Crochet comfort..

I am in definite need of some TLC and the crochet has been a comfort to me in these last few weeks. I do want to share my heart and what is going on with here with you all as a number of you have been following my little blog for some time now. You have seen me from the start and saw my second child being born. I have shared many memories and many finishes with you. You have seen me at my best and at my lowest. I do want to share but I feel there is only so much I can say online. There are people in real life who read my blog and there are certain things that I could not possibly share as it would cause great upset and distress. So suffice to say that things have not been exactly heavenly round here and being on my own a lot with two young peeps has indeed been a struggle.

So, I have thrown myself into my crochet this last couple of weeks in an attempt to take my mind off things. Remember the Autumn blanket I was so excited about that I started last year? I took a special trip to Rowan in Holmfirth and met the lovely Lisa from blogland there. I was sooo excited about it and made an initial good start. Then I got way laid by all the ends and also realised I needed more wool. Several balls were by this time discontinued and it took me a while to find suppliers on the net. Anyway, to cut it short, I finally got going with it again and here it is - almost - all finished. I still need to do the border and for this I will need more wool so it looks like another trip to Holmfirth might be in order. I have seen a border I want to do in the book Crochet Borders and Corners. Here it is for you all to see. How comforting and warm this blanket is. It isn't massive by any means but it is a good snuggle size.

I also finally got round to making a back panel for this cushion front and have finished the Tiny Squares cushion. I need to get 6 buttons for this just to fasten it but couldn't resist showing you it. Another snuggly!

And just before I rush off, let's not forget the istitch mystery I have been keeping up with. Here's part 6:

Well, I hope that is enough of a colour explosion for you all today. Wrap up warm if you're in the UK as it is mighty cold here today.

Chat soon.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

How time flies...

Well it is definitely autumnal out there and I love it. I really couldn't take the heatwave we had this last weekend but things are considerably cooler now which is just perfect for me. Instead of going out and basking in the rays, I shut myself in for the weekend. I was truly miserable and kept on snapping at everyone. I really don't like the heat.

Found this mushroom at a local park and thought it was totally cool as I don't think I have ever see a red mushroom before - only in fairy tale books etc.

So, it has been over two weeks since my last post - eeekkk!! Figured I had better get a post up before I let things get out of control. In my last post I said I would have Dandy Dreams finished within a week or two but actually it only took a few days. The chart is now on it's way to the USA to Lynda who will stitch it and then send it back as I have others waiting to borrow it as well. Here's my happy finish:

I also finished stitching the September ornie that me and Tina (no blog) are doing. I was a bit late as I started it on the last day of September! Oh well. I still need to finish it off but it was a lovely one to do. This is a freebie from the Sampler Girl and you can find it on her blog if you scroll through the archives.

I have also been beavering away on Sampler au Bouquet and just loving this design! Here is where I am up to right now.

I am using the Vintage Country mocha belfast linen and the called for DMCs and love the way it is turning out. The fabric looks even better in real life and I can't stop looking at the way it all mottles and blends. Lovely.

Okay, next up is part 5 of the Istitch mystery sampler. I am keeping up with this and doing the parts as they come out but I have been glad of the break so I can stitch on other things as well. Here's my part:

Sorry the picture is so small. It is at Carol's request that we keep them small for the time being.

Well, I got a lovely gift in the post today from Lynda at A Cosy Little Place for Stitching. She sent me two LHN All Dolled Up charts from my wishlist so I am super pleased with them and will be definitely stitching them along with the couple of others I have. Brilliant and a super surprise so THANK you Lynda. Love them.

Well. I think that is me all done. Unless that is you want to see pictures of my lentil meals I have been making? No I thought not so I will save them for my food forum lol. I have done a bit of crochet but it is for a charity blanket and I am not sure that the square is good enough to get used so I am waiting to find out on that one. It's that darn Jan Eaton book - I need a tutorial in how to follow her charts! Anyway, that's another story. Have a good week everyone. Hopefully it will be cool enough to get out my Autumn blankie and start working on her again soon.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

IHSW update

Well, so much for squirreling myself away for the weekend with my stitching. The weekend proved a fairly busy one with taking the kiddies to the cinema - it was the boy's first time. He seemed to enjoy it for the most part and didn't bother the audience too much. We also went to a small craft fair so by the time we got back that was the best part of the day gone. Sunday proved just as difficult as I started with the cold/flu symptoms that seem to be doing the rounds at the moment.

