winter's rest

I  think exhaustion could be the word that I use for this week.  I have been exhausted.  My body is also reacting to stress by trying to get sick.  I have tried to be still.

In my stillness, I have picked up my crochet hook and worked on some half finished projects.  My best friend had gifted me some yarn called winter's rest.  The yarn was not colors I would normally be drawn to but for some reason I was.

I decided to create a pullover sweater because I have been wearing more skirts and pants.  The first iteration of it had much too much fabric under the arms.  I ripped it almost completely out and started again.  I took it with me on my travels and finished yesterday while I was sitting.  I sat yesterday.  I am doing more then I did yesterday today so far but not much.

I am really pleased with how this sweater turned out.  How long it will stay in this shape?  I am not sure.  It is REALLY warm for being cropped.  Making it into a cardigan shape may be needed so I can open the front.  But it goes well with my jeans.

I have no problems ripping out sweaters to remake them at this point in my life.  I really should just make cardigans but I do occasionally wear a pullover.  Usually with pants!  Though I have worn them over some of my less full a-line dresses.  

The next sweater I am working on while I sit is a black cardigan.  It is gifted yarn as well.  But today seems like I need to be horizontal more then yesterday.  But I have also moved more already.  I hope I feel well enough to go to the grocers store later today.  I will feel better slowly.

my poncho grew

One of the things I learned with going through my Mom's things is that if you are a maker you usually get those things you made or gave back!  I had worked on a hat for my Mom and gifted it to her a year or two ago.  It came with me. 

I thought it was a cool pattern and I documented my work here.  It did not really look like a crocheted hat.  It also did not wear like a crocheted hat.  I had been gifted yarn to make my own hat from that pattern but after wearing the one I made my Mom I decided that yarn needed a different purpose.  

So, I took apart the hat I made my Mom.  I found the skein of yarn for the hat I was to make.  I had also been gifted two small skeins of some lovely grey yarn.  I decided I was going to add it to the edge of the poncho I had made earlier this year.  Make it a better size to wear around the house.

I turned out well.  I used the single stitch I like, which is a single stitch and then a chain.  After the first row of single stitching with a change of color, I used a double stitch.  It gives it a bit of an eyelet feel.

My rocking chair and spinning wheel are right next to the air conditioning.  Or, it can be a drafty corner in winter because the chair is between two sets of windows.  It is now like having a blanket while I work.  I find normal blankets are great for my lower half but this keeps the top half warmer.  And there is room for a sweater underneath.  I do not lose it like I do shawls.  Though, I still really like shawls.

I would say this is a win.  There is going to be more bits and bobs of leftover yarn from other projects that may be of the same tones but I think this is the right size.  I will have to see if those become a shawl or a poncho.  I will just have to see.

hooded scarf

This pile of crocheting that I was working on?

It became this hooded scarf for Koda Bear.  He seemed to really like it.  I just made an overly long scarf with a cables down one edge.  I did get it to him before the last day of Christmas!

I folded it in half and seamed it up the back of about 10 or 12 inches.  The crochet stretches a bit there so he has some movement.  I also used Lion Brands Mandala Bebe yarn so it changes throughout the cake.  It is acrylic which I do not really like to work with but for the boy, I thought it was a good idea.  

It was pretty chilly while we were in Washington and he wore it around the house.  I also realized that he stole Poppa's coat to model this in.  I guess that tells you a bit of how warm the house felt!  But I do think it felt warmer then normal during the winter.  It might just be because I was always moving.

I have not really worked on much crochet since I have been back.  I am almost done with a blanket that I wish to finish so I can work on one of the four sweaters I am making for myself!  Or the two shawls.  I also want to spin.  That has not happened this week.  I am building a table instead of working with textiles.

I am thinking about going on a camping trip this weekend.  Just over Monday basically.  If I do, I am taking crochet with me.  I will also chose to go thrifting.  Ideas for chef rolls abound but I find the ones that are more interesting are what seems to sell.  I also need to learn to wax cotton.  There are a lot of new skills to be learned this month.  Who knows what all will happen before I leave again for my Mom's memorial.  Which is one of the thoughts of not going camping.  What will be will be.

not sleeping

I have not been sleeping well.  The hours between 3 and 5 AM are the hardest for me to sleep currently and I do not know why.  I have a thought it is when my body is most uncomfortable in bed.  If I can shift it to 1 to 3 AM, I do feel more rested the next day.  Not today though.

Many times, when I wake I move to my rocking chair.  I pick up some crocheting and work on it until I feel like sleep may be a possibility.  Sleep may not happen but it does mean I have just not laid there for hours.  And work has gotten done.  This time of year it is normally a present.  Actually, that can be year round.

I keep thinking I should pick up some hand sewing but I am not sure I am that coordinated in the middle of the night.  A crochet hook is a much better option.  I have had to take out a few mistakes.  It is a bit frustrating but it is what it is.  

This gift is down to the last skein.  I will take a picture of it soon and then it will be sent off.  It is really not a Christmas present but it is a request from my Dad.  My Mom has her own chair now too.  I can see me being requested to make something similar for her.  It just takes time.

poncho because yarn

I know people have lots of feelings about social media.  I do have to say I enjoy Instagram.  I find interesting things there.  Like skeins of yarn that are called Tea Cakes.  They just tickled my fancy so I went to Michael's to see if I could find any in person.  

Of course not.  I feel like I live in the biggest small town in the whole wide world.  People talk about yarn that I cannot find.  Oh well.  But Michael's had Latte Cakes that were so soft.  I normally do not work in acrylic or non-natural fibers but I bought some.  I was thinking that I could make a poncho that could be a hug for my best friend when I was not there.  I actually purchased enough yarn for two ponchos.

This is the one I crocheted for my best friend.  She picked the edge color.  The other skein I have is more purple and blue then blue and creams.  The fuzziness of the yarn makes the colors blend together.  Especially since I was using them at the edges where they had to go farther.  

I enjoyed making this poncho.  Yes, by the end I was wanting it to be done but that is how I usually am.  I want to see now!  It is off in the mail so she should be getting it when she gets home.  Whenever that is.  She travels a lot.  But it is one of the reasons I liked the idea of the acrylic yarn for this for her.  She can dump it in a motel washing machine or Laundromat and not worry so much about it.  There is no special laundering instructions.  And in the evening, when she is crocheting, she can be warm and snug.