Budget Blessings!

angel stash
Originally uploaded by KeepingKnitSimple50

The older i get the more i've come to understand that is really IS all about perspective! Some people NEVER seem to be content with what they have - they're always in search of "IT" ... just ONE more thing ... and then there are those people who would give you the shirt off their back -- the blanket off their needles -- the favorite knitting book off their shelf!

i recently participated in a "Swap on a Budget" group in Ravelry. The goal was to be assigned to a secret pal and over the course of a few months leave clues along the way, coupled with survey questions completed at the initial signing, that would land a budget-friendly swap of knitting prizes from a new friend. The naticipation of waiting for the revealmednt, coupled with the fun of knitting for someone else - collecting goodies and prizes that would fit within the allotted budget constraints - made for a fun adventure. You suddenly find yourself looking for things that you think your new friend would like - in her favorite colors or scents or sizes. Budget conscience shopping was seen as an acceptable, rather than taboo, challenge now! and knowing that my secret pal would receive hre git with open arms AND heart made the trips to the sales rack even more fun! (not to mention it helped justify the shopping! :)

Shopping - or knitting - for someone else seems to be the reason we ALL do much of what we do. The heart of a knitter, I have learned, is a gracious one - always seeking to bring a smile or a hug or a simple expression of love into the life of someone else. We've worked on blessing blankets and baby bibs and discovered the joy and contentment of giving! However, to be the recipient of such generosity - though never our original intent - really IS a special place to be as well!

During the swap my 'secret pal' had to have emergency surgery (unbeknownst to me) and as i waited and waited for my 'prize' to arrive i found myself reverting into a smaller, and more juvenile child with each passing day that my mailbox remained empty! However, the moderator of our forum was busy behind the scenes finding an 'angel' that quickly volunteered to become my new 'secret pal' and before i knew it, there was a box on the counter filled with the goodies shown above!

My favorite colors, POUNDS of yarn in the most awesome color of green, new knitting needles, note cards, a ruler, amazing bags to hold all my knitting ... she even quickly whipped up that awesome striped drawstring bag just for me! and then, as if that weren't enough, she shared her only copy of a special book AND several patterns - one of which was her original design - to compliment the yarn. Most of this was pulled from her stash ... ALL of this was shared from her heart.

CLEARLY blessings can't be measured in dollars - the 'prize' box i received continues to make me smile ... and will, for a LONG time, be a great story to share with others i meet! My needles will always be poised and ready to return that favor ... to be an angel with yarn for wings ... and prizes to share ..... and a renewed awareness of the verse in Hebrews .... to be kind to strangers because you NEVER KNOW when you're hosting an angel unaware!

Blessings!

what does a prayer shawl look like?

a prayer shawl HAS to be a triangular shape to be official, yes?

it can't possibly be a long stripe (i.e scarf) ... and there's NO WAY it could be shaped like a purse.... could it??????

it's been a busy several weeks with lots of projects mixed in ... i've spent many hours searching for 'perfect prayer shawl' patterns .... been involved in a few swaps on Ravelry and wanted to find the perfect pattern for my swap partner .... and all the while i have learned some life lessons as well as some new knitting techniques. For one, i tried a new stitch called the Trinity Stitch and found a new technique that created an interesting texture. When was the last time you veared away from the comfortable stitch you know (knit a row, purl a row) and combined those stitches in a NEW way .... Trinity Stitch is simply a K1, P1, K1 in 1 stitch, then P3together in the next. It only takes 4 rows to complete a pattern. Ready? Cast on a multiple of 4 sts plus 2

Row 1: (RS) Purl

Row 2: k1, *(k1, p1, k1) into next st, p3tog, rep from * to last st, k1.

Row 4: k1, *p3tog, (k1, p1, k1) into next st, rep from * to last st, k1.

Who KNEW that a simple change in perspective - looking at things in a new and different way - could be fun? productive? dare i say, relaxing? I had ever intention of making my swap partner a knitting purse. I found myself praying for her as i knit, asking God to bless her and her family, her knitting that she shares with others, just seeking His favor on her while i knit for her. Well, time constraints limited me to just 1 side of the purse, which i used to turn into a smaller notions bag. i ran the stripes lengthwise, rather than width wise, seamed up the sides and left a flap to fold over - inserted a pocket and some lining and my 1st 'prayer shawl' was filled with goodies - and prayers - and shipped out!

