Knit and Crochet Bible Study

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  • Easter Craft Ideas

    It never fails. I was looking for one particular pattern online and I got distracted finding many other ideas to pursue. I found a number of links to ideas for Easter crafting so I thought I would share some with you.

    Miscellaneous Easter Crafts

    It’s been 20 some odd years since my daughter made one of these for our Easter table. It has been added to the table every year since then, until last year when it got lost in a stash of boxes during a clean out http://www.makingfriends.com/spring/hat_centerpiece.htm

    Your child will have so much fun when you make this Chicks In A Basket puppet. http://familyfun.go.com/easter/easter-crafts/easter-baskets/chicks-in-a-basket-665067/

    Reuse that scratched up CD to make this bunny: http://www.allfreecrafts.com/easter/recycled-cd-memo-bunny.shtml

    Don’t throw that burned out light bulb away, make it into an Easter duck: http://www.allfreecrafts.com/recycling-crafts/duck.shtml

    Here is an idea to use those eggshells after the hunt: http://www.allfreecrafts.com/candles/eggshell-candles.shtml

    Make a nest for your eggs: http://www.dltk-kids.com/recipesdb/view.asp?rid=123

    Make your own chocolate covered Easter eggs: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chocolate-Covered-Easter-Eggs/Detail.aspx

    This page leads to all sorts of bunny craft ideas: http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/rabbits.html

    Make a fluffy lamb pencil holder: http://crafts.kaboose.com/easter-tincan-lamb.html

    Preschoolers will love this marshmallow bunny: http://crafts.kaboose.com/marshmallow-rabbit.html

    Tired of plain hard boiled eggs on the table? Try this to bring a chick smile to the table: http://eyecandy.nanakaze.net/?p=459

    Make a bird’s nest from paper bags: http://www.alphamom.com/holiday/2010/03/make_a_birds_nest_for_spring.php

    Egg Dyeing ideas:

    When I was a child I watched my mother do this every year to make hollow eggs for us to dye: http://www.allfreecrafts.com/easter/blow-out-eggs.shtml

    String Technique: http://familyfun.go.com/easter/easter-crafts/all-easter-crafts/egg-dyeing-string-technique-668387/

    Thumbprint Technique: http://jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts/egg-dyeing-thumbprints-technique-668394/

    Tea Infused Technique: http://whatscookingamerica.net/EllenEaston/TeaInfusedEggs.htm

    Crayon Artistry: http://www.dltk-holidays.com/easter/crayon.htm

    Celebrate the Resurrection

    Easter Story Cookies: http://recipes.holidays.net/view_recipe.php?id=235

    Jelly Bean Prayer: http://www.dltk-holidays.com/easter/jellybean.htm

    Have your own Family Easter Sunrise Service: http://www.annieshomepage.com/service.html

    My mother made this every year for our Easter dinner: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Easter-Lamb-Cake-I/Detail.aspx

  • In the Blink of an Eye

    But joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5

    I was working on a doll that I was crocheting for my grandchild which was done in a way that had the clothes worked into the pattern. This means there will be color changes along the way.

    I was half way through the project, mindlessly making the stitches, when I looked back at the doll and realized something was wrong. This outfit didn’t look well at all crocheted into the doll body. It was then I realized that although I made the color change for the waistband, I missed the color change back on row 17 for the bodice. Can you say FROG!  (you know, rippit  rippit  ripppit).

    On another project I noticed the scarf I was working on had become quite askew. No more did I have the straight even edge that looked so smooth the first 6 inches of the project.  Now, nearly 24 inches later I picked up a wrong needle from the basket it was laying in. I had knitted the last 18 inches on a needle of appropriate size and one 2 sizes smaller.

    These events are very similar to the day I woke up with a smile on my face, plans for the weekend all set, only to receive a phone call that my dear friend has passed away a few hours prior. In the blink of eye, disaster! (Psalm 73:19)

    Jesus was escorted into Jerusalem on what we now call Palm Sunday. (see the story in John 12)  When people heard he was coming to the Feast; they gathered palm branches and shouted as he approached, Hosanna Blessed is the King of Israel. (see John 12)

    A few days later these same people stood in a crowd in front of Pilate and cried out Crucify him! Crucify him! (see John 19)

    So quickly things change. Every day offers new challenges and new rewards. That dark day was brightened when the women went to the tomb and found it empty. (see John 20) A sad day quickly became bright as Jesus appeared to many who loved him.

