WIP Wednesday 10.11.21

Current WIP count: 8 (plus a lot of ends)

So far I’ve cranked out five charity hats in various sizes and one matching scarf, finishing up one ball of mystery rainbow yarn and taking a chunk out of the cream yarn.

Then I did a bit of a stash dive and pulled out these odds and ends.

The blue-green-yellow one was pretty much a whole skein so I decided it could be a hat all by itself, and for the rest I’ll probably stick with the original plan of mixing them with the cream until it runs out.

I have told myself that once I get to ten hats I will sew all the ends in before starting any new ones – who thinks I’ll actually stick to that?

Hannah

xXx

WIP Wednesday 20.10.21

Current WIP count: 8

I had a look back through my WIP list this week and I couldn’t remember why I had abandoned the crochet fingerless gloves. The answer, of course, was ends.

180 ends.

Clearly they’re not going to sew themselves in so I had a word with myself and got on with it. So far I’m 5 down, 175 to go.

This might take a while.

Hannah

xXx

WIP Wednesday 06.10.21

Current WIP count: 8

The pug progresses, although I’ve already decided that this isn’t the right colour for his wee body (it’s more grey in real life) so I’m definitely making another one when he’s finished.

Let’s call this the practice run because I already have some tweaks to the pattern I want to try, mainly to deal with the massive holes in the tummy and where the legs join the body. I might end up with a pug army by the end of this!

Hannah

xXx

WIP Thursday 30.09.21

Current WIP count: 8

My manager at my new job has had a terrible time for the last three years, and this week her wee pug puppy has been very ill and ended up in the ICU.  She is such a lovely person who doesn’t deserve any of it so I just had to make a wee something to cheer her up.

Obviously I haven’t got very far yet, but it’s going to be a teeny little pug. It’s a free pattern that I found here at Stella’s Yarn Universe if anyone else feels like making an adorable puppy for themselves.

I’m actually not 100% sure about the colour at the moment; I’m struggling to picture the finished puppy so I’ll probably end up making two versions and giving my manager the one that looks most realistic. And I’ll just have to keep the other one for myself, what a shame!

Hannah

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FO Tuesday (because if I wait until Friday I’ll forget)

The Mandalorian bandwagon has been out, done its rounds, and got back to the station, so of course I chose now to jump on it.  One of The Fiancé’s nieces loves baby Yoda and she had a birthday on Saturday. I mentioned that I could crochet one in time, and he came out with possibly the silliest thing he’s said to me so far: “do you have the yarn?”

Do I have the yarn??  I probably have enough yarn in my stash to make a Death Star, the whole crew, and a 3D landscape to display it in.  Of course I had the exact colours I needed and he turned out suuuuuuper cute.

I will definitely not be making any more though; he’s smaller than my hand, and my amigurumi is very tight, so the sewing together was not a fun experience. But hey, I made a baby Yoda that stands up on its own and the recipient loves it so I’m happy!

Hannah

xXx

That is the ugliest effing square I’ve ever seen*

*it’s not plagiarism if you change a word, right?

I thought I had my mojo back up and running, but then I made the mistake of ignoring that little voice telling me I didn’t like what was appearing at the end of my crochet hook.

What hideous colours. But the next few rounds will fix it, won’t they?

Nope. Still hideous.

I frogged the whole thing and now it’s in the naughty corner for a while.

It’s strange that the colours I chose for the blanket all look so good together, but take out two or three of them and it can end up a disaster! I used to think I had such an eye for colour.

Well, I’ll try shuffling some around and maybe swapping some out, and see if I can get something workable. Maybe even pretty. Wish me luck.

Hannah

xXx

No mojo

This year has not started out as I mean to go on. I’ve not blogged at all and that’s partly because I haven’t touched a hook or needle for weeks. I have no reasons, or even excuses; my mojo has just vanished.

The last thing I did finish was my Roses for Grandma blanket. After more than two years of working on it in dribs and drabs, I finally crossed the finish line at some point between Christmas and new year 2020. And here it is:

The pattern is (Rav link) Roses on Lace by Pat Gibbons, exscept for the forget-me-nots that I designed myself. The roses and forget-me-nots are mostly Eco Cotton yarn, with some Ricorumi for the leaves. The cream is a little bit of cotton I had leftover in my stash with no label on, but mainly Women’s Institute Soft & Smooth acrylic. And every last bit of it is infused with memories of my Grandma. I never could forget about her, but it’s comforting to have something physical that I can wrap around myself and be warmed by as I remember.

Hannah

xXx

Happy new year

Just a quick one to say happy new year, and I hope 2021 is much better for everyone.

Also, I forgot to mention my secret Santa present:

I’ve wanted one of these for aaaaaaages so I’m really excited to get stuck in. So that’s how I’m starting this year!

Hannah

xXx

I think I’ve got it

Current WIP count: 6

Stubbornness wins! I kept trying and trying with this joining pattern, and last night it finally clicked into place.

It’s actually really simple now I know what it’s asking for.

My problem was that the pattern uses the terms ‘same square’ and ‘adjacent square’ to explain what’s going on, but when you have to turn the work a few times (which you do) it’s a bit difficult to keep track of which square is which.

Some photos or diagrams would have helped, but never mind. I’m on the home stretch now and I can definitely finish off this blanket before the new year!

Hannah

xXx

No socks Monday

Believe it or not, I don’t have any socks on my needles right now. Gasp!

What I do have is a serious case of finish-itis. I’ve sewn in all the ends on the baby jumper and my Diagon Ally socks, and I’ve been super focussed on the boyfriend’s jumper. It’s odd not having the slightest urge to start something new.

However, I have hit a bit of a snag with one finish. Earlier this year I mentioned completing my Roses for Grandma blanket before 2021. All of the squares are finished and now it’s on to joining them together.

But I can NOT understand the joining instructions. At all. I’ve tried a few versions of what it might be trying to say, but none of them turned out useable, never mind correct.

There are no diagrams in the pattern, no notes on Rav, and no videos on YouTube that I can find, so I’m a bit stuck. I don’t suppose anyone else has made it before and can help me?

Hannah

xXx

WIP-ing on a Thursday

Current WIP count: 7

Having a job isn’t helping me keep track of days at all, so no alliteration for today’s post title. I’m sure we’ll manage.

I have finished the first sleeve on the boyfriend’s jumper, but haven’t picked up stitches for the second one yet.

If you think that sleeve looks a bit long then you’re right. The boyfriend and I like our jumpers and coats to come down past our wrists, for maximum warmth and snuggly-ness. He has tried it on and approved.

The blanket is coming along nicely, with four squares now finished.

I’m dithering a bit over that latest square. It’s all very red and orange and part of me wants to sub in some more yellow in the second one, but I also want to stick with the pattern and keep both squares the same. What do you guys think?

Hannah

xXx

October review 2020

Stash used this month: 0.5

Total stash used this year: 43

Stash added: 2

Stash remaining: 327.25

I’m really not getting through stash mountain as quickly as I hoped. That seems to be what happens when I can’t stop knitting socks; they’re such addictive little things, but not exactly yarn munchers.

All I’ve managed this month is a pair of socks for the boyfriend and two blanket squares.

Of course, stress-buying yarn isn’t helping either. I really am trying to cut down on that.

I’m now starting to think about Christmas presents, as well as a couple of December birthdays, so there should be something other than socks and blankets to show off this month! Even I’m looking forward to that.

Hannah

xXx