Covid Strikes and a New Arrival!

 It got me! I suppose I'm lucky that I have managed to avoid Covid up until now.  It started with a trip to A&E with stroke like symptoms, tingling on the left side of my head and then it spread down my face.  Friday night is not a good time to be in A&E it was crowded with a 11 hour wait! I suppose no time is a good time to be in A&E but I couldn't help thinking that if it was a stroke I don't fancy my chances as I arrived at 7pm and wasn't seen until 3am! Anyway thankfully stroke was ruled out and I got home at 4 30am. I was ok on Sunday although the tingling sensation was still there but on Monday I could hardly get out of bed, did a test and I tested positive for Covid.  I'm wondering if it was the Covid that caused the tingling sensation.  

I have been pretty ill with it but the worst thing is two outings which cost me quite a bit have to be cancelled I was so disappointed especially as one of them was the Abba Tribute which is on tonight but I'm still testing positive and feeling very weak.  I was all set to get dressed up in my 70s gear and I had made a couple of Abba Style hats for my friend and myself...

I won't get to see Ted in his poncho either so I've instructed everyone to send me lots of photos.

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 My second little grandchild arrived yesterday morning it's a boy! It's going to be a while before I get to see him but I'm going nowhere near him until I'm completely well.

 I want to show you a couple of the the things I have made for him along with the blanket I showed you earlier..

My DIL asked me to make this baby onesie it's a very easy pattern and didn't take that long, I used Stylecraft special Aran in shade sage you can find the pattern on youtube here 

The blanket is my own little treasure baby blanket you can find the pattern here, it's lovely to make a works up in no time.

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This past week I haven't felt like doing anything much but I'm planning to do I little sewing today, I'm quite proud that I'm keeping up with this, the problem is though, the pattern is fading and it's getting more difficult to see it, I'm hoping that it lasts till December

To finish off I just had to show you this, still blooming in October just outside my front door, this is the wheel barrow that my brother gave me last year for my birthday, I filled it with Bizzy Lizzy's and they put a smile on my face everytime I open the door,

Have a great week ahead.💗

Click here to see all the great parties that I will be linking with this week.

A New Addition

As always my apologies for my very sporadic blogging, time just gets away from me, it seems to go faster the older you get, I will get back into the flow someday because I really don't want to totally abandon this little space of mine.

 I think we all look forward to the day when we will become grandparents, I know I did and I made lots of baby things and put them in a special granny suitcase up in the loft.  My wish was granted five years ago when little Mikey was born to son number one.  Since then it has been a very trying time for my lovely family, if you remember Mikey's mummy sadly miscarried a couple of years ago and there have been several unsuccessful attempts at IVF for another two members of my family.

Then son number two and my lovely daughter-in-law came to visit and presented me with a photo of a scan at twelve weeks, I was overjoyed for them but it always comes with trepidation, the hope that all will be ok after the previous IVF heartbreak that they have been through. I feel that now I can breathe easy as the pregnancy is going well and the baby is due end of this month.

My daughter-in-law asked me if I would make a baby blanket and sent me a photo of what she would like, silly question really OF COURSE !! I will make a baby blanket and anything else your heart desires, it will be an honour.😊

So here is the one that she chose, it didn't me long to make as it's made in Aran yarn, 

I couldn't help but think how times have changed, we used to make baby blankets in fine 3 or 4ply, then we moved onto dk but nowadays the younger generation seem to prefer the thicker yarns like aran or even chunky.

I used James C Brett Baby Aran Yarn in cream and you can find the pattern here

With some of the yarn I had left over I made this cute little hat

You can find the pattern here

I will show you what else I have made in another post because the crafting has been going on quite steadily throughout the Summer, at the moment I am trying to finish this for my daughters birthday next week..

Its an experiment and I'm not sure if I'll like it when it's done, I got the idea from Lucy at Attic24, my daughter said she needed a pencil case and I thought that I would try this out, I will let you know how I get on, I'll be working on this today whilst sitting in the sunshine making the most of this lovely weather we are having before it comes to an end.

My garden in September 😍

I hope you are all enjoying a lovely Sunday 😘😘

Linking with..

Slow Sunday Stitching

Oombawka Design: ...

Wednesday Link Party

A Little Collection Of Crochet Baby Hats

 Where did this week go! even though we are stuck indoors for most of the time here in the UK the time still goes far too fast for my liking.  How are you guys doing and how are you coping? I have discovered that if I have a routine and stick to it I can cope better and some part of that routine has got to have some kind of physical activity included into it.  

I'm so glad that I bought the treadmill it's been well used since I got it.  I put my Laptop onto a small table and place the small table on top of the big table so that the screen is eye level and watch something while I walk, it's great! I'm exercising without even realising it. It's also putting my Laptop to good use because although it's too slow to use for working online, it's fine for streaming TV and YouTube video's. 😀

The other thing that keeps me going is my crafts, I try to have a plan of the week, I set a little challenge for myself for the week ahead.  For this week I challenged myself to use up a ball and a bit of red yarn I had in my stash.

