Gifts From The Heart

Back when I first started this blog I talked about what an amazing feeling it is to make something and then give it as a gift. The knitter gets to use their creative self, and has a wonderful sense of accomplishment when through and they get to give something away to someone special. That person then feels like a million because of the thought and time and skill you put into your work. Well tonight I had another experience that touched my heart.

A very dear friend of mine, had knee replacement surgery back when they first started doing them, and it had worn out and needed replaced again. I had known about her surgery for awhile and had some yarn in her favorite "North Carolina" blue. So I made her a comfort shawl. (A very quick and yet beautiful shawl) I wanted her to have it when she woke up out of surgery, I made it extra big so it could be like a blanket too. So when she went into surgery yesterday I went to the hospital and stayed with her husband, they have no children and gave him the shawl to give her. Tonight when I went in her room she was asleep, that 8 minute morphine drip was working. But, what caused me to cry a little was that here is the strong woman, a 5th degree black belt in an extremely difficult martial art where there are not many woman at all, and she had that shawl wrapped around her and the extra she was holding onto with her arms wrapped around it like a hug.

As I was about to leave the nurse came in and woke her, so I stayed and visited for a little while. She thanked me over and over and said it was the most beautiful shawl she had ever seen and it was just what she needed. She said it was the softest thing she had ever felt.

When I left that little act of kindness brought our friendship closer than it's ever been and again, I felt that amazing warmth that you get when you have touched someone's heart & soul.

Blessed Be

WITHOUT DSL

Well hell, I come home and my DSL went on vacation. According to the powers that be, I should be running smoothly in the next day or so. Until then I am sitting at the Barnes and Noble with coffee and an unsecure connection.

Back in Georgia

Home, it's great to be back with my own things. The trip was a lot of fun and I got mom's computer running better than it ever has, but there is no place like home. Actually I think I missed all the yarn. LOL.

Now I have to go through all the mail, do tons of laundry and catch up.

I do have one thing that was pretty interesting I want to share. While at mom's we went to the craft community in Gatlinburg. The weather was beautiful and the mountains amazing. I did find a couple of place that had small and very small amounts of hand spun yarn, but I was really surprised with the fact that in a setting like that there wasn't a store where spinners sold their yarn. You can see all kinds of people working with clay, and other mediums but where were the spinners? There was one little store that had hand made shawls but mostly ponchos and scarves. They had some handpainted silk scarves that were really beautiful pieces of art. So before I go back there I am going to do some research and find the spinners that are hiding in the Smokey Mountains.

Blessed be

Visiting Eastern Tennessee

The kids and I have gotten away for a few days. My mom's hard drive crashed and so I got her a new one and came up to install it and update then all her software applications.

While I have been here I have came up with another reason why I love knitting. With knitting there are huge projects and small projects and then those cute in between ones, so you can always pick the perfect project to fit the situation. So before we left I reached into my knitting calendar and pulled out the April 21st, 2005 pattern the Little Leaf Lace Scarf, grabbed some yarn out of the stash (finger weight) and the size 5 cir. And now I have the perfect project to offset the hours of computer work. While programs are downloading I am knitting away. Very Cool.

It's always good to be a knitter!

The Triangle Within Triangle Shawl

I haven't reported anything on the progress of the "reunion" shawl so it's time for a report. I got to row 59 and realized that something wasn't looking right. Though the triangles were lining up, the center of the shawl was off. So guess what. I took it all out, started from the beginning and now everything is going so well. I guess when I unraveled it, the nerves and pressure went too, because I'm getting a lot more done and I am definitely more comfortable with it. Another life lesson for me, one that you would think I would have gotten by now STOP the pressure and just have fun with it. Enjoy the knitting, the yarn, the needles, and especially the process. The final product will come soon enough. Don't get all caught up in the end result, relax and let what you are doing right now flow.

Blessed Be

Here is the latest photo of my kids. My son, GT is 16 and has been taking Isshin Ryu karate since he was 10. Sara is 18 and has been taking Isshin Ryu for about a year and half. They are fantastic. (come on, I'm their mom of course I think they are fantastic!)  

Finally a few minutes

Happy Father's Day to all those knitting and non-knitting dad's.

Today I am finding myself a little bitter. I have a lot to say and none of it is worth putting down. So when I shake this mood off, I will have tons to say.

Blessed Be

Running to my knitting

Today I am thankful that I learned how to knit, and I am thankful to all those who taught their daughters and sons to knit because they too have something that can bring them peace. A gift that brings tranquility and detachment at times. Of course there is the other side where knitting has brought people together who would have never met before and created friendship and bonds that will last a lifetime. But today I can run to my knitting and dive head first in the yarn. I can feel the bamboo needles in my hands and create a private place to loose myself. Knitting gives me the time to quiet my mind and listen to my spirit. It gives me time I need to release the artist that hides within. I hope to never take my knitting for granted. It gives to me on so many levels. Knitting is a gift that will bring countless gifts.

