FO Friday - Week 10

Hooray I have 2 FO's to show. 

We are coming very quickly to the end of the academic year and as this time of year approaches I start to panic for how many teachers the boys have and how much to spend on the teachers.  As we are in blazing hot summer, scarfs and other quick knits are definitely out.  The boys have 23 teachers between them.  Out of those 15 are female so for those I decided to make Attic24 (Lucy) bags.  I am going to attempt to make them all out of what I have left over therefore not having to spend a cent.  It takes me about three days to make one bag so I am hoping that I will have all 15 done by the middle of November in time for them to take them on the last full 8 day cycle that they have.

Sorry about sideways pictures ;(.

I am only using two colours therefore no sewing in ends.  I decided after the second one the I'm going to use the amazing random stripe generator on Biscuits and Jam.  As each bag is going to be the same size I just entered two colours and the 46 rows that I needed then the maximum number of rows 10 per colour, then just refreshed to get the required number of bags!  Fabulous, so even if I was to repeat the colour combinations they will not look the same!

So now you have seen my FO's, off you go to see more amazing ones at Tami's Amis.

What happened?

Where has this week gone.  I remember last week Wednesday and posting my WIP but then nothing, it has just flown.  It's Wednesday night and I am completely unprepared to post a WIP.   I have added to my list of things to do, and yes that is totally typical of me to do that!

I made myself a bag, which I promise pictures will follow on Friday.  And Pudding asked if I could make one for his teacher for the end of year thank you present.  So I thought to myself, it only took me two days to make I am sure that these would make better presents for the female teachers than anything I could buy on my budget.  The boys have between them 23 teachers I have to buy thank you presents for in December. 

So I have finished one and am on to the second one.  I am using left over yarn so at the moment the two I have made have cost me nothing.  I said to Bank Manager that I might even pop in a hook, the pattern and some yarn for the teachers so they could make another. 

Bored

As much as I love the IRB RWC Ripple, Iam longing to do my other projects as well. It takes me a full day to add six rows to it. At the moment I need more variety in my crochet life.

My plan add one colour a day, be it a two row or a four row. Weave in the ends of the previous colour! Eliminating mass weave in at the end.

Do one colour of the AF blanket a day which has been neglected for a long time.

And cause I didn't have enough to do, I signed up for the Instangram Granny Square along! Which is to make five granny squares a week! They are already on week three, so I'm behind by fifteen!

Oh and just to make sure I'm not slacking! Frog at least two rows of Take My Time (it's too narrow)

WIP Wednesday - Week 10

It's Wednesday!  And this week in our house means short week!!  HOORAY.  No school tomorrow or Friday!!!

I won't keep you long, just check out the slow progress of the massive ripple.

Don't forget to pop over to Tami Ami's to check out the other amazing WIP's

Tuesday Tally - Week 1

IRB RWC Ripple is going to be my main focus of the one a day group.  However I have to admit I have another project that I love that is sitting in a bag next to me begging to be done at least make one a day.  I originally got the cotton for the African Flower Swap hosted on Ravelry but life has seemed to have gotten in the way and I am not going to make the deadline, I know pathetic.  I am a firm believer of never comitting to something you can't deliver but this was out of my hands.  I have made a few of these beautiful African Flowers and am going to be putting them together for a blanket for either my niece for christmas or my step sister for her birthday both are in December, but I will have to see if the Ripple is finished, it takes a day to do the required 6 rows of the Ripple.

But to share something different here are my African Flowers

And one more picture of the everlasting IRB RWC Ripple

Click on the One-A-Day badge at the top to see more Tuesday Tallies!

Year of Projects - Week 10

Yes this is another IRB RWC Ripple Blanket update!

These photos were taken yesturday and it's been too hot today to even think about this mass if ripples on my lap, while I add more beautiful colours to it

I Can't Believe It

I mentioned yesturday that I will need extra wool for my RWC blanket, well read yesturday's blog. This morning I got an email from Deramores in the UK saying that they are have discounted all DK wool.  So I popped off to check not thinking that with our revolting exchange rate it would make any difference to my local LYS price.

I was so shocked to find out that even with shipping it is R200 cheaper!  That's right.  So I ordered it.  I couldn't believe it.  I said to the Bank Manager I am definitely going to make use of the special offers that overseas sites make on yarn from now on.  I always assumed that it would be more expensive.

This is me doing the happy dance that I saved R200!!!

RWC Blanket

This is a long story and excuse me if you get bored.

As you might remember I am making a blanket during the AWESOME Rugby World Cup.  Alright maybe not so AWESOME, both my countries England (birth country) and South Africa are out!

Each country has a colour and the plan was to make a square for each game and then sew them all up, well you get the picture.  But I didn't start out with that, hooked by the Neat Ripple pattern and the fact that there would be NO sewing up of squares I started this pattern

And all seemed well until I realised I was making so many mistakes and it was supposed to be a big blanket for a king sized bed and it wasn't growing at all quick enough.  I did alot more rows of this and eventually frogged it.  I know I was just as upset but I couldn't carry on.

Then I said to myself I'm going back to the squares, I can do them quickly and make them bigger.  So I grabbed my Harmony guide and chose this pattern

When I had finished all the squares, I announced to the Bank Manager, I seriously dislike this pattern.  I have since then gone back and read the pattern and wow another one I didn't read properly.  So with 80 squares made and sewn up and then I had gone around 5 times, I had a pile of ugly squares.  And mind you I am now running out of time, to get a king size blanket out.

Now I am lacking inspiration and to say the least it's seriously getting me down.  I am paging through the piles of magazines I have and see a square that looks super cute.

This square called for a 6mm hook but I didn't like the way it was so holey, so I went down, and then down again to a 4mm hook.  But in doing that the square turned out tiny.  I carried on and made a total of 24 in one day.  So quick and easy.  I layed them out on my bed and well they ran the length of the bed but didn't cover the width.  I worked it out that I would need nearly 240 squares for the size I want.  That was so not happening!

I am now totally overwhelmed with this blanket.  My Bank Manager and boys look at me and say make a pattern you know.  So I grab my 6mm hook and chain 353 and yes another Neat Ripple is born, but this one is oh so spectacular.  Firstly there are no mistakes, secondly the way the colours are working out using the games that have been played at the RWC is spectacular. 

I have done 4 rows for the winning country and 2 for the loosing country.  For the one and only draw that has taken place I will do 3 rows for each country. 

The only gripe I have is that it takes me around 20min to do one row!  I know insane right!  So I will not be finished this by the end of the RWC.

I have done more than the next picture shows however I have left this post too late and have no daylight.

Iam managing to do 6 rows a day, so one game.  But still not going to be finished by the 23rd.  You are going to see alot of this blanket because I have decided that until it's finished there will be no other projects being done!

I think I am going to have to make a LYS run as I have make so many other squares that the two balls of each colour I purchased is almost depleted and these rows being so long are chewing up the remaining meters I have.

One last thing, I have missed you all and am very happy to be blogging again.

No Excuses or Reasons

I have no excuse or reason for my non blogging.

I am making a promise to myself that I will get back into it from today!

I have been reading all your amazing blogs and you have all kept me motivated, laughing and seriously entertained. I hope to start returning the favor.