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Christmas updates, already.

   The dogs still doing well and I'm comfortably sleeping back in my own bed, yaaa. Been a nice sunny day so have got the washing out and have caught up on nearly all my chores, that is until they need doing again, and again, and again, and again!!!

   Spoke to one of my sisters before and she says she wants a scarf with pockets in it. This is the sister I was going to do the newsboy hat for. She also told me her son wants black fingerless mitts, I was going to knit him the two way hat. Oh well, at least I hadn't already started knitting anything and I guess it does make presents easier to sort out.

  I'm wondering if I could do the double basket weave scarf with pockets, hope so because I not looking forward to knitting a mainly plain scarf. Am going to have to start buying more yarn very soon now I have firms things that need to be knit. 

Almost back to normal.

    I got to sleep in my own bed last night. The dog was pacing a little but I think this is my fault, think he's confused with me sleeping downstairs and upstairs and doesn't know why. He's not had any more fits and seems to be fine and he's back to eating as normal. I just hope it doesn't happen again or it does there very short and well spaced apart.

   I managed to do a little knitting yesterday on the Ipad sock cosy thingy and am thinking about making a flap for it. Stop kitting in the round and do the back, basket weave into the crossed arrow cable but when its folded over it will be upside down compared to the front. I figure if I can get the lengths right it will look good.

  Still need to catch up on some chores but got most done yesterday. Hope to get some spinning done today as well, maybe a little weaving too. I need to learn how to finish off a weaved project. I could do with more practise in starting too.

    Thanks for the kind emails.

Vets and chores.

   Went to the vets, theres really not a lot that can be done. They took some blood and gave me two types of medication to use if needed. She said  the blood work will probably not show anything, will get the results in a little while. He hasn't had another fit since 1pm Sunday so fingers crossed they have disappeared as quickly and unexpectedly as they came. I ended up sleeping on the couch again last night as he was restless and pacing and I wasn't sure if this was a sign a fit was coming, nothing happened though. I'm starting to miss my bed.

 I've still not done any knitting, spinning or weaving. Not done any chores either which I really need to start catching up on today. My sister gave me a lift to the vets so I let her have a choice in which Ipad sock cosy she wanted, she picked the one with the rope cable, probably because that one is finished and I'm still only half way on the crossed arrows one.

  Hopefully I'll get back to my knitting and spinning today,tomorrow once the chores are looking less like a mountain and will return to regular blogging asap.

Listless

    Going to the vets in a bit. The dogs not had any more fits since 1 pm yesterday so that's some good news. I think its been harder on me than the dog, watching the seizures is very distressing and not being able to do anything. I slept on the couch again last night but did have a good nights sleep.
  I've not been able to do much knitting, my hearts not in it and can't concentrate for any length of time. I've not been able to do much of anything really this weekend, just padding around the house stopping and starting tasks. Watching over the dog and jumping up any time he scratches or moves in his dreams.
  I might post later when I get back from the vets or leave it till tomorrow, want to thank folks for the kind emails, thanks.

Sick with worry

    I haven't slept all that good the last two nights I can feel the worry in the pit of my stomach, it sits there like a large heavy rock. The seizures are pretty short, about 1 to 2 mins which is a good thing. The bad thing is he's having more than 3 in 24 hours, approx every 6 hours. 
     He had a short one just after bedtime last night, after that I decided to sleep on the couch with him downstairs, bit worried he might hurt himself upstairs. His last two were pretty short 30 secs to one min but on the last one he was really struggling to get up and kept banging his head on the floor.He seems ok after about 45 mins though hasn't eaten all that much since they started.
  Vets tomorrow and we'll see what happens from there. I'm thinking because of the way there clustered he'll end up on meds but from what I've read once he's used to them its not so bad. Can lead a healthy happy life. Please keep us in your prays,thanks.

My dogs fitting.

No picture post today.
   I think I've found out why my dog has been acting odd the last couple of days. He had a fit in the middle of the night and just had another one a little while ago. Scared me silly. He's normally a friendly dog but is aggressive when he comes around for a short time and with the foaming mouth its kinda scary to see.

  Now that he's had 2 in a 12 hour period I need to get him to the vets and find out why this is happening. Please say a little pray for him, he's a wonderful dog.

I messed up.

