Crafty Little Rat

  As seems to be the yearly tradition I’m taking time to sit and contemplate 2012. As usual this involves forgetting things like housework, packing and cleaning out the animals and leans more in the favour of being absorbed by my knitting again in that last minute desperation to get that final project finished this year.   This year encompassed work problems, massive ear infections, a total overhaul of my cleaning habits (Looks around… might need to revisit that one), beginning teaching on a Saturday morning,  moving to a new city, starting a new job, leaving my wonderful companions behind at the wool shop, loosing 4 animals in 4 months, getting 5 new animals this year, Wonderwool and Ally Pally. Mixed bag of a year with some amazing highlights and some crippling downs. I have two major resolutions next year; First is to cut down debts (which is a really BORING resolution but necessary) and the second is to be a better blogger. I’ve completed so many projects this year that I’ve ju

  I N.B- This post was written Friday 16th November 2012. Oh sweetheart, What can I say about you. How can I tell the story of the last 18 months without you? Because when you think about it that’s all it’s been, but it seems like a lifetime, and it’s honestly a struggle to remember life without you. I remember the feeling of anxiety over what would happen to you, the nervousness when Rhys finally agreed to let me get you “So we can look for another home” and that taxi drive to Innsworth. Standing outside that military built semi wondering what was going to be inside. Your last owners were nice, but not very knowledgeable about rats. Your cage was more suitable for a hamster and had a shelf, tube, wheel, food and a water bottle. You’d been left alone for most of the week with the neighbours checking in on you- though you still managed to pull the bag of Supa nuggets into the cage and happily stored them in a corner. You were described as a “huge” rat by the bloke, but you weren’t

  When the start of the new Week of Projects year was here I heavily debated getting in on the action. All the way back then I debated waiting and running it through a calendar year from January to the end of December but in the end I thought I’d carry on with the program as intended and I think that would have worked wonders had it not been for the move and for the new job and everything. I’ve decided that what I’m actually going to do is have a good long think about what I want to do next year and start my own year of projects in January. It may or may not contain some of the things of this years list; and some of those I might get round to before January the 1st comes round; all I know is I’d like to have my list confirmed by the middle of December. There are obviously things I’m going to have to do before then; I’m pretty sure Rhys would like his jumper before the winter gets too cold and my sister needs her socks by Christmas. I’m currently working on a little baby jumper and

  It seems I am not very good at this whole keeping track of things does it? I’ve not picked up hook or needle for a WEEK now. It’s getting a wee bit depressing, the problem being that there is *so* much to do. Most of my knitting is still in boxes scattered all the way through the house; we finally finished bringing the last bits home on Friday. Yesterday was filled with sorting things out at the house, going round and getting furniture off relatives while we still had the van (Cedar chest! Dining Chairs! I love my OH’s family) and then today is my nephews christening. Which probably explains why I’m writing this sat on the bathroom floor with hair dye in. After I’ve dyed and dried I have to find out which box exactly the christening present and card is in. I know where the jumper is, but not the book or the card. I need to convince the OH to help me re assemble the rat cage. Because the babies are babies they’ve taken great delight in wriggling through the vertical bars in the curr

  Things are very slowly starting to come together. Crappy late night pictures, and yes the walls will be painted before too long- I’ve even got my tester pots ready! There’s a clock above the TV unit   (which is now slightly off centre thanks to the virgin guy not giving us enough cable; we were out when he came and my FIL was here, so obviously he didn’t know where it was going to go. We also don’t have our phone number written down either!)   I’m itching to go for a jollie on my new wheels; it’s a Pashley Picador and really needs a name, that picture makes my heart sing as well. I have a new little nook to snuggle into for the evening- the blanket was made by a good friend- it’s a cornered granny square, an inside joke that makes me smile every time I see it draped over the back of my chair- suite courtesy of my mother-in-law. This little collection over the fireplace makes me so very very happy. I love my nauticals; and this way they can be part of the room without takin

