April 26, 2012

Mixed Media Monsters – Sew, Knit and Create!

Posted by kkhymn under Knit and Crochet, Living with Chronic Illness, More Crafts, Simply Sewing | Tags: , , , , |
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So, I am still busy making monsters for random acts. I hope to have some updates with photos of some recipients soon. The weather has been crazty here; summer heat one day, and winter rains the next. It is doing a number on my pain levels. Some days I wake up feeling like an entire fleet of trucks have run over me and left me for road-kill.

I am still trying to figure out how to sew. Sewing has so many more steps in the learning process, and is definitely not portable. I was going to try and learn how to sew an apron, but so far, it just has not happened. Then I thought I would try to sew a handbag or tote for my knitting projects. Still too challenging for me right now. Sewing and skyrocketing pain levels do not mix. Knitting is definitely a better option for me when my body is screaming.

Mixed Media Monster

But I did manage to sew a  monster. I did not have a pattern and this project took me all day to figure out.  First I killed an old throw blanket, cutting out two rectangular pieces. Then, after sewing the thick fabric together and stuffing it, I made patches out of cotton fabric, felt pieces, thread and lots of glue. I used fusible interfacing to back the cotton pieces and prevent fraying. By the time I figured all this out, I gave up on sewing cotton fabric for the arms and legs. I ended up knitting them and sewing them into the fabric instead.  I embroidered the mouth with yarn too.

The end result? A mixed media monster. A lot of experimental sewing, some knitting and lots of glue. If you have the talent of sewing, you can make monsters too! There are several books and patterns out there to choose from – Including the items below:

So, go ahead and make some monsters. Sew, knit, crochet and create them in any way you choose.  And, remember to save a few for some random acts. Share the monster love!

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March 12, 2012

Calling Dr. Seuss – My Lorax!

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Remember the the Fraggles? Muppets? Sesame Street? Dr. Seuss? I have been thinking back on those classic characters of my childhood, and realized that these were the shows that probably started my love for monsters. Think about it. Cookie Monster and the Grouch were definitely monsters you loved, right? And don’t forget the hilarious Yip Yip Aliens. Then there was Fozzy Bear, Gonzo, and Animal! And, of course, the Grinch and the Lorax were the best monsters to rhyme with!

So, in my Random Acts of Monsters group on Ravelry, we have been sharing our love for these characters. And, thank goodness there are some patterns on Ravelry for us to knit and crochet them! Here are just a few:

My friend Gaby on Ravelry gifted me the perfect yarn to knit a Lorax – Plymouth Merino Superwash yarn in color #40- Pumpkin.  I started it last week and got him finished by the end of the weekend. I did make a few modifications to the original Lorax pattern, described below. These notes are also on my project page for the Lorax on Ravelry.

My Lorax and Fairy God-Monster

The knitted Lorax and My Fairy God-Monster pattern are both free patterns on Ravelry. My Fairy God-Monster does look like a character from Dr. Seuss, if you take off her wings. They make a colorful couple, don’t you think?

For the knitted Lorax pattern, you need to know kfb, M1R, M1L, Kitchener stitch, and knitting in the round with dpns or magic loop. The pattern gets a little confusing when dividing stitches for the legs and center of the body. I put the 20 center body stitches on a circular needle, and put each of the leg stitches on 2 double pointed needles, knitting with a third dpn.

The un-stuffed feet will look like a pointed spade or shovel. Once you stuff them though, they will look more rounded.

Body:

I wanted the head of the body a little larger, gradually getting smaller towards the feet. I added 2 extra increase rounds so that there were 72 total stitches (k10, kfb around) before knitting R18-R60; I decreased on R48 and R50 so that the stitch count would match pattern again.

I did not wait to stuff the body.  I stuffed the body along the way and then closed with the Kitchener stitch.

Eyes, Nose and Mustache:

Lorax Face

I could not find bright yellow eyelash yarn for a mustache. But did find a boa made with eyelash yarn at JoAnn’s. I cut two small pieces of it, sewed it together in the center with thread, and sewed it onto the face.

To embroider on nose, find spot on face where you would like to place it. Thread a yarn needle with a length (8-10 inches) of orange colored yarn. Wrap the yarn around 2 or 3 stitches vertically where you want the nose over and over again until the nose is the desired size. See a picture tutorial here.

For the eyes, I cut two window-shaped pieces of felt. Then I cut a slit near the bottom of each eye, and inserted the safety eye through. I trimmed the sides of the eye so it is slightly wider than the safety eyes. Carefully place the felt with inserted safety eye on the face securely. I glued the felted part of the eye to the face with a hot glue gun.

Arms:

I Speak for Trees!

I knit 11 rounds instead of 9 rounds for the first part of the arms. This compensated for the extra increase rounds I did for the head. The hands will be pointy, even after stuffing them.

So remember to honor and remember the original monsters in your life. Take a moment to watch Sesame Street or go see the latest Muppets or Lorax movie.  And, keep sharing the monster love with your random acts today.

