Wednesday 18 June 2014
Wednesday 11 June 2014
WIP Wednesday...It's been a while!
The little ones are playing happily so I have ten minutes (maybe!) to collect my thought about my current projects.
<Haha just had to rescue the dog from the baby, this may take longer that I anticipated!>
The Granny Stripe Blanket: The awesome, simple, stunning granny stripe blanket! I am totally in love with this blanket and with rainbow coloured yarn. I had never appreciated that something so simple could look so impressive. Even the husband is impressed by this WIP!
I bought a Lucy pack of yarn from wool warehouse and used the attic24 pattern to get started on this blanket. I was a bit overwhelmed by all the colours so picked out the rainbow ones and a white skein and made a start. I took a while to get going but now I can do two rows in 15 minutes. I can manage two hours of crochet before my hands ache so I get 8 stripes done, just over half a rainbow. I have so far done two rainbow repeats...can't decide if I need three or four repeats to make it a decent size for a cot/toddler bed |
| Hooked using a 4mm hook and stylecraft DK yarn |
Corner to corner blanket: Another colourful project! This is for a Betty's Bells order and is #1 of 2. The second one will be the same colours but a different order. The customer has said I can choose the colour for the border....decisions, decisions!
 |
| Hooked using a 6mm hook and Hayfield bonus chunky |
I'm also working on a baby sun hat for a friend in blue, yellow and white cotton. Pics of that one to follow!
Tuesday 10 June 2014
Part time parent...
Sorry for the radio silence. There's not much free time now I'm juggling family life and working!
I've been back at work since last Monday following 9 months of maternity leave with my fourth (and final, ha!) baby. The last week and a half have gone pretty well, the children are happy spending time with their grandparents and cousins while we work, and have settled well into their new routine.
I thought mornings would be so chaotic but it's amazing what getting up a bit earlier does for the morning routine! When I only had to get the big ones to school I would leave getting up until the very last minute and end up all stressed. Getting out of bed earlier is hard, especially after night awakenings, but worth it to have a calm and ordered start to the day.
I've enjoyed the last few days of getting back into work. I'm a part timer, on a 0.6 FTE contract, which I feel very grateful for. No way could I cope with the demands of full time teaching along with all my children! There have been ups and downs but, thankfully, the ups have outweighed the downs. Getting to know a new class has been fun, as has taking on a year ten class that I last taught when they were year sevens. They're all so tall now! Catching up with all the changes that have taken place is hard though. So much has changed that I find I have to clarify everything, I feel a bit like the newbie again.
I feel awful saying it but it's nice to have a few hours where someone else is looking after my children. I felt my mood sinking in the last few months and being back at work has allowed me to have a valid excuse for getting someone to take care of my children and let me have a break! That sounds mad. It's hardly a break, going to work, but it's a break from the endless laundry, the toddler tantrums, the teething baby and the repetition of it all.
Returning to work has given me a new perspective. I am enjoying my children again, excited to pick them up after work, and I'm seeing the world through fresh eyes...although they could still do with a few more hours sleep!
I've been back at work since last Monday following 9 months of maternity leave with my fourth (and final, ha!) baby. The last week and a half have gone pretty well, the children are happy spending time with their grandparents and cousins while we work, and have settled well into their new routine.
I thought mornings would be so chaotic but it's amazing what getting up a bit earlier does for the morning routine! When I only had to get the big ones to school I would leave getting up until the very last minute and end up all stressed. Getting out of bed earlier is hard, especially after night awakenings, but worth it to have a calm and ordered start to the day.
I've enjoyed the last few days of getting back into work. I'm a part timer, on a 0.6 FTE contract, which I feel very grateful for. No way could I cope with the demands of full time teaching along with all my children! There have been ups and downs but, thankfully, the ups have outweighed the downs. Getting to know a new class has been fun, as has taking on a year ten class that I last taught when they were year sevens. They're all so tall now! Catching up with all the changes that have taken place is hard though. So much has changed that I find I have to clarify everything, I feel a bit like the newbie again.
