Please Read/Glance at the Log Cabin "Sample" Entry ...

... because it has the description of the "vision" I have for the Orthodox Cross Log Cabin that is posted after it.

I haven't decided how much further to take the "Sample" -- I am a little bit bogged down with it right now, in spite of loving it.

That's the problem with triangle shawls and log cabins and other knitting projects that start small and "grow"... the more I do, the more knitting there is to do on each row, and after a while ... it can become kind of tedious and overwhelming. Maybe that is why I keep starting new projects (and why I like Prayer Cloths and Dishcloths, lol!)

A New Log Cabin "Orthodox Cross"

Last night, after listening to the many suggestions I received re: the Special Shawl I am making/want to make, I went to Hobby Lobby and decided to start a new Log Cabin using Caron Simply Soft.

As far as softness, the difference is *amazing*. Simply Soft really *is* soft! After working with it last night and today, I went back to the "Sample" to finish a row for the pictures. It was wierd. It felt almost *rubbery* -- but I think that's the feel that many people complain about as being "plasticy".

The Simply Soft is soft -- very soft -- but it is still acrylic. Isn't acrylic plastic?

The colors are gorgeous, too, but there isn't quite the same variety to choose from.

I started out with the red in the center, and I went ahead and knitted the Orthodox Cross -- a slight variation on my original design. I might make one or two very slight tweaks, but basically, I was very pleased with it.

No "Sunshine" varigated available, so I went right into the yellows. The first one I used is called "Soft Yellow" -- and it is bright enough to fit my vision :).

I am almost finished with the yellow square, and the next color will be the skein you see beside it. It is a *bright* orange called "Mango". After that, I have another yellow, very close, but just slightly darker.

From there, I will go into the greens and blues, and I am not entirely sure, but I think I might alternate them: light green, blue, green, lt blue. Simply Soft has some very pretty blues and greens. I *might* experiment -- what do you think? with narrower squares and more varieties of colors.

Update on the Log Cabin "Sample"

Latest pics are at the end ...




I have been knitting a "sample" of a Log Cabin blanket/lapghan that I want to make for my Spiritual Mother. The sample is using Red Heart SuperSaver. The advantages are: lots of yummy colors! There is loads of it, it is available locally, and it is inexpensive. It knits up fairly quickly. It is fully washable. The disadvantage is that it doesn't feel very nice. It is kind of stiff and doesn't feel real soft and cuddly.


I have a very specific idea of what I want this lapghan to look like. In that space in the middle, will be knitted or embroidered a symbol of Christ, either a cross or a Chi Rho (see above, the Orthodox Cross Log Cabin). The next sections will be in the brightest warm colors: yellows, oranges, etc. I had some varigated yarn that was called Sunshine, I think, so I used that first. Then I started putting in logs in various shades of yellow and orange.

As you can see it was only partly successful. I used different yarns: Red Heart SuperSaver and TLC Essentials, and Lion Brand Vanessa's Choice. I used one other kind, too, I think. The yarns went together fairly well, but I wasn't entirely pleased with the colors. Several colors I thought were going to be brighter oranges or golds, were much darker and duller than I expected. Especially, there is one log in there that is pretty much a brown color and I think it ruins the whole thing. My vision was of colors that would represent Light, Life, and Resurrection. I wanted *bright* and *bold* and *warm* -- colors that would pop out at you. Only a couple of them really do that.

Then, I added what I thought was going to be a yellowish green. It turned out to be almost grey. My mother claims it is a bluish green, not a yellow green. I still think it is more yellow than blue, but it definitely wasn't what I was expecting.

Starting with the green that was almost grey, I started doing an entire square in the same color. I have looked at a number of Log Cabins now, and most are true logs, that change color with each one. I like that, but I am thinking full squares will present my vision best. With the medium and darker greens, I put one log, switched to the other, then back to the first, then back to the other. Sort of okay, but didn't really make me say "wow! I like that!"

Once I started adding the blue, the whole thing started to look a lot better. That might be because blue and green are my favorite colors...

