Blogging & Current W.I.P. – velvet soft wave blanket

I’m not very good at keeping a blog. I think it’s a mixture of, “how much information do I share that can be seen by all?” and, “who really cares to peek into my life?”

But I’m going to try this again.

Today’s agenda is to make sure the kids do their schoolwork and chores and I want to be able to get more work done on the Velvet Soft Wave Blanket.

I recently purchased 14 skeins of Lion Brand Suede. 7 skeins of eggplant and 7 skeins of ecru to go along with the skeins of Lion Brand Homespun in Baroque. I perused through Lion Brand’s website to get an idea of some patterns that would work well with these yarns. I was going to use a pattern where I would use all three yarns together at once. However, I would have to use a huge hook and using the P hook hurts my hand. So I chose a pattern called “New Wave Throw”. I’m using mostly the suede with homespun in between. It’s turning out rather nicely. I’ve always wanted to do a blanket in mostly suede. I need to decide whether I’m going to keep it, sell it, or give it away as a gift. I’d like it to sell as I’m saving up for some bookshelves for my yarn.

Here’s a photo of the pattern from Lion Brand’s site. I’ll post a picture of my blanket when I’ve completed it.

a prophet is not honored in his home

Luke 4:24-27

Then He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when heaven was shut up three years and months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”

Commentary from Bible Gateway

…Jesus quotes the proverb that a prophet is not honored in his home. This remark reveals Jesus’ understanding of Old Testament history. He knows how repeatedly God’s messengers were rejected. This theme will also surface continually in Luke (11:49-52; 13:32-35; 20:10-12: Acts 7:51-53). God’s message is often met with rejection. The proverb also serves as a prediction that for many in Israel Jesus’ ministry will fit into this tragic mold.

… Jesus recalls the history of Israel in the period of Elijah and Elisha (1 Kings 17–18; 2 Kings 5:1-14). The history lesson is a warning. That period was a low point in the nation’s life, when rejection of God was at an all-time high and idolatry and unfaithfulness ran rampant. So God moved his works of mercy outside the nation into Gentile regions, as only a widow in Sidon and Naaman the Syrian experienced God’s healing. The price of rejecting God’s message is severe: mercy moves on to other locales. It is quite risky to walk away from God’s offer of deliverance. This exchange reveals the basic challenge of Jesus’ ministry: the choice he presents carries high stakes.

Yarn

I am saving up to get 2 Billy Bookcases from IKEA to house the yarn. In preparation, I have moved the majority of my yarn from a dresser to a bookshelf. It’s nice to be able to see what yarn I have instead of it being stowed away inside a drawer.

I’ve put a bunch of yarn into gallon size Ziploc baggies so I can keep lots of the same yarn together. I’m also going to be winding the majority of the yarn into balls, making it easier to crochet.

I’ll be keeping the yarn sorted by color and then by weight.

Again, it’s very exciting to be able to see what I have on hand. I think it will help stir up creativity.

Supernatural ~ Blanket

A little over a month ago, some time towards the end of July, beginning of August, I started thinking about making a blanket for our bed. I had been making some personalized baby blankets for friends following a pattern designed by someone else. I wanted to make something that was all mine.

I had in mind a patchwork quilt-type blanket out of granny squares and solid portions. While making up squares for my blanket, I kept seeing colors from a pair of booties I had made and decided I’d put my blanket aside and work on another to sell on Etsy. I wanted more than just the two colors of black and purple, though, so I went searching through my stash for a third color. I found a green that made for an interesting addition to the colors, mapped out a pattern and got started.

Many times while making this blanket, I questioned the combination of colors I chose. I’m pretty conservative, not one to put wild colors together. I know these probably don’t seem too wild, but for me, this combination was. But upon seeing the finished product, I was really happy with it.

I named this “Supernatural” because as I was making this, the colors reminded me of “The Hulk” and also “The Count” on Sesame Street. My mind was also drawn to comic books whenever I was making it, so, what better name than “Supernatural”?

On future blankets, I’m going to see about cross-stitching words and images on the solid shapes. I’m excited to see what else I can come up with.

Etsy Listing