Prayer Shawl

Have you ever made and given away a prayer shawl? Here are some lovely words you could enclose with your gift. I do not know the author, so if you do, please let me know to whom credit should be given.

In my hand
The knitting needles
Called the energy
Down from the heavens
Wound it 'round the yarn
In intricate pattern
Lacing it through the weave
Turning it into healing.
Straw into gold
Wool into light
Emanating
From every loop
Filled with my prayers
Whispered from my heart

Please receive this shawl.
Curl it around you
Close it over you
Like child's play
And enter into
The warm, dark, quiet
Stillness.
There you can rest
Wait for healing
Make friends with time.

Let your body
Breathe in
The secrets of the shawl.
Feel the light
Reach into your bones
Mending knitting,
Weaving them together
In a new way.
Birthing a new body
Creating a new future.

Prayer Shawl

Have you ever made and given away a prayer shawl? Here are some lovely words you could enclose with your gift. I do not know the author, so if you do, please let me know to whom credit should be given.

In my hand
The knitting needles
Called the energy
Down from the heavens
Wound it 'round the yarn
In intricate pattern
Lacing it through the weave
Turning it into healing.
Straw into gold
Wool into light
Emanating
From every loop
Filled with my prayers
Whispered from my heart

Please receive this shawl.
Curl it around you
Close it over you
Like child's play
And enter into
The warm, dark, quiet
Stillness.
There you can rest
Wait for healing
Make friends with time.

Let your body
Breathe in
The secrets of the shawl.
Feel the light
Reach into your bones
Mending knitting,
Weaving them together
In a new way.
Birthing a new body
Creating a new future.

Sidewalk Sale

Some Seward Merchants are having a Sidewalk Sale this weekend. I think most of them will be staying in their stores because the weather forecast points to continued HOT temperatures. Roxann (My business associate and owner of Cosmic Cow's The Udder Store) has lots of fabric, and also lots of yarn, for heaven's sake, for sale. Well, originally I thought I would have finished my stash busting moves at home by this time and have some of my own aged yarn to dump, I mean sell, at terrific prices, but I have not made any progress on that front.
Therefore, these yarns from Weedy Creek Yarn are on sale for the foreseeable future:

Here are some specs on the sale yarn:
Abracadabra: This is a yarn from Hikoo that changes colors when exposed to ultraviolet light (sunlight). We have two colors left at the store, white to blue and white to pink. The fiber content is 35% Superwash Merino, 50% Polypropylene and 15% Nylon. It comes in a 50 gram hank of 100 yards. US needle size suggested is 4-6, and the gauge is 5.5-6 stitches per inch. It is a DK weight yarn, machine washable. Nice for shawls, hats, mittens, kids items
Piccolino: This is a 4-ply fingering weight yarn of 80% Merino Superwash Wool and 20% nylon. the gauge is 28-32 stitches per inch on size US 1 needles. Nice for baby items or socks. Machine wash.
Recycled Silk Ribbon (5 yard package): This yarn from Darn Good Yarn was made in Nepal or India from recycled silk saris and other materials that would otherwise go to waste. Great for crafting and embellishing.
Tee Cakes: Hikoo's Tee Cakes is constructed using strips of waste left over from the manufacturing of tee shirts. Colorful! Fun! Unique! 51% Cotton scraps, 49% scraps of undetermined fiber content. 225-300 gram cake contains about 75 yards. Use in knitting or crochet projects to make an interesting shawl or cowl, baskets, rugs, bath mats.
Tiara: The fiber content of Tiara yarn is 10% Kid Mohair, 5% Wool, 49% Acrylic, 22% Nylon, 10% Bead, 4% Sequin. Knit or crochet with beads and sequins without all the effort of threading each one! A one-skein shawl pattern is printed on the ball band. US 7-11 needles produces a gauge of 4.5 stitches per inch.
Macaibo; Macaibo and Macaibo Print offer amazing color, texture and pattern changes all in one yarn. The yarn does the design work while you knit or crochet. It is a good choice for lightweight scarves, and a knitting pattern is available at the store. Made up of 51% cotton and 49% Viscose the 175 yard, 50 gram ball knits up to 5.5 stitches per inch on US 6-7 needles.
Starbella: This 100% Acrylic yarn is a richly colored, tape-style yarn used to knit or crochet beautiful scarves, accessories and trims. It is considered a super-bulky weight yarn that comes in a 100 gram ball with about 33 yards. Use crochet hook H8 or US 6 needles for 3.5-4 stitches per inch. Machine wash and dry. Here is a link for knitting directions for a scarf, and a link for a crochet purse.

