Sunday 26th August

Good afternoon from a once again wet East Lothian. This has been a week of ups and downs for me.
First, the up, hubs and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary on Wednesday. We had a great time reminiscing over what the last 10 years had given us, places we had been and our memories of the day itself. We had a lovely Chinese takeaway for dinner and a surprise when these beautiful flowers were delivered from Mum and Dad.

Now for the downs. Just call me the queen of frogging this week. It felt like everything I touched moved 1 step forward then 2 or 3 steps back. No matter whether it was crochet or knit a frogging was happening. It was just one of those weeks. This means I have very little to share with you all. Just one picture.

I finished week 4 of Something Magic.
I knew when I started this project that I would have to buy more yarn to complete it but during week 4 I decided to raid my stash and see what I had which would compliment or contrast so I started adding some green. I am now hoping to finish this beauty using just stash yarns.
Week 5 is underway but was the victim of 2 rounds in the frog pond so I am now going to be playing catch up as the 6th part comes out tomorrow.

The test knit sock I showed you last week was frogged completely and restarted as it was way too big for my foot. I have now cast on for the small size and it is fitting perfectly.

With such frogging getting me down, this morning I cast on a Wurm. This hat is one of my favourite knits and I wear my original one often so I decided that another one would not go amiss. This will be a bit of luxury on my head as I am using the yarn which came in my June mystery box from Rosie's Moments it is a Merino/Cashmere/Nylon blend which came with a pattern for socks but is way too beautiful to be hidden on my feet.

The hat pattern is free on Ravelry and is very popular having over 15K projects listed.
Ths is my first one

Well, that's all for now. I am off to try and salvage some of the time I have lost and hopefully start to move forward once more with my projects,
Until next Sunday, happy crafting,

Mary

Sunday 19th August.

Hello again and welcome to my ramblings.
Once again it a very grey Sunday here in East Lothian so let me brighten it up with some colourful photos of what I have been working on this past week.

First up, socks.

I finished the first of my three test knit sock patterns,

This is a simple toe-up vanilla sock with an afterthought heel. It was a very easy pattern to follow and will make a great introduction to this process for those who, like me, have never tried an afterthought heel before. I knitted this in some deep stash yarn which was from The Loopy Ewe Seasonings series on a 2.5mm needle using the magic loop process. I will be sure to let you know when it becomes available on Ravelry.

The second test knit is for the Limekilns pattern,

Again this is toe-up with a simple two-row pattern which really lends itself to self-striping yarn.

Thirdly, I have started on the last test-knit. So far I have a toe,

And a foot,

This is a truly beautiful pattern and so simple, yet it looks complicated. I am really enjoying this one and already have plans for more of my stash to become Dysart socks.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Fiona for trusting me to test-knit for her and to assure her that I am loving every minute of doing so.

Now on to crochet.

It has been slow going this week on the crochet front as I managed to twice crick my neck in my sleep. Neck pain and hooking are not great bedfellows so not too much has been accomplished. I have only managed two rounds on the baby blanket so no picture to show there. I am slowly getting through week 4 of my first Something Magic. This is a wonderful project with surprises around every corner, this week we have to make 8 eye shaped pieces of eleven rounds each. Here is my progress up to round 8/11 on two of the pieces

I am following the pattern exactly and making each piece simultaneously to try and have all 8 identical in tension.

Finally, I did make a start on Mum's Magic. Last week I showed you the chosen yarn and here is where I am so far.

I know some of you who read this are also magicing along, I would love to see your progress and to share in your journey.

That's it for this week. Have a great week ahead.

Happy crafting

Mary

Sunday 12th August.

Hello again from a horribly dreich, wet and grey East Lothian. After all the weeks of hot dry weather, it is actually quite nice for the traditional Scottish summer to have shown its face. The grass and gardens need it and so do some of the crops here in the garden of Scotland. Hopefully, though we have not seen the last of the sunshine and we will see a little more before the Autumn sets in.