Here are the pics of the latest version, with the blue almost completed ...





Notice that right before I added this gorgeous blue, I did a narrow square of a mint green. I think *maybe* varying the size of the squares makes it more interesting ... Now ...

I have at least 2 more shades of *blue* to add, and then will move into the mauves, lilacs, lavenders and purples -- probably not *all* of those, but at least 2.

The blues, greens and lavender/purples symbolize Creation, the Earth, Nature, the gifts of God, the beauty of the world.

From there, a dark maroon, and then a brown and a grey and finally, black. These neutral and dark colors represent the Fallen world, and life in this world distant from, apart from, Christ.

But even further out than the greys and blacks, will be a wide square of the scarlet RED from the center, because in the end, it is Christ who embraces the *whole* world, and has claimed it for his own.

Folks, I usually don't do this. But it just "came" to me in pretty much a finished form. It is a kind of vision. This "sample" version starts to embody it, but doesn't quite succeed.

A No Knit Day -- Monday

I actually *stopped* knitting for a whole day, and got absolutely *lots* of paperwork done. But then ...

I have been knitting again, and just looking at/thinking about the paperwork. I wish I could find a happy medium -- some paperwork, some knitting. Ahhhhh!

Mid-June KAL (Knit Along) Day 2

Can anyone else see the *unicorns* in this????






Well, this KAL has given me a lot of mixed emotions and raised a lot of questions. BTW, I did a garter stitch border. Janet said the Moss Stitch border was optional and you could do whatever you wanted. I like the way the Moss Stitch looks, but I really don't like creating it. It seems like these days, I have a kind of aversion to Ribbing/Moss Stitches.

I got all the way to Row 13 and had to take it out. I forgot the Lifeline, and anyway, it is too tedious and difficult to undo these rows.

I took the whole thing out. And put it away. And turned to something else. And wasn't at all sure I was even going to do it again. I have so many interesting projects on my needles, and waiting in the wings.

I didn't *like* doing this pattern. I *like* working with the Log Cabin, and knitting on the Oasis Square and the Gemstone Shawl. I am still working on the "L" in my niece's name. I have loads to do. That's not to mention all the paperwork, in addition to the Taxes that *did* get done on Friday, thanks to all of your prayers and encouragement.

Okay, so after an hour or so, I went back to it. I started over, and I thought about how this is going to please my mother so much -- it will go into one of the B&B houses my mother and I have -- color scheme in the kitchen is blue. So that has helped me to get through it.

These pictures are at the END of Day 2. YEA ME! I ended up with 37 stitches all the way through -- I had to count them on *each* row to be sure.

I am sure that I didn't always get the P2tog-b or the SSK properly, but I am *not* going to change it.

I love the way it is turning out, and am in awe of Janet being able to come up with this lovely pattern. What I am going to say, and ask, isn't about that at all, it is about me, and my reaction to it.

I really struggled with it, and not only because the pattern was so difficult. It was tedious, and it took me about FOUR HOURS to get those 20 rows done! Normally, I can do a picture dishcloth in just over 2 hours. That's a big difference, because this is not even half-way through, although I assume, the last 10 rows will be border, so this makes the lace section about half-way.

The struggle I am having is feeling that this lacework wasn't FUN -- it was darn HARD WORK! It wasn't play, like the log cabin. It didn't even feel that "creative" -- because I was just slavishly following directions. I have yet to find the *relaxation* in knitting this pattern.

As beautiful as it is, for the amount of *work* that is involved, and the necessity to really *concentrate* on it -- I couldn't even put any music on -- it is hard for me to wonder, is it worth it?

Obviously, a *huge* number of knitters, in this group and all across the Internet are "hooked" on Lace work, knit or crocheted. And it is truly lovely. But I think of all the lace shawls I have seen. I keep looking for simple, prayer-friendly :) knitting projects, and shawls potentially are, except that all the current ones are so *complicated*. Practically all of them are lace these days -- I guess it's been discovered that besides being beautiful, they provide a challenge and keep a shawl from getting so boring.