  I apologise profusely that everything has been very slow around here. 3/4 of my stash is packed in boxes. The other 1/4 needs to be packed. What is packed is what I need and what’s not packed is stuff I can’t even remember buying! My life is currently and endless cycle of washing (why do you always have more washing when you move?) and packing things. My breaks are spent curled up with the IKEA catalogue; and I love it. Plus the addition of 4 baby ratties a few weeks ago. Esk- Solid Grey, Gytha and Magrat- Black and white hooded and Esme- Rowan Bager (Grey stripe)   I have a huge mountain of photos of F.O’s; it’s just finding time to put it all together. I’ve got an F.O Friday post saved to here that I keep adding too- and it’s been going for nearly 3 WEEKS now I’m just struggling to get it all finished and together.   Bear with me! Hannah

  I have 2 WIP’s left; and we were supposed to have someone round to photograph the house. My WIP’s were buried in the cupboard so I cast on some socks on Monday. Monday night I crocheted the Zpagetti bag;  Then today the commission guy came round and I seem to have cast on a hat and offered to crochet an Owl for someone for Saturday!   I have no photos of my WIP’s- so this is the Ravelry photo of the Whoobie Owl pattern which is the one I plan to do. I’m still very tired. I didn’t realise that I posted the WOP on Saturday not Sunday until just now! This week has been a 6 day stretch for me; combined with trying to sort things out for moving and the like I’m just dead on my feet! I’d say I’m having a rest Friday but we’re dashing off to look for houses. That is *if* we can get viewings for any! I phoned up 8 places today and we’ve got viewings for 2 because the other ones have gone. We've scraped the barrel tonight to find 7 more places we quite like and I’ll phone those tomo

Slowly working through my WIP pile! Finished the big one this week- the never ending granny square blanket. Finished off the border today in work and even managed to get a few sneaky snaps of it before I left; but I'll save those for F.O Friday! Short and sweet this week because I feel like I'm about to fall asleep on the job writing this. I was tired before and this glass of wine really isn't helping! Done! Teapot Cosy (Ravellenic Games entry) Never Ending Granny Square blanket. Things that must be done before other things Durrow (WIP- Needs sleeves and a neck edging) Baby Cardigan (half a back, two sleeves) Beth’s Socks Zpagetti Bag (for Beth) Things that are in no particular order Whoobie Owl Crochet Socks for Rhys Crochet Socks for me Cow Tipping Toy Thundersnow Bag From Norway with Love (Can’t wait to start this one. New winter hat- I think so!) Star Trek Socks (For Rhys- Who else!) Mojo Vertigo Francie Piece of my Heart Socks Wisteria

  No F.O Friday this week. Though I did manage to finish off that commissioned hat; and I’m on to the border of the never ending blanket. I’m going to work on that in a few mins; at least until my other half gets home. The landlord is selling our house, and the agent is coming round to take pictures on Monday. I’m in work (I *hate* having people round) and they have a key apparently (I also hate not knowing who can gain access to the property I live in. The list is apparently ever growing) so I don’t have to even be there! So when my other half gets home it starts the weekend of cleaning and packing. I got the job offer through this week; so we’re moving very very soon. I know I’ve got to go rescue my stash tonight- the other half is a militant packer and because I’m not using a current skein right now means that he’s likely to just pack it all away, even if I’ll need it in a week or so! So the plan is to have a separate box with the next 6 projects in it. Not a traditional F.O, bu

Rommie Ludlow Rest in peace my little ones. No longer in pain or discomfort; we love you forever and always <3

  I must say this last week I’ve been bad! I’ve worked on my YOP items a little, but got seduced by those sweet little owl mitts that were in last weeks F.O Friday post. That combined with sadness and commission knitting means I’ve only got a few rows done on my never ending Granny. The end though is within sight; the second balls of each colour seem to be going down very quickly. I’m still undecided if I’ll need a third ball of each colour; though that would mean buying yarn- and having to order off the internet; and may end up playing the “Oh no, that colour was discontinued!” game- which is no fun. I’m thinking if I have to order I’ll get one more ball in each colour, plus one in a cream/brown/beige to go round the edge in to fully finish off the blanket. After 3 weeks I hoped my Done list would be better than this. Woah, that’s pathetic! Done! Teapot Cosy (Ravellenic Games entry) Things that must be done before other things Durrow (WIP- Needs sleeves and a neck edging) Never

