I remember when . . .

You know you're getting "older" ... or more "mature" when you can honestly start a sentence with "You know, I remember when ______ " and then fill in the blank with an actual TRUTH of how things used to be!  And today, i'm confessing that i've stepped over that line into THAT place where i can honestly tell you that i DO remember when Lion Brand Yarn was a good source for knitting patterns and instructions BUT a majority of their patterns were for purchase only!  They had SOME free patterns [1,000,000 things to do with Fun Fur] but all the good ones, or at least all the ones that i wanted, were only available for purchase!

and then, when the 'Recession' hit, the management team of Lion Brand Yarn decided that it would be in every one's best interest to open their Pattern Drawer up ... to EVERYONE .... for FREE!  And not just stop there, but to CONTINUE adding new patterns, new designers and introducing new yarn lines that keep things interesting and FAR from home made!  Lion Brand Yarn has become one of my favorite go-to sites because there are great tutorials, amazing stitch references so that i don't have to always tote a stitch dictionary/reference book along in my knitting bag, fun little cartoons about Lola - the old lady knitter, good pictures and plenty of good "extras", like the ability to "SAVE" your favorites and create you own little "notebook" - complete with notes about each individual project that you are saving or working on.

Lion Brand Yarns started in 1878 as a family owned business and is in their 5th generation of ownership.  This family has dedicated themselves to keeping their yarns current and relevant to today's knitter ... the range of yarn from cotton to cashmere, from wool to wool-ease, provides each of us with something to work on at an accessable price.  Most area craft stores carry their yarns and their on-line support and pricing makes it an affordable option as well.  In the past few years they have taken the Knitting Fever to a new level and have a very Progressive Store located in the middle of New York City.  This store rivals any of the boutique shops that dot the sidewalks there, and has allowed many "Average" knitters [as most people seem to define their knitting skills]  to gain new insights as to what is really Out There for them to knit with.  I LOVE it when you find yourself bombarded with choices .... with colors and textures that almost take your breath away .... and then find yourselves enveloped in the sensory overload and swept away by the pattern options that compliment all the choices! You walk out of the store conVINCED that you CAN do whatever project you just surrendered to!  Their staff is very encouraging and committed to teaching the youngest little hands to start a project ... to aid the older hands with returning to the skills they started many years before ... to find something for everyone .....

It's always fun to reminisce (yet another sign of "maturity") about the good ol' days, when you first learned to knit .... or you remember when you completed your first BIG project .....  you flip through journals and photo albums that highlight the gifts you've knitted and shared with others .....  looking back is often a great catalyst for those days when we hit the bumps in the road ... the knots in the yarn .... the patterns that don't seem so clear!  (time to Frog!) ....  Isaiah 12:2-6 reminds me so eloquently -

Surely God is my salvation;  I will trust and not be afraid.  The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song.  Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name;  make known among the nations what He has done, and proclaim that His name is exactly.  Sing to the Lord, for He has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.  Shout aloud and sing for joy, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.

looking back on all that God has done for me . . Remembering When . . . encourages me to Press On .... or to just sit and knit and wait for Him ..... His History has proven, time and again, to be Faithful ...." I know Whom i have believed, and am persuaded that He is Able to Keep that which i've committed unto Him against that day!"

looking back ... counting blessings .... grab your crochet hook and make yet another Valentine ... perhaps you could tuck this one inside your Bible to remind you of how much you are loved and cherished by HIM!

How to Increase withOUT that surprized look

You can knit!     You can purl [even though you may not like it as much]      . . BUT can you Increase and Decrease on PURPOSE, rather than find yourself  bewildered at the end of the row by the number of stitches that are on your needles?

Do you remember those early days when you started out with 10 stitches and just jumped right in .. happily knitting along and after a few inches felt compelled (or instructed) to assess your progress ... and you started counting ...   1     2      3     ... scooting those little stitches right over and feeling so good about what you had learned . . 6    7     8 ..... admiring how MUCH you had accomplished, gushing about how EASY it finally was and how MUCH you LOVED knitting now . . . 10     11      12    . . . .

WHAT??  13 ?   But just a row ago you had 10 !    Gotta LOVE those increases, especially the ones that sneak up on you!  But what IF you could PLAN them?  Place them exactly where you wanted them ????  It's a great concept, and one that actually WORKS very well when planned out ....  and on the "Squeeze Me" scarf each of the main sections begins with an increase from the solid ribbing section. So, here are a few options to consider with Increasing ON PURPOSE:

Backwards Loop Method

You'll see on the pattern that you should M1 - which means Make 1 extra stitch.  In order to accomplish this you could just add an extra loop by making the backwards 'e' cast on, but often times that leaves a hole at the base of that row.  If your yarn is extra bulky, then perhaps it won't show and could be a great option to use.

Another consideration is the Kfb - Knit into the Front AND the Back loop before taking it off the Left Needle.  Grab some practice yarn and after casting on 5 stitches and working in stockinette for a bit just to establish a smooth working surface, why not practice this little "twisted" motion.  Insert your right needle into the stitch just like you normally do.  Pull the loop back towards like, again just like business as usual, but DON'T pull the stitch off of the left needle yet.  Instead, with a slight twist of the wrist, insert the Right Needle into the BACK of that same Left needle stitch and knit it again. Once you have pulled the loop forward and  have it sitting comfortably on your Right Needle you can THEN pull the left stitch off and let it rest on the row below.  You may notice a slight purl bump that shows on the front of your work as a result of this stitch, but once again, depending on the weight and type of yarn, this may not be a big deal .. and serve very nicely in your knitting progress!   For great pictures and video demonstrations click here and look closely at the sampler of options for you. 

