Easy crocheting

Well I know I should be getting a wriggle on with the Easter bunnies and my Mothers Day hearts but at the moment I am opting to do some super easy crocheting and I am getting on with my stripey blanket.  I get one row done each evening but have now got an estimated 28 hours to go - yay!  So at my current rate (without working on it at the weekends) it should take me 5 more weeks of evening crocheting to get it finished - so excited!

Its a long term project that honestly didnt feel like it would ever get finished but I have enjoyed having something that I can pick up and put down again without any stress of deadlines.

I am planning to do a large throw for my sister and her husband for Christmas which will probably be my next large project.  But I am going to speak to my sister and ensure she wants one before I spend all that time and money on it.  I think they will use it as they have a habbit of bringing their duvets downstairs in the winter and they love snuggling on the sofa watching films.  Although she does have a thing about itchy wool which I need to be careful of.  I'm thinking an Attica 24 inspired bright coloured either giant granny square or stripey blanket would be perfect.  The wool isn't itchy or too heavy (and I imagine Stylecraft is easy enough t wash?!) which should be perfect.  Their front room is brown but maybe brights mixed in with a lot of neutral white or black would work well??  Maybe?!

Ireland trip

Well we had the Ireland trip and whilst it was lovely to see Rebecca and Patrick, it has reaffirmed that we definitely don’t want children!

Andrew’s sister seemed to appreciate the dragon scarf (which I finished just as we entered the airport car park having spent all morning working on it) but George wasn’t that fussed!  Daisy liked her pencil case although did automatically assume it was a sheep and we didn’t correct her.  The scarf and Fatty seemed to go down well.  The problem with handmade gifts is that they aren’t appreciated in relation to how much time goes into them – I guess there is only so much appreciation you can give a scarf but still!

 

I'm really happy with it and think it came out really well.

I managed to get all the squares done for Sam’s birthday bag and they are all sewn together. I ran out of black wool doing the final edging which was annoying but I have been to the Tiptree shop and bought another ball.  Luckily I’m not seeing Sam this week so I should be able to get her bag finished at the weekend.  I also bought some very boring black fabric to line her bag with – I did think that it might be more fun to have a pop of colour but decided to play it safe instead.  Hopefully she will like it!

I had yesterday off work (to recover from the weekend – lovely idea although slightly spoilt by having to be out of the house all morning so didn’t see the cleaner!) I did a 2 hour cardio work out at the gym (and nearly died!) and then was very tired when I finally got home so I took it easy and got on with my blanket.  I did think about starting Fiona’s baby blanket but I really should get the bunnies done for Easter first and the hearts for Mothers Day so decided to just stay with my blanket. 

I am on the 6^th colour of the 3^rd repetition so its getting very close to being finished now – yay!  (I did think that with all the wool I have left over it would probably make a baby blanket but nevermind have bought the wool already for Fiona’s baby blanket!)  The end is finally in sight with the blanket although I shouldn’t get too happy as it will still take some time to finish it off.  I spent all afternoon and evening working on it (as well finally spending some time sorting out the craft room – yay!) and I did 5 rows!  Each row is so long that it takes forever to do one but it is super easy work and I love doing it when I am tired as you cant really go wrong!  I should have timed how long each row took me but it must be about an hour and there are another 33 more rows to go……  Its going to be such a lovely blanket once its finished – it will weigh 2,200 grams as it has taken 22 balls of wool.  I have finally stopped worrying it about it being long enough – yay!  Although if I could buy more of the same wool then I probably would!

Yay! Some photos to show progress

So I finally remembered to take some photos (whilst I was waiting for my pop tarts to pop out of the toaster I used my time wisely!)

Last night I was super tired so I got on with my bunny which is a super easy knit a row, purl a row and have now finished my first ball of wool.  I want them to be fairly big so I'm now thinking that each bunny may take 2 balls of wool by the time I finish making their bodies, make 2 long ears and their pockets which I am desperate to make.

