When Less is More ....

If you've looked at the pattern for Squeeze Me you'll see that each section has a DECREASE by Knitting 2 stitches together to make a single stitch.  BUT, did you know that there are several options for Decreasing and that there are reasons and choices for considering them?

HELP!

in the early days of knitting i learned to decrease out of necessity - - i simply had too many stitches at the end of the row, and rather than rip them out i just decided it would be better to knit 2 together and eventually get back to my initial stitch count.  Pure genius on my part - - or atleast so i thought!  But over the course of time i've discovered positive and legitimate reasons and examples of decreases as part of the design process ... decreases that compliment and mirror one another, decreases that are functional AND decorative at the same time!   Who Knew?

The K2tog direction is probably the most common option to consider when decreasing stitches .. and depending on where it occurs, the yarn you are using and the frequency with which it is called into play, it will serve the purpose of combining stitches in a most average sort of way.  HOWever, have you ever looked at a sweater with raglan sleeves set in - - you know, the ones that have sleeves that look like a sweatshirt rather than a dress coat?  Or what about a V-neck cardigan or sweater?  Clearly each side of the neckline is loosing stitches and yet the knitting seems to lay consistently and complimentary to the slant of the line.

Knit 2 Together (k2tog)

Once again, call out your good friend the K2tog and use That decrease for anything that requires a RIGHT slant.  [This is the point at which you grab your knitting, cast on 10 stitches and work in stockinette for a couple of inches and then TRY this out to see what i'm talking about!]  Now, do you see it?  By inserting your left needle into TWO stitches and knitting/treating them as you normally would a single stitch, the 2nd stitch is actually the one that shows or is distinguishable and is leaning towards the Right! 

slipping KNITwise

But now you have to think about the other sleeve, the other side of the neckline .. or even the other side of the heel of a sock.  Meet the Twin:  SSK.   If you'll slip the next 2 stitches on your left needle individually to the right as though you were going to knit them you will find yourself ready to create the slant.    It's important to slip them KNITwise soe that they will lay smoothly when this is all said and done.  Knitwise would also indicate that your yarn stays in back and well as the needle motion being 'front to back'. 

Left needle is inserted
into both stitches

Once slipped, insert your LEFT needle into the FRONT of the 2 slipped stitches.  You'll notice that your right needle tip is sticking out the back of these 2 stitches and is just waiting for you to knit them together.  See it?  And once you've complete the step, you'll see that these 2 stitches are now leaning to the LEFT.  You can breathe easier now because your neckline won't be wonky, your sleeves will feel MUCH more comfortable because they are set in equally and your socks will no longer look like spirals or tube socks, but have simple little heels that just  hug your feet and remind you all day long that you followed the instructions and that it actually worked!  

i LOVE to learn new things, especially when i can see how it works - - how it affects things - - just exactly how, when and where it is applicable and/or justifiable for me to go to the trouble of learning AND remembering it!  Decreasing my stitch count seems easy enough to understand .... however, transferring that thought process over to myself personally is a bit harder to swallow!  Based on the size of my clothes lately i most definitely need to be applying the "Less is More" option to my diet and food choices!  Not much fun, but seems like my wallet already knows the less is more theme and new larger clothes would only eat into my yarn budget, so ... diet/decrease here i come!  How can i apply that same mindset to my spiritual walk and inventory as well?  Less of Me?

In order to achieve less of me it would mean allowing More of Him!  and just what exactly would happen if i acquiesed to such an idea? Perhaps my Decreasing would be mirrored by His Increasing Presence in my every day, in my every step, in my every stitch.  Perhaps my decreasing would allow Him to minister in and through me to others . . perhaps my decrease would be just the thing He's been waiting for so that He can spend time with me and i can actually sit STILL and know that He is God .. to HEAR His voice and be fully aware of His heartbeat as His love grows within me and Increases and blossoms and blooms and soon becomes evident to others that i belong to Him.

John 15:4-5 reminds me  "Remain in Me, and I will remain in you.  No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.  I am the vine, you are the branches.  If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit;  apart from Me you can do nothing."

I guess you could say that a good decrease is like a clinging vine . . you can't really tell where it stops and starts but the blending process leaves a beautiful and fragrant finished product, well thought out, skillfully executed and pleasing to the eye .... and the heart of the Lord!

Introductions

please allow me to introduce you to Pearl, my gracious model for the next 12 months, for all the fun scarves we're going to learn to knit ... Pearl is a very quiet spirit.  She's easy to get along with, is always open to new ideas and has yet to complain about color choices, lengths or sizes of the scarves i find for her.  She looks good in just about EVERY color, though i've heard that she favors green! She's a bit on the long waisted side but then again, that just helps to actuate all the fun things that scarves can do. 

