Balance

Balance is a goal with which I struggle. As a knitter, I can't seem to find the time to make all the creations I wish and do the laundry, fix dinner, go to class, be with family, have lunch with friends, and do volunteer work. (Guess where sabbath falls on the list!) Jokingly, I say I could do it all if I had six more hours a day. Truthfully, it comes down to priorities. The mundane, mandatory things tend to rank higher on my "to do" list than I care to admit. I realized this when I was sitting at the doctor's office this summer with my kinitting bag praying that my doctor would be running late. That was the only way I felt I could carve out time for rest, meditation, and knitting. How pitiful I felt at that moment. I am ashamed that I relegated my sabbath time to waiting rooms, post-office lines, and traffic lights. This is not to say we can't find precious moments of rest throughout our day, but my way was unintentional and haphazard. My spiritual life should not be a dot on my "to do" list, but a special moment that I protect and insure. Knitting is part of this centering time. When I consciously choose to pick up my latest project, I am choosing to spend time with myself, convening with God. It is in quiet moments when we tune our inner ears to God that we find connection with our creator. And in creating, we take part in God's work.

Prayer for today:

God, my boon companion, help me remember that the most important moment in my day is that time I take to be with you. When I am run down with worldly cares, gently tap my shoulder and tell me I am worthy of your presence. Let me hear your call, "Be with Me." As your creation, I need beautiful, restful, sabbath moments, even though I am preoccupied by my "to do" list. Help me make my time with you my top priority.


Amen.

Basic Hat Pattern

This pattern can be used for the chemo caps - use the smallest size. Rib the first 6 to 8 rows if you do not want it to roll.

Materials:
16” circular needles in size 8
4-5 double pointed size 8 needles
1 skein worsted weight yarn, approx. 200 yards
Row maker
Measuring tape
Tapestry needle

Sizes:
Small – 72 stitches
Medium – 84 stitches
Large – 96 stitches

The body of the hat:
Cast on number of stitches for desired size
Slip row maker onto needle
Connect ends without twisting
Knit in the round continuously for approximately 7 inches –
measure from where the bottom stops rolling
Stop at row marker

Top of the hat:
Beginning at row marker,
*Knit 10, Knit 2 together;* repeat from * to * until you reach the row marker again
Knit 1 row
*Knit 9, Knit 2 together;* repeat from * to * until you reach the row marker again
Knit 1 row
*Knit 8, Knit 2 together;* repeat from * to * until you reach the row marker again
Knit 1 row
*Knit 7, Knit 2 together;* repeat from * to * until you reach the row marker again
Knit 1 row
*Knit 6, Knit 2 together;* repeat from * to * until you reach the row marker again
Knit 1 row
*Knit 5, Knit 2 together;* repeat from * to * until you reach the row marker again
Knit 1 row
*Knit 4, Knit 2 together;* repeat from * to * until you reach the row marker again
Break yarn leaving a 2 foot tail
With tapestry needle, thread yarn through stitches and remove from needle
Gather stitches and tie knot
Using tapestry needle, weave in tails

Psalm 71

This past Sunday in church, we read responsively Psalm 71. It says:

In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame.
In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
incline your ear to me and save me.
Be to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress, to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of the unjust and cruel.
For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust,
O Lord, from my youth.
Upon you I have leaned from my birth;
it was you who took me from my mother’s womb.
My praise is continually of you.
I have been like a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge.
My mouth is filled with your praise,
and with your glory all day long.
Do not cast me off in the time of old age;
do not forsake me when my strength is spent.
For my enemies speak concerning me,
those who watch for my life consult together.
They say, “Pursue and seize that person whom God has forsaken,
for there is no one to deliver.”
O God, do not be far from me; O my God, make haste to help me!

There are many lines from this psalm that ring true to me and I feel I know the anxiety and fear of this poet. The juxtaposition of praise and hope with desperate reservations about his safety and health, and injustice and cruelty in the world reminds me of the duality of feelings in my own heart. It is difficult to hold two such opposing sentiments in one's soul simultaneously. God begins to seem far away. So how do we find hope?