I feel awful saying it but it's nice to have a few hours where someone else is looking after my children. I felt my mood sinking in the last few months and being back at work has allowed me to have a valid excuse for getting someone to take care of my children and let me have a break! That sounds mad. It's hardly a break, going to work, but it's a break from the endless laundry, the toddler tantrums, the teething baby and the repetition of it all.
Returning to work has given me a new perspective. I am enjoying my children again, excited to pick them up after work, and I'm seeing the world through fresh eyes...although they could still do with a few more hours sleep!
Thursday 29 May 2014
My latest projects
I've been a bit busy lately so struggled to fit in writing blog posts. With going back to work next week (well, officially three days ago but it's half term so a week off for me!), posts will probably be less regular. Over the last couple of weeks we have had a hospital stay for Miss S due to her fairly severe asthma and the husband has been in a play for the last week. This hasn't left me with much free time for crafting or blogging! Hopefully I'll catch up with myself this week.
I finished the poncho, which I loved making. It worked up fairly quickly, think it was about 7 hours in total and I enjoyed making the granny stripes. It's a good pattern for watching TV to as doesn't require much concentration. Here is the finished article:
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The colour was chosen by the lady who ordered it for her toddler. I think it is a fab choice and the colours look so lovely together. I really love colourful crochet!
With the leftover yarn, I finally got round to making the unicorn. Once I got going I enjoyed it and couldn't wait to complete it. I find working with a small hook (3mm) and having to focus on tiny stitches quite tiring though, so it took me a good 7-8 hours. I'm not so keen on the putting together stage either. I've had a few requests to order the unicorn but I'm not sure I'll make amigurumi to sell. I'm not sure I would enjoy it and there are issues regarding safety certificates when selling toys.
Some pics...the first few rows took me forever. Then I found this youtube video which made doing the inital magic ring a bit easier.
I followed the pattern in the order it was written, so legs first, then body.
I posted this picture on my facebook page and got some funny suggestions as to what I might be making...toes, clangers, and russian dolls!
I expect once the head was made it might have been more obvious...
Here she is, all finished. I think she is so incredibly cute! My daughter nabbed her and my 8 year old son wants a "storm" unicorn. I have no idea what one of those is! Very satisfying when amigurumi is complete but hard work and patience to get to that point!
Can't remember if I shared a photo of the slouchy hat in my last post...
My daughter requested it and loves it. I made it from the lovely Caron simply soft yarn. The only place I have found that stocks it is Wool Warehouse, who I have now ordered from a number of times! Their delivery is pretty quick and their prices very competitive.
Once all those items were finished I was daydreaming about creating a beautiful rainbow blanket for baby S. I have been lusting over an Attic24 pack of yarn for ages so bit the bullet and invested in one. It's good value with the yarn costing slightly less than buying individual skeins. Think it works out that one skein is free.
Isn't it beautiful! I bought a couple of additional skeins, the bright orange and bright yellow which are next to each other aren't part of the Lucy pack.
With my daughter's input, I decided to make a granny stripe blanket with a ROYGBIV rainbow colour scheme and with alternate white stripes.
These were the colours we selected, they look even more gorgeous in real life! I made a foundation chain of 120 in red and set off making the blanket. It took me about two hours to get going and hook 10 rows of granny stripes plus the foundation chain and a starting single crochet row. Each row is taking on average 10 minutes.
Can't wait to crack on with the other colours and see it grow but it will have to take a back seat to my Betty's Bells orders and my proper job!
Wednesday 21 May 2014
The end is nigh (of my mat leave, that is!)
The last few Wednesdays have come round so quickly. This is my last Wednesday on maternity leave so I expect I won't have as many projects on the go once I'm back to work. I start back on Monday but that's a bank holiday and next week is half term so I should manage to get a bit more hooking in before things get too chaotic once more!
I've mixed feelings about going back, which is to be expected after maternity leave! I'm going to miss my two little people so much. The last few months have been pretty challenging and I've had some really difficult times, but I've loved being there for them, 24/7, so much and seeing how much they've grown and developed has been a real privilege. I'll miss my big two too although they probably won't notice my absence so much with their being at school. I'm on a part time contract so will still be able to pick them up four times a week and drop them off two or three times.
