Hello there, I hope you are well? If you've been following my blog for a while, I just wanted to thank you. I appreciate that it's been a bit of a stop start of regular blogging. Over the years I've struggled to feel well, I'm still trying to sort IBS issues. So with other commitments and feeling rubbish, sometimes things have slipped. I've recently found another thing that I'm intolerant too, or at least, one that I'd not thought to check on labels. In Aldi's hot chocolate there is a chemical ingredient that upsets my stomach. Google it if interested, it's called Carboxymethyl Cellulose. I knew about it in bread wraps from the Co-op, so only purchased wraps from Aldi. I was treating myself on bad days, to a nice hot chocolate. It makes me mad all this label scrutinizing.
Anyway onto nicer things. We went out for a meal on Wednesday evening to celebrate my son's 24th Birthday. Happy Birthday Nat, a favourite photo of him and Zola (his cat). To think that I once held this tall handsome young man, just like he's holding Zola - he's taller than me now and I'm 5'11". I'm proud of you teen1 Son, love you always x
This week's Five on Friday is a bit of a 'Show & Tell'
This week's Five on Friday is a bit of a 'Show & Tell'
1) A Christmas Bauble. A lady called Carole taught me to make these at the Village Craft Afternoon. It's simpler than it looks, starting at one end building up layers of folded 3" square pieces of material. Lots of pins are involved to secure each point. This one has a thin ribbon to hang it up as a decoration.
2) Another Craft Afternoon, this time it was at a church ladies social. There were several craft options on offer to try out. Making Pom-Poms, with pattern ideas to make characters. Button necklaces, Macramé, knitting and making these Crochet Wind Spinners. There are some Youtube videos online if this interests you. They will stay in better shape if hung up and free to twirl.
3) A simple restful portable knitting project. A washcloth, flannel or dishcloth knitted in Rico Aran 100% Cotton yarn. Front and Rear view, (not blocked). The pattern is called broken rib from this book: Knit Yourself Calm. I borrowed the book from the library. Lots of simple projects to inspire knitting to help calm.
4) A Dishcloth - For the Lent KAL (knit-a-long), following along on a Facebook Group. The official KAL was to make a shawl. I've knitted a shawl before and didn't want another, so I went for the alternative dishcloth - pattern on Ravelry. Each week is knitted in a different colour in Sirdar Happy Cotton yarn. The yarn had been donated at the church Craft Group. I will block it and probably use it as a table mat.
5) A pair of socks for me. These caused me lots of unpicking... not surprising my husband would say. These are knitted in WYS 4 Ply, Blue Lagoon. The yarn started life being knit into a KAL shawl several years ago. It had beads along the edge, sadly I grew impatient with it, all the knots/bumpy edges you needed to add along the edge. So I unpicked it and continued my sock journey of 'improving each time.' These fit snug, though due to a difference in stitches picked up around the heel, one sock had a different finish point for decreasing. When I tried to match the row count for the feet length instead of a measurement... it was completely too short! Cue another unpick session. Each time I knit socks, they are a better fit. I feel like I can get it right next time... I hope. Pattern on Winwick Mum's blog - Sockalong tutorial.
I have a few projects on my needles at the moment, so I need to finish those first before I tackle another pair of socks.
A) Knit a Helicopter - WI competition for May
B) Rainbow Cardigan - WI craft group - charity request
C) Vest - Fish & Chip jumper/vest
When I've finished these, then I can start another pair of socks, another washcloth and finish a Jacket/Cardigan.
What are you making at the moment?
When I've finished these, then I can start another pair of socks, another washcloth and finish a Jacket/Cardigan.
What are you making at the moment?
a very happy birthday to your son!!! love the dishcloths, I love to knit them when I am in between big projects and they make such nice gifts.
