February vexations

My children and I had the influenza. It caught us out of nowhere. We were all
knocked out for 5 days with high temperatures, headaches, cough and pain in the limbs. Now the fever has gone but we are TIRED, having pudding instead of muscles around our bones. 

It is difficult to manage the daily chores, even having a shower requires lots of energy. But it will get better and J is our hero, he stayed okay and brought us tea and medicine and everything that was required. For several days I couldn't even crochet, my head was to heavy. But then I started again, choosing thick felting yarn out of my stock (hooray!) to make another hot water bottle cover because my old felted one had a hole.  

 Do you remember my first hottie? 

I made it for my mum as a birthday gift. The yarn I used was pure cotton yarn and this time I wanted to use pure wool.

So I chose an undyed yarn and with hooking needle 8 I had crocheted the body in no time. The head is a ripple pattern and it is really chunky. There is just no possibility to touch the rubber of the hottie accidentally!

 I love my lovely hottie!

  In this picture I wear a pair of wrist warmers I crocheted a few weeks ago. I do like this winter accessory a lot because my arms are too long for ordinary women's clothes. Most shirts and coats are made for women with shorter arms and I always feel cold around the wrists. Wrist warmers are just the accessory for me! Want to have a closer look at these ones?

As I look at this picture I realise that both items have a cross stitch on their front. Yes, I do like cross stitch on crocheted items a lot at the moment. Though I do not like to cross stitch though. But the effect is always very nice that why I pull myself together.

I will finish this post now. I am exhausted and my hottie is waiting for me on the sofa. 

Don't come near the influenza virus! It's no fun, not at all. But if it already hit you as well, take your hottie and join me on the sofa. 

Hooray! Something cosy, snuggly and warm is finally finished!

Hello everyone! 
In one of my last posts I showed you a picture of a small project I started some time ago. A small project relating to autumn and winter, something I am in very need when it is getting cold. Something that is almost essential for me to be able to get a good sleep. Something for my cold feet...

An old-fashioned hot water bottle cover! 

When I was blog surfing a while ago I came across the really lovely blog of Kate called 'Foxs Lane'. A few weeks ago she started a crochet along with this hottie pattern and I just couldn't resist trying it immediately. I love hooties because I just can't fall asleep when my feet are frozen.

So I took my everyday cotton yarn Lang Quattro and chose all the blue colours I could find in my stash.

Then I started making some simple granny squares choosing the colours randomly.

 I do love this colour combination very much. It reminds me of summer holidays, blue ocean, warm weather, endless beaches and a cool breathe that strokes your heated skin. When I cuddled on my sofa slowly crocheting these simple grannies, memories of golden summer holidays evoked in my mind. Crocheting is such a soothing occupation...

This afternoon I weaved in a few ends, enjoying a fine cup of tea and my finished hottie. I love, love, love it!

When I finished all ends I immediately felt the urge to fill the bottle with hot water though I didn't have the time to cuddle on the sofa. I had to fetch my son from school and bring my daughter to her gym lessons. Nevertheless I put the hottie on the sofa, it is now lying there in the arms of 'Frieda', my favourite cushion on the sofa (originally it's been a breastfeeding pillow). The hottie is patiently waiting for me, I will enjoy its warmth and cosiness this evening when sitting on the sofa, trying to finish the next project patiently waiting in my crocheting basket.  

I wonder if the cotton yarn was the right choice for it or if I should have chosen some snugly wool, merino wool for example. Has anyone any experience with crocheted hotties? Anyway, I will give my cotton hottie a try and if it is not as cosy as I had thought, maybe I'll just make another one from wool. This really is a nice little project, something you can just start while doing other things. Perfect! I am very, very happy! 

I hope that you will also have a comfortable, cosy and heartwarming evening. See you soon. I haven't forgotten my post about our trip to Yorkshire. I will write it soon!
Hugs, Viola