Preparing for Winter

cuddlymarm

Hi

Its a glorious sunny day today but I've still got my latest crochet blankie project nearby. (I've got 2 already sat in the airing cupboard that I used last winter ) I can't crochet and eat so I keep it near when I'm watching telly so no nibbling goes on:rotfl:

I'm also on the lookout for a nice winter coat because now we live in a town I walk everywhere but I might have a wait until the new stock starts to come into the shops.

Hubby laughs and calls me his granny lady when I'm crocheting away but it didn't stop him snuggling up last winter when it was chilly.

Cuddles

HockeyDuo8083

Is it mad that I want to start preparing for this winter now?:undecided

I have been looking around the house to see where I can add curtains, draught excluders etc.

I was thinking about buying up some hot water bottles, fleece blankets, candles & thermals now as I thought they might be cheaper cos it's June!

Is anyone else doing this atm?

I will be going to uni by train come the winter which means a 10min walk uphill to the station. Having been used to tootling into work in a nice cosy car I feel that investing in thermals etc now will be a good idea.

• Thermal Hat & Gloves
• Waterproof
• Fleece Coat
• Long thick socks
• Food Thermos for taking soup to Uni in
• Re-sole boots for grip and warmth

What else?:think:

[Deleted User]

Seems a good idea to be looking around for the future now I have just posted a query about bedsock for my DGD as I need an easy pattern to make her some .I am already thinking about my hade made Christmas presents and have made all of my Chistmas cards already.I start to buy bits and pieces and wrap them as I go along from June onwards as it makes Chistmas a lot less of a hassle for shopping .A lot of cosmetics and bath stuff get on sale in Superdrug ect at this time of the year as they need the space to stock sun stuff so its a good time to buy in advance small presents for friends or 'tree' presents now .
My late husband used to say I had a squirrel for an ancestor
Re sewing fleece blamkets to the duvet covers why not sew a line of press stud fasteners down either side and press stud the fleese on ,easier to remove for washing

fedupandskint

Gigervamp wrote: »

I've found crochet easier and it's quicker too.

Any tips for crocheting?

I used to crochet with my nan, making blankets when I was young and I have completely forgotton how to do this in the intervening 25+ years (35 now!), wish I could remember how to do it and make a large cuddly crochet blanket for christmas.

Can anyone point in the right direction for crocheting squares etc and what weight of wool and how to do it?

Many thanks for your help in advance x :A

C_J

Watch it on youtube :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRsGeVk073w

Gigervamp

Check out Attic24 for tutorials that are easy to follow.

Patchwork_Quilt

I second watching YouTube as this is how I (relearned) to crochet. Granny squares are easy and they are surprisingly warm when you stitch them into a blanket, despite the size of the holes.

I get my wool from Oxfam. I find bright colours the best, and then make the last row a black border so that when I sew them together I can use black wool and it doesn't show. A real expert would crochet the squares together. I don't use anything too furry, or cotton.

By the way HockeyDuo, I think you might need some umbrellas. We always lose one or two so I stock up before the weather gets wet.

sammy_kaye18

Hi all

another one here already thinking about winter months ahead.

Just had a £200 bill fro the last winter thanks to step son who's mother insists on being able to walk around in shorts and strappy top all winter season so he was freezing when he came here despite being told to layer up - instead boyfriend just put the heating on for him :mad:so we had a £200 gas bill and £150+ electric bill - not a happy bunny so now am in the process of making sure everything is switched off in the day if its not in use and there's just me and the dog.

Have decided to take up crocheting too - i loved a big blanket my nan made me and want to learn how to make one myself as well as a few small other bits and pieces.

Already stocking up on fleeces, hot water bottles, tea lights, saving fro new blinds - should be ok next month to get these done but will wait for a 75% off offer or a 50% off to get a bit of a discount but it should help heat wise. Want to get other rooms redecorated etc and made more heat efficient.

I'll post my list later once ive finalised it.

HockeyDuo8083

IKEA have the IRMA fleece throw in at a MSE price of £1.56 atm. Its 170cm x 130cm and machine washable.

Popping out a lunchtime to grab a couple of these bad boys!

[Deleted User]

I second the crochet blankets and throws. I made a large one last winter and 2 small ones, which are ideal to pop over the feet. They are all very useful, even now on a cooler evening.

We did well last winter and saved loads by getting a wireless thermostat for the gas boiler, we keep the thermostat in any room we want and it talks to the boiler. Keeping it in the lounge with us and keeping the door closed worked wonders