However, all that said, I did manage to get some stitching done. I worked on the Istitch mystery and the Dandy Dreams chart in the evenings. I only had to frog the Istitch part twice this time!! I seriously think it is because I am feeling so tired and run down. Anyway, here are my progress pics:

Istitch part 4

Dandy Dreams

I mainly focused on the green at the bottom and there was a heck of a lot of counting in it. I am so close to finishing this. I reckon I should aim to finish it in about 2 weeks.

That's all from me for know folks. I did start some knitting but my DS took it all off the needles and then proceeded to hide the needles!!! I am still one missing!! Grrrrrrr...... I hate knitting.

Have a good week folks.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Wiggly Jiggly

Happy Friday everyone! I am looking forward to having a hermit weekend this weekend and have joined the IHSW today.

Click on the above for more details. Staying home and curling up with a hot drink and stitching sounds like an ideal remedy for chilly blues! Actually, as I have said in my last post or previous, I love this season and this time of year. I actually like staying in and cuddling and snuggling up so this is perfect for me. Why don't you join in?? Not sure what I will be stitching yet but the next part of the istitch mystery is out and shouldn't take long to do so long as there are no hidden frogs. I might do a bit more on my HAED and also Dandy Dreams as well.

Well, this week I have been trying my hand at Wiggly crochet and have been experimenting with different hook sizes. The first one I began is the smallest one and I used a 1.5mm hook to make the netting.

It seemed to curl a bit at the back though - can you see??

So I went out and bought some different hooks - I got a 2.5 and a 3. These are the results.

3mm hook:

2.5 mm hook:

I noticed that these too curled a little at the back so i am thinking that perhaps that is a natural occurrence of this technique. The two larger ones are a bit gappy in my opinion and show the net too much so I am thinking of continuing on with my original one - the smallest one in bright colours and making either a cushion or a seat cover.

Here they are together to show the size difference. Maybe I should try a 2mm hook bit I can't be bothered making the trip to buy the hook:

The tutorial link is in my sidebar if anyone wants to try it out. It's a lot of fun.

Here is a bit more progress on Fragile Heart. There is a fair bit of block stitching on this page but also quite a bit of confetti so it is taking ages and driving me mad right now. But here she is as promised and I so need to get another progress pic up on the HAED bb.

Next weekend, my sweet friend Tracy from Mad stitching is coming to stay over. Woot!!! I have invited another friend over to so we are going to have a girly, crafty night with drinks and nibbles - can't wait!!! Adult company at long last! I will be busy this coming week, tidying dd's bedroom into a fit enough state to be used as a guest room. Eeek. Might just take me all week too.

Okay all, have a lovely weekend and will be back next week with my IHSW update.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

istitch mystery update

Just a quickie to keep on top of things.

Here is my update of part 3 of the istitch mystery:

It was a bit of a pain this bit as when I started to do it, I realised I had made a mistake in part 2 and had to frog!! Just goes to show you should never try and copy from someone's wip as you never know if there are mistakes!!!

I have had a go at the Wiggly crochet I linked to in my last post and I have got it but I need a bigger hook to make the initial chains as it is just a wee bit too tight. Once I work out the right tension, I will do it again and post a pic.

So many new crochet patterns out right now. Suz has got quite a few new ones which I want to try out. I am thinking "bathmat" and "chair cushions". Too many nice things to do.

I went to help out in a Primary School on Tuesday just to get a feel of the classroom environment again. I am secondary trained so Primary was a very different experience. It went well and I am intending on going weekly to read a story to the children. I need to start making some "baby" steps to get back to work as I don't know what the future holds for me just now. All WILL be well though.

