mishaps

Nothing makes you feel like a bad parent than going out to your garden and finding that, due to your neglect, half of your tomato plant is now upside-down! In my defense, I was sick for one of the days that I didn't water, but even post-watering, the plant has not seemed to perk up. I already think it's infested with a disease that will eventually kill it, so it's not like it was in optimal condition and then my neglect caused it to go downhill overnight, but still.

In other news, I started to make a little crochet animal from The Happy Hooker, from a pattern by Camilla Engman. Somehow, it seemed like a good idea to start this one around midnight last night. It went a little something like this:

1. Start circle for body out of boucle yarn. Find it impossible to tell which are boucle loops and which are crochet loops. Swear. Attempt to tear out the work that you have done. Find that impossible.

2. Repeat step one.

3. Move on to regular wool, one-ply yarn. Find it difficult to slip stitch into only the back loop of the chain. Check directions to make sure that it's really supposed to be a slip stitch and not a single crochet. Decide that the crochet hook you are using isn't pointy enough on the top. Attempt to tear out the work that you have done. Find that impossible because the wool has started to felt to itself. Swear.

4. Change crochet hooks. It's still difficult. Remember how when you first started to crochet, you automatically only crocheted into the back loop because no one told you better. Lament that this process is no longer natural to you. Recheck the directions to make sure it's a slip stitch and not a single crochet.

5. Finally get the hang of it, using a G crochet hook, the smallest one that you have that isn't for crocheting lace. Realize that once there are less increases on the round, the fabric is more stable and easier to crochet into. Finish about 2/3 of the body. Think that it might be a little small. Start to get sleepy.

6. Right before going to bed, notice that the instructions start off with, "With the larger hook," whereas you are using the smaller hook. Go to bed in dispair.

7. The next morning, restart the process.



I still think the body looks a little small. I'm not sure how this guy is going to make it to be 12 inches tall, unless that measurement counts the legs too.