So much has happened since I last blogged. I finally managed to finish those socks, they've been worn, coloured Ivan's big toe green :) and washed beautifully.
I've just cast on for a jumper for my brother ... it has caused me so much trouble to get the tension right. My tension square on the recommended needle size came out too many stitches to 4 inches, so I increased the needle size, re tensioned, and cast on. About 15 rows in I thought this is looking massive. So I measured it and instead of being 21-22 inches as it should have been, it was 28 inches !!!! It would fit me, not my sparrow chested brother. So I tried and tried again, changing needle size and finally changing chest size. Eventually I got the right combination but it was a struggle. I'm knitting it in Sirdar Click DK, shade Flinty. Lovely shade of grey. My brother is very conservative in his taste and will not wear bright colours. The jumper was in Yarn Foward before it became Knit, and features a lovely complicated cable front and back with stocking stitch sleeves. I'm not getting bored on this one.
STILL got Spriteling sitting on the table, she's been pushed back a bit because she is for me and so everything else takes over. Also I'm slowly working through my Jane Crowfoot crocheted Art Deco throw. Must get that finished as I have also signed on for her 2012 throw as well. Glutton for punishment I am.
I've also been getting into papercrafting, specifically cards and scrapbooking. I've bought myself a Bigshot die cutter and loads of embellishments and card and stuff and I have made every family card since. Loving it and I'm taking a workshop in Christmas Cards next Tuesday so hoping to get some great ideas for them.
We have finally got Alex sorted. He has been statemented and the statement said that he needed to be in a special school, so he transferred to Harbour School in Dover, for children with emotional and behavioural problems. He started this Monday and has loved it. We are seeing a change in him already as the school focuses on hands on doing things, more so than sitting listening or writing things down, which annoys Alex as he cannot see the point of doing it. The school has a wonderful reward system. Each child is monitored over the week and if they have been very good they get £3 that is put into a bank for them. At the end of the term their money is counted up and they are then given the option of going on a trip with it, or buying something from the Argos catalogue. I wondered why Alex insisted on taking the Argos catalogue to bed the other evening and looking through the toy section - now I know. Unfortunately his first week has been marred by a bout of the runs which had him sent home on Thursday with instructions not to come back until Monday. But his teacher has reassured him that he will be judged on a four day week as it wasn't his fault that he was poorly. Funnily enough he has been perfectly fine today.
He is also having Play Therapy sessions once a week. The Therapist told us that these sessions reopen the neural networks to the underdeveloped part of the brain that is characteristic of Aspergers, and although it doesn't cure it, it does allow the child to formulate ways to control themselves. Alex loves it. And the funding for it was donated by local charities, all £700 of it. So we are doing well now. It really pays to keep on their cases.
I'm just coming to the end of my first Open University design module, and at the beginning of October I have a ten week web design module starting. Then from February next year, I have two 60 point courses starting at the same time - challenging and exciting.
