Knit and Crochet Bible Study

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  • Stitch Patterns

    I found a couple of stitch patterns I thought you might enjoy.  These are the ones referenced in the post, The Shepherd I Shall Not Want

    Knit: Five Stitch Cable (found in Beginner’s Guide Knit Stitches & Easy Projects by Leisure Arts)

    Panel of 5 sts on a background of Reverse Stockinette Stitch.

    Row 1: (right side): Slip next 3 sts onto cable needle and hold in back of work, K2 from left needle, K3 from cable needle.

    Row 2 AND ALL WRONG SIDE ROWS: P5

    Row 3: K5

    Row 5: K2, (K, P, K, P, K) all in next st, pass second, third, fourth, and fifth sts on right needle over first st, K2

    Row 7: K5

    Row 8: P5

    Repeat Rows 1-8 for pattern.

    Crochet: Garden Rows (found in Beginner’s Guide 30 Easy-To-Crochet Pattern Stitches by Leisure Arts)

    Ch 27 loosely

    Row 1: (right side): Dc in fourth ch from hook and in each ch across. 25 st

    To work Front Post Single Crochet (FPsc), insert hook from front to back around post of st indicated, YO and pull up a loop, YO and draw through all 3 loops on hook. Skip st behind FPsc.

    Row 2: Ch 1, turn; work FPsc around first 5 dc, * dc in next dc, (sc in next dc, dc in next dc) twice, work FPsc around next 5 dc; repeat from * across.

    Row 3: Ch 3 (counts as first dc, now and throughout), turn; dc in next st and in each st across.

    Row 4: Ch 1, turn; sc in first 2 dc, dc in next dc, sc in next dc, dc in next dc, work FPsc around next 5 dc, dc in next dc, (sc in next dc, dc in next dc) twice, work FPsc around next 5 dc, dc in next dc, sc in next dc, dc in next dc, sc in last 2 dc.

    Row 5: Ch 3, turn, dc in next st and in each st across.

    Repeat Rows 2-5 for pattern.

  • The Shepherd I Shall Not Want

    Years ago when I first learned of Psalm 23 I was quite confused

    You see, the Sunday School  teacher was saying this is a passage that offers comfort. For me it offered something else to worry about.

    I read and memorized the first line “The Lord is Shepherd I shall not want.  In my immature mind, I kept thinking this said I don’t want this shepherd. I couldn’t figure out why the  teacher was talking like this was an encouraging passage.  Then the next verse said “He makes me lie down in green pastures”.  He MAKES me lie down, like when I was in trouble and got sent to my room.

    As I grew and matured in stature and in God, I understood the true message. My needs are met by my Lord.  He cares for me.  He helps me to rest when I am weary and keep running in circles.

    Another thing I learned about the first verse of Psalm 23 is to look at punctuation. There is a comma after The Lord is my Shepherd which separates it from the thought following -I shall not want.

    That’s what Bible Study offers; a chance to grow in the knowledge of the Lord. I asked questions, listened to sermons, talked with other believers. I learned more about this Shepherd they spoke of.   I had to become familiar with God to understand His Word.

    The same goes for reading a knit or crochet pattern. I had to learn what PSSO stood for, and watch for commas and parenthesis in phrases like K2, (K, P, K, P, K)all in next st, pass second, third, fourth and fifth sts on right needle over first st, K2.    Or how about  Ch 1, turn; work FPsc around first 5 dc, *dc in next dc, (sc in next dc, dc in next dc) twice, work FPsc around next 5 dc; repeat from * across.

    Pattern reading , like Bible Study takes time and commitment. You must learn to see not only the words, but the punctuation and the context of each passage. Context is very important. In patterns and in Scripture you need to know what is happening around the verse. My friend, Debi Stack, loves to tell about her favorite ‘out of context’ verse; Deuteronomy 14:26 Use the money to buy anything you want.  This is great verse to take with me when I head to the mall, but not exactly what is being commanded.

    Sometimes a passage of Scripture, like a pattern, is understood more clearly if read aloud. At other times it may require speaking to someone with more knowledge. With today’s technology you can search online for errata (pattern corrections); you may also contact the designer in person via email or website contact.

    Don’t become discouraged if the Scripture is confusing. Stop, take a deep breath, read it slowly, out loud, and take notes; meditate on His Word.  Most importantly, don’t give up; reach out and take the hand of the Shepherd you DO want and rest in Him.

    Keep your eyes on Jesus , who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed, that exhilarating finish in and with God. he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there , in the place of honor, right alongside God.  – Hebrews 12:2

    NOTE: If you’d like to see the full stitch pattern to those referenced above, check out the post dated today called “Stitch Patterns

  • Anticipation

    I don’t like to wait.  I want what I want when I want it

    For example, I knitted a sweater for my husband, He found the pattern and the yarn. I was so excited he wanted me to knit something for him.

    But the stockinette stitch was never-ending. I’d knit and knit and knit and knit.; certain  I had completed at least 4 or 5 inches of work, but no, only 1 and 1/2 inch when I measured it.