© https://kkhymn.wordpress.com

 

August 11, 2011

Double the Monsters, Double the Mojo …

Posted by kkhymn under Knit and Crochet, Living with Chronic Illness, Random Acts | Tags: , , , , |
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Double the Monster Mojo

So, another one of the monsters have found a new home. This Mama and Baby monster set was given to a woman named Dawn at the Pain Clinic this week.

Ever since a terrible fall down a flight of stairs a few years ago, Dawn has battled broken bones, failed surgeries, chronic pain and a list of conditions affecting her entire body including her legs, digestive system, kidneys and liver.  This is on top of her battles with fibromyalgia. She definitely has monsters to battle every day, and hopefully this dynamic duo will give her the mojo she needs to keep going and not give up.

Dawn gave me a huge hug for her monsters. She really seemed to love them. I can’t do much these days, but I can knit. And to survive the chronic crap, you have to focus on what you still can do in the midst of your screaming and tears. I can knit. And, I can do monsters.

My doctor at the Pain Clinic has also asked me to donate a few monsters for an annual 5K run that is held to increase awareness of chronic pain and nerve disorders. They plan to raffle them off during the event. Thankfully, the event is in early December, so I have plenty of time to make some monsters for this great cause.  It is amazing how these little monsters are getting around.

Fibromyalgia is one of my long list of chronic conditions. It is a complex neuromuscular disorder that causes extreme sensitivity to touch, muscle and joint pain and endless fatigue. It seems like many of us with chronic conditions get fibromyalgia on their list.  To read more about fibromyalgia and related chronic conditions, go to the Fibromyalgia Health Center or the Fibromyalgia.com Web site.

For those of you who knit, the Mama and Baby monster pattern is titled Daphne and Delilah by Rebecca Danger.  For the knitted bow, I casted on 12 stitches, and knit 10 rows of garter stitch. Bind off. Take a long piece of yarn and wrap it around the center of the bow several times before sewing it securely to the corner of Mama’s body.

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August 10, 2011

Monsters Meet Chronic Critters ….

Posted by kkhymn under Knit and Crochet, Living with Chronic Illness, Random Acts | Tags: , , , |
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Well, I have been really dragging and low on spoons the past couple of months. My pain levels keep skyrocketing, and I am just too tired to care about much these days.  How do you keep going when your body steals your energy and motivation, and constantly betrays you with pain? It is definitely not easy. Usually my knitting helps me get through each moment, one stitch at a time. But, even my knitting mojo seems to be disappearing.

I am still pushing through as best I can. And, have decided to add Chronic Critters to my Monster Giving mission. I still love Rebecca Danger patterns, and have found her stuffed animal patterns to be just as fun and addicting. The Chronic Critters help those of us push on with our battles when living with chronic illness. Like the monsters, they give hugs when you need them and remind us that we are not alone.

Harriet the Hippo

Meet Harriet, the Happy Hippo.  She can be found in the Fall 2011 issue of Knit Simple magazine, along with two other monster patterns.  I am normally not a hippo loving girl, but this one definitely makes me smile. She is my first Chronic Critter, and I am sure she will find a new home soon at my next doctor’s appointment.

For the Hippo pattern, I found the instructions for the legs confusing, and decided to work the pattern more like her other monster ones. I worked all the 24 rounds for each leg exactly as written, backwards loop cast on 6 sts before cutting yarn. The increases will be on the inside of the leg. I placed all stitches on a circular needle so that cast on stitches are in the middle (6 sts on each side) and then knit around all 60 sts to join together.

The Purfect Pup

Now meet Mortimer, the Purfect Pup.  This is another Rebecca Danger pattern.  It can be found in the book titled  Purls of Wisdom by Jenny Lord. The only major modification I made to the pattern was replacing all the Kitchener stitches with a 3-needle bind off.

I made this adorable puppy for a swap package in my Just Between Friends group on Ravelry.  I am sending it to a friend of mine in Canada who fights her chronic migraines and fibromyalgia pain while still being a mom to two young boys and a loving wife to her husband.  I don’t know how anyone manages caring for a family when they have chronic pain and illness.  I can barely take care of myself and have help from Tony with the cats. It must be some magical mom mojo.

I have to get back to knitting some monsters now that a couple of critters are done.  I need some recruits to help me battle my own stuff. Because I know that it is really, really bad when I am too tired to knit.  So please send me spoons and monster making mojo.

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July 19, 2011

Mammograms and Monsters – A New Tradition …

Posted by kkhymn under Knit and Crochet, Living with Chronic Illness, Random Acts | Tags: , , , |
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So, today I went for my annual mammogram appointment. Not something that I or my boobs look forward to, even though it really isn’t very high on the pain scale. My boobs are the only part of my body that chronic illness has not touched, and I would like to keep it that way. But, there is always a little bit of fear getting it done.

Well, I have a good friend in the UK who is battling a second round of a very rare, life-threatening cancer. Her name is Julia. I sent her a care package with her very own monster, and she loved it.  Her monster, Dot, is going with her to her chemo appointments.