Here is proof that progress is being made with the first bunny.  I think another half a ball will finish off the body and then just need to do the ears and pocket.

This is my cross stitch jewellery roll that I am making and I love it!

The pattern is slightly different from that in the book as I did the ring first and didnt realise that I didnt have it up the right way!  I'm hoping that my new design will still look ok though and I'm happy with it.  Still a fair way to go - need to finish doing the cream stripes (and my stripes have gone a little wrong as my middle largest cream stripe didnt line up with the middle of the ring but nevermind - I have left space to have a blue stripe in the middle which I hope will look ok!)

The thread I am using I think is Anchor super thick - it is like cross stitching with wool!  I think next time I will just use some of my wool to do these projects with.  There are definitely going to be future cross stitch projects.  I have an amazing Big Stitch book which has the most amazing projects.  I think I am going to make a glasses case next although it will have to be super tough as my glasses to take quite a battering in my handbag!

Need to get organised for Ireland tonight/tomorrow - must remember:

1. Gifts for the family
2. George's finished scarf!
3. Wool (new grey/black x2 plus black wool x1), crochet hook, scissors (am hoping they will be allowed to fly) and my pattern to make Sams bag
4. Wool (cream/brown, pink and green), crochet hook and pattern to make the hearts for mothers day
5. Warm and waterproof clothes!  

Hmm and all of this has to fit within hand luggage - might be fun!

Slow progress so far this week

Progress feels really slow this week as I am so tired in the evenings.  I should be getting on with George’s scarf but I really want to do this when I am more awake and can focus on what needs to be done.  So instead I have been doing some of my cross stitch and last night I managed a couple of rows on my bunny.  Luckily my bunny is starting to look quite big which is good and what I wanted – I am hoping that they can still be pj holders with a pocket on the front but we shall see.  I am still on my first ball of wool and am hoping that 1.5 will be enough to make each bunny.  Yay!  Although I still need to get some boy colours.

Friday is going to be a busy day – car is being serviced, need to do a run (started off being 2.5 hours and is now rapidly reducing down to maybe an hour and is now down to 30 mins!  Really should be 5/6 miles but we shall see) plus I really have to get Georges scarf finished and we want to go and see 2 cats that we may be getting (super excited!).  And I’m not sure what time we fly but think its mid afternoon so we will have to leave for the airport probably around lunch time which wont give us much time to get everything done!!  Eek!  May have to force myself to get on with George’s scarf tonight and tomorrow evening to ensure that it can be finished on time.

Post weekend blues!

Well this weekend didnt quite go to plan as I didnt get much done and what time I did have to craft I started yet another new time consuming cross stitch project which isnt on any to do list!

I had my eldest niece this weekend so I knew that I wouldnt be able to get much done but we did join my mum for our monthly crop.  I took Ellie some card bits and pieces for her to make birthday cards which she loved and she made cards for her mum, dad and little sister.  I had wanted to take my purse project that I ordered the other day but I glanced at the instructions and you needed an iron and sewing machine so that was no good!   I think decided not to take any of my knitting projects which need to be finished but to start a cross stitch jewellery roll case.  Waste of time but I love it!  My design went slightly wrong but rather than undoing 2 hours work (in which i had done all of 20 stitches as I was supervising Ellie) I decided to keep going and to adapt my design.  Yay - a unique Karen design loosely based upon the original.

That is what I love about crafting - you can go wrong and it can still be ok!  Andy didnt look too impressed when I was sat doing it on Sat night - he finds knitting hard enough to cope with but another craft didnt make him very happy!  Nevermind it is helping my wrists and shoulders which arent always happy to crochet and knit constantly.

