Notes From Knitting Class

Fall 2015

2015-11-08T14:25:00.000-05:00

In April, my life changed forever. Due to severe osteoporosis, I had to have back surgery. I had three fractures in my back. The fractures were filled with cement, called Kyphoplasty I have three new fractures but have chosen not to have them filled with cement since the Kyphoplasty caused so much pain. I'm on a lot of pain medicine and probably will be for the foreseeable future.

Unfortunately, the pain medicine causes me to get tired very easily. I will be on a walker from now on, so that I don't have a fall and get more fractures. Because of the back surgery, I can't bend, lift, or twist my body so my wonderful husband, Max, has to help me get dressed each morning, walk up and down the steps with me, and help me get undressed when I go to bed. I do have some adaptive equipment to get dressed, but it takes a long time and often we are on a schedule.

I really appreciate all of the cards, emails, phone calls, and little gifts that people have sent me. Since I often feel down, all of these seem to come at just the right time when I need a little "lift". A lot of my time is spent doing exercises and walking (with my walker) so that I can gain more strength. So, if I haven't thanked you, please know that each of you has touched my life in a wonderful way.

We are not able to babysit our grandson anymore, but his daddy brings him over for an hour or so every weekend. Last weekend he brought this pretty flower for "MomMom":

I try to do something each day brings me pleasure, such as knitting, reading, or taking pictures of our beautiful autumn leaves.

I read both "real books" and e-books on my Kindle. I get a list of free Kindle books to download every day at this website:

http://new.ereaderiq.com/freebies/

Speaking of "free", here's a photo of a pattern that I designed I would like to share with you:

I named it Fabio Neck Snuggle. It's made with bulky yarn and works up very quickly.

You can download the pattern at:

bit.ly/1v7bHpW

My kitty Izzie has been a real comfort. She loves to cuddle and gives me lots of "purr therapy". Here's a picture of her doing her favorite thing: watching the autumn leaves fall coming down!

Dear friends and family,

Have you had any life-changing events?

And what are some of your favorite things to do?

You can let me know by emailing me at:

notesfromknitclass@gmail.com

Where did summer and fall go? How can it be December already?

2014-12-04T15:01:00.001-05:00

Even though time is flying by so quickly, I am very grateful for the journey that I have taken this summer and fall. There have been so many friends from church, my neighborhood, my knitting students, and my family who have reached out and encouraged me as I have been recovering from my broken hip.

I’m now able to walk with a cane! That's been a real adventure, although a bit scary. I'm grateful for being able to walk with just a cane, instead of always having to use my walker. Even Izzie, our kitty, likes my cane—she always has been a little leery of my walker:

While I've been outside walking with my cane, I've taken pictures of the beautiful autumn that we've been having.

I’ve kept my fall classes small while I’m still recovering. Even though the classes are small, my students have all been busy with lots of projects:

Between physical therapy 3 times a week, teaching my wonderful knitting students, and having check-ups with several doctors, I'm happy that I've still had some time to knit. Here's a little hat I designed and knitted for a

new baby at our church:

As a little Christmas gift to my dear knitters, I’m giving this pattern away.

You can download it at http://bit.ly/19xWtdc

I'm also designing a new scarf, which I’ve named “The Jingle Bells Scarf” :

It’s been great finding some time to read. Reading the Amish Knitting series has helped me find peace and serenity during this very stressful time. The books are by Karen Anna Vogel. You can read more about the series here: http://bit.ly/1vnagD5

I bought them at Amazon: http://amzn.to/1vnbIW9

I’ve also been reading an interesting book called “Living with Gusto” by Sue Miller which I purchased here: http://amzn.to/1tuywxE

Each day I’ve been receiving an email “postcard” with a wonderful message for that day. To receive a postcard each day, you can go to www.PostcardsFromGusto.com

I especially love this one:

To me, it speaks of what we all should be doing during this Christmas season.

Dear readers, what journeys have you been on during this past year?

Max, Izzie, and I

want to wish you a wonderful and blessed Christmas.

Summer of Change and Re-discovery

2014-08-26T22:23:00.000-04:00

This has been a very different summer for me. I decided that I wouldn't have any summer classes this year. Also, in the fall I'm only going to have a Monday morning and a Tuesday morning class. I'll still have private lessons, though.

