Yarn Along ~ Hats and Baby Blankets

I was going through my yarn basket and 

found this hat that I have yet to finish...

I need to ask about the decreasing of it so that 

I can get it off the needles...

*

I ordered this yarn to do a fast baby blanket

for a friend's young girl who is ill...

It's hard to be so far from so many I have known and loved

over my life and then to hear of a friend's ill child (cancer),

well, all I can do is knit and pray;

and so I will endeavour to do... 

*

Still accruing more squares on my

baby square blanket...

Trying to decide what colour yarn to 

sew it all together in; the blue or the yellow;

the yellow is a bit of a thicker yarn than the blue;

not sure what is better ~ to sew with the softer/weaker blue yarn

or the denser yellow.

Thoughts, suggestions? 

Meanwhile, Cleo the ever present Cat whose

antics always make Mr. Husband and I laugh...

She had messed up our rug with her running and darting...

she is constantly trying to get in the way

when we are doing our Lenten prayer of St. Ephraim with prostrations;

I've heard that similar cats of our persuasion have demonstrated

similar impiety...

so funny...

*

Reading... I just finished this lovely book...

Elder Porphyrios Testimonies and Experiences 

What can I say?

the newly Sainted Elder Porphyrios is so gentle, loving while

being faithful to Christ.

*

I am pondering many of his words and am growing,

through his influence via these books,

in my awareness of God's gentleness, love and mercy.

*

I've also been on a Madeleine L' Engle re-read kick.

This week it is the very full of family drama novel

a live coal in the sea

It's not the easiest reading per say, as it deals with

a great deal of human brokenness, betrayal and loss....

But our world is full of such horrors and I think

L' Engle often grapples with them in ways that are life-giving...

*

I am pondering L' Engle a lot these days and hope to write 

more on her in the future;

for now, I am aware of how much her novels are about

moving towards light, healing and seeking to wake up 

on the inward spiritual level.

*

So, what are you reading and creating?

Do Yarn Along with us!

Yarn Along: Squares and Dragons in the Waters

Lots going on

and so my baby squares blanket is 

inching away more slowly than I would like...

Still, I have done more than 4 new squares

since last week...

just have a long way to go!

Patience is the key!

*

I am re-reading Madeleine L' Engle's

Dragons in the Waters.

It's proving to be exactly what I need right now.

*

What are you reading and creating?

Yarn Along with us!!

Yarn Along: Blue and Yellow for Baby

I've been patiently knitting squares.

I get a few done each ride to our far away church.

Blues and Yellows for a Baby Boy

for a new mother who I care for's baby boy! 

The boy is due God willing in

the next few months.

*

Mr. Husband estimates that I need a 5th more squares,

which I think means 5x what I have now.

That sound about right.

I have to get busy on this blanket!

I loved my bigger (twin sized bed) 

many coloured blanket and thought 

I would make baby blankets the same way...

with some improvisation and changes of course,

as that is the joy of creating!

Ravelry here.

*

Those who know me and who read my blog

may have figured out that I love the newly sainted

Elder Porphyrios.

He is a Saint that teaches us so gently how to love

and relate to others.

*

I am slowly reading the book on him called

With Elder Porphyrios: A Spiritual Child Remembers

and it is not only teaching me with love

but showing me what love can look like. 

I am so thankful for such uplifting and truly encouraging reading!

*

What are you reading and creating??

Yarn Along with us!

Baby Slippers and Blanket Squares

I am making little baby slippers!

Ravelry here.

This yarn is even more beautiful in colour;

a bright ruby red...

It is being made into squares for a small blanket.

I am making a baby blanket of blue and yellow squares...

my cousin is having a baby boy... :)

I am finally getting around to reading

Mat. Constantina's book

Scent of Holiness.

(Some of my Orthodox blog friends have already 

written on this book, here and here).

*

It is an easy read, like the longer Russian book 

Everyday Saints.

Simple stories that teach things gently...

I am finding it encouraging and engaging. 

*

Great Lent is coming soon ~ and I am finding this 

read to be something that is preparing ~ and encouraging ~ 

me for this.

*

I have sock yarn coming in the mail... with

size 1 DPNs... 

I am hoping to start on these

 by the beginning of Lent...

Mr. Husband only wants me to knit him socks,

so socks it will be! 

*

I am using an older pattern from my Oma's 

knitting book 

that I was given for my birthday

and am really excited about this.

*

What are you reading and creating?

Yarn along with us!

Baby Blue with future yellow duck

 

My baby blanket is almost done!
I wrote here about my
learning to pick up stitches and the learning process.
I hope to add the duck in the middle soon!
Ravelry here.
*
I have some things to attend to this Wednesday that
are going to keep me away from the computer.
Because of this fact,
I am posting my progress here on my blog but
will be unable to engage in many other's yarn along's this week
so am not adding it to Ginny's wonderful link up.
*
I have recently (in chapter 2 now!) started
GK Chesterton's Orthodoxy
and am really enjoying it!
*
I would love to hear what you are making and reading ~
do leave a comment for me
(will see it soonish, God willing!)
and Yarn Along with us!
*

St. Elizabeth's Day

 

Mr. Husband and I had
a wonderful time
celebrating St. Elizabeth's Day
yesterday!
*
After the festivities, we went to
Michael's and I got some
great knitting supplies and more
yarn for the
September School Blanket I am making!
I got a fun deep yellow and a great
orange to add to the blanket!
*
Thank you for your prayers for the
newly born child.
So far so good from what I have heard.
We are praying very much for them all.
And I started my blanket for them!
It will DV be a blue blanket with a yellow boarder.
I would love to do a simple
knit yellow duck in the centre.
Any ideas where I can do this without too much
knitting stress
(since I have not done pattern work yet)?
*
It was so wonderful to be in church
for St. Elizabeth after hearing about
the newly born 1.5 lb baby and my
Aunt's struggles with a sudden broken arm.
*
We are so blessed to have the church to pray
in and for those we love and care about.
I am so thankful!
*
What are you thankful for today?

