Not much knitting and little crochet

Merry Christmas to all just in case I have another big break from blogging. I think this is the only thing I've knitted since the last blog. A case of necessity. My husband has volunteered to be Santa at the Childcare my daughter works at, they could only afford a cheap K mart outfit and he wasn't at all happy with the beard, so I made using this pattern out of  Mohair Boucle yarn, only change was to add to the moustache.

The Baby Bomber Jacket I started in october is progressing painfully slow (get bored with crochet and keep returning to my Candy Crush Addiction) , managed to get the back and fronts finished and start a sleeve this week.

Has a lovely week in Tassie with Mum mid November, her Christmas present to me. She was doing a weekend of dog judging near Launceston and wanted to stay longer and go to Hobart to visit my Aunt & Uncle. So we ended up doing some travelling around up north hadn't been much outside Hobart before and I really did fall in love after seeing the north. I now understand why my Dad's heart never really left there after they left about 50 years ago. Seriously considering taking his ashes back there. The weather once we reached Hobart wasn't too favourable , but it's always nice to catch up with my Aunt and Uncle. I like to hear my Mum and her sister's recollections of childhood in wartime England and talk of my Grandparents who I never got to met.

I was pretty depressed about work , applied for a position a few months back and got the word back only made it to the bottom of the merit list and there were no positions in the end anyway, thanks to the new govt.
If they want to save money in the public service, stop having recruitment processes for non existent jobs.

Picking up now and not long to Christmas break. Doing things a bit tough as hubby going out on his own permanently, has work but quite often not well enough to put in a full-time effort. Major sinus issues with give him debilitating headaches and fatigued most of the time. Hoping  a CPAP machine for sleep apnoea and some thyroid medication for hashimotos will make a big improvement. There's been no point trying to find full-time employment.

MY husband's mother has made major progress, though will never walk again. Now in fulltime rehab. My niece has finally had her brain operation and was instantly out of the pain she'd been in for over 12 months. Pain from the operation but at least that responded to painkillers. So hoping she will recover quickly and be able to eat normal food again eventually , she had found a very restrictive diet was all she got manage with her condition.  My brother and her seem to be moving forward well after passing of her mother and this will help heaps, they decided to buy a bigger  house together with her partner as he will be away a lot overseas with work, so they will have each other for company.

Going to put try and put in major effort to get the Bomber Jacket finished so can go back to some knitting. Mum bought some expensive Alpaca yarn in Tassie so will have to knit cardigan for her. I was going to crochet Baby college jackets as well but thinking will have to convert pattern to knitting to get through them.

Spoke too soon

Trail of Blossoms Scarf

Police Box Slouch Hat

Scarf in Moda Vera Catalina 

Baby Aviator Hats

Oh Boy Oh Boy the Owl

So this is the crochet and knitting I've completed to since last post.

But things have been anything but normal. My MIL got a staph infection some how in her blood went into her spinal cord. long story very short she spent about 9 weeks in ICU and is now a paraplegic just started undertaking intense rehab. Then in my brother's wife died suddenly of a heart attack, both diabetes sufferers. Hubby's job didn't last as they couldn't afford to pay him. He has some work to complete from home so some income is still there, and he will have to do some work for the people he just left as they still have the work to be done, just probably under his ABN.

Weather here has been hot and windy everything getting bone dry , we were within 10 klms  of 3 bush fires the other week, we haven't been able to burn off as was too wet then too windy and now too hot and windy. Not a good way to head into a long hot summer.

Just applied for a job in another area , applied 2 years ago got on the merit list and have been getting emails to see if still interested but all amounted to naught, so back where I started,  who knows , not holding my breathe.

Back to Normal

Haven't worked OT for two weeks now, so can actually think about knitting. Have completed a drop stitch scarf for Mum with the Alpaca yarn I was trying to knit Flurries with, finally got the pattern right and realised in just wasn't going to look anything with the colour way. So went back to basics. I think I cast on this yarn about 20 times in the end and it stood up very well . Maybe going back to Tassie in November so will try and pick up some more.

DH is working again and getting paid well, may not be that long term but hopefully will get us debt free accept for the mortgage by Christmas.

Having visitors in the next few days which meant the craft room needed tidying, so could be slept in. Picked up some clever cube shelves from Bunnings for the stash all over the floor got a 1.5 x 1.5m , which has 16 cube shelves. You can then get solid drawers or cloth drawers , dividers and so on. got 8 cloth drawers quite sturdy very adequate for yarn. Would have left it open , but our new adopted cat likes to run off with balls of yarn like she's carrying a kitten, it's quite funny really. She doesn't do to much damage to the yarn fortunately, but better not to happen at all. Can fit in another so will get one soon to store the stash hiding in blanket box and cupboard in the lounge room. At just on $200 including drawers I thought it was good value

Same Dyelot?????