I'm writing a new book! I'll tell you more about it when I've finished it. I started writing it after finding an old journal that I kept a few years ago. Writing the book has brought back a lot of memories, both good and bad.

Working on the book has provided me the opportunity to look through a lot of old photographs. Here's one photo that I found:

I have some wonderful memories of my brother when we were teenagers. Take a look at those "spiffy" saddle shoes! This picture also brings back good memories of the house that my brother Bill and I grew up in.

A few months ago, I taught my youngest knitting student ever! This little 2 year old knitter doesn't stay still very long, so we are able to only accomplish a few stitches at a time.

But, he's definitely learning to knit!

Speaking of knitting, I'm going to post a pattern for this lovely scarf:

The yarn I used is called "Bamboo Bloom Handpaints". (you can see their website here: http://bit.ly/1AsmZ8i ) I bought it at Amazon.com : http://amzn.to/1l6VEF4 .
I had enough yarn left over from one skein to also make a neck warmer:

and a little pin to use with the scarf or neck warmer:

You can download these patterns here:
http://bit.ly/19xWtdc

In early July, I broke my hip. I've never broken a bone in my life and this sure wasn't a good one to "pick"! I spent about a month in the hospital recuperating and getting physical and occupational therapy.
While I was in the hospital, I had a wonderful roommate, "roomie Jo". We formed a special relationship and hope to keep in touch.

Now I'm finally home and walking with a walker. Instead of "lounging around" and recuperating as I had hoped, I am kept very busy with a great physical therapist, a very dear home health aide, and a really knowledgeable nurse. They all come to my house several times a week. I still get tired easily and am limiting my visitors to short visits.

Dear readers, take a few moments and think back over your summer and see what changes you have found in yourself.

Miracles of Spring

2014-06-22T17:12:00.000-04:00

There has been a lot of snow this winter in the Baltimore area.

But under all of that snow, new life has been waiting to burst into our world with color! This is such a Mystery and Miracle.

Another Miracle happened in February. My cousin Leigh, who is like a brother to me, had to have brain surgery in January.

His recuperation from the surgery has been wonderful. He spent a few weeks in the hospital and a few weeks in a rehab center. He is now home, walking, talking and ready for visitors.

He lives about 2 hours away in Virginia. I desperately wanted to go to see him, but neither my husband Max nor I could drive the 2 hours there and then the 2 hours back. We prayed about it and God answered our prayers when his wonderful sister Patricia offered to drive us down. Our visit was such a blessing! Leigh and I shared so many memories together, laughing and asking each other , “Do you remember when we did…?”. We had so much fun! His sweet wife Leslie had invited us to lunch where more sharing of memories continued.

We’re hoping we can visit him again very soon.

About a month ago, I discovered to my horror, that I had forgotten to re-new my library books. By the time I realized it, the fine had grown to $54! So, I have decided to “take a break from the library” and read my huge collection of books that were given to me as gifts or purchased by me. Some of the books that I’ve been reading recently:

Christmas Letters by Debbie Macomber is delightful and light.

Cross Roads is William Paul Young’s latest book. I haven’t quite finished it, but it is funny, sad, and deeply meaningful.

William Paul Young’s first book was The Shack, which changed and opened my heart to God’s love in a new way.

I just love this Poster:

That’s definitely ME!

What’s on my needles:

“Room To Grow Baby Cap” This is a cap that I designed. You can change the height of the cap as a baby grows.

Pull on both ends of lower cord to gather tightly and tie in a secure bow.

As baby grows untie the bottom cord and stretch out the cap circumference so that the yarn end balls are just slightly dangling. Then pull on top cord to gather tightly and tie in a secure bow.

Another project that I have just finished knitting is a free pattern from LionBrand.

It is named Drop-Stitch Wrap. You can download the free pattern at: www.lionbrand.com It’s a fun pattern because you get to “dis-obey the rules” and drop stitches on purpose!

I changed the one that I made by leaving off the collar and making it about 50 inches long which is shorter than the pattern calls for. Here are some pictures of my “wrap”:

Watching our grandson Charlie grow, learn, and explore is a daily miracle!