  It’s a bumper one this week, seeing as how I’ve neglected things for the last few. We’ve made the heart breaking decision to have Rommie put to sleep on Monday. She’s not having any quality of life at the moment- she doesn’t know up from down and is falling over all the time, and struggling to right herself when she does. It’s heart breaking, not as heart breaking as loosing her will be; but we have to choose what’s right for her. Enough sadness, on with the F.O’s Phone Case Yarn: Trekking XXL (4ply) Needles: 2.5mm Knit Pro 120cm Fixed circs Pattern: Own Notes: Nice, quick and manly basket weave pattern for my other half’s phone. Cup of Tea and A Stick of Rock (Ravellenics) Yarn: Rico Essentials Merino Aran Needles: 5.0mm Pattern: Own Notes: Entry for the Ravellenic Games. Owl Mitts Yarn: Rico Essentials Merino Aran Needles: 4.0 and 5.0mm Pattern: Owl Mitts by Amanda Jones Notes: 2 Sets, Blue set as written, but with 2 extra rows of rib at the top. Yellow row ha

  We’re not having a very good week here in Gloucester. Sunday I was poorly and had to phone into work sick (I’m much better now) and then on Monday we had to have our oldest hamster put to sleep.  He’d been going downhill for the last few days, and when I got home from work on Monday, it wasn’t good, so the kindest thing to do was take him and have him humanely put to sleep, it would only have been a few hours if we’d have left him naturally anyway- best to put him out of his suffering. So then the next day we went back with Rommie the rat. She’s been having real trouble with balance, and she’s got so skinny even though she’s eating. The vet thinks she’s blind, and that it may be a brain tumour or an abscess on her brain. The only way to tell would be an MRI, and the best that could tell us is that there was something there; with a cat or dog there would be options but she’s a small animal and she’s old- Plus at the moment I wouldn’t be convinced that she’d make it through the anaes

So last week I threw a hissy fit. It's not often I throw one (my other half is rolling on the floor laughing at the moment) but I had a good one. I'd cast on and ribbed my hat, then did 3 rows in the colour we'd chosen. Only to be told when I got to knit and natter that it was the wrong colour- so I picked back my 3 rows and I've not touched it since. To be honest I don't mind that I was wrong, and I'm thankful that it was only 3 rows in, but the way my mistake was taken my some members of the group was less than encouraging; and actually a little hurtful that some people take glee in your mistakes. Plus, y'know RUDE! Instead, thankfully the yarn I'd promised to buy had come in. It's Rustic Super Chunky by James C Brett, they also do an Aran and a DK in the weight too. I'd promised I'd knit the other half a jumper in it, and available in the pattern support is a woman's hoodie. It's a square hoodie, no shaping so it's suitable f

I know- 3 days, 3 posts and 2 F.O’s. These are very simple socks done for my other half. Knitted toe up using a short row toe- which I really liked and a Sweet Tomato heel, which I also really liked. I’ll knit in this style again I think; I do enjoy it for yarns that don’t self stripe. My next pair I’m looking forward to trying a short row toe and an afterthought short row heel in XXL Camel in order to keep the stripe sequence those will have. These though didn’t stripe, or even pool really and it was nice to keep the same yarn while concentrating on working the new techniques to me. These socks do not photograph well off feet, but my OH has had such a day that I’m not making him model them for me tonight. I’m eagerly awaiting the crochet book my sister bought me for my Birthday to get here so I can start on some socks for me in the Mexico my mum and dad bought me for my Birthday and a pair of socks for my other half in the Regia World Colour on the right I completed what I wan

