Checking in..................

 

I am checking in to tell you all you are missed.  I really miss the opportunity to visit and have a bit of a back and forth conversation in the comment section.  Life continues to baffle me and create great stress and fatigue.  This little boy brightens most of my days and gives me a real run for my money on others.  It is a good thing he is cute because that far out weighs the bad times and all the stress his many complex issues create. 

 Eighteen of these cuties were made last week and put together last Sunday.  They are for friends, teachers and therapists all of whom take great care of Little Buddy.  They are super fun to make and very easy.  I made them last year as well.  You can find the pattern for these here at Crochet Gnome Christmas Tree Ornaments by Ashley Parker.  I used Big Twist Twinkle Yarn in the color silver and a size G hook.  The 380 yards of yarn made all 18 of these hats with just a smidge to spare.  The pom poms were purchased at Joann's over the year, when I saw one this color I would pop it in my basket.

Harebell #6 is off the needles as of yesterday (sorry for the wonky photos).  After playing yarn chicken with my last Harebell made of Berroco Remix I decided to make this one an inch shorter in the body and arms, yet I failed miserably and lost the yarn chicken game.  I had to take out the ribbing in a finished sleeve, feed the yarn into the next sleeve and find a way to make it all work.  I added dark stipes of a deep purple wool I had in my stash from projects to the wrist ribbing, and added deep purple flower buttons to match, also from my stash.  Is it a major yarn deficit or a creative design element?  You choose.

Made with size 8 needles for the body, 7 for the bottom ribbing and front ribs as well as the collar, and size 6 for the wrist ribbing.  Five skeins of Berroco Remix in the color Periwinkle, all of the 1080 yards of yarn were used, if indeed there were 1,080 yards of yarn in these skeins.  Another one is getting started today, but this one will be more waist length so there is no chance of running out of yarn again. 

For years I have used up as much of my stash as I could.  Weaning myself from buying yarn unless absolutely necessary.  But now I am on a yarn replenishing project with a vengeance.  Yarn makes me feel safe, I know that might sound silly but in all the turbulence of my life right now yarn is making me feel safe, and more in control.  So here is my yarn cabinet full as can be.  There is a basket of cottons and another with a bulky velour type yarn from Lion Brand not seen in this picture and that is it, my complete yarn stash.   A stash that I just might keep adding to.  There is no rule on how much yarn anyone can have and if I calculated this right I have about 20 sweaters to make over the next several years and a few shawls and cowls, oh and one velour type crocheted throw.

And just in time for the holiday's my various Christmas Cactuses are thriving.  You know this is not my favorite time of year or my favorite holiday, yet I only have two more things to purchase and everything to wrap.  I have been pushing myself to get it done, which is not easy with my current work schedule, all of Little Buddy's many complex needs, and my current state of mind.  Still I am calling it a win that my boys and their significant others should be happy with their presents, and Little Buddy with his many surprises.

I miss you all, I really, really do.  I wish you the very best as you travel through this holiday season.