Verb: pootle
poo-t(u)l To move in a leisurely unhurried way,
with no real purpose


Monday 13 October 2014

Ticking off those things on the list ...

Isn't it always pleasing when things that have been on your to do list for some time finally get done ?
It has to be said that none of the things on my list were likely to save the planet or make the National newspapers, but nevertheless they are jobs well done.
 
I have been making a blanket for some time now that has just been rumbling along in the background whenever I have had a bit of time. I'm sure it has taken longer than it should as with puppy Otto stopping all play, crochet on this scale has only been able to take place with me tucked away on my bed, in my room.
 
 
And talking of scale this has to be the biggest blanket I have made so far. Its the same pattern as my super quick blanket but this one has been made to King size measurements and is truly humongous !
 
 
A friend had asked me to make it for her and it has been my first ever paid commission.
I remember Annie from Knitsofacto discussing the pros and cons of this once and as much as I love crocheting the hours away I'm not sure I would do it again.
It puts a completely different slant on things and I have found myself feeling under pressure to get it finished promptly, and that was after much troublesome worry and thought over costings and so on. In the end my friend bought all the wool and we just agreed a price for labour between us.
 
 
 
The best bit, as always, was the border. I love the way this suddenly turns a great big bit of non-descript crochet into a neatly finished blanket.

 
Nothing complicated, just a ruffle made by working three trebles into the back loop of
each stitch, all the way around.
 
 Now that it is done I am very pleased with how it has turned out
and once tied up in a ribbon it was safely delivered to its new owner.
 

 

The other good job done was a spot of extreme chutney making, from 30lbs of apples !
Each time I went out into the garden the apples seemed to be staring at me, quietly reminding me that if I didn't get a wiggle on they'd all end up either pecked away by the birds or bruised and battered as windfalls.
 
 
Fortunately there were two extra pairs of hands to help with the peeling, coring and chopping and 
for an entire day our house was full of the smell of pickling spice and sweet apples. It quietly bubbled away for several hours, getting darker and thicker until it looked well, chutneyish !

 

Lots of jars were filled and I have been made to promise to not give it all away this year.
Last years chutney lasted us exactly one week, over Christmas, and it was only then we realised every single other jar had been dispatched as presents to friends and family.


We managed to let this years batch mature for ooh, at least 2 hours before the first jar was
 opened for a sneaky taste.


 
The other job that had been niggling away at the back of my mind was what I was going to do for the five table arrangements that I had been asked to do for our village Harvest Lunch.
I really wanted to something that incorporated some Autumn leaves
 

 
and my first idea was to use PVA glue to paste some on the outside of jam jars.
That sounds so simple doesn't it ?
But, half an hour later after battling with some very unbendable leaves and lots of very sticky, slimy jam jars I gave up on that idea.
So, moving swiftly on to Plan B ...
 

 
Leaves, a hole punch and some string.


Definitely a whole lot quicker and much less messy,

 
but still suitably autumnal.
 

 
 
Of course, the only problem with coming to the end of a list of jobs is that another one is bound to have already started - but ooh, have I got some exciting things ticking away ....
 
How are all of your to do lists coming along ?
 
 
 

 

44 comments:

  1. Hi Kate As ever your latest blanket looks lovely. I am a list maker and there is something truly satisfying in ticking things off infact I don't just tick them I highlight them too so at the end of the day I can see who good I have been (or not). It's always tricky to know what to charge people when they are friends too.

    Mitzi

    ReplyDelete
  2. The blanket is lovely, I bet that your friend was thrilled! I love all the chutney, i've always wanted to make some but never quite got round to it... and the jam jars look great! x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your blanket is stunning, an heirloom to cherish by your friend, a forever blanket.
    Love the leaves around the jars.
    Helen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Helen, There's just something about a blanket isn't there ? I think that's why I love making them so much,K x

      Delete
  4. Your blanket is beautiful !
    And the stash of apple chutney jars is so pretty, it's almost a shame to open & use them !
    But I do miss a photo of Otto in your blogpost... :-(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw, thank you Ingrid. More Otto photo's will follow soon I promise ! kx

      Delete
  5. You've been a very busy and creative bee Kate!
    The blanket looks beautiful, the curly trim the perfect finishing touch and I'm sure your friend is chuffed to bits - it must have taken you hours.
    The chutney looks good and reminds me that I too have a poor apple tree laden with smallish apples just right for chutney - thanks for the nudge!
    The leafy jars of flowers look very autumnal and pretty!
    Gill xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Gill, good luck with the chutney making ! K x

      Delete
  6. Nothing quite as satisfying as ticking things of a list!
    Gorgeous blanket and your little posy jars and beautiful. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. The blanket looks lovely, no doubt your friend was thrilled. I can't imagine how many hours it took. As usual you've done a beautiful job though. Time to start a new project I think! Lovely jars for the harvest lunch. You are a big asset to your village I think. CJ xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you CJ, I can confirm that a new project has been started ! K x

      Delete
  8. Love those posy jars, I am SO stealing that idea when I get my hands on some dry leaves! At the moment they are drenched as is everything outside!
    Your blanket looks great, I love doing that type of border, so simple yet makes such a difference:)
    Jillxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Go right ahead and steal Jill - just hope the rain stops enough to let those leaves dry out, K x

      Delete
  9. Oh such a lovely post full of beautiful things, Kate! That blanket is simply divine, lucky friend to have that! And the chutney and autumn centrepieces, well, you just know how to make the *best* of the season! Hope you can hang on to a few extra jars of chutney for Christmas week! ;-) Chrissie x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yup, that chutney ain't going nowhere Chrissie ! K x ( well apart for the one for my mum and dad, the one for meg, the one for Fiona ........

