mood blanket

By the time you see this post, I would have finished playing catch up with my Mood Blanket. I have four more rounds to add to the below before I’m caught up. The rounds are really getting long now but I’ve been powering through while watching a variety of BBC & HBO T.V. series. The long rounds seem to go faster while I watch T.V. — go figure since I’m not really a T.V. watcher. My goal is to make this my Sunday afternoon project. Doing one round every Sunday until the end shouldn’t be too tough. Although I have 29 more rounds to go, I have to say so far — it’s beautiful! I keep staring at it; it’s actually kinda mesmerizing. LOLOL! But I have not been mesmerized to the point where it’s stopping me from casting on something else. 😀

I’ve cast on the Hitchhiker pattern from Martina Behm. My love for this designer knows no bounds … well for her and Erika Knight, but I’ll talk about that another time. 😀 The Hitchhiker is a pattern that I’ve wanted to make for a long time but just never did … well … until now. I’m using KnitPicks new line — Hawthorne in Nob Hill. The pattern is easy enough for a newbie, but if you’re not careful, it’s easy to lose track of where you are row wise. Good thing I have my trusty Knit Tink row counting app on my Android phone to keep me on track.

So far so good; I really like how this hand-painted line is working up. I’m really not a fan of hand painted yarn but this coupling — the Hitchhiker pattern and Hawthorne Nob Hill — has turned out to be awesome so far. There are subtle changes in the purple/lilac theme with some cream nicely interspersed throughout. So far, the pooling in this yarn is working out just fine — nice and even like I like it. Not crazy like some hand-painted yarns can get sometimes. I hope it stays this way.

I’m definitely having a great time working on these two projects. What are you working on that’s giving you the happies? 😀

Linking with Tami and WIP Wednesday meme.

we chatted, I’ve thought of you often and want to express my gratitude in ways words can’t seem to express how much I appreciate your thoughts, prayers and well-wishes. I was overwhelmed by your kindness via the responses to my last post. I received every single one of them plus all the text messages, emails, and Ravelry private messages. I can’t thank you enough. ❤

My surgery went well — can’t believe I was “under” for an hour and forty five minutes — and I’m recovering nicely. Last week was a blur of sleep, pills, a visit to the Dr and more sleep. So much for all my plans to craft ALL DE THINGZ!!! I didn’t realise how immobile I would be my first week out but that didn’t stop me from wanting to get some things done. 😉 There’s still discomfort but I want to start getting around this week since I’m back to work next Monday (June 9th).

Since the last time we chatted, I:

spent a lot of time propped up here

either sleeping or watching BBC English series like Lark Rise to Candleford on my kindle.

spent time being my own Florence Nightingale with these

watched my garden grow and unlike Mary Queen of Scot (Mistress Mary Quite Contrary), I’m very happy with what’s happening in my garden. The basil is even bigger now and I can’t wait to harvest peppers.

made a makeshift drying space and hung my lemongrass to dry. Can’t wait to have some lemongrass tea!

dyed yarn using some random food colouring in my stash for my Ravelry Harry Potter Knitting and Crochet House Cup assignment. I guess my inner Slytherin is calling! The yarn base is merino so the dye job shows up beautifully.

Made more swatches for my Flax Sweater. Oye vey! So far, I’ve used 3 yarn options and made 5 swatches! I’m going to wear the “what’s it not” out of this sweater when it’s done. I might even sleep in it after all the gauge issues I’ve been having. The final yarn choice is Cascade 220 in Magenta and Pacific.

was finally able to crochet three more rounds on my Mood blanket last night. If I stick to my schedule, I’ll be able to finish all the rounds that I’ve fallen behind with by the end of the week. Wanna see the adds?