Not much of my to do list was achieved:

• 10 mile run yay!  Although did swap between the treadmill and the X trainer - hopefully still counts as 10 miles!
• Finish George’s scarf
• Sort out craft room
• Organise projects for Sat for me and Ellie
• Knit 2 chickens
• Cut and sew 2 squares (have done 4 blocks and the cutting for another 6 already)
• Knit me a hat!  Something thick and cosy to keep me warm now the weather has dropped!  Ooh shall have to have a rummage in the craft room and see what lovely wool I can find.

So only 2 things ticked off!  Not good.

This week (which will hopefully be helped by the fact that I am off Fri and Mon and away this weekend):

• Finish George's scarf
• Cut and sew 4 squares of charity blanket
• Knit 2 chickens (I think this project may be put on hold until next year as I am very busy at the moment preparing for Easter)
• Finish knitting 1 bunny
• Finish hat and make up
• Crochet bag for Sam's birthday, line and finish
• 3 crochet hearts for mothers day

I'm getting on quite well with my bunny which is good and hopefully I can get the knitting finished this week.  The focus for Fri morning pre-flight will be to finish George's scarf - think there are still quite a few small bits that need to be finished but these tend to be the most time consuming finishing touches.  Plus have to do a 12 mile run which is likely to take 2.5 hours.  Not sure what time we are leaving for the airport but it wont be too long after lunch.  So I need to work on scarf during the week and not leave everything until Friday as that could be disastrous!  There is no panic over the bunny so I have to prioritise the scarf above all else.

I'm really hoping to get all the squares finished for Sams bag and also to complete 3 hearts for mothers day with flowers and leaves.  Will have to find and print out the instructions and then hopefully can get those completed as well.  Might be asking a bit too much but hopefully with all the waiting at airports and flying (eek only an hour flight!).  Maybe I will be able to do some whilst we are at the house - his sister shouldnt find it too rude as she crochets as well so she will understand - hopefully!

Work out:

• Mon am - 30 min cardio workout Did 15 mins on X trainer and 15 mins up hill walking.  Didnt want to push it too much due to lunchtime workout plus did 10 miles yesterday.
• Mon pm - 1hr personal trainer
• Tues am - 30 min swim
• Wed am - 1hr run
• Wed pm - pilates/yoga
• Thurs am - 30 min swim
• Thurs pm - pilates/yoga
• Fri am - 12 mile long run

Night off! Plus plans for the weekend

A rare evening off last night from knitting.  Cant do it too often but sometimes when I am very tired and I feel that Andy may need slightly more attention then I will just sit and watch tv with idle hands!  Andy can get quite funny and almost jealous when I am knitting – its almost like he feels that I am not giving him enough attention even though we are sat together on the sofa.  I must be a little bit right though as when we went to bed he said that I need to have more of a balance between knitting and spending time with him – oops!

If that is how he feels then I do need to be more mindful of that and perhaps have 1/2 evenings off a week to spend time with him but it certainly wont help my to do list!  Eek!

This weekend is going to be busy, it’s Ellies first time of coming to the house for the weekend so I want to make sure she has a good time.  We are going to crop on Saturday with my mum (it will be Ellies first time and I am really hoping that she behaves herself!) and then we probably wont do much in the evening – maybe make flapjacks and watch a film.  Then on Sunday we have a kid/parent class at b & q where we will be making a bird house.  After that I have to drop her home and then get on with my to do list:

• 10 mile run
• Finish George’s scarf
• Sort out craft room
• Organise projects for Sat for me and Ellie
• Knit 2 chickens
• Cut and sew 2 squares (have done 4 blocks and the cutting for another 6 already)
• Knit me a hat!  Something thick and cosy to keep me warm now the weather has dropped!  Ooh shall have to have a rummage in the craft room and see what lovely wool I can find.

So nothing has been crossed off my to do list so far this week and so everything will need to be done this weekend - yay!

Cant decide if at the crop I should get on with valentines day tag and card for Andy as well as finishing my hat and knitting the chickens, which are on the to do list or whether I should just make my purse which is what I really want to do?!  Hmm decisions decisions!  Maybe I will take everything and see how much I can get done??

