Would you like to see a finished object?
Those of you who’ve been reading here since March 2014 (yes I do recognize you long-termers in the comments) will have seen it already. But as I said in this post seven long years ago, I finished the crochet, but failed to weave in the ends. And I continued not weaving in the ends for a really, really, long time. Slippery cotton takes some restraining, so getting this done was never an appealing prospect. Way back then, my boys were the Toddler Twinnage, and they were messy in ways that resulted in copious laundry. And so, after approximately 0.3 seconds spent draped over a sofa, this blanket needed boil-washing/fumigating/deworming… which couldn’t happen until the ends had been woven in, because otherwise it would just end up clean but completely unraveled.
But… back then I had two small twins with severe reflux (hence the laundry) and I didn’t have much spare energy, so I dumped the blanket in a basket under a chair – just very temporarily, you understand.
And there it stayed for seven years, whilst quite a bit of life happened around it.
Honestly, it reached the stage where I was wary of getting it out because of what horrors might have evolved amongst its folds.
But then a few weeks ago, I was procrastinating about doing something important, which was just the trigger I needed to get the blanket out instead and start weaving in the ends. (Most things that I achieve are done as a means of avoiding doing something else. It’s a great way to get stuff done: just think of something worse that you really ought to be doing instead. Suddenly, cleaning the fluff out from behind the fridge or polishing the cat doesn’t seem so bad, does it?)
In case you’re wondering why I was so averse to the job, this blanket had four thousand ends. And in the unlikely event that you’re in any doubt, four thousand super-slippery Rico Creative Cotton ends a-weaving is not a prospect that I care to repeat any time soon. Many hours were spent, weaving and cutting, weaving and cutting. I found myself in a sort of end-weaving daze. And then one day, as I looked around for the next end to weave, I realized that there wasn’t one. The thing was finished.
So now I’m going to have to stop procrastinating about all the other stuff I need to do.
And yes, I could have trapped the ends as I went along, but I’m mostly a knitter and this was my first proper crochet project, so I was naïve enough to think “Nah, I’ll sort the ends out afterwards – it’s no big deal”.
It’s not been an easy few weeks, by the way. One half of the twinnage tumbled off a low fence and broke his elbow. He coped admirably with the pain, as we sat together in a hospital waiting room staring deep into the spotty pattern on the floor tiles. He’ll be fine – unfortunately he’s had to recover from far worse earlier in his life – but in the meantime, most of his arm is encased in plaster and he currently doesn’t even have to put any effort into thinking up excuses to avoid chores. His brother is being protective and solicitous, which melts my heart.
Remember those ‘Magic Eye’ illusions that were around a few decades ago? I reckon they should print them onto hospital floor tiles, because it’s easier to see them when your eyes are tired, and at 1.00am in an x-ray waiting room, I can assure you that our eyes were VERY TIRED INDEED, and a bit of funky visual distraction wouldn’t have gone amiss.
Whilst I’m on the subject of Magic Eye pictures, twenty-eight years ago I spent three months way across the Atlantic in Canada, demonstrating and selling Magic Eye posters in a Toronto shopping centre. They were a brand new novelty at the time, so I have a lingering sentimental spot for these images. Whilst I’m telling this story, I should mention that the tower-block in which my then-boyfriend and I lived that summer caught fire in the middle of the night. It was scary, but nobody was hurt, thank goodness. But I’m telling you this because we fled down the gazillion-floored fire escape at 5.00am and out into the carpark… where I immediately bumped into a woman I’d been at school with here in the UK until six years previously. And since that night, nothing has seemed like too much of a coincidence to be possible. My Dad – Father Twisted – is wise on the subject of coincidences. He points out that so many potential coincidences in our lives don’t happen, that we really shouldn’t be surprised by the few that do. Conspiracy theorists, please take note…
Anyway. The main reason for the lack of yarny postings around here lately is that I’ve mostly been outdoors, either running or gardening or spying on wildlife. I’m endlessly changing things in the garden to better achieve the twin priorities of food-growing and wildlife-encouragement, and I’ve been reading books about permaculture and forest gardening, which have inspired me to think more vertically in my attempt to grow ALL THE FOOD. There will be pictures, once the big changes that I’ve made start looking pretty.
Of course, all of my activity in the garden is closely supervised by Robinson (son of the irreplaceable Robyn-the-robin). Robinson is perhaps smarter than Robyn in that he gets me to do his bidding without even having to go to the trouble of landing photogenically on my hand. He follows me around, demanding I turn over soil so he can find lunch. The other day, I was bending over shovelling compost when I heard and felt a slight scritching as the cheeky blighter landed on my back to better survey his domain.