Charlie turned 2 in January

and is growing taller and taller!

He loves being outside to walk in the grass and he explores everything:

He still enjoys coloring with crayons and creates wonderful “masterpieces”!

His favorite toys are trucks and puzzles:

His favorite “toy” of all is our kitty Izzie,

but Izzie’s favorite toy is definitely not Charlie!

******************************************************************

Dear family and friends, be sure and look for Spring miracles that are only visible when you slow down and LOOK….

Fondly,

Mary

Celebrate!

2014-01-01T17:26:00.000-05:00

It's a brand new year with new adventures awaiting all of us.

I don’t like to make New Year's resolutions. Instead, I like to celebrate people who have helped me change my life. Here are a few that I want to celebrate this year:

1.All of my knitting students past and present. They always inspire and teach me with their creativity.

2. My Steven's Minister, Diane, who helped me put the pieces of my life back together during a very difficult time.

Here are some excerpts from an article that I was asked to write about my experience having a Steven's Minister:

"Stephen’s Ministry

I had just found out that my husband of 33 years was having an affair. I felt stunned, devastated---my world of love, trust and security was shattered into tiny bits flying all around me. As I shared what was happening with a close friend, she encouraged me to ask for a Stephen’s Minister.

My Stephen’s Minister listened with great compassion, never judging, or even suggesting what I should be doing. We met weekly and I began to think of our time together as my “life-raft” in a sea of confusion and fear. Her thought-provoking questions, her listening ear and heart, her deep caring about me helped clear my mind, giving me clarity about my situation and about God’s love and Presence in the midst of such an awful time in my life.

In trying to think of an analogy of how Diane helped me through this time, I draw upon my experiences as a“birthing doula”. My role as a doula was to be a labor and delivery coach to help women through childbirth. I couldn’t take their pain away or do the work of labor for them, but I could encourage them, remind them of what they were doing, offer comfort and support. Diane was very much a labor coach as I “birthed” a new life. She couldn’t take my pain away but she was a loving, comforting presence who helped me stay focused on God’s love and the goodness of all of the wonderful people in my life.

I can never give back to her what she gave to me; my gratitude for Diane and the Stephen’s Ministry program is boundless. God’s presence and love is so alive in this ministry."

There are several books on Amazon about Stephen’s Ministry if you would like to learn more about it.

3. Father Bob Albright

Father Bob was the chaplain at the Newman Center at Towson University for many years until he retired. Max and I started attending Mass there about 8 years ago and took his Bible Study class. Many things that he said in his homilies and in Bible Study touched something deep inside of me spiritually. What he said were beliefs that I had but never knew how to put them into words. It was like a light clicked on inside me and I will now be forever changed.

Father Bob has written several books that can be purchased from Amazon.

4. William Paul Young

William Paul Young is the author of a book called The Shack. One of the best gifts I have ever received was reading that book. The book speaks of Papa’s Love through other people. ( If you want to know who “Papa” is read The Shack. Not everyone has loved this book as I have, but that’s OK, it spoke to me and I’m grateful.) You can read more about it or buy it at www.amazon.com

Something new is going on in my knitting world. A new adventure I am having is learning how to do “Arm Knitting”. I’m making a scarf and here’s what I have done so far:

Since I only cast on 10 stitches for the scarf, it is turning into “Hand Knitting” rather than “Arm Knitting”.

There are lots of free patterns and tutorials for “Arm Knitting”.

Here are a few:

http://www.simplymaggie.com/arm-knitting-how-to

http://www.yarnspirations.com/blog/arm-knit-eternity-scarf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT3gdc44Lp8

You can also do a search for “Arm Knitting” on YouTube.

I hope that you have lots of “new adventures” this year.

To find your own path of adventures:

Walk across the snow to make your own path!

And, if you have anyone in your life who has inspired or changed your life, be sure and celebrate them by saying “thank you” to them.

Love, Mary

Warm Christmas greetings...again

2013-12-21T13:17:00.000-05:00

It looks like we're not going to have a white Christmas. But, that's fine with me since it means safer traveling.

