Friday, April 23, 2010

New Stitch Knitch

i don't know if it's the excitement in knowing that i'm heading to atlanta in the morning for my 1st official Stitches South .... or just the eagerness to try some new stitches .... but i found myself this week wanting to step out, just a bit, of my comfort zone and expirement with some new and fun options .....



i've had my eye on this sweater pattern that i 1st saw in Knitscene's Winter 07/Spring 08 issue. funny how something gets stuck in your mind ... and eventually might just come to fruition! (what's even MORE impressive is that i actually could remember where i put the magazine!) i found this awesome Lion Brand Cotton Ease in Maize. The problem/challenge is that the yarn i am using is NOT what the pattern calls for ... but the answer, i'm praying, is in doing a SWATCH! There... I Said it! and ... i DID it! i swatched and counted rows and stitches and actually did some MATH ... then laid down and waited for the headache to subside! :)

Based on my swatches and counting i cast on 154 stitches and started the Seed Stitch borders and have managed to get 2.5" knit in just a day! it's going fast and i'm hoping that the simplicity of the knitting will fill in the bus ride time .... did i mention that i'm going to Stitches South tomorrow! Rows and Rows and Rows of yarn and needles and patterns and yarn and needles and like minded friends shopping and comparing all their yarn and needles ...... oh my soul!!!!! i can't wait!!!!


I also am in the midst of rehearsals for our school spring musical and with that much rehearsal time comes 'opportunities' to sit and knit in between songs and while they run their lines so .... i found some new stitch patterns that i tried this week as well! New washcloths for an upcoming wedding shower provided a perfect opportunity for an awesome variation on the basketweave pattern and also to try a variation of the Seed Stitch (like i'm using on my sweater) called the Moss Stitch. Click here for the instructions for both of these washcloths .... Look under the New Stitch Knitch tab.


This has been a week where time has flown by ... and then it stood still ..... but regardless of the pace of the moment, i have found that knitting provides me with VALUE to fill each moment. I want to be a good steward of the gifts that God has given me and when i reach into my knitting bag and pull out the yarn and needles i find that it's not long before someone is asking what i'm working on .... and to be able to say that i'm a part of a special group of women who knit because they love the Lord and each other .. and inspire and share burdens and giggles and memories and knitted gifts ...... That, my friend is the Knitch i always want to be a part of!




Tuesday, April 13, 2010

The Lily of the Valley

We celebrated Easter on the 1st weekend of April this year. And this special season brings so many thoughts to mind ... the most prominent of which is the simple fact that as Christians we have the assurance that Christ died for us and the hope of an eternity spent with Him.

This fact of faith is symbolized in so many ways ... in songs ... in floral arrangements ..... and now in lace as well. I found a beautifuly Lily of the Valley chart in Knitted Lace of Estonia by Nancy Bush. This simple pattern has been modified just a bit for easier knitting by adding a bobble rather than a nupp to the knitting process. Click Here for April's instructions.
Christ is Risen - He is Risen Indeed!