planning for tomorrow

i just don't know how some people do it ..... ALL this planning!!!  we are going to see rachael this weekend, and while i can't wait for that time with her at school, my mind is spinning over the car ride ... that's 4 hours going AND 4 hours coming back home ....  to just sit and KNIT!!!!!  so ... what projects do i take .... do i finish a few scarves that are lingering in my basket, do i take the plunge and start on some Christmas gifts, i need to finish the baby sweater for bo's sweet friends phil and rachel, i'm in the midst of a prayer shawl .... so much time ... even more yarn ... WHAT TO DO!!!!

clearly, planning is not my forte ... dreaming, yes!  planning, not so much!  i have all the books filled with patterns .... and even plenty of yarn to start most things .... but anticipating that much time on my hands almost has me frozen ... stuck .. and not being prepared scares me even more!  What a quandry ... what a GIRL!

i really have no reason to panic .. the best part of where rachael's in school is that there's a hobby lobby literally one mile down the road ... which means all the yarn i could possibly need to get me through this time .... but it's just that nagging feeling of  'what if ' ... and if i don't pack adequately i'm left with the regrets of all the 'why nots' and 'what were you thinking' that linger and magnify my weakness.

perhaps this is why the Lord reminds me time and again to take care of TODAY .... not worry about tomorrow [because i have no contol on that] .. and no need to lament about what i missed or messed up yesterday - it's done and over with - and He's forgiven me! it's all about TODAY .... living moment by moment, stitch by stitch, with Him. There's an entire yarn shop full of adventures packed into TODAY .. and i don't want to miss any of Life's lessons that He is knitting into who i am.  Matthew 6:33-34 puts it like this:  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own!

Today needs to be a "still waters" kind of day ... simply grazing/knitting in the green pastures where He leads me .... and i'll soon find my soul restored ... and the knitting bag of my life abundantly filled and satisfied.

with You in mind . . .

There is nothing in the world that feels like "that" moment when you've completed a knitted 'treasure' ... and are ready to make the presentation to it's designated receiver.  In fact, there are times when i know that i'm more excited about the giving and sharing side of things than anything else.

think about it .... you take your time to find the perfect yarn in the perfect color that compliments the perfect pattern that conveys the perfect sentiment for that perfect occasion ..... THEN  you sit and knit and dwell on the recipient, you sit and knit and dwell on the reason for knitting at this particular time, you even sit and knit and dwell on the response once you share what you've created.

anyone could run to the mall and grab something off a rack, wrap it up and call it a day.  but knitting has become such a personal investment for me ... it's an extension of my very heart when i share something with you .... it's a gift that has consumed my time and attention by choice as i, in some small and tangible way, try to express the love/appreciation/prayers i share with and for you.

however, one of the hardest ... and humblest .... lessons i have learned is not to judge how ... or even IF ... the gift is used.  one of my favorite[NOT] comments came when i knit a sweater and mailed it ... and was then asked "did you mean for the sleeves to be that tight' ?  [YES!  I was hoping to cut your circulation off and make life completely uncomfortable when you wore this - - and thought of me!]    or i shared a spa basket once filled with some knitted cotton/linen knitted washcloths, homemade soaps, candles and a knitted pair of footies .... the question for THAT day was "oh! did rachael knit those socks?"  [rachael was probably 14 at the time...  really?]  

sigh ...... deep breath ...... hold your tongue and your heart .....  and return to the very reason and essence you started this creation process to begin with ......  to express a small part of who you are and how you feel ... so i wonder if that's the battle that the Lord fights every day when i fail to recognize all that He's done for me?

*Lord, did you mean to make my day so hard?
*Really, Lord? - - did one of your new angels pick this one out for me?
*No thanks, Lord ... i think i want to be friends with the new lady "Lisa" because she's
               so nice-pretty-rich-fun ....   not that lady "Virginia" because she's
               mean-ugly-needy-poor-mean-hard-to-love-negative-mean
*Oh, thanks Lord!  i'll get back to You in a minute; i've got a few more important 'issues' right
              now to handle on my own. but i'll call you real soon, i promise!

How grateful i am to know that He had me specifically in mind when He created me ...... as He continues to invest in me ...... and that He's not easily insulted or hurt by my foolish choices when i don't respond with a heart of gratitude for the gifts He has knit for me each and every day .. and continues to shower on me so lavishly.

For You created by inmost being;  You knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise You because i iam fearfully and wonderfully made:  Your works are wonderful, i know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from You when i was made in the secret place.

When i was woven together in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes say my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me were written in Your book

before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God.

How vast is the sum of the them!

Were i to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.

When i awake, i am still with You.  (emphasis mine)

ps. 139:13-19

an old saying i found years ago and often attach to my gifts goes like this: 

When i give you what i make with my hands, i give you my heart. 

How much more so do you think the Lord thinks the same thing with each and every moment He gives me?

Measure of Faith . . . in Silk

Got yarn?  check!
Got needles?  check!
Got pattern?  check!

just waiting ......

so WHY is that "project" still sitting there?  all the skeins of yarn are stacked nice and neat, there's a sticky note to mark the page of the t-shirt style pattern that is just waiting in my new book .... i've even swatched so i know that i prefer my knitpick needles over my bamboo ones .... and yet ..... it's all still sitting there ..... because why?

i'm usually NOT this cautious when i knit .... i jump right in (no swatching or nothing!]) and just grin while i knit ... until i mess up or decide i don't like something ..... and then i rip it out and start over, still grinning and anticipating (and hoping and praying) that THIS time it will be right!   i guess i'm rather easily entertained by the shear process of knitting ... but there are times, like now, that i'm frozen .. and my justifications are almost rational and mature  (yikes!)

