February 18, 2009
Wow! I am amazed at the talent that exists on Ravelry. Ravelry member named functionalknits has created a program that will allow you to type in a written, row by row, ” knit 1, purl 2″ pattern into it and then you receive the corresponding knitting chart. Amazing! The program is still in development, but you can test it out now and provide her with any feedback. Click here for the Knit Chart Generator. And, don’t forget to visit her blog, the Orangellous.
© https://kkhymn.wordpress.com
February 17, 2009
Well, here is my second pattern for the 2009 year – a Retro Knit and Striped Tie. This pattern was created as a special request from my better half Tony, my lifetime Valentine. This retro tie is a “skinny” tie, only about 2 1/4 inches in width at its widest point, gradually decreasing to 1 inch, and 60 inches in length. It is made with two colors of bamboo yarn – the first time I tried knitting with bamboo – in honor of Tony’s alma mater the University of Southern CA Trojans. The bamboo yarn is thin, and can split easily if you are not careful. But, I love the silky feel of the yarn! Even though this tie made up of simple knitted rows, it is a pattern that will take several days to complete. There are more than 450 rows in the total pattern!
February 15, 2009
Kreativ Blogger Award
I have just received a Kreativ Blogger Award! Thank you Ceci for the nomination. All awardees are to share the award by nominating 8 other bloggers.
And the award goes to … Samsara, MaryEB, KnitaSaur, Smariek, Inkberryblue , Dame Wendy and Heidelblog.
For all my nominees who now have received the award, pass it on and follow these instructions:
1. Copy the award to your site.
2. Link to the person from whom you received the award.
3. Nominate up to 8 other bloggers.
4. Link to those on your blog.
5. Leave a message on the blogs you nominated.
© https://kkhymn.wordpress.com
February 14, 2009
Sometimes it is hard to believe that you will ever live a “normal” life again. I have had several days like that this past week. Walking with a limp, managing the leg pain as a child was never as hard as it is now. I never took pain medications every day growing up. I would try everything else … from scalding hot baths, beating my own leg to death and asking friends to sit on top of my legs — all attempts to numb my legs through the pain — before resorting to pain medications.
But now, every day is filled with pain. Living with lupus, fibromyalgia and back pain sucks. No matter what I do or don’t do. Taking my anti-inflammatory and pain medications is a daily event. Then, I am able to mask the pain and pull some energy for simple errands. But the medications always wear off and the pain promises to return.
Tony tries to remind me that this is just another thing I will overcome; that things will change and get better. But, how does he or anyone else know that for sure? I don’t understand. I don’t understand how this happened. Or why. This is more than anyone should bear. This is not living.
So I scream. I cry. I am on edge. The pain puts me on edge. I feel like I am trapped. That this is my living hell.
Tears cleanse the path we have to travel and makes clear the way ahead….
Then, random acts of kindness remind me that I am not alone. I hold on for another day. And, I find a song that once again lifts me up.
Listen and view this video of the song, Lift Me Up by Kate Voegele.
Lift Me Up Lyrics:
This road is anything but simple
Twisted like a riddle I’ve seen high and I’ve seen low
So loud, the voices of all my doubts
Telling me to give up, to pack up and leave town
Even so, I had to believe
Impossible means nothing to me, yeah
So can you lift me up,
Turn the ashes into flames
‘Cause I have overcome
More than words will ever say
And I’ve been given hope
That there’s a light on up the hall
And that a day will come
When the fight is won
And I think that day has just begun
Somewhere, every body starts there
I’m counting on a small prayer,
Lost in a nightmare
But I’m here, and suddenly it’s so clear
The struggle through the long years
It taught me to outrun my fears
Everything worth having, oh
Comes with trials worth withstanding
So can you lift me up,
Turn the ashes into flames
‘Cause I have overcome
More than words will ever say
And I’ve been given hope
That there’s a light on up the hall
And that a day will come
When the fight is won
And I think that day has just begun
Oh, lift me up
Oh, lift me up
Oh, lift me up
Lift me up
Lift me up
Oh, Lift me up
Down and out is overrated
And I need to be elevated
Looking up is not enough
No, I would rather rise above
So can you lift me up,
Turn the ashes into flames
‘Cause I have overcome
More than words will ever say
And I’ve been given hope
That there’s a light on up the hall
And that a day will come
When the fight is won
And I think that day has just begun
Oh, oh, oh, just begun
Lift me up, yeah, oh, oh, oh, yeah, now
Oh, oh, lift me up
Lift me up
Lift me up
© https://kkhymn.wordpress.com
February 13, 2009
Crochet Heart Card
One of the folks on Ravelry sent out a great link to a tutorial on making a crocheted heart card. Even if you don’t have time to make this today, you can always make this card for another special occassion for your Valentine during the year. Click here for the tutorial. There is also a great YouTube video on how to make a crocheted heart. Click here for the video.
Happy Valentine’s Day. may your year be filled with love and health for your heart, mind, body and soul.
© https://kkhymn.wordpress.com
February 4, 2009
So, I have gathered quite a collection of scrap yarn that is leftover from completed projects. There is not enough of one color to make the usual mitten and hat patterns. So, I began to search for ideas to not waste but reuse the yarn. And, once again, I have discovered that knitting has no end in techniques to learn. There are several ways to knit using two or more colors of yarn – stranded knitting, intarsia knitting, double knitting and entrelac knitting – just to name a few!
Or, I could use my scrap yarn to make knitted teddy bears and other animals. That, however, would require some confidence in my sewing techniques. It is amazing how much there is to learn just about knitting with color.
So in addition to learning how to knit socks and make fingers for my mittens this year, I have decided to try at least one of these colorful techniques. I am going to start with entrelac.
Auntien's Entrelac
I haven’t found a YouTube video for this technique, but I did find a couple of tutorials. The first one is from The Yarn Path blog; a pdf of her tutorial can be found here. This was the first explanation of the entrelac technique that made sense to me.
The second tutorial is from Knitting Daily. You need to register for this site in order to download the PDF files, but registration is free. I downloaded this file because there is a section about how to knit entrelac in the round.
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