Sunday, June 29, 2014

A Prayer for Today (29-June-14)



Ruler of the universe,
you call us to radical loyalty
beyond all earthly claim.
Grant us strength to offer ourselves to you
as people who have been raised from death to life
through Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

Prayer & Image Credit

Sunday, June 22, 2014

A Prayer for Today (22-June-14)



Through dreams and visions, O God,
you broaden the horizon and hope of your people,
that they may discover the meaning of your covenant,
even in the midst of trial and exile.
Increase the number of those who believe in your word
so that all people may joyfully respond to your call
and share in your promises.
Amen.

Prayer & Image Credit

Friday, June 20, 2014

The Post In Which the Indie Burgh Yarn Crawl Needed Socks





Indie Burgh Yarn Crawl 2014 Socks


Released on Wednesday, 18-June-2014, just in time for the first Indie Burgh Yarn Crawl on Saturday, 21-June-2014

~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲

The first annual (hopefully) Indie Burgh Yarn Crawl in 2014 inspired me to design a pair of socks to celebrate the occasion. Edinburgh, Scotland, has many streets that are cobblestone, so it was a perfect choice to have the design element on these socks reminiscent of the cobblestone streets.

In addition, this is an easy to memorize pattern making it perfect for knitting while on the yarn crawl (or anytime you want to knit while participating in another event). In order to make it accessible for any knitter, I designed the pattern in both toe up and cuff down versions. Hope you enjoy the pattern!

Happy Knitting!

~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲

Available for purchase now at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/indie-burgh-yarn-crawl-2014-socks or it’s available for purchase at Ginger Twist Studio (along with her amazing Indie Burgh 2014 colourway {it's the colourway in the picture above} - if you purchase the special colourway, you’ll get the sock pattern for FREE).

~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲

These socks are knit using the magic loop method (although the purchaser could easily adapt it for two circulars or double points).

Judy’s Magic Cast On and Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off are used in this pattern for the toe up version.

German Twisted Cast On and the Kitchener Stitch are used in this pattern for the cuff down version.

For the toe up version, the knitter needs to be comfortable with the following techniques: knit, purl, KFB, Ktbl, p2tog, ssk, M1R, M1L, slipping stitches both knitwise and purlwise, and working with yarn held in front / working with yarn held in back. Instructions for all these techniques are included in the pattern.

For the cuff down version, the knitter needs to be comfortable with the following techniques: knit, purl, KFB, ssk, M1R, M1L, and wrap and turn. Instructions for all these techniques are included in the pattern.

This pattern includes instructions in both written and chart forms for 64 stitch and 72 stitch socks.

Huge thanks to my amazing test knitters: Andrea (angeiship), Ashleah (a1dawen), Carly (BunnyLover), Cristy (cristyray), Holli (LupinownsJacob), Kirsten (Aphaia) and Kylie (KraftyMumma). ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲~✲



If you watch the newest episode of the Geeky Girls Knit Podcast which Damaris and I co-host together weekly ~ Episode 94 ~ In Which There’s FO/Music/Marvel Mania - there is a coupon code for 15% off the pattern until the end of June 2014



As always, find all my completed projects plus what's currently on my needles on Ravelry:


And you can also find all my knitting pattern designs (those available for purchase and some freebies as well) on Ravelry:


Sunday, June 15, 2014

A Prayer for Today (15-June-14) + Happy Father's Day



God, whose fingers sculpt sun and moon
and curl the baby's ear;
Spirit, brooding over chaos
before the naming of day;
Savior, sending us to earth's ends
with water and words:
startle us with the grace, love, and communion
of your unity in diversity,
that we may live to the praise of your majestic name.
Amen.

And to all the fathers, to those who wish they were fathers, to those who grieve on this day, to those who celebrate on this day, Happy Father's Day!


Prayer & Image Credit + Image Credit

Sunday, June 8, 2014

A Prayer for Today (8-June-14)



Perplexing, Pentecostal God,
you infuse us with your Spirit,
urging us to vision and dream.
May the gift of your presence
find voice in our lives,
that our babbling may be transformed into discernment
and the flickering of many tongues
light an unquenchable fire of compassion and justice.
Amen.