      Delete
  10. What strikes me is how well you use your time to create some lovely things. I need to take a leaf out of your book, Kate.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not entirely sure my husband would agree with you ! he'd like more puddings being made I think !! K x

      Delete
  11. Your blanket is lovely as are all your others. I would like to do a ruffley edge on my latest and was wondering how it was done and now I know so thank you! Your chutneys sound delicious and the jars look great in their little mop caps. I love what you did with your table arrangements, simple and beautiful. Have a great week.
    Jane xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You too Jane, and as always, thank you for your lovely words, K x

      Delete
  12. Hi Kate, gee I say it every time I visit your page I Love It! The blankets you make are so dreamy, cozy looking not to mention what the borders do. With all that said, would you mind sharing what kind of yarn you use and is that a single crochet stitch. Oh and how do you decide the borders? Amazing work and lovely blog...thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Pamela, I have written up the pattern for this blanket and you can find it on the left hand side of my blog under Super Quick Blanket. The wool was an inexpensive chunky, so it works up really quickly. Hope this helps, K x

      Delete
  13. I kept my promise and shamelessly pinched your idea, it's at http://emeraldcottage.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/crochet-in-colour.html, if you want to see my (inferior) version :)
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
  14. Nothing like lists to make you feel you've achieved something!! Love your blanket wish I could crochet like that mind if I didn't crochet how I knit I might get a better tension. L Anne x

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Kate, the blanket looks lovely. It is a big job when its for a commission, price always stumps me. Your jars of chutney look great, I like the tops and labels, and the leaves tied around the jars great idea! Now I need to go and tackle my list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a really tricky one isn't it Gail - but we worked it out between us in the end, K x

      Delete
  16. Hi Kate, what a truly beautiful blanket! I love your monocromatic blankets very much. And the border is the most important, of course. I also love working with lists but sometimes I just don't dare writing a list because I know that it would get too long. I just squint my eyes and try to deal with the most important things not thinking about all the other odds and ends that need to be done. Your chutney looks delicious and it reminds me that I have to make apple puree out of our tons of apples patiently waiting in the garden....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Loving the way you 'manage' your lists - sounds like the perfect solution to me !, K x

      Delete
  17. Hi Kate,

    Your blanket is awesome, and I adore the frill! I know exactly what you mean about paid work. I have only made a couple of small things for people that have been paid, and I hated it! As soon as I accepted it, I felt under pressure. I didn't like having to make it to their colours (as there are some colours I just REALLY struggle to work with!) and I found it a complete chore and not a joy. It made me realise I'm not cut out to make and sell! Never again!

    I'm loving your autumnal jars. Such a wonderful idea, and they look so cute!

    Have a fab rest of a week!

    Vanessa xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You just cant beat a frill can you Vanessa ?
      Yes, I think I would really struggle to make something in a colour I didn't like, the colour you're working with is such an important part of how much calming therapy you get whilst you work isn't it ?
      Glad you loved the jars - so easy peasy too !
      Kate x

      Delete
  18. It is indeed lovely to get things done isn't it! It looks as though you have gotten masses done. I don't know how you would begin to work out to charge for one of your beautiful blankets, they are so lovely they must be worth thousands of pounds! (unrealistic I realise!) I love the leaves for your flower vases, such a lovely idea and a great way to use the leaves and bring the touch of autumn in! xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah thank you Amy, you truly do always say the sweetest things. How lovely it would be if crochet was worth that much - we'd never have to work again !! K xx

      Delete
  19. Lovely post Kate...it feels good to get things done doesn't it? The blanket you made is gorgeous, I love the edging and it's always my favourite part of blanket making too, it really turns a blanket into something special I think. I have made a couple of things which people have paid me to do and I really did not enjoy it at all! I like working with colours I like that I have chosen and I don't like to feel rushed with what I'm making....so never again! Love making gifts though!
    Marianne x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love making gifts too Marianne, there's something very special about it isn't there ?
      have a lovely weekend, K x

      Delete
  20. Such a lovely autumnal post, Kate. I love the beautiful blanket you made, and doing it as a commission is certainly a huge undertaking. Your chutney jars look so pretty and festive....a real treat. Love the sweet table decorations too :)
    Happy weekend.
    Helen xox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Helen, have a good weekend too, K x

      Delete
  21. I once made a crocheted cushion as a commission and it was hard work, I felt under huge pressure (my own fault for leaving it until the last minute) and massively undercharged myself. I have vowed to value my work much more highly in future! The blanket is stunning, so understated and the stitches show beautifully. x

    ReplyDelete
  22. I have just stumbled across your blog via pintrest. I love your blankets, especailly the mixed stripped one. I am attempting one myself but yours is just beautiful. I really enjoy Autumnal decorations and your garland id fab. Might have ago at one myself ...if I ever get that blanket finished!!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Oh my this little space has evolved so much, loving what I am seeing. I can't get over that gorgeous blanket, its lush! I bet they were delighted with it, I know I would be! As for jam making again, putting me to shame. Another item that's been on my list, it is my usual christmas present, so I better get cracking on. I am just a little in love with that kitchen of yours, eeesh, I have kitchen envy!! xoxo

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for dropping by - I LOVE receiving your comments and get really excited when I see a new one has been added. I read every single one and try to send a reply whenever I can. ♥