My husband has warned me this is not another horizontal surface in need of clutter. However, he didn’t say I couldn’t stash/hide yarn in the cupboard!

Then, I got a set of cubby shelves by ClosetMaid for my craft room. That is coming along nicely.

I am a couple of days behind on my daily Bible reading plan. I use an Android app called “You Version”. (there is also an iPad version)  It is really cool. I can close my eyes and have the days reading read to me. Sometimes, I get more out of the passage when I hear it. It is a great feature of this app. And no, it is not a computer voice that reads it.

My local church posts the notes for each weeks sermon to You Version. I can download the notes and edit them on my tablet during the service using a free app called Evernote. I also use Evernote to save some of my patterns. It syncs between my computer and tablet.

I purchased a slipper kit on clearance at Hobby Lobby and made them for myself .

The sole and foot is premade in this kit. I knitted the cuff. I later resewed the foot to the sole because their stitching came out. These are so comfy and cosy to wear.

I thought I had made video of all the stitches used in the Colors of Salvation afghan, but I can’t find them. So either I lost them in the many past crashes of my system or I didn’t get the done. So I am working on that right now.

Until next week,

She faithfully blogs every day and is planning now what daily entry she would make in 2012. She blogs about crochet books and artists. She reviews various yarn and highlights crochet in the news. If crochet is involved, she blogs it. Looking back over her past entries, she has decided in 2012 to photograph what she is wearing each day and how crochet is part of fashion.

I am impressed by this and want to do the same – posting regularly, not offering pictures of myself, I am not photogenic and I have the pictures to prove it.   I need to make a commitment to myself and move forward. Pain has brought a stop to much of what I do, I need a goal to help get back on track.Because of this I feel I have failed the Lord and am having trouble moving forward.  I may try to make it 52 things and see if I can manage to post once a week faithfully.

Now the question is…. what to focus on for 2012.

Any ideas or suggestions?  What would you like to see?

A couple of weeks I won, not one – but two giveaways during the 31 Days of Giveaways by Corchet concupiscence.

Overjoyed at my winning I grabbed a few items of stash and offered up some items myself.

Go to the giveaway posted on her site RIGHT NOW and enter.  There are only a few hours left, so don’t delay.

Click here to go to the giveaway.  Thank you Kathy for hosting this fantastic month of giveaways.

Here is a sneak peak at the prize package.  Wouldn’t it be great to start the new year with some yarn and patterns – and a tote bag to carry your latest project!

P.S.  crocheters will enjoy this too

Knitters Night Before Christmas

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all around me
There was unfinished knitting not under the tree,
The stockings weren’t hung by the chimney with care
‘Cause the heels and the toes had not a stitch there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
But I had not finished the caps for their heads.
Dad was asleep—he was no help at all.
And the sweater for him was 6″ too small.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I put down my needles to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash.
Tripped over my yarn and fell down in my stash.

The tangle of yarn that lay deep as the snow
Reminded me how far I still had to go.
When out on the lawn I heard such a noise,
I was sure it would wake up both Dad and the boys.

And although I was tired–my brain a bit thick,
I knew in a moment that it must be St Nick.
Yet what I heard left me very perplex-ed
For nothing I heard was what I expect-ed.

“Move Rowan! Move Patons! Move Koigu and Clover!
Move Shelridge! Move Starmore! Move Spinrite! Move over!
Lopi, don’t circle around, just stand there in line.
Pay attention you sheep and you’ll work out just fine!

I know this is hard as it’s just your first year
But I’d hate to go back to 8 tiny reindeer.”
I peered over the sill. What I saw was amazing:
Eight wooly sheep on my lawn all a-grazing!

And then in a twinkle, I heard at the door
Santa’s big boots stomping on the porch floor.
I rose from my knees and got back on my feet.
As I turned around, St Nick I did meet.

He was dressed all in wool from his heat to his toe
And his clothes were hand knit from above to below.
A bright Fair Isle sweater he wore on his back.
And his toys were all stuffed in an Aran knit sack.

His hat was a wonder of bobbles and lace
A beautiful frame for his rosey red face.
The scarf on his neck could have stretched for a mile,
And the socks peeking over his boots were Argyle.

