Next One

I've started another shawl for a friend who has to have surgery this month. I saw this yarn and it was so full of color I knew it was for her.

The little guy knows this lady and really likes her. He's gotten involved in the process. Last weekend he helped me wind the yarn. -In his stylish skull pj's!

He likes to read to me while I knit,as well.

Finished Shawl

I'm happy with the results of this final shawl. It took more yarn than I had estimated but my aunt is worth it. I don't think the pictures do it justice, but I don't want to wait to get it in the mail. I still have to write the letter. I take notes as I'm knitting so that all of the energy around me goes into the knitting. Then I write a letter with all of the information for the person receiving the shawl. (I wish I could record the beautiful song coming from the bedroom as the little guy is getting ready for bed. He loves to sing. Mary Fran would like that)

She's going thru Chemo and I hear that it makes one cold. All the snow makes one cold. All of the news makes one cold.....I hope this will help to bring warmth to her and she will know that she is loved.

Meanwhile,trying to go to sleep.....

Serenity Shawl

I found the perfect yarn for the shawl. It's Frog Tree Yarns, Meriboo (Merino & Bamboo). It's lovely to look at, wonderful to work with, AND better yet, the company is Fair Trade.

Check them out...Frog Tree Yarns

I think my aunt will like that the purchase of the yarn will help women to make a living wage. I feel like I'm giving twice.

I got it, and some advice, at my LYS... The Knitting Knook.

This is the test swatch, and I plan to incorporate the chain on both sides. This yarn is a dk weight so I doubled it up and I'm using a size 15 needle. The drape is nice, yet there will be some warmth to it. I'm still using the pattern of 3's but I'm designing my own look for this piece.

I like the gradual change to purple better than a stripe. The color change is made by changing only one strand at a time and using 3 rows to complete the change.

More to come...

Sad Day

Today has been a difficult day. I got up preoccupied because January 21st was the day that one of my dearest friends died. It was his Birthday. Even tho’ he died 21 years ago, I still grieve and miss him all the time, but especially every January. He changed my life and I will never forget what he did for me.

I went about the morning and checked the email, where I got some reminders from other friends about the anniversary. I feel sad because still others are telling me sad stories about what is going on in their lives. My sister in law has a student and his family die in a fire overnight, a friend has her car break down completely and thinks she might get laid off soon. Then I get a family email that one of my favorite in laws (an aunt) has cancer. She has to start Chemo next week. She is hoping for the best and thinks that the treatment will help.

Meanwhile, even tho’ I’m sad, I decide to start lessons with the little guy. Math goes well. Math usually goes well. We decide to have a craft day. PERFECT!! The little guy gathers up items to start making Valentines. We start cutting and pasting. He keeps asking me to look in different places for more supplies. As I do, I find love notes from him. “I Love Mommy”. I find about 4 of them and he gives me a hug every time. He knew I was sad even tho’ I was trying to hide it, and knew what to do. It really helped me. Cool thing is, I kept finding the notes all day. I found one in the laundry hamper, on the basement steps, in the bathroom, on the bed...he was busy. What a kind soul. I never even told him what was going on, yet he knew what to do.

The little guy has helped me to realize that I have to do something for my Aunt. I’m going to make her a prayer shawl. I’ll have to stop everything else and get it done quickly. I understand you get cold during Chemo treatments. I’ve made them before. Maybe I’ll design one for her...I’m starting to get the creative wheels going.

Love, Art and Knitting will get us thru the darkness.

Knitting With the TV

When the little guy was very young, I used to let him watch Sesame Street. It was a good break for both of us. I soon learned that I couldn't knit at the same time. The Count, Cookie monster, Grover, and even Big Bird would often count things. ANYTHING! And they would sing while they were counting, which makes you pay attention even more...and then you have the counting song in your head. Great for the 4 year old, but not for trying to knit. I can't keep count of the stitches on my sock with The Count singing about bats.

So the little guy isn't so little anymore and I get my knitting done after he goes to bed. Now I have a new challenge. I've learned there's numbers all over the TV! Sadly I can recite the number for Empire flooring. I now know that I can't knit to the news. Well, not all of the news but the the weather. "The temperature is now 12 degrees, but lets look at how cold it is around the state...13 in... 14 closer to the shoreline...etc." Oh NO! I'm counting here. I change the channel. Thinking it was safe, I frogged the socks (too many mistakes on size 1 needles), and started over. I find out that when you don't have cable TV, all of late night is about numbers. Every commercial has a phone number they have to repeat at least 4 times. then there's "But wait! If you act in the next 10 minutes we'll add 2 more...." Even David Letterman has the top 10! I'M TRYING TO COUNT HERE! I frogged the socks again and will start over...only this time I'll remember that there is a mute button.

Learning at Home

My friend has given the little guy 2 complete seasons of "Dirty Jobs" from Discovery. He's so excited about it. It's amazing the details he pays attention to and what he learns. He learns something from everything...but I'm especially amused at what he learns from this show.

Today, we are done with the lessons for the day, and he asks if he can watch some of the video as a reward. (his idea...ok lets go with that) So, I'm in another room, busy with dinner. I'm trying not to listen to all of the gross things that the host, Mike, is talking about. Suddenly, the little guy yells, "Hey Mommy, did you know that sharks have 2 penises?".

No, I didn't know that.

Gift

One of my favorite Christmas gifts came from my friend in AL. I make shawls. Lots of shawls. I wear shawls. All of the time. In a conversation, I casually mentioned that I don't have a shawl pin. She was aghast. So this came in the mail. I don't know the artists name. I love it and I feel so "uptown". Now I don't have to keep adjusting the shawl when I knit either.

I'm still working on this blog. I hope it gets easier as I get further along. I'm told I need more color...have to ask the geniuses at the apple store about that. ( I'm taking classes and workshops and that's what they like to be called...genius. ) I worry, because I always worry, that too much color will interfere with the knitting photos. But then that creates more pressure for myself and my designs. Isn't this a right brain left brain thing?