I have added a new gadget to my blog:

It's a way to search for books. You could use it to buy any Christmas gifts if you haven't finished your Christmas shopping!

I've been doing lots of Christmas projects with Charlie:
We made a Santa list:

And we also made gifts for his Mommy, Daddy, and Uncle Mike.

Max has been doing some beautiful Christmas decorating:

But we always need to remember that Christmas is not about gifts but about sharing ourselves with others in whatever way we can. Embrace family and friends during this season.

Love, Mary

December Greetings

2013-12-13T14:48:00.000-05:00

Greetings, Peace, and Joy from Mary, Max, and Izzie

Where did October and November go? It seems like just a minute ago we were taking walks with Charlie, picking up acorns...

…and now it's suddenly December!

We’ve had 2 BIG snow storms already:

I love the wonderful Christmas decorations that are appearing all over our neighborhood.

I especially love the lights:

…and the Crèches, which always remind me of the gift that God gave us by coming into our earthly world as a tiny baby. This brings me great peace and joy.

Something else that always brings me peace and joy is knitting. Here is what I’m currently working on:

This is a neck warmer that I had made as gifts last Christmas. It’s a free pattern that you can download at http://bit.ly/19xWtdc

And, speaking of knitting, I have published my first book! It’s been a real adventure. You can read about it and/or buy it at https://www.createspace.com/4471973
Some of my students have asked me to order it for them, so if you live near me, I would would be glad to do that.

Wishing peace and joy for each of you always…

Love, Mary

Beginnings and Endings-November 2013

2013-11-27T13:30:00.001-05:00

Summer has ended and autumn is here.

Vacations are over and school and classes have started.

My fall knitting classes have begun, which is always exciting for me! My classes are “full to the brim and some of them are overflowing! Some new students have joined…it has been fun getting to meet them. Some of the “newbies” are beginning knitters, so I’m not sure that class is “fun” for them yet…but they are “hanging in” and doing very well on their “Beginner Scarves”. The Beginner Scarf is a pattern that I designed to teach my beginners basic stitches, how to increase, and how to decrease.

It is always such a blessing to greet and hug my returning students!

Here are some pictures of a project that Joyce, a “returning student” finished over the summer (It's a shawl/shrug that I designed):

Here are some pictures of some of the projects that the fall students are making:

Denise is making this pretty scarf from the book Knit Scarfs!

Patti is making this cute baby sweater called “Phoebe”, a free pattern from Lion Brand yarns. Their website is: http://www.lionbrand.com

Joyce is making a lovely shawl called “Evening in Venice. She bought the yarn and pattern at

http://www.lovelyarns.com/http://www.lovelyarns.com/

Some new beginnings in my life are also happening:

“Baby William" (as Charlie calls him!) had his first birthday! He is my twin brother Bill’s grandchild.

Our Charlie is not only walking, but also running…it’s hard to keep up with him sometimes! He loves taking walks through the autumn leaves. PopPop is one of his “heroes” and he often tries to imitate what PopPop does:
- - I published a book! I will tell you more about it in my next post.
  Halloween was fun with some clever decorations in the neighborhood:

We had some “hauntingly” special Halloween visitors:

Projects that I have been working on:

This is a free pattern called “Wedgie”, an interesting cap designed by Franklin Habit.

You can download it at: http://bit.ly/17VCGed

Chunky Knit Cowl With Hidden Pocket Tutorial. This is a free pattern that you can download at: http://bit.ly/17VCGed

Here is mine “in progress” with notes I took as I was working on it:

Beginnings and endings mean “change” and sometimes that can be scary. But it can also mean new doors opening and new opportunities arriving. I love this quote from http://www.dailyinspirationalquotes.in/

Fondly, Mary--

who is enjoying “crunching” through the autumn leaves…

Spring Is Really Going to Come!

2013-10-10T23:17:00.000-04:00

I know this because my spring classes have started and we’re having fun!

Spring will arrive in spite of “The Big March Snowstorm” that the weather forecasters were predicting. In fact, they were wrong and it quickly fizzled out:

Then the weather forecasters were wrong again.

On March 24 they were predicting mostly rain with a little snow and no accumulation. But we woke up on the morning of March 25 to a beautiful winter wonderland!