    Your life, like the wrongly knit scarf, can change with or without notice. Every day offers new opportunities. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning is our promise in Psalm 30:5.

    God is a steady fortress,(Psalms 91:2)  unchanging (Hebrews 6:7),  ever present (Proverbs 15:3). When things turn suddenly to dark, hold tight to the hand of God. Walk with Him daily, and He will be at your side. Stay with Him when the stitches of your life are straight and smooth; and He will be there when you miss that color change or drop a stitch in your life. Hold tight to God, your God, just as you have done up to now. (Joshua 23:8)

  • Where to Find FREE Patterns

    I am building up a library of digital patterns.  I have many more patterns than I will ever be able to complete, but you never know when you will suddenly decide to make a teddy bear for a barbie doll or a 7 foot round afghan.

    Some favorite FREE sites I check daily and save interesting patterns include:

    Free-Crochet dot com

    Free-KnitPatterns dot com

    FreePatterns dot com

    You can also check these yarn companies:

    LionBrand dot com

    RedHeart dot com

    Bernat dot com

    PatonsYarns dot com

    If you are looking for charities to knit/crochet for the yarn companies have links on their website.

    Many patterns are out there waiting to be made by you.  It’s time to get started.

  • The Proverbs 31 Woman: God’s Work In Progress

    Are you a Proverbs 31 woman?

    The woman described in Proverbs 31 seems elusive, perfection, impossible to achieve.

    The Knit and Crochet Bible Study, Book 2 “The Proverbs 31 Woman: God’s Work In Progress”  looks at the Proverbs 31 woman to discover she is not someone born of perfection, she is a woman knit together by God’s hands over her lifetime.

    Every day God stitches himself into her life as she grows and matures. She learns wisdom and fear of the Lord through her daily activities.

    God started by knitting you together in your mother’s womb. He isn’t finished yet. He has not finished off His work in you, nor has He tossed you in the frog pile.

    This fun study is created to offer you the chance to discover for yourself you are closer to becoming stitched into this woman than you thought and also enjoy a skillful craft.

    Learn to knit, to crochet, to seek a deeper relationship with God and others in these lessons.

    You can find Amazon purchase details by CLICKING HERE.

     

  • Seaming It All Up

    Theologians tell us there are 400 years between Malachi 4:6 and Matthew 1:1. What was happening during that time? Was God trying to come up with a Plan B, C or even D?

    No, Gods plan of salvation was already in the works in Genesis 1. There is no Plan B.

    From Genesis to Malachi we find evidence of a sacrifice to be offered up to bring reconciliation between God and man. In the Gospels we find testimony of the manifestation of the sacrifice made. Acts to Revelation offers us testimony and encouragement to accept that sacrifice and a pattern to live for Him eternally.

    In the Old Testament people were looking toward to the cross. In the New Testament they looked back to the cross. God’s sacrifice on the cross knitted the two together seamlessly.

    The Salvation Colors afghan project brings together several panels which can be used to describe the story. Now it is time to seam the pieces together.

    As you bring together your knitted or crocheted panels remember the sacrifice that was made so that you may be a part of this story. Each panel is stitched together in black, referencing the sin which separates us from God. But don’t fear that sin, we will complete the picture with the ultimate gift from God, the sacrifice of His only begotten Son, so that we may live forever with Him. This is represented by the red edging around the entire project. A cross stitch is included to offer an additional reminder of God’s love. You will note that each panel is touched by this final edging; just as the blood of Christ touches each and every life.

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

    Whosoever means you.

    For the seaming and edging click here.  A PDF reader is required.

  • It’s Personal

    Have you knit or crocheted a sweater, a skirt, or other garment that needed to be sized to fit your body shape? You will find instructions with parenthesis alerting you to the necessary change you need to make to personalize the garment to your choice. One size does not always fit all.

    How about embellishing an article of clothing with a special pin?  Because of my passion for teddy bears, you will often find me wearing a teddy bear or earring or necklace to personalize my style.

    My knit crochet Bible study group at my local church is currently studying the Lord’s Prayer as detailed in Matthew 6. In our discussions we have found we have no trouble praying for others, we find it more difficult to pray for ourselves. It seems selfish one woman commented.

