WIPs change to Finished Objects!

Hey all!!!

How are you all doing? I’m sorry I haven’t been around this last week but I’ve been swamped! Remember the Virus I’d started for my SIL? Well, I finished it. I made a shawlette instead of a complete shawl, cause it’s more an accessory, than a cold weather garment. I frogged the previous one I’d made (and shown in my last post) and made it with a 5.5mm hook. It drapes much better now and looks much better too. Here’s a pic all ends woven and blocked. Looks pretty good, don’t it?

Virus Shawlette

Close up

Of course once I finished that, then I had to make something for my little niece too. And since my BIL is still around and I had enough time, I figured I’d go for it. Now the question was what to make? A toy or a garment? Because they are in a pretty cold country (and I didn’t have enough time and/or stuffing ;-) ) I decided to go with a beanie. I searched high and low for an interesting and different pattern (I get bored easily) I finally settled on the woven stitch hat by Brittany from b.hooked designs (www.bhookedcrochet.com/2016/02/11/crochet-woven-stitch-hat/)

The design asks for worsted weight yarn and a 4mm hook. Since all I have accessible here is light fingering 100% acrylic yarn, I had to make a few modifications.

I used a 4mm hook and made a magic ball of all the different colours of yarn I had (it’s for a kid). Also as it’s for a child around 18 months old I had to make the band with a less number of rows. So instead of the 110 rows called for I made 90. Now that its completed I feel I should’ve gone with 75 or 80 rows instead though. Because the band is really stretchy. Oh, well…the kid will get a lot more use out of it, right? ;-) Instead of going with a length of 10 inches I stopped at 8 inches. The circumference is 16 inches, unstretched. Made a pompom the old fashioned way (with a piece of card paper) and sewed it on. And here it is in all its colourful glory….

Woven Stitch Hat (child)

Whatcha think? Too much??

I have fallen in love with the woven stitch and can’t wait to use it a for a few more hats. I'm even thinking of using it on a couple of phone pouches I wanna make. I like the look of both the sides too. One side has a lovely textured and pebbly effect which makes me feel it’d do really great for a tawashi or a wash cloth too!

And what about my MCAL, you ask? Well, it’s been languishing I’m afraid. Mainly because I have a time limit on my BIL’s gifts. He’ll be traveling back in the next couple of weeks. So I have to finish up quick. And hence my blanket pines away from loneliness. (Don't worry me pretty, I'll be back soon.....cackles) So far I’ve just managed to complete half of part 4. Once the hat is done though, I’ll complete the rest of it.

Now I’ve gone and promised my other SIL a phone pouch and a friend some corsages and hair accessories for her bridesmaids and flower girls. So I’m off to do some research and designing.

What have you lovely lot been up to then? I’d love to hear from you guys.

OCD anyone???

I hate clean up!!! And cleaning Jackfruit is the messiest thing one can do! Yuck!! I tried, I really did!! I used a plastic bag to collect all the skin and etcetera’s. But the sticky sap got into and onto everything! So the post cleaning clean-up was a paaaiiinnnn….! Its only in the middle of cleaning the fruit I remembered that I should’ve oiled my hands and all tools and surfaces beforehand. Duh!! *slaps forehead* Well my excuse is that this is just the second time in my life I have cleaned Jackfruit. Back in India we get Jackfruit already cleaned in the market. In Nigeria jackfruit is a barely known fruit. It’s rarely even seen in the market. How did I get it you ask? My friend, who is also a foreigner married to a Nigerian, has a farm where she has planted it. She very kindly gives me some whenever its harvested.

It was while I was cleaning the jackfruit I had a couple of epiphanies about myself.

The first is, because I hate clean up that’s probably why I avoid getting into arguments or confrontations. Even if I do, I don’t let my anger control my tongue! The angrier I am the quieter I get. Because if you say something in anger, chances are once you’ve calmed down, you’ll either not be able to follow through on the threat or may regret the harsh words spoken. Then comes the apologizing, the grovelling, the making of amends and restitution. All of it is wayyyy too much drama and takes too much effort! Better to keep quiet, right? ;-)

The second is I think I may be a borderline Obsessive Compulsive. My observations:

·         You know those glass rings we leave when we pick up a sweaty or leaking glass or cup? Well I can NOT place my glass anywhere else except on that ring! It drives me up the wall when it goes outside the ring.

·         I’m always washing my hands. While cooking, cleaning…anytime. Basically if I touch anything I have to wash my hands.

·         If anyone or anything touches my nose, I have to rub it. While dusting I keep rubbing my nose till it gets red and painful! And even then I can’t stop.

·         There is a particular way I do things. Before I can change my style, it takes time and effort.

·         I keep my things organised to the point that if I have to direct someone to get something for me I can draw them a map!

·         Clutter makes my brain shut down!

·         While reading a book, if there are grammatical or spelling errors it drives me nuts!!

·         My mind sometimes gets stuck on a sentence or phrase that I keep repeating over and over again, subconsciously. Even once I become aware of the repetition I still can’t stop it.

·         I’m a creature of habit. I like routine. Whenever my routine is disrupted I get irritated and upset. I like to plan my days and chores. If a change is required during the course of the day, I can adjust but it makes me feel disorientated. I don’t like to be caught unawares (except for gifts).

·         I like rules. I don’t like ambiguity. I like structure and discipline.

