Knitting where the spirit takes me...

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So, I was browsing through the finished projects over on Ravelry, and saw several knitted string market bags. So I got to wondering how to change the pattern a bit and knit the entire thing in the round. The pattern I choose had a K2tog YO on Round 1 and a YO K2tog on Round 2 to create the stretchable fabric. It started out with a square of garter st for the bottom.

So, with two strands of yarn, one microfiber and one of cotton, I CO 60 sts, knit a round, increased x2 to 120 sts and started the above stitch pattern. Which was really annoying. All those K2tog. And the sts were sticking at the join of the cable and the large needle. To solve that I changed the right hand needle to a 10.5 and the sts slipped onto it much easier. But the K2togs were still making me crazy. I then thought, why not just do a drop st, insert needle, YO twice and finish the st? Then on the next round, just knit in one of the loops of the YO and drop the other.

It did create a nice lacy expanding fabric that looks good. I still have handles (probably crocheted) to put on it and perhaps a drawstring, but I really like the way it turned out. Next time instead of decreasing, I'll just graft it shut to make a square bottom bag.

Calling all noisy, fat, smelly, flying knitting women!

Keeping the "Yes" in "Yes, We Can!

Much of what we need to do in these difficult times is to change our point of view.
Sarah Ban Breathnach, on her website, says, "Consciously try to exchange your need for security (there’s no such thing and now we all know that) for serenity." I've been a long time proponent of Simple Abundance, Breachnach's book. As I look at her website now, it seems she's branched it out to quite a money making way of life....for her. However, she does have a point that what we think, read, view, and listen to does influence our attitude.

If we watch TV and all the commercials, we feel a driving need to join the long lines of consumers and spend money, perhaps money we don't have. After all, "everyone" has one (what ever one is). Somewhere along the line we began to equate "bounty" with possessions. The root of bounty is goodness. Not more stash than we can knit. Or more food than we can eat before it goes bad. Or more money than we can spend. Or more stuff. Whoever dies with the most stuff still dies.

Be thankful for what you do have. Perhaps the sock on the needles instead of all the sock yarn you are impelled to buy. One stitch at a time. Understand the difference between need and want. Make a list of what you need and another list of what you want. Think of all the things you have that can't be purchased. Those "priceless" items. MasterCard has made an art of showing us the priceless things, but only after we are encouraged to buy things to create the priceless things. Try thinking of the invaluable in your life...a good friend, a grandchild's hug, a gorgeous view, a puppy chasing it's tail. Those are the priceless, invaluable parts of our lives.