    So during our meetings, we are now personalizing this prayer aloud and finding how much God desires us to seek Him and ask His guidance in our own lives:

    My Father, who is in heaven, holy is Your name,

    Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

    Give me this day my daily bread

    Forgive me my debts as I forgive others.

    Lead me not into temptation, deliver me from evil.

    For Yours is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

    Wow! Suddenly it revealed God is MY Father. He provides for ME. It confirms I must forgive others in my life. The words took on a different meaning. God now appeared interested in ME personally, not just as part of a group.

    If I/you were the only person on earth, Jesus would have still gone to the cross.

    Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.

    Are you seeking Him as your personal Lord and Savior? Pray today, ask Him into your heart. He  loves you.  It’s a personal thing.

  • Crochet a Button

    I have been using up my stash by making baby sweaters, blankets, etc.

    For the sweaters I don’t use plastic buttons, I crochet the button. This soft button is easy to make.

    I was recently asked to demonstrate the process so I created this short video to show you how to crochet your own buttons.

    You need to know how to chain and single crochet.

    My sample is done with a 7mm hook to make the stitches easier to see. You can use any size hook and modify the number of stitches accordingly by simply using the basic technique.

     

  • Salvation Colors – Green

    I sit here looking at the snow, dreaming of spring. I am cuddled up in my snuggie and working on some knit and crochet projects to add to Book 2 so I can make it available for purchase soon.

    In the meantime, I am looking over the instructions for the last panel of the Salvation Colors Afghan/Lapghan.  Green in this ensemble represents our growing and maturing in Christ.

    Unlike our physical bodies, spiritual maturity comes at many ages; depending on when Christ is accepted into your life.  Many people then remain as babies, satisfied with milk and don’t grow. But Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:11. When I was a child, I talked like a child. I thought like a child. I reasoned like a child. When I became a man I put childish ways behind me.  We must mature, grow beyond our comfort zones and step out for Christ.  The names of these patterns seemed so appropriate for the green maturity panel; Wheatear and Sweet Pea.

    How are you maturing in Christ today?

     

    To download the stitch patterns for this panel, click here

    Next month I will post the edging and seaming to complete the project.  Whether you chose to use the stitch patterns of your own or you chose to use other patterns, it is the colors and the story that matters. Are you prepared to tell your own story of accepting Jesus Christ in your life?

  • Take Along Projects

    I am trying to organize my stash into something reasonably usable.  In December I embellished some teddy bears and purchased little accessories to make this adorable clown bear.

    The person who ordered it requested another one a few weeks later. I knew I was in trouble when I couldn’t find where I put the extra pieces from ones purchased for this bear. So, I had to head out to WalMart (like I need an excuse to go there) and repurchase the same items.

    Thus this buddy joined the troops.

    I then had to explain to my husband why I had to purchase something he had just taken me to purchase two weeks prior. Now I was busted!!  So, I am destashing and decluttering. I found more bears, and several yarn purchases.  They are all going into one place (I hope).

    My goal is to do with some small projects, what Yarn Harlot did with her sock projects. I am trying to put into my numerous totes, a project to include yarn, hook or needles and pattern. This way when I head out the door to wait at the doctor’s office, or in line at the DMV, I can throw my billfold into the tote and knit or crochet while I wait.

    No, I don’t have the destash/declutter finished yet, but it is dwindling and I am hopeful. I have a goal. That’s a start, right?   I’d also like my closet to look as nice as the Yarn Harlots, but that is another story too.  Or it it an extension of this one????

    Do you take projects with you to work on in line?  There is a poll on the right side, let us know.

    On the plus side, I did learn the loop stitch and can now make hair for my bears and dolls. However, I still haven’t found the original supplies I was seeking for the bear.

  • Yarn purchases

    I am trying to clean out my cluttered craft areas and merge them into one organized closet.  (big emphasis on the word trying)

    I keep getting distracted because I find a work I started and then set aside to start another project. I pick up that set-aside project, only to find more pattern books with ideas I want to start.

    Yes, my KCADD (knit crochet attention deficit disorder) is going wild lately.

    Looking through my stash I am amazed at all the places I find yarn to purchase.  Where do you get your yarn from?

    How do you stay focused on a project?