Month: November 2023

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Don’t Delete Me

christmas stockings from designbcb

Don’t delete me. 

christmas stockings from designbcb

I’ve been a member of the knit community for years; decades even. I know this is still a thing and I risk it all by saying this but it must be said: I don’t like knitting socks. 

Unless they look like these. I don’t mind these socks. And yes, these are crochet stockings. I’ve knit a pair of socks and didn’t like it. Thought they were cute but it didn’t hit me as something I need ever do again.

But the other night, when it was as cold as anything and we were out there going to my birthday dinner; I gave thought to have a big, cozy pair of socks. I quickly modified that to a pair of cozy and thick leg warmers. Look, I get the obsession: they’re quick. Instant gratification. They even have a purpose. I get it. I just don’t get it. 

But crocheting a Christmas stocking I do get. And when I make them, it does not go unnoticed that I am making a big sock and with some modifications, I could make a regular sock. I see it. Making the stocking goes faster than making the socks ever did. 

I even have sock yarn in my stash. Granted, I did not buy it with the idea of making socks but there was always the option. Truth is, I won’t use it to make socks. I’m not making socks with sock yarn. The only other thing that drives me crazy than knitting socks; knitting socks with thin sock yarn.

It’s OK, right? I mean, the world hasn’t imploded. Time hasn’t stopped. No one has ever come to me while knitting in public and asked why I wasn’t knitting socks. It’s OK. We all have our thing. We all have our not thing. Knitting socks is not a thing for me.  Crocheting Christmas stockings is. It’s like how I don’t like doing the seed stitch but I don’t mind doing the 1×1 rib.  See what I mean? No? OK.

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The Amari Beanie

The Amari Beanie is the first of my new Baby Love line! When I did craft shows, someone would always ask for kids hats and scarves and I had none. So, this time around, I made one and I was hooked. I have several baby hats and they have sold. At the last show, I had a pom-pom baby beanie and someone suggested I make matching beanies for Mommy and Me. I have learned my lesson. It took years to make the first baby beanie. I wasn’t about to wait years to do the matching one. And so here is Naomi with little Amari and the beanie I named for her. They are available from designbcb.

I may create the pattern I used for the beanie. I started it a couple of times because I didn’t like how it draped – especially the adult size. It was kind of strange because I already have a pattern for a basic beanie but it wasn’t quite what I wanted the end result to look like.

I was frustrated – not being able to design something like I used to. It wasn’t coming easily. Most people in the world neither knit or crochet. It follows that even less design patterns. There are designers with far greater talents than mine. They put in more time and effort and it pays off. The art of knit and crochet is a spiritual gift. The gift of design is a special kiss on the forehead from God. My patterns do well. It frustrates in the moment but when it’s done and it works – oh, the feeling. I’m hoping 2024 brings more patterns.

I’ve also started to write again. I think the new book club has a lot do to with that. I am currently reading this, by the way. Hopefully more writing is coming as well. I’m looking forward to this next year. Heck, I’m looking forward to the next couple of hours!
The Amari Baby Beanie by designbcb

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Prayer Shawls

Crocheted Prayer shawls from designbcbPrayer Shawls are back.

There is something wonderful about them. They each have a story. When I make them, I do say a prayer and I send a prayer with it.

Most of the time, they are given to comfort a loss. Someone purchased one because they said God told them to get a shawl to wrap around themselves when they pray.

These shawls will go to members of the same family to give comfort after the loss of a daughter, niece and sister. They are all friends and the making of these shawls was helpful in my moving through the pain of their loss.

Prayer is connective. The shawl is connective and tangible. It is a living prayer.

Did I tell you about the message I received a long time ago? When designbcb was new, I received a message from a woman who told me to take my prayer shawls out of my store because they were not to be sold.

She wasn’t from Etsy, she was someone who was on the site and saw them and decided she needed to tell me to take them out of my store. 

Immediately following that note was another note from her apologizing because she did some searching and found other shawls were indeed items that could be sold and she asked forgiveness for her note.

I forgave her but pointed out the rudeness of her message. I also suggested that she should write every bookstore and demand they not sell the Bible if she needs that kind of a cause. Never heard back.

 

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The Power of Prayer

The power of prayer is known to us all. We have all prayed. From the time when we were small wanting that bike, or glove or whatever it was that we just had to have or we would surely perish. To the time we wanted that promotion or that certain someone to say yes. We held our hands together tight, closed our eyes and put our wishes into the universe. We hoped that someone out there would hear our pleas and make it happen.

That is prayer. Highly personal and instinctual. We are all born with the capacity to ask something outside of ourselves to bring us what we need or desire.

Whether we believe it connects us with some higher power or the power within us, prayer is a form of outreach that acknowledges there is more than just us. There is a place where we can gather more strength than we have at the moment. Comfort overcomes helplessness. Joy and gratitude can be multiplied.

My outlook on prayer has grown more profound. I pray to God and to the spirit that resides in the universe. Everyone who wishes can connect with it. I pray often – more than once a day. We have said grace at our table for years but now I say it with every meal, at home or in a restaurant. 

I speak with God in the morning before I get out of bed – and before my more formal God study. I speak at night to recap the day; the good and the bad of it. My belief has been strengthened by the practice.

The connection to mind, body, spirit and earth is real for me. Prayer is now and important part of who I am. I happily embrace what it has done for me. What is your experience with prayer?