And then it got worse. When I dared to stop turning compost, I felt a slight tap on the side of my head as he wing-slapped me. He is an expert flyer and I wasn’t really moving, so this was not an accident. Robinson is trouble. He has a wife and a nest in the ivy that covers our fence, and I’ve already heard the high-pitched chirruping that explains why he demands so very much food, so I reckon I can forgive him. Just about. Predictably the twinnage love him, and they love even more that I’m yet again being bossed about by somebody four inches tall.
Until next time, happy yarnery, my fine fibrous friends.
Phil x
So good to hear from you again, Phil ! That wonderful stained glass crochet rug – your FIRST crochet effort ? Jesus H. Christ ! My first stained glass crochet was about my 8,000th; and yes, I truly understand about fully mercerised cotton’s being a bastard of thing of which to weave in the ends. Very unsure of the preposition there. Sighh ..
Anyway. Sorry indeed to hear about the broken elbow ! – but delighted about the fraternal solicitousness.
Brilliant to learn of all your activity: this means a continuance of good health and I couldn’t be happier ! 😀
Amazed by the purple broccoli.
Robinson is very good-looking !
Much much love from your ancient Aussie fan ..
It’s hard to know where to even begin thanking you for every single word of this, so please accept one overall thank you. And yes, Robinson is very good-looking and my goodness does he know it!
Wot, I’m being filtered ,,? :\
?? Huh?
Comments not showng on the site – to me, anyway ..
Oh no! I’m sorry, and I don’t know why. I can read your lovely long comment.
It resolved, What can I say ? – blogs do strange things de temps en temps.
Love Reading your blog. Sorry to hear about your son’s elbow. Sounds v painful. Weaving in ends go hand in hand with glitter. Spawn of the devil. Looking forward to seeing the garden changes.
Feel free to begin hating me right now, but I actually love glitter. But yeah, weaving in ends is definitely non-fun. And thank you for your kind words about my son’s elbow. He’s on the mend.
So very beautiful.
Thank you.
So very beautiful.
Also thank you.
Stunning!! Thank you for sharing!
And thank you for saying so!
I commend you on finishing your beautiful crochet project. I love the stained glass look and do understand the aversion to weaving in a million ends. Sometimes mind numbing projects are just what the mind needs. Mindful knitting and crocheting are all the rage for the pandemic-weary. But mindfully completing projects should be too. I’m sorry one of the twinage is broken. They’re boys and there will probably be more trips to the ER before they fly the nest. You have flowers in your yard while I still have to wait for more snowflakes and frost to clear out. A few hardy blooms are out and the husband is ready to use his new seed planter but it is just about time to plant seeds indoors. The spring peepers (little noisy frogs that chirp incessantly) have to freeze three times before it is finally spring and I’ve only heard them silent one night so far. (sigh) And I met the grandparents of a former classmate about 1800 miles from home so I do believe in weird coincidences. Thank you for your post I had started anticipating it and you never disappoint.
Teresa from Michigan USA
Thank you Teresa, and may you have many flowers blooming in your garden soon. Your spring peepers sound adorable!
It’s amazing, such vivid colours, just like stained glass. I’ve just finished a stripey jumper for my daughter, with squillions of ends to darn in. Solution to making it bearable: the marvellous Martin Jarvis reading Great Expectations. His redering of the Aged Parent is a thing of wonder ????
Audionovels whilst end-weaving: THAT sounds like an extremely good idea…
Oh, Julie Yeager blanket design. It is stunning, I hate weaving in ends, and sewing parts together. If I can avoid it I do. Robinson is a daredevil! Just like my Robin. She challenges my cats. Which is not a wise thing to do. Cats are dangerous, even if they are fluffy things with flat faces. Robinson makes you provde food for his kids, it could be next year you’ve got a lot more Robingrandsons bossing you around XD The pond looks stunning.
Thank you for all of this! Your robin is a bit too brave, challenging your cats! Hope she lives to tell the tale…
Thank you for your latest post and the beautiful pictures, especially that exquisite blanket. What a wonderful design and magnificent colours! I hope you enjoy using it for many years to come.
Best wishes from your South African Robin ????
Thank you so much, Robin. (You have an excellent name.)
Your finished crochet project is outstandingly stunning, unique and beautiful! You are just amazing!
Thank you. It take rather too long to finish, though!