People usually try to console those going back to work with the thought of hot cuppas and toilet breaks in peace. Teaching isn't one of those jobs that lends itself to getting a hot cuppa and to be honest, I usually drink so little I don't need the loo! But there are advantages to going back. Firstly, the money! SMP isn't great so a bit of extra cash will be nice. Secondly, my colleagues. They're all lovely and really supportive. I enjoy working with them. And of course, the children/pupils/learners, whatever the government is referring to them as this week. Those amazing young people who test you to your limits and make the good times great and the hard times worthwhile. I'm looking forward to seeing the ones I have taught before and getting to know new classes.
So, while I get back into the swing of things, crocheting will have to take a back seat. Although I will be sure to keep something on the go as a relaxation activity once all my homework is done!
This week's works in progress:
Slouchy hat: nearly done. Daughter likes it but wants it a bit "slouchier" so I have to frog the last couple of rows and add a few more of the double crochet rows.
Poncho: done! Will show you pics on finished Friday!
Amigurumi Unicorn: One leg done! That took me flipping ages! If anyone has any tips about how to do a magic ring with a 3mm hook they would be greatly appreciated. Once I'm a few rows in it's fine but those first rows are so fiddly.
Right, back to being referee between the baby and the toddler!
I've mixed feelings about going back, which is to be expected after maternity leave! I'm going to miss my two little people so much. The last few months have been pretty challenging and I've had some really difficult times, but I've loved being there for them, 24/7, so much and seeing how much they've grown and developed has been a real privilege. I'll miss my big two too although they probably won't notice my absence so much with their being at school. I'm on a part time contract so will still be able to pick them up four times a week and drop them off two or three times.
People usually try to console those going back to work with the thought of hot cuppas and toilet breaks in peace. Teaching isn't one of those jobs that lends itself to getting a hot cuppa and to be honest, I usually drink so little I don't need the loo! But there are advantages to going back. Firstly, the money! SMP isn't great so a bit of extra cash will be nice. Secondly, my colleagues. They're all lovely and really supportive. I enjoy working with them. And of course, the children/pupils/learners, whatever the government is referring to them as this week. Those amazing young people who test you to your limits and make the good times great and the hard times worthwhile. I'm looking forward to seeing the ones I have taught before and getting to know new classes.
So, while I get back into the swing of things, crocheting will have to take a back seat. Although I will be sure to keep something on the go as a relaxation activity once all my homework is done!
This week's works in progress:
Slouchy hat: nearly done. Daughter likes it but wants it a bit "slouchier" so I have to frog the last couple of rows and add a few more of the double crochet rows.
Poncho: done! Will show you pics on finished Friday!
Amigurumi Unicorn: One leg done! That took me flipping ages! If anyone has any tips about how to do a magic ring with a 3mm hook they would be greatly appreciated. Once I'm a few rows in it's fine but those first rows are so fiddly.
Right, back to being referee between the baby and the toddler!
Sunday 18 May 2014
Last week...
Well, what a week that was! Started off wonderfully with the arrival of my sister's baby girl! We visited when she was a few hours old and again the following day. She's so cute, I can't wait for more cuddles!
Miss S is in year 6 and had her SATS exams from Monday to Thursday. She was a bit nervous but after Monday's tests was quite relaxed about it and even admitted "enjoying" them! Strange child. She was keen to do her best, to show what she was capable of and then to enjoy a lovely Friday with her friends. School had planned to take them to the Whitehaven Home and Garden Show to the Science tent and for a general wander.
On Wednesday she started to feel unwell. She's had asthma for two years now and it seems this time of year is really bad for her. Following many puffs of her blue inhaler (reliever), she was getting quite distressed and I could see she wasn't well. I called the GP surgery who told us to come down in an hour. We were seen pretty quickly and the doctor prescribed a course of steroids which, in the past, have kicked in within a couple of hours and made a noticeable improvement. We had the tablets by 6pm and she took a dose straight away.
