Christmas 2016

I'm sitting on the couch at 11:33pm on Christmas day, thinking about so many things.
First, Elizabeth hasn't been sucking her thumb since around Thanksgiving of this year. It started when I noticed her thumb getting super chapped and raw from going out in the cold after having it in her mouth. She pretty much didn't suck it unless we were in the van or at bedtime. When I started examining her thumb, I also noticed that it was flatter than her other (non sucked) thumb. She has been sucking it since she was about 6 months old, and I guess over all that time it flattened while she was growing. My momma always told me that babies grow when they sleep, so it makes sense. So, we decided to put some aquafor on her chapped thumb and a couple barbie bandaids over night. We told Elizabeth she could still have her Blankie, but couldn't take the bandaids off and sucked her thumb. I really thought she'd take them off, but she didn't. I had to go in her room 6 or 7 tines to help her soothe herself to sleep. I talked to her about choosing a soft stuffed animal buddy to snuggle tight and to sink down into her bed and dream that she's sleeping on a cloud. I still sleep with GW that mom bought me when I had my wisdom teeth out when I was 17, so Elizabeth liked the idea that she could be like mommy! Since then she has gotten better and better at getting to sleep without sacking her thumb. She even said she didn't even want her Blankie, so she hasn't had it wither her anytime either. She is still waking every night, but I thinks it's bc she is stuffy and cranky and still doesn't know how to deal with that. I'm praying for guidance on how to help her deal with feeling rough and still resting.

Also, we thought we'd work with Anna Leigh on getting rid of her pacis by giving them to Santa to take to the baby elves in the north pole. Anna has always been more mature and ahead of the game, due to keeping up with Elizabeth! So we wanted to give it a try. Last night, Anna put bother her pacis on the plate for Santa, along with some cookies and chocolate milk. I didn't realize until right at bedtime that she also put her Blankie beside the plate for Santa too. I told her she didn't have to give up her Blankie, that it was hers and had her name in it. But, she said she wanted to and "didn't need it anymore." This made me so emotional. It was all I could do to hold back the tears while reading out Night Before Christmas book. She slept perfectly and  ever once woke up asking for either her Blankie or paci. I am so proud of her, but sad because my baby is growing up. She's still only 2, and I want her to stay little and innocent and sweet, sucking that paci.

I'm also thinking about Elizabeth and how she has started showing signs of being ungrateful for what she gets. She did this at Memaws, asking where more presents are and saying she wants more. Also, at Mawma B's, she and Anna got puppy and kitty surprise toys and immediately when Elizabeth opened hers, she whined saying she wanted the kitty and stomped her foot and pouted. I had lectured her all the way from Memaws to Mawma's about having a grateful heart and being happy with what you get because it came from someone's heart and they don't have to buy her things. I told her if she did it again, she was going to get spanked. I couldn't let her get away with that reaction to her puppy surprise, so in fromm of all my family, on Christmas eve, I had to take her out on the deck and spank her and talk to her about her choices and attitude. I'm sure everyone thought I was such a mean person and over reacting, but I don't want to raise brats, and they don't know the history behind this issue. I am praying for guidance on this attitude of hers too, bc she showed it again today about her Barbie puppy mobile.

Garter/Stockinette Stitch Scarves - Cindy's Creations

Cindy knitted these beautiful scarves for her grandchildren. She used size US 8.0 needles and cast on 20 stitches. It is a simple, but very intricate looking pattern.

Step 1: Knit five rows
Step 2: Knit next row
Step 3: Purl next row
(Repeat steps 2 and 3, alternating knit/purl rows until desired length is reached)
Step 4: Knit last five rows

Jackson's scarf was knit using worsted weight yarn.

Emma's scarf was knit using bulky weight yarn.

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Ruffle Scarf with Sashay Yarn

My next project is going to be using Red Heart Sashay yarn to make the ruffle scarf below. It is so cute!

Click below to learn about the yarn:
http://www.redheart.com/yarn/boutique-sashay


Watch this video to learn how to knit with this yarn.

Click below to download the ruffle scarf pattern.
http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/smoky-swirls-scarf


I will post a picture of my scarf when it is finished.

Ruth's Scarves

Here are a few of the scarves that Ruth has knitted.



Ruth held two strands of worsted weight, pink and white yarn together for this scarf. She used US 11 (8 mm) needles and a garter stitch (knit every row).

 


This scarf was knit with size US 11 (8 mm) needles using a garter stitch and Loops & Threads Charisma Deep Woods chunky yarn.