Our fellow knitter and friend, Barbara, is having a hard time with her chemotherapy treatments. I am amazed each time her loving husband sends an update email the strength of their faith that all will be well in spite of their fear. It reminds me of the psalmist giving praise, voicing his concerns, and asking for help. So here is my rendition -

Knitter of Life,
We praise you the gift that is Barbara.
She is our friend and sister who we love.
Thank you for her contributions to our knitting ministry
And for the blessings of her presence, voice and art.
Rescue her from the pain of chemotherapy
And heal her body so that her spirit may thrive.
We cry out, "Hurry, Lord, relieve her pain!"
She suffers so.
Do not forget her family and friends who support her.
Hold them up and do not falter for you are the rock
Upon whom we depend.
Be near to all of those who love her and all those affected
By cancer.
Make haste, and help us find a cure.
Amen

Chemo Cap Patterns

These are just a few sites you can check out for chemo cap patterns:

http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/chemo_cap-scarf.html

http://alison.knitsmiths.us/pattern_beginners_hat.html

http://members.aol.com/JSchlossma/blancheh.html

http://mathomhouse.typepad.com/photos/chemo_caps/pink_ribbon_bbcdotcodotuk.html

Keep an eye out for additions to this list.

Our First Meeting

Dear Knitters,

Our first meeting was great! We have two new knitters who have joined us and we are excited to get started on our projects.

K1,G2: A Knitting Ministry has two successful years under its belt now and we have a lot to be proud of. Last year we really cranked out our projects, which were prolific. From red scarves to wash clothes for our home bound members to gift bags for the mothers at Renewal House, we produced a plethora of hand-knitted gifts. We also raised over $1000 for Heifer International for whom we bought a pair of lamas and sheep that are hopefully now being loved and enjoyed by a few families in South America. Last year was tempered with the loss of one of our own knitters, Ellen Dahnke. As a memorial to Ellen and in solidarity with all our friends with cancer, our inaugural project will be making chemo caps for patients at Vanderbilt hospital. A pattern will be posted soon.

It was suggested by Mary K. that we each commit to starting a Sunshine scarf so that we can begin to have those on hand when they are needed. This is a great way to add variety to your knitting projects and would really help our ministry. Sunshine scarves are given to a member of our church family during hard times due to illness, times of transition, and in times of joy and celebration. As a group, we lay hands on the scarf and pray for the recipient, that he or she will find healing and peace while feeling God's love through the token. Made of bright and colorful yarns, Sunshine scarves are representative of hope, like a ray of sunshine! We are currently working on revising and adding patterns to our library for this ongoing project.

Please keep our friends in your prayers: Gram, Barbara, Laura, and Jane.

Gracious Creator,

You know us and love us, yet we don't understand how or why such bad things happen to our friends. While we are so thankful for our blessings, while we rejoice in your presence when we fellowship with one another, even while we praise you there is a hard place in our hearts. It just doesn't seem fair. You know we are angry and sad that our friends are in pain and we wish so hard to be able to do something, anything to ease their suffering. Our frustration tempts us to run from you and shut you out, yet we know we cannot escape your loving hands.

Even though we can't understand and we wrestle with our anger, you put needles in our hands and yarn at our feet. Just as you knit us, we hope to knit all our hopes for recovery into the gifts we make for our friends with cancer. We pray for healing and for a cure. We pray for perseverance and patience. And we pray for grace so we can reconcile this incomprehensible disease with your wondrous love.
Amen.

Welcome!

Dear Knitters,

Welcome to K1,G2, the knitting ministry at Belmont United Methodist Church.

This blog will be a central place for information about our meetings, projects, due dates, cares and concerns. We will also be able to discuss patterns and needs in the church community.

For those of you who are new to the ministry, here is some information about us:

Mission Statement:
Our mission is to provide hope, love, and healing to our community through the work of our hands while exploring our own relationship with God through knitting. Handiwork provides an opportunity to for us to meditate and fellowship while providing practical goods to those in need. Knitting in solitude gives us a time and space to listen to God, knitting with others allows us to celebrate God's presence with us, and the gifts we make are a tangible symbol of God's love for us all.

The K1,G2 Story:
Everyone's knitting story is important. Our stories are linked to a rich history of knitters who have strengthened their communities by their knitting. Knit One, Give Two started in the fall of 2005. Named for the "pattern" of our ministry, we took on the goal of outreach through hand-crafts. During the year, we made hats and scarves for Room in the Inn, baby hats for General Hospital, and pillows for Belmont's homebound members. We also started three ongoing ministries and held a knitting retreat.

Information:
Who: Knitters of all proficiency levels
What: Knitting fellowship, devotionals, prayer, discussions, and community projects*
When: Wednesday, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM (starting August 22nd)
Where: Belmont United Methodist Church, Room 120 or Parker Hall (please refer to the blog for any changes in the schedule)

*During our meetings, you can knit whatever you like. Our projects are optional and voluntary. One of our goals this year is to provide a stash of yarn to our members to defray some of the cost.