Must Try Harder

I'm sat here and I keep thinking of all the things I want to make and it's distracting me from the things I've already got on the needles!

Last night I started off on the legs of the Raymond Briggs Snowman toy I'm making Aston for Xmas. But I've still got the sleeves of my Noro jumper to make (which I could do with since I'm bloody freezing!), the edges of the jacket/cardigan I'm making for baby Sidney Rennie and I'm nowhere near getting his blanket finished! I really ought to get these things finished before I get on with anything else. At least then I'd have a couple of things to add to my list of Finished Objects and have some kind of sense of achievement, even if I am still struggling with the European Knitting Mountain!

Already planning on making amigurumi versions of Cinamoroll, Keroppi and U*sa*ha*na. Will probably be pretty easy to make actually but since I'll be designing as I go, I need some time to do those and I must be strong and not do them til at least 2 of my other things are finished! Got no room in the knitting bag for a start!

Still tired...

Aston went off to his Dad's at 10am this morning and I went back to bed at 12pm and didn't get up til 6.30pm and I'm [b]STILL[/b] tired! GAH!

Really missing Aston today. Had a very wobbly moment last night when, for some reason, I got this bug in my brain about dying and not having him anymore and not being able to look after him and generally the whole 'me not existing anymore and what's going to happen?' thing which [b][i]truly[/i][/b] freaks me out! I got so freaked that I had to get out of bed and go in to his room. Just wanted to be with him. If it wasn't for the fact that he was fast asleep spread out in the middle of his bed, I would have got in his little bed with him and cuddled up to him. Instead, I just gave him a kiss and tucked him in again and then went back to bed and had a bit of a blub! I'm such a saddo. Nothing freaks me out more than the thought of not being me anymore, if you know what I mean. The thought of no longer existing truly horrifies me!

Anyway, before I go completely ballistic again and end up in a soggy heap on the floor, I shall change the subject!

I've now sold both my pairs of dread falls on Ebay. I'm gutted at having to sell them but my hair's far too short now and I never wear them. I'd rather they went to a good home where they'll be worn and appreciated. I've still got my braid-in dreads so if I feel the need, when my hair gets longer, I can always put those back in.

My amigurumi obsession is taking over! Dunno if I'll get all my knitting projects finished now. Terrible isn't it! I must put the crochet hook down and pick up the pins. It's just that making a little squidgy character is soooo quick! And a friend shared a LOAD of crochet/amigurumi patterns with me yesterday. We're talking almost 200 of the things! She even gave me a load of Jean Greenhowe stuff and 2 crochet books - it's all electronic so I don't have to find the space on the book shelves! Good eh!

I've also managed to update the Swampy Ewe-Knitted website today as well. Only taken me about 4 months! lol I still need to update the WIP and FO pages but other than that, it's looking better!

Well, I'm going to get back to my 'triopus'. I say that cuz he's an octopus that's only got three legs right now! lol! Here's a piccie of him when he was an 'unopus'!

Better make the other 5 of his legs now!

Chococat!

I've finished my Chococat and therefore my first pattern! Must give thanks to Crafts by AP for the inspiration!

So here's the pattern! Hope it makes sense!



This is an easy pattern suitable for beginners. It is written using the English crochet terms.

dc = double crochet (US conversion – dc = sc ‹single crochet›)
sl st = slip stitch
ch = chain stitch
tog = together

You will need:
Crochet hook – size 3.5mm (US size E, UK size 9)
Brown 4ply wool (I used Patons Diploma Gold 4-ply, shade 4218)
A small amount of white DK yarn, flesh tone DK yarn (or small triangles of flesh coloured felt) and light blue/turquoise yarn.
Pink and black embroidery threads
PVA glue.
Sewing needle.
2 x 9mm safety eyes
Stitch marker