Unfortunately, by 8pm she was not improving at all, coughing constantly, feeling really flushed and tired. Asthma attacks don't always present as a sudden gasping for breath, in fact Miss S's never have, they've always been a gradual deterioration over a few days. I had to call the husband home from his rehearsal to look after the other children while we went to A&E. The A&E department was heaving and it took a while to get seen by the triage nurse. Most of the other patients were triaged and then sent back to the waiting area but we were taken into resus. Not because she needed resus, thank God, but because that was the only space available.
Following a couple of nebulisers, she was admitted to children's ward. This is always the case when we've been to A&E so we kind of knew what to expect. By this point it was almost midnight and we were all exhausted. I was also well aware that a certain baby would be waking for a feed soon enough and I would have to leave Miss S. So, at this point I swapped places with her Daddy and he stayed overnight.
The next day involved nebulisers, inhalers, antibiotics, steroids, chest x-rays, blood tests and she slowly started to get better. It wasn't a quick recovery though and she went downhill a couple of times before being properly well again. She needed another night on the ward and the didn't discharge her until 5pm on Friday as they needed to be confident she was well on the way to recovery.
We were all so happy to have her home! We've kept her close by this weekend and she's been very sensible, taking her medication and getting plenty of sleep to help her recovery. Back to the GP tomorrow and the consultant in June who can hopefully advise as to how we can avoid these seasonal episodes she seems prone to.
We had a lovely wander round the harbour yesterday, at the Home and Garden Show. There was a lovely atmosphere and lots of lovely food! We also went to visit our beautiful baby niece to deliver gifts and get more snuggles.
Today, the husband has been building the set for Up Pompeii which starts this week and we all spent the afternoon at the theatre, chatting with friends and then watching the start of the technical rehearsal. It reminded me how much I love the buzz of being involved in theatrical productions and I can't wait to get back into it.
Now, all the children are asleep and I am enjoying the BAFTAs and a well deserved glass of wine. What a week that was!
Miss S is in year 6 and had her SATS exams from Monday to Thursday. She was a bit nervous but after Monday's tests was quite relaxed about it and even admitted "enjoying" them! Strange child. She was keen to do her best, to show what she was capable of and then to enjoy a lovely Friday with her friends. School had planned to take them to the Whitehaven Home and Garden Show to the Science tent and for a general wander.
On Wednesday she started to feel unwell. She's had asthma for two years now and it seems this time of year is really bad for her. Following many puffs of her blue inhaler (reliever), she was getting quite distressed and I could see she wasn't well. I called the GP surgery who told us to come down in an hour. We were seen pretty quickly and the doctor prescribed a course of steroids which, in the past, have kicked in within a couple of hours and made a noticeable improvement. We had the tablets by 6pm and she took a dose straight away.
Unfortunately, by 8pm she was not improving at all, coughing constantly, feeling really flushed and tired. Asthma attacks don't always present as a sudden gasping for breath, in fact Miss S's never have, they've always been a gradual deterioration over a few days. I had to call the husband home from his rehearsal to look after the other children while we went to A&E. The A&E department was heaving and it took a while to get seen by the triage nurse. Most of the other patients were triaged and then sent back to the waiting area but we were taken into resus. Not because she needed resus, thank God, but because that was the only space available.
Following a couple of nebulisers, she was admitted to children's ward. This is always the case when we've been to A&E so we kind of knew what to expect. By this point it was almost midnight and we were all exhausted. I was also well aware that a certain baby would be waking for a feed soon enough and I would have to leave Miss S. So, at this point I swapped places with her Daddy and he stayed overnight.
The next day involved nebulisers, inhalers, antibiotics, steroids, chest x-rays, blood tests and she slowly started to get better. It wasn't a quick recovery though and she went downhill a couple of times before being properly well again. She needed another night on the ward and the didn't discharge her until 5pm on Friday as they needed to be confident she was well on the way to recovery.