    Anticipation: expectation, hope, realization in advance, foretaste.

    Yes, I anticipated and hoped and could definitely realize in advance what it would look like when finished.

    Several years ago we had sold our house. However, we had not yet found one to move to. As the day of closing drew closer I grew more and more concerned of where we would be living. Then at the last possible moment the perfect house opened up, timing worked out, and we made the transition right on time.

    Several women near me are expecting and each will be delivering healthy baby boys within just a few weeks of each other.  They have the nursery ready, diapers lined up and bottles on the counter, but they must wait for the right time for the baby to be delivered, no matter how excited and ready they are. They must wait, anticipate and continue on until the right moment.

    I was reminded of this while weeding the garden last week. There, growing stronger and taller every day, was my favorite lily plant. There were buds everywhere, but they had not yet opened. Everyday I looked out to see more buds, no blooms.

    Like the move and like babies and like the sweater; each has time needed to bring it to completion. My lily needs it time and nothing I do is going to make it bloom any sooner.

    That is when this verse from Habakkuk came to mind, Habakkuk 2:3 says:

      But these things won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.

    I continue to wait: I wait for the many stockinette stitches on a sweater to be complete, I wait for doctors, I wait for grandchildren to visit, I wait for my turn in the grocery line, I wait for Jesus Christ to return. To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

    Everything will take place, at the proper time. Christ will return. I don’t know when, but it will take place at the right time, it will not be delayed.

    The wait for the sweater was worth it.

    and on my lily the blooms are starting to open:

    What are you waiting for? Wait patiently, for it will not delayed.

    Perhaps you should sit back, relax, and knit or crochet for a bit.

  • My TO-DO list

    For God so loved the world He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

    My name is TerryAnn, and I am stackaholic

    I am full of ideas of things I want to make or do. Every day I scour the internet for more ideas and then I add them to my  stack of To Dos. I print them off or make a note and add it to a stack so I can find it easily when I gather the supplies. This stack of things to do is so large it currently has a bookcase, several shelves and my desk so covered I don’t need to worry about dusting because you cannot see them.

    Unfortunately my TO DO list is ten times longer than my GOT IT DONE list.

    I am already pulling out patterns for items I want to make as Christmas gifts: afghans, dish towels, hats, etc

    I am working on granny squares for my local Knit and Crochet Bible Study group to make blankets, scarves and slippers..

    There are 4 boys within my family and friends circle that will be born within a couple months of each other. Baby items are on the list.

    My sister wants snowmen she can add to her holiday table display.

    I am trying to make teddy bears to add to my etsy store.

    I need to write another bible study.

    I have to clean the house and do laundry.

    I must catch up on writing newsletters and sending them out in a timely manner.

    And the list goes on and on.

    There is nothing on this list  that will be life changing if I do not complete them.

    However, there is one thing that is life changing and makes a life/death difference. Accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior.

    You see, Romans 3:23 tells us “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  ALL have sinned, everyone. No, I have not murdered anyone or stolen a car, but I have gotten mad and said cruel, unkind things in a moment of anger.  The wages of sin is death begins Romans 6:23.  Notice it is singular, not  plural. Sin results in death. Well I am writing this, so I have obviously not died. So what is death? Death is eternal separation from God.

    I guess I blew it. I have sinned and God doesn’t want me. NO!! Because as Paul Harvey used to say this is the rest of the story.

    Read the rest of Romans 6:23, it starts with a very important word, but; but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  It’s a gift!  A free gift. I don’t have to pay a thing. 

    I have this teddy bear I have recently knitted. If I want to give it to you what must you do?

    You must reach out and accept it.

    So how do you accept the gift that God is offering you? Romans 10:9 says that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

    There is only one catch to this. You must do it before your body dies. And that could happen at any moment. In my own life I have witnessed death of loved ones by illness, and also instantaneous. That moment of death is too late.   Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation 2Corinthians 6:2.

    Have you accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior? Do you want to do so now?

    With all sincerity in you your heart pray to accept Him as Lord and Savior right now.

    This link to the Billy Graham website can offer more help as you seek to accept God’s gift of eternal life.  How To Know Jesus

  • What to do with granny

    No, not that granny!!    This one!! 

    My local Knit Crochet Bible Study is working on granny squares this summer. We plan to get together in the fall and sew them into blankets, scarves, slippers, etc for local Social Services.

    I got started on some squares from my stash. I used 3 different colors. They blended well together with a fourth color.

    But as I completed several squares I found I did not have enough to complete a good sized afghan, so I searched my local WalMart, JoAnn’s and Hobby Lobby. One color still remain unavailable.

    So I finished off by making several rows of border around all the squares I had completed.  Here is the finished project.

    If you’d like to learn how to crochet a granny square, check out the video in my previous post.

  • Granny Square

    I tried to get creative with the title, but as you can see, I just stuck to the basic Granny Square.

    Speaking of basics, do you know how to make a granny square?  If you can chain and make a double crochet, you can make a granny square.

