My mum is currently in hospital having had an operation. When she comes out, she needs someone to be with her and had asked me if I would oblige. In theory she could have been released as early as yesterday, so I was prepared to set off in the afternoon to be at the house by early evening (it takes a couple of hours to get over there). I called the hospital in the morning and was told that she probably wouldn’t be released; this was confirmed in the afternoon. So, I’m still at home. Will she be released today? That remains to be seen… I need to phone again soon.
Preparing to make borders
The upshot of all this is that I just haven’t been able to settle down to do anything… there is paid work to be done, but I can’t concentrate on that at the moment. There are diploma designs to work on, but my mind keeps wandering. So the answer seems to be crochet and an audio book. The arrival of the New Lanark wool for the masterpiece borders means that I have lots to do.
The squares are all supposed to be about 15cm (6 inches), but some are a bit bigger and some a bit smaller, so I need to ensure that each border makes the squares a standard size. To that end, I have made myself a cardboard template, so that I have something to aim at and I don’t have to keep getting a ruler out.
Squares with borders
I can place the squares on the template and ease them into the right shape, quickly getting an idea of how much edge I need. Of course, the stretchiness of knitted and crochet work does give me a bit of leeway, but it will be good to have squares that are close to a standard size.
I’ve just read the latest post from Katrina at Crochet Crush in which she talks about making crochet flowers in spare moments whilst waiting to collect her eldest from school. So what do you do when you have spare minutes or, like me, unsettled hours to fill?
The Snail of Happiness 
katechiconi
/ February 1, 2014Husband of Chiconia typing (and spelling) here… Kate’s hands are occupied with the quilting and she is dictating… she wishes your Mum a speedy recovery and says when she has idle time and can’t settle, she sews hexagons… J
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 1, 2014Hello there Kata and H-o-C… mum staying in for the time being… more waiting. I could knit hexipuffs.
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katechiconi
/ February 1, 2014Good plan!
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Karen B
/ February 1, 2014The trouble is with any creative tasks that you need to have an untroubled mind and time to do them. You must be anxious about your Mum too and then you just cant settle to anything. I do hope the waiting game is over soon, K
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 1, 2014Just heard she’ll be in at least another night so at least I know I have one more night at home… I’ll have done borders on all the squares at this rate!
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highbankcottage
/ February 1, 2014Stolen seconds are for G&T ๐
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 1, 2014Perhaps after I’ve driven over!
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katechiconi
/ February 1, 2014BTW, beautiful colour you’ve chosen in the New Lanark wool for making the borders.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 1, 2014Thank you… I had to be really strict with myself not to buy black!
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Nice piece of work
/ February 1, 2014Hope your mom is okay, I guess you’ll be going over there tomorrow at this rate. In-between-other-things or waiting for the sushi to arrive or being a passenger in the car = crochet time. Flowers are good, so are squares, anything that you don’t have to refer to a pattern for.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 1, 2014Yes, I think lack of a pattern to follow is the key – I can’t get on with the knitted hoody because I’m shaping the arm holes and I just know I’ll make a mistake if I try to do that now. Latest news is that my mum is in until at least tomorrow, although I’m still finding concentration hard.
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nerdinthebrain
/ February 1, 2014I hope everything goes well with your mom! I usually work on boring knitting projects when I just have to fill up small spaces of time…if it’s something boring, I don’t have to worry about forgetting what I was doing if I have to put the work down at a moment’s notice. ๐
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 1, 2014So true… hexipuffs are good because they are so small and repetitive.
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slfinnell
/ February 1, 2014While at auction last summer, I worked on yo yos. Made around 500 or so. They are still waiting for auction time to return but they are somewhat mindless objects to work on. Uses up lots of scraps too ๐
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 1, 2014Wow – 500 yoyos! I hope they sell ๐
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slfinnell
/ February 1, 2014Best wishes on your mother’s recover as well
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 1, 2014Thank you!