Prayer & Image Credit

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

The Post In Which I Check In For May 2014

How did May slip past me so quickly? I can't believe it's already summertime! I wanted to write this post to check in on how May went with my goals for the year.

So, let's have a look at my 2014 goals progress:

~Keep a daily journal.
Continuing to stay strong with this goal and in fact, I'm converting others to the Bullet Journal system I'm using. If you haven't checked the system out, you definitely should!

~Continue keeping a list of the eucharisteo/gifts/joys/Thanksgivings in my life.
I'm doing this in my daily journal. I'm almost to 3,300.

~Read at least one non-fiction book each month of 2014.
1 ~ Girl Meets God: On the Path to a Spiritual Life by Lauren Winner ~ completed 5-January-2014
2 ~ Almost Amish: One Woman's Quest for a Slower, Simpler, More Sustainable Life by Nancy Sleeth ~ completed 18-January-2014
3 ~ In Praise of Slowness: Challenging the Cult of Speed by Carl Honore ~ completed 9-February-2014
4 ~ Organized Simplicity: The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living by Tsh Oxenreider ~ completed 16-March-2014
5 ~ Confessions of a Prayer Slacker by Diane Moody ~ completed 4-April-2014
6 ~ The Knitter's Life List: To Do, To Know, To Explore, To Make by Gwen W. Steege ~ completed 3-May-2014
7 ~ The Organized Kitchen: Keep Your Kitchen Clean, Organized, and Full of Good Food-and Save Time, Money, (and Your Sanity) Every Day! by Brette Sember ~ completed 17-May-2014
8 ~ I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn't): Making the Journey from "What Will People Think?" to "I Am Enough" by Brene Brown ~ currently reading

~I plan to continue sharing about the creative part of my life which includes knitting, spinning, and designing patterns on a month to month basis here on my blog. Hopefully that will include sharing about designing at least six knitting patterns, knitting at least two sweaters for myself, knitting at least six pairs of socks for myself, spinning at least five batches of fiber, knitting several preemie hats to donate to charity, and who knows what else!
So far, I've completed:
*Design Projects ~ 4
*Cowls ~ 4
*Gloves ~ 1
*Hats ~ 10 (9 of them are preemie hats for charity)
*Shawl ~ 1
*Socks ~ 8 (6 of them are for me)
*Sweater ~ 1
*Washcloths ~ 5
*Misc. Items ~ 1
*Spinning ~ 3

In progress are:
*Cowl ~ 1
*Spinning ~ 1
*Socks ~ 1

Details are below.



Finished Projects
The Border Tart Merino and Tussah Silk ~ Spun on my Mini Turkish Drop Spindle, 50 grams, 172 yards, Sport Weight, 2ply




2014 Top Down Preemie Hat #6, 2014 Top Down Preemie Hat #7, 2014 Top Down Preemie Hat #8, + 2014 Top Down Preemie Hat #9 ~ From my own free pattern Top Down Preemie Hat. Knit on US6 (4mm) needles with various yarns + colourways (you can go to the page for each hat to see the details). Our knitting group, the Town Mouse Knitting Club, is knitting preemie/baby hats for charity during the 2nd quarter of 2014. I have committed to knitting 1 hat per week, so this makes 9 finished.




Delancey Cardigan ~ From the pattern by Alexis Winslow. Knit on US8 (5.0mm) needles with King Cole Merino Blend DK in the Silver + Dusky Pink colourways. I love the patterning of the stripes, but am a little ugh about the sleeve caps (but not enough to rip it back at this point).




Birthday Socks for a friend ~ From my vanilla sock recipe with the Fish Lips Kiss Heel by Sox Therapist. Knit on US1.5 (2.5mm) needles with Four Seasons Gründl Hot Socks Print in the 519 colourway.




Cantaloop ~ From the pattern by Shelley L Brander. Knit on US11 (8.0mm) needles with Woolyknit Lofty in the Olive colourway. Used smaller needles than recommended (didn’t have the right size), so I added 4 extra stitches to the centre panel. I also did a provisional cast on so I could graft the ends together to make a long cowl. I'm considering knitting a sweater out of this colour, but it's not a colour I normally wear, so I knit this small project as a test for the colour.