January's 1st option is a pattern i've called "Squeeze Me", based rather loosely on several scarves i've seen around town, but refuse to pay the price the stores are asking for!  I've seen this style knitted, as well as in fabric form.  Long but wide sections are divided by ribbings or sewn 'gathering' stitches that create little bubbles all the way up and down the scarf.  And what's been even more fun is actually using some of the very basic things i've learned knitting to duplicate things that are out and in the stores currently!

Knitting 2 stitches together will create the 1st decreases you'll encounter in this pattern and then Kfb will the 1st increase you'll see.  Kfb - Knit into the Front AND the back of the same stitch, making 2 stitches from a single stitch.  Instructions for this pattern can be found by clicking on the tab above labeled "String of Purls".

LOOK!  can you tell that each end is a different yarn?
that's what happens when you don't buy enough!

I've been knitting for many years now but i think this is one of the first times i've actually used things i've learned to handle the options of a new pattern - - one without any previously written directions.  And as i think about it, it's a very similar mirror to my faith ...   it's easy to have faith when going through the 'routine' parts of life, the days that seem uncomplicated and therefore "easy" to trust the Lord with all that unfolds.  However, it's on "Those" days when i can't make sense of things, when i am stuggling with the directions that i can't read or understand, that my Faith 'account' is pulled from, based on what i have invested prior to!

I would have never thought i'd make up my own version of anything knitting-wise, when i first learned to knit many years ago.  And as a young Christian i ceratinly didn't anticipate many of the unexpected forks in the road i thought i'd be traveling, and yet my faith has often been the ONLY thing that has brought consolation or direction or encouragement to me when i found myself in the midst of the unknown, or unexplainable.

Who of us does not love a good hug .. a touch of affirmation that reminds us that we are loved!  A gentle Squeeze that speaks volumes of reassurance ... a scarf that helps remind that each section of my day has a beginning AND an ending ... and that my FAITH is the ribbing that girds up each section as it unfolds.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,

where moth and rust destroy,

and where thieves break in and steal. 

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,

where moth and rust do not destroy,

and where thieves do not break in and steal. 

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matt. 6:19-21

I Promise . . . it's Easy !

How many times have you heard THAT phrase?  i know that i am guilty of throwing that one out there because for me something seems natural .... easy ... brings me joy and satisfaction ..... and thus, i assume it works across the board for everyone else!   well, the older i get, the more i realize that this is not always the case BUT ... i do believe that this particular pattern really WILL be easy ... and quick ... and portable ... and make a great option for gifts and stash busting!

Just one row of lace . . .  this is the same pattern that several of us have used to make long strips that we assembled into Blessing Blankets that we shared with some dear women in our church that were going through chemotherapy ....  but it works beautifully for making a very light weight lace scarf just as well.  it only requires basic knitting stitches, such as a Yarn Over and a Knit 2 Together (k2tog) .... if you need help or great pictures you can always call me ... or you can hit www.knittinghelp.com/videos/decreases for some of the best videos out there ....

this will prove to be a very simple pattern .... easy to memorize .... portable ... and always ready when you are .... which means that it will also provide you - - at some point - - with the ability to get lost in your knitting and allow your mind to wander to other things ..... which at this time of year becomes quite a respite for me.   i love those projects that keep my hands and heart busy .... praying for the recipient, talking to the Lord about the events of the days .... my worries, my concerns, my celebrations even!  in so many ways, this pattern is a perfect reflection of His grace and peace.  Quite simply put, He promises us a peace that passes understanding ... and true to life, i have seen time and again that when i run to Him and rest in His unchanging ways, that life really does fall from the needles in a much clearer and appropriate way. 

it doesn't mean that i won't have knots in the threads of my day .... botched stitches along the path that may require some Frogging - - or ripping back to a certain point - - but when i rest in Him and "lean not on my own understanding" i soon find, yet again, that the Rhythm of the Needles is firmly in His control . . . and the scarf of the day is a perfect reflection of Him!  and isn't that exactly where we want to be with EVERY step of our day?

this scarf really is Knit So Simple . . so go visit your stash ... or clip your coupon ... i know that Hobby Lobby has a 40% off this week (which you can also use at several other shops as well) . . grab some of that really neat sock yarn and remember to bump up the size of your needles a size or two in order to ease that tension and allow the stitches to drape nice and soft .....  and as you knit, cling to the promise of John 16:33 

"I have told you these things, so that in ME you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."