This week I have been hooking like a demon and have completed part 3 of the Something Magic CAL.

This is truly a magical project as in just 3 weeks we have had a circle, a square and now a star.
I cannot wait to see how it develops over the next few weeks.
I have also been working more slowly on a second one for my niece's baby who is due in to make his debut in the world mid-September.

 This will not be a full size but will be stopped when large enough for baby.

As if this is not enough, my Mum has expressed a desire for one for herself. Mum was as avid a yarn crafts fan as me until a stroke a few years ago has made it too difficult for her to do anything more than simple garter stitch. As this is such a delightful pattern I trotted off to my stash and picked out some colours I know she likes and later this afternoon I will make a start.

Knitting has not been completely abandoned, I am still working on the test- knit socks I mentioned last week and have got around the heel and started up the leg.

As you can see I have been a busy bee this week and I have loved every minute, especially the bit where I was rummaging through my bag of  Stylecraft yarn and discovered 3 balls of sock yarn that I completely forgot I had bought.

Thank you for reading my ramblings and I leave you this week with a shot of my beautiful boy posing for his mummy and the reminder to read your pattern carefully to avoid becoming a frog queen like me.

Happy crafting
Mary

Sunday 5th August

Hello, the last couple of weeks did not go well for me. My ongoing has depression led me into a vicious circle.

As you can see I am totally going round in circles. The depression causes me to be anxious about everything which means I rarely leave my safe place on the couch which causes more depression and on it goes. It seems that, just now, every time I take a baby step forward I end up 3 steps back. This is not living, it is existing and believe me, it is no picnic.

But enough of that, now to things which are making me happier. Yes, yarny things, just like the medics say, are truly making this easier to manage.

First up, CROCHET.

I have picked up my hook again and am thoroughly enjoying the free CAL which is currently running on Facebook and available on Ravelry for Something Magic. This amazing design is the brainchild of Ineke Mooijenkind, who is one of the main testers for the well-known designer Helen Shrimpton. The pattern is so well written and laid out with pictures for every round that even a relative beginner of crochet, like me, can have the confidence to give it a go.

Here is my progress at the end of week 2.

I am using a 4mm (G) hook and the yarn is Stylecraft Special DK in the colours, Mushroom, Stone, Vintage Peach and Gold. The instructions for week 3 come out tomorrow evening and I am excited to see what comes next.

Now for KNITTING.

I have some test knit socks on the go for my lovely friend Fiona.

On the left is Limekilns, a lovely simple design for toe-up socks in a self-striping yarn and on the right, Ocean Currents, again toe-up but this time a learning curve for me as it was my first ever afterthought heel. I will be sure to share with you all when these patterns become available. 

Finally, this week, since I was so low I figured I needed a wee treat. 

Once again I took myself off to Etsy and this gorgeous sock project bag captured my heart.

This is my third purchase from Rachael at SewRayMe. Her bags are so beautifully made, even hubby has commented on the quality, and her customer service is amazing. These beautiful bags don't have far to travel to me as they are made just across the Forth in Fife. It is great to know that I am supporting a fairly local small business.

That's it for this week, see you soon.

Happy crafting,

Mary

Monday 16th July

Hello everyone, I hope you all had a refreshing weekend and are ready to face the new week.

Today I have eventually made it out of the house with my hubby. I had to pop to the surgery to fill in a sick line request and then we had a wee short walk, keeping the house in sight at all times as I could feel the panic rising the further away we got. Still, it is a baby step forward and that means a lot to me.

Now for some yarny talk.
I am going to call today Mailbox Monday as I want to share the fantastic box of goodies which arrived last week from https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/RosiesMoments. As you may already know I received the June accessories box as part of my birthday present from my husband and I loved it so much I ordered the July box. Well, it arrived on Thursday and I was once again blown away.

All of this was packed expertly into the box and opening it brought forth lots of oohing and aahing all whilst grinning like the cat who got the cream. It was accompanied by an explanation letter which told the story of why Rosemary chose these particular goodies.