This was the biggest accumulation of snow in March since the “great blizzard of 1942”. And that was the year I was born a few days later on April 3!

Luckily "The Big March Snowstorm # 2" melted quickly.

As spring arrives I just love the way the new leaves that first start unfolding on the bare tree limbs give them a beautiful misty look. The miracle of new life once again gradually appearing before our eyes!

A lot of my students were left “dangling” in my last post about what our “mystery student project” was…

Did you make a guess? Well, (drum roll, please!) here is what I turned all of that wonderful student knitting into:

A comfy pillow that my students can take turns using!

The free pattern that I put in my last post, “Mary’s Most Asked for Scarf” ( you can see and download it at http://bit.ly/19xWtdc ) was “highlighted” on Ravelry on February 14! What a nice Valentine’s surprise that was for me! By the way knitters, if you don’t belong to Ravelry, go immediately to http://www.ravelry.com/invitations and join. It’s free and is a “knitter’s paradise” with so much wonderful information helpful to knitters.

Since my birthday is in April, I decided to look for some knitted birthday cakes (on Ravelry, of course). I thought you might enjoy some of these free patterns:

Sandra's cupcake website:

http://sandra-cherryheart.blogspot.com/2009/07/yummy-scrummy-cupcakes_27.html?m=1

Here's a picture of that yummy looking, no calories cupcake:

And, look at this delicious looking slice of Carrot Cake…and also no calories!

http://badmetaphor.net/2007/06/piece-of-cake/

I also found this clever knitted cake that can be used as a key ring, applique, or pin at: http://littlecottonrabbits.typepad.co.uk/free_knitting_patterns/knitted_cupcake_decoration/ :

And, here’s a cupcake with a removable cupcake cover. It’s so cute! You can find the pattern at

http://beeknit.blogspot.com/2008/02/cake-glorious-cake.html

I haven’t had time to make any of these yet, so please let me know if you make one as nice birthday gift for a friend or even for yourself…

Dear blog readers, I know I’m impatient and don’t like to be left “dangling” or unsure of what’s going to happen. Do you ever have times like that? When I do, I remember the Bible verse (1 Corinthians 13, verse 12 ) that says:

“Now all we can see of God is like looking at a blurred image. But someday we shall see Him more clearly. Presently we don’t know everything but eventually we will.”

This is very comforting to me.

Fondly, Mary

Summer Fun

2013-09-30T11:10:00.001-04:00

This has been a fun summer is so many ways!

In July, my dear husband Max, had a birthday. It was a special one...but I won't embarrass him by telling his age! His brother and sisters took us out to dinner which was so sweet of them. A good time and good food was had by all...

We've been having a wonderful time babysitting our grandson 3 days a week plus our "Saturday night date" with him. Cheerios have been VERY popular around the Moser household this summer!

We even bought a little cup with a cover where he can reach in and pull out Cheerios to eat. He loves that little cup!

My oldest son Michael (known as "Uncle Mike" to Charlie) had a birthday at the end of July. We had a party for him and I'm not sure who had more fun: Mike or Charlie! He's a wonderful uncle to Charlie. As a mom, I am allowed to say that Michael is thoughtful, kind, and always so generous to others. I feel very proud to have him as a son. We had cupcakes at his party with a candle on his:

Also, Charlie and I make a special card for “Uncle Mike”. On the outside of the card, we glued little squares in the shape of a car and Charlie did some coloring on it:

On the inside, we glued a heart which Charlie colored with crayons:

We glued the shapes on since our Michael is visually impaired and would be able to “feel” the card.

We’ve been having fun in my Summer knitting classes. Here are some of the projects my students are making:
Peg is working on a jacket with a wonderful cable edging on the sleeves and front of the jacket.

Mary W. is working on her first cardigan sweater…and doing a beautiful job with it!

Joyce is working on the Sampler Scarf. She’s really having fun with the yarn she’s using that makes wonderful designs in each section of the scarf.

I discovered a wonderful treasure while going through some scrapbooks that I had forgotten I even had! I found some pictures of my brother and me when we were about 3 years old:

My dad’s parents (we called them “Granddaddy” and “Alma Dear” ) came to Petersburg,Virginia to visit us:

Here Bill and I were riding a stick hobby horse:

Here are Bill and me on the front porch in Petersburg, Virginia:

I was so thrilled to find these pictures! An unexpected blessing.