I’m starting they YOP; a little late, but I think it’s a fantastic idea. My aim is to not buy any yarn for the year. It’s a lofty goal, and I’m not 100% sure my stash is up to it but we shall see; after I’ve finished off my stash buying yarn again is obviously fair game. There’s one exception to this, some chunky rustic wool I’ve ordered for a jumper for Rhys that won’t be in until next month but apart from that all stash. It’s not a strict list, and I’m not too bothered if I don’t finish everything on here or if I swap and change- that’s fine. I’m going to try and make my swap and changes on 10 weeks; that way I’ll have plenty of time to think if I don’t want to do something or not. For now I’m doing a bit of commission knitting on the side to earn a little bit of income; which takes up a fair bit of time. It’s not a fortune and I’m not going to continue it when we move and I start work full time- but while I’m home or at work where I can knit it’s worthwhile for me. So… Thing

  Just over a week ago I finished my Grans blanket. Luckily I finished it the day before we came home from Gloucester. I was saving it to blog on Friday, but to say we’ve had a bit of a week has been an understatement. We’ll be fine, but I can’t exactly say I’m looking forward to the next few months unless something miraculous happens. Anyway. Rams and Yowes- Kate Davies Yarn used: 9 colours of Jamesons and Smith 4 ply Jumper weight wool. Needles: 3.0 mm Knit Pro Symphony   I really enjoyed this knit. I had issues with the border and ruffling. It lies kinda flat- but if I wasn’t running out of time I’d have taken it out and done it again.   My gran loved it anyway.   I’m already debating what colours to make mine in. I’m thinking Rainbow with a charcoal grey backrgound.

  While me and the other half are “home” at my parents, we (well myself really) no longer become their children, or their guests- we take on the other role of “Tech Support”. This week alone I’ve fixed my mums HTC phone and I’m now working on fixing up a desktop for my mother. She was given this one through school- and it already has all the bits I need loaded! Unfortunately because it was networked at school we’ve had to wipe it and start again, because although she has all the bits on there- she can’t get at them. That combined with a really poor internet connection means that it’s slooowww going. So I thought I’d make a blog post. It’s only taken me most of the morning and the afternoon to install the drivers and software she needs, not to mention it’s taken that long to get through my Google Reader list! Goes to show how many items there are if you leave it for a week. (200 to be more precise) This means no knitting for today. I’m getting a wee bit burned out if I’m honest. Ram

It’s been so long! All I seem to be currently doing is marathon knitting. My Grans blanket (for which I have 13 days to deadline) and hats for commission work. I know, I know I said I’d never do commission work; but the pay is reasonable and it’s potentially a foot in the door for pattern designing etc. I have a large F.O Friday post set up, with at least 3 new projects! How exciting. I’m just going to go ahead and list a basic list of things that I’m “working” on 1) Rams and Yowes- One chart left to go. I want to get to the steeking by Tuesday. 2) 2 Commision hats- Due Tuesday 3) Rhys’ Socks- Turned the heel (used the Sweet Tomato one) and working up the leg 4) Never Ending Granny Square – Finished the first balls of yarn. One more to go. May need to buy extras. 5) Rhys’ Jumper. Front and back finished (working in the round up to the arm pits makes this so easy) just needs 2 sleeves and a collar and we’re done. I have start-itis for a few more projects as well! My current aim

  Yesterday was a day off because I worked all day. The idea is to get the house to a stage where 20 mins a day in the dedicated room will do it; but we are not yet at that stage so I had a day off. OH did some laundry and attempted to scrub at a mould stain. Today- Bathroom, Spare Room and Cupboard Under the stairs.   Bathroom:   Before So to start off with grout got scrubbed. See the little white patch in the before? That was where I’d attacked it with baking soda about a week ago. As a result the bathroom was clean-ish but horribly cluttered. I got rid of any bottles that we didn’t use anymore, any face cloths that were damaged because they hadn’t been washed in a while (Note to self, next paycheck buy new ones- Ebay?) and just generally sorted. All surfaces got wiped down including the outside of the toilet bowl, the stem of the sink, the pipes behind the loo, the outside of the bath and the skirting boards. Emptied the bin, removed that POS “organiser” from around the stem