Cleaning Frenzy

OK. Not really a "frenzy" but I have been cleaning my home for the past two days. When I get into this mood, I have to run with it because it does not hit very often, as you would be able to tell on most days by stepping into my house. I have to say the prospect of guests for July 4 and the following week has something to do with this activity. The other main motivator happened this past Sunday when we invited our neighbors, Duane and Bette, to try some of our home made sangria. (Go check on Pinterest--there are a zillion recipes. Don't forget to come back here!) As we sat relaxing with our drinks I looked around and was embarrassed by the state of our living room. They are coming back on the Fourth, I hope they notice that I cleaned!

I like to think I am channeling Mari Kondo and her method of "tidying up." I did buy her book last year and for several days, while I was home alone, I dug in and tidied up. If I remember right, this should be a one time event--decluttering. I guess I forgot to do the maintaining portion of the process because I am back at it.

Aha moment here: this is something I do when I am home alone for a few days. Dave has gone to Calamus Reservoir with our grandsons. Hmmm.

Well, eventually this post has to get around to YARN, right? I really enjoy my Craftsy.com classes, and a recent one I purchased was Stashbusting with Clara Parkes. My yarn stash needs some Konmari treatment, but for my own peace of mind I want the rest of the house in order before I tidy up my yarn.

Finished object: Blue Hoodie!

I finished the Blue Hoodie. originally I thought I could finish this project in a week, but that was optimistic! It really is a fast knit though. The pattern is called Boxelder Cardigan, and it can be found in the Winter 2013 issue of Knitscene magazine. Of course it is also on Ravelry! I used Simpliworsted yarn, color way Royal and size 7 and 9 needles. There are no seams at all! Construction begins at the top of the hood with a tubular cast on. Now the search for buttons begins!

Blue blob this week

It is a big blue blob right now, but by this time next week my plan is to have a completed hoodie. I really could have used this sweater this week because the temperatures have been quite cool every day.
The pattern is in the Winter 2013 Knitscene issue. I am using the suggested yarn, Simpliworsted by Hikoo, and the color is Royal.

Rub-a-Dub!

Toddler Hooded Towel

Rub-a-Dub is a 100% microfiber yarn distributed by Skacel Knitting. It is very soft, highly absorbent and dries quickly, making it a perfect choice for this "Squeaky Clean Toddler Hooded Towel". The pattern knits up quickly on size 11 needles, with a gauge of about 2 stitches per inch. I used one plus part of a second skein, with enough yarn from the second skein to make two washcloths. What a nice gift for a new Mom! This yarn retails for $16.
Stop by Weedy Creek Yarn and check it out!

March 2016 Knitting

What is on your needles?
I made a pair of socks a few years ago when I was working on my continental technique. My gauge was off a bit, so the socks never fit correctly. They were too large, and because of that they were not comfortable and I was always pulling them up.
So, here is a picture of me frogging my sock.


so that I can make another pair of socks!


This time I am making anklets and using a smaller size needle, so I am hopeful they will fit. I like the two circular needle method of knitting in the round, and I have two 24" size US#1 needles to work these socks.
Here is a tip: if you are frogging (rip it, rip it) some socks (or probably anything you plan to re-knit right away), do not roll the yarn into a ball. Just knit the yarn as it comes off the sock.