i have many friends who share a common love and affection for a dear family who served as our minister of music so very faithfully for many, many years. we recently learned that Aubrey was having a really hard time with a long term illness and IMMEDIATELY my sweet sisters banded together with their needles and yarn to create a blessing blanket! we have opted for Christmas colors (because our friends brought Christmas to our hearts and our music with a passion that few can match). Casting on a multiple of 3 stitches (not to exceed 24ish...) we have all agreed to knit stripes 4 foot in length and pray for dear Aubrey and Phyllis during this time. You may call them stripes or scarfs but when we meet again, we'll sew them together, spend some more time in prayer for this sweet family, and present them with a blessing blanket --- or --- a prayer shawl!

i've knit 2 stripes so far for aubrey. Have you ever tried the 'mistake rib' pattern? or the diagonal rib stitch pattern? yet again, it"s about

Diagonal Rib (multiple of 4 stitches)

Row 1 (rs) *k2, p2, rep from * to end

Row 2: same as row 1

Row 3: *p1, k2, p1, rep from * to end

Row 4: *p1, k2, p1, rep from * to end

Row 5: *p2, k2, rep from * to end

Row 6: same as row 5

Row 7: *p1, k2, p1, rep from * to end

Row 8: *k1, p2, k1, rep from * to end

Repeat these 8 rows for desired length.

Now, what have i learned from all this? Prayer shawls ARE triangles ... but they are also rectangles and squares. They are long, short, thick, thin. Wool or cotton. Cashmere or Acrylic. A shawl is a covering that is worn to bring comfort, shield from the cold, wrap around us as a gentle reminder that someone was thinking of you, PRAYING for you and whispering your name to the Father. Is that NOT the way that we knit just about every sweet gift that leaves our needles? Romans 8:26 reminds us that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words when we often don't know exactly how to pray, or what to ask for. I have learned that my knitting produces prayer shawls in all shapes and sizes for the people i love, that God has laid on my heart. Some of my prayers are audible... ALL of them are understandable because my Father is always listening.

What else have i discovered? God can use ME and my needles even though i may not fit the standard, pre-conceived idea of a knitter! I may not have as much experience as others, my techniques may be lacking compared to others, my yarn may not be as 'nice' as others.... but when God sees MY heart and my willingness to be used, HE blesses my gifts. He has ordered my days and my yarn (though my stash does seem a bit discombobulated at the moment!) He knows the number of hairs on my head and the number of needles in my knitting bag! When i keep my focus on Him i soon discover that His love for me is the catalyst for all that i do. He sees me with different eyes! How can i NOT share His love with everyone i meet ... some are hurting, some are searching ... but we all need HIM! and a prayer shawl (purse, scarf, blanket) is an outward expression of such a compelling love!

In the rhythm of the needles there is music for the soul.

Be still and know that I Am God!

Football Season is a LOT more fun ...

now that i know how to knit!!!!!!! It's Thursday nite and the nite that so many have been waiting for is finally here ... College Football! Fans are gathered around TVs everywhere to begin that ritual that they've been counting the days for .... declaring allegiance to their team, buying everything imaginable in their favorite colors to show their undying commitment and loyalty ... and for the next few months weekends will now be scheduled around kickoffs ... cookouts and tailgates will become MUCH more significant .. and in order to support this mindset i'm planning for the Fall as well by getting my knitting projects lined up according to the game ..... i have found that knitting affords me a perfect seat to sit back and watch this all unfold ... one quarter at a time, one game at a time .... and in the ideal world, my husband's team will play for the National Championship ... which, for a knitter, translates to a LOT of knitting!!!!

Since he's watching the game with friends tonight i spent the evening doing some meadering of the local yarn stores - I'm getting ready for a secret swap that ends in a few weeks. If you've not discovered Ravelry.com yet i just have to ask: What are you waiting for? There are SO many neat options on that site and one of them is the Swap feature .... anything for Yarn Stashes to Secret Swaps on a Budget to Prayer Shawls and Traveling Scarfs.... My swap partner for this month is a fan of pink and green so i raided by personal stash as well as 'subsidized' it just a bit more tonight and am going to include a Magic Ball for her to make a scarf with .... This is a great way to use up your scraps of yarn that you don't want to throw away but really can't find anything else to do with ....

Ready for a fun "recipe" to take to the games? Begin by raiding your stash and pulling the colors that make you smile (perhaps if you pull Team Colors you'll just blend right in while knitting!) ... Textures are HIGHLY encouraged because they add such Character to your finished project. Grab some 11s or 13s circular (in order to accomodate the large number of stitches) and get ready to knit. If space isn't a big deal, just knit directly from each skein. However, for my swap i'm going to pull 8 yards from each skein and tie them loosely together so i can wrap it into one GyNormous Magic Ball!

