Prayer Shawling

I find that the majority of what I knit are prayer shawls.  While they are never the same pattern, I hope they feel like a knitted hug to those who receive them.  In the last month we (my family) have lost four people.  My dear cousin and aunt (Mama, Aunt Shirley and Daughter, Shelley) to cancer and good family friends (again Father, Doug and Daughter, Lori) one from a long illness and the other was a sudden, shocking death.

My hands have stayed busy, my grief pouring out my hands and onto my needles. I cannot imagine, nor do I want to, losing a mother, father or sister, I do however know the pain of multiple miscarriages.  If there is one thing I have learned from grief, it is that grief never goes away.  You just have to learn to carry it, eventually, you find joy again.  However, when joy does come, you never go back to being the person you were before you encountered grief.

Peace can be a long time coming.

Wisdom of 11 year olds should be listened to.

Laughter can keep one sane.

Sometimes the best part of the day is right when you wake up, before you remember what has happened.

As Lori said "One day it will be ok". Just not today.

Sneak Peeks and Outtake

 My sister and I are starting an Etsy site!  Last week we had an Esty shoot and I think the outtakes were some of the best pictures we took.  Here is a sneak peek at what I hope to have online later this week!

And an outtake!

Joy

 If you happen to ask my siblings what it is like to be an Auntie or an Uncle, they will tell you it's the best job around.  While I would have to say that being a Mama is the best job going, being an Auntie is pretty stellar.  My youngest brother and his wife gave me that role in April, and what a joy Fi-Chan is. 

As Fi's arrival approached, my knitting needles started clicking a lace blanket tune. 

Knit with Louisa Harding Azalea and Rowan Summerlite DK, this cotton blanket is a soft, cuddly knit.  Knit vertically, Fiona starts with a garter stitch edging, then has three separate lace sections, before finishing with another garter edge. After the main body of the blanket is finished, stitches are picked up and knit along both sides to finish the blanket’s edging.

You can buy the pattern here.