 

This scarf was knitted with Loop & Threads Pom Pom yarn in the color called Outdoors. Ruth used size US 11 (8 mm) needles and knitted every row. She used the backward loop cast on method (see video below) and cast on 12 stitches. Remember not to pull the pom poms through the stitches, work only with the carrier strand between the pom poms.



Shelby's Hat and Ruth's Scarf

Shelby used a round loom that she got for Christmas to knit this adorable hat. She is so talented!

Ruth knitted this scarf using the same yarn that Shelby used in the hat above. She used size US 8 (5 mm) needles and a garter stitch (knit all rows). It is a bulky yarn made by Lion Brand called Aspen Tweed. This is the very first scarf that Ruth knitted. What an awesome job!

Scarves for Dogs!!!

Here are some scarves that Shelby knitted and crocheted for her dog, Baby Girl.

Shelby knitted this pink scarf and said, "Dogs can support the cause too!"



She crocheted this white scarf with a small needle. Isn't Baby Girl a wonderful model?!?!

This one was crocheted as well. Shelby knitted her scarf from the same yarn. She used homespun yarn for these. Too cute!!!

Shai and Kathryn's Scarves

Shai and Kathryn have created beautiful scarves using size US 11 (8.0mm) needles and one skein of yarn!

Shai used yarn that changes from light blue to medium blue and she followed a garter stitch pattern (knit every row). She dressed it up by adding thick tassels on each corner.

Kathryn used a coral colored yarn and the pattern she followed was:
K1, YO, K2tog (knit one stitch, yarn over, knit two stitches together) for every row. The yarn over creates a slightly lacy pattern.

 Shai and Kathryn

MJ modeling Shai's scarf.

Great job ladies!

Basket Weave Scarf

For this scarf, I used the basket weave pattern. This was the first scarf I ever made, so it took me quite a while. I cast on 16 stitches with a worsted weight yarn and I used size US 9 (5.5 mm) needles.

I found this pattern from the video below.

Rows 1-4: K4, P4, K4, P4
Rows 5-8: P4, K4, P4, K4
Repeat rows 1-8 until you reach your desired length.
I used one skein of yarn. I also used different shades of pink and red ribbons in the fringe.

Breast Cancer Support Scarf Pattern

I saw the pattern for this scarf on Knitting Daily on KET:
http://www.knittingdaily.com/media/p/30977.aspx

·        Use all 5 yarns together for the entire project.

·        Cut the fringe first – cut 30 10” pieces. You will want 15 pieces for each end of the scarf: 5 sets of fringe on each end of the scarf – and each set is comprised of 3 “pieces”. Remember, each “piece” is actually 5 strands held together.

·        Using US 19 needles, cast on 9 stitches.

·        K1, *YO, K2TOG; repeat from * to end of row.

·        Follow every row until you almost run out of yarn.

·        Bind off.

·        Attach fringe – 5 sets of fringe on each end of the scar – and each set is comprised of 3 “pieces”.

Note: You will have some yarn left over. Try knotting it all together – end to end – and knitting another scarf – you’ll have created a one-of-a-kind project!

The video and pattern above suggests holding five different yarns together, but on the scarf below, I held two yarns and knitted with US 15 (10mm) needles.



I have used this pattern several times. Here is a scarf I made using three strands of pink yarn of different shades and textures. I used size US 15 (10mm) needles for this scarf.

Here is another scarf I made using US 9 (5.5mm) and one strand of worsted weight yarn. You can see what a difference the needle size makes on the look of this scarf.

Potato Chip Scarf

This is the Potato Chip Scarf that I made for my sister-in-law. I got the pattern from another blog post: http://www.oceanwavesquilts.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/02/potato-chip-scarf.html

I used Red Heart Royal Shimmer and Snow Shimmer yarn.
http://www.redheart.com/search/apachesolr_search/shimmer

I held both strands of yarn together and followed the pattern below. I used size US 9 (5.5mm) needles. The next time I knit this scarf again while holding two strands of yarn, I will use larger needles. This turned out nice, but it is a little tight. Also, it takes at least three to four inches before you see the ruffle start to form.

You need around 200 yards of a worsted weight yarn
Size 9,10, or 11 needles (depending on the size of your yarn)
Cast on 20 stitches
Row 1: knit 8, turn, knit back to beginning
Row 2: knit 6, turn, knit back to beginning
Row 3: knit 4, turn, knit back to beginning
Knit across all 20 stitches
Repeat these rows until desired length is reached
Bind off as usual

Hot Pink Eyelash Scarf

For this scarf I cast on 22 stitches using size US 9 (5.5 mm) needles. The yarn is Bernat Boa – Chick (see link below). I used a garter stitch (knit every row).

http://www.bernat.com/product.php?LGC=boa&SPP=999