Blessed Be,
Satori

Row 36

I have made it to row 36 of the Triangle within Triangle shawl. As usual I have another comfort shawl going on also. This one I am making for one of the Sensei's I know. She is having knee replacement surgery at the end of the month.

Back to row 36. This row is the turning point, where you have to start repeating sections of the pattern, instead of just following along. I kind of look at it as "the easy *&it is over and it's time to grow up." So now the pressure is on. Time to take that step out of the comfort zone of predictable stitches and hope I put the correct stitches where they are suppose to go.

You know in my own sick way I am enjoying the process of this shawl including the self induced pressure and deadlines. Sometimes it's the things that make your heart race and feel like it's going to jump out of your chest that make you feel alive.

Blessed Be

I'm Have Reached Nirvana

Since the yarn came I have been winding away. Now it's all in pretty balls waiting to be used. Yesterday I actually made a swatch. Not something that I like to do because patience sometimes leaves me. But, since this is important I "swatched." The swatch turned out just the way it was suppose to so I got started. I just finished row 21. At first I wasn't sure how I was going to like double stranding this shawl, but I actually like how it's going so far.

About the pattern. It became real clear that my eyes were going to get tired quickly and reading the symbols was going to be difficult, so I scanned the pattern and pulled it up on my graphic program. (if you have photoshop or paintshop pro or any graphic program on your computer that reads jpeg graphics you can do this too). Once I got the picture up, I zoomed the view till it filled my screen and then was able to move the cursor along the row, stitch by stitch. Not only could it see it better without the eye strain, it was a lot easier to keep my place. I know not everyone knits by there computer so if the pattern chart is too small and you need it bigger. Then just resize the graphic and you can even color code while you are in the graphic program. Print it out and then head for your favorite knitting chair. Speaking of my favorite knitting chair. I have to admit I have two, my chair in the bay window and my computer chair that I do all my work from.

So that's the update. Tomorrow I know that I will have to put the knitting down and get back into the work mode, but until then I will be knitting, drinking coffee, and smiling a lot.

Blessed Be,
Satori

ok here's a real close up. I love this yarn.  

Here It Is! My yarn for the Triangle within a Triangle just arrived. It's better than what I expected. I ordered from www.handpaintedyarn.com . They have some of the most beautiful yarns and FANTASTIC prices. Well, now the work begins.  

It's Friday, and I Love Friday's. I do have a little news. Yesterday afternoon I was out at one of my favorite local yarn shops and had a wonderful discovery. They had just put up a display of several of the Heartstrings patterns. Since payday isn't till next week I limited myself to two patterns and a free one promoting TLC yarns. I think that I'll order the yarn from Knit Picks when I'm about half way through with the Triangle shawl so I can go right into one of these. The other good news is that Marcia who runs yarn shop told me that starting Monday to promot the new patterns and yarns she got in, she will have having buy 1 get the second at half. Very Cool, since she isn't big on sales.  

It's Been Shipped

A little while ago I received an email telling me the yarn I picked out for the Triangle Shawl has been shipped. There is a good chance that it will be here by the end of the week. I am so excited!

While I have been waiting I took some of the scrap yarn and worked through the first 45 rows of the pattern. I (having my fingers crossed) think that it will go smoothly.

Now it's off to get batteries for my camera!

Blessed Be,

Blog Update

Finally. Over the past couple of days I have updated the links in the sidebar. There are some new blogs that I visit everyday or every couple of days and the BEGINNING of a list of some of my favorite places to buy yarn. So if you have a minute go surf the web with my links.

I'm going back to knitting,

Satori

Knit Hats Now

Back before Christmas 2004 I joined a yahoo group that has turned out to be a lot of fun and has a lot of information about hats. Here is the link. KnitHatsNow . This group has tons of patterns and if you can't find one, these ladies know where you can. They also have some fantastic yarn suggestions. But one of the great things about them, is if you get stuck or have a problem you can post your situation and there will be several responses to help you.

Speaking of groups I recently joined the yahoo group of Folkshawl knitters. It's a knit a long that goes with the book "Folkshawls, 25 Knitting Patterns and tales From Around the World. By Cheryl Oberle. They just voted to do the Sampler Shawl. Since I have to get the reunion shawl done, I am skipping on this one and going to start with their next one which will be sometime around Labor Day. If you are interested in this group here is their link folkshawls . This by the way is another group of knitters who are MORE than happy to help in any way if you have a question. Some of them have just started knitting and some have a lot of knitting experience, but have just really started knitting shawls.

Blessed Be,
Satori

Here is the last hat before I mail out the package. This one was finished last night. I used mango and turquoise Microspun. My goal was to get a least 4 done by the first week of June so I could mail them out and I did it. Now I have to focuse on the shawl for the reunion. The yarn should arrive the first part of next week. (I have the camera ready for pictures!)