Finishing.......

Gretch: I’m just daydreaming over my stash of yarn. So many pretty colors, so many possibilities. How does one ever complete a project with so many yummy patterns enticing you? What’s your secret?


Knit-Shan-Knit: Hmmm. . .one has to determine to finish. It is a whole other animal though, almost a different craft or skill set all together. I have several projects to finish. I am going to be blogging soon with all the projects I have in various stages. I think you have to put your mind to work on one thing, to the end. Seems impossible with all of the possibilities before us. Village Yarn and Tea has a 'finishing' service they offer. They even have a service where a professional knitter will knit the project for you.

Let's talk finishing, shall we Gretch? I have some photos and confessions to make. I also would like to start with this scripture.

There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth

Ecclesiastes 3:1(The Message)

I have found that there is a time for everything. If I prioritize, there seems to be harmony in my day. If I skip around, even in my chores, then something that needed to be done gets neglected.

With knitting, starting is really fun. . .knitting "a ways" into a project is sometimes enjoyable. Finding the pattern, the yarn, or whatever. . .the start is sometimes the best part for most people. I find for example when I get half way through the body of a sweater, I start to wonder. I start to hate what I'm working on and it inevitably gets set in one of my less frequented baskets.


Knitting for someone helps with the finishing process. Knitting towards a baby shower or birthday, or Christmas can be painful but gets it done. My mind does not like to keep at and work at an item until it's done.

A good rule of thumb is to have one big project and one small project going at the same time. This way you can keep your attention on two lovely projects and work on the zippier one when the shawl or blanket is dragging you down. Another tip I can think of is knit large projects in segments, either pieces that you put together later. Knit in stripes. Knit also in details like alternating knit/purl rows, add stripes into this and you will finish before you know it.


So, let's talk finishing techniques. Most of us learned to knit the infernal scarf. (Look infernal up on www.dictionary.com) You will laugh if you have been taught to knit by the infernal scarf method. Well meaning knitting teachers or knitting professionals that want others to join in their fiber fascination, teach folks to knit scarves.


Scarf knitting ensures certain things for the teacher, who would rather be knitting on her project and have you magically learn the skill from a book.

1. You will be knitting straight garter stitch for approximately 4 feet

2. There's not much to help you troubleshoot if you are knitting garter stitch for 4 feet.

3. There's a good chance if you drop a stitch you will pick up a miscellaneous thread and your project will self-heal.

4. Scarf knitting seems to be a right of passage. It is fun if you are taught in the right season.


Let's switch things up and introduce some new first projects to keep newly ordained knitting friends interested. Let's teach them a few more skills than the knit stitch. I suggest that new knitters buy a book or print off pictures off the internet. When you cannot be there for your student, your student can self teach. I love my vogue compact knitting book. Most knitting pattern books will have a couple short chapters on knitting in the front to help out folks who are buying their books and learning how to knit.


Mason Dixon Knitting (book) is an excellent resource that you won't have to hide from your early readers because of expletives in the titles, or suggestive themes.


Ok, so now for the pictures. Then I'll have more words on finishing. I wanna chat about sewing up a project that you've finished all the parts for, zippers, weaving in ends, and blocking. There is a time for everything on earth, you will feel this when you and I COMPLETE a few projects. It is a different animal. It's a different groove. You will dig it and then you will be able to START something else, 'cause that is the funnest part.

One of those fresh projects, this white wool was screaming out, "MAKE BOOTIES FROM ME!" I will. . .I think I might make them with bigger needles.

Brown Sheep Company Lamb's Pride wool with mohair

Eli on the Knifty Knitter. . .he's my knitter...this counts as 'real' knitting. He is learning to handle fiber. . .and will cut down on his juggling challenges when he goes to 2 needles.

Isn't he so handsome!? This was a sweet time, working on stuff with my Eli Jo.
Eli is using the small knitter with Wool Ease Thick and Quick in I think Apple Green.

Monkey Pile and then Monkey laid out for finishing. Did I finish him? NO! I put him back in the basket like a true knitter! His name is Wasabi or Mr Murphy The 2nd. I am knitting him for Sage's 10th birthday. The colors are a little washed out in these photos, the green is exactly wasabi green. Oh Wasabi is knit from one ply alpaca wool.

A premie hat knit from Orange You Glad from Lamb's Pride Wool with mohair. This hat is adorable. This should be finished, only two strands to tie off and weave back through. This project is a fine example of knitting something to just get my grubby hands on pretty wool. Eli the magnificent is in the backround.