ReplyDeleteThank you, they are a nice simple project x
DeleteHappy birthday to your son! You are so talented, I can do none of the knitting and/or crocheting. My mind is already in the garden, pondering what flowers to plant and whether to focus on the front porch or the back deck to start. Happy Friday! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
ReplyDeleteThank you Jean, I'm not so much the gardener, we all have different hobbies. I do however need to get to grips with the garden though. Have a good week and thank you for joining in with Five on Friday x
DeleteI'm sorry you've not been feeling well, I do hope you manage to get to the bottom of it all. Happy birthday to your son! Your projects are lovely - of course I love the socks, but your bauble looks amazing too! xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Christine, yes I hope so too! I despair some days. As soon as I've finished a few projects this month, I'll be back to knitting more socks x
DeleteHappy birthday to your son, the years do seem to pass by so quickly. Daniel will be thirty on his next birthday, wow, I don't feel old enough to have a thirty year old! I love hand knitted dishcloths, it's time I made some more, mine have seen better days. I've been knitting baby garments so other things have been put on the back burner.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jo, I saw a meme once saying 'we never think that we get old (as such) but boy our kids age fast!' Shocking! Dishcloths never seem to last long in my house, I've made some and bought white flannels instead of microfibre. They either don't absorb well or leave fluff everywhere.
DeleteI hope you feel better soon, Cathy. I have a recently discovered intolerance to mushrooms, which is a nuisance, as they are in many dishes that I enjoy.
ReplyDeleteBelated birthday wishes to Nat. Xx
Thank you Jules. I love mushrooms so much, I'd hate it if I couldn't eat them. They are high fibre, so I try not to eat lots in a meal. Have you done the FODMAP test, they are in the Mannitol group? I always admire people who've worked out exactly what they can't eat, it took me over 20 years to start finding out. Have a good week x
DeleteIt's awful having to be careful about everything you eat, I'm just the same as you, I had problems last week and I'm trying to think about what it was I ate differently. I love your five, happy birthday to your son and your craft projects are lovely, I need to make more crochet spinners mine have blown to bits in the wind. I love the return of five on Friday and do plan top join you once I get my head around it, once you stop blogging it's hard to get started again. Have a great Sunday.
ReplyDeleteArh bless you Linda, sorry you suffer too! For me it's Sorbitol, GOS (Fodmaps) and high fibre foods. Both sorted through NHS Dietitian. I also find a few random ingredients in processed foods eg Xatham Gum, Guar Gum both typically found in some Gluten Free foods. I'm not gluten free but Barley etc is a pain in wheat products. Carboxymethyl Cellulose - in some wraps, hot chocolate drinks. Nightmare! I've started making my own bread atm, if I buy sliced bread it's Kingsmill 50/50. I seem to be ok on that but not Warburtons and some Co-op own brand bread due to the barley.
DeleteThank you, I've not hung up my spinners yet. I may just put them in a draughty spot indoors. I'd love it if you joined in with the Five on Friday, when you can. People still don't know it's back yet! I've stopped blogging a few times and I'd agree, it's hard to get going again. I'm committed to every Friday now ha ha. Have a good week and I hope you get your food issues sorted xx
Hello Cathy. I have had a lovely afternoon catching up on all your news over the last few months. So many beautiful knitted items and delicious food . I remember the jelly and milk recipe from my childhood when my mum used to make it. Happy Birthday wishes to your son. I hope he enjoyed his special day. Looking forward to visiting you again x
ReplyDeleteHi Beverley, thank you for visiting my blog. I've made the jelly mousse a few times now, it's very nice. Yes my son enjoyed his day, lots of treats and a meal out. I think he carries on our tradition of celebrating for several days. Have a good week x
DeleteHappy Birthday, Nat! I am sorry you have to scrutinise food labels so much to find products you are able to eat.
ReplyDeleteThank you Christina, I've tried to sort IBS issues for 20 yrs+ really fed up now. The dietitian has done all she can. I think I need to avoid processed foods for now... easier said than done, especially as we all want an easy life sometimes. I've made some bread today, just wanting everything to calm down. Have a good week x
DeleteThank you Dee, I've not picked up my cross stitch for years. I've got one that needs finishing about 20 years ago!
ReplyDeleteI'm itching to get back to making yarn things. It's so fun. I've made little yellow wash towels long ago. Those were fun. Right now I'm making yours in the pressure cooker. Once cooled and later in the weekend those yams go into bakes and flat spelt bread. Happy Weekend. Cheers, Ivy.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lot of fabulous things. Jo x
ReplyDelete