These were to be a gift , but turned out so different even though marked as same dyelot and of course it's discontinued. Started off the same put so put the first one away as did not want our new cat to run off with it. Took the other to work and continued on my merry way although had a bit of a niggling feeling , didn't get the first out till finished the second and wall-ah. This was a second pair , first was a different colour but same sort of variegation , they turned out nearly identical , no solid striping at all . Glad I wasn't making a jumper.So gift wasn't sent , looks like some frogging and a beanie are on the cards. Finally got back to flurries and had success with pattern , only to find I had to go up 2 needle sizes to get a lacy effect and then decide the pattern was totally lost in the variegated yarn , so more frogging and another pattern to find for the yarn so Mum gets her promised scarf. Think my knitting is reflecting my overall mood , still working heaps and really over it. Hopefully DH gets a positive outcome to an interview with an agency this week, thinking a 3 day week sounds good.

Working Working

Finally a complete day off after working 16 straight. We don't get OT that often and wasn't going to do it until I got the Electricity bill about $200 more than expected. Then DH got put off last week so back to it tomorrow . Had been trying to do some fingerless gloves with the cover so look like mittens but made one and couldn't really make sense of how to stitch it together nicely, so have gone for a simple mitten, birthdays coming up for a few people in a few weeks , made one in a day (and worked) so think I'll stick with this.

Where's The Time

Since daylight savings finished seem to have no time. Did crochet a star blanket to go with the teddy and jumper and delivered to the baby shower.

Working on a knee high pair of socks just in breaks at work, so slow. In Moda Vera Noir but nice purples.

Been working a design for a ballet wrap, but hard to stay motivated as want to make a proper pattern. So have even been swatching (pic proof). Been looking for a good edge that doesn't roll. Thought I'd do an I-
Cord but when looking out a pattern found another which will do the trick. Know how I'm doing the ties. Just need the work amounts of stitches with yarn and gauge I'm using, hopefully the decrease edging will be ok.

Borrowed these book from the library. Think I will ask for the Custom Knits 2 and it's prequel for my birthday. They're about making and converting patterns to top down and seamless,  just how I like things. Was hoping to do the wrap this way but it's not to be. Will be one piece though.

Was working on a crocheted toddler owl hat , but did not realise did not have white and black in same yarn for eyes , a cotton acrylic blend, might cheat and use acrylic.

Happy Easter All

Finished this today

This yarn Kept telling me it had to be an Urchin

Urchinin Moda Vera Manor on 10mm needles

Title - can't think of one

Have been on leave a week now,it wasn't meant to start till 25/3 but just wasn't up to it any more  So went into work last Friday and asked if I could bring it forward.Keep feeling I'm fighting something off, but also probably a bit burnt out. Not the only one a lot of people are going part time to help cope. Didn't hear anything at all on the job interview I went for, not impressed. Gave up on the Light Flurries Scarf for now as there was a mistake in the pattern and thought it was me for awhile.. Crocheted a hat for a lady in our team who starts chemo on Monday (pic below). Not big on crochet but it's a nice hat and quick. I get bored with crochet although like how it can be shaped. I also prepared a chemo survival kit, with several everyday items that found special meanings on the Internet  Went into work yesterday for a morning tea and presentation as besides everyone wanting to wish her the best, turns out worst day of treatment will be her birthday.

My heads a bit everywhere, cannot decide want to work on next , want to more hats for my work colleague. Then have to do more baby stuff and should go back to the Light Flurries Scarf.

Went to Stitches and Craft show today, not much for crochet and knitter but the 2 stall holders who were there had some different stuff. Succumbed to this

 Just can't my camera to take nice pictures, colour shades are probably nearly there but are just more vivid.  Jade and Peacock Blue.
2ply Touch Merino/Kid Mohair from New Zealand. Stall Holder By Lynette. Haven't had the opportunity to touch possum yarn before, beautiful was very tempted. Couldn't believe when I overheard the owner comment at people just lifting stuff. Would cost a fortune to be there and wouldn't make much profit, no show without exhibitors such disrespect and when you consider the average age of a person at a craft show on a Friday.  Her husband actually came up to me when I picked up the yarn probably thinking I was doing the wrong thing , fortunately I was just struggling with my wallet to get money out. So no faith gained in human nature today.

Another Baby Item

The lady at work who got me to do Animal Magic and my Strawberry Hat & Cardigan  for a friend then found out she was pregnant, cleared her stash to make way for a nursery. She gave me some Powder Puff. Though I return it in the form of a garment for baby.

