Knit, Crochet and Natter 8: Keep Calm and Carry Yarn!

[crazyjinglist]

A thread for woolly crafters. All welcome, from total beginners to experts!

Previous thread here

She definiy hasn't read the labrador handbook @InTheNightWeWillWish - she was at the boarders for a trial run yesterday, they said they called her in with a treat but she just sniffed it and rejected it! I had warned them she wasn't a foodie but think they didn't believe me

Good luck with the interview, @InTheNightWeWillWish !

@SpinMeRightRoundBabyRightRound - yes I saw the KD hooded vest. It's gorgeous, but cable isn't my strong point! I've only got 8 rows of my hat left to do, and the KD 'pawkies' I'm going to make to go with it won't take long, so I'm definitely after a new project or two. I'm thinking the Cornish Pixie from my Harry Potter book and a cardigan of some kind for me. Both of those would be new territory for me!

I feel like I've hardly done anything.
I've got one unfinished pattern test that was due 30th April.
I've got another half done pattern test which is due 19th May, but I've got a party on Saturday and want to wear it then.

I've also had major sock withdrawal symptoms (is that a thing?) I've literally been laying awake at night imaging making socks. So I've started a new pair. Like I have time

Wow @Fairislefandango potentially lots of new starts for you and DH! Good luck with the interview!

@InTheNightWeWillWish I haven't even sorted what yarn Im using for the CAL yet, so I doubt I'll start tomorrow unless it's really simple and I have time. How are you finding your DD settles now? Have you more time for crochet/knitting? Also good luck with your interview!

@CrochetBug I was like that when I first started making socks, I'd lay in bed and just imagine making them 😂 I do actually think that's how I got the hang of them quite quickly because instead of counting sheep in my head I kept seeing the crochet pattern in my head 😂

I've also had major sock withdrawal symptoms (is that a thing?) I've literally been laying awake at night imaging making socks.

I can definitely identify with that! Love making socks! I was a bit the same after my two spinning courses. I kept sitting there imagining I was drafting the fibre!

@sophs29 DD has been settling a bit better during the day and doing slightly longer naps so I’m having a bit of time to catch my breath. I try to do housework during nap times but sometimes I just need to sit and crochet instead, so I do manage to get a bit done. I should definitely prioritise the housework but doing a little bit of crochet/knitting here and there is just a little slice of normal. Weird how I’ve been crocheting for about 18 months but it feels like my normal. My guess for the CAL would be starting with the solid colour granny squares as that will be the easiest.

@InTheNightWeWillWish Oh that's good! It definitely makes a difference if they have long naps! I wish now looking back I done more of what I wanted in those nap windows rather than housework, so don't feel bad for prioritising yourself! I always waited until the evening when the DC were properly in bed to do anything, but by then I was/am always too tired! My youngest is 18 months now and I think he's close to dropping his day nap altogether 😭😂 yes I think on the preview she said it will start easier and gradually get a bit more challenging! ☺️

I'm not getting far with anything atm 🙄

Butterfly life cycle is still frustrating the heck out of me trying to get the wing sizes right, so it's in time out.

Dino is on the decrease to his tail now, but there are ends to sew in before I go much further <sigh>

And...I started a new pattern, for me, last night. It was going well, until, 4 rows in, when I realised that I had crocheted the wrong bloody size 🙄🙄 proper rolley eyes moment.

Anyway, very little planned for the weekend so maybe I'll get something done then 🙈

I have been busily painting story props though - several colleagues have told me to get them on Etsy but I'm not sure it's worth it? (Mouse is missing from these - I only found a seventh peg this morning)

@Fairislefandango wishing dh the very best with his new job; it's good that he's excited! And good luck to you with your application too!

Just wondering if you've had the interview yet @InTheNightWeWillWish ?

