Hats

It’s time to pull out my warm yarn and start making hats. We enrolled 3 more of my 6 kids in public school, leaving only 2 at home. The oldest 4 are having fun attending school and the youngest 2, love that they have mom to themselves. Now that I have 4 fewer kids to deal with I should be able to crank out some hats and scarves. School colors are a must, and I have a start, 4 skeins of the right shade of orange. I just need to get a lighter weight version with some black and orange yarn. The goal is to get them all set for games and races and all that comes with school. I am hoping I can crank out a couple shrugs for my daughter and niece for those school color days. Now, if I could just settle on a pattern I will start knitting.

I’m still here

Just a quick note to let the world know I am still here. I went in for my third procedure on the arterial vascular malformation in my foot, knitting in tow. I didn’t however, get to knit as much as I would’ve liked. This was by far my most painful procedure. Just before heading to the operating room, the Dr. said it was very likely that much of my pain leading up to this third procedure was due to a secondary condition because of not being able to walk properly my foot likely has plantar fasciitis also. I had to stay on oxygen and the pain meds just kept coming with not the greatest results the first day. Hopefully, the other experts being brought on board to cover my secondary condition will help me kick some of these drugs I now have to take to get through the day and sleep some at night. I did knit wash cloths at the hospital and gave them to the nurses until I ran out, passed on knitting websites and shared some of my favorite books. I love that no matter where I am knitting will connect with me someone, whether it’s a gift passed on, a shared passion, an introduction to a great past time or just the knowledge that knitting can visibly relax someone in pain. I am glad that God has given me this ability to create and to share my creations. Now I am working through my fog of pain to push on with my knitting and hopefully not make too many mistakes because all this tearing out is discouraging, I will press on and in my fog finish something more…..and here in my fog I almost forgot I managed to knit two hats in three days….I will knit my way out of the fog.

Now a little description about the first hat.  My very good friend, Amanda, came by to visit me and mentioned it was hat night at her church’s Wednesday night program.  Having five kids of her own, she mentioned she needed to find a hat for one of her boys.  Well, I couldn’t resist and in my drug induced stupor I hopped around on my crutch positive we could find the right yarn to match his coat and of course I could whip out a hat for her son.  I am not sure what I was thinking but it worked.  We found the yarn and amid some fun conversation, always fun while medicated, the hat was completed….just in time for her to run out the door and get her kids to church.  I have decided one of the hardest things about being unable to get around, is not feeling needed.  I am sure she would’ve found a hat, but it felt wonderful to feel needed, useful, productive….better than any painkiller taken that day.

Aidan’s hat

The second hat was a gift to my second son.  He left this weekend for his first youth group trip.  It is his first time being away for the weekend and he has outgrown his favorite elf hat I knit him.  I am happy he is growing up and I am even happier he proudly wore the hat I so lovingly knit for him.  Pictures will have to be added later.  I am seriously in awe that my kids love my knitting and wear it proudly…..it makes me feel loved knowing they are proud of my love….does that make sense…if not I’ll just blame the pain meds.  Time to stop rambling, thanks for reading.

Time to curl up with my knitting

proof that I can knit mittens.

my poncho…

hats galore…

The weather has turned bitterly cold, and no matter how much my mind is telling me too, I can’t find the urge to knit the kids some mittens. Scarves, sweaters, hats and ponchos roll off the needles, but with six kids, how can I commit to so many mittens. I’ll admit it’s the thumbs and the fear that I won’t make them match. I’ve made mittens. I know how to make them. I still can’t make myself start. I have even sorted through my stash looking for the perfect yarn, only to be distracted by a much more perfect project. Scarves are sooo much easier and as I check the length, I can keep my neck warm. I can’t knit with mittens on, so they really can’t warm me as I work. Afghans cover my lap and warm me, for that matter, sweaters do too. I think I should just plan on knitting the mittens in the summer, as I sit in my air conditioning, right? I am looking for and have found any excuse not to knit them. If and when I ever do get around to it, I hope my kids appreciate the monumental effort it took.

Emma’s purple hat of curls

How did you do this??? I had to laugh when my 5-year-old daughter blurted this out upon examining the hat I was knitting.  I had just pulled out a skein and was knitting on a whim when this apparently magical creation began to form.  She loves her purple hat with curls.  Well, not actual curls, but cables.  I do like her description better but it might be because I am partial to her.  The pattern is originally intended for babies and knit with dk yarn, but I changed it up and grabbed my size 9 needles and whipped out some worsted weight yarn.  I love the results, better yet my daughter loves the results.  I wish I had snapped a picture of her walking into Michael’s with her purple sweater dress, courtesy of Justice and coincidentally matching purple cable knit hat.  The stop was of course for the convenience of their restrooms and the lovely yarn we just had to walk past on our way out.  We couldn’t use the restroom without purchasing something, and my older daughter, Ruth, really wants her own hat, so yarn HAD to be purchased, really.  With my husband’s help, he found his way in to browse and of course purchase some dipping pens, nibs and ink, ( He will have to get his own blog to explain that obsession. ) Ruth was able to find the correct yarn.  It was choosing a color that consumed most of the time, which shade of pink would be best??  Needless to say, she is happy to see her pink hat cast on my needles and hopefully, patiently awaits its finish.   I hope she likes her pink hat of curls!

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