A new 'tougher' thread... and so it continues

jpscloud

I find my wrist aches a little bit ginnyknit - it tends to do that anyway though (mouse RSI from when I worked on the PC all day and sometimes all night!)

I tend to keep the tension quite loose now, that makes a big difference. I used to crochet very tight, but these rag rugs lend themselves very well to being a bit looser and frayed-looking.

ginnyknit

Ahh JPS thats a point I tend to do them tight, will loosen my tension and see how it goes.

fuddle

I've never been able to get the wool held right in my left hand. It kind of just drapes over my finger. I wouldn't say I work loose though. I'm self taught via you tube though so I have probably picked up umpteen bad habits.

jpscloud

I think everyone has a slightly different way of working fuddle, it's right if it works for you. I could never get the hang of the way my mum held the yarn when she knitted, and my knitting is very awkward because I drop the right needle instead of holding onto it when I wind the yarn around.

I don't think I hold the yarn properly for crochet either, but have found what works for me.

I've put some more washing out and will go and pot up the newly-acquired petunias and fuchsias in a bit, I think.

silvasava

I learnt to crochet from a magazine & I think I do that OK but my mum taught me to knit and I never could get the hang of using my right index finger for the wool - I always drop my needle too. I've never been able to knot the end of a piece of cotton with one hand either. Still if it all comes out OK at the end who cares
I've been very intrigued by the crochet rag rugs - methinks I'd better get thinking cap on.........:)

prepareathome

Afternoon everyone, not much being done here as I have an attack of vertigo building up - at moment so long as keep head still and straight can do things but waves of dizziness are coming more and more frequently. Not had a proper vertigo attack for a few years, part I hate is when the furniture start dancing around. I wonder if it was set off after my dentist adventures. Of course no meds, last lot went out of date and as not needed them I did not ask doctor for me so they have been taken off repeat, so might have to pay a visit on Wednesday or phone if cannot get out of bed.

Not amused as so much to be done in garden. I managed to cover about half the potatoes on Saturday after shopping but then had to stop and so rest are growing well but not going to give me any more potatoes ( they were all covered when put in and now grown through soil). Also still have peas that need to go into ground and bring tomatoes out of grow house to harden off so it can be used for cucumbers. pumkins and courgettes as they are all in small pots and need to be put in bigger ones but no room for that in grow house yet.

Did manage to sway down garden and put throws from couches onto washing line ( one of those rotary things I picked up for £5 years ago as the pole had got slightly bent but does the job) and opened up grow houses as sun is out and its quite warm but bending down to repot is just not on. Also bought some growbags on Saturday for some more tomato plants that are ready to be moved on from seedling pot - I sowed the seeds in March and had to put them outside at only a few cms high under plastic bottle cloche and out of 15 seeds ended up with only 4 plants but they are nice and strong, yet others done since then are far, far bigger and already out in growhouse in big pots.

I have bought some hessian last year to make rag rugs ( woman i bought it from via ebay sent me a latch hook as an extra which was nice, already had one but spare always usedful) but as yet not done anything with them although did crochet a couple a good few years ago.

I am slowly finger crocheting a throw for my bed. It is being done slowly as I am only using pure wool and so I buy some use it and then have to wait till can afford more as using 3 strands of double knitting yarn together. Am making it mainly cream with other colours dotted around as I find ones I like. Got given some lovely balls of silk yarn, but as only two balls of each colour not enough for more than a hat am using them in it - these are all luckily aran weight so two strands together although not quite as thick as the 3 double knitting are not to thin against it either. I find on bad hand days ( just my fibro not arthritis, am lucky I don't have it at all) just using my fingers is far easier to do. It makes a thick but lacy fabric but holes not to big so throw should be warm and not to, to heavy to use.

I alas can not get my tension right on my sewing machine I bought last year - not the machines fault mine, I sew and some of the stitches unravel. I will keep plugging away and one day hopefully will make something - so far all I have made is draught excluders as going over where stitches unravelled on that doesn't matter, but would have been cheaper just to buy them.

Don't know if anyone wants to have a look at what I had done in garden and my flowers - am pleased with a couple of photos as caught a bee on a flower and dew drops still on another but most are just record for me of before, during and after, I have made the album public so you do not need to be a member of facebook to look at it.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150764972977780.471444.548612779&type=3&l=ac82cea57d

Do have a few more photos from other day to add to it.

