Prayer Shawls

Prayer Shawl #1: For a Baptism at our Church in June. DK yarn on 5.5mm needle.

Yes, I knit Prayer Shawls. I kinda fell into it.

I recently took a course to improve my skills in Hospital Visiting, and no I don’t wip out my Bible as I walk into the room, and I don’t exit with prayer either.  Visitation is about meeting the patient were the patient and/or family is. Being present and reveliant to their situation. Listening is a big part of what I do.

Taking this course I met Fran.  Fran has been turning out 2 Prayer Shawls a month for many years. She is a leader of a group of dedicated United Church people who knit as a gift of prayer. Though I am not with the United Church (I am a student of Lay Ministry for the Anglican Church of Canada) I like their approach. They knit for Blessings and Celebrations; like Baptisms, Weddings, and other joyous occasions. They also knit for those who are in Distress; Grief, Palliative care, and for those times when things are bleak.

These Prayer shawls are the same pattern but finished and blocked differently.

Prayer Shawl #2, knit in Dk yarn on 5mm needles

The pattern is Half-Circle Shawl by Jennifer Jones.  Both were knit in Dk Yarn, the pattern is free on Ravelry.com. Fast and easy! I have another on the needles in a darker colour.

I hope to come up with a useful lap robe for nursing home visits, and something more appropriate for my male parishioners. Thinking some small stuffed Teddies for something different.

WIPS 2016 : 25 + 1 = 26

FO’s 2016 :  7 + 6 = 13

Other FO’s (not fibre) : 4

Long-term Projects : 4

 Stash Used 2016: 7 + 8 = 15

Yds of Handspun 2016: O

Sewing FO’s 2016: O

Books 2016: 5 + 4 = 9

cya soon :0)

I also have a Ravelry shop and an Etsy shop!

for my Literary blog, see Totally Austentatious. 

Links to my favourite Blogs

Beading for a better world

I frequently make little things for  people I know, as gifts. I am currently in a 4 yr  program of study to be a more effective Lay-Minister in the Anglican Church of Canada. 

Protestant Rosary for a friend

I have been meeting another member of our class for lunch, when the opportunity arises. As a gift I made her a Protestant Rosary, and a dangle for her Cellphone.

cellphone dust plug for a friend

I also finished a necklace and earrings for myself too.

Beaded necklace and earrings

Looks like I have an aqua theme going here.

 

Best Ever Parcel!

I ordered a Sock Ruler from Burningimpressions2 on Etsy.com Wow, I mean wow!

Burningimpressions2 Etsy

I am a useful tool addict. I saw these on Etsy and thought, cool!

I had planned on doing a review here on the blog, this is the excuse I gave my husband…

What can I say?

The letters and numbers are Burned into the wood, so they will not scratch or rub off the fine details. Great feature as I anticipate they will get lots of use over many years.

I am an avid sock knitter who doesn’t always have the feet I am making custom socks for around to check sizes. I have used all of these tools except the Kitchener stitch keychain (haven’t done any Kitchener stitch as of parcel arrival)

During my short email conversation with Megan; I mentioned that I am a Handspinner too. She included not only the 2 keychains, the handy dandy needle, stitch and yarn wpi gauge, (bottom right) but a Yarn Grist gauge (top right) which is handy for both knitters and spinners to check yarn weight at a glance.

I can also say that Megan was delightful and very customer service oriented. These were mailed from 150 Mile House in British Columbia, Canada. They are not only useful and very reasonable but charged in Cdn funds (bonus).

All in all, I can honestly say Megan made my day!

Thank you from a very happy customer :0) 

I am considering taking the temperature of my WIP pile, with photos and comments. I’m hoping this may short circuit my current fever for starting stuff… Is anyone interested?

 WIPS 2016 : 24 + 1 = 25

FO’s 2016 :  7

Other FO’s (not fibre) : 0

Long-term Projects : 4

 Stash Used 2016: 7

Yds of Handspun 2016 = 0

Sewing FO’s 2016 = O

Books 2016 = 4 + 1 = 5

cya soon :0)

I also have a Ravelry shop and an Etsy shop!

for my Literary blog, see Totally Austentatious. 