Stunning I hope you enjoyed crocheting it’s a nice change from knitting. I like to have both to pick up. You have encouraged me to look at my projects that are very old but not forgotten so I will get off my but and decide who’s the winner. Happy digging
Yeah, it’s good to get round to finishing off old projects sometimes. And agreed that it’s good to alternate knitting and crochet.
We moved at the beginning of the month. We’re functioning-sorted. There are still plenty of BOXES which could (probably should) be unpacked, but now is the time for sowing seeds to plant out in the GARDEN. I have a GARDEN!
After. Nearly. Forty. Years. Making do with a concreted north-east facing Very Shaded back yard – where I still managed to grow a lot of stuff, most of which we moved here because there wasn’t that much here – apart from a couple of plum trees and feral garlic, & our buyer definitely isn’t a gardener, yet!
Meanwhile all the south-facing windowsills are full of seed trays, many of which are full of seedlings – and frosts continue here until first-second week of May! Ah well, there are cloches, & if I unpack a few more BOXES I may find my horticultural fleece. Or my ‘for quilting’ fleece, which might do at a pinch!
I too loathe darning in ends, even wool. The blanket looks magnificent, but mercerised cotton ends? No thank you! Too much to do in the GARDEN!
Do hope the broken twin mends soon, & glad to read you’re up and running again, so to speak.
Oh yes, you have totally got your priorities sorted. Your brand new shiny garden needs ALL THE SEEDS! May it bring you endless joy for years and years to come.
What a great, full, lovely post. Crochet, yarn, gardening, family health, Robinson – all quite tbreathless! I caught my breath though when you nonchalantly wrote: ‘….and this was my first proper crochet project’….,that amazingly wonderful rose window throw, a first project. Respect.
It’s a very well-written pattern, so it was fine for a then-novice like me to follow. And thank you for your praise.
That blanket could almost convert me from knitting to crochet, but only almost.
So happy to see spring through your eyes. Here we don’t get a real change in seasons like that , just a gentle softening of the early morning sun, and a welcome cool first thing. And then next week it will be cold enough for a sweater, and the week after will be a fire.
Pleased to see the pond and Robinson, sorry for your son and his pain.
Enjoy the outdoors!
I love to see the seasons as others experience them around the world. It’s endlessly fascinating. Enjoy your gently cooling days.
Yay! You did finish!!! I thought we had all talked you into the twinage helping you weave the ends when they turned about 5? ???? I also love that you allow yourself to have such a tiny but mighty boss.
Haha! Sadly the twinnage aren’t especially biddable when it comes to that sort of thing. Or indeed ever…
Your posts both inspire me and make me laugh out loud! Thanks for that.
And thank you for saying so. You’re very kind.
Hello! I love the strong bright colours in the rug. I sympathise with trying to get enough motivation to weave in the ends. Ugh. Well done for doing them all!
Son of Robyn is very brave. But I do think it’s sweet how he has you under surveillance!
I smirked widely at the idea of polishing the cat! Ha ha ha.
Love all the pix. So glad you are keeping well. Thanks. X
Son of Robyn is even more fearless than his mother. *sigh* He really is going to be trouble. And may your cat always be well-polished.
I credible crochet blanket. Even more incredible that you wove in the ends. I always love your projects and I love the twinnage stories as I also had twins and know how hard it is to get fun stuff done when they are little. Stay well and COVID free
Thank you. And YAY to a fellow twin-mum! (You stay safe and well, too.)
Good evening Phil – a lovely read – I wonder if you tried the big plastic needle for weaving in ends ? As for Robinson – word has definitely got around in the bird world – go to Phil’s house – she’s a real soft touch – bed, breakfast and evening meal, with snacks in between xx
I haven’t tried it yet, but am planning to buy one. And yes, the bird world has definitely figured out where the sucker lives in this village. *sigh*
Love all the news, love the collection of ends, and especially love Robinson and his most cheeky ways! He apparantley missed his Mama’s lesson on being genteel! So glad to hear you’re running, continue to take good care and thank you for another delightful peek into Life With the Twisteds!
Heather in Vancouver, BC
Thank you as always, Heather! Robinson has more attitude than you would believe, but I think his mother (may she rest in peace) would be secretly proud.
Oh how I love you posts…they make my day. Your crochet is beautiful, well done with all that weaving of ends too!!. A very happy daddy robin there I should imagine not having to work much for his food ;)x
Ha, yes: Robinson has got it made!
