Tuesday 2nd September - this and that

 "Sure, I can show you how to crochet granny squares," says I glibly to a friend. "I've loads of spare yan and crochet hooks. Come round any time".

We were discussing things to do in the darker evenings, like knitting and crochet and so on.

Well, luckily for me she's been busy, and then the weather has been too uncertain (I have to meet up with friends out of doors as I take immunosuppressants). 

I had sorted out chunky yarn and 6mm hooks and crocheted a.... mess. And a spider web. And a cat's cradle. And a knotted tangle. What had happened to me since I made this

After a morning I managed to chain the starter ring, read up and relearn treble crochet (UK notation, I believe it is double crochet in USA) and do the first round. 

It took a couple mornings and some tutorials before I could reliably start the second round, and a further morning to complete it. Progress was not helped by accidentally creating a granny pentagon.

I've lost count of number of times I went back to the very beginning because I kept losing track of the starting ring and crocheting through the wrong gaps. I solved that by using a different colour for the ring.

I prefer using a self patterning yarn like the one on the left; it conveniently changed colour for me just as I finished the start ring ready to begin the first row. (I remember buying that yarn back in 2013 to see if my mother, recovering from a severe stroke, could possibly manage tunisian crochet by wedging a hook in her watch strap - sadly it proved  was too awkward for her) 

Anyway, at last I can truly say "Sure I can show you how to make granny squares!"

I've found it quite straightforward once I got the first couple of rounds going to set the pattern.

I think our local Dunelm sells Hayfield Spirit Chunky in lots of lovely colourways, so I'll hand this over to her when we do meet. 

Along the way I have learned 

how to catch the short tail of the yarn in with the crochet shells when doing the first round

a better way of starting the subsequent rounds (genius; you create the 'post' of three chain stitches and then TURN THE WORK ROUND SO YOU EFFECTIVELY WORK IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION!)

and I'm now investigating how to do 'join as you go' for the granny squares. 

Although, when I was making the blanket, it was an excellent 'portable project' as each square, with its self-patterning yarn, and the hook, fitted into a small zipped bag. But, oh the joining and joining and joining at the end!

Altogether these past few mornings have been a bit of an exercise in patience, perseverance and self-control. Very good for me, I'm sure!

The Tree

Here is August's (!) end of the month picture. I don't suppose it will have changed much in three days. There is a lot of fallen fruit around the apple tree; I just haven't got down there. Never mind, the wasps and insects and birds and whatever will deal with them. Does that count as doing my bit for wildlife?

A chant from my childhood

If we had roast chicken for Sundaylunch, it was carved at the table and there was always an eager competition to get the wishbone.

Then, the winner would curl their little finger around one side, and invite someone else to do the same with the other side, and on the count of three, they would pull, and snap the wishbone. Whoever got the larger piece cgot to make a wish.

The loser said "I wish I wish your wish comes true"

The winner replied " I wish I wish the same for you"

Then both had to say the name of a poet; usually Shakespeare because he had a spear, or Burns because he had fire.

Did this come from my father’s family? It wouldn't surprise me.