Knit, Crochet and Natter 4 - Yarning into Spring

[lazylinguist]

A thread for knitters, crocheters and woollly crafters in general. All welcome, including total newbies! Previous thread here

And I hope your dc’s dad gets better soon

@lucysmam I went really old school and drew charts using pen and ruler When I bought some mosaic patterns as we don't have Printer. I've drawn out 5 🤓😳. Do you not like stitch fiddle??? I found it really complicated but I watched a few videos then got the confidence to use it. I hate using screens though I prefer paper. Maybe I should buy some graph paper. I'm planning a graphgan so will need stitch fiddle for it.

@crochetbug the older lady is amazing, I love that video 😂. Sounds like a stressful day all round for you, glad he is ok.

The cowl was beautiful, as was the socks and all the stunning teddies.

I have my eye On a stunning Cardigan. I'm all talk though but actually, it's really very me www.etsy.com/uk/listing/772638984/pattern-technicolor-dream-coat-freeform I thought it might be a good scrap project. I seem to have project related obsessions, there's a million ideas in my head. My mosaic blanket is 2/3 done and I think I'm at 160 hours. I decided to time it using the stopwatch Function on my phone.

Keeping my eye out for KAL pics 🤓

crochetbug what a stressful afternoon, hopefully he’s allowed home soon and your DS can visit to help him properly relax.

Thank you @petridishmystery ... very interesting 😊

@CrochetBug - I hope your dc's dad is on the mend and that your dc has got over the shock.

I'm enjoying the KAL cushion cover, though I seem to be going quite slowly! Here it is so far.

@Myshitisreal I was trying to use it on my phone. I'll try it on the laptop at some point this week. I think I'll need to pinch dd1's wireless mouse to use with it.

That coat's a work of art! I'm not sure I'd have the confidence to wear it out but it is lush 😍

I need stitch recommendations for a scarf to go with my diy chart...I'm thinking just rows of (UK) tc maybe?

My plan for today is to iron school shirts, bake (with dd1 this time ), see if Errol wants a fly, and then a few hours crochet.

Oh no, CrochetBug, your poor DS. I hope everyone is better today!

@lucysmam I always think many of attic 24 blankets would make great scarf patterns. I've often cast on (usually king size bed), and got it to a certain point and thought SCARF.

Star stitch is very beautiful but I think quite dense.

Thanks for all the kind wishes for the ex. Its weird how upset you can be about someone from the past. We've been split longer than we were together, but yesterday knocked me.

I've done a few more rows of the KAL. It's far from perfect, I've ended up with 76 stitches a couple of times and had to decrease them again. There's some definite tension issues too. But I'm determined to do it!

I'll take a look Myshitisreal; I'm hoping to be able to incorporate some writing which is why I thought the tc might be good (may be being a touch ambitious, we'll see).

I had a go at a couple of little bunny motifs earlier, thinking they'd make pretty bunting. They both looked squiffy & wrong so I gave up & frogged them in a huff.

@CrochetBug - hope your DC's dad is ok. So stressful.

@lazylinguist - I am progressing on my KAL. DH is in bed with a migraine and I am waiting for the washing to finish, so doing a few rows now. Then going to help DS with homework as he is struggling with distance learning and his grades are not great right now.

@CrochetBug fingers crossed that everything turns out okay. My dad rang me on Thursday to say he's going for tests for prostate cancer next week, and I'm already disasterising, even though he seems quite fatalistic about the whole thing.

But, as we're not a particularly huggy emotional family (other than DS who doesn't know yet - and hopefully won't have to), I'm going with distraction being the best tactic right now. And Sophie is definitely providing that - a round of 328 bphdc requires so much concentration I can't think of anything else!

And completely in awe of the KAL - maybe my next project should be mastering knitting. Any recommendations for where to start?

Thanks @bookshark. DC haven't even tried to contact their dad today. Typical! I hope your Dad is ok and his tests come back clear.

Start knitting with a KAL cushion cover. I am
I guess a scarf is always an easy place to start.

I've been doing a row or 2 of knitting, then a row of crochet. It stops me getting bored!

@BookShark - most people seem to start with a scarf! On the upside it's simple, on the downside it's loooong! But that gives you plenty of practice. I'd start with a simple scarf in aran or chunky yarn. Knitting is great. I love crochet, but knitting will always be my favourite.

Sorry to hear about your dad BookShark, I hope all is ok Try checking out Tin Can Knits free patterns, they have scarves with edges that won't curl if you fancy a scarf or lots of other patterns and they're all written well for beginners. I think a cushion would be more interesting as a first project though!

CrochetBug I think maybe you might be increasing by splitting some stitches but you've got the decreases sorted and it's looking good so you're doing well!

I've run into problems with Hedwig, I'm using stash wool instead of the recommended ones and the contrast in wing colour sticks out like a sore thumb in these wools if I follow the pattern. I'm going to have to improvise and cross my fingers.

I think you're right @FlaviaAlbiaWantsLangClegBack. Mum's coming over again today, and I gained a stitch on the last row i did last night so she can look.

Turns out the ex had a migraine not a stroke

I’m wondering if I can campaign to get a mandatory 30 minute craft session included in the working day. I suppose those who don’t craft could go exercise or something I’ve just screamed when my colleague sent a meeting invite with the title half in capitals. So imagine “presentation - ME AND INTHENIGHT DONT FORGET”. It’s made my brain itch in so many ways, there is also history with this colleague and it’s not my usual reaction to scream like that to poor grammar. But my crochet is calling me and telling me that it will always use correct grammar and not randomly capitalise the latter half of a meeting invite. I might go find my favourite wools and decorate my desk with them to see if they bring me any calmness!

In other news, my mum received her cushion and she says likes it. It’s always difficult with your parents to know if they’re telling you the truth because this is the same woman who told me it was the best picture of our house and dog she’d ever seen, when actually it looked like a double decker bus and a giant cow (the ‘dog’ was bigger than the ‘house’).

Compulsory craft breaks? Id sign a petition for those. I mean, in all of my previous jobs my colleagues took frequent fag breaks. If added up all the 5/10 mins they took for those and had them as a block out would make a decent crafting time

I'm internally screaming at my friends DDs insta posts about trans issues(we are on opposite sides) so have full sympathy for annoying colleagues. I'm glad I don't have any

I'm sure your mum loved her cushion. It's so lovely.

I'm just settling down for a 20 minute "craft and coffee break" before dd1 gets in & a very excited dd2 needs picking up.

I think they're an excellent idea!

In other news; Errol has his wings!!

I think I'm going to have to add the new ball at the end of a row on this cardi...I keep picking up an 85th stitch somehow 🙄

Compulsory craft breaks
Back in the 80s/90s i worked for the tiny London office of a gigantic Finnish company. Their head office in Helsinki was amazing. It had all sorts of craft rooms in the basement such as a weaving room, pottery , archery rooms, unfortunately we couldnt do the same in the uk, the office in the uk was tiny, only about 20 people at the most.

@lucysmam Errol is so beautiful!

That sounds amazing bruffin!

Errol's wings are darkening as they dry out, I daren't take the lid off his little house for another pic though. He comes to life at this hour & runs faster than The Flash .

bruffin that sounds amazing, especially considering this was the 80/90s!

lucysmam Errol is lovely, look at his wings 😍

crochetbug the advantage of working from home is that I can scream when they irritate me. I would probably be more productive too, instead I was irritated for a couple of hours and coming back to my irritation constantly I could just crochet for a bit, get rid of my annoyance and go back to work. I think there’s real merit to it!

@bruffin - wow, that Helsinki office sounds amazing!