HeadCh2
Rnd 1: 5 dc in second chain from hook = 5 dc
Insert stitch marker in
Rnd 2: 2 dc in each dc = 10 dc
Rnd 3: *dc in first dc, 2 dc in next dc*, repeat from * around = 15 dc. Move stitch marker up to last dc in row.
Rnd 4: *dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc*, repeat from * around = 20 dc. Move stitch marker up to last dc in row.
Rnd 5: *dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next dc*, repeat from * around = 25 dc. Move stitch marker up to last dc in row.
Rnd 6: *dc in next 4 dc, 2 dc in next dc*, repeat from * around = 30 dc. Move stitch marker up to last dc in row.
Rnd 7: *dc in next 5 dc, 2 dc in next dc*, repeat from * around = 35 dc. Move stitch marker up to last dc in row.
Rnd 8: *dc in next 6 dc, 2 dc in next dc*, repeat from * around = 40 dc. Move stitch marker up to last dc in row.
Rnds 9-13: dc in every dc around, moving stitch marker up at the end of each row.
Rnd 14: *dc in next 6 dc, dc 2 tog*, repeat from * around = 35 dc. Move stitch marker up to last dc in row.
Rnd 15: *dc in next 5 dc, dc 2 tog*, repeat from * around = 30 dc. Move stitch marker up to last dc in row.
Rnd 16: *dc in next 4 dc, dc 2 tog*, repeat from * around = 25 dc. Move stitch marker up to last dc in row.
Rnd 17: *dc in next 3 dc, dc 2 tog*, repeat from * around = 20 dc. Move stitch marker up to last dc in row.
Rnd 18: *dc in next 2 dc, dc 2 tog*, repeat from * around = 15 dc.
Fasten off with slip stitch in last dc. Leave long tail for sewing.

Do not stuff etc until you have made and attached the eyes as follows:

Eyes (make 2)
Using white DK yarn,
2 ch
Rnd 1: 10 dc in second ch from hook. Do not pull the end tight!
Fasten off with sl st and weave end in.
Place safety eye in centre hole of crocheted ring and tighten around.

Place eyes approximately 2cm apart (taking measurement from edge of the crocheted outer part) and two thirds of the way down the head.
Stuff head firmly, weave tail through last row of dc and pull tight to close. Fasten off. You should still have a long enough tail to use for sewing.

Nose
Using pink embroidery thread, make a small nose between the 2 eyes and just slightly below them. To fasten off, pull thread through back of head, pull tight and cut so that the end of the thread goes back inside the head when cut.

Whiskers
Using black embroidery thread, draw one length through the head diagonally from top of eye to bottom of other eye, from about 2dc around from the outer edge of each eye. Cut the thread so that the ‘whiskers’ are the same length on both sides. Repeat, working from other side of the head. You end up with 4 whiskers in total.

To seal the whisker ends and make them stick out more prominently, place a small amount of PVA glue on your index/forefinger and touch to your thumb. Apply glue gently along the length of the whiskers, using thumb and index/forefinger, shaping the thread to keep the whiskers straight and even as possible. Leave to dry.

Body
Ch 2
Rnd 1: 5 dc in second chain from hook. Mark last dc with stitch marker.
Rnd 2: 2 dc in every dc = 10 dc. Move stitch marker up
Rnd 3: *dc in first dc, 2 dc in next dc*, repeat from * around = 15 dc. Move stitch marker up to last dc in row.
Rnd 4: *dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc*, repeat from * around = 20 dc. Move stitch marker up to last dc in row.
Rnd 5: *dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next dc*, repeat from * around = 25 dc. Move stitch marker up to last dc in row.
Rnd 6: *dc in next 4 dc, 2 dc in next dc*, repeat from * around = 30 dc. Move stitch marker up to last dc in row.
Rounds 7-11 (5 rounds in total): dc in every dc around, moving stitch marker up at end of each round.
Rnd 12: *dc in next 4 dc, dc 2 tog*, repeat from * around = 25 dc. Move stitch marker up to last dc in row.
Rnd 13: *dc in next 3 dc, dc 2 tog*, repeat from * around = 20 dc. Move stitch marker up to last dc in row.
Rnd 14: *dc in next 2 dc, dc 2 tog*, repeat from * around = 15 dc. Move stitch marker up to last dc in row.
Make sl st to fasten off. Leave long tail for sewing. Stuff firmly. Weave tail in around last row of dc and pull tight. Fasten off.