These booties are for sale. Premie baby sized. $15 + shipping. Email me for purchase info at:
psalm333@comcast.net I accept PayPal.
Machine wash and dryable. Hand-Knit from Wool Ease wool and acrylic.
Beautiful little boots, may be knee high on a premie. Light sea blue green.

You can email me for this pattern. It's called Dream Swatch. It's fun. A little tricky, but once you get it, you will feel like a knitting stud. I am knitting it from a hand dyed fingering/sock weight cotton. These pictures do not do it justice! Hooray for being in a hurry, next time I will edit my photos better. I will block this item so you can see the magic happening with the crisscrosses. This will be a head wrap. 48 inches long I think? Sounds like the Infernal Scarf, but it's not.

Yes, I'm knitting a blanket! This knit afghan will be called Resplendent. It is made of Manos de Uruguay hand dyed chunky yarn. The colors are electric olive, brown, brown variagated, and a bit of Onyx Lamb's Pride wool. I love this yarn and cannot wait to see it finished. I am using a sewing method of casting off so the edges are not firm, they stay elastic. Another finishing technique I learned from knitting workshop Elizabeth Zimmerman.

A granny square beginning, that I lost interest in. These will now make up the pillow to match:

Hodgepodge, the crochet crazy afghan. When it is finished and blocked it will all be even.
(Fingers crossed)

Here is the lovely Eli with Hodgepodge.

A baby kimono made from Lamb's Pride Wool with mohair, color: limeade FANTASTIC!
This picture does not do this bright green justice.
This pattern is so fun and fast!

Last picture for the night. I have another bin of unfinished projects that will be photographed tomorrow. This picture is of a felt bag I'm making. I need to purchase some onyx Lamb's Pride for the bottom the top and then a thick strap. I am excited to finish this bag. . ..
felting is so fun.

Ok, to be continued..........weaving, casting off, sewing up finished projects, zippers, and blocking. Do you have something you want to finish? Is it time? I am gonna finish this post for now. How's that for finishing? God bless you.

I will be knitting on Dream Swatch or maybe Wasabi the monkey. It's painful to get started, but I gotta start!

Quiet Time of Night

The Stainer family on a journey together.

The bridge was washed out from the November flooding. We had a great time taking a different loop around the area. We had to climb over fallen tress and hike through snow. This was a much needed outing.

10 May 2007 1:12 a.m.
(I know Emma. . .what am I doing up? ? ? I had a lot of fun with you today in the sunshine)
(yes, I am sunburned, yeeeouch!)

This use to be my favorite time of night. I could hear everyone snoring or breathing, sleeping soundly. Right now Kevin is snoring gently and I hear Pudge, our pug, snoring too. . . I am trying to get to bed early and get up earlier. . .but, not tonight. . .

I took a bath a bit ago, and that's the best place to hear everyone snoring or breathing in unison. After midnight. Unless someone is sick, it's a sure thing that it will be quiet. The house is still and I can vegetate.

I wanted to post some pictures tonight to my blog. A couple from our hike to the ice caves and a few from our day out with our churchie friends to Seattle. I still haven't taken pictures of anything I've knitted, so I'm lame. I have currently finished a divine knit hat for me, a baby afgan, and the premie boot booties that I finished awhile ago. I did block them, so I hope to have a picture of a wee infant wearing them soon.

Before I add the pictures I will say I was reading in John 3 today. I love Jesus. I love how he talks to the people. He was so patient and tried hard to communicate mysteries to those around him, and now to us through the bible.

I love God and HIS reality.

I love the bible and how, no matter what I am thinking about or going through the Holy Spirit makes sure I get the wisdom I need from scripture. That's why the bible is described as alive! I also appreciate when I haven't read the bible in awhile that God brings me to a passage that speaks to me, exactly where I'm at.

The next three weeks we will be playing music at our Mother church Cascade Community Church. We will be leading them as the Crosswater Community Church worship team. I'm really excited. I'm not excited about the goodbyes starting up again.....but we'll all get through this together. I'm going to just listen to folks and be with them.

Also, this weekend is our 12th Wedding anniversary. I will post some pics later of our day. We will be doing music for three services at church. . . . . .then we will get away and have some fun. It's also Mother's Day so. . .we'll make some phone calls. We are blessing my Mom with our boys for the day. I think they are the perfect Mother's Day gift!