On the back of his mitts was an intricate cable.
And suddenly on one I spotted a small label:
“S.C.” in duplicate on the cuff.
So I asked, “Hey, Nick, did YOU knit all this stuff?”
He proudly replied, “Ho, ho, ho, yes I did.
I learned how to knit when I was just a kid.”

He was chubby and plump, a well dressed old man,
And I laughed to myself, for I’d thought up a plan.
I flashed him a grin and jumped up in the air,
And the next thing he knew, he was tied to a chair.

He spoke not a word, but looked down in his lap
Where I had laid my needles and yarn for a cap.
He began then to knit, first one cap then 2–
For the first time I thought I might really get through.

He put heels in the stockings and toes in some socks,
While I sat back drinking a scotch on the rocks.
Quickly like magic his needles they flew,
Good Grief! He was finished by two!

He sprang for his sleigh when I let him go free,
And over his shoulder he looked back at me.
I heard him explain as he sailed past the moon,
“Next year, start your knitting sometime around JUNE!”

                             Author unknown

Once you are ready to take a breather, why not use some of your extra yarn and make 7” x 9” squares for Warm Up America.

Michaels Stores has teamed up with Warm Up America and many stores now have boxes to accept your 7”x9” pieces.  The staff there will them make arrangements to sew these pieces together into blankets which will then be given to local charity.  This allows local craft talent to aid local needs.

This is an excellent way to use up your scrap yarn and help someone keep warm. 

Matt 25:34-36,40

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 

For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.

I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

Today we begin with the color orange. Orange in this story represents “the fire of hell”. Romans 3:23 tells us “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.

Born as sinners, we are condemned to life in hell. Not the physical death, but the spiritual second death – life eternally separated from God.  It is  described in Revelation 21:8 “But the fearful and unbelieving, and the abominable and murderers and whoremongers and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is a second death.”  Sin is not measured by how big a sin it is. Sin is sin. A lie is a sin as murder is.  Sin, no matter how big or how small, separates us from God. Romans 6:23 says “For the wages of sin is death”.

The stitch pattern for this part of the story are fairly easy to do. Just as it is fairly easy to sin.

The stitch pattern in crochet is called “The Alternate Stitch”.  The pattern is accomplished by making a single crochet and a double crochet stitch in the same stitch. Skip a stitch and do another single and double crochet in the next stitch.

Click here to  view a video demonstration of this stitch pattern.

The stitch pattern in knit is called “Vertical Weave”

The vertical stitch is made in a 2 row pattern.  In the first row (right side) “ K2 *slip 1 as if to purl, k1, yo, psso, K2. Repeat from * across

Row 2 (wrong side) Purl across.

Click here to view a video demonstration of this stitch pattern.

You may download a PDF version of the project at: http://www.knittingbiblestudy.com/patterns/ColorsOfSalvation_patternKC.pdf

Join us on facebook to discuss your progress.

Next month we will work on the GOLD color

I have taken each of these colors and various stitch patterns to create a “Colors of Salvation Afghan”.

Each stitch and color represents a segment of the story of God’s love, forgiveness, and promise of Heaven.

Many others joined in 2 years ago for the first Colors Of Salvation Knit/Crochet-along.  It was so much fun I want to do it again.  This time, with videos demonstrations of each set of stitches.

Whether you knit or crochet, this project is a fun way to advance your skill by learning new stitch combinations; review scripture while working through the project.

This project is very versatile.  You can make a full size afghan or a smaller lapghan.  One person commented she made it smaller and stitched the sides to make a tote.

Once you learn the stitch patterns, find your favorite and make that pattern into a scarf.

I will post a video demonstration of the first set of stitches on Saturday, Sept 17, then new pattern stitches each month.  The colors will be worked as follows:

• Sept:  Orange
• Oct:    Gold
• Nov:   Purple
• Dec:   White
• Jan:    Blue
• Feb:  Green
• Mar:  Black & Red Edging and Seaming

You can download the pattern at:  http://www.knittingbiblestudy.com/patterns/ColorsOfSalvation_patternKC.pdf

Will you be joining us?   Follow along on the Facebook page for more information and comments.