Mammograms and Monsters

I was thinking of Julia as I got ready for my mammogram appointment. I said a few prayers as I  ‘rushed’ out my door, cane in hand. And, at the last minute, I grabbed my Hug Me monster. I decided that today I was going to give this monster to someone undergoing chemo treatments for their cancer, so that they have a monster to help them fight this battle they are facing.

I was not sure how I was going to do it, but I knew it was what I wanted to do today. My random act of kindness. A place of gratitude. I only get a small amount of chemo medicine each week with the methotrexate, and it still steals my spoons.

After speaking to a couple of staff persons and a nurse in the outpatient treatment area in the cancer center, I was allowed to leave my monster to be given away to a patient of their choosing.  But, as I was ready to go, the nurse introduced me to a family, and a young woman who was undergoing her own chronic health battles. Today was her chemo treatment day.

I spent a few moments with Angelica and her mom and dad, explaining why I am knitting monsters and how I wanted to give this one to her. The family hugged me with thanks and gratitude, and let me take this picture.

It just made me feel like I was winning my own battles too.

So, now the tradition of mammograms and monsters is here to stay. Every year on my appointment day, I am bringing a monster or two to give to a random patient undergoing treatment for their cancer. I am actually looking forward to next year’s appointment. Knitting has saved my life from endless bad days. Hopefully, these monsters will save someone too.

So, what about you? Will you start your own monster giving tradition?

© https://kkhymn.wordpress.com

 

July 6, 2011

Monsters are Addicting ….

Posted by kkhymn under Knit and Crochet, Natural Wonders | Tags: , , |
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So, my monster family keeps growing.  Some have found new homes, and others are here to stay. Monster knitting is definitely addicting.  Below are some pictures of the latest monsters that have been knitted together. They are all patterns from the Book of Knitted Monsters by Rebecca Dangerfield.

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Red Hot Mama Monster

Kit Kat, the Kitchen Monster

Supersized Huggable Penelope

Dot, Dress Up Box Monster

Claude, Monet's Garden Monster

Petunia, Artist in the Patio Monster

 

June 20, 2011

Fighting My Own Monsters …

Posted by kkhymn under Living with Chronic Illness, Random Acts | Tags: , , |
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Knitting Monsters to Battle My Own

So the past several months have been increasingly difficult for me, both mentally and physically. Actually, this entire year has been just a daily battle. Losing my Etsy store due to my own financial limits and the expensive seller license laws in California was just the beginning of it all. Then losing some of our kitties during our move to the new place. And, it is taking forever to figure out how to manage my heart condition, and the side effects of the new medication are beyond annoying. I have been running out of spoons – energy, motivation, and hope for a different future – for a long while now. And, there are so many days when I just want to give up.

About a month or so ago, I even decided to give up leading and moderating the Chronic Stitchers group on Ravelry. It was just getting to be too much for me. The group was almost 900 people when I left, and I was feeling burnt out from taking care of everyone online and keeping up with all the posts. It was just adding to my battles in the fighting the blues. And, my health problems were not under control, and I needed time and energy to focus more on that too. Enjoying more of my life while I still can breathe and walk (and not need a wheelchair or oxygen tank).

I thought the others who were leading the group with me would understand. I told them that I still needed to keep connected to people for my own personal support, but not be in charge of a large group that was focused on chronic conditions any more. I just wanted to hang out with a few friends. So, I started a much smaller, non-chronic group on Ravelry of just those I wanted to stay in touch with. Folks that would benefit for a smaller setting, not overwhelmed with chronic health threads and conditions.

Sadly, my departure from Chronic Stitchers was not taken well by people who I thought were my true friends. And, I lost several friendships. It has been tough for me. I haven’t shared it with the members of the smaller group because really they don’t need to know all the drama. They have enough to deal with in their lives. But, I just had to write about it here to just let it all go now.

The new smaller group has been better for me. Less crazy. More manageable. And, more supportive. It is called Just Between Friends. And, I have had more time for my knitting – my personal form of meditation, and something that was being neglected last year.

But, yet, I still feel like a failure. I wish more people would have understood my decision to leave. And, it is still hard to fight my own monsters inside me that make me feel still so alone in the world, even in the midst of the crowd. No one wants to be around someone in pain or whose stories about their day are filled with doctor appointments and medication woes. It reminds them too much that their life is short, they are human, not invincible, and not in control of their futures.

Am I depressed? Yes. I think it is normal to fight depression with chronic illness. Do I want another pill to help with that? No thank you. I know anti-depressants can help many people, but I have enough pills for my days right now. And, I honestly want to throw them all down the toilet. And, I don’t think another pill will get rid of the monsters I am battling with; these monsters are a part of my life now and came with each of my dozen or so chronic conditions. These monsters are here to stay.

So, what is there left to do? Knit. And, knit some more. I think I am knitting monsters right now because they are helping me battle my own. Still taking each day, one stitch at a time.

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