Time:  yep!  committing to a garment is going to require Time and .... PLANNING ... yep!  another one of my "strong" points!  and did i mention COUNTING? yep!  i'll have to actually keep track of where i am in the pattern, making notes as i go so that the right side will Match the left side [what a novel thought!]  Now, while all these are valid excuses and perhaps even signs of wisdom, i also recognize them as signs of "immaturity" ... and basically FEAR!  and the best way to overcome Fear is just to plow right through it rather than allow that foothold to creep into my knitting stash!

There is no fear in love; for perfect love casts out ALL fear!  (I John 4:18)   Now i realize that this is just a bit (LOT) out of context, but in some ways it's really not!   I LOVE to knit ... and allowing anything to sidetrack shouldn't even be welcomed in my thought process .... i'm growing each and every day as a knitter by learning something, even if that means doing it wrong and ripping it out ... it's still a lesson that builds, day after day, on what I ALREADY KNOW!

and isn't that just like my Faith in the Lord? !!!  yes and YES and YES!  Every day He gives me 1,440 stitches/minutes to knit with.  Every day!  and as of today, i'm looking at approximately 26, 691,861 stitches TOTAL ... and that's a LOT of skeins of time with which to knit! Even more so, i have all the instructions i need for life, and love and living a Godly life contained within His Master Pattern - my Bible.  ALL the instructions .... no gaps or misprints or mistakes in sizing .... so why do i leave so much on the shelf just staring at me, untouched, unknit ... not even swatched?  Looking back should, and does, remind me of His Faithfulness ... His Mercies are New each morning .... His forgiveness is so sincere that He has removed my sins as far as the east is from the west (ps. 103:12).  These are not hopeful wishes, but clearly documented PROMISES ... so that i can ... and SHOULD. ... jump back into the knitting of TODAY, receiving the gift of His construction and design, and by Faith submit to becoming the fabric that He is knitting .. and labeling as mine!

The care label wrapped around my life reads as follows: 

Needle Size:  Calvary's nails

Care Instructions:  Washed in the Blood of the Lamb

Fiber Content:  Mercy and Forgiveness are plied together, tightly wound and interwoven

Note:  Upon completion, this yarn will be impervious to flames!

           Redemption has fortified this yarn, and left it White as Snow!

 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

His mercies never come to an end;

 they are new every morning;

great is Your faithfulness!

Lam. 3:22-23

knitting postcards



an early case of yarn envy!

 i taught myself how to knit in December 2003 using a copy of "The Complete Encyclopedia of  Stitchery" that my mom had passed down to me, some size 9 needles and some Blue Lion Brand Wool that i had purchased at Hancocks ... i was such a novice at this whole knitting thing and i had no idea (YET) about the abundance of yarns just waiting at my Local Yarn Shop .. and not just what the craft stores were stocking.

we were driving back home for Christmas and i was riding in the backseat for the trip, so i seized those 9 hours to try and make my first attempts look somewhat similar to the sketches on those pages. this was Long before the time when i was really acclimated with the plethora of videos and demonstrations on the internet, where counsel and advice are just a web address away .... or where pictures and patterns could lend encouragement and show me all the amazing yarns that were just waiting for me to try!  all i had was a flashlite to hold in my mouth when it got so dark because i was so determined to "get it right" before we ever made it to my hometown - -  i wanted to look like i "knew" was i was doing by the next morning!

so, 7 years later, i'm still learning and i'm still knitting ... in the car, at home, during rehearsals, while i'm standing in line and waiting, while i'm watching a baseball game, or sitting beside the pool, and especially while i travel.  and at some point i decided to collect skeins of yarn to serve as 'postcards' from these trips and times and places ... landmarks that would highlight the adventure, or the discovery, or the sweet time of fellowship spent with friends.  (any excuse [i mean justification] will do when it to buying yarn for my stash!)

One such postcard was found at a precious hidden gem of a yarn shop in St. Andrews, Scotland. This gorgeous silk and wool had been spun just for her shop. She had a cover design in Vogue Knitting, May 06, which had just come out,  and I was fortunate enough to meet her, talk w/ her about her patterns/designs and then have her help and suggestions about a simple pattern that would make the most of this gorgeous yarn!

                                                    cast on 21 stitches

Rows 1-5: knit.

Row 6: *k1, wrap yarn 3 times, repeat from *, ending with k1.

Row 7: *k1, unwind wraps, repeat from *, ending with k1.

Repeat rows 1-7 as desired, making sure to leave enough yarn to end with a final repeat of Rows 1-5.

i have sock yarn from various places (because one day i'll get around to making those socks!), i bought wool from several places in Scotland and made little felted bags as gifts to share with my friends that didn't get to go on the trip so that they too would have a taste of our visit.  i also have yarn and roving from the bus trip we made to the atlanta knitting conference last spring .... and the visit to st. louis to see Bo was marked with several skeins of yarn just waiting to be completed.  How sweet, any time i look in my knitting room i find myself grinning .. and reminiscing about where i've been .. and what's yet to be done!  Those simple pleasures ....

Such nostalgia is often recalled .. and memories replayed .. when i sit and knit and look back on the scrapbook of my walk with the Lord as well.  How quickly i tend to forget His blessings or His rescues or His encouragement during the events of my past because i'm so caught up in the panic/tragedy/immediate need of the current moment!  But when i obediently lay aside the burdens that i carry and focus my heart and sole attention on Him and His goodness i can and do see so very vividly all the stitches He has knitted Himself into .. the skeins of memories that are indicative of times when i knitted the day too tightly ... or when the tension was too loose and i made a bad yarn choice .... actually, my life is quite a swatch if you think about ... and looking back it's plain to see that He has taken all the yarns of my every day and woven them into a beautiful Sampler that reflects His master skill at making memories and teaching lessons all along the journey!  He has never left my side and has promised to be My Complete Encyclopedia of Stitchery for every situation that arises .....  detailed, step by step instructions ...