But with only this partial dishcloth for experience, I frankly can't imagine knitting a lacework shawl on tiny needles, with lace weight yarn, with even more intricate patterns. For so many reasons. But one of them is -- no one who is not another lace knitter, would *ever* be able to appreciate the work that goes into it! When I give her this dishcloth, my Mom will be pleased, and she crochets and will recognize that this was an intricate pattern and that the results are beautiful, but she won't even *begin* to recognize how much *work* it actually was!

I am disappointed and frustrated with *myself* in having such a negative reaction. I was, along with everyone else -- *so* looking forward to this mid-month KAL. I had done pictures before joining the group, so the Unicorn was a familiar type of pattern. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I also really could hardly wait to start a mid-month KAL that I knew would be some other kind of pattern -- possibly something new, that I had never done, but I was hoping/expecting that there would be a lot of help, and that a big part of the fun of it would be working on it *together*.
The "together" part has been very interesting and helpful. I didn't start as quickly as some, and so was lucky enough to get the Revision before I started. Also, I took advantage of a lot of the questions and difficulties that other people had -- like how to do the SSK.

I could *not* have finished Day 2 without the *alternative* way of doing the P2tog-b that Janet gave. I absolutely *could* not figure out how to do the first/traditional way, but I had no trouble doing the alternative, except that I think the first couple of times I slipped the stitches the wrong way. I think I corrected each one, but am not sure... I think I have the hang of the alternative now, and maybe someday I will make a point to practice doing the traditional way.

If you are one of those people who started a lace knitting project and got hooked and are addicted, and can never wait to start your next lace project -- please share with me what it is about making lace that attracts you? If you can put it in words? Please -- I *want* to like it. I am trying to keep an open mind. I am planning to finish this dishcloth and maybe by the end, I will have gotten hooked on it, too.

One of the biggest things for me is simply how *beautiful* it is. I love its beauty .... That goes a long, long way for me, but does it go far enough? I am not sure at this point...

This gorgeous Gemstone Triangle Prayer Shawl started out as just a diagonal Prayer Square, but then I was enjoying working with this color so much, I just kept going. Now I will have to keep going for another 18" -- and of course, there is an increase every row, so it is going to get longer and longer -- but I don't care!

More Pictures:



This picture shows off the lace border that is made by the YO's


Detail -- these are *my* colors!!!

Another Varigated Prayer Shawl

Here are some pictures of another varigated prayer shawl that I am working on

Oasis Prayer Square

Oasis Prayer Square in progress



Oasis Prayer Square -- Detail -- This color is more accurate

I have been working on this Prayer Cloth with this very beautiful "Oasis" color. I love it! The diagonal pattern is easy and lends itself well to my prayer. It is a little bit difficult to keep the edges smooth on the decreasing side, though. It is going to be about 12-13" square.

Mexicali Log Cabin Update and Pictures

Up close detail of the Mexicali Log Cabin Prayer Cloth -- Latest Update

I have been working on the Mexicali Log Cabin. I used blue, green, yellow and dark red/maroon around the center Mexicali rectangle. Now I am going all around with the Mexicali. I will finish doing that, and then I will add more logs in true red, orange, purple and gold or possibly, a grass green. These are all the colors that are in the Mexicali varigated.

Then I will have to decide what to do -- another round of colored logs, or just another border of Mexicali and bind off?

I recognize there are lots of imperfections in this, to say the least, but I am having FUN with it. It truly continues to be "Pure Play" -- and it is so easy and goes so fast, and works so well for my prayer. The only time I have to suspend that for a few moments is when I am picking up stitches. I do have to concentrate on that -- but as soon as that is done each time, I am off and running.

This is a practice piece for the Chi Rho or Orthodox Cross blanket I hope to make for my Spiritual Mother. I am still drawing pictures of that, and looking at different types of yarn, and colors. I haven't decided whether to do it in cotton, which does have the most color choices, or to do it in wool, or to choose some really luxurious wool blend. If the latter, I might choose one hand-dyed colorway, and just keep adding it around the center Chi Rho or Cross. Stay tuned.