We were all so happy to have her home! We've kept her close by this weekend and she's been very sensible, taking her medication and getting plenty of sleep to help her recovery. Back to the GP tomorrow and the consultant in June who can hopefully advise as to how we can avoid these seasonal episodes she seems prone to.
We had a lovely wander round the harbour yesterday, at the Home and Garden Show. There was a lovely atmosphere and lots of lovely food! We also went to visit our beautiful baby niece to deliver gifts and get more snuggles.
Today, the husband has been building the set for Up Pompeii which starts this week and we all spent the afternoon at the theatre, chatting with friends and then watching the start of the technical rehearsal. It reminded me how much I love the buzz of being involved in theatrical productions and I can't wait to get back into it.
Now, all the children are asleep and I am enjoying the BAFTAs and a well deserved glass of wine. What a week that was!
Wednesday 14 May 2014
WIP Wednesday
Apologies for the lateness of this weeks WIP Wednesday post, but the original post has gone missing somewhere in the ether between the blogger app on my phone and the internet. Very annoying. The blogger app is pretty useless and causing me to consider moving the blog to another provider. Wordpress seems a popular choice. I like how blogger links to all things google though.
So, this week has been pretty busy! I got a new niece which spurred me on to finish the amigurumi bunny and to make the cutest little hat and shoes set.
I have also been busy completing a lovely hat for an order. It's pretty much the baby cloche hat pattern that I've used before, just done in a adult size. It's made from Lily Sugar n Cream cotton which I love working with. The stitches look so defined and neat. I hope its new owner likes it.
Preschooler poncho: I'm really enjoying making this colourful poncho. It's the first time I've worked with stylecraft yarns and I have to say, I'm impressed with the quality of the double knitting yarn. It's lovely and soft and stays neat as I'm working with it. The threads don't unwind like some yarns do and there's an nice finish to the stitches. I'm 16 rows in now and I reckon I need at least another 20. Each row takes about 15 minutes now but that gets gradually longer as there are two clusters of stitches added to each row. I think I'll finish it off with a couple of rows of single crochet and then a scalloped edging.
Neon pink slouchy hat: Requested by my 10 year old daughter, apparently these are what every girl needs these days. In bright pink, obviously. Still, it's a pretty easy request in a lovely yarn. I love the Caron Simply Soft (which is worsted/aran weight yarn) so much, I just wish I could buy it locally. I don't mind buying from the internet but the free delivery for orders over £25 is just too good an offer to miss out on and I have ended up with a LOT of yarn! Have a look here for all the pretty colours that are available.
So, this week has been pretty busy! I got a new niece which spurred me on to finish the amigurumi bunny and to make the cutest little hat and shoes set.
I have also been busy completing a lovely hat for an order. It's pretty much the baby cloche hat pattern that I've used before, just done in a adult size. It's made from Lily Sugar n Cream cotton which I love working with. The stitches look so defined and neat. I hope its new owner likes it.
I have a couple of WIPs this week...
Preschooler poncho: I'm really enjoying making this colourful poncho. It's the first time I've worked with stylecraft yarns and I have to say, I'm impressed with the quality of the double knitting yarn. It's lovely and soft and stays neat as I'm working with it. The threads don't unwind like some yarns do and there's an nice finish to the stitches. I'm 16 rows in now and I reckon I need at least another 20. Each row takes about 15 minutes now but that gets gradually longer as there are two clusters of stitches added to each row. I think I'll finish it off with a couple of rows of single crochet and then a scalloped edging. Neon pink slouchy hat: Requested by my 10 year old daughter, apparently these are what every girl needs these days. In bright pink, obviously. Still, it's a pretty easy request in a lovely yarn. I love the Caron Simply Soft (which is worsted/aran weight yarn) so much, I just wish I could buy it locally. I don't mind buying from the internet but the free delivery for orders over £25 is just too good an offer to miss out on and I have ended up with a LOT of yarn! Have a look here for all the pretty colours that are available.
Not looking likely that I'll have either of these finished by Friday, but I'll give it a go! Oh, and the amish puzzle ball...it hasn't left my WIP box since last week, oops.
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