Cheer up! Favorite song #1

When I'm looking for an instant cheer up, this is the song I turn to. The line drawings are so cute and always manage to put a smile on my face when I watch it. Hope you like it too!

Sweaters and squares and life oh my!

My niece sent me this clip she found on Vimeo. After listening to it, it reminded me that I am not alone, that I have someone who stands by me through thick and thin, through the good times and the bad, through sickness and health. That person is my darling husband. Despite his own health issues, he is there for me when I hurt too much that I can't even walk a simple block. 

Stand by Me from theRedPillRadio on Vimeo.

It also reminded me that I have a friend, a very special friend who also stands by me, who accepts me as I am. She is also by my side through thick and thin, giving me the support that I need. 

And all this reminds me that I cannot go through life thinking that I can do it alone, that I must be strong for others and forget about my pain. There are days that, yes, I can put my pain aside and be there for friends and family and then there are days that the pain is too much, that I try and bury it by keeping myself busy, but it comes through anyway. It feels like a beast with huge teeth gnawing at my nerves and muscles... and that's when I turn to knitting and crochet to keep me sane.

When the doctor told me that I have fibromyalgia, I didn't realise just how much it would hurt as it develops. I do hope it reaches a plateau sooner than later since it is already affecting what I can and cannot do. Between the fibro pain and the neuropathic pain I'd rather go with the neuropathic pain. This fibro pain is something that totally cuts my breath when it hits. I can feel it building and building when I try to keep going despite the fact that I'm hurting and then it just clamps down and I find myself unable to take another step and struggling for breath.

I've been volunteering as a test crocheter for a lovely designer, SmoothFox, and have enjoyed the process quite a bit. I've tested several squares and a beautiful blanket for her and look forward to testing more. I still have to take photos of the most recent test squares but I do have a photo of this lovely square that I completed a couple of weeks ago for her.

Neapolitan Ice Cream Square 12x12

As I keep testing other squares for her I will eventually have enough to assemble a lovely blanket of beautiful original squares.

I decided to participate in a sweater KAL with Spud & Chloe. I had never done a raglan type sweater before and I thought, why not join in, this way I get to learn how to do a raglan sweater and have immediate help and support if I run into a snag. So far it's going fantastically well. I love the top down construction of the sweater and the fact that it is seamless means no bulky side and underarm seams like other sweaters constructed separately. 

Raglan sweater so far

This one I am knitting for my 11 year old nephew. I decided to go with nice chunky stripes in navy blue and white. It's a great pattern and to have online support for questions and help is fantastic. You can see everyone's progress on Ravelry.

I have other projects that are almost done that I will post photos of in my next post.

And the vote was yes!

Here he is snuggling up to my new yarn cakes! The one I'm using is on the other side of the pile but the yarn runs over his back which he seems to enjoy. Go figure LOL

Friday night

Anyone who says cats can't smile.... I offer the following proof!

Serious                                          Smiling
Click image for a larger version

Now isn't that a face you could just kiss?!

He always loves to lay in whatever yarn I'm working with or at the least when he's been denied the yarn bed, alongside of my leg so he can feel my elbow on his back while I'm knitting or crocheting. He's also a camera hog when I want to take photos of my work. But who could say no to that face?!!

This afternoon, I decided to put my new ball winder to the test. I've used it a few times before and wasn't happy about the fact that it has issues handling a 50 gram ball of worsted weight. I had been puzzling on how to resolve that issue and I figured it out! What I needed was to extend the bole of the piece where the yarn winds onto. I found a cardboard toilet paper tube fits over the original bole but it had to fit snuggly. 5 of those veggy elastics (the ones wrapped around the cauliflower) carefully applied on top of each other around the plastic bole and the toilet paper tube fit snuggly with no wiggle. I notched the tube just like the plastic one, attached my yarn and started winding. It works!!! It can now handle a 50 gram ball of ww yarn with no issues. I keep an eye on the winding yarn to make sure it's going where it should and let the yarn run through the fingers of my right hand from the ball to make sure it doesn't snag or have knots. Here is the fruit of my work! Gorgeous balls of fire engine red yarn all made up into pretty cakes.

Now I have yarn to start testing a 12x12 crochet square for SmoothFox!... and no Gambit in sight! Uh oh, spoke too soon, here he is looking up at me begging to be allowed on the desk so he can snuggle the yarn. Should I?

A very retro bag

I recently crochet tested a square for SmoothFox called the Lemony lime citrus square. I really liked the way it came out and proceeded to make another using the same colors. Inspiration struck and here is what came of it.

I used various crochet techniques throughout. The side panels and bottom are made of smaller versions of the first 4 rounds of the Lemony lime square and the shoulder strap is made from tunisian crochet (my adaptation using a regular crochet hook) which gave me a super solid strap that naturally curled inwards on itself and gave the effect of a covered bamboo handle. I hand sewed the interior lining and voila! My very own retro flower child bag. I've had many compliments since I started using it this week.

The side panels made up of smaller versions of the main motif.

I did a staggered top stitch to assemble the bag.

I love how the stitches make it look like covered bamboo.

Love those buttons! How retro!!

I needed a way to close this bag that could be used in different ways. I crocheted a separate piece for the closure and found 2 cloth covered buttons that are very retro. i sewed the buttons on each side of the opening and then added the button on closure. This way the bag can be opened from either side and the closure can actually be removed when more space is required.

The next one I make, I will add a cell phone pocket and key fob to make it easier to find the 2 most used items from a bag. And I will also make a pattern for the lining before I sew up the bag. The cloth I used to make the lining had to be french-seamed throughout which made it rather tedious when you're doing it all by hand. At least I know it will be sturdy.

Caribbean top done!!!

 I finished it! And I really like how it came out.

This is not a pattern for a beginning crocheter mind you. The instructions are somewhat confusing at times and I also changed the trim around the arm holes. The pattern called for a round of double crochet but when I completed it, the whole look of the vest changed. Not even remotely feminine with that round of chain fencing. So I ripped back and did a round of picots, the same used to trim the rest of the vest.

I'm quite happy with the finished look. I have it on a hanger to see how it will stretch. Being a light worsted cotton, trying to block this beast is not something I want to try any time soon.

I do hope my daughter likes it :)

 
These are from Doris Chan's book Everyday Crochet. They are basically like cuff links, but for closing any crocheted garment, especially if you don't want to have it button always at the same spot which risks of stretching that area. These can be moved anywhere along the front edge of the vest depending on what look you want.

Here is a close up of the button/cuff links I made using beads, buttons and elastic jewelry thread for the vest.

Feeling blue?

I've found the perfect cure for the blues.

Having a bad hair day?

Got pulled over for a spot check and discover your driver's license expired?

The kids who were playing quietly in the next room are now covered with indelible marker?

The dog ate your homework?

The hamster shredded your favorite book?

Your gold fish is swimming upside down?
The car that worked perfectly yesterday is sitting on the side of the highway with you in it?

And when you think the day that couldn't get worse is almost over, your computer dies.

Just follow this link. 

I guarantee that you will laugh your a$$ off!

PS. I'll be posting later. I have a few things to show off that I finished this weekend.