Have a great day, it's early morning now.

Some pics for you!

All my big strong men. We look like we are out for quite the adventure. Sterling's pants got left home, so we pulled his socks up to his thighs! He did just fine. The hike was a hoot!

Rick's stubborn head (he does not like photos. . .)
Brandon contemplative, Torry, Kwevin from Heaven, and meeee. I took this picture on a timer, unannounced...... Oh, and we had ice water at Pike Place Brewery with our lunch. Not again! ha

Debbie, oh Debbie is so gorgeous. This is my beloved Frank's Momma. Isn't she divine? I have a fun look on my face because I was having fun taking random pictures with my camera. We were climbing the Harbor Steps and not going to Japanese food at my favorite restaurant
. . .because Kevin can be mean sometimes.

Torry and Renee's backsides and some terrific stairs! Just look at them!!!

Frank, Athon, and Jay.....at the Seattle Sculpture Park. This was a fun day. Funny thing, it's called the Fun Day Away. I am so proud of my new Momma sister friend Frank, and new Daddy brother friend Jay. Athon is one of the best babies ever born. There are only a few that come out as good as him. He's contemplative and makes the best sounds. I really am fond of the little guy. I can't wait to see him this weekend. I am going to give him a kwis!

Please send prayer requests to: psalm333@comcast.net
Thank you for perusing my blog.

Knit progress pics coming soon! Stay tuned! ! !

A Good Couple Weeks, now..........

A Good Couple Weeks. . .

This morning I sit here and I'm realizing it's gonna be one of those days. The kind of day where I steal away and cry in the bathroom. Take a few moments in my room when the boys are playing quietly to sit and pray. To lean in to this process of transition and goodbye. I woke up this morning after a really detailed dream about people in my life. I said, "I don't want to leave my friends." On Tuesday I was out running errands and it hit me that I am leaving my protection and security. I am venturing out from underneath Mom's wings. Frank's, Nate's, Brandon's even....

I'm getting older now, so I have learned to not rush out of this place. It will only make me ridiculously hard hearted. So I am crying. I am sighing. I am reminiscing. I am totally hating life at times.

I loved playing my electric guitar this year. What a hoot. I am not playing it yet at Crosswater Church. I will be singing and playing accoustic guitar....Kevin wants me to switch to writing music on my electric. It makes sense, because it's a completely different instrument. So we'll see. I just want to knit right now. I will get a second wind creatively I'm sure this summer. I love when Kevin is on board too. And when he's writing music other than electronica on Garage Band. He's amazing with Garage Band.

I just turned in my completed designs to Aaron for the church logo. He loved them. I also made grayscale examples because he said it needed to look good that way too. My good friend Amy A. said that it's a strong design as far as logos go. I was glad to hear that because I have not designed a logo before and really wanted to do an excellent job. Cherie our children's director asked me to come up with some ideas for the logo for her department. I am going to use a computer for this one, because I think she wants a really eye catching. I'm thinking 3-D design that looks like it's coming off the page. I am going to type in the elements to ppt and mess with their font stuff. I also offered to help with the children's department theme. She liked my idea of Pacific NW river wildlife. I am going to be sketching up ideas for her of fish and other creatures and getting paint swatch samples of colors that would be awesome. The cool thing is Spring is here and this is my favorite colored season.......all the bright new green......you can be sure that color will be in my palette. God brought me a professional quality drafting/art table for $5 off of Craigslist........... so now my work area looks really convincing! hahaa....... It's fun and challenging. A little overwhelming, but, that's usually how things are that I undertake. I love punishment! jk. Thank You God for allowing me to do art for the new church. It's an honor and I need you to inspire and help me.

KNITTING!!!! This is Knit-Shan-Knit after all...........
So, right now, I am knitting premie baby booties to sell at Evergreen Hospital's postpartum center. I think I found a great pattern to use in my baby boots design. The foot is all knit in one piece...very little to weave in at the end. I have four afgans that I am going to make. I want to make baby stuff that is not conventionally colored. The colors for the afgans are: black, kelly green, rust and a crazy granny square quilt. I will post pictures after I finish school and house keeping today.......The premie booties I'm making are light dusty aqua. They are amazing. I would like to get a picture of them on a little one after they sell. The booties I make are boots, knee high. I think I might make leg warmers too....those are popular right now. I get excited about knitting baby items because they are quick to knit. There are so many exciting colors out there to create with.
I'll post pictures in a little bit.

