Pro-Visional purpose . .

yesterday i shared several fun hat patterns for the guys in your life . . or perhaps even for you when you are in that 'just need a hat' day as opposed to the 'lookin cute and sassy' days when you wear those clever little cloches to make a fashion statement and show the world how lucky you are that you can knit your own!  One of those hat patterns came from Purl Bee and in the instructions you were told to cast on using a provisional cast on.  So . . . what EXACTLY does that mean?

If you read through the pattern you noticed that after casting on and knitting you then instructed to removed the waste yarn and "reLOAD" the stitches . .  in traditional knitting you can't put original stitches back in place without RIPPING all the way back down!  BUT with a provisional cast on you CAN achieve such a feat without coming completely unraveled!

As with all of knitting, there are several different ways to accomplish this task and they all involve the use of "Waste Yarn".  Some would encourage you to grab a 'slick or slippery' piece of yarn that would lend itself to NOT sticky to the fibers of your main knitting yarn . . . others simply recommend using an extra length of yarn that is the same WEIGHT as what your main choice will be, but if at all possible use a different color to help distinguish things in the end.  as always, hit that Google button and do some searching on your own to see what makes YOUR heart happy, but i'd like to share a great source with you to practice...  The March Infinity Ring that will be posted in our "String of Purls" pattern page next week begins with a Provisional Cast On as well, so why not take a few minutes and try a little something new?

One of my favorites involves a Crochet Hook . . . please, please, please don't stop reading!  Why not put this on your list next time you go to the store .... Walmart even carries hooks, for goodness sake!  and we both know you've got an extra ball or 2 of yarn that would serve as a nice little "practice" piece!  Things you need to know when you are making a hook selection:  Crochet hook size corresponds directly to Knitting Needle Size!  Needles are "Numbered" and Hooks are "Lettered".  For instance a Size 8 Knitting Needle is the same in diameter as a Size H crochet hook.  And if you will remember 8 = H and then count up or down you can determine what size hook you need. ( H is also the 8th letter in the alphabet)  As with any other option, everyone has a preference and overall my favorite affordable crochet hook is made by Boye.  It is made of metal and has a more pointed end rather than a flat, wide end on the hook. I have also found that i prefer the metal instead of a plastic option . . not really sure how i developed such opinions, but because i'm a girl and because "i said so" that seems to work just fine for me!  :)  Lion Brand makes hooks that are a stronger plastic and would certainly work in a pinch - i'm not THAT much of a snob, but i just like the way that the Boye hooks fit my hand and i like the location of that little "flat, squishy" section in correlation to the overall weight and situation

of the hook as i hold it!  Please make a quick trip and grab you a crochet hook and practice this technique.  The tutorial on KnittingatKnoon has a quick and simple explanation ... easy to follow once you get over feeling awkward . . remember how weird holding TWO needles felt . . . this is just one!  HALF as much weirdness!  TWICE as many SMILES for learning something new!  And another little "fun" prize with this method is that you can literally UnZIP the chain and reload your stitches onto the needle when the pattern tells you to!  (Sometimes it's the simple things . . . . )

Thinking outside the Box . . or Knitting Bag . . is often a scary option for me.  I like to follow the pattern, for the most part, and wouldn't consider myself the most 'daring' of personalities by ANY stretch.  I've learned over the years that it's easier to follow the rules and do what i'm told .. or expected .. and the results make for a much more pleasant day . . or outcome . . for ALL of us!  (if only my children would have acquiesced to this philosophy when they were still toddlers - -)  And while it's easy to be confessional about my "structured" style of knitting, i find that i must truly CONFESS to my own stubbornness and fear when it comes to applying this same 'obedience' to my heart!  All throughout God's Word i am instructed . . encouraged . . provided with Promises . . that i should place my trust in Christ alone . . despite the problems or difficulties . . regardless of whether i truly 'understand' or can see the end result . . Blind Faith - as it were! 

and yet how BLIND is it really, when i KNOW Who i Believe in ... His Faithfulness has NEVER let me down and while i often may not visually SEE things up close and personal, the end results have ALWAYS been for my good ... have ALWAYS been profitable for making and molding me into His child ..... the Tweaking has ALWAYS left improvements and not mistakes . . Peace that passes all understanding!

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is stayed on Thee,

because he trusts in You.  Trust in the Lord forever,

for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal!  (Isa. 26:3-4)

One hook shouldn't be more than a couple of dollars, so let's do the math:

$2.00 - 40 % =  No Excuses!

Friday Funnies

i'm really not one who likes to sit down and talk politics .... i'm not a big fan of getting everyone worked up and then having to sit and listen to countless hours of opinions .... but it seems everywhere i go these days that most everyone has SOMEthing to say about the Health Care Plan that is looming before us. And so, to that end, i'd like to chip in my 2 cents worth with the following confession:

I'm In Therapy

and Knitting it Cheaper than a Psychiatrist!

have you checked your co-pay lately?  mine just went up again this year, along WITH the amount of i pay for my insurance beFORE i ever even go to the doctor!  Now don't get me wrong - i am SO very grateful for insurance ... to have a job that affords me that option ... and then pays me enough money to give my money BACK to them for such care should i ever need it.  However, i have come to realize that for the SAME amount of money, my "Co-Pay" can buy a luxurious little ball of cashmere .... or countless skeins of cotton . . or enough alpaca to make a sweater! and who WOULDN'T feel better just knowing that some new bamboo needles were what the doctor ordered!  it might even be enough to buy my own sheep so i would ALWAYS have wool to spin!

it's nice having that Safety Net to fall back on .... to have that security tucked in my back pocket ..... there when i need it, though i pray i never really have to find out to what extent! Having a Peace that passes understanding makes so MUCH of what we encounter each day actually "do-able" ... have you ever noticed? Having the privilege of being able to whisper God's name and KNOW that He is there .... the assurance of His Promise of the Gift of Salvation - - which comes with the reality of His Help, His willingness to Lead .... to meet my needs, heal my hurts, share my joys AND my sorrows .....

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are His everlasting arms!

Deut. 33:27

THAT is a truth that NO one can dispute .... that can make it 'all' better!  The best insurance yet!

and just one more thing:  Let me write you a little quick prescription to make it all better, while we're talking here:

just present this "Prescription" at any check out and see how much better you feel!  (fyi .... Michael's and Joanne's will also honor THIS particular coupon ..... )     and LOOK!  it appears you're feeling better .. i think your color's coming back!  Happy Friday!