so much yarn...

In my effort to fill my time by using up all those unused balls of wool and leftover bits and pieces, and with a complete inability to focus on anything for long, I am flitting from one project to another!

Some years ago, I bought some yarn online, thinking it would be chunky yarn for a squishy blanket. 

Only when it arrived, it seems the 'tiny' bit means that its actually not much different to an aran weight and wasn't what I had in mind for a chunky blanket at all. Plus it has a chenille like finish and is 100% polyester and although it is very soft I'm not mad keen on the feel of it. I have tried several times to knit something or crochet something and I have unravelled it each time, so it has sat in my wool store staring at me each time I go to make something!

Then in my pattern scrolling a few days ago, I came across a pattern on you tube called "Very easy to make baby blanket crochet knitting pattern for beginners" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JncCpTYG9y0&list=UULFcEnqXHB3a8A4oMeyW_HyYw&index=76 - it uses a thicker yarn but I figured it was worth playing with and a day later...

I had made a squishy infinity scarf! Which is the first thing I've made with this yarn I haven't wanted to pull out! Only I still had another full ball...

So I made a mitten, which I kind of made up on the fly... and although it looks a slightly odd shape, it fits my hand! Which maybe means my hands are an odd shape! Better on...

Only, rather stupidly, I didn't write down what I was doing, so now I have to try and figure it out to make the other one to match 😂. Good job they are just for me!

The colours are a bit rubbish because the light has been so awful - maybe I'll take a better one outside when I have a pair!

S x

sculptures in the park...

Got taken out today for a slow walk in the sunshine. Love the sculpture trail against the winter planting and light.

It was cold though! And we were ready for a warm up in the cafe afterwards!

S x
 

playing with patterns...

Too much time on my hands! Or maybe I should just see it as an opportunity. Relatively stuck - unable to drive and limited to short walks if it looks dry enough to brave with the crutches - has given me endless scrolling time! There are so many crochet patterns out there! So given I have lots of bits of sock wool to play with, thought I'd do a few little squares in different patterns and see what I like. Still not decided what I'll do with them yet! Maybe a sample blanket or cushion - depends how many I get out of the bits I suppose and what they look like together in the end.

So far...

...moss stitch, a kind of compromised shell stitch made into a square, a two row pattern I found (no idea if it has a name), a kind of bubble stitch, a sc/htr alternate pattern, and a crochet mitred square. Of course they are all a bit of the skew and I haven't sewn ends in yet but I'm having fun playing!

Only then I got side tracked, because I really like the feel (and ease to be honest, loving a bit of mindless crochet at the moment!) of moss stitch, so tried combining one of the sock yarns with a left over sport weight in cream...

Oh I liked this - I did it on a size 5 hook so it made up into quite a dense fabric - for a blanket I think I'd go up a hook size to give a better drape but I think this might be heading for a cushion cover. Only, as always when I try to use up my stash, now I need some more cream to make a back for it!! Unless I can think of a way of combining other leftovers.

And similarly...

I thought I had another half ball of the jade but no! So now I have half a cushion cover, destined for my bedroom which is heading for a remake with this colour as accent colour, waiting for me to decide what to do for a back. Maybe I'll raid the charity shops for a sweater to repurpose or some unwanted yarn from elsewhere - I am determined not to buy new!

I finished my latest pair of socks...

These pics show the colour better as there was a bit more decent natural light. Usually I bother to unwind the yarn to make sure the socks properly match but I just couldn't be bothered this time so I have slightly random stripes! I don't care so figured what does it matter - if I was giving them to someone else I'd have made the effort.

And in between all the hooky stuff, it has finally been bright enough and dry enough to swap my endless laps of the living room for a short, slow very cold walk round the park at the end of my road. So lovely to feel a little winter sunshine and see some blue sky.

S x

Playing with yarn...

The weather has been so cold and wet that attempting a walk on crutches outdoors seems unwise, so in between wearing a track in my carpet doing laps of the living room, I have been trying to fill the time with crafty stuff. I am trying not to buy more yarn just yet, as I have a fair bit left from other projects or random  purchases, so I have made a couple of pairs of socks and am playing with a two-tone crochet pattern...

