Knit and Crochet Bible Study

Category: Crochet

  • My Merry Christmas Card and a Present

    My wall looks very bare.  In past years Christmas cards lined the hallway wall, representing best wishes from family and friends

    As a child I watched as my mother proudly displayed each card after reading it. Many were filled with pictures and long notes of the year gone by. As I set up my own home and started my family, I followed in her footsteps.

    Ah, but alas, the world of technology has taken over. Combine the technology of facebook and the rising cost of postage, the past few years cards have become scarce. Today, only a few cards are displayed.

    Don’t get me wrong, I like facebook and the world that technology has opened up. That technology has paid the bills in my home for many years.

    With nearly 200 people who ‘like’  the “Knit and Crochet Bible Study” on facebook and over 900 on twitter, I certainly cannot use the United States Postal Service to send each of you a card. – hmmm. 1150 people times 44 cents each…..add the 2, carry the 7, double the 9….. that’s $484.00!!

    So I thought about a gift. If cards are nearly $500 I certainly can’t send all of you a gift. BUT… what if…..  I have been telling you about the yarn my father-in-law has sent me. I’ve heard from some who say they are jealous and would love to receive boxes like that. One person even said she’d rather have a skein of yarn than a birthday card! This got me to thinking.   I am going to put together a gift package of yarn and I don’t know what else. I’ll find some other accessories for the package. How do you get it?

    To qualify for the drawing to receive this package, leave a comment below. One per person with this exception.  If you make a comment on the Knit and Crochet facebook page, then leave a comment here linking to the facebook comment.  Now you have 2 entries.  Want a third one? Tweet that you like Knit and Crochet Bible Study -@KnitnBibleStudy – then leave a comment here with a link to the tweet ( @KnitnBibleStudy and the hashtag #kcbspresent must be included in the tweet). There you have it, 3 chances. All entries must be in by midnight December 24. I will use random dot org to choose a winner on Christmas day.  I will send the winner an email and post it on facebook and twitter.

    Now on to your Christmas Card. So what could I do that would be a special Christmas greeting to all with a story of what is happening in my life?  In comes Jon Acuff.   I follow Jon’s blog “Stuff Christians Like“.  He is a funny writer. He is now working with Dave Ramsey.  Jon just released his book “Gazells, Baby Steps and 7 Other Things Dave Ramsey Taught Me About Debt“.  He offered to write a Christmas card if his book was pre-ordered. So, I did. (I have since received the book and laughed all the way through it, realizing how true this thoughts were.)

    So here is my Christmas card letter, as written by Jon Acuff.  Merry Christmas to all. And to all, some good yarn.

    Dear friends & family,
    My name is Jon Acuff and recently on my blog I offered to write Christmas cards for people. I am happy to say that TerryAnn took me up on the offer. Why? Well, she’s probably really busy. For one thing, she’s on the edge of her 10 year wedding anniversary. For another she has found a creative way to incorporate crafting into the study of the Bible. That’s no easy feat. Be honest, did you ever read the book of Joel and think, “I could see finding a creative way to use these verses in a craft application?” Probably not, and neither did I. But TerryAnn is creative that way and so is her husband. He’s a Trekie and Scrabble enthusiast. Thus far he has not found the tie between the Old Testament and Star Trek, but if someone can it will be him.

    Thanks Jon. Wishing all of you a very blessed and merry Christmas.

  • Sharing God Through Knitting and Crochet

     Show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom. Matthew 5:19 MSG

     

    As another year of Bible Study begins at my local church I look at myself and feel so unworthy of  speaking of God’s Word.  I fear I will fail Him.

    This led me to look over the second Knit and Crochet Bible Study Book.  It is a look at the Proverbs 31 woman.

    The class at my church, and I believe many others that host a Knit and Crochet Bible Study, is multi-generational. 

    Becoming the Proverbs 31 woman is a journey, a road traveled with twists and turns and even a few detours. It is not a journey you need to take alone.  Working alongside women of all ages helps us to grow emotionally and spiritually. Titus 2:1 tell us Your job is to speak out on the things that make for sound doctrine.   It is my prayer these studies lead you to that sound doctrine.

    Then verses 3-5 says Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness.  By looking at them the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives.

    But the older woman can also learn from the younger. Sitting side by side, many find their lives are woven together through their crafting,  through God’s love, through life experiences. With one simple shared gift, knit and crochet, they open a dialog with each other; one that may not have opened in other circumstances.

    The Proverbs 31 woman is not born the perfect woman you read about. She grows into that woman through work, friendships, prayer, experience, and learning from others.

    Perhaps in your local group you see a woman you look upon as The Proverbs 31 Woman. You admire her emotional strength, her family love, her ability to knit or crochet without even looking at her work.  Talk to her. Learn about her life and how she came to this place in her life; the struggles she endured; the losses she has experienced; how she learned to look to God in all things.  She is not now the woman she used to be.  But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me and not without results.. yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace. 1Corinthians 15:10 NLT

    Why are we doing all this? Read Titus chapter 2 verses 12 and 13 in the Message. We’re being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears.

    You are a beautiful woman, beauty that radiates from inside.  What matters is not your outer appearance-the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes-but your inner disposition. Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in.  I Peter 3:3-4 MSG   

    With the passage of time you have grown from youthful vanity to honorable womanhood.   Use this time together in the presence of other women to learn how to be obedient to the Lord.

    Though I fear failing Him, I continue on, demonstrating God’s love as He allows. He is still working on me to become the woman He desires me to be. I am an older woman to some, who watch me from afar as a witness to demonstrate God’s command. I am also a younger woman to others as I watch them and learn how to walk pleasing to God.

    You knit me together in my mother’s womb Psalm 139.13 says. God has not put down his knitting needles yet. There are panels to complete, seaming to be done, a decorative crocheted edging to be added. He is still stitching you and me into a tapestry of life of which we are not even aware.

    So, I will continue to knit, to crochet and demonstrate God’s glorious love with those around me.  I thank the Lord every day for accepting me as His child and allowing me to speak of His greatness.

     Show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom. Matthew 5:19 MSG

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.