Friday FOs - 03.01.2020

The first Friday of the year and I'm starting the year off right with two finished objects, although one of these was technically finished last year. Here they are.

A Red Shopping Bag with Pouch

The Red Shopping Bag in its Pouch

Another shopping bag to add to my collection. I now have two in stock but I need more.

Comfort Bear No. 1 for this year

My first comfort bear for the year. I averaged one per week last year. Lets see if I can manage to match that this year.

That's all I have for this week. Until next time, have a good one.

Richard

Wednesday WIPs - 01.01.2020

I thought it would be a good idea to start the new year by showing off all my WIPs, so here they are.

A Comfort Bear in the making

This is what this week's comfort bear looked like a 3:00pm. I don't normally show these on Wednesday as I am confident that I can complete it before Friday But thought I might as well include it today.

A Shopping Bag with Pouch

Another bag to add to the collection. This one probably won't be finished by Friday but the one I started last week is so I do have a bag to show off on Friday.

Two Purple Sheep

Two heads, 8 legs and half a body done so far. I doubt if I will get these finished in the next couple of days.

Lounge Chair Cover

I only work on this on Friday evenings after I have posted my finished objects for the week. Most weeks I don't seem to have any time to work on it at all.

Story Time Blanket

Reverse side of Story Time Blanket

This is a project I started a few years ago for the Sunday School kids. I mostly work on this on Friday mornings while at crochet class so it's in time out now due to no classes and being too hot to work on. In the first photo it looks pretty mush done but a close look at the second reveals all the ends yet to be sewn in. I also plan on embroidering a Bible verse in the blank area next to the cross.

Corner to Corner Pixel Blanket

 This is one of two projects I work on while at markets. I'm still trying to work out the best way of avoiding having so many ends to sew in. The top left square was my first attempt and there are far too many ends.

Double Knit Butterfly Squares - side one

Double Knit Butterfly Squares - side two

This is the second of the two projects I work on while at markets. I'm still kinda learning the technique and hve recently seen a video on how to cast on for double knitting. Myabe I will try it for the next square.

Hungarian Crochet Squares

This is my 'waiting room' project. I seem to spend quite a bit of time in waiting rooms (might be because of my age) and I need something to work on because I'm not really into reading magazines.

Short Rows Knitted Scarf

This is another project that goes pretty much every where I do but only comes out when I'm bored with everything else. I made one of these in Tunisian Crochet and thought I would try a knitted version.

Sunhat and Bootees

While this is a UFO I'm not sure that it qualifies as a WIP as I don't really have any incentive to finished it. Baby clothes just don't seem to be selling at the moment. It seems that the current generation of parents just aren't interested in putting their kids in handmade clothing.

I should probably check my to-do lost (posted on Monday) to see if I managed to find all my unfinished objects (or make sure they're all listed) but these are the ones that I did find.

That's it for now. Until next time, have a good one.

Richard.

Monday Mayhem - 2019, The Year That Was.

Since we're coming to the end of the year I thought it was time to do a wrap up of what I have achieved this year. I will start with the projects that I have finished.

These are the objects that I have completed this year.

52 Comfort Bears
9 Sheep
4 Ducks of various colours
A Blue Horse
A Purple Cat
A White Dog
A Gold Fish
A Brown Bear
3 Blankets
6 Shopping Bags with Pouch
5 Shopping Bags without Pouch

That is a total of 84 finished objects.

Looking back at the blog it seems that I was more productive in the first month of the year and in the last couple of months than in the middle of the year. The only projects I managed to finish in the middle of the year were comfort bears.

My to-do list looks like this :-

Things to make to replace stock for my market stall:

Matinee Jackets in pink and purple
Tiny Dogs
Heather Hippo
Large Witch
Large Penguin
Small Rabbit
Panda
Frog Keepsake Pouch
Ankylosaurus
Bottle Cosies in more team colours (Bulldogs, Geelong, Essendon and West Coast)
Medium Bunny
Tiny Duck
Large Bunny
Small Turtles
Platypus x 2
Koala x 2
Tommy Tortoise
Towel Toppers (Tea Towels)
Small Jug Covers
Large Jug Covers
Simple Owls
Animals from "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See?" which include:-
A red bird (made one)
A yellow duck (made one)
A Blue horse
A green frog
A Purple cat
A white dog
A black sheep and
A gold fish