Ears (make 2)
Ch 2
Rnd 1: 10 dc into second ch from hook. = 10 dc. Mark last dc with stitch marker.
Rnd 2: 2 dc in every dc around = 20dc Move stitch marker up.
Rnd 3: *dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc*, repeat from * around = 25 dc.
Join with sl st and fasten off.

Fold ears in half and sew together along curved edge. Attach bottom half of curved edge to the side of the head. Make the flesh tone inner parts of the ears by either embroidering with flesh tone yarn or attaching felt patches with PVA glue.

Legs (make 2)
Ch 2
Rnd 1: 8 dc into second ch from hook = 8 dc. Mark last dc with stitch marker
Rnd 2: 2 dc into each dc = 16dc. Move stitch marker up to last dc made.
Rnds 3-7: dc into every dc, moving up stitch marker each time.
Fasten off with sl st. Weave end through last row and keep long tail. Stuff firmly and pull end tight but only enough to keep stuffing held in. Sew to body.

Arms (make 2)
Ch 2
Rnd 1: 8 dc into second chain from hook = 8 dc. Mark last dc with stitch holder.
Rnds 2-10: dc into every dc, moving stitch marker up each round.
Fasten off. Weave end into last row and pull tight. Attach to body, slightly down from neck.

Tail
Ch 2
Rnd 1: 8 dc into second chain from hook = 8 dc. Mark last dc with stitch holder.
Rnds 2-17 (15 rounds in total): dc into every dc.
Fasten off with a sl st and weave end through each dc in last row. Pull tight and tie off.
Sew to back of body, centrally just above the top of the legs. Sew slightly along the tail to hold it so that it sticks out at one side of the body.

If you would prefer, I have a PDF version of the pattern which you can download
here

If you have any problems with this pattern, please let me know so that I can adjust it!

The uselessness of Estate Agents

I have always felt that Estate Agents were useless when it comes to listening to their tenants following the shambles that was Winkworths in Chiswick High Road so why am I surprised by the incompetence of the current estate agent acting on behalf of my landlord?

Some months ago I told them about the disgusting stench in one of the kitchen cupboards. They said it was probably a dead mouse or something and that the smell would go away and, although they made a note on their computer, they didn't see fit to inform my landlord who is usually very good at dealing with maintenance problems. The second visit I paid them on this subject wasn't even recorded! They eventually informed the Landlord on 11th August and he came round a couple of days later to look at the cupboard (well, sniff it as it turned out) and send his builder round for a closer inspection.

Later that week, Bob the builder (no word of a lie folks!) turns up and has a look in the cupboard (that I'd had to ask my mum to come and help me empty!). He took off the kickboard at the bottom and managed to get the backboard out (it's an old, cheap fitted kitchen). Other than several years worth of grime under the cupboard, there didn't appear to be any damp and the wall felt dry to the touch. Therefore, no explanation for the smell was determined and it was left at that with me making a mental note to clean under the cupboards when my energy levels permitted and promising that I would inform the estate agents should the smell get worse. That weekend I cleaned under the cupboards and around/under the cooker. I left the kickboards off all the cupboards hoping that the air circulation would help in getting rid of the smell. Bob then came back a couple of days later to take a look at the other maintenance issues and sort those out.

Yesterday, because the smell had been getting worse, I ended up laying on the floor in the kitchen and looking under the cupboard to see if there was any change. I noticed white marks which I assumed meant that something had seeped through the wall and dried. I sent pictures to the estate agent on an email. I had no reply from them and, having emptied the cupboard again and taken the backboard off myself, I found further evidence of damp, photographed it and emailed the agents again, asking that they take action within 24 hours or I would call Environmental Health. Needless to say, I had to phone them this morning about it and they hadn't read the emails then. I eventually got a read receipt at 4.25pm! Good job I'd already contacted the council at that point!!! It's now 9.30pm and I've had no phone call or email despite them promising me this morning that they would ring me back IN THE SAME DAY!!!

