January End Of The Month Round Up

 Hello and Happy Sunday! There's quite a lot going on in the crafty corner I can tell you and I think it could become a little overwhelming if I don't stop to re-assess and decide how to move forward.  

As you know I  love the idea of  making something different at the weekends so that I can put my WIPS to one side and get the satisfaction of having a finish. The Sophie scarf was made in a few hours and I'm wearing it ...

I quite like it, but it's too big if I make it again I would make it shorter and not so wide, I would also use a better yarn, something softer and maybe variegated.

The pattern I used is here.

This weekend I'm making butterflies because the u3a knitting and crocheting groups are going to yarn bomb our station again. Click here and here  if you would like to see our past displays, that was more than two years ago but since those displays were taken down we continue to hang bunting to the fence surrounding the Station and I think it really puts a smile on the faces of residents and visitors to the Town.   We are thinking a bigger Spring type theme/display this time and I thought that these butterflies would fit the bill quite nicely....

Aren't they pretty? they are named  The Resilient Butterfly and great for using up little bits of stash yarn, the  pattern for these comes with a youtube tutorial and it can be found here 

The reason why things are becoming overwhelming is because I have deadlines coming up for my WIPS and, it's all well and good putting them to one side at the weekend but it means I am more pushed for time.  

Things are progressing, the baby onsie now has the legs complete..

I'm going to concentrate on trying to finish this next week because I need to make booties to match too.  Grandson number three is due towards the end of February, but as you know babies don't always play by the rules and he could put in an early appearance.

The socks are progressing nicely and the heels are starting to make an appearance..

There has been no progress on my secret project and I have a feeling there will be a mad rush to get it finished at the end of February.

Along with the crochet and knitting I have to get my embroidery fix too and so I have started another project to sew along with the The Year of  Woodland Blossoms embroidery.  It's almost February and every year I like to have a heart themed project on the go, here are a couple I made  in previous years..

and I have just started this ..

I found this design on Youtube, there's a great tutorial which includes some stitches I haven't tried before so it should be fun to make. 

I'm sure you can see why I'm overwhelmed one doesn't quite know which way to turn but in all honesty I wouldn't have it any other way, I love to be overwhelmed with crafty stuff.  How many projects are you working on at the moment? 

I hope you all have a lovely Sunday, I'm off to rummage in my stash of little balls to see if I can find some lovely bright colours and then turn them into beautiful butterflies.

Linking with

Kathy's Slow Stitching Sunday.

Love Hearts

Thank you for all the lovely comments in my last post, I am really enjoying the Year Of Doodles stitchery and the month of February is coming along fine in fact I have almost finished it.  

I have been looking for another stitching project something small with a heart theme to add to my heart themed collection after all I don't think that you can have too many hearts around you and this month being the month of love is a great time to start one I think, what about this...

 

You can download the free pdf here

and just because Valentines day will be with us next week I made some love bugs 

Cute don't you think? you can find the pattern for them here

Tea anyone?

I'm in the mood for making fiddly things right now which is just as well because this little tea set fit that bill to perfection and I think it was worth the effort it's so cute.  This is destined for our Marina yarn bombing operation which is taking place this Summer, we are trying to decide how best to display it, we are thinking of having a picnic table so I'm planning to make other edible projects too. You can find the pattern for the tea set here

This starfish has put in an appearance as well

Pattern here

At the moment I'm busy crocheting a crab I mean to say what else would you be doing on a Sunday haha

Have a great Valentine's Day sending love and hugs your way😘😘

Linking with 

Slow Sunday Stitching

Handmade Monday

The loop scoop

Oombawka Wednesday Link Party

It's Got To Be Hearts!

 Once again thank you for the kind comments on my last post, I did enjoy putting that round up together and yes Babs I may do one at the end of each month, it's like a photo journal really and it would be good to look back and see what happened at a glance.  Why don't you all join me.😊

Valentines day is just around the corner and although I don't celebrate it, I love hearts and always use this time of year as an excuse to make some in some shape or form, I have a heart theme going on in my home and you can find hearts in every room.

This year I decided to kill two birds with one stone, produce a heart in a c2c square and by doing that I was learning how to follow a c2c chart something which I have been wanting to learn to do for a while, especially after seeing the lovely blanket Amanda made back here. 

Sarah has some adorable free designs on her blog however I followed this pattern here for the heart square.

