Happy New Year!

2010 is coming to a close and 2011 is, of course, peaking around the corner.  As our grandparents once said...'where did the time go?'

I am looking forward to 2011; I've been challenged, changed, and will cherish 2010.  Months, days, hours, and minutes are now little treasures with miracles enclosed.   Time has a wonderful way of slowly unwrapping these treasures and if we are still, we will recognize the wonder of their contents.  So, now what shall we say to these things...yes, if God is for us, who can be against us.  It is not a matter of 'if', but it is 'when'.  When He manifests is the mindset, no longer 'if' He will do it, or even 'when' He will.  That's why I am so proud of John making that step.  I think it takes some guts to put yourself out there, but then again -- it's 'when', not 'if'.  

Bless you John.  You are, and always will be my favorite worship leader...yes, people DO need the Lord. My, but actually, we all need Him so very much.

Peace and Blessings...

People Need the Lord

I Believe in You and Me

Christmas Blessings!

Christmas Blessings to all!!!  We are getting a little snow today, not as much as some places, but enough for here.

Christmas Day was just beautiful.  Family was here, and grandgirls had a memorable time!  My, time moves so quickly.  Spencer loved his "Santa Bag".  I used my Brother KX 350 double bed, took 200 needles using the Red Heart Christmas yarn and knit 350 rows.  I seamed the sides (no time for handstitching -- used my sewing machine) and made a square bottom.  Ran an I-cord (600 rows) through the picot row in the bag and it was a perfect fit.  My husband loves trains, so I gave him a train set of London Logs.  The container fit very nicely in his Santa Bag.  I wanted to embroider 'Santa's Bag', however, I just ran out of time.  This gives me a lot of ideas for next year.  The Red Heart christmas yarn was perfect for the job.  I used 6.5 skeins, 2 red and 4.5 green, and topped off the bag with 2 skeins of Lion's Brand red fun fur.  It indeed was fun to knit, my husband liked it, and my daughter thought it was the bomb!!   Also, I made another stocking for him this year, but this time I embroidered his name and the year.

I was determined to make him a sweater as well.  I haven't been into the garment making part of knitting too much.  I love the fabric of knitting and the garment making details require more time and patience than I had  yet committed to provide.  Times are changing indeed -- time to come up a little higher in the gifts and callings...he who has an ear -- listen.  After all, if I had to frog it, then I would just frog it.  Knitting is wonderful for blasting fears out of your life.  The word "mistake" is not in the machine knitters vocabulary.  Instead, there are new creations, new lessons and new discoveries. What may seem confusing in writing, comes alive in the doing.  Hmmm...the Word became flesh....

I measured a 2XL sweater shirt to get an idea of where to start with measurements.  Yes, sure -- I knew his measurements, but measurements are flat, and neither my husband or I fit the stereotypical shape of patterns.  he is barrel chested, and I am pear/Mrs. Doubtfire shaped.  No complaints here -- we are happy and healthy.  I used Knitware to create his pattern, but neglected to notice the length.  I checked, adjusted, and doubled checked all the measurements -- except -- the length. 

Well, when I knit/create something for the first time, it is always a HS and me experience.  As I finished the front, I had this knowing that this piece look too short.  Logically (that can be dangerous), I concluded I followed the pattern painstackingly close, so all was well.  Hmmm...now the back is finished, then the sleeves.  This sweater is going to be too short...I could not ignore what I heard.  He is always right.  Boy, to be able to trust Him at all times -- completely, and bringing our questioning mind in line with the truth...we strive for the mark.  Questioning is good, it is wonderful, it is how we connect with this physical world.  It is remembering His truth is the reality, more real than senses!  Afterall, we walk by faith, not by sight. 

Well, any how...

I remember my mom handknitting garments for us for Christmas.  In the middle of the night, here she comes, putting on a blindfold and holding something against me, while pushing on my rump -- told you I was not flat!!  As I mused upon this memory, I chuckled...remembering I was shaped like a 'licorice stick' (as my middle sister labeled me) with a cute little bubble butt.  Well, I figured, this was not going to be a Christmas surprise present  for my husband for this year!  After all, what was more important --- surprise him with a sweater that didn't fit, or knitting him a sweater that would bring him a lifetime of wear.  Today, I got him out of bed (at least it was in the morning - LOL!), asked him to close his eyes, and verified what I already knew, but just had to see for my logical mind to agree with my 'knowing' - from the HS.  No biggie. Back to the drawing board, and I'll frog some of the front and back.  Or, I could just find a short, flat, wide person!!  Nah....!!

There are so many life lessons and principles I have absorbed while knitting at my machine.  Certainly, we are all knitted together in the Body of Christ, and the process of knitting displays and exemplifies so many situations that have helped me to grow and mature. 

I am grateful... to have a passion...to have fun...to bring joy and smiles to those I love and know, and to those I will never meet.

Ahhh...life IS good!!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from our household to yours!!

Inspiration

I remember when I first purchased my Bond knitter and thought of all the wonderful blankets I could make for my granddaughter - Eden Faith.  My, how the time has flown and I am still inspired when I see and think of her.  Now she will have a little sister, Zoe, in March.  With ribber skills blooming, I'm anticipating some nice 'coming home from the hospital' items.  While I haven't decided on much more than the hat, I know a tuck stitch design blanket is in there somewhere.  Smiley Yarns has that wonderful Peter Pan yarn, but then there is always Bernat baby fingering weight which does so nicely on my 940.  Maybe Zoe will get that dedication dress I've been dreaming about (smile).

Of course, I have little London to encourage and inspire me as well. This granddaughter was born January of the following year.  She is such a precious, inquisitive soul, just like her Daddy!  I love little girls!!!  While they are the youngest grands, there are so many more little girls in the family to think about.  So much yarn, so little play time with my machines.

London and Eden - last year

London, this summer - 2010

Eden - this summer - 2010

Eden's mommy -- my babygirl!! (2010)

Photos

This is Bernat eyelash



This was a nice sparkly yarn done on my KX 350 with a crocheted edge




This was a Caron -- I think

 I found some wonderful pictures from last Christmas of scarves I knitted.  It is fun to watch progress from year to year.  I'm grateful to have some ribber experience, although the curl is nice in some of these pictures.  I do prefer a 1 x 1 rib now.  I'm working up to a nice long DJ scarf using my John 3:16 design...

Double Jacquard

Double Jacquard, Double Jacquard, Double Jacquard!!

Mary Lue's Cranberry Harmony and Yellow Symphony

Mary Lue's Coffee and Light Ecru Harmony

Thanks to a lot of reading, videos, help from friends, and a super tutorial by Cathie Sanders of Northtipton, my John 3:16 design has been realized without floats! Patience has its own reward. Now, for the journey of deciding just the right piece for this design.  I would like to use a lower tension as well, just to create a firmer fabric for a jacket pattern.

Update

It seems like it has been eons since I've posted...well, it has been! LOL!!

What a difference a day makes, months make, a year makes. I've added machines, learned many new techniques, joined more groups, left some -- life evolves and change is good.