I am still confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord;

be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

ps. 27:13-14

Precious Memoires ... How they Linger ... How they ever flood my soul! 

In the stillness of the midnight, precious sacred scenes unfold. 

As I travel on life's pathway.... know not what the years my hold,

As i ponder hope grows fonder, Precious memories flood my soul.

my books are my security . . .

i have made this confession before .... but i am a knitting nerd!  i LOVE to collect knitting books of ALL types ... i really like all the pretty pictures ... perhaps because i  admire the skill i see in each one .... or i'm more than likely a bit envious that people have that sort of time to actually KNIT an entire cable sweater and STILL have a life too!  ;)   I love the articles about the history of knitting - - the step-by-step instructions for a specific stitch, and then patterns where that particular stitch can be applied.  Books or magazines - - they BOTH get my vote - - AND my $$$$.

But despite my vast library of printed material (not really, but i like to call it that!) ....  just owning these manuscripts does not make me a better knitter!  My most treasured of the collection are those volumes that are solely instructional in nature ... page after page of the How's and Why's of knitting ... a detailed, sequential, numbered, illustrated (even idiot proof) enlightenment of "how to __________" .  I select a nice and light colored worsted weight yarn and appropriate needles and sit down on the sofa with the book open to my side and begin to PRACTICE .... stich by stitch i follow the instructions (or the pictures) in hopes that eventually mine will look like the picture!  Sometimes it works the 1st time ... other times i rip out and start over again, and again , and again ....i  might even have to cut the yarn because i've weakened the fibers in my overzealous endeavors to master something!

practice!

TIME .... it's the one tool we all have the same amount of each day ... and it's what determines the levels and stages of who we are ... as knitters ... as friends ... as believers in Christ even!  God's Word contains 66 books chalked FULL of instructions for me to dig through and then apply to my life.  Some editions contain beautiful, glossy pictures and maps ... others are illustrated by the descriptions painted by the writer's pen... and all of them are inspired by Him so that on any given page i will be able to find instruction, encouragement, admonition, counsel . . HIM!  However, keeping my Bible on my nightstand and never opening it is just as futile as expecting all my knitting books to make me a master knitter!

I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;

even at night my heart instructs me.

I have set the Lord always before me,

because He is at my right hand,

i will not be shaken!

ps. 16: 7-8

Your Word have i hidden in my heart, that i might not sin against You.  ps. 119:11

 (now doesn't THAT work out nice ... He knew my inclination to misplace things ...

so when it's tucked in my heart i can ALWAYS find just what i need!)

Basket Living

Basketweave Stitch
(multiple of 6 stitches)
Using size 7 needles, cast on 38 stitches, and knit 3 rows (garter stitch border)

Row 1(RS): Knit

Row 2: Purl

Row 3: k1, *k1, p4, k1*, repeat * * to last stitch, k1.

Row 4: p1, *p1, k4, p1*, repeat * * to last stitch, p1.

Row 5: Repeat Row 3.

Row 6: Repeat Row 4.

Row 7: Knit

Row 8: Purl

Row 9: K1, *p2, k2, p2*, repeat * * to last stitch, k1.

Row 10: P1, *k2, p2, k2*, repeat * * to last stitch, p1.

Row 11: Repeat Row 9.
Row 12: Repeat Row 10.

Repeat Rows 1-12 for desired length.
Knit 3 rows. Bind off.

This simple basketweave pattern has become on of my favorite quick and easy "go-to" patterns because it's a nice variation on the knit and purl square boxes that i first learned to knit.  I like it because the textures seem to jump off of the cloth as the stitch falls away from the needles and for a minute here or there i feel more like i've just woven something, rather than knitted it!  (i know, it doesn't take much to entertain me these days! )

However, one of the best parts of this pattern is that it is easy to memorize and often affords me the time to let my mind work through other parts of my day .. my schedule, my shopping list, my children, my friends .... it's a sweet pattern to sit and knit and pray with .... for health of a sick friend, for school or work issues that my family may be dealing with, for wisdom and guidance for me even . . when my hands are busy i often find that my mind focuses more intently as well ... and the sweet fellowship that i have found in spending time with the Lord and pouring my heart out to Him while i'm knitting .... and to sense His Presence and the Peace of His Replies as He leads me .... instructs me .... forgives me for the things i confess and seek restoration for.

Once again, knitting is so much like my Christian walk .... the good AND the not so good!  the mistakes i make in my knitting can never be dismissed unless i have LOTS of buttons to cover up the holes or patch the missed or dropped stitches ....  and my daily life and time with the Lord are no different!  Sins i've committed don't go away by 'avoiding' them ... burdens i refuse to let go off don't melt away because i refuse to acknowledge them .....  it's only when i come and confess the sin, or lay my burden down at His feet that i find true Peace.

Frogging ... Rip it!  Rip it!  Rip it! was one of the scariest things i have learned to do as a knitter.  Ripping OUT all those stitches i just spent all that time putting IN .. and now i'm removing them because of one dad-gum hole 4 rows down! ~  ~  ~  REALLY!   Yes, Virginia!  REALLY!!!  The freedom and pride as a knitter in a project that is complete and mistake free because i took the time to re-do ... to re-learn ... to correct it ... it's amazing!  and even more so, in my own heart and life ... when i humbly confess the mistakes i've made and ask for His forgiveness i find the sweetest of fellowship, the Peace that really does Pass understanding .... the serenity of knowing i am a project that He will be pleased with and proud to call His workmanship ...

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,

who daily bears our burdens.