It was easy enough to follow the chart but those ends at the back and sometimes even at the front were a challenge, but once they were woven in you can't even tell they were there. It hasn't put me off, I will make something else using this technique, like everything else the more you practice the easier it becomes.

 I enlarged the square to 12 inches using groups of two half trebles, then I made another in the same way.

Then I made two simple c2c square's ..

then the four squares were sewn together to make another 24 inch square to be added to a memory blanket.  So it was three birds with one stone really.😄

And that's not all! 

Remember I said that I would like to try needle felting well like you Jo I have a needle felting kit, I can't remember where I bought it from or why, I have been wanting to try needle felting for a while and must have bought it on a whim but the fact that I can't remember doing that is quite scary really.

This is as far as I've got I'm afraid and yes it had to be hearts for the simple reason there was a heart template in the kit and I love hearts and it's the season of love 😍

It was easy enough but wanting to develop my skills I joined a Facebook page for beginners and when I saw what they have produced it put me off! how can they be beginners? the intricate little creatures they have created wow! I then looked at some YouTube tutorials on how to make needle felt pictures, they make it look so easy but believe you me it isn't.  So I have put it to one side for now making simple shapes is easy enough and it is very satisfying to stab the needle through the wool over and over again, I'm thinking maybe stars for next Christmas but you never know watch this space. 

Health

I did one of those online NHS consultations last week because I was getting no better, a couple of days later the receptionist at my GP surgery rang me and said that the Doctor had read my consultation and he wanted her to give me an appointment. I was quite stunned I was actually going to see a GP in person face to face for the first time since the start of the pandemic.  Well I needn't have got so excited as it was the practice nurse I saw, I'm wondering where the GPs are hiding.  Anyway she was lovely and listened to my chest and prescribed some antibiotics for me, I started taking them in the morning by late evening I could actually slightly taste the camomile tea I was drinking and now four days later feel much better, I'm still coughing and congested but not nearly as much, I can tell that this thing whatever it is will take it's time but as long as I feel well enough to go out and about that's all that matters. 

Spring is just around the corner..

Have a lovely Valentines Day if you are celebrating, take care and see you next time. 😘😘

A Big Thank You! some Good News and a Bit of Crochet.

 A Big Thank You!

Thank you for all your lovely kind thoughts and comments about my brother in my last post, you have no idea how much they mean to me.  I'm sorry to hear about those of you who are suffering with long term illnesses and have experienced the same sort of difficulties we have.

We have spent a difficult couple of weeks, the accident has taken it out of him both mentally and physically, he's now unable to drive which is hard for him to bear. 

My brother is a nature lover and a brilliant photographer, his photos are amazing he took the one at the top of my blog and his wildlife photos are beautiful. It's getting increasingly difficult for him to hold the camera and alter the settings but he still loves to drive out into the countryside and do the best he can.

I'm hoping that once his burns have healed be might regain the little strength he had before and get out and about again..

On the bright side he seems to be healing I know it will take time because the burns were deep in places but thankfully so far so good.

The Good News... 

After several weeks of emails and phone calls I have finally got my refund for the treadmill I returned in this post.  I was beginning to wonder if I was ever going to get my money back especially having read some of the one * reviews for the company, if only I had read those before I ordered anything from them.  There are several people still waiting for items which they have paid for and others waiting for refunds like I was. 

I am speaking about Studio Catalogue I would never name and shame unless I had good reason to do so.  They are very polite and say all the right things when you contact them by phone or email but then nothing seems to happen. In the end I threatened to take it further if it wasn't dealt with immediately, even then I got no response until I emailed them again to ask what was happening and they told me they had sent a cheque. It took 10 days to reach me and I'm hoping it won't bounce when I pay it into my bank.🙏  

A Bit Of Crochet

As I mentioned previously I am working through the patterns I have accumulated to see if they are worth keeping and this one is the Easy Peasy Cardigan.

I adapted the pattern a little to include an extra row all around the edging and added buttons right down the front. It's another keeper as it's easy to follow and of course very easy to make.  The chest size has turned out at 18" which is a large new born size.

The hat is my pom pom baby hat without the pom pom but with the addition of  a heart which I made one stitch size up to what is written in the pattern.