  Well I've messed up the Ipad sock cosy thingy, tried to unknit it but made it worse. I've never unknitted cables before and don't want to try that again. Put it down for now but will rip it all out and start again. Glad its only a small project. 
   My head hasn't been in the game ever since I started this project, no idea why not. Its not a hard project, I even made it easier by doing the back in basket weave instead of cabled honeycomb. Its a quick knit small project which I usually love to do. Oh well its a new day, maybe I can get a fresh start with it.

  Theres still something going on in the garden that's making the dog skittish, even after two days with heavy rainfalls theres a smell that's getting to him. I'm thinking returning visitor, maybe rats but can't see him getting that worried by em. My old dog wasn't a good ratter but she always gave em a run for there money. This dog I don't think has seen a rat before, haven't had any for a couple of years on my property. I kinda hope it is rats, I can get the .22 out then.

  I'm not sure what tomorrows post will be but it will have pictures, maybe I'll do another sock post. We'll have to wait and see.

Spooked

  Somethings been in the back garden that has really spooked my dog, never seen him this skittish before. He was even skittish when I first took him for his morning walk, but soon calmed down. He's still sniffing around out back but in a very worried way. I've no idea what it could be. He goes nuts over hedgehogs but not in a scared way, he'll run cats off without a care in the world right up to the point of a piece of metal he once pierced himself on. I can't see him getting worried over a fox and theres nothing else I can think of in the way of wild critters here.

  I'm just under half way with the Ipod, Ipad sock cosy thingy. My hearts not in it this time for some reason, just not in the mood. I've had to change the front pattern a little half way through so I can be sure of the right length.

  Think I'll have a play on the loom today, I've sort of got the hang of it though I haven't finished a piece yet so have no idea how that's done. Cast off, bind off, or what ever its called in weaving.

BBQ kniting

  The sun is shinning again today. It was meant to be raining from what the weather man said, guess that's like still believing in Father Christmas at 25 though. I could of gotten another load of washing done and on the line, I'm falling behind a little.
   I had my BBQ yesterday, the lamb burgers I made were pretty fatty, more like mutton than lamb. Still tasted good though. I might have another bbq today, with beef and maybe pork this time, yummy.

   I started the Ipad sock cosy thingy yesterday, a few times. I tried a couple of different yarns instead of the cotton but didn't like the way any of them were knitting so went back to the cotton. I don't think I was really in the mood to be honest. I've decided to do the basket weave again for the back instead of the honeycomb, really couldn't be bothered doing the honeycomb.

   I did come up with a couple of new ideas to try like combining the crossed cable with a single honeycomb cable, also thought about using different coloured yarns for the cables. Not sure if that's possible but will give it a go when I have time. I might knit a few of these Ipad sock cosy thingies and give my sisters a choice. They could pick which parts they liked best and I could reknit one for them if theres not a full one already knitted. The left over ones I could try and sell on ebay,the ones already being sold on ebay just look like the top of a sock. Mine with the cables are much more interesting.

   I got my bluefaced Leicester top today, I love the oatmeal colour. The online picture really didn't do it justice, looked like a boring light brown. Think I'll get more oatmeal and hopefully spin it good enough to be able to knit with. The white bluefaced I'm spinning at the moment is coming out much thinner but there are still the odd thicker parts too it, I am getting better though.

Sunshine, Lamb BBQ.

    Got my washing on the line to dry, walked the dog without the need for coat and gloves. Its a wonderful day. 
   Just got some mince lamb and seeded buns. I'm going to make lamb burgers and have a BBQ. My mint hasn't done very well this year but there are a few leaves I can pick to add to the mix. Heck of a lot better than the dried stuff. Lamb,onion, bit of mint, drop of Worcestershire, season it and mix it up and squish it into patties(might need egg to bind and bread crumbs or crushed crackers). Easy peasy and so yummy. Lamb suits spicy stuff too so you can spice it up Moroccan style if you wish.

   Would like to write more and knit more but I'm going to take advantage of this lovely weather while it lasts and go play in the kitchen and garden.
Have a good day folks.

Slow weekend

   I didn't get much knitting done this weekend. Well apart from the backpack straps but with these I seem to be no further along. The straps are now 17" long and I think another 5 " should do it, I hope. If I just wanted to attach the straps to the backpack they'd probably be long enough as they are but because I'm using buckles to make them adjustable I need the straps to be longer.