Pray for us that are going to Crosswater. Lift up our planting core team and our friends as we leave the nest. Pray that if we're sad that, we can just be sad and not get ulcers in the process!

Have a blessed day.
As I made coffee today this scripture came to mind:

Isaiah 43:18-20

18 "Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past.

19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.

20 The wild animals honor me,
the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the desert
and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen

Much love to you today where ever and who ever you are.
The God of love, loves YOU. . .made you and reaches out to you each day.
Take a look at the spring trees and flowers, imagine they are his hands......reaching out to you....
He is more wonderful than you can imagine, ever.........he waits.........
He is splendid and very good. Generous and ready to help with anything.
What would I do if He had not rescued me.
He healed my wounded life and now I will sing to glorify.

Please email me at: psalm333@comcast.net if you need prayer or would like to know more about Jesus.

A SPACIOUS PLACE

...My Eli...






He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because he delighted in me.
Psalm 18:19

Happy Monday KSK readers (knit-shan-knit):

Today I am listening to Leeland 'Sound of Melodies' It's a tremendous cd. I recommend it!

What a weird feeling I have today.

We had such a hard week with the boys.

Yesterday we woke up and it was like something had let up or let go.

All our boys are changing so much these days. It just seemed like Kevin and I were having to work so hard to keep above water parenting. This past week especially. I would have to say since the church plant got finalized we have had some unexplainable and difficult times as parents. It's been purifying and although I often say that we may have spiritual attack happening,
I want to give God credit first for all our trials. (James 1, 1 Peter 1)
I don't want to give more credit to the enemy than he deserves. I praise God for helping us as a couple. Kevin and I are closer than ever after almost 12 years of marriage. We are learning a lot as parents right now and it's humbling. . . Our kids are amazing and alive! Our finances are settling down and we are where we need to be... Planting Crosswater this fall is going to be off the hook.

This past year has had so many trials. God you have been so faithful to turn us upside down and get us to where we want to be. I could write a book on how thoroughly You have cared for every detail of our hearts and lives. You are so amazing God. You DO bring me out to a spacious place. You give me strength to walk a steep path for a time and then you soothe me.

This morning I woke up feeling happier than I had in a long time. I feel clearer. The kids are calm and playing nicely. I can't explain it other than God had us all growing and changing a lot lately. I am thankful for today. I want to be right here. Peaceful.

**********************************

This weekend is our last time playing with our orange team, our band, at Cascade. I miss Frank, she's on maternity leave. It will be good to play. I am going to try to just rejoice and keep tears back. It's hard to get sad when we are taking our drummer Rick with us. I hope we can write more music with him in the future. Peter is joining us this weekend, he's a radical pianist and friend. It's gonna be a fun weekend.

I don't feel sad that it's our last rotation as a band. I sort of feel good and ready. At first I was a little *sigh*, but now it feels amazing. To make it to the end of this season. I pushed myself hard. I made myself crazy expecting all sorts of things from myself. I expected too much, but learned a lot in the process. I am 200% commited to having as much fun as I can this weekend.

I'm excited to write some music this summer. I am going crazy with poetry. Need music to sing it. Excited to see if my Kevie and I can get some stuff composed.

I'll end with some photos of Sterling Ayden's 5th Bday Party. They aren't edited so well, but they are sweet.

Have a beautiful day.

Thank you God for space to breathe today and for this spacious place. Amen

If you need prayer or would like to know more about Jesus or know Him for yourself. Lemme know: psalm333@comcast.net

...shan.... ps 84, ps 145, eph 3, phil 4, titus 2, 1 tim 5:1,2

Daddy and Sterling opening presents

Eli cryin'. . .he's so cute. . .(Sorry Eli....I posted this picture, eek)

Sterling's Birthday Atomic Wedgie. The boys are so generous! Sterling dished it back though.
Ster's mini heart cake. We have a small heart-shaped springform pan for special birthday cakes
Here's the cakes. Mmm, good. Use butter instead of oil and no yolks in a white cake mix for a holy cow yummy cake! And the buttercream recipe on Albertson's powdered sugar was snortalicious.

Eli giving the daisies bunny ears. I laughed.

Birthday time. Happpppy Birthday Sterling Ayden!

Sterling opening his Handy Dandy Notebook! I had to make it, they are hard to find. It was fun!

I pray you all have a fantastic day.