Ps. 68:19

But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light,

we have fellowship with one another,

and the blood of Jesus, His Son,

purifies us from all sin.

If we claim to be without ins, we deceive ourselves

and the truth is not in us.

I John 1:7-8

Grace and mercy are two wonderful threads that He weaves in and out of my day ... and i can't have one without the other.  So perhaps, i am that simple basket or cloth that He works on each day.  How i long to know the Peace that comes from simple living in the "basket" of His love and forgiveness, steps and stitches that reflect His design for my life ... to be His new creation ... one row at a time!

it's okay to be a swatch . . .



Brave enough?

have you ever seen a pattern that you immediately fell in love with .... but upon looking at the instructions and contemplating all the steps it was going to take to finish it ... you decided to go a different route?  or, has there ever been a time when you jumped into something with a wild abandon and about midway through you just hit the wall because things weren't 'turning out' like the picture .....  yet?
do you - - CAN you - - talk yourself Out of knitting something before you ever put your hands on the needles to try it?  or do you have just enough Optimism to give it a go ... being fully prepared to rip it out in order to learn ... or who knows?  maybe even get it right without too many failed attempts?

do you think that your knitting is a reflection of your personality? obviously you're going to knit something in the colors that you love and make you smile ... and more than likely you will choose things that lean on the 'safe' side for those times of knitting when you need to be on auto-pilot and just sit and knit .... BUT are you content to knit scarves for the rest of your life in order to avoid learning something new .... like socks?  hats?  and heaven forbid - - a SWEATER?????   i have learned that when Fear takes over, my 'contentment' often stagnates .. and then knitting a safe "scarf" isn't really even fun [much less fulfilling] any more.

With that in mind i have to ask:  you know that we were created to have fellowship with God? .. to dwell in His Presence and enjoy the very Moment of NOW!  There is not a single verse in the Bible that says we are to Worry about things in the Future but rather Walk in the fullness and joy of knowing Him ... "Walk" is a Present Tense command not a futuristic possibility.  "Knowing Him" is a process that requires a commitment of learning and investing, daily.  Sometimes it means minute by minute, stitch by stitch of each day ... there may even be times when He has to rip something back so i can start over and get it right ... but does that stop me from investing my life in Him?  Am i playing it safe with my faith and simply sitting and knitting a scarf from each day, in order to avoid Him using me to ultimately be a Sweater ..... or what if His plans for me are to be a pair of socks?  Do i worry about how i will fit or do i try and dictate to Him that i'd prefer to be a hat?   Worrying about the finish can, and WILL, consume my attention and keep me from devoting myself fully to Him ....

Basically, it's kind of like worrying about putting all the pieces together while i'm still knitting a single sleeve.  Worrying doesn't make my knitting go faster - i still have to have 2 sleeves and a collar and ribbing for the buttons .... and more than likely it will bring about many more mistakes than i would like to see... which means i have to rip it back out again ... and go back to that place where my mind was focused on the stitch - - on the row - - on the moment!

Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating

on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—

the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly;

things to praise, not things to curse.

Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized.

Do that, and God, who makes everything work together,

will work you into his most excellent harmonies.  

Phil. 4:8-9

Row by Row, Day by Day
He is Knitting my Heart to His!

Now - - each moment of the day can be viewed as a Swatch .. that He is perfecting and not simply wasting time on.  And each day can be seen as a strip .... a singular piece that can and will be combined to create a beautiful Blanket that reflects a journey of love and obedience and time well spent ........We live each day with the end in site ... and the Hope and Promise of an eternity with Him .... but each moment is and should be tempered and filled to overflowing with the Joy of Knowing Him ....  Knit on These Things!

. . . a 3 Hour Tour . . .

my 1st traveling scarf.
i supplied the pattern and
friends added the colors!

ever have one of those days ... when nothing you try actually works! ???   i'm participating in another Traveling Scarf group and while the premise of this exchange is pretty neat, this particular go round has been more frustrating than relaxing.  Some scarves come with a specific pattern requested and then i just add the yarn of my choice ... others send yarn and pattern ... but then, there are those scarves who just are delivered - stuffed right into my mailbox .... and i get to choose the yarn AND the pattern myself ... which means ... THINKING!!!  PLANNING!!!!  PREPARATION !!!    me?  really?

what i knit going forward on this particular scarf is based on what has already been done .... so ... will my knitting compliment or contrast .... and what if the section prior to mine is all messed up?  I've actually had to rip out a few from a previous section in order to create a more uniform appearance ....  all in all, i'd have to rate this traveling scarf journey in my 'not so fun' category currently!  one of those 'checked off the bucket list' kind of things ... not to be done again!  (please don't let me do this again.... please?)




this is my newest scarf - -
who KNOWS what it will 
reflect when it arrives back
to me in December!

  i'm knitting now on a scarf for a friend i've never met but we're kindred spirits because we knit.  and it's just 5" of knitting that i'm required to contribute ... just 5"!  that's it!  should be quick and easy, right?  Well, i have now tried 4 different lace pattern  [none of which blended with what's already been knitted] ... and then RIPPED them back out to the lifeline (thank the LORD for the lifeline!).... i'm sitting here, whining on the sofa ... wondering if i should ever knit again?  just a bit dramatic and extreme perhaps  (ya think?) .... but REALLY!!!!   isn't knitting supposed to be FUN!!!  RELAXING!!!!   and i just need 5" of a pattern that will work! .....

perhaps this is just where God wants me though!  sitting ..... and waiting ....... and sitting some more .... and looking over the sections of my life where He has had me journey.  Which parts blended easily into the next phase - - and which patterns reflect a time of lack of discipline or of sweet fellowship with Him?  There have been many days when i've had to Rip Out the entire day because i failed to include Him and i made a mess of the pattern that i was opting to follow .....  there have been times when i tried to use the yarn of my choice when pursuing friends or jobs or dreams that He knew all along wouldn't compliment His pattern .... and He has patiently, and graciously allowed me to knit and rip so that i could ultimately learn to just Sit and Knit with Him ... when i follow His design for each step and stitch of my way i'm left with a beautiful assortment of compliemtary patterns and yarns that reflect an Adventure .. and not a Gilligan's Island "3 Hour Tour!"