Oooo that is a beautiful crochet throw… so bright and cheerful. I have unfinished projects in a box, with instructions so my daughter can finish them (or my granddaughters) when I die.
Thank you. And I LIKE your thinking regarding intergenerational project-completion…
your blanket is quite lovely! what a gift to yourself from your seven-years-ago self! covering in the ends of yarn is my favorite thing about crochet. and thanks for the magic eye pic – i used to buy the books, but could never see the images. still can’t, even while i’m quite tired right now *sigh*
Some people can never see them, apparently. I guess we’re all wired differently.
Thanks for the post…made my day!!
You’re very kind for saying so!
Crochet blanket!! It is beautiful!!
The one I love the most!
I remember the pics of your cathedral rose …
Dotting the internet images amongst others…
Instantly I liked it, the vibrant colours used!!
Motivated enough, I started making my own….
Loved your post..
Take care Phil!!
Thank you so much! So how is yours going?
I love your rug. I don’t crochet and I knit sand as I knit I weave my ends because I simply want the project finished so I can commiserate with all those ends so intimidating. But I love your bird story, they are so smart and papa bird knows your are helping him. During our big drought, we left treats out for the deer. Poor things were suffering. They really became my husband’s friends. He waved and they came even bringing their tiny new babies. Now every summer they come for treats. We never see them during the winter because now there’s lots of food.
Cheers be safe
Thanks for telling us your story.
Sue
Oh, that’s adorable how your husband helped the deer. It’s heart-melting when wild creatures learn to trust us.
I love this throw, and am going to have a go at it. But, I wanted to say how much you made me laugh with your description of your twins. I didn’t have twins, but I did have one who was hyperactive, severe reflux ( the whole house was covered in Bicarbonate of soda to get rid of the smell), intollerances to most substances known to man (deviation from strict diet resulted in projectile vomiting), and eczema, which meant he was always covered in cream which got all over everything and made grotty stuff stick to it. I am happy to say he has grown out of all of that, and is now a 6’3″ treasure.
Very glad that you’re well past the bodily-fluids-everywhere stage of parenting!
dear phil,
as i mentioned once before, i really love the crocheted stained glass rose window on the side of the blog… so i was just tickled to see it take center stage, and that you have now finished it.
i’m still hoping that one day you will make a knit version of it, or at least make a color chart so that i can attempt to knit it.
robinson is so cute and persistent … and you are so kind to tolerate him and make sure he and his family are fed.
and, you’re running again, which i assume means your are recovering well from your earlier surgery.
please stay well!
best regards always,
daisy in maine 🙂
Thank you so much. It hadn’t occurred to me to make a knitted version, but now you’ve got me thinking…
What a lovely post to read on a Monday morning. Thank you!
And thank you for saying so! I hope your week went well.
Hello, I quite understand how you can put aside your crochet. I have a cardigan that needs constructing and finishing, after seeing that you have finished your blanket I shall endeavour to put it all together. Wishing you and yours well. Salliann ????
I hope you do! These things are rarely as bad as we imagine, once we get on with them. Hope your cardigan turns out absolutely perfectly.
Congratulations on finishing your blanket! It is stunning and to have achieved all that end weaving is admirable! Lovely post to read but very sorry about your son’s elbow! Hope it mends well and soon x
Thank you! Elbow is very nearly mended. At least they recover quickly at that age.
“Most things that I achieve are done as a means of avoiding doing something else.”
Same here! I feel an irrepressible desire of thoroughly cleaning the bathroom only when I’m late for work (the rest of the time I’m perfectly glad to leave it as it is).
The blanket is really stunning! What a fantastic piece of work! Glad you found a way of finishing it. Didn’t deserve to spend its whole life in a basket.
Poor half-twinnage. Hope he gets better soon.
Lots of hugs.
Yay, a fellow procrastinator! And thank you for your kind words about the blanket.
Yay, Phil, you finished weaving in the ends on your beautiful blanket. Healing energy for your son and his poorly elbow and sparkly energy wishes for your gardening plans. <3 to you all and to Robinson. Xx
Thank you! Well your healing energy must have worked because my son successfully removed his cast last night and is doing fine. 🙂
That is good news, Phil. Happy Easter to you all. Xx
Thank you. And a happy Easter to you, too.
The carpet is absolutely wonderfull ❤️
Thank you.
Is it 28 years since the Magic Eye pictures were around! how time flies. Always loved that stained glass window blanket; think it was part of the reason I decided to start following you. Glad you can now use it again.