Links to my favourite Blogs

A Sad Story

Sock drawer challenge

I’m going to tell you a sad story. It’s about the great sock massacre of 2009.

I was sick and my Sweetheart decided to help me out and do the laundry.
First, you have to know I have been knitting socks for many, many years.
I have won prizes for my socks (my designs) at the local fair.
I have a sock drawer for each family member stuffed to the brim.

So to continue, my hubby the sweet man that he is did the laundry, and threw it into the dryer, then headed to work. I decided to be nice and crawl downstairs and fold laundry ready to go upstairs when he got home.

I reached into the dryer and felt a sock, “Oh no”, I examined the poor victim… there must be a partner in there, I found another unrelated victim.
Did I mention the washer had been on hot/on the filthy setting, with jeans, and towels? The dryer likewise was on deep fat fry too! 12 pairs later, sitting on the floor, crying to my mother on the phone…

There was no divorce; however no socks for the murderer till I made 12 new replacement pairs. I took my time making them, with only the really good stuff.

To make me feel better, that Christmas he bought two balls of sock yarn (one for him and one for me) He was horrified how expensive sock yarn is. He never comments when a ball of sock yarn follows me home anymore and he is finally getting new socks again. He even buys me one or two on special occasions. And sports his new colourful socks with pride.

The End.

Sock drawer challenge 16 pair washed

Sock washing day

WIPS 2016 : 21 + 3 = 24

FO’s 2016 : 3 + 4 = 7

Other FO’s (not fibre) : 0

Long-term Projects : 4

 Stash Used 2016: 3 + 4 = 7

Yds of Handspun 2016 = 0

Sewing FO’s 2016 = O

Books 2016 = 2 + 2 = 4

cya soon :0)

I also have a Ravelry shop and an Etsy shop!

for my Literary blog, see Totally Austentatious. 

Links to my favourite Blogs

Let the Yarn Challenge begin!

Every year Soper Creek Yarns in Bowmanville, Ont, Cda. sponsors the Yarn Challenge again this year. 

So now to choose a pattern and get to work!

Practical Knitters Cowl  

Lovely quick free pattern on Ravelry by Kristin McDougall

Another great year for the Soper Creek Yarns Yarn Challenge 2016!

WIPS 2016 = 21

FO’s 2016 = 3

Other FO’s (not fibre) = 0

Long-term Projects = 4

 Stash Used 2016 = 3

Yds of Handspun 2016 = 0

Sewing FO’s 2016 = O

Books 2016 = 1 + 1 = 2

cya next week :0)

I also have a Ravelry shop and an Etsy shop!

for my Literary blog, see Totally Austentatious.

Beginning the Knitting Year

I open this years Blog with a new Project,

Wandering in the Souk.

My BiL was nice enough to give me the yarn for Christmas,

(14) Viking: Alpaca Silk 424/1291 light blue 50gm

and my Sweetheart gave me the pattern.

I chose this pattern for this luscious yarn, because I felt it would stretch my knitting muscles as I am not as fluent at cables as other types of knitting.

Here is my Ravelry pg for this project.

WIPS 2016 = 0

FO’s 2016 = 0

Other FO’s (not fibre) = 0

Long-term Projects = 4

 Stash Used 2016 = 0

Yds of Handspun 2016 = 0

Sewing FO’s 2016 = O

Books 2016 = 1

cya next week :0)

I also have a Ravelry shop and an Etsy shop!

for my Literary blog, see Totally Austentatious.

 

We are back!

Well it’s been a while since Kittens with Mittens has been on air.

Previously this site could be found at

Kittens with Mittens

First published in Jan 2011, and ended on July 2015.

We hope to be up and running by January 2016.

In celebration of the season here is a new feebee.

Christmas Golf Ball Sweaters available on Ravelry.com

Meanwhile, wishing you a

Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.