Knitting Therapy

Hi there,

Happy New Year!  I’ve been mentally writing blog posts to you over the last month or so but haven’t actually written them down until now.  Wait, that’s not entirely true, I wrote a nice post before the end of 2017 but for whatever reason, it was deleted mysteriously by blogger while I attempted to insert photos using my new iPad <big eye roll>.  Geez, sometimes technology is NOT my friend, if you know what I mean.

Oh looky what I did! Yay!!  Okay, the above photo is my new obsession....winding yarn with Ball Winder received as a Christmas gift, there’s also a yarn Swift that completes the yarn winding experience.  The Swift is for yarns that are in hanks, these yarns were in skein form from Joann’s not the fancier yarns in hank form. I just waned to get a feel for the ball winder and I’m pleased to report it was a successful experience and I’ll be “caking” up more skeins in the future, which makes knitting so much easier.

After the “fall” and between physical therapy twice a week and recovering from PT & working, the remainder of time I spent time knitting more cowls, a shawl and starting a pair of socks (which I recently “un-knit”).  

  I really fell in love with the Concerto Cowl pattern and have since knitted several cowls using variegated yarns, each time being totally delighted with the “new”look just from changing yarn colors and the simple slip stitch pattern.

Since I love the pattern so much it’s only natural to segway into knitting other projects like a hat and scarf!  Who knew one simple pattern would lead to more creative design projects.  If you’d like the free pattern from Lion Brand just click this link and then search for Concerto Cowl . Enjoy!

Each week at knitting group I’m inspired by the gorgeous wraps my friend Gail makes and thought it would be fun to try one.  This is my very first attempt at a wrap/shawl with lace.  Pinterest is a great source for ideas and inspiration and after several hours looking I found a free pattern for the Gatlin scarf. Simple stockinette for a beginners to knit and interesting with yarn overs to create the lace.

Once again I used a variegated yarn, this time in cotton baby weight #3. I love the drape of the knitted fabric, lightweight and pale variegated colors.

For Christmas my husband gave me a set of Chiagoo interchangeable circular knitting needles I’ve been eyeing for some time. then purchased a set of DPNs to complete the set, all in hopes of keeping my New Years promise to myself of learning to knit socks!

Here’s

 the socks I started on my new Chiagoo needles, then ripped them out because I wanted to try a different pattern. Stay tuned for the sock saga....

TOBECONTINUED

Until next time, BEE CREATIVE! 

Suzy

Knitting On A Mission

Hello Everyone!

Late last summer in our church newsletter The Messenger, was plea for items of warmth for a village in Guatemala where our mission team was planning to visit in October/November.  The article was asking for donations of school supplies, blankets, hats, and other items that were needed for the families that live in less than ideal conditions.  As I read the article about the families I knew in my heart the need to use my God-given talent of knitting for this purpose. 

 I belong to Heart and Hands Knitters which is a group of ladies that knit prayer shawls for our hospitals, nursing homes, cancer centers, etc.  They also knit hats and baby blankets and other items for the needy.  While I've knitted prayer shawls and blankets, my forte is knitting newborn baby hats for the local hospital. 

But this one day reading that newsletter article I was convinced the need was not just a local one but a global one....to reach out beyond our neighborhoods and local communities to help others in need.

That afternoon as my BFF and I were chatting (via text) I mentioned the mission team was going to Guatemala and what was needed, immediately she was On Board and we determined that we would each knit x number of hats per week and make a donation to the mission! 

That's one of the things I love about my very best friend, she is generous and always willing to jump on board to help with any project.  She is a prolific knitter and has a huge stash of yarn, so she's my go-to gal when it comes to knitting projects, PLUS she's really into knitting HATS!  Our goal was to use leftover yarn and therefore reducing our stash while creating a variety of hat sizes that fit newborn to adult. 

It was a wonderful project that kept us busy, from late summer until October we knitted hats of all sizes and colors, it was a great way to use up leftover yarn.  

Yes,<wink> I did purchase yarn (after I used up a considerable amount of leftovers) and was tickled to discover a wonderful variegated yarn that makes its own pattern.   

The mission trip was postponed until the end of January 2015 and we were able to send off three dozen knitted hats to our brothers and sisters in Guatemala. What a blessing to us to be able to use our hands and hearts to the Glory of God!

If you love to knit or crochet, we'd LOVE it if you would consider joining us by knitting a hat or two for our cause! Just let me know if you are willing to knit/crochet a hat (or two or more! There's no limit here!) and I will send you a pattern or you can use your own.  Sizes most needed are adult and child sizes, any style, pattern or color.  My heartfelt thanks for your consideration of this project.

Happily Knitting,
Suzy  

CHANGES ARE COMING

Hello!

Time is rolling along this month at a fast pace and I'm jogging along trying to keep up.  Does that sound like you?  Seriously, I don't know if it is just me trying to keep up or if everyone else feels the same way.  We live in a fast rapidly changing world of technology where once we lived at a slower pace where people wrote letters and waited for a reply, it seems unreal and most unlikely today! Personally, I'd enjoy a slower pace but NOT that slow either, there must be a happy medium. 

Speaking of moving along, have you noticed Sunshine and Lollipops is getting a face lift? A new and improved format arrangement?  What do you think so far?  We are moving toward changes in content and posting on a more consistent basis. My 2015 goal is blogging on a regular weekly schedule. After three years of blogging rather inconsistently,  I've come to the realization blogging takes more thought and more preparation time and more planning than I have been willing to admit and it is important to me. It is important to make more time in my schedule to produce blog worthy posts rather than scramble at the last minute to meet a blog deadline.  This stuff (planning, blogging consistency) doesn't come naturally for me because I'm more of a fly by the seat of your pants kinda gal. But I am trying to change my fly by the seat of your pants style in order to bring you better and more consistent content. To help me with scheduling I've purchased several calendars (pocket and planner) to jot my notes in (because I'm old school), AND printed out a free monthly blog planner online AND I'm making use of an online calendar.  I know, it's a bit overkill, isn't it? Perhaps this is where I go wrong in my effort to keep everything written down (little obsessive that way), but I DO love planners and calendars! How about you? What methods do you use to keep track and on schedule?  

Planning ahead is key to keep things rolling along so I've also created a fun way to track my progress each month in a mini three ring binder (previously a SMASH journal converted to Blog Journal).  It's strictly for blog post ideas and a visual way to keep track of my TO DO and NOTES. I'll share one with you each month.  Here's my January planner pages: 

Goals for 2015 

Monthly Blog Calendar 

WORD Reminder 

Please join me each week for posts featuring Sketchbook Tuesday and Travel Journal Thursday, Heartstrings (featuring crafts, sewing, Home Decorating) Knitting with a Mission, HeART Craft (features Paint/Paper & Collage and Monthly Calendars).  Looking forward to celebrating my fourth year in Blog land with you! 

Bee Creative! 
Suzy