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davidprosser
/ February 1, 2014The bordered squares look really rich. I hope you soon a have a decision about your Mum, hanging about can’t be fun for either of you. Spare minutes-I grab a book, unsettled hours- I do emails so they don’t build up too much.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 1, 2014I’m enjoying the way the squares are coming on and glad that I didn’t go for a black border.
Currently listening to lots of Terry Pratchett to stop me fretting… the audio books read by Stephen Briggs are brilliant (and unabridged).
Hope you haven’t been too storm-battered today… the wind is getting up here. I wonder how the prom in Aberystwyth is doing!
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wscottling
/ February 1, 2014Squares are good for waiting. I hope things go well with your Mom, but I’m like you, I hate waiting. Esp when I don’t know how long I’ll be waiting.
You’ve inspired me to try a pieced work. Not nearly as intricate as your project, but something pieced because I’ve never actually finished one before… They usually end up in the Box of Shame, but I’ll finish this one! ๐
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 1, 2014I’m trying to empty my box of shame… maybe I’ll do a bit of frogging whilst I’m waiting!
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wscottling
/ February 2, 2014Frogging is a good way to get out your frustrations too.
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shapeofthingstoni
/ February 1, 2014Back home weeding was my nervous-waiting activity of choice. Baking is good too. In fact I’m off to make a batch of quinoa and seed cookies now while I wait for an unpleasant task to arrive at my door.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 1, 2014Oh dear… hope your unpleasantness passes quickly. I did make some brownies the other day…
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Nanette
/ February 1, 2014Beautiful rich colour you’ve chosen for the borders. I’m even more worried about my square now when I see all your lovely colours together, maybe I’ll make 2?? Long waits I have a box of little paper pieced houses I work on, short ones, a book and a cuppa. I hope all goes well with your mum and the wait’s not too long for both of you.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 1, 2014Oh, don’t worry about your square… there is a whole mix of designs and colours. My lovely friend Nia knitted in a dark sage green and the pattern is all in the stitches (https://thesnailofhappiness.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/imgp2154-e1391166322628.jpg). The blanket will have all sorts of contrasting squares!
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Nanette
/ February 2, 2014Ok, no more worrying, my square will fit in well with your friend Nia’s ๐
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 2, 2014See… I told you! ๐
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Crochet Crush
/ February 2, 2014Wishing your Mum a speedy recovery and back to full health as soon as possible. xx
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 2, 2014Thank you… still in hospital… need to phone again to find out what’s happening today
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gentlestitches
/ February 2, 2014I personally don’t leave the house without taking something to work on if the time permits.
I notice Miss Marple from Agatha Christie fame always seemed to have a “little something” to work on at the bottom of her handbag. I do hope your Mother gets better soon.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 2, 2014He he… I do feel a bit like Miss Marple sometimes, although she tends to use more subtle colours than me!
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Moke
/ February 2, 2014I love your humour and positive crocheting! I hope all goes well with your mum and for you too. All the best wishes, Moke.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 5, 2014Thank you – I have now caught a cold, so don’t want to infect my mum and am at home… the crochet continues!
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The Twisted Yarn
/ February 3, 2014I hope your mum recovers quickly. Meanwhile your crochet continues to be stunningly beautiful.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 5, 2014She is improving… but I’ve got a cold now ๐ฆ
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claidig
/ February 5, 2014Sorry to hear about your Mum!
Currently, it’s youtubing Dr Phil and knitting quilt patches to avoid doing any work (but shh, don’t tell my tutor). I’d feel bad if it wasn’t for the fact my blanket is edging closer to being finished, while emptying my brain of thought ๐
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 5, 2014At least you will have a blanket in the end… and I promise not to let on to your tutor ๐
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andelieya ๅฎๅพทๆด้ (official)
/ February 6, 2014Hope all goes well with your mom and that she will be better soon! A few weeks ago I promised you a square. It is nearing completion and will be ready to be mailed off to you in another day or two. Please send me the address to which I should send it. Thanks! All the best to you and your mom!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 6, 2014I’ve sent you an e-mail with my address… thanks for the good wishes for my mum – she’s out of hospital finally now (having stayed for a week rather than a single night as suggested originally), but I have a cold, so I can’t be with her.
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