Leaving a 6" tail for fringe, start with a slip knot and cast on 100 stitches in your 1st color. Cut your yarn, leaving 6" at this end also so your fringe will match. You are through with your 1st row so set this aside and grab another color.

Repeat the process, making sure to leave approximately the same amount of 'fringe' on both ends and don't forget to vary the colors and textures - thin yarn and large needles will create a lacey row while thick yarn will add some extra "umph" along the way. How FUN will it be to receive this little "prize" in the mail and just start knitting and waiting for a scarf to unveal on her needles. Remember, you can make this as THICK or THIN as you want. Repeat colors often or scatter them throughout ... Some of us can do "Random" better than others :)

When you're happy with what you see i would recommend binding off in the same color as your last row of knitting. (I do have some friends that find that it necessary to 'plan' their magic scarf, or they might not be able to breathe! I also have some kindred-spirit friends who can just grab-n-go! Perhaps this scarf is a bit of a personality test as well! ) Use an overcast knot to tie the fringe a bit more securely and trim if you have to ... or leave dangling if you find that look works for you!

With this disappearing act you may find that if you can clean out your stash, you'll NEED to make a yarn shop run before the NEXT game!!!!! Once again ... it's all about Keeping Knit Simple!

i feel like my blog

what's OLD is NEW again!!!! it's been several weeks now since i started on Crystal's shawl and i'm making slow progress ... two stitches forward, 10 rows ripped back! i initially started out with a softer, DK weight yarn and discovered i don't like garter stitch at that weight, with those needles. Although i had invested a good amount of time into trying to convince myself otherwise, i simply had to say it out loud ... I DON'T LIKE GARTER STITCH! (so, i scrapped that creative option and ALL those cute medallions i had crocheted for inserts and edging) ... ripped it all out and rolled it back into a cute little ball, waiting for the next inspiration to hit! ... i trudged onward to the next pattern and found some warm, soft Homespun that was GOING TO BE IT!!! i could feel it my bones AND my needles, found an awesome pattern and hit the road! About 18 rows into it i made a mistake in reading the pattern, but surely noone but ME would notice, so i just kept knitting .... and trying NOT to look back at row 18 ...... i'm now on row 100, so close to the end ... but i'm still looking down at row 18 and that spot is just GLARING ..... ,,,,really, it's okay, i can just bind off and it will be okay ... or NOT!!!! so, while on the way to taking our daughter back to college for another semester i ripped out 100+ rows all because i refused to make the necessary adjustments BACK ON ROW 18!!!!!!!!

yea well ..... nothing lost .... just LOTS LEARNED ..... if you can't rip, don't EVEN start a project! i started, yet again, on a really simple project and believe it or not ... it is GARTER STITCH and i'm loving it! (what a woman ....fickle? or perhaps, just always open for change and new ideas and approaches!) .... a simple triangle, started from the bottom, knit in garter stitch and feeling ever so soft .... i'll finish it off with a simple lace crochet edge and Crystal's hug should be complete .....

so see ... i'm learning - - sometimes I can dictate the pattern, but often times the YARN dictates the pattern and the wisdom comes in learning to listen ... to hear the melody that needles and yarn are ever so softly trying to sing ....

in the rhythm of the needles there is music for the soul ...

and hopefully a hug for Crystal in the not so distant future!

change in perspective

i have a friend who recently learned that she has breast cancer .... i also have a blanket that i've been working on all summer that i had designated as my 'defining project' of all that i was going to accomplish this summer .... however, upon learning of crystal's circumstances somehow all my 'projects' seem to pale in significance! my blanket can wait ... so can those washcloths that match my new kitchen .... and that sweater i had hoped to wear for the 1st day of school ..... yea well ...... now i'm thinking (knowing) that my attention and prayers should be turned to crystal ... and to finding some way to express to her that i am praying for her .. and wanting to 'fix it' if only i could ..... my yarn and needles have found their way around a shawl pattern that is soft and simple and hopefully will insulate her against some of the cold and discouragement that so often creeps in during these times. seems rather appropriate that a skein of Homespun will now hold all my prayers that she'll find the comforts of her own Home when she wraps this rose colored Hug of Yarn around her shoulders to block the chill... to remind her that she is surrounded by family and friends who are in her balcony ... cheering for her .. praying for her ....

never minimize the significance of something that you make .... handmade is NOT a trait for the fainthearted but rather a characteristic of someone who is generous and thoughtful, creative and willing to share their own heart with someone who has made an impact on theirs!

looking at things in a different way

We've spent the past month learning about crochet as the
compliment to our knitting. We learned all about the granny square .... and the many uses that are out there for this meager little creation. BUT, did you know that Granny's also got Flowers?