Fuddle your cupboard is looking great. Am jealous of the depth of your shelves, I have a pantry that is about same size but the shelves are only at back and only 3 ins wide and then one big one half way down so didn't give me to much space so I bought one of those 5 drawer plastic units and have that sitting on the big shelf and flour containers beside it and bits and bobs on the shelf ( will take photo later) bottom though under big shelf is filled with all sorts I want to clean it out and put another drawer unit in there but think it will have to be a four drawer one. If I put them sideways I could actually I think get two there, mmmmmm that is a thought have to see.

My kitchen is small so not to much room for storing so I have cleared a bookcase in the study and it is full ( well needs filling again) of tins and jars and then a big plastic box with lid holds dry goods and then flour in large sacks are each in one of those boxes - one each of SR flour, Wholemeal Flour and Strong White Bread flour. I read that bayleaves were good at keeping nasties away so have them scattered both in the flour and in the boxes and lids are always kept on them, again all this in study - that room is just a junk room these days as nowadays getting up to loft not really an option for me and hubby hates climbing ladders so things I might need even occasionally have to be stored in there and if we do need something from loft have to wait for son to get them. I miss not having a garage which we had previously but here would cost and arm and a leg to put one up, neighbour across road did and the council gave them such a hard time with being in a conservation area, for what they would have paid to have a double extension on side of house anywhere else ( double bedroom on top of garage and utility room) all they could get was the garage and utility room and smaller than they hoped as bricks had to be the exact same ones house is made of and as these were built in 1932 it meant either having them made or reclaimed and they could not find any reclaimed that were exact. Even a porch would give me a bit more space but we are not allowed one - someone along the road built one without permission and were made to take it down. Outside must stay as it was in 1932, just as well they don't want the insides to stay that way as well.

I am itching to get out there and think I am going to try again - after hanging up the throws had to get in pronto but if I keep going out and doing even a little bit at least jobs will get done, will get hubby to lift plants onto table and move compost by it and can pot there then he can put them in place, best do it now as once concert comes on there will be no moving him.

Hugs. love and healing to all

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

jpscloud

Love the pictures PAH, what beautiful colours, and so many flowers out! My garden is in its June lull at the moment, not much to photograph yet.

How do you do finger crochet? I love the sound of your throw, I've often thought of doing the same as you describe, buying what I can afford as I go along.

Silvasava, watch out or you'll be eyeing up your good bedlinen if you get "hooked" (pun intended!) on crochet rag rugs I've had to give myself a good talking to, to avoid using some still-serviceable cotton sheets.

The ones with holes in, or getting thin in the middle, or going bobbly, are all fair game though! I am glad now that I never threw any out, even when they got to that stage.

fuddle

PAH your gardening is envious, forget about cupboards. 'Lil doggy is a cutie too.

I was going to ask about finger crocheting. I can finger knit a long line of woollen knots (handy for string to attach kids' gloves through their coats ) but never heard about making something constructive with your finger. Think I need to have a try of that

ginnyknit

Lovely pics PAH glad to see the dogs are helping, holding down things in the wheelbarrow etc :rotfl:

Just got DS to carry heavyweight Singer machine down stairs so I can sew the curtains, tried sewing on the bedding box but the height is all wrong and I hurt my leg. Can sew away to my hearts content now - since DS took my craft room off me I have been lost without machine set up. Going to get producing stuff again now. Happy Ginny

DS is treating us to a rare curry tonight and is going for it too, luxury.

Poor DD was woken by neighbours friends rowing at 2 am - wouldnt mind but the girl involved has been treated as family by us for many years. It actually woke DGS up and he was so scared he had a pooh and wouldnt go back to sleep for ages so Dd has gone to work exhausted. Its a shame because the actual neighbours are lovely.

Byatt

Mrs C, yes, my day was fine thank you. Really pleased with my orchid which is already looking better. So glad the F&C selling is going so well. I can imagine some very happy campers!

All this crochet talk and rug making is inspiring me, so next time I'm in a CS will look for wool and hooks. I really want to do something creative, but have never been taught, even though my grandparents were clothe makers (can't recall the proper word)...tailors?? I see there are loads of youtube vids so might teach myself.

PAH, great work on the garden, you have done so much! Love the pics of the poppies, didn't see the dogs, so must look again.

Fuddle, your cupboard looks great. I don't think there's any need to paint it.

I'm not in so much pain now but still feel under the weather. My poor DD is poorly too with what might be a breast abscess. They can't decide yet, but she's on antibiotics and pain killers. I'm unable to be with her as cat sitting, but she has been very weepy, even though she is very stoical. It's a bit worrying. Has anyone else had anything like this?

Ginny, enjoy your curry,

Shegar, good to see you. Did you sort out all that upset with the travel insurance?