Another Favorite Mitten

I know that I've been shockingly neglectful of the Raw and Catholic parts of my blog, but it's so much easier to jot a few quick words and photos about knitting than to collect my thoughts on faith and food.  Well, the food shouldn't be that complicated, assuming I'm being a good little raw-vegan.  I promise to reflect and write about something more important than mittens!

Speaking of mittens, here's another favorite from this year.  I was so pleased with how Spencer's birthday mittens came out that I knit another pair, but used a heart design chart from the same Rauma book.  There are so many little ends to weave-in and fiddly bits to sew up, but they're worth it, I think!

Kjærestevotter (Sweetheart Mittens) in 3 ply Strikkegarn

Helianthus Mittenus

I've had a lot of fun knitting mittens this year and the "Helianthus Mittenus" pattern tops my list of favorites.  This was my first time using Rauma Finullgarn and I was not disappointed.  Norwegian yarns are like no other!  I'm hooked on Rauma!  For more information and lots of friendly help, Debbie at Nordic Fiber Arts in New Hampshire is the best!
This pattern fits my hands perfectly and thanks to the thumb gusset, the mittens look great, no stretching of the stitches around the thumbs.

Helianthus Mittenus in Rauma Finullgarn

More Mittens

As the New Year continued, I knit more mittens for the 12 Pairs of Mittens in 2012 Challenge.  A pattern that I had been admiring for a while was the Peerie Flooers.  Well, I started a Knit-Along in February in order to have companions in knitting the pattern, but there wasn't a whole lot of interest.  I kept knitting and posting my progress photos on Ravelry, but I re-worked the whole chart for the mittens.  Now, many months later, I'm still trying to motivate myself to weave-in all of those pesky ends and knit the thumbs!!!

Peerie Flooers in Rowan Yorkshire Tweed

Hippocampus in Chroma

Since I've been away from blogging for more than half the year, I have plenty of knitted things to share.  I'm participating in a challenge to knit 12 pairs of mittens in 2012.  I started off the year with great enthusiasm.  My first pair of mittens was the Hippocampus Mittens.  Unfortunately, I started them a few days before the New Year, so they don't count toward the challenge.  Or only one of them counts?  Also, they came out too small for me, so I gave them to Sarah.  The first time she wore them in the snow, they got really fuzzy and worn-looking.  So, if anyone is looking at the Knit Picks Chroma  in fingering weight, be warned!  It's not very hard-wearing.

Hippocampus Mittens in Knit Picks Chroma

August and I'm Back!

It's apparent to me why the Spirit inspired me to choose "Hope and Be Not Afraid" for my theme for the year.  It's been one of the most challenging and painful years of my life, hence the abandonment of my blog.  I am alive, though!  And I've been continually working on remaining hopeful and not afraid.  One thing about suffering, it brings me to my knees like nothing else!
On the lighter side, I was able to continue knitting through the chaos and the pain.  For a while, all I could knit was dishcloths:

Mindless Dishcloths

I was, previous to life blowing-up in my face, a bit of a knitting snob.  I thought that knitting dishcloths was dumb and I was sure I would never do it.  Never say, "Never!"  I now see the value of knitting little colorful squares over and over again.  It was therapeutic.  I even started teaching a little group of women at my church  how to knit them.

One of my favorite projects from the year, so far:

Fingerless gloves with Finger Cover

These were a heck of a lot of fun to knit.  For anyone interested, the pattern is from Rauma LVS-3, Oppskrifter på Luer, Votter og Strømper

Year of Hope and Joy

Happy New Year!
Instead of making resolutions, I have chosen a theme for the year:
Hope!  Be Not Afraid!
I do resolve to be more faithful to my daily prayer time.
Well, the holidays were crazy, but good.  Lots of time with the people I love.  I did finish my first Advent Scarf and I did finish knitting the Christmas stockings.  Let's see if I can find a decent picture.  Santa brought me lots of goodies, but no camera.  So we're using an old hand-me-down camera.  Seriously fuzzy photos!

This is Christopher's Stocking when it was about half done. 

First Advent Scarf on the blocking board.  You really can't see anything of the patterns and the color is completely off, but you can tell that I knit a long lacy scarf! ♥

Many New Year Blessings to you all!

Christopher's Stocking

Well, a little over a week until the Christmas stockings need to be finished.  I'm still feeling optimistic.  Christopher's cuff is done and I'm moving on to the leg.  The darker color is showing through more than I like, but I am hoping that with a gentle washing the white will "bloom" and hold its own. ♥

The Cuff of Christopher's Stocking knit with Rauma Gammelserie

Sorry about the fuzzy photo!

Decorating Cookies

Despite the fact that we have had no snow and are not likely to have a white Christmas, which is a source of painful regret to my children, it is shaping-up to be a pleasant Advent/pre-Christmas season.
My two children who are living with their Dad this year went to the Penance Service at their Church last night, making this mother's heart proud and happy!
Yesterday we made Christmas cut-out cookies.  Today. we're eating them.  I don't have pictures of the latter event, but I do of the former:

Making Christmas Cookies

Now, I'm listening to Christmas music on Pandora Radio and knitting Christmas gifts like crazy!

More than Knitting

So, the kids and I have been reading an advent reflection each evening at dinner time ( Five Minutes with the Word by the Word Among Us).  Every year I say that we will do this but this is the first year that we've actually made it through the first 3 days.  Sad, I know.  But, so far so good.  This is as much for their benefit as for mine, since I am in danger of seeing Advent as merely my "Christmas Knitting Time."

Speaking of Christmas Knitting:

Ginny's Aran Pillow

FYI: It's very weird to knit an Aran weight project at the same time as a lace project. 

Have a great day!

2011 Advent Scarf

The 2011 Advent Scarf Knitalong started on December 1st!  So, along with my other Christmas knitting, as well as the other Advent Scarf, I'm knitting this beautiful lace project with over 2000 other knitters from all over the world!  The knitting is going well so far and the chatting on the Ravelry group page is lively and entertaining.
Each day of the scarf is a different type of lace stitch and each day's instructions are given the evening before. Like opening a door on an Advent calender each day before Christmas!

I dyed a small cone of Jaggerspun lace weight yarn with my Pro Chemical and Dye Spearmint and Mallard dyes.  Lovely!  And I bought Toho beads to match.

Here's What we've done through Day 3.  And the kids and I still managed to put up the tree and throw some decorations around, too!

Have a blessed day, everyone!