I don't usually go for just two colours but am quite enjoying the rhythm of this double/half treble pattern, which carries the colour not in use across as you crochet which seems to have two effects - it is making a nice squishy fabric and no ends to sew in - yay! I think this is heading to be a cushion but haven't quite decided yet.

Never one for just one thing on the go at a time (I get bored very quickly!), I have almost finished another pair of socks...

I love knitted socks - they last better and are warmer than any I have ever bought - but I have ended up with lots of left over bits...

...so I have been trying to decide what to do with them all. I could do more socks and mix and match but I'm a bit done with knitting for a bit I think, so have been playing with crochet ideas. Its much finer than I usually crochet with so it may try my patience but for now I'm going to make a few little squares and see how I feel.

I'm quite liking this little off centre square - can't quite decide how they will look together but will see how it looks when I've made a few!

Work in progress!

S x

Little things...

I find something quite fascinating and pleasing about shadows. I always have, not sure why, but remember as a child chasing my shadow along the pavement and being shown how to make shadow puppets on the wall. I think it's a bit like finding pictures in fires or clouds, something slightly abstract about the shapes and transience of the image. 

Today is bitterly cold and I'm not sure I will get outdoors - I can't move fast enough to keep warm at the moment and don't think I can face it on my own - but it is intermittently quite bright and I am enjoying the patterns playing across my wall as the sun moves across the front window. Also beats looking at the dust that shows up in the sunlight!

I'm also enjoying the houseplants, which are so much happier in this house than the last two places I've lived, presumably because the house gets so much more natural light, where before I had north facing windows and constantly needed a light on. Not just the plants that have benefited from that! I had one sickly looking spider plant for about 8 years, which has now spawned multiple offspring and thrived in this house.

I'll take that as a thing to feel positive about.

S x

Steps forward, steps back...

Reality check today. Thought I could manage to walk into town and back. I knew I'd be slow and I planned a cafe stop half way but actually 2/3 of the way there, I was struggling - just at the point of no return stage! I made it to the cafe...

...for an overpriced cup of tea but a delicious pastel de nata (which I'd already scoffed by the time I took the photo!) but had to call my son to come and rescue me 😞.

I am trying not to think how far away I am from when walking miles in the Lake District mountains 18 months ago and remember that less than 3 weeks ago I could barely stand. So I guess its progress. But the price of over ambition today was more pain and feeling shattered. So frustrating.

Oh well, smaller goals tomorrow.

S x

Finding sunshine...

Feeling a bit trapped today. Weather has been horribly dull and wet, meaning I couldn't get out and had to keep lights on all day. Has felt a very long day.

The only bit of sunshine I can see from my windows is this bit of stained glass...

This brightens up my kitchen window all year round and in the summer glows with light but at the moment it is shining over some beautiful, if rather pungent hyacinths...

Tomorrow's forecast is more of the same so preparing to fill the day by trying to keep up the physio indoors, crafty stuff and reading. And trying not to feel awful that my team at work are one man short at the busiest time of year.

S x

Happy New Year!

Almost 3 weeks ago, I had major surgery on my spine, which left me, temporarily I hope, with a numb and not very useful right leg. Post-op has been a bit up and down and although I knew the physical rehab would take a while, and is slowly improving, I hadn't accounted for quite how exhausted I would feel or what an impact a loss of independence has on your sanity and self esteem. Having been on my own for over 10 years now, being able to drive and do 'stuff' as and when you want to has become both essential and, I guess, an internal measure of how I am coping.

So, today, determined to get out and walk a bit as the sun was shining, I steeled myself, picked up the crutches and walked all of about 300 yards.  But I did it, it was cold and crisp and the fresh air did me good.

I confess by the last 50 yards, my legs felt like lead and there was an element of mind over matter, but, spurred on by the thought of a bowl of warming soup waiting, it was worth it. 

Baby steps...

S x