The first things I spied were the smellies, a gorgeous bath bomb in a cute wee beach bucket with a windmill on top and a beautiful handmade soap.

Then it was into the bubble wrap and two gorgeous trinket dishes appeared along with the cutest ice-cream progress keeper.

Finally came the yarn and pattern. The yarn is just sublime, the blue is 100g of M/C/N fingering weight and the multi is 50g of stunning Silk/Mohair lace weight. The accompanying pattern is for a sideways knit shawl using both yarns held together. I am sure you will all agree that this is a beautifully put together summer treat. Rosemary delivers worldwide and the August box is available to order now, just make sure you leave one for me to order next week.

See you tomorrow with a WIP.

Happy crafting
Mary

Sunday 15th July

Hello everyone, Sunday is here again and I hope you are all well. I am doing a wee bitty better this week but still haven't managed to get out. I have however been travelling around France with my hubby from my sofa as we are avid followers of Le Tour. We love watching the cycling but also seeing the wonderful Chateaux and the sweet little villages and other places that go past.
Last week I left you with the statement that I was off to shine my sink a la FlyLady. I did that and have managed to keep it shiny all week but alas that is as far as it has gone.

Now to knitting, I have so much to share this week that I have decided to go back to short daily posts so as not to bore you senseless.
So here we go. Since today is Sunday, socks it will be.
Today I will be casting on one of the test socks I mentioned last week. I received the pattern about an hour ago and after a quick perusal, I went shopping in my stash. After a rummage, I pulled out this beauty which has been maturing nicely for a few years. It is from the Seasonings Series by The Loopy Ewe and is the colour Mt Tinknomore which was a camp Loopy yarn from 2013. The yarn is 80% Superwash Merino/20% Nylon and was dyed for The Loopy Ewe by Lorna's Laces.

The pattern is a toe-up vanilla sock knitted on 2.5mm needles with an afterthought heel and I thought that this skein with the little mini would be just perfect. Now I have never done an afterthought heel before so this will be an all-new learning curve for me but I am up for the challenge and looking forward to it. So the time has come to find my needles, wind the yarn and make a start.

That's it for today. I will be back tomorrow with something else.

Happy crafting
Mary

Books in my ears.

1. The Bone Clocks - David Mitchell
2. Middlemarch - George Elliot
3. Head Shot - Quintin Jardine
4. With All My Love - Patricia Scanlan

I listen while I knit and always have a few on the go so I can choose which one I listen to depending on my mood.

Sunday 8th July

Hello, happy Sunday to all my readers.

Well it has been a tough week for me this week. My anxiety levels went sky high on Thursday as I was trying to help my husband fill in his claim form for PIP. It is so stressful and I ended up having to visit the GP where I broke down and admitted that currently I am not coping at all and was considering self harm to get the demons out. He was wonderful and after discussing possible options including beta-blockers to calm my heart flutters we decided on Diazepam for me to take as and when needed.
Throughout all of this of course, I had my trusty yarn and needles which helped me immensely. I could not cope with anything complicated but my Fading point has reached the side triangle stage which is mostly just decreasing garter stitch so was soothing and meditative.

I have also been working on my sock from my Rosie's Moments June accessories box. As I mentioned before the pattern was for cuff down but I have successfully managed to turn it around and am loving the resulting sock. I loved the mystery box so much that I have ordered the July one and also the Advent Calendar.

Talking of socks. my friend Fiona has some new sock patterns nearly ready for testing and she has asked me to be a test knitter for her. I am really excited about this and of course will share my journey with you.

Now to be perfectly honest it is not just me who is out of control, my home is also suffering due to my state of mind so yesterday I finally decided enough is enough and I signed up for FlyLady in the hope that I can get things back in order without my mental health suffering further. So today I leave you with a song in my heart as off I toddle to shine my sink.

Have a good week,

Mary