I'm nearly done on my grey scarf. I only do a tiny bit a day but it's chunky wool so it grows. I've got a BSl exam on Thursday that I'm terrified about - first of 3, once a month until July and our school's being inspected next week. Everyone is worried and exhausted except me. I'm just thinking, 'I'll worry about it when my exam is over.' The child I mainly support starts his exams next week too so I've been prepping all his revision materials. Busy times a la Meryl!

I love your story props, @lucysmam !

Story props are brilliant @lucysmam

Hat finished! It looks better in real life- the contrast colour picks out a colour from the main colour yarn, but that doesn't really come across on screen!

@MerylSqueak interview is next week but still waiting to hear back if I’ve been invited to interview for the other one. Good luck with the exam.

@lucysmam the story props are awesome. The problem with crafty things is they don’t sell for what they’re worth when you value your time. I think if you enjoy making them and would be either making them or doing crochet/can do them easily in an evening watching TV, then it might be worth selling them for a bit of pocket money.

Oh I missed you had an interview @InTheNightWeWillWish, best of luck!

@lucysmam DS’s nursery used to do book bags and I think they cost about £60 each if I remember right. It was extortion, a book and some puppets or other props that are filthy by the time they’ve done the rounds of the children. So I wonder if you did something similar if it would be able to push the price up a bit to actually compensate you for your time. There must be a lot of hours work in your peg people…

Well, sent my job application this afternoon... I'm expecting not to get it, but who knows!

I have no current project on my needles while I wait for the yarn for my Cornish Pixie to arrive, so just did a quick crochet square this evening. Needs a bit of blocking and it's bluer rather than grey irl!

I’m just catching up with everything after having intermittent Wi-Fi in the highlands last week.

Good luck with the application @Fairislefandango and the interview @InTheNightWeWillWish . I’ve applied to a job that was meant to have a test last week as part of the selection and I’ve not heard anything. Not that I would have been able to do it on dodgy Wi-Fi and driving to a cafe in the nearest town 20 miles away would have been super stressful!

I treated myself to some handmade buttons while I was away but I’m not sure if they will go best with a very patterned cardigan or a very plain one to show them off.

Those are lovely! 'Id go plain myself but I probably would for most things. @StillNiceCardigan

Good luck with the application @Fairislefandango

I'm blocking my scarf today. I'm still not sure if I like it. I will present it for your verdicts later. I might also ask for help with the hot water bottle cover I'm going to start. As far as I can remember, the pattern said something less than illuminating about how to join the diamonds together like 'join the diamonds together.'

Beautiful buttons, @StillNiceCardigan !

I'm enjoying doing a few crochet squares while I'm waiting to start my next knitting project. It's nice to be able to make realpy quick things sometimes. I absolutely love the book my crochet squares come from. It's got hundreds of different designs with suggested colour schemes, and a section on how to combine them to make various blanket designs.

@StillNiceCardigan I love those buttons, I think something plain as well.

@Fairislefandango is this your granny squares book? I have the same one, they have some really nice squares and you could keep yourself endlessly busy with different combinations and colours.

I’ll go for plain, now I need to find a pattern (a much better thing to do than all the holiday washing).

@StillNiceCardigan I agree with plain too; they're beautiful buttons & need showing off!

I'm just sitting down to do the last few rounds of stego before I really really, really need to sew in some ends 🦕

Here's the scarf for your judgement. I think I can't forgive it for not being one I had that was similar that I loved but have lost.

I absolutely love that scarf, @MerylSqueak ! What pattern was it again (I'm sure I already asked you somewhere upthread ). I like the natural colour and the lacy pattern - What wool did you use?

@InTheNightWeWillWish - yes, that's my squares book. In fact it was that book which made me try crochet in the first place - I saw it on Amazon and it spoke to me!

Thank you @Fairislefandango I used Drops Wish. She seems to have taken down the pattern. It was free before. I'll see if I can find a pdf to PM you

Ah no! Here it is

www.thecastingoncouch.com/assets/chunky-lace-scarf--2014.pdf