Here are some more pictures:


The Inspiration, of course, for this Log Cabin Cloth is from Mason-Dixon Knitting. At first, I am not sold on it, but I am now, and highly recommend it.



The Mexicali Prayer Cloth isn't supposed to look like this, but it took its inspiration from this Joseph's Blankie of Many Colors -- and the Chi Rho Blanket will, I think, be more similar.



Here's a pic of the page in Mason-Dixon Knitting that gives the instructions for making Log Cabins. You can also find these instructions on the Internet, but I was able to follow the book's explanation very easily.

Log Cabin Ideas ...

The trouble with this technique is that the possibilities are simply *endless* - -

What about starting with really *dull* and/or neutral colors and getting brighter and bolder on the way out???

Or ???

Chi Rho Log Cabin Blanket

What do you all think of this:

Pure white center surrounded by the brightest golds, yellows, oranges, etc, those surrounded by cooler shades of blues, greens, purples, possibly separated with a set of neutral colors, the whole thing (maybe repeated once) and then enclosed in a border of bright RED and then in the very center, embroidered in the same bright red yarn, the Chi Rho symbol, you know, the one that looks like a "P" with a X through it, that stands for Christ.... I am think of making this as a blanket for the dear, dear person who is my spiritual mentor ... I need to get good at this Log Cabin technique though. This has to be *very* special, as she is the most special person in the world to me. I want to make it in a natural fiber, I think, rather than acrylic, either wool or cotton ...

Mexicali Log Cabin

Here is my second attempt at a Log Cabin -- I put the yarn around the center section so that you can see where I am going with it. I liked the idea of a varigated yarn in the center, and then matching logs around it. I chose this one, called "Mexicali" -- with bright primary colors. After the blue, yellow, red and green logs, I will go to Orange and Purple and ... ??? I am not sure how far I will go with this. Tish -- is this going to be too "bright" for a Prayer Square?

Oh No! Hooked/Needled AGAIN!

I have discovered how wonderous the "Log Cabin" style knitting is! Here is my very *first* attempt. It is very easy, once you get the hang of it. Interestingly, I had spent a good while looking at Mason-Dixon Knitting, because I had heard people talking about it. I wasn't particularly impressed, and put it back. Then, I kept hearing rave reviews and discussions, so I went back and got it. I studied the whole section on Log Cabin Knitting. Then I took out some yarn and started doing it. Here is the result. Actually, I like it! The neutral color yarn is called Sand Print, and it is beautiful -- actually more brown than it looks here. The dark color is TLC Essentials and is called "Dusky" -- very deep maroon and very dark blues. The orange is Caron's Simply Soft. Although they are all #4 Worsted, each one is different ... I used #8 needles, and they are a little big for the Simply Soft, I think ... I was going to do a whole Log Cabin Blanket in Caron Simply Soft, but I had a little trouble with the Orange, so now I am not sure...

Anyway, folks, there are some mistakes in this -- and especially, I had some difficulty picking up stitches so that they looked neat and didn't create holes. A lot of holes were created in this practice piece. I kept going with it because that is what it was -- a practice piece.

Here is a picture of the underside -- I haven't woven in the tails yet ...

More on the Prayer Square

The Prayer Square is finished! Some of the edges look a little bit rough, but as I went on, I was very careful about doing the K2tog and then knitting the YO at the other end, and the edges were a lot smoother.

I do like the pattern -- it is very similar to the Grandma's Favorite washcloth pattern. However, I *really* do not care for the camouflage color. Knitting with it, though, it was impossible not to think about where it is going, and why -- and I guess that is part of why it was so disturbing. As the daughter of a Naval Officer who was in action out in the South Pacific when I was born (and didn't "meet" me for another 8 months -- supporting the troops isn't an issue -- but making peace, not war definitely is. My Dad was certainly one of the most peace-loving, non-violent people I have ever met, and he would entirely agree that the world needs a *better* way to deal with conflict.