  Its my other sisters birthday this week so I need to knit another Ipad sock cosy thingy. I'm thinking of doing crossed arrow cable or stag horn cable on the front and honeycomb cable on the back. I think I will have to make the front cables a little thinner, not sure yet. I'm not sure on which yarn to use either. I do really like using the cotton as it turns out very well defined. Plus cotton is really easy to care for and is ok to drop down the toilet.

    I've just ordered a mild for my homebrew. Not sure I've made mild before so should be interesting to test, drink. I need to order some more tops for spinning, I didn't win the ones I wanted at the weekend. I need more yarn too, I always need more yarn. I do have enough to start Christmas presents and once the Ipad sock cosy thingy is done I really should make a start on those, even if I don't have a full list of what to do yet.

Double Basket Weave Scarf

Double basket weave scarf.

This has to be one of my favorite knits, and its so easy to do as well. If you can knit and purl you can do this scarf and the results look a lot harder than they really are.

Basket Weave Scarf

 I used the same yarn as the sweater yarn, I'd guesstimate around 70 to 100g but it could of been less, no more than 100g though. I had a big cone and wound it into balls so have no idea on the length or weights. Get 100g of dk and it should be enough. (ETA The pattern calls for, Yarn: Light Worsted 175 yd [160 m]/100 g): Gauge: 18 sts and 24 rows = 4" (10 cm) in St st; 28 sts = 4½" (11 .5 cm) wide in double basket patt. with 5mm needles.). I don't think the gauge is all that important but you want it between a skinny scarf and a wide scarf. I did the scarf on 4.5mm needles,it turned out at 4" wide and I knitted close to 6 feet in length.

Double basket weave.

 I did make a small, heh big, mistake while knitting this scarf, scarf was around 4 feet long at this time. I had it folded up while knitting to help keep it out of the way and off the floor and either missed or added a row which turned the patten back to front. I only noticed my mistake when I unfolded the scarf to measure how far I had got and found the last 10 inches facing the wrong way. It was very annoying at first but over all I didn't mind because the pattern is a real pleasure to knit. I ripped out the 10 inches and just reknit them, not something I ever enjoy but it did give me a chance to knit even more of this fun pattern. But it is worth keeping a close eye and count on the rows, guess that goes for all patterns though.

    I really do love the textured look of this pattern. There really is no right side or wrong side but I prefer the side that looks wavy as can be seen in these two pictures. Some folks will prefer the other side but it really doesn't matter as both sides look great.

basket weave scarf

I haven't decided who to give the scarf to yet, I have a couple of ideas including keeping it for myself. I might also knit another one or two as it is really good to knit. I can't say that enough, I really did enjoy knitting this one lots.

 A very simple scarf that looks really really good and will keep you nice and warm this coming cold winter. Give it a go I promise you'll not be disappointed.

Double basket weave scarf

   Happy knitting.
Knitting pattern. Swatch. Double basket weave instructions ( slightly different than the pattern but the same really.)

loom and gloom

   Well the postman did make it yesterday, at around 2.30pm, and delivered the loom instruction booklet. Had a quickish look and I get the jist of it but already had the jist of it anyway. I need to set aside an afternoon and work on it. Think I've put myself off the first day trying to figure it out without instructions, it got frustrating. I'll get there in the end.

  Got another email off the phone co. There sending someone out on Monday to have a look. If I'm not in they will charge £10, got me thinking can I charge them if they don't turn up. Think that would make us all rich. I hate the patronizing way they try to solve the problems, phone support or email support, treating us all like idiots. Is it plugged in????

  Bid on some mixed tops for more spinning, if I don't win I'll get some more bluefaced Leicester , I love spinning with this stuff. Think I have the hang of my new spindle, do have to keep an eye on it because it spins fast, slows down fast then spins the wrong way fast.

  Been doing a lot on the backpack straps, I really have but still don't seem to be getting much further along. Haven't started the other Ipad sock yet, might start it today, tomorrow or the weekend. Which ever I do have to keep at the straps before I go nuts.I really should start doing the socks I've had on the needles for a long time now. Been so long I've forgotten how to knit socks.

Pop back tomorrow for the double basket weave scarf with pictures.