Mid-Month KAL -- NOT!!

Once again, I have had a *terrible* time with the mid-month dishcloth KAL! I was doing great with it through Day 3, but then somehow, I got an extra stitch. So I started going back to try to correct it, and then I lost track of where I was. I cannot tell from looking at the knitting, when it is a pattern I don't understand well. So, I was just plain LOST! So I just took the whole darn thing OUT while the tears were streaming down my face. I do NOT do well with this kind of stress! I had thought I would start over, but then I asked myself -- do I *really* need this kind of stress in my life? What could I be doing with the several hours it would take to redo this dishcloth
Here's one answer to that question:

This is Ruth's Prayer Shawl. Ruth is a friend who is having a terrifically difficult time. This Prayer Shawl needs to get done ASAP. Ironically -- this is truly ironic -- this is a *dishcloth* pattern! It is called Baby Fern Lace. I took the dishcloth pattern and doubled it, and am using a 4 stitch garter border instead of 3 sts called for in the dishcloth.

I am *loving* this pattern! It is so easy, and it comes out looking so intricate and beautiful it takes my breath away. The pics do NOT do justice to the actual shawl, which is made with Vanna's Choice on #10 needles.

Well, I needed something to really calm me down and restore PEACE to my heart. I needed to do a dishcloth and *finish* it. I have not yet finished a Mid-Month KAL project. They are just TOO HARD -- or something! I don't know why I have such a problem with them. I have been knitting for over 50 years. As a teenager, I knit sweaters with cables in them. I hadn't done a lot of lace, but it isn't that hard. So WHY am I having so much difficulty? I really don't know....

But here is what I ended up making, and it did the trick. Peace restored. I *loved* doing this! It was so relaxing and prayerful and peaceful. I loved watching it grow and then watching it "ungrow"??? -- and I loved watching the stripes come out. It's a little bit wavy with the eyelets on the decreasing side. I did the increase pattern which is knit 2, yo -- and then I followed the instructions for the decrease side, but then after a couple of them, I went to bed and in the morning, I started again, and was assuming knit 2, knit2tog -- until I looked at the instructions and saw that there is only 1 knit st -- so I didn't take it out, but switched to that. Anyway, it is Grandma's Favorite and it is *my* favorite as well! BTW, this was the first time I actually made one!

Ruth's Prayer Shawl

Here are pictures of the Prayer Shawl I am making for a friend. It is done using Vanna's Choice (various colors) with a #10 needle. The pattern is Baby Fern Lace, and it is a dishcloth pattern which I modified for a shawl.

Ravelry

I finally got my invitation to Ravelry!
I really hope this website is going to work, because it is simply tremendous!

Notes about the Pattern

Several people have asked me about the pattern for this Orthodox Cross. I am more than happy to share it. The problem is that I don't have it written down. I have just memorized it. But here are some notes. I hope that before long, I will have a chance to work it all out in pattern language. The smaller squares, I cast on 32 stitches. For the larger ones, 40. I did a 4 stitch garter border on each side. The garter stitch borders at top and bottom were appoximately 3 garter ridges but you can see that some were one more than that. On the smaller square, the cross begins with 4 purl stitches that are 10 stitches in from the border (14 sts from the edge), on the larger one, 14 stitches from the border (in other words 18 stitches from the edge) The cross is 4 purl stitches wide. Every other row is Knit. There are 3 rows on the bottom. The slanting bar has one row of 7 stitches, then one row of 10 stitches, then another row of 7 stitches on the other side. Above the slanting bar are 3 rows of 4 stitches. Above that, 2 rows of the main bar, which is 16 stitches wide. Above that 2 rows of 4 stitches, then the top bar which is two rows of 12 stitches each. Above that, 2 more rows of 4 stitches. There are approximately 4 rows of stockinette stitch at the bottom and at the top.

At the end of each row, I bring the yarn in front and then slip the last stitch. Then at the beginning of the next row, I knit into the back of the first stitch.

Those with some experience, can probably look at the pictures, and figure out what I have done, and correct these notes if they are wrong -- I am going from memory.
Beginners: you had better wait until I have written out a pattern and checked it, because this is all from *memory*. I really am writing this just to assure everyone that I am happy to share. And I will write the pattern out properly as soon as I can. Thanks to all for your interest.

A Dozen Prayer Squares for Orthodox Christian Fellowship

Well, I have been busy! I have been knitting "Prayer Squares" for members of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship at the local University. Each one is different, each one is a different color, each one is a slightly different size. Since taking the pictures, I have completed another large one in Aubergine, which is a beautiful Maroon color, and am half-way through a large one in Cottontots Blue Berry.


Vanna's Choice Purple Prayer Square

Sage Green Prayer Square in Caron's Simply Soft



Lion Wool Goldenrod Prayer Square

Large Prayer Square in Red Heart Lt Periwinkle



Vanna's Choice "Linen" Prayer Square

Vanna's Choice Olive Green Prayer Square



Lion Wool Orange Prayer Square

Vanna's Choice Autumn Colors Prayer Square



Vanna's Choice Purple or Dark Blue -- the camera is not accurate

Vanna's Choice Dusty Purple



Dark Blue or Purple Prayer Square

Prayer Square in TLC Essential's "Dusty"



And here is a "group shot"