In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice;

in the morning i lay my requests before You

and WAIT in expectation.

ps. 5:3

"overlooking" doesn't make it go away . . . .

Somewhere along my journey it was shared with me that small 'holes' in my project were simply Amish in nature.  When asked what that meant, it was explained that the Amish culture requires them to leave an imperfection or two in any project they are working on - - a quilt, a garment that is sewn, a sampler that it stitched, etc. - -  because only God is perfect and therefore their work shouldn't compete with Him. And perhaps that philosphy may work on a swatch or in the WAY early stages of learning to knit but ... i have found that when i try  to make a mistake 'be okay' by ignoring it, rather than returning to correct  it ... i worry about it ... and i go back and look at it every couple of rows, like i think it may mysteriously melt into the symmetry of the rest of the knitting.

Result?  there's STILL a hole in row 14 of my scarf despite the fact that it is now 6 foot in length.  And somehow that hole now seems to be 5" in diameter .... and 3 rows tall ..... in fact, it's now screaming "hey look everyone!  she can't even knit a row without making a mess of things!" ..... despite my valiant attempts to play it off as a way to 'loop the scarf through and hold it in place' (albeit an awkward placement!) ... there is just NO JUSTIFICATION for an obvious mistake that i should have gone back and corrected before trying to "Hope it would go away" by just conveniently overlooking it!  ... "oops!" is really not a good word in knitting circles, i'm just saying ......

i could try and pick up the stitch, row by row, for all 16 feet of the scarf (which is exactly what it will seem like once it's all said and done!) ... or i could FROG it! ..... you know ... Rip it!  Rip it!  Rip it!   down past where the original stitch was dropped and relax and enjoy the knitting process again! Bottom line:  paying attention and double checking much more periodically makes for a much happier knitter when it's all said and done .... there's NOTHING WRONG with ripping out and starting over, if need be .... mutliple times even! .... and the freedom that comes from ripping back - - maintaining a closer perspective as you are knitting ... sure makes the end of the project a better reflection of the time that you spent.

in fact ....walking with the Lord, each and every day, is much like that knitting process!  there are always messes that i make of things when i fail to acknowledge His leadership and pattern design for my day ... for my hour ... for my every step!  and at the end of the day i could approach Him and simply say "ooops!" but i don't think He's much on my Amish approach to daily living and blatant, obvious holes i may leave ....  when i maintain a closer fellowship and communication with Him, which may even mean Ripping Things Back to clean up the mess i've made, or to learn a lesson from a specific incident or individual, or simply and continually consulting Him on how to Handle a situation BEFORE messing it up - - i.e., which 'decrease' would be best suited for this opportunity, or would He choose a different 'stitch' at this juncture that would highlight Him better at the end of the day .... Because of His faithfulness, He has demonstrated, time and again, that I can trust Him ... He can (and does) read the pattern that He has selected for me ....

  "Therefore we do not lose heart ..... For our light and momentary troubles

are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. 

For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal!"

Rom. 4:16-18

  "A man's steps are directed by the Lord."

Prov. 20:24

 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 

in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path."

Prov. 3:5-6

He doesn't try to overlook the messes i make or try to justify the imperfections i leave behind ... He has ordered my days .... His atonement for my sin Requires me ... NO, it COMPELS me to check with Him as i'm knitting each step ... so when it's all said and done i will hear Him say ... Well done, my child!

My "Collection"

ever heard of SABLE?  (and i'm not referring to the animal that some ladies actually wear as coats themselves)   Stash Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy.  it's a syndrome for some, a lifestyle for others .... the thrill of finding the 'perfect' yarn and then getting a few extra skeins just in case ..... the fear that the world may stop producing yarn so you best buy it while it's still available ..... a moment when time stops because of the beauty of the yarn - the texture that compells you to touch it again - - and again - - and again ... you JUST HAVE TO HAVE IT!   

however, before long you find yourself having to be 'creative' in where to STORE all these treasures .... no more boxes, out of closet space, all the knitting bags are full  ... i've even heard of some who have cleaned out their freezers just to make room for yarn,using the justification that 'it will keep the moths out of my wool'!  Regardless of the reason for growing one's knitting stash, the question remains:  If you stopped buying yarn today would you be able to knit up all that you've accumulated?  Which leads me to the NEXT question:   if you answered NO WAY to the previous question, who then will be the recepient of your yarn stash?

I have learned over the years the fine art of linguistic 'justification' .... 

1)  it was on sale!

2)  i didn't want to run out, so i bought a 'few' more, just in case!

3) i Collect yarn.

4) i'm going to Teach someone .. and thus SHARE it!

5) it's part of my "hobby" (or obsession)

6)  i really DO have a pattern in mind for THIS one!

7)  isn't it so "pretty" ....  i think i'll just sit and hold it for a while!

8)  the "savings" of buying in BULK

9)  yarn is cheaper than therapy!

10)  just because .....

Regardless of my 'justifications' or even my  creative ways for displaying ... or hiding .... my collection, there really are just a few things in life that i should claim as part of the SABLEs of my life.  My Friends!  How i pray that i will always have MORE friends than LESS friends because i have been a true friend to each of them along the way!  My Faith!  God has ordered my days .. and no amount of yarn .. or knitting ... or excuses or justifications will change that, or bring time back around again.  So, using the moments that He has ordained for me is a must ... and allowing Him to knit each minute strategically into His Master Pattern will lead me through a Peaceful and Profitable path each day ....

