby and she wants Winnie the Pooh nursery for the baby 'boy' she is having. I had so much trouble finding a pattern of Pooh that I could use for an afghan and finally got send a link for free Disney charts and oh my god, they are brilliant. So watch this space.