I seem to have neglected you for the last week. I didn’t realise it has been seven whole days but I have been assembling the Demelza blanket and crocheting the border and things are taking their own sweet time.

I do have a photo of the blanket, taken after I joined everything together but before I started on the border. As of tonight, I only have one round left to do, plus a bit of end weaving, before I can show you a Finished Object. Soon, I promise.

You can see where I deviated from the standard pattern (the 16 small squares that are all different). And of course my colour scheme is quite different from the original pattern.

I have been burning the candle at both ends somewhat as I have been excited to finish this project and move on to the next one. What with this project plus The Good Wife on Netflix, I have been going to bed late, and rather reluctantly.

The fabric store where I work had a staff appreciation night tonight. They bring in food (Chinese, this time, and I didn’t eat any as I wasn’t sure if any of it was vegan) and you get to browse the store while it’s closed and buy stuff with a special discount (though sometimes the current sale is just as good, or better than, the discount).

I had a short list of things I wanted, such as some knit fabric to make simple drapey vests, some non-slip slipper sole fabric for future crocheted slippers, some felt for my wood dining table for when we play Mexican Train dominoes or cards. However I also picked up some extra sewing machine needles and a couple of spools of thread, which I can always use. And these…

Pom pom trim for a future crocheted blanket

Some ‘Knit Klips’ which will hold pieces of crochet together for seaming (I really could have done with these a few days ago)!

A pom pom maker (had my eye on one of these for a while)

And I know you’d be disappointed if I said I wasn’t lured in by the yarn. I have used this before and it is nice and soft. No definite plan for it yet, but the colours co-ordinate with the ones I already have.

Here are all the skeins together…

Cornsilk, Pewter, Black, Hot Pink, Boysenberry, Blue Hawaii and Mallard.

Each of these Red Heart With Love skeins weighs 7oz (about 200 grams) so that’s a lot of yardage. I believe the term for this type of shopping is SEX – Stash Enhancement Expedition!!

I have my third piano lesson tomorrow  morning. I can play a simple tune with both hands now, and we are learning all about chords and ‘forte’ and ‘piano’ and middle C and all that. It is nice to be finally learning how to play an instrument that I’ve wanted to play for years. Funny how we put off these things. Thanks to Tai Chi Man giving me the push to do it (birthday present) I am on my way. And thanks to my awesome friend Joan from whom we got the piano.

I’m hoping that my next post starts with the heading FO: Demelza. In the meantime, have a great week.