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: 

He will make your rightesouness shine like the dawn,

he justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

Psa. 37:5-6

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for You!

I Peter 5:6-7

  In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.

Prov. 16:9

  He has made all things beautiful .. in its time! 

He has also set eternity in the hearts of men...

Eccles. 3:11

No "Day Timer" today where i pencil Him into  (or out of) a designated time slot .....

how i long to find Him in EVERY minute of my day .... 

He is my SABLE ....

Salvation's Acquisition BECAUSE of  Love's Extravagance!!!

more KISSes please . . .



a simple tri-fold of
knitting makes a beautiful
jewelry roll!

 still pondering on the simple KNIT stitch ... back and forth, back and forth .... you have to be careful that the simplicity doesn't turn into monotony ... which can turn into some major knitting ADD .... and before long your needles are set aside and you're dreaming of new and exciting projects and yarns and patterns ....... and the previous simple knit becomes a UFO (Unfinished Knitting Object) ....  ;(

in order to avoid an expensive piles of knitting UFO's it's necessary to stay focused ... have a plan! (sounds like i'm watching too much sports!) ...  Grab some 100% wool and get ready to knit to get out your aggressions!



sew up the sides and your
square becomes a make-up bag!



***With Size 13 needles and holding your wool doubled, cast on 15 stitches and knit for 20 rows. Bind off loosely and weave in the ends.  Toss these squares in the hot water of the washing machine and VOILA!  each skein of wool has the potential to yield 4 felted and very absorbant coasters!   (great for an early Christmas gift!)

***With Size 13 needles and holding your wool doubled, cast on 25 stitches and knit for 40 rows.  Bind off loosely, weave in the ends and once felted, you've got a trivet or potholder that can protect your counter ... and your hands .... for more knitting!

Feeling adventuresome?  Using size 9 needles, cast on 40 stitches and knit until the piece measures atleast 15" (or you could opt to knit until you run out of yarn - approximately 25" give or take).  Bind off loosely and get ready to felt.  
                   * If you stop at 15", sew up the sides, sew a triangle approximately 3/4" in from each end to create a 'base' for a felted cosmetic bag (add zipper, lining and embellish once dry).
                    *If you knit the entire length you'll find yourself with a long rectangle that will felt into a tri-fold jewelry roll or wallet with just a little planning.

Point to Ponder:  never underestimate Simplicity and Pressure!  When encountered, the hot water and aggitation transform a Simple Square (or rectangle) into a multitude of uses ....  much like the days that the Lord has ordered for me, the ups and downs and hills and valleys of my life are designed to ultimately bring Him glory.  The 'hot water' of trials, my willingness to 'be stretched' while i'm drying in order to finish His felting process .... all necessary steps to bring about an end result that makes me useful for His Kingdom work.  He's got the pattern ... [He always calls the right plays] .... now if i'll just relax - Trust Him and comply with His needles i won't find myself in His UFO pile .....

 "All the days ordained for me were written in Your book

before one of them came to be" 

ps. 139:16

KISS....Keeping knIt Simple Sweetie!



simple Knitting in a circle will soon
leave you with a beautiful sock!
Just Knitting .... save the Purls for a later!

when it comes to knitting i find myself often overlooking the easiest of things ... the very 1st thing i learned, in fact ....  so zealous to produce REAL knitted things (?), i pour for hours over stitches - - how many yarn overs, inceases and decreases, knits AND purls .... when all the time .... the basic and often overlooked, simple and single Knit Stitch just waits ... to be used .... so that the YARN is the focus of my time, rather than the mechanics of the moment.



if my stash and wish list only contained light and/or dark solid hues and tones, then perhaps a 'fancier' stitch would shine off the minimalist ply of the yarn ... BUT true confession time:  there are so many beautiful skeins of yarn just screaming my name and that have jumped into my shopping basket ... have found their way into my heart AND my knitting room .....  and such examples of lush and variegated colors, or yarns that can push me right over the edge of sensory overload with all the variations of dimension, depth and richness ...  just WHAT can you do that will highlight and showcase the beauty of the yarn .....

time has shown that it's the KNIT STITCH ... period.  i guess i'm "growing up" as a knitter, but that very basic stitch affords me time to sit and knit and simply enjoy the tactile features that comes from an extravagant or perhaps just an undescribable ball of string .....  and the "process" of knitting brings a peace that envelopes the moment, relaxes the ponderings and provides a visible demonstration of what simplicity affords.

Zephaniah 3:17 whispers a description of such 'knitting' when i simply sit and dwell in the Presence of God -

The Lord your God is with you, He is might to save.

He will take great delight in you,

He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing.

when i yeild to His knit stitch i soon find that i do indeed hear Him humming .... often just a soft tune of reassurance for a moment - at times a strong and victorious chorus of encouragement .... fears and worries are soon diminished as they ease into oblivion when He quiets my heart and brings my focus onto Him .... and such compliance leaves me with glimpses and visions of His delight!  i doubt very seriously that God actually giggles like i do when something goes right .... but how i long to be one of His knitted garments that brings Him honor and praise because i submitted to His Knitted choices ......  for me, i'm Knit So Simple ... and it really is a good thing!

guaranteed results, imagine THAT!

at my house knitting and sports go together!  if he's watching SPORTS .... i'm KNITTING!  year round .... football, hockey (which lasts from october to early June, thank the Lord!), golf, taped re-plays .... sports SHOWS (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN U, ESPN 360) ....  "we" watch a LOT of sports ... so "we" do a LOT of knitting! 