I also completed a new sock design pattern, but it's still a secret for now. It will release in mid-June.
Super super super super super super secret project 4A



Current Works in Progress
*Spinning ~ The Border Tart Nine Pinkish Bumps
*Super super super super super super secret project 4B
*Sowing the Seeds Cowl 2



2014 Completed Projects:



Design Projects
*Super super super super super super secret project ~ completed 1-March-2014
*Super super super super super super secret project 2 ~ completed 30-March-2014
*Super super super super super super secret project 3 ~ completed 26-April-2014
*Super super super super super super secret project 4A ~ completed 25-May-2014



Cowls
*Casu Cowl ~ completed 7-February-2014
*Sweetness Cowl ~ completed 15-March-2014
*Sowing the Seeds Cowl ~ completed 30-March-2014
*Cantaloop ~ completed 29-May-2014



Gloves
*Urban Necessity Gloves ~ completed 23-January-2014



Hats
*Take A Bow Hat ~ completed 14-January-2014
*2014 Top Down Preemie Hat #1 ~ completed 7-April-2014
*2014 Top Down Preemie Hat #2 ~ completed 11-April-2014
*2014 Top Down Preemie Hat #3 ~ completed 17-April-2014
*2014 Top Down Preemie Hat #4 ~ completed 23-April-2014
*2014 Top Down Preemie Hat #5 ~ completed 30-April-2014
*2014 Top Down Preemie Hat #6 ~ completed 7-May-2014
*2014 Top Down Preemie Hat #7 ~ completed 20-May-2014
*2014 Top Down Preemie Hat #8 ~ completed 21-May-2014
*2014 Top Down Preemie Hat #9 ~ completed 28-May-2014



Shawls
*2014 Ravellenics Leftie ~ completed 21-February-2014



Socks
*True Love Socks ~ completed 20-January-2014
*2014 Ravellenics Über Vanilla Socks ~ completed 18-February-2014
*Super super super super super super secret project ~ completed 1-March-2014
*Super super super super super super secret project 2 ~ completed 30-March-2014
*Super super super super super super secret project 3 ~ completed 26-April-2014
*The Hubs 40th Birthday Socks ~ completed 28-April-2014
*Super super super super super super secret project 4A ~ completed 25-May-2014
*Birthday Socks for a friend ~ completed 26-May-2014



Sweaters
*Delancey Cardigan ~ completed 25-May-2014



Washcloths
*Washcloths for Stormageddon - Doctor Who The Angels Have the Blue Box ~ completed 1-January-2014
*Washcloths for Stormageddon - Doctor Who Cyberman ~ completed 3-January-2014
*Washcloths for Stormageddon - Doctor Who Bowties are Cool ~ completed 5-January-2014
*Washcloths for Stormageddon - Doctor Who Don't Blink Dishcloth ~ completed 6-January-2014
*Washcloths for Stormageddon - I Heart Heart Doctor Who Dishcloth ~ completed 7-January-2014



Misc. Items
*Garter Stitch Headband ~ completed 2-January-2014



Spinning
*Third Spinning Project ~ completed 3-February-2014
*2014 Ravellenics Pink Punis ~ completed 21-February-2014
*The Border Tart Merino and Tussah Silk ~ completed 6-May-2014




As always, find all my completed projects plus what's currently on my needles on Ravelry:


And you can also find all my knitting pattern designs (those available for purchase and some freebies as well) on Ravelry:


Thanks for journeying with me during 2014! I'll talk to yall next month with an update on my progress for June.

Sunday, June 1, 2014

A Prayer for Today (1-June-14)



Mighty God,
in whom we know the power of redemption,
you stand among us in the shadows of our time.
As we move through every sorrow and trial of this life,
uphold us with knowledge of the final morning
when, in the glorious presence of your risen Son,
we will share in his resurrection,
redeemed and restored to the fullness of life
and forever freed to be your people.
Amen.



Prayer & Image Credit