I really should have expected this. I'm sure that if they'd spoken to the landlord, he'd have been on the phone to me as soon as he heard. He doesn't tend to hang around on these things, so I know that they've done bugger all about it. Even though I have made it perfectly clear that there are health complications and that my son and me are already suffering some effects that may be linked to the damp problem, they STILL don't act! And yet, legally, I'm not allowed to withhold rent! PAH!

They'll have fun trying to get hold of me tomorrow cuz I have to get to Canterbury at some point to try and get new glasses since my son broke the only pair I have this evening. They're currently held together with a bit of sellotape and the lense is sort of propped up in the resultant loose socket! If it wasn't for gravity, I don't suppose it would stay there!

All in all, not my day! Let's hope tomorrow is a bit better!

Oooh it restores ya faith in humanity, dun't it!

I am happy and all is right with the world.... Only Men Aloud won the BBC's "Last Choir Standing" as they should! I would have withdrawn from the human race had it been otherwise! I only started watching the show 2 weeks ago and they wowed me from the off! I only wish there were some young lads who could sing like that round here and that they'd come and join us at Sheppey Singers!!! There's only about 5 men altogether and they're all old (no disrespect to them - someone's gotta do it!). But us girls need a good reason to show up for rehearsals every week and having a few pert bottoms stood at the front row of the theatre on a Wednesday night would certainly improve things!

My fave OMA performance still has to be when they did 'Goldfinger'. It was fantastically entertaining! Feel sorry for Ysgol Glanaethwy cuz they were bloody good too (their rousing version of 'O Fortuna' was AMAZING! But the best men did win!

What a let down rehearsals for Sheppey Singers will be after that - if we're not out of tune, we're out of time! We only have 3 part harmonies on most songs so it's a good job we don't try and attempt any of the stuff the choirs did on the show. Some had 7 part harmonies. We've got no chance!!!!

I bet Darwin's turning in his grave!!!

I've got BBC1 on - there's a programme about the problems with Pedigree dogs. I don't want to watch it but then I do want to watch it because although I know I'm going to get upset by the horrible congenital diseases bred into most of the recognised breeds, I want to know if there's anything they have about Staffordshire Bull Terriers or Boxers (just had one with epilepsy - very distressing) because although both Charley (boxer) and Kiwi (staff) have been health checked as pups, there's nothing to say they won't develop problems as they get older.

We were told that Charley might have problems with her teeth because her jaw is small but although they're not straight at the bottom, she doesn't seem to have any problems. Kiwi is small according to the 'breed standard' and definitely not big enough in terms of the original breed which would have been taller than what we recognise a Staff to be now. I hope that neither of my dogs (although Charley's with Sefton) ever get any problems!

Owning a boxer opened my eyes to a few things - white boxers are often still put down as pups because they don't meet the breed standard (which says they can only have less than 3/4 of the fur white) and not because they may be deaf.

Even though my family have only ever had 2 mongrels/cross breeds, we have still gone for pedigrees because you 'know what you're getting'. And yet the best dog we ever had was a real Heinz 57 and she was wonderful.

Disgusting isn't it that we're so anti human cloning, quite rightly so, and yet we allow this to go on under our noses! Whatever happened to the concept of natural selection and survival of the fittest? It didn't mean that we had to eliminate the weaker specimens of the species because nature did this on its own. Who are we to meddle???

O Postman, where art thou?

I hate the postal service in this country - it's so SLOW!!! I'm waiting for some stuff I've bought from Ebay and it all seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth. The postman doesn't even seem to call at my house any more. Not even to deliver bills! It's depressing

I need some cheering up. I'm so tired and feeble at the moment that even the slightest effort seems to leave me exhausted. Aston's got a nasty cold which means he wants looking after a lot more than usual and actually wants cuddles for a change! Got the "Biro Buddies" letters from the ME/CFS Parents forum through the post the other day (one of the few days the Postman actually has had anything for me!) and I haven't even had the energy to read it yet!

Ah - the postman has just been. Still no parcels. Got 2 of the patterns I ordered but that's it. I'm going to get really annoyed soon and I hate having to complain to people on Ebay. Already had to start a dispute thingy against a seller in the USA because I haven't had the items. They could be stuck in customs but if she won't answer my emails and give me the tracking number, I can't find out!!! Grrrr!