Current Work In Progress:

Comfort Bears
Yarn Eater (Hungarian Crochet) Blanket
Story Time Blanket
Double Knit Butterfly Blanket
Corner to Corner Picture Blanket
Sunhat and Bootees in white & pink
Short rows knitted scarf
Sheep of all colours
Shopping Bags with Pouch
Lounge Chair Cover

Things I'm itching to get started on:

Crochenit Knee Rug (same as Cot Blanket and will also use up some of my stash of 8ply)
Table Runners for each Australian state and territory (currently trying to design the ACT one).
Tunisian Crochet Intarsia Table Runner
Picture Blanket (need samples so people can see what they might be getting)
Article in Broomstick Lace
Article in Hairpin Lace
More dinosaurs

On a different note, my weight loss hasn't gone to plan. At 127.9kg I think I have actually gained weight this year. 

The only other thing of note that has happened this year is my change of status and income. The government, in its infinite wisdom, decided that I wasn't doing enough for my ex-wife to qualify as her carer. This has meant that I have taken a pay cut and have had to adjust my spending accordingly. 

I'm not sure what the new year has in store for me but I do hope things improve. I don't make New Years Resolutions as they are too hard to keep. I do have plans for the year which mainly involve crochet and losing weight but I will try and take one day at a time. I wish all my readers a happy and prosperous new year. 

Richard. 

Friday FOs - 27.12.2019

I managed to get a bit of crochet done this week in spite of the Christmas festivities. I even managed to finish a few objects, and here they are.

Shopping Bag with Pouch

Shopping Bag in Pouch

Another Shopping Bag ready for use. I think I need about a dozen of these before the next market. I would like to have some for my own use as well.

Orange Sheep No. 1

Orange Sheep No. 2

Two new sheep to add to the collection, just 8 more to go, unless I sell some.

That's all from me for this week. I think I will be spending the weekend preparing my usual "The year that was" post so there may be one more post this year. In the mean time, have a good one.

Richard.

Friday FOs - 20.12.2019

I have had a veery busy week this week. Apart from getting a short term job which has seen me out working for the last three days I have managed to finish five items, and here they are in order of completion.

Shopping Bag with Pouch

Shopping Bag in Pouch

My first finished objec is a shopping bag with a pouch.

Another Shopping Bag with Pouch

The second Shopping Bag in its Pouch

My second finished object is another shopping bag with pouch. If you want to buy any of my shopping bags you will have to wait as I have sold them all.

Comfort Bear No. 52 for this year

Since I normally start making these on a Wednesday afternoon and finish them on Thursday and next Wednesday is Christmas day, this will be my last bear for this year.

A White Sheep

A Second White Sheep

My fourth and fifth finished objects for this week are two white sheep. I plan on making all my sheep in pairs so expect two of each colour appear some time in the future.

That's all from me for this week. I would like to wish all my readers a very merry Christmas. Until next time, have a good one.

Richard.

Friday FOs - 13.12.2019

I have managed to finish another couple of objects this week. Here they are.

Comfort Bear No. 51 for this year

My first finished object for this week is another comfort bear. I have just realised that Christmas Day is on the day of the week that I normally be crocheting one of these. Since I'm ahead of my target for this year I think I will take that day off and not crochet a bear that week.

Shopping Bag with Pouch

Shopping Bag in Pouch

My other finished object is another Shopping Bag. These are proving quite popular at the moment. So popular that I don't actually have any in stock and am trying to fill orders. I may have to increase my price on these.

That's all I have for you for this week. Until next time, have a good one.

Richard.

Friday FOs - 06-12-2019

Another week comes to an end with a couple of finished objects to show off. Here they are.

A Green Sheep

My sister ordered another Green Sheep (must have another grandchild on the way) so here it is.

Comfort Bear No. 50 for this year

Another Comfort Bear ready for service. A few weeks ago I made two of these in one week so I am one ahead. I need to decide if I am going to make an extra one this year or take a week off and finish with 52 for the year.

That's it from me for this week. Until next time, have a good one.

Richard.