Red Baby Hats

These are needed in the neonatal units for babies who are at risk.  The traffic light system has been employed in many areas to ensure that the babies get the care that they need, you can read more about it here

We have had a request for a number of red hats as the units in some area's were running short, so I made these and will send them along with the Angel pockets.

I quite like making baby hats because they are so quick to make and  having made something, even a little something gives you a  sense of achievement.

I do get bored using one pattern so I have varied them by using some of my favourite patterns.   

Little Treasure Baby Hat  (Pattern to come)
to go with Little treasure Baby Blanket.

Pom Pom Baby Hat (pompoms yet to be added)

Lisha Baby Hat

Aiden Baby Hat

Magnus Baby Hat

Aimee Baby Hat 

This is what's left, just enough for a couple of pompoms.

The other Challenge I made for myself this week was to finish day four of the Twelve Days of Christmas sampler,  

As you can see it's almost done and I'll enjoy working on that this weekend.

I like the idea of working a small stitchery each month and I'm on the look out for something to make alongside the Twelve Days, I don't mind a small cross stitch project or an embroidery one, I have seen some that I love but they are very expensive, I'm not looking for a kit, a chart will do.  If anyone has any suggestions please shout out.

What are your plans this weekend? whatever they are have a good one.😘

Click here to see the parties I will be linking to this week.

Potholders/Dishcloths and Baby Hats

A bit of a mix I must admit but sometimes you just want to make small easy things, quick finishes that give you a sense of achievement when you're feeling under the weather or your brain can't cope with anything else. 

I was inspired to make these last week

Mitered Dishcloth//Pot Holders

Astri from Apple Blossom Dreams had a 25% off sale and I just went for it, a nice easy pattern that I didn't even have to think about to satisfy my crochet cravings .  I have a rather large bag of cotton stash, most of the labels have gone but I actually know what I used for these, They both took 32 grams of yarn.  The pink one is made with Rico Aran creative cotton and the green one with Sirdar Simply Recycled cotton rich Aran. Both are great to crochet with and this is an addictive pattern I can see many more of these in my future so watch out all friends and family you are about to be in undated.😀
Thank you Astri for the inspiration and for a great pattern which you can buy here


Jeannie Hat



Marianna from Lazy Daisy Days published this free pattern last week, it's another lovely easy pattern this time to satisfy my knitting cravings, just the thing to make while watching TV. I have quite a large stash of baby knitting yarn and I haven't a clue what type this is, but this cute little hat only uses 13 grams so it's great for using up those little bits.  This pattern is also a very addictive and I will be making lots more, there is always a need for baby hats so I can make these to my hearts content.
Thank you Marianna for the inspiration and another great pattern.

Thank you for all your sweet comments last week, I'm pleased to say I'm feeling much better but it's took a while before I felt confident enough to go for a short walk just to post a letter, any illness really tales it out of you when you get older and I don't like being incapacitated one little bit I really don't have the time for it.😣😄

Lifestyle changes have got to happen whether I like it or not, when I had my Gall bladder removed in 2015 I was determined to eat healthily and carefully and I did for a lot of years but I've been slipping back and now I'm paying for it. It's a very boring bland diet you have to follow which is quite sad really.  Have you noticed that when you go out for a meal anywhere it's very hard to find something that is healthy, most things are covered in rich sauces or fried or both.  I'm so sorry for those of you who say you have this too, I hope that one day they will figure out an easy safe and effective way to fix it.

The spots on my face were diagnosed by my daughter she said they looked like cold sores and when she said that I realised yes of course that's what they are, I have had them on my mouth and nose before but never on my brow and at the side of my eye and on my scalp! They are still very much in evidence and quite sore, I have four of them and I'm hoping that I'll get no more.

I have yet to go see the damage inflicted on the Woodland as soon as I'm feeling a bit stronger I'll have a walk and see for myself just what has been done.

Right that's it I promise no more moaning at least for now.😀

leaving you with..

A beautiful Pom Pom Dahlia the star of the show in my garden this week.

I hope you all have a lovely safe weekend. 


Click here to see some of the great parties I will be linking to this week.

Stash-buster Sunshine Baby Blanket

Although my stash has shrunk considerably since I began stash-busting in earnest back in 2013 I still have more than 20,000 grams of yarn to get through before I reach zero and let me tell you that will never happen, for that to become reality one would have to refrain from buying yarn completely and although my yarn purchasing has been reigned in these past 7 years I simply cannot deprive myself of the pleasure of  buying yarn completely.

I have learnt a lot I must say and now I can look around a yarn store and walk out without making a single purchase, however sometimes I do need to buy the odd ball to complete a project and if I see something that I really must make and I don't have the correct yarn then I will buy it knowing that it will get completely used up with the project I'm making.  However I do seem to end up with lots of small odd balls which is how this bright and cheerful baby blanket came into being.

A very quick and easy project made with V stitch and a starting chain of 111 and lots of odd balls of Dk yarn.
When I work V stitch for baby blankets I don't put a chain between the two trebles and it gives a closer texture.