Prayer Request for very small baby and his family

When I learned that my cousin's wife
was expecting,
I was so excited!
Mr. Husband and I have been praying for a while for
this child's birth...
*
The mother has been in hospital for sometime now and
the baby was born at 1.5 lbs
last night at 27.5 weeks along.


The baby is a boy.
I already have the yarn for the blanket.

 

My Aunt broke her arm
the same day she became a Grandmother.
So my Uncle called his Mother,
My Grandmother,
with the news from the local hospital
with my Aunt.
*
Please pray for this baby, his parents and his Grandparents!

Another first ~ knitting a hat ~ plus blankets, scarves, dish cloths

A friend from my far-away church
is teaching me how to knit a hat
in a round!
*
I got a 16 inch cord, size 7 needles
and some (on clearance) Romanian wool
and I cast on 88 stitches and my
friend joined them together and knit the
first row.

I've knit more than an inch already!
It's fun that in a round I can do the garter stitch
and it turns into stockinette. :)

It's a very enjoyable knit!

I am almost done with another scarf.
Ravelry here.

Knitting a dish cloth for a friend.
I am going to have to frog a bit of it as
I made a few mistakes a row or so back...
Ravelry here.

I recently finished two baby blankets.
The story of the one above is here and
is teaching me acceptance of how things are.
Ravelry here.

This is the second one I knit.
Story here.
Raverly here.

 

I am still loving
The Hidden Art of Homemaking
by Edith Schaeffer!
*
I am reading it out of order,
since they are separate chapters on various
art and homemaking themes.
I really appreciated the chapter on Interior Decoration and
not waiting until one has their 'dream home'
to decorate and make things one's home.
Her tips on how to do things with creativity and
frugality are really wonderful
as is her section on when traveling take
a few familiar things with oneself for a sense of
continuity and how it is esp. important
for children who are traveling to have this.
*
For sure Edith would have loved the
movement in arts and crafts that we
are part of here,
knitting, crocheting and making beautiful
handmade things for our homes,
our families and for others.
*
What are you creating and reading?
Yarn Along with us!

Baby Blanket # 3

I had two friends
who were having babies this summer.
As a new knitter
I've been so excited to make baby blankets for them!

Here is my third baby blanket.

I was so excited for it and found it
to be a great knitted blanket...

I was so excited!
I had time (unlike the other blanket I did)
to wash it...
I put it on delicate cycle, used wool-lite and cold water.

When it came out
it was like a different blanket.

Instead of being a blanket that was
more tightly knit with a 'cushy' feel,
it has stretched. 

It's still a nice blanket
but it lost something by washing it...

I've been assured that it will still be
put to good use.

 

I am thinking next time that I will
knit on smaller needles.
*
Though the blanket changed,
it was soft if a bit thinner than before.
*
I guess it is like life,
we try our best with what we know,
what we have and then we have to leave the outcome
to God and appreciate what the result is.
*
This blanket did not turn out as I thought
but I fixed it up as best I could
(ends had come back out, unraveling)
and it is a more delicate blanket now.
*
And so it is,
life and knitting and seeing how things are
and being thankful for what one has.
*
Ravelry here.

Easter/Bright Week Baby Blanket

A while back I finished
the Easter & Bright Week Baby Blanket.
Here are some pictures when it was done but
ends not woven in yet.

Each knitted item,
one of my friends reminded me,
is unique.

This one has lots of green.

I enjoyed knitting it with the happy
anticipation of a baby girl being born and having it.

I gave it to the mother before
the baby was born...

A baby's birth I always find to be a real
act of faith and of hope.

It was a joy to knit because of
the happiness I felt for the parents.

 

I love making things to give to others!
*
Ravelry here.

Life is Good ~ Linus AKA Baby Blanket # 1 is Done!

The little baby blanket began with
 this small gauge swatch.

And then I began knitting it,
back at the end of March!
I took it everywhere with me,
as in if I went to church it came with me
in the car.
Knit, knit, knit....

Some of the rows are really good...

Some,
especially in the first quarter of it,
are with mistakes...
but I had just been knitting for 1 month or so
and was still in the throes of Lent and the Mono.
Now if only I knew how to purposely make those
mistakes ... sometimes a pattern calls for holes like these!

I finished and bound it off a while ago,
but still have to weave in all the loose threads.

 

So I did that this afternoon and then showed it to
Mr. Husband...
and then said I was off to blog it,
to which he replied,
life is good.
*
Whew.
Good to have my cute as a button nephew's
baby blanket done!
It was made with love and some prayer
and that is best of all.
*
PS: Ravelry here.