I am still plugging away on my HAED Fragile Heart and will have another go at her tonight. I really want to get a decent progress picture up. Next post, promise. xxxxxx

Park walks

It has been a beautiful autumnal day. The wind has been blowing and the trees are starting to turn. I LOVE this time of year. My favourite season. We have had a few stormy days and they thrill me. I have seen the devastation done by Irene in the US and that is bad bad bad. No I don't mean those kind of storms but gentler ones where the wind and rain lashes down on your window and ALLOWS you to stay cozied up inside with the heating on and a hot drink. Today though, there is no rain. Just scuddering clouds across the skies and a whooshing wind that refreshes you. Summer for me is too hot - even in this country. I never do go abroad on HOT holidays. It just isn't me. No I like the Autumn with the wind and the cooler weather and the changing leaves. So Boy and I took a little stroll in the park while Lily was swimming. I have been playing around with the Hipstamatic on my ipod touch and I am not great with the camera but I like the effects. Here are a few pics.

This week I learned to do a new crochet square and sent three of them off to SIBOL. Sue is needing more of these squares and they are not difficult to do. If you want to help then please email Sue - you will find details on her blog. Sue makes up the squares into blankets for the elderly and has made 80 odd of them now. She has been written about in magazines. A very worthy cause. Even if you just made one then that would help.

I have been browsing the blogs and have been inspired by so much recently. A couple of crochet projects have really stood out to me and I would like to have a go at them. Here for example and here.

Well, the next part of the Istitch mystery is out today so I will be getting on with that - oh and I have done a little on my Fragile Heart HAED too so will post updates of those soon. Next week will see me going into a primary school to help out with the kids' reading. It's been about 7 years since I have been in the classroom and I am a little nervous but excited as well. I need to make small steps to get back to work so hopefully this will help.

Thanks for reading and commenting. You are all so lovely and positive and I appreciate them very very much.

Back to school..

Well the summer is over and gone and DD has gone back to school today - year 4! Wowza. She is looking so grown up, so old. DS has also returned to nursery and as he walked in, he told his dad, "I want to go home now". It breaks your heart but I know he will be fine and will be loving it in there, back with all his friends and doing lots and lots of exciting crafty things.

But, before they went off on their merry way, we decided to make some friendship braids. DD was our teacher and she enjoyed the process of showing us how to make these easy peasy sweet bracelets. She made some for her friends at school and for each other too. Even little man made one for Dad as well.

I have been doing a little bit of this and that and made a flower square for - well, I am not sure if it is secret or not - I don't think it is but it is to go towards a blanket for a lady who is suffering at the moment. That is all I will say. I really love this flower square and you can find the pattern here.

I have finished my little red bird as well. Been very hard at it trying to get a few finishes in but I am so slow. I now need to make this into a little door hanger cushion thing. I think it will look rather nice in my red, living room.

Bird in Hand Blackbird Designs

Also been working a little bit on Dandelion Dreams. Such a sweet design. I should have this finished soon I hope.

You will have to excuse the folded and creased look of my wips. You know I don't iron till I am ready to do the finishing on them. I am enjoying working on some slightly smaller projects at the minute. My head can't cope with big wips or BAPS at the moment. There is still a lot going on at home and I have spent too many days in floods of tears. Every day is a day where I am not sure of the outcome and just glad and relieved if that day has gone okay.

I have also been doing a little tidying - well, when I say tidying I really do mean shoving things out of sight and out of the way so don't look too closely. But do you remember my messy table here:

Here it is today:

How long it will stay like this for is anyone's guess. It has made me realise that this table really could do with a lick of paint. Tidy table - tidy mind??? We'll see.

Hope you are all having a marvelous week. Off to catch up with you all now. xx

Oh my - just had to edit this as I have just had a marvelous gift through the post from Amanda who I made the square for for her friendship blanket. Ooooohhhh sooo excited and they have really cheered up my day honey. I told you not to!!! Tut tut. But I really love it. Thanks so much.