Easter bunny

I got on with my bunny again last night (as Andy hadn’t wound my wool but nevermind – I have left it out again today so hopefully he will get the hint and make it into a lovely ball for me so I can finish my hat).  Its definitely getting bigger which is good and it is super super soft which I think the girls will appreciate.  Still not sure if it will be big enough for my original idea but hopefully I can still add a pocket for them to keep other stuff in it.

This is how far along I am - most of it will be the base but am now adding height.  Its very simple knit row, purl row so its an ideal evening project to do in front of the tv.

It is also not guzzling at my ball of wool which is nice!  I have decided to make 6 Easter bunnies now instead of the original 3.  However, I have a feeling that they are all very girly.  I think there is this white and purple wool, pink with pink and purple spots and maybe a white with pink spots?!  I cant quite remember but I don't think the 2 boys will be too impressed with them!  I shall just have to pop to Tiptree and get some boyish colour wool but I will wait and see how many balls I need to buy.  I have bought 3 balls of each of the girly colours which I think will be too much.  I am hoping that I can get 2 bunnies out of each set of colour but we shall have to wait and see!

Hmm not sure when I am going to get an opportunity to knit 2 chickens!  I had thought that I could take my purse to make on Sat when I do a craft day with my mum and Ellie but maybe I could take a long my wool as well just in case I get time to get started!

The to do list is doing very well at the moment:

• Finish George’s scarf - No progress yet but hopefully on Sunday
• Sort out craft room - hmm maybe Sunday??  Although am off next Friday and following Monday so maybe these would be better days to sort out the room - yes that sounds like a good idea!
• Organise projects for Sat for me and Ellie - Yes in my head all sorted but now need to find them and pack all the bits and pieces that we need.  I am hoping that Ellie will be happy to make cards for various birthdays and Easter whilst I make my purse.
• Knit 2 chickens - hmm Sunday??
• Cut and sew 2 squares (have done 4 blocks and the cutting for another 6 already) - Sunday??
• Knit me a hat!  Something thick and cosy to keep me warm now the weather has dropped!  Ooh shall have to have a rummage in the craft room and see what lovely wool I can find. - almost finished and hopefully will be done Thurs/Fri

Valentines day

I can't decide if Andy would appreciate my tea towel idea!  Hmm I am in 2 minds about doing this now for him.  I think I will do it and stop worrying.  Not that we need any more tea towels but we can sort through the old ones and just keep the nice ones.  I love my sweet idea and think he will love it.

Easter

I have found some proper cute Easter cross stitch motives and think I can add these to my jars - I am hoping my chocolate bunnies will fit in the jars that I already have Ikea and that I can add a little cross stitch design.  I'm thinking that Mum, Nan and Sue will like them.   

Running

• Run 2.5 miles (easy) - Mon am
• Swim - Tues am
• Do an aerobics class - Tues lunch Am so sore already (1 hour after class!)  Not sure I am going to be able to move tomorrow!
• Run 4 miles (faster) - Wed am Did 3 miles which was hard enough work - still slightly faster pace than normal as running with Nina
• Run 3 miles (intervals) - Thurs am My poor aching body couldnt face a run (not even the x-trainer) so I did a 30min swim instead.  May see if I can fit in a short run on Sunday or if not then a lovely walk with Andy in my new walking boots.
• Do a Pilates/Yoga class - Fri lunch
• Run 10 miles (long) - Sat

I got up early to go for a run but the whole way in I thought instead of running today wouldnt it be lovely to swim instead.  My whole body aches and from today onwards I wont be able to swim for a week so it was my last swim for a bit.  Luckily my gym sells swimming costumes so I bought one this morning on my way in and I had a lovely 30 min swim.  After a few mins my arms and legs stopped aching and it was lovely (the aches are back now but it was nice to have a small respite from them!)  I will probably do yoga tomorrow to help stretch out the last of the aches and get myself ready for Sat!