Thank you, fellow rainbow-lover! And yeah, I can’t quite believe it’s that long since ME pics appeared, but it’s true.
Wow, very well done for finishing all those gazillion ends – but oh my goodness it was worth it because that stained glass blanket is AMAZING!
Your garden is also a thing of great beauty, I can see why Robinson likes hanging out there.
Hope to see you soon! x
Aww, thank you! The garden is on its way. I’m making so many changes, and it’s going to be awesome (I hope). And yes, would love to see you very soon!
thank you for your post
. wonderful crochet!!!!
And thank you for saying so! 🙂
Your husband may be right about the coincidence thing. New neighbors a block away recently moved from their small town in California. Just before they left, the husband was at a workout gym. The woman at the next locker told him that she had just moved from (a city far away) and he said, “Oh, that’s where we are moving to.” “What part of the city?” NE. “What street?” He told her. More intensely she asked “What address?” And then she said, “That is the house we just sold!”
Oh my goodness, that’s absolutely crazy!!! I love mad coincidences like that.
Great stuff. So what is the pattern please?
It’s this one: https://www.anniescatalog.com/detail.html?prod_id=21741
Congratulations on weaving in all those ends. I am about 2/3rd through crocheting a king size blanket. Every two rows is another color. Some days I feel like I have more ends than blanket. It’s definitely going to take a lot longer weaving them in than crocheting the blanket. But I have hope now. If you can do it, so can I. Love your bird photos!
Oh I feel your pain, I really do. Keep going. You can do this. Think of how fabulous it’ll look when it’s done.
What a fun post. You have been busy. I hope the twinner is on the mend. Your throw is stunning! Were you serious about the number of ends you wove in? Even a fraction of that would numb my brain. How are you feeling otherwise?
Yup, I was deadly serious about the number of ends. It was a bit ridiculous, and I shan’t be making another one. It was a good late-evening brain-dead occupation, though. I’m doing OK, thanks, but sluggish because of the hormone treatment they’ve got me on. Going back to work has been HARD. Happy Easter, anyway!
My goodness, that crochet is a piece of art! The colors are amazing! Sorry about the elbow boo-boo, part of growing up for kiddos. So Robinson is taking after mum but in a more physical method to catch your attention. He has a family to feed after all. You may have generations of Robinsons to pester you. Let’s hope!
You are a much nicer mum than mine was. When she came back from a meeting to find I’d broken my elbow, she refused to take me to A&E as it was about 9pm and I had to wait til mid morning (bitter – moi… It’s nearly 50 years ago and I still feel peeved).
Is one of your boys more prone to injuries than the other? Chris was on first name terms with most of the staff at A&E, but his twin Matt not so much.
And the blanket is just amazing! I deeply sympathise with the ends, my big blanket had over 6800 of them, but they were 4ply wool so not too bad and I mostly kept up with them, otherwise it still wouldn’t be finished.
LOVE the bright glorious colors of your newly completed blanket. It is a wonder!
I’ve been using pandemic time to work on reducing my stash. So far, two sweaters have emerged from yarns bought [mumble mumble mumble] years ago. I’m about 2/3 the way through another, and just bought the pattern for yet another bag of yarn.
May the twinage bones knit quickly and painlessly! I share their amusement at the thought of being bossed by a 4” bird, while fully acknowledging that I am my cat’s personal servant. (Fortunately, he is self-polishing!)
Goodness but I love you and your lovely posts! And I would love it if you could, someday, gather these Robyn and Robinson posts, and others in a little book. Of course by then it may be a big book. I’d buy it.
I enjoyed your story about the crochet rug, because I have so many unfinished ends on a lot of different projects. That said, I do not thing I would ever have the patience to weave in four thousand ends. Very admirable and a beautiful finished project that looks like it was worth it.
I haven’t dropped by for ages, but am glad I did today! Loved your post on knitting while walking and that led to this one . . . Like you, I’ll do one thing so I can avoid another . . . you made me laugh . . .
And if that was your first crochet project, hats off to you! I started very young and am still doing all sorts of hand-work. I do work over my ends as I go; I’d never go back and finish, good intentions or not. You can be extremely proud of that one and finishing it . . .
Hope you boy is well soon. I had two who were extremely active, but rarely got hurt, so we were lucky. But the younger was in the ER (A&E) for stitches on many occasions. Ended up being a pro skateboarder (but maybe you don’t want to know that . . . )
Anyway, I’ll be back soon catching up with all I’ve missed. Thanks again, Phil. ~ Linne