Begin your knit stitch as usual, then

with a slight twist, knit into the
BACK of the same loop

and of COURSE, there is the sneaky little Yarn Over that always works it's way in and leaves those precious little "holes" ... or opportunities to decorate - as in buttons or pretty pins - - to further 'embellish' your first attempts!   Why not save those Yarn Over's for lace - - they look GREAT when sprinkled throughout those pieces!

At this time of year when all discussion and focus is on the 'decreasing' of our waistlines, our stashes, etc, why not stop for a time and see where an Increase would be beneficial!  Perhaps increased time with the Lord would make for a great start!  A renewed sense of focus, dwelling a bit longer in His Presence in order to glean those lessons He longs to share .... more time invested will result in a keener awareness of Him when things get rough or we encounter a situation that we weren't expecting ... Increasing your faith because you've learned to recognize His hand, to rest in His promises of care and acknowledge His genuine concern for your well being.

Increases .. on purpose ..... watching the Fruit of the Spirit grow from just a bit of 'fruit salad' on your plate to a beautifully blooming orchard of opportunities to share the wealth and happiness that He has planted and increased within YOU!

 Romans 8:6 says . . the mind controlled by the Spirit is Life and Peace!  

(ie, no surprizes to Him!)

On the 12th day of Christmas . . .

On the 12th day of Christmas

my True Love gave to me,

12 drummers drumming.

Those 12 drummers are playing a cadence that calls us back to the rhythm of faith that guides our every step.  Regardless of the times we may fall out of line, or loose track of where we've been, we find it much easier to lend an ear to the rhythmic flow, step back in and quickly reassemble, based on the very foundations of faith that we've learned from those early childhood days, ingrained deep within our souls and second nature to every choice we make, every day we live.

The Apostles Creed . . 12 statements of faith . .
an established tempo that congretates us into one family

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

2) I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

3) He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.

4) He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell [the grave]. 5) On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 

6) He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

7) I believe in the Holy Spirit,

8) the holy catholic Church,

9) the communion of saints,

10) the forgiveness of sins,

11) the resurrection of the body,

12) and life everlasting.

Knowing what you believe is a defining moment . . some people spend their entire life being a 'seeker' ... weighing all the options, trying new things to see if maybe THIS is the thing that will work, the Thing that will bring peace or direction or hope or forgiveness, when like we've heard for years, Jesus is the Reason for the Season.  Though 'commercial' in nature, the very TRUTH of such a statement resonates to the very core of who we are.

We've spent the past 12 days looking at all the 'gifts' we've received from our True Love .... why not remember these new discoveries with a Christmas Ornament to commemorate things . . . i LOVE a tree that full of memories . . ornaments that tell stories as the lights twinkle around them and you stop and ponder, reliving those moments of significance . . why couldn't this lacey little sphere serve as one of those landmark times in your heart?  or why not make several and share a bit of Christmas sparkle when you give them as gifts - - it would be a great way to also explain the lessons you've learned about this new/old Christmas song!

My favorite Christmas ornament, however, is this precious cupcake pattern.  Why not have a Birthday Party for Jesus?  Knit just one and display it on a beautiful plate, prominently sitting out for all to see.  Or knit them in several shapes and sizes to serve as hostess gifts, thank you gifts, or yet another way to start the conversation rolling about what your True Love gave to you for Christmas.  Just add sprinkles or cherries on top and you've got the sweetest little reminder . . and before long you'll be humming Happy Birthday in the midst of all the commerical Christmas tunes . .

Merry Christmas!  Happy Birthday Jesus!

on the 11th day of Christmas . . .

my True Love gave to me
11 Pipers Piping

11 ... not 12, but 11 pipers that piped the music and message of a Savior that they knew, up close and personal.  The tune that had been implanted deep within their heart .... a melody that would keep them company on the long walks between the villages, on those lonely nights when others questioned their calling yet they knew in their heart of hearts that Jesus WAS who He said ....

Can you name the original 12  11  - - (Judas isn't counted according to this particular song!) ....

Simon Peter and his brother Andrew,
James son of Zebedee, and his brother John,
Philip and Bartholomew,Thomas and Matthew the tax collector,James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus,
Simon the Zealot [and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him]

Men who knew first hand what Jesus' voice sounded like, what things made Him laugh, what things brought Him to tears of compassion or of sorrow.  Men who ate dinner with Him, shared lenghthy journeys and boat rides,  who sat under His leadership and teaching.  Men who experienced a true career change ... and were never the same.  Men who were commanded to be fishers of men, to cast a net that would serve as a Hope and Anchor for those who surrendered to the capture and relinquishment of their own lives in order to find Light and Life through following Jesus Christ. These men KNEW Jesus, and their testimonies were simply a continuation of His final instructions to them ... to Go and Make Disciples.

Have you ever seen your knitting as a venue that God can use to make disciples?  An opportunity to share with someone what your faith in Christ means .. and could mean to them as well?  Or, do you realize that with the gift of your knitting you could say Thank You to someone who is in the ministry, whether by vocation (your church) or simply by daily obedience as they work along side you each day at your desk . .   Isa. 52:7 says "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"  What better way to express your appreciation this Christmas season than with the gift of some warm and wooly slippers  for those 'beautiful feet' that have worked so diligently this year?

In Matthew 28:19 Jesus commanded us to "Go and make disciples".   Well, you and i both know you can't "GO" without a great little purse to hold all phone and debit card and keys and Dr. Pepper Chapstick and your New Testament while you are "GOing" .... so why not say thanks to those you know that GO with a cute little felted tote, just right for tootling around town.  Or for the young at heart, what about this little carry bag that would work up so quick and be so cute when those sweet feet are out sharing the Good News of Christmas.