i have found that i can (and do) knit more inticrate patterns and details while we're watching something sports related, usually.  however, if there's a new movie on ... i have my basket of 'easy' knitting ... no thinking required, no counting, no row marking .... just straight sit-n-knit! and there are days when we ALL need to visit "that" basket, just for the calm and therapy of knitting and having something to show for it!

i really enjoy hockey season ... i get a LOT of lace work done! sometimes it's a stitch by stitch, row by row kind of project .... where slowly, but surely, the delicate details fall off my needles and soon a simple little 'row' becomes a shawl full of prayers and singular beauty that reflect a focus and attention to detail - and i realize that had i opted to 'interpret' the pattern rather than 'submit and follow' the pattern .... my finished product would look nothing like the picture i was hoping for.

following the pattern ..... hum!  why is THAT an easier process for me?  to follow someone else's pattern is not considered a sign of weakness - in fact, we often PAY for those instructions.   to pour over the details and mark the rows and measure the progress - - we buy clickers and sticky notes to keep track.  We buy stitch markers to leave signals of where we've been so we can apply what we've already learned.  we even leave 'lifelines' at the beginning of a pattern repeat to provide support should we have to rip it back to a particular starting point ... so WHY .... if i can follow a pattern, do i find it so hard to follow my Lord .....

He IS the pattern for my life.  He created it ... He wrote it down and gave me His Word (66 different books with 31,173 verses)   ... He is The Picture - so i clearly have a vision of what i should look like.  HE paid for the instructions - with His death on that cross.  and yet, i often feel so compelled to (and am so stubborn as to think that i can actually) read the map myself withOUT consulting Him!  I have no problem being 'dependent' on a random person for knitting instructions, which take hours of my time and money ... i just jump right in and start knitting and making notes.  Really? what AM i thinking ....

therefore, i urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.  (rom. 12:1-2)

He is The Designer of the pattern that's perfect for the yarn of my life .... He longs to renew (to bring into being again .. HIS way, and not mine) me so that my 'yarn' reflects the needles He uses in order to create the finished 'garment' He has envisioned  (according to His good, pleasing and perfect will).  who knows?  i may be a sweater ... or a shawl ... or a sock!  we'll all know once He binds of and "blocks" me ... to present me to His Father as a final gift!  I pray that i will be worthy of His time and investment!

Confessions of a Knitting Snob

are YOU a snob? or are you a Scaredy Cat?  do you consider yourself an Afficiando of Fine Yarn .... or a Hoarder (you know they've got their TV show now!) ..... guess it's really a perspective thing when you get right down to it and yet, there really is a bottom line for all knitters:  what you do with your yarn is your own business, BUT unless we are sought out for our 'wisdom and counsel' we really shouldn't pass judgment how anyone else chooses to use their yarn.

Now, i know that's hard to do at times... acrylic is scratchy and pretty much stays right where you knit it ... no amount of blocking will ever transfrom it into the shape you WISH it was supposed to be!  [so WHY IN THE WORLD would anyone EVER use it!]   And that single skein of gorgeous cashmere will NEVER be enough to make a complete sweater despite the hours you spend pouring through the books for the perfect pattern.... so why even BUY it, i ask you?   I find myself guilty at times of 'judging' how someone else uses a particular yarn or pattern (like i think i could do any better) ....  and looking back on things, i realize that the time wasted in 'judging' took away from my own personal time for knitting and creating and enjoying the gift and process.

once again the parallel of my knitting to my own walk with the Lord is jumping out at me .... in my 50 years on earth i don't remember one time that the Lord has called in sick .... or posted notice that He would be out of the office on vacation ....and thus needed ME to take over for a while!  God has called me to fellowship, and have a relationship with Him .. one that is based on obedience and trust and REST in Him .... He is opting to be concerned about my well being, my daily plans and provisions .. and even my knitting time.  He has ordered my steps, longs to carry my burdens and really has no need for me to help Him maintain the schedule of the world.... however, when i do feel so compelled to chime in my own judgements and opinions i'm sure He just nods His head and simply waits for me to finish .... He is a gracious Father who clearly has an incredible sense of humor when He created me ....and based on the way my body is 'forming' now at 50, He clearly is mastering His purl stitches more so than His knit ones  [ who KNEW skin could DO such a thing!]  He LONGS for me to find rest in Him .... that's why He's God ... and i'm NOT!   Resting in Him is not something that He designed to be hard to do .... I am the one that makes the KNOTS in the skeins of time He has given me!

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me.

Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.

I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.

Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.     

 (Matthew 11:28-30, The Message)

But who are you, o man, to talk back to God? 

Shall what is formed say to Him who formed  it, "why did You make me like this? 

Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery

for noble purposes and some for common use? 

(Rom 9:20-21)

So, take your yarn ... make a sweater!  knit a hat ... a washcloth - - or simply a swatch!  Why not frame that sumptuous skein of silk - it IS a work of art in and of itself, is it not!  it's Your stash  ....  don't judge it ... enJOY it!

Yarn = Yoga

healing ... therapy .... and FREE! 

Effective October 1st the cost of my medical insurance is being raised (imagine That!) ..... AND the cost of my deductible will now be $30 rather than $20.  Now, i realize that in the big scheme of things that i am blessed beyond measure to even HAVE insurance ... and that further blessings come from having a JOB every single day that provides me with enough 'options' that i can even complain or whine about things ....