Pattern Links

• Easy Peasy Cardigan
• Pom Pom Baby Hat
• Tiny Heart. below

Magic ring

3ch, 2tr, 1htr, 1dc, 1ch, 1tr, 1ch, 1dc, 1htr, 2tr, 3ch, ss to centre, pull up tight.

To make the heart bigger just go up a stitch size or use a larger hook.

I'm now off to have a bit of retail therapy with my daughter, I had better get moving she will be here in half an hour and I'm not ready yet!

Keep safe everyone and I'll see you next week. xx

A Little Heart Collection and Another Strange Happening.

 Valentines Day is always a great excuse to get creative with hearts, I can never resist because I love them so much and it looks like I'm not the only one to think this way because there seems to be lots of new heart patterns to choose from at this time every year. 

I do try to be sensible I mean to say, what is the point of making all these hearts if they don't have a purpose, the good thing about hearts is they can be used for all sorts and it's always good to have a little supply just in case you need to gift one to somebody, if you do need an excuse to make one you can read my list of reasons why below just click on the picture and scroll to the end of the post.

Sweet Lacy Flower Hearts

This time I was thinking coasters because I genuinely need some new ones the only problem was I was spoilt for choice so I decided to try a few out, after all it doesn't take long to knock up a little coaster

This was my first try, I saw these coasters around Christmas time and put them on my to do list..

 

 PATTERN HERE

It wasn't difficult to make although I have to be honest, I don't really like crocheting into the back of chains to make a round. just a tad too fiddly unless you are in the mood. I wasn't too happy with the size either, these hearts need a little more depth, so I decided one was enough.

Then I found another pattern and loved it right away

PATTERN HERE

It was one of those patterns that just flow and it turned out just the right size, I had decided that these would fit the bill quite nicely but then..

Late one evening  as I was having a last minute scroll through my favourite blogs I came upon these...

PATTERN HERE

There was no contest I had to make one there and then before I went to bed just to see if they were as easy as they looked. Granny hearts! who doesn't like granny patterns in any shape or form. I had one made in minutes and my choice was made.  The one above is made with Patons cotton in DK and Patons 4ply below in shades nectarine, cream and  limestone.

The smaller 4ply coasters are a perfect size for a mug or coffee cup.

I love them and I had to stop myself from churning them out in their dozens, you know what it's like with granny patterns you just want to go on and on. I have this pattern earmarked for next year when I can get out and about and I'll be making lots for friends and family. You could also use the pattern for a dishcloth, potholder or facecloth so it's a good one to have.

Tamara has now published a tutorial you can see it on Moogly here.

Here are more lovely coaster patterns that are also on my to do list...

Atys Heart Coasters

Crochet Heart in A Circle 

Heart Coaster

Then I decided that a  little bunting would be a great idea to cheer up my conservatory 

PATTERN HERE

Then just when I thought that I had finished with the crochet hearts I stumbled upon these on Marianna's blog, hearts of appreciation...

PATTERN HERE

I'm sure that they will come in handy, in normal times I would be popping them through my friends letterboxes and leaving a few hanging around the neighbourhood but I will leave that until the corona madness has abated hopefully not too far in the distant future.

Remember the disappearing  heart in this post well sure enough it turned up just like I thought it would right in the middle of my table and yes I had looked there before and I really can't remember putting it there!

Still on the heart theme I have been playing around with rock painting this week, it's surprising how calming it is and how quickly the time goes, I'm under no illusions that what I have produced are works of art, but I enjoyed the process and that is the main thing after all. Here are my first ever painted rocks...

  

It's not easy, one needs a steady hand and total concentration but I'm not entering them in any competition so I really don't mind how they turn out.

Then of course there has been some heart embroidery going on, I really enjoyed sewing this it was so simple and quick.

and I am sewing another heart themed one which I will be working on this weekend. 

We have had a very snowy, cold week and  I have enjoyed watching the falling snow whilst sitting cosily in my conservatory.

Those tortoises haven't budged all winter.😂

We don't often get a layering of snpw in our street so it was nice to wake up to this especially when I didn't need to go out in it.. 

The Other Strange Happening..

Yesterday I received a cheque in the post for £79, it was from an insurance company. I had a policy out with them which reached maturity in 2015, they said they were sending the cheque because I wasn't given the correct amount of bonus at the time. Of course I was delighted but thought it very strange why now? and how on earth did they know my address I have moved house since then.