So what do you think? Do I have OCD?

The best site I found with more information about this disorder is http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/index.shtml. While reading the information here I discovered one more thing I do compulsively, which is throat clearing. It irritates all the people around me, but I can’t stop no matter how much I try! Now I know why I can’t stop!

Ice Yarns….An unbeatable temptation!!!

So…..I hate to say this….but I am weak. I succumbed. I couldn’t ignore the call anymore. What am I talking about? Why, the new Ice Yarns I bought of course! After all my great and lofty resolutions of abstaining from playing till I’d finished some of my pending wips!! But as they say, ‘All work and no play makes Jill antsy’ ;-)

But I do have a very good excuse for this weakness at least. My BIL has come to town for a few days and I want to send a gift for his wife when he returns. Whatcha think?? A good enough excuse? 

Out of my Ice Yarn stash I decided to use the gold and cream one. Its called Ring. According to the label its a Light DK (3) weight and recommended hook size is 4mm. Its a blend of 50% Polyamide and 50% Polyester.

I chose to go with a virus pattern cause from my previous experience it's a pretty simple pattern and works up real fast.

This is my attempt

I'm not too happy with the result so far though. The 4mm hook seems to give the fabric a dense feel and due to the polymide content of the yarn it also feels kinda plasticky. I think using a larger size hook may give it better drape. So I've frogged it. I'll start the new version with a 5.5mm hook and see tomorrow. 

Will keep you updated once I figure it out. Though I do have a deadline of sorts.

And I'm back!!!...With a BANG...

Yayyyy...I found my Crojo, probably cause I'm finally free of the bug that was plaguing me for the last couple of weeks!

And the first WIP i picked up to work on is my lariat. It's a WIP that's been languishing since early last year (2015). Its done in single crochet. And the best part...???....it's almost done.

As you can see, the lariat is almost done. I'm ending it with some tassels. One side done, the other side is left to go. But I'm gonna have to do some more stringing cause the beads I'd strung have been exhausted. And with a 4 yo and a 2.5 yo running around, bead stringing becomes a wee bit hard!! (understatement). I can't begin to tell you the amount of beads I've lost cause they wanted to "help"! :-/

The next WIP I've pulled out of the attic (figurative) is the Road Playmat designed by Laura E. from http://www.happyberrycrochet.blogspot.com.ng/ I've begun joining the squares. I figured if I finish joining all the Roads first I'll know how many more road squares I need and how many more fillers. Here's a glimpse of what I've joined and planned so far...

I have of course done a lot more of the filler squares, like the pond, grass, fields etc. I've even made some trees and shrubs.

I have also completed Part 3 of the Wonder Crochet Blanket CAL 2016. The designer for this part is Amy from The Stitchin' Mommy

So you can see I've been mighty busy all this week flitting from WIP to WIP, but I haven't completed anything yet. And my beautiful new Ice Yarn is still calling me. "COme and play", they say. "We are lonely here", they call. "Patience, my lovelies, I'm trying me best to be good".

I Lost my CroJo!!

I've lost it....I've lost it!! I've lost my CroJo...!! I haven't picked up my hook all week! I have been battling a nasty cold for the last two weeks. Stuffy nose, runny nose, headache, sore throat, the works. And I wasn't alone. My two year old and my four year old were also suffering right along with me. But while they've healed I've started getting a fever :-( This being a malaria prone country, I started taking anti-malaria meds. The meds are over but the fever doesn't want to go! Luckily I get it in the afternoons, when its nap time for the kids, so atleast I can get some rest.

But since the fever has started I haven't been able to work on any of my pending WIPs. I have a Road Play Mat that I started as a CAL last year that's still pending, a single crochet bead lariat, also started last year, an order for hairbands in different colours, another order for a bead crochet rope, Wonder Crochet Blanket MCAL.....etc... When am I gonna finish it all??!!

And most importantly I have my parcel of Ice Yarns calling me. I told you about it in my last post, but I failed to put in some eye candy. How very remiss of me. So here goes then...

 

I've got plans, but no time!! And I'm still looking for my CroJo. And I'm determined to complete some of the WIPs before I start playing.

The next installment of the Wonder Crochet Blanket MCAL is also out but I can't bring myself to do anything! I just hope I either find my CroJo, or it finds me!!

Wonder Crochet Blanket CAL Part 2

My friends, I am so excited. I finally got the opportunity to order some Ice Yarns last week and it has arrived!!! Yayyyy...look at me doing my happy dance!!! Now I'm trying to be a really good girl and have stopped myself from starting any new projects. I have too many WIPs on hand. So I'm being very disciplined .... or am I fooling myself!? ;-) How long do you reckon I'll last??

On to my wonderful Wonder Crochet Blanket CAL 2016. Part 2 was published on schedule and I have finished it on schedule too. Part 2 was designed by Rhondda from Oombawka Designs.

Rhondda very kindly designed her part keeping people like me in mind also. I am very grateful to her for that! She has created a different page for Alternate Sized blankets

For obvious reasons I used the directions for the alternate size. And here's my blanket with part 2 completed.

I've just used whatever colours I have at hand. I'm eagerly awaiting Part 3, which is scheduled to be released on February 4th, I believe.

In the meantime I'm working on some other WIPs, so I can get into my new Ice Yarns to play!! :-D