One of the first posts I made and actually the first writing that led to the creation of the ‘Knit and Crochet Bible Study’ book was comparing my life to a tangled mess of yarn filled with knots.

I laughed at myself as I realized I obviously have not learned anything because here I was, once again, working on a project and instead of untangling the strands and rolling it into a usable ball, I worked as many stitches as I could from the free yarn. Then I untangled a few more feet of yarn and worked until I ran into another tangle. I worked the entire piece like this!

Romans 7:15 kept running though my mind: "For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate." (Romans 7:15 NAS)   Do you find yourself doing the same thing? You know what needs to be done, you know how you should do, yet you continue in your old habits.

I looked through my stash to start another project. I hope I have learned my lesson. You know the old saying, "The third time is the charm". Hopefully this time I will get it right.

I recently read a post by author and speaker, Kay Arthur of Precept Ministries that reads:

What difference does it make if you’re not in the Word of God on a daily basis? It makes a critical difference. It’s the difference between a Hi-how-are-You?-By the-way-I’ve-been-meaning-to-tell-You relationship with God and a deep intimacy with your heavenly Father. Check out Psalm 119:2, "How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart."

I spoke with a friend on the phone today, we discussed how difficult it is to talk and be mindful of one another when we don’t talk for a long period of time.

I can’t imagine a day going by without speaking to my husband, our relationship is very special and constant contact with each other makes solidifies our commitment.

Looking at how daily contact is so important makes me ashamed that I am so far behind in sending out the newsletter and even posting on the blogs.

I had surgery on my back in July of 2010 and unfortunately I received no relief from the pain so I had a second surgery in March of this year. I neglected my knitting and crochet, I neglected contacting my friends, I neglected my prayer life and I neglected contact with all of you.

While still in pain, I am taking charge to seek reconnection with all.

I have pulled out the yarn, needles and hooks; I have started writing or calling friends, and I am writing to you now. Notice the verse in Psalm 119:2 says "those who seek him".  Those words imply action. I must seek Him. God is always there, reaching out to me, but He will not force Himself on my life. I must in turn reach to Him.

I must also seek contact with you. So I am starting over and will be blogging again.  I have a number of posts started waiting for me to finish.

So grab your hooks, your needles, your yarn and your Bibles. Let’s get back together.

In January I made a list of what I want to accomplish in 2011.  I figured if I did a plan for the year instead of a "resolution" I might accomplish it more easily.

I made three columns: (1) My Personal Life  (2) Knit and Crochet Bible Study (3) Crafting

I considered, as many do when a new year rolls around, reading the Bible in a year. I have tried this and after a few weeks, I miss one day, then another, then I am so far behind I get frustrated and give up. I found a group on Facebook that is reading the New Testament in 2011 reading one chapter a day Monday through Friday. If you like to check it out there is the link:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Read-the-New-Testament-in-2011/185576411468685

For Knit and Crochet Bible Study I had planned to start a once a month radio show/podcast. Perhaps I can get started in February.

My crafting leaves a lot to be desired.  I have started quite a few projects. Every day new patterns come to me through email, online groups, facebook and twitter that I get excited and jump on in.  I hope during this upcoming blizzard (yes, they are using the word blizzard in the forecast) I can just sit down and finish a few.  Maybe by stating it here I can be accountable to you.

There is another personal goal: draw closer to God. The verse above, Psalm 32:8 "The LORD says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.’"  He will guide, but I must follow. How many times He points me in one direction and I see pretty flowers along another path that I rush toward.  As He leads I slow down a bit, I stop awhile as He goes forward. I have to run to catch up.  I can understand the Israelites roaming in the desert. God led them, but they wandered other directions. It’s so easy to do, isn’t it?

So, one month into the new year I have fallen behind in some areas, but I know that the Good Shepherd will not leave me behind.  He will take my hand and draw me to the still, calm waters where I can rest. And that place of rest is better than any flower patch along the road I can find. 

So, how about you? In a few hours January 2011 will be in the past. Are you frustrated about your own goals? How are you encouraged?  Comment below and/or on the Facebook discussion tab.