Isn't that bunny cute! I was going to make several of these and give them as gifts for Easter but Lockdown happened and I only made the one maybe next year 😊
You can find the cute bunny pattern here

I kept working on the blanket until it measured 30 inches in length and I busted a very satisfying 300 grams of scrap yarn. I even enjoyed weaving in the ends which I did every few rows. Then I finished it off with a very simple htr border making the final round crab stitch.

The Indiana Blanket is coming on well I'm really enjoying making this, however it is challenging trying to figure what colour yarn to use when you have to depend on your stash when its mainly single balls of each colour....now what colour next red or green?

Have a great weekend and stay safe.😘

See all the great parties I'll be linking with in right side bar.

Aimee Baby Hat Pattern

Aimee Baby Hat

A cute little baby hat in newborn and preemie sizes I made this little baby hat to match the Aimee Baby Jacket for Preemies 

This hat is worked in the round from the crown down.

Sizes..
Newborn, large and medium Preemie.

Materials

Approximately 18 grams of Double Knit soft baby yarn for Newborn size and 15 grams for Preemie.
4.5 mm crochet hook

Abbreviations

This pattern is written in UK crochet terms.

dc =  UK double crochet (sc single crochet in US)

pgrp = pattern group, one pgrp = 2dc, 2ch, 2dc all worked in one stitch or 2ch space. 

           

                                      

Newborn 
Crown

Make a Magic ring

The 1ch at the beginning of each round does not count as a stitch. 

Round one - 1ch, 6dc into the ring, ss to 1st dc, = 6sts.

Place marker to mark the beginning of each new round as it's so easy to pass it without realising.

Round Two - 1ch, 2 dc in same space as ss and in each st round = 12sts

Round three –1ch, 1dc in same space as ss, 2dc in next st, *1dc in next st, 2dc in next st rep from* to end of round. ss to 1st dc of previous round = 18sts.

Round four -1ch, 1dc in same space as ss, 1dc in next st, 2dc in next st, *1dc in next 2sts, 2dc in next st rep from *to the end of  round, ss to 1st dc of previous round = 24sts. 

Round five -1ch, 1dc in same space as ss, 1dc in next 2sts, 2dc in next st, *1dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next st rep from * to the end of  round, ss to 1st dc of previous round = 30sts

Round six -1ch, 1dc in same space as ss, 1dc in next 3sts, 2dc in next st, *1dc in next 4sts, 2dc in next st rep from * to the end of  round, ss to 1st dc of previous round = 36sts

Round seven -1ch, 1dc in same space as ss, 1dc in next 4sts, 2dc in next st,*1dc in next 5sts, 2dc in next st rep from * to the end of  round, ss to 1st dc of previous round = 42sts

Round eight -1ch, 1dc in same space as ss, 1dc in next 5sts, 2dc in next st, *1dc in next 6sts, rep from *to the end of  round, ss to 1st dc of previous round  = 48sts

NB amended on 25/2/19 to remove superfluous asterisk on rounds 5 and 6  

Body of hat

Round nine - ch1, pgrp ( see abbreviations) in same space as ss, *skip 2dc, pgrp in next st rep from * to end of round. = 16 pgrps

Round ten - ss into 1st dc of previous row (see picture below) 1ch, pgrp in 2ch space of 1st pgrp of previous round, pgrp into each 2ch space to end of round.

Repeat round ten until the hat measures 6 inches from top to bottom.

Break yarn and weave in ends.

Large Preemie 

work crown as above to round seven = 42sts 

Body of hat = 14 pgrps  work until it measures 5 inches

Medium Preemie

work crown to round 6 = 36sts continue as same.

Body of hat = 12 pgrps  work until it measures 4 inches.

Optional Flower
Work all the following into a Magic Ring  2ch,1tr,2ch, five times, tighten the ring to close the centre. 
Just change hook size to make it smaller or larger.

Find the Aimee Preemie Jacket by clicking here. 

Copyright © 2019 Linda Solaiman  All Rights Reserved.

Month of the Baby Hat

I decided that February has got to be the month of the baby hat, it's great to put everything else to one side and just concentrate on hats and in particular baby hats, why? well sometimes you just need a quick finish making large projects can be boring they seem to go on for ever and dare I say it after the initial excitement of starting a new project wears off it can sometimes get a little tedious. 

I love playing around with my hook and coming up with new hat designs some of them work and some don't but it doesn't really matter as long as you have a wearable hat you can always find a home for it.

These particular hats were my attempt at designing an Aimee baby hat to go with my Aimee Preemie Jacket. I did start this last year but didn't have the time to put the pattern on here so I have pulled out my notes and have started again, there are so many different ways to make this hat, I have tried it this way and that until I came up with the most simple way of making it because I know that those of you who make baby hats for charity want something that is quick and easy so that you can make a few and I have made quite a few as you can see by the photo's. These were made last year I have made even more this time it does get a bit addictive I can't seem to stop.
   


Baby hats are a great way of using up those little scraps of baby yarn that you have stuffed in plastic bags, drag them all out, combine the colours and see how many variations you can make it's great fun.😊

Watch out for the Aimee Baby Hat Pattern coming next week.

Have a great weekend.

See all the great parties I will be linking to in my right side bar.