As we have been talking about crochet blankets recently I suddenly remembered a blanket, knitted many moons ago by myself and my mother. It has been at the back of the wardrobe and forgotten about. It was made when Lucy was a baby (14 years ago...14!!) and I got the pattern from a children's knitting book. Alas, I don't remember it's title and I have only found half of the pattern! Don't ask me why there's only half.
Each large square is made up of 4 smaller squares which are knitted in garter stitch (plain) throughout. The magic is that by increasing twice in the middle of every alternate row, the pattern 'bends' in the middle. We used cotton yarn and changed colour every 4th row - I think! Gosh, it was along time ago. I know that before you start on your second colour you should have 12 stitches but don't remember how many to cast on!
I'm a great help aren't I?! Sorry. News on my mother is good. She is still in hospital, in great pain but I think improving. I say think as I am unable to talk to her for long as the telephone by her bed costs 50p per minute. I also am not able to visit her yet as we have a German exchange student staying with us, and I feel I should be here with her. She is lovely. Lucy stayed with her last year. It is now our turn to host but I have found the experience stressful. I have never had a total stranger stay in our home before and it has really made me examine our home and family life. Our home is so small and I have felt very conscious of this (and our shower-less bathroom with it's green suite. Ugh). All these questions have been going through my mind - do we watch too much TV? have I got too many floral things? Is our food healthy enough? Is our only car too old and in need of a good clean inside and out?Are 2 long-haired cats too many? Are we friendly enough without bombarding the poor child with questions spoken in a slow and pronounced way? Do I sleep too long in the mornings? Do I love Chris Martin too much (well, I think that everyday regardless!!) and should I take down my little shrine to him on the fridge door? Does my enormous pile of magazines look bizarre? Does she hate my scented oils that I burn on the light bulbs? Do I drink too much tea? Where should we take her?
The poor girl went out last night with Lucy and her friends to Pizza Hut only to walk out and bump into a stag night with one of the men noisily vomiting all over the street. Yobbish English culture at it's worst. I felt so ashamed and this was only at 7.15 pm..I sort of feel I have to show all of England at it's best and that is a large burden to carry on a Friday night in Torquay, I tell you!
As you can see, I worry! I know that none of what I'm fretting about is important but it is an interesting experience looking at your life through a stranger's eyes. And yes, maybe it's a good thing and I had better go and make a start on those magazines..