I just kept thinking about how this Prayer Square is going to a hospital, which means that whoever gets it has no doubt been injured, probably badly or they would not be in a hospital, and is probably in pain, perhaps a great deal of pain. That is hard for me to deal with. I truly prayed with *every* stitch and I continue praying, and hope that my prayers will somehow make a difference!

The Square is 12" -- actually, closer to 13" *diagonally* but side to side and up and down, it is only about 9" -- so I do not know if it is going to pass muster as a Hospital cloth, but I truly hope so. It is probably too big for those in the field to carry with them.

Camouflage Prayer Square

Last night, when I ran out of Brownberry for the hat, I started knitting a 12" prayer square. Tish had specially asked for the 12" size. I chose a camouflage color and the diagonal garter stitch pattern. I am now just past the half-way mark. I knit it until it was about 6" -- which for me was about 48-50 stitches on the needle, using worsted weight yarn on size #8 needles. Now I have started the decrease side. This is truly a *great* pattern to pray the Jesus Prayer! I think I am going to really hone in on these Prayer Squares. I have to say, though, that I dislike the camouflage color! Since the 12" squares are going to the hospital, Tish said that any color is acceptable, keeping in mind that most recipients are men. So as soon as I finish this cloth, I will put the camouflage yarn away for smaller prayer cloths, and for hats, and switch to some other varigated yarns. I have a lovely one in blues and greens, and light brown and beige that is called "Oasis" and another in shades of brown, with some red that is called "Farmland" and then another that is a very dark maroon with dark blue called "Dusky". I also have a light brown and beige varigated that is called "Sandlands" or something like that -- and as someone mentioned recently, the camouflage for the desert is a sand color.

I also started playing a little bit with embroidering with yarn on a stockinette background. The article I found describing that process was *so* complicated -- I just started playing around with it -- but would like to find some simpler directions. I am thinking that will be the best way to go re: putting a white Orthodox cross on a purple background -- I will probably make it into a scarf, and possibly add the letters OCF on the other side -- or maybe right under the cross. I even thought that maybe we could have a drawing for it amongst the new students -- hoping that we do get some new students.

I Can't Believe I'm Knitting Socks!

Here is are some pictures of the Sock book and my six color skeins. I hope these pictures will *inspire* me!!!

One of the things I got at Hobby Lobby -- I saw it just as I was about to check out -- I Can't Believe I'm Knitting SOCKS! So, I decided I would get it and use it to try to teach myself how to knit *socks*. The Basic Pattern calls for double-pointed needles, but supposedly teaches you step by step. We'll see. I was intrigued that they knit the sample socks in *SIX* different colors so as to emphasize each separate section of the socks. So, I bought 6 skeins of Red Heart Sports Yarn: 2 blues, a yellow, a pink, a green and a brown. I am excited about it, but I *really* need to do some work. Learning socks is going to take some concentration.

Pictures of the Brownberry hats

Here is Brownberry Hat #1. I did it in a brown color so that I can send it to the troops overseas via the Prayer Cloth Ministry. But actually, I really like the color

Here is another picture:

Here are some pics of the two hats together, one without flash, one with. If you put them together in your mind, you might get some idea of the real color of Brownberry, lol

.

Latest Knitting Obession: Hats!

I was in the middle of working on the "L" for my niece, when I got this sudden "urge" to knit another hat in the round! I had bought some Brownberry TLC Essentials on sale at Hobby Lobby, so I started making the Roll Brim hat from the Big Book of Hats and Scarves. It's the same pattern as the pink hat that is in the pictures.

It's a really easy pattern; in fact, it is so easy to memorize that I am now on my *second* brownberry hat, and I am not even bothering to count any more. I just look at what I am knitting and I can tell what to do next -- I really like that!