This morning I got into my car only to find that the battery was flat, I phoned the garage and they are going to change it for me, I asked how much will it cost they said £79! now what do you think of that? make of it what you will,  sheer coincidence maybe but I think it's strange, synchronicity perhaps🤔 at least now I won't have to think about what I'm going to spend the money on haha.

Well enough of my ramblings and I will let you all get on, have a lovely Valentines weekend and if you have no one to make it special for you then make it special for yourself you deserve it!💕

Parties I will will be linking to.

A Sock finish and A Strange Disappearance

The sock knitting continues and I'm pleased to say that the socks I was making using left over yarn from the hat back here are finished.

I like to wear short socks inside my ankle boots and these are perfect for that. I did have the tiniest amount of yarn left over and I made a teeny knitted heart worked in the round.  It was fiddly and took me absolutely ages to make and quite a bit of pulling into shape but in the end I was happy with it's cuteness but it seems to have disappeared!  I hung it onto a door handle and it's not there anymore, I have searched high and low but it's not to be found anywhere.  I have to add here that this happens all the time, oh I can hear you saying yes it happens to all of us, but surely not as often as it does to me 🙈

I have a theory and please don't laugh or think I'm crazy, yes I know I am a bit crazy that much is obvious but not completely. My lovely friend Lydia passed away many years ago due to breast cancer. I loved Lydia to bits she was my oldest childhood friend but she was very naughty and always playing tricks.  The number of weird things that have happened to me since she passed away have been too many to mention. I can hear her laughing in my head when I'm on my hands and knees searching for something that was literally right in front of my nose just a minute ago. I'm sure the heart will reappear when I'm no longer needing it for it's photo shoot haha. 

The sock making continues..

I'm following Winwick Mums KAL and using her new knee high sock pattern, the yarn I'm using is from a cone 

I have had this cone yarn since way back here. I love the colours in it and have been saving it for the right project, I love how it's knitting up, there will be lots left over but as yet I have nothing planned for the rest so suggestions please 😀 As for the pattern it's easy enough just a basic sock but I find that getting the sizing right is a bit of a challenge, I found it was turning out far too wide so I have had to adapt the number of stitches  to accommodate that.  I think this first pair of knee highs will be a bit of a learning curve. 

More About Hearts 

I have a bit of a thing about hearts and like to collect them be it Valentines day or not, I have them all over my home.  Yesterday I started embroidering this

Something quite simple using the easiest of stitches, lazy daisy and French knots. I found the design here but I was spoilt for choice as there are so many free beautiful heart designs online. I traced it onto the fabric using my iPad as a backlight and a pencil, I find that the fabric pens I have used seem to fade quite quickly and I loose the design. I think I will swap the orange I have used for the centres to maybe lemon, gold or even white to provide a better contrast. I really enjoyed sewing that yesterday and I will be continuing with it this weekend.  

Thank you for all your feedback about air fryers it seems like they are very popular and most people that have them love them. I was shopping in Lidle the other day and guess what was in their specials aisle for the week? yes air fryers! I have never seen them in Lidle before, there was a huge pile of them tantalising me but I'm pleased to say I was able to resist because after some considerable thought, I already have a halogen oven and I use it for almost everything that you would use an air fryer for, the only thing that annoys me about it is, sometimes the switch clicks off while it's cooking so I have to place something heavy on the switch to prevent that happening.  I have to say the danger hasn't completely passed but for now I think I'm safe.😂

Now I promised you another gadget and here it is...

A neck hug! I had never heard of one until my friend Mary sent me a picture of one that she had bought.  I resisted for a bit as I had just bought a small lamp but finding the correct lighting for crafting is a bit of a challenge, I have tried all sorts and none are quite right, I have one that gives me a headache when I use it! Anyway this is ok, it's better than the little lamp I bought and is very handy, getting the light totally focused where you want it (even though it's very bendy) isn't easy but it's a strong light and  has quite a wide beam so it works.  I like it because it's rechargeable, some of them aren't so be careful if you decide to get one. I got this from Amazon here.

Well the sun is shinning today and it's very tempting to get out there and have a walk, it's still very cold and the wind makes it feel even colder, I think I'll hang out the washing and assess just how bad it is and then decide if it's treadmill or walk outdoors.

I hope you all have a lovely and safe weekend. 😘

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