Monday, March 19, 2012

A slow, quiet weekend...

I spent a quiet weekend just being. I tidied on Saturday morning, showered then settled down to watch a DVD. Gus was gone for the day so the day was mine! I had bought a ball of crochet cotton with the intention of making a dishcloth. Ahem, it was from the $2 shop and yes, that is a knot you can see in they yarn!
First, I had to teach myself some crochet stitches again. I think I was 10 the last time I crocheted. I can remember making granny square cushion covers and was very proud when I presented my Grandpa with one, in his favourite football team colours. He took that little cushion with him to the footy for many years.
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The internet has great tutorials for crochet and knitting - I am one of those people who can pick things up quite quickly if I am shown once, twice or three times. I found one for double crochet and watched a few times then started off myself. It all came back to me. Then I watched a single crochet tute.
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Now I just need more time to sit and actually do it!
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Sunday was knitting day! I am very proud of this 'finish'. I started knitting this basket weave dishcloth probably 2 years ago and had done about 2 inches of it. I dragged it out and thought, right!, I am going to finish this today!
So I did! Then I proceeded to single crochet around the edge of it - I am on a roll! The shape is a bit dodgy but overall, it will do the job.
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My second attempt at knitting was a great learning experience. This is a waffle weave dishcloth from Rhonda's Down to Earth book.
I hadn't cast on for such a long time so I looked up a YouTube video to help me.
Then I started off following the pattern -
First couple of rows were easy... then Row 3: K3 (P2, K1) 10 times, P2, K3
I set off knitting but when I got to the end of the row I could see that something was terribly wrong! I had sort of extra stitches and cross overs - Uh oh!
Back to the computer for another lesson - "how to change from knit to purl" - you have to swap your wool over the needle when you change stitches! Who knew!
I unpicked it all and started again - and after completing a set of the pattern rows, I could see the pattern emerging - success! This is pretty cool for a girl who has never knitted anything but purl/plain/purl/plain!
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Anyway, this variegated cotton was really just a test piece - I need to buy some nice colours now to get a stash of dishcloths going. Knitting is a great excuse for sitting quietly!
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Later in the afternoon I made a batch of Cherry Shortbreads but for some reason they spread more than usual and I nearly overcooked them. They still taste fine but not my best!
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Sunday night, Angus cooked a chicken in his Cobb cooker. It took a while but it is a learning process that we need to get right before we go camping with it.
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The finished roast - the veggies were cooked but not really crisp so we need to work on that. The chicken had a nice flavour, though.
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We watched My Kitchen Rules which we are really enjoying then after dinner, tidied up and hit the hay.
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Hope your weekend was nice and peaceful,

Cheers - Joolz

7 comments:

  1. Youtube is good for lots of things, especially tutorials...love it!

    Great dishcloths Joolz...and your crocheting looks to be well done too! Be careful because I have found knitting, crocheting and sewing very addictive, hence the absence from my blog atm!

    I love food cooked in a webber, it has a very distinctive, yummy taste!

    x

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  2. That chicken is making me hungry! I love youtube for learning things from, it is a wealth of information.

    I have been using cheap wool etc for crocheting since I am only a "L plater" lol and I am finding the same thing with knots or just total cuts in the wool. Oh well I guess what can you expect for $2 these days lol.

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  3. Tried to leave you a comment the other day after you shared about your day and night in the hospital but blogger would not let me. Seems to be working now. Hope you are feeling better and I'm sure the crocheting and knitting will be helping you to relax. I finally got round to binding a quilt my neighbour gave me a few years ago. I really enjoyed the hand sewing and will soon attempt my first block. I'm a complete novice so it's good to know so many people are willing to take the time to film and upload tutorials. I'm probably going to need one!

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  4. Sounds like a nice and relaxing week end you had...Good work on the dish clothes I too need to get in and get some more done..
    Blessings
    Mandy

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  5. Your dishcloths look good. One would never know that you hadn't picked up a crochet hook or knitting needles in years. Now shame on me for having missed the post of your trip to the hospital. We had a similar incidence with my husband a couple of weeks ago when his heart rate went up to 133 while at the VA hospital for a regular appointment. They ended up giving him 2 bags of 1,000 cc each of fluid, saying he was dehydrated. They mentioned doing an EKG, but that never happened. His heart rate was still up to 120 when we left. I have been checking his pulse daily and he is usually in the low to high 90's or even low 100's. Having a 100 pulse rate is considered the high end of normal.....caffeine will often make your heart race, so months ago we switched to decaff. Soda is not good for you, but the caffeine free is better than the regular. I hope you are doing better.
    (((HUGS))) Susanne :)

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  6. that sounds like a very busy weekend to me! WHOOOOOOOsh I am tired already....the chicken looks delicious!

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  7. I am trying to teach myself to crochet. I do well till I get to the end. I love your dishclothes and oh my goodness all the yummy food. You know how much I love to cook.
    Have a wonderful week end.
    Elizabeth

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