BUT .... seems to me that i should have the RIGHT to spend my co-pay on Therapy in a better way ... and still be re-imbursed for it!  For you see, i have found that as a knitter, there's nothing more soothing and restoring than Yarn Therapy!  Some days that may mean just having the TIME to roam aimlessly in the yarn shop, looking at all the rows and baskets and displays of yarn and projects completed in such sumptuous colors and textures.  Then, there are also times when i find my blood pressure lowering and my overall mood transforming when i have the privilege of just Sitting ... and holding a Ball of Yarn in my hands.  My sensory 'healing' begins once that cashmere or silk, or on a bad day just good ol' acrylic, makes contact with my fingers, which then signals my brain to dwell on the steady and consistent 'process' of knitting, one stitch at a time, one row at a time, back and forth, back and forth ..... perhaps this is the Yoga of Yarn ....

$20 can buy a really NICE skein of sock yarn and within a week i actually have something tangible to SHOW for my time of therapy ..... so why can't i submit my yarn receipts along with my other prescriptions for tax breaks and consideration, i ask you?  And the bliss - the giddiness - of finding a dream yarn ON SALE - - a Wonder Drug in and of itself, i tell you!  Knitting ......  such a simple pleasure, that's easily transported and can be whipped out for ANY medical emergency!  It's the ideal "insurance card" and "preventative" medicine there is ... i never leave home without it!

BUT ..... if knitting has such calming effects of restoration, how much MORE am i reminded of the promises of the Lord when it comes to True Insurance ... with No Co-Pays or out of pocket expenses (at least on my part!)  I run and grab my knitting to help "settle" things at times ... but how much MORE peace can i find and know when i run to Him.  His desire and Promise is to NEVER leave me ... to be with me ALWAYS .. not just at His convenience or when there's a break in His schedule ..... But with Every Breath i Take ... He fills it!  And His Word is like a Yarn Shop of luxurious Promises ... verse after verse of rich, cashmere-ish accounts of His availability ..... Chapter upon Chapter of extravagant examples of His steadfast love that wraps around me like a lush merino wool stole ..... authors who have witnessed and now share from 1st hand experience the authenticity of God's peace ... not something to dream of ... but Someone to make my dreams come true!  The Healer!

Matt: 28:20 ... and surely I AM with you always, to the very end of the age.
Gen. 28:15    I AM with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back
                     to this land.  I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.
Isa. 54:10    Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you
                    will NOT be shaken nor My covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has
                    compassion on you.
John 14:27   I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the
                    world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.

Just a few of the rich choices He has left for me to browse through - - to be able to touch and feel and knit into the very fibers of my being .... O taste and SEE that the the Lord is good!  Christ Jesus IS my co-pay!   His death and resurrection has paid for my eternity ... and for the peace that passes all understanding .... now THAT's the ultimate insurance!  But like any beautiful skein of yarn, unless i accept it .... use it .... apply it to the needles of my every day, His peace does me no good simply left on the shelf or in the "basket" of my Bible.  His love longs to be USED by me .... and He assures me that when i finish allowing Him to infuse me ... i'll have the perfect fit!  He IS my pattern .. and my peace!

who's in charge of the map?

new yarn .... perhaps new needles too ..... and a pattern that depicts the new stitch you are about to attempt as you embark on the journey of the new sweater .... goal:  to make YOUR sweater look like the one in the picture!  Odds of that happening?  Well, depending on the pattern writer AND your own personal ability to follow the pattern ..... well, we'll just have to wait and see, won't we?

Knitting world has developed several methods of pattern writing .... some prefer word instructions, i.e, knit 2, purl 2 to end of row.  Some knitters choose the convenience of a chart ....  row upon row of squares, each containing detailed instructions for each particular stitch, i.e., an empty square usually means knit on the Right Side and Purl on the Wrong side.  A  -  (dash) in a square is usually for a Purl stitch,  /  indicates K2tog and  \  would tell you to SSK.  (remember how we talked yesterday about decrease stitches and direction?  the symbol will help you remember which way to lean).  When you see a O in a square you know that you should add a Yarn Over at that particular point.  Charted knitting instructions come with a "key" to help you decipher things .. and the biggest perk of a chart is that for those who are visual learners, it allows you the ability to "see" the knitted pattern ... whereas, when you are following written words you may find that it's a "surprize" as the knitting flows off your needles ...  and you're are praying that your creation will look just like the one on the cover!

How grateful i am to know that my daily walk with the Lord doesn't have to be a scarey adventure of guessing my next step each time i turn around!  His Word promises to be a lamp for my feet and light for my path..... I can Trust in the Lord with all my heart and i don't have to lean on my own understanding (basically, that's like reminding me that i can sit and knit from His chart - and get perfect results every time!) .... (when) in all my ways i acknowledge Him, He will make my paths straight (prov. 3:5-6) His Word has provided me with instructions galore .. and He has even sent His Holy Spirit to be my personal guide, not to mention the multitudes of Godly friends and mentors,  pastors and leaders that He has called and equipped to help me on my journey ... to provide guidance and wisdom and prayer support ..... My pride and stubborn ways often lead me down paths that He never intended, yet He allows so that I can learn, yet again, that His ways are perfect and i can trust in His pattern for me.  

As a knitter i have found several knitting designers whose work i really like ... whose charts and/or written instructions are very accurate and therefore a pleasure to knit .....  how much more peace can i know if i'd simply follow His design and leadership as He continues to knit me together ... it's really Knit So Simple!

Ps. 25:4-5  Show me Your ways (Your pattern, chart),

                 O Lord, teach me your paths; (keys to the symbols of Your chart for my life)

                  guide me in Your truth and teach me,  (each row & stitch in Your design for me)

                  for YOU are God my Savior,

                  and my hope is in You all day long. (and in the end, i'll look just like The cover)

                               [the knitter's application to His pattern]

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.   (Heb 10:25 is encouraging us to Sit and Knit ..... what sweet fellowship time when we get together to compare all the "sweaters" of our lives and see how He is working to knit each of us together .....