I've worked out to start the hat with 16" circulars (#7). The pattern calls for 64 stitches. You begin with approximately an inch of stockinette, which is intended to roll up and be the roll up brim. *Then* y0u work about an inch of K1, P1 ribbing. Then you do an increase row -- 8 increases from 64 to 72 stitches.

At that point, I switch to longer needles -- 24" circulars. I find that the 16" ones are very tiring for me. I have very large hands -- I am a tall person -- and those 16" needles are just too short. But I tried it first using the 24" ones, and they are too long until the increase -- after that, they work fine -- and what a *relief* to me when I have switched.

Then, with this hat it is clear sailing for 30 or more rounds of stockinette. That is my Prayer Time.

After that comes a section of decreases that are very straightforward: K7, K2tog, repeat, then a Knit row, then K6, K2tog, repeat, etc. with a Knit row in between each decrease row, and each decrease row, fewer 1 few knit stitch between the K2tog decrease. So it is easy to remember.

I can do several of these decreases before I need to switch to the 16" needles again. The pattern calls for switching to dpns, but I haven't done that. When I can no longer do the decreases on the 16"ers, I just end the hat there -- and it seems to work fine.

The pattern calls for bulky yarn. The brownberry yarn is worsted -- a 4 instead of a 5. I went down 1 needle size, but kept the same amount of stitches. I would be happier with the opening at the bottom just *slightly* bigger -- it feels small to me. But I don't know how to adjust the pattern.

I finished the first brownberry hat while waiting for guests to come. I have in mind to send these hats to soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan. I got such a kick out of making it, and my Mom wanted to do a puzzle together and I wanted something to work on while we were doing it, so I started another hat!

I will post some pictures tomorrow. Meanwhile, I have a good start on Brownberry hat #2. I can see this becoming a real Obsession. Unfortunately, the letter cloths for my niece are languishing at the moment.

June KAL -- FINISHED -- My *First* Ever!

Well, I have completed my very FIRST KAL (Knit Along). It was a wonderfully FUN experience! I really enjoyed it a lot. And NOW, I have my very *own* handknit dish/wash cloth! Every single one I have made previously, I have given away -- this one is *mine*. Of course, it clashes with the maroon in my bathroom. I will have to make another one soon, in a more complementary color. There is a lot of green in my bathroom but there was a maroon-ish sink already there (it was my grandmother's house) and so I chose wallpaper with flowers that matched it, and bought linens that do as well. Maybe I will make the cloth in either maroon or green... I can't *quite* see it in green, but I will look around at colors -- it might work. It wouldn't show up well in white ...

I am *very* much pleased with the cloth, but what I am *not* pleased with are my photographs. The picture looks best if viewed from the side. But the *color* is off in every single one of my photographs. I tried to fix it in Paint Shop Pro, but did not succeed. If a store around you has Bernat Cottontots, it is the grape berry color. It is a very nice *lavender* color -- not too dark, not too light -- just right -- but the camera makes it too blue or too grey. It is not either. I don't understand why my camera is suddenly so far off re: color. I need to investigate that further.

One comment: at first, I was unhappy that my cloth was not coming out *square*. But I have decided that I *like* it to be longer than it is high. The unicorn is leaping -- by making the cloth longer, it gives a *lot* more sense of motion than if he were enclosed in a perfect square.

June KAL - Day 4

I am really pleased with the way this is turning out and I think I know what it is! I guessed even before I had finished Day 3!

June KAL -- Day 3

Here are pictures of the June 1st KAL on Day 3.

Allee's "A" Cloth!

My very dear and courageous niece struggles with depression. She is starting summer school today, and is alone in her sister's apartment -- her sister is out of town -- and she doesn't know anyone (I hope that will change once classes start). She is an artist and is going to be studying Art History. I am making her a set of dish/wash cloths with letters that spell out her name, each one in a different color. This is the first one. I made it in Sugar n Cream Cornflower Blue. What a *gorgeous* color! I LOVE it!! It came out really well, and I am so pleased. I just hope she likes it as much as I do...