Truth be told, Granny's got triangles and squares and flowers and just about any other shape you can imagine and/or crochet! I found these little flowers on the bottom of a Caron pattern and decided to give them a chance to see how well they would blossom! They are very portable and work up rather quickly so my collection is growing and i think i've found an interesting place to plant them!

I recently learned about a dear friend's diagnosis with breast cancer and immediately my needles started looking for yarn and ways to minister to this sweet sister. I found the yarn that my flowers are made from to be quite soft and gentle and before i knew it a shawl was being knit to wrap around her shoulders in the days ahead. What would it look like to sprinkle some of these flowers in the midst of the shawl and then to border them all along the edge? http://www.naturallycaron.com/projects/turnberry/turnberry_1.html

Using a very simple shawl formula I cast on 3 stitches and knit them. I wanted a simple edge for the neck so i'll maintain a 2 stitch border and use the Yarn Over to help distinguish. I also want a central spine so my YOs will help me there as well. With that in mind I started knitting the following:
Row 2: k1, yo, k1, yo, k1. Row 3: k2, yo, k1, yo, knit to end. Row 4: k2, yo, knit to yo, yo, k1, yo, k to end. Row 5 to end: Continue the Row 4 formula until you reach the desired length/width. I'm going to have this one finish out at approximately 65 inches wide, being mindful that my medallions are approximately 4" wide (so that will equate to a knitted shawl of 56 inches wide). I'm also thinking about using the center of each medallion in the middle of my shawl pattern just to break up the garter stitch and create a bit of interest.

There are so many uses for the gifts and talents and yarn we all have in our closet, or under our bed or wherever we may have it stashed. And in those moments when my heart longs to 'fix it' for someone who is hurting, my instincts are to share my heart through my knitting. Though i may not have walked in the steps of my friend, i know that i would want to share a hug and a prayer and a constant reminder that she is surrounded by friends who sincerely want to share in her journey. Simple? Sure. But sometimes the most precious gifts are those with no price tag but carry a treasure chest FULL of encouragement and memories and inspiration!


Today may not have turned out exactly as you would have hoped or planned but maybe that is God's way of asking us to see things in a 'different' way .... using His eyes to help us focus and
adjust our perspective so we can better handle it all.


Some people just see a ball of yarn .... you see a cotton washcloth!

Some people just see a scarf .... you close your eyes and remember the cashmere as it was coming out of the skein, the pleasure of watching the 'perfect pattern' unfold beneath your needles and the contentment in knowing that the 'scarf' was created as a one of a kind gift!


Some see sticks and hooks and string ... you have learned that it in keeping knit simple you have found a catalyst for your passion and an avenue for sharing your heart ... for all to see... one stitch at a time.

simple saturdays

sometimes i think i get so busy looking for the 'ultimate' thing to knit or crochet and i forget that life really is only as complicated as we make it! simple things - simple gifts - are often much more effective and speak volumes in their simplicity... and it is ME that fumbles the ball of yarn and makes a mess out of my intentions!

Such frantic searching can lead one to overlook the obvious .. i.e., the granny square. Do i HAVE to make a HUGE afghan in order to pay proper homage to the granny square and make it the 'end-all-be-all' gift? i recently found another option for granny's square .. modified for the children and/or the young at heart .... and while i'm not really sure how the trademark issues would be to sell such gifts, i know that anything i share from my heart to yours has no financial measure to it ... it's Priceless!

Granny Squares can be filled with kitty cats, hearts, flowers, simple squares .... limited only by your imagination and/or ability to find the pattern if you're not feeling so brave! I found the cat square at http://craftser.org/forum/index.php?topic=89644.30. How cute would a sweet little washcloth made with these sweet little kitties be (lots of good bubble bath time!) .... what about a little purse with cats and flowers and lots of pink or red? http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/ is LOADED with options ....

Go fix a glass of iced tea .... start doing some surfing and before long the sweet and simple summer days will return with plenty of options for making memories that last a lifetime.