    The ladies in my local Knit and Crochet Bible Study have decided they want to make granny squares using miscellaneous yarn from their stash (or as an excuse to go to a yarn shop for more yarn. Me? Would I do that? My favorite verse is she shops for the best yarns)

    But before they could make the granny squares they had to learn how. So in an effort to help them I have created a how-to video to help.

    I am still having trouble with the volume, once I finish the encoding it drops so you may have to turn your speakers up a bit.  I also added some pop-up instructions on the screen for further assistance.

    The thing I like best about granny squares is that you can make them any size you desire.  I have a number of afghans made full size and baby size in one big piece.  Others I have made are several squares seamed together.  You can make square of various sizes and incorporate them into one piece.

    Overall it is a fun stitch, easily transportable, and versatile. I’d love to see pictures of your completed projects from granny squares. Here are a couple of mine.

     

    This was a Christmas gift I made last year. Using some Peaches’n’Cream cotton yarn the granny square became a dishcloth.

    This granny square grew to be 45 inches square and finishes off this baby ensemble.

    There are other ways of making the granny square, check out other patterns and find the one that is your favorite.

  • 4 Little Sheep

    Despite my love for knitting and crocheting, there are other crafts in my life.  This post has no yarn in it, except for the child’s glove, the cheap kind you get for 99 cents when winter begins. Use the left over one from that pair where one was lost.

    My granddaughter came to visit me and taught me a  song. Her mommy (a creative woman, she takes after her own mom, that’s me) had made sheep/shepherd gloves to use when the little ones in her Toddlers for Jesus class sing Little Sheep.

    I have created a video with instructions on making the gloves followed by my granddaughter singing the song with me.  Because I goofed up singing some of the words I have written them into the video.

    This would be great for upcoming Vacation Bible School events, for Sunday School lessons, and for fun at home.  Check it out.

  • Read Ahead

    The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,  who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

    Many patterns will begin with a special instruction “to read through the entire pattern before beginning. This way you can note special stitches, find areas that give instruction you don’t understand, and prepare for possible hurdles with words you can highlight so you don’t miss them. Words like ‘at the same time’ or ‘for a larger size continue by repeating last row’. If you are working on a pattern that is written for several sizes you can go through and mark each set of instruction that would be relevant to the size you are working on. This will help guide you through the pattern and prevent you from potential mistakes.  There are times I would like to have the pattern of life in front of me so I can know what to expect after each life occurrence, allowing me to be prepared for upcoming hazards and stitches to correctly shape the results.

    Are you a fan of the ABC show, LOST?  I haven’t missed an episode and am anxiously awaiting  the final airing next month.  As a part of the promotion of the show, several of the actors have been making the talk show circuits. In these interviews they have talked about the scripts for this final season. Even the actors don’t know how it will end.  Each actor, it is said, receives only the pages related to their scenes.  In some instances, they don’t even receive the script until they are on the set.

    I’ve tried to convince God to give me a pattern of events in my life like the knit and crochet patterns. (I don’t want a map, I am directionally challenged and get lost even with a map)  He, instead is using the LOST technique. He gives me the pages when I am ready for the scene and not a minute before. I don’t get to know what happens in the scene across the hall or afterward. Only with the moment.

    I am reminded, my life is led by faith. Faith in God.Faith in His love, righteousness and mercy.  Even if God did accept my ideas for one of my life scenes, He would offer back something more.

    For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8,9

    So, I will continue to read through my patterns and I will continue to follow God, by faith, through each day.

    The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,  who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

  • Colors of Salvation Afghan

    Did you complete your Colors of Salvation afghan/lapghan?  Perhaps you used the strips to make scarves or totes.

    Linda is a member of my local Knit and Crochet Bible Study. She showed me her completed project which she is giving to a close friend of hers in need of comfort.

    She says she is planning to start another one.

    If you missed any part of the pattern, I have posted the complete project in one PDF file for you to download.  Click on the file cabinet below.

    Once you have completed your Colors of Salvation project, please tell us about it with a comment below here, or with a message on the facebook fanpage . We’d love to see pictures of your completed work.

  • God is in Control

    Thursday night my bible study lesson included the verse “be still and know that I am God”.

    I got home and read Joan C Webb from Intentional Woman, in which she focused on “be still”. 

    Friday I received another message with that verse.  My heart starting shouting to my mind, maybe I need to get on knees as God is clearly trying to get my attention.

    Later that night my husband (who has been working out of town and returning home on weekends) called to say he had started the 3 hour drive home, but he transmission may have gone out of his car. I drove over to pick him up and get him home, leaving the car at a repair shop.

    This morning I received this verse via email from K-Love.  “we can rejoice when we run into trials and troubles”.

    At this moment we are working out a car rental situation while we wait for cost of car repair. I am putting a stamp on the tax return which says Pay this amount  Work contract for hubby is up soon and then…

    I feel like Daniel in the Lions Den and each of these struggles is like a lion waiting to devour me.

    But you know what? I am calm. My typical response is panic. But I am not.  God sent me His reassurances just when I needed Him most.

    We do serve an awesome God. I don’t know what this week will bring but I know this, God is taking care of me.  I just wanted to share.