There is more so tossing up a hoodie or a bear.  Meanwhile commenced Light Flurries Scarf  with the skein of local Alpaca Mum bought on our trip to Tassie.  Printed the pattern out and the chart is quite small, cast on about 4 times, but with gloomy weather yesterday couldn't tell the difference between 2 symbols and couldn't work out why just wasn't working. Sunshine today and "wal- la" spotted the problem, ah aging. So will try again tonight, have highlighted and colour coded now.

The wait is over

An EBay bargain that couldn't be resisted , bought a skein of this last year for $27.00 which seems to be the going rate. Got these for $12.00 each and only $5 postage for the whole lot. There's 1400m in each skein and it's lovely and soft. I think the lady still has some if you're tempted. Not allowed to touch yet , have to complete Annis using the original skein.

Short Stays Completed

Turned out OK , but it's not suitable for acrylic , there is a fancy edge but curls in on the arm straps even though it was blocked for a few days. Ended up doing a double crochet around which actually made a even more attractive edge. Pattern is for 10 ply and did 8 ply worked it two sizes bigger and this worked well.
Arm straps were too long, but to the correct size on pattern , so probably would have been this way anyway. Frogging them back was a real drama, but done now pic later.

Just working on a simple baby jumper in Powder Puff , girl at work who having a baby cleared out her stash , so thought I'd return the yarn in the form of baby clothes

No news on the job front at all, not even a reply to a follow up email

Possible Decisions

Had an interview for another position today within the organisation. We have what's called a mobility register in which you can be chosen for same level transfer, The position is in the city so lots more travel and same pay so would end up out of pocket. The position is totally different and wouldn't to have to work to a roster as such. finish as 4.30 each day. Would have less flex days as less opportunity to build up hours.

Very tempting, can knit on the train , would sometimes be home earlier than now. No pressure of the call centre. 3 months to start then , see if both parties are happy. Find out within the week how I went.

Trying to stay motivated

Started Short Stays for my daughter. Its starts with along strap (2 metres) , it's taken a week to get to 150cms , only 6 stitches per row but getting bored. The author of the pattern says she deliberately put it first to get it out of the way. The tubular stitch is very effective for a firm strap, good for bag. Back to it

My First Shawl

is blocking

Finally

Animal Magic done, no magic felt here though. Garter stitch and took nearly 2 months. Wanted to follow pattern but ended up improvising. Free to do something I will enjoy, but what? So many ideas perhaps socks to start with, hopefully quick

Strawberry Cap to go with a Strawberry Cardigan

Finally finishing the Animal Magic Cardigan which has been a real struggle. Should have been really simple as garter stitch but found changing colours every 2 rows tiring. Worked body seamless which was OK , sleeves fit perfectly. Wasn't happy with neck shaping so crocheted around edge down to strips to stiffen it. Even without this button holes were too far in. Was also unhappy with finish of edge on the outside where had carried yarns up. Actually ended up folding edge over and sewing it, only way to neaten it and solved problem of button holes being too far in. Really disappointed had to go to this measure, tried doing a crochet edge but didn't work at all. Now have to re-do the matching cat hat which I had completed but not in the round as thought would be safer to follow pattern , was really unhappy with the seam so tried undo destroying the hat in the process. Have tried a few different patterns from Simply Knitting Magazines and always given up on them, would have done the same with this if it wasn't an order.

After finishing this on Friday woke up Saturday  inspired for a matching cap for my strawberry cardigan. Originally was just going to do the pattern I used for previous beanies. But woke thinking more of a beret design would go better , searched for pattern to work out roughly how many stitches I would need and just went from there creating this

to make  this set, so now have 2 of my own designs

Was after a bit more of a beret effect but happy with this. Aim to finish the cat hat to in next day or so can get on something I really want to do. Just the ears will be an issue following the pattern just didn't so have go something of Ravelry that hopefully will help

This arrived in the mail today complete with DVD

Have borrowed it from the library a couple of times and really loved it. I do online surveys and one of the companies now issue Fishpond vouchers for rewards, so this cost me just over $6 so bought without guilt as budget is really tight at the moment.

Back to Normality

and work tomorrow... urghhhh

The R & R I was hoping for during the break didn't come to fruition and any knitting planned was not done due to previously explained circumstances, so not looking forward to work, but then I always find in hard to go back after a break.

Feeling much better and back to cooking proper meals , all the Christmas leftovers are gone. Just have to try and get to bed at a decent hour. Back to surfing Ravelry and thinking of new things to cast on. But have to finish some baby clothes first, not enjoying it , but must be done.

Happy New Year Everyone