Our kitty, Izzie, had a fun summer. She found various ways of keeping cool—like on top of the TV!:

She also got herself in “trouble” …she just loves tissues and toilet paper!

I finished all my Christmas knitting by mid-August! Except for 2 “more challenging” projects, most of it was relaxing and fun. Here is a picture of 2 of my “relaxing” projects:

I also made a pin to go with one of the projects:

And to celebrate my finishing my Christmas knitting, I’m going to share the pattern for the pin with you:

http://bit.ly/18Q7g4H

( when you go to the shortcut above, you may experience distortion but that will go away once you down load the patterns.)

Students who weren’t in the Summer classes are starting to sign up for the Fall classes. It will be such fun seeing them all again! The Fall classes start in the middle of October so if you’d like to sign up, email me at: notesfromknitclass@gmail.com

Don’t you just love this poster- - it says what I’d like to think my “motto” is!

It was posted on the Facebook page of the yarn shop yarn shop that I went to on our trip to Charlotte in May. Their website address is http://www.charlotteyarn.com/ . If you are a “yarnie” like me, pop over to their website, there are lots of fun things to see. Or, visit their shop if you’re in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. The store has beautiful yarns, great patterns and sample projects hanging up all around the shop.

Dear Readers,
I hope all of you had a summer filled with lots of fun activities.
Just as ours was filled with many blessings, be sure and take time to count your blessings…

Fondly, Mary

A Road Trip and A Celebration!

2013-05-17T21:08:00.001-04:00

I recently got back from a very special trip to attend my niece Lucy’s wedding! She is the daughter of my twin brother who passed on to his Heavenly Home 3 years ago. But, I felt his presence throughout this trip.

My dear husband Max’s sister Patricia gave us the wonderful blessing of driving us to North Carolina for the wedding. Patricia is beautiful, lively, and full of fun! She made the trip such a pleasure. Here are Max and Patricia as we leave for the trip:

As all of you knitters out there can identify with, I packed my “trip knitting” first!

During the trip, I was able to “lounge” in the back seat. This was lucky because the day before we left I caught a HORRIBLE cold. I brought my pillow, a soft blanket, my knitting, and my IPhone and I-Pad Mini to play with. I had a very cozy little “nest”:

I knit a jacket for the wedding:

As I was making it, my students will be interested to find out that the teacher made a BIG mistake! I didn’t count the stitch gauge correctly and had to make some quick “revisions”!

As you can see, the fronts were much smaller than the back…

…so I added several rows of double crochet along each front edge to make them the same width as the back of the jacket:

Luckily, I finished it in time to wear to the wedding!

On the day before the wedding, I was able to visit a yarn shop (which was probably a mistake with my “horrible cold” because I was exhausted when I got back to the hotel…but I DID have fun while I was there!). The name of the shop is Charlotte Yarn and their website is: http://www.charlotteyarn.com/ . They have wonderful displays and yarn. I did “serious damage” to my credit card!

My wonderful niece Lucy was a beautiful Bride! And her new husband John is a real “sweetie pie”.

They both look so happy!

Another highlight of the trip was getting to meet and hold William! He is my brother Bill’s grandson. Getting to hold him made me feel so close to Bill. I have the belief that Bill held him before he was born…

He looks so much like Bill did as a baby!

I know that Bill is so proud of Parker and Ericka. They are wonderful parents!

As a little “celebration gift”, I am posting the instructions for the “Yarn Scraps Pin”:

Although the pins have yarn, there is no knitting involved! So, even non-knitters can make it. Just ask a friend who is a knitter for some small pieces of yarn. Just be sure and make one for your knitting friend …or share the pattern with them. The instructions for the pin have a step by step tutorial with photos of each step.
The instructions for making the pin can be downloaded at:
http://tinyurl.com/4ghnuom

Holding a baby is so very special. They are open, wise, and innocent.

Dear Readers, look into the eyes of a child today…you will gain wisdom and great joy!

Fondly, Mary