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A Princess Meets Her Prince

Posted on March 1, 2010 by auburnchick

Today was a special day for an unsuspecting princess.

Ms. L., Rooster’s English teacher from last year, was about to meet Prince Charming, and she didn’t have a clue.

Rooster had planned the whole thing, but he nearly ruined the surprise by telling a friend.

I peeked into Ms. L.’s classroom a couple of times today, but I saw no evidence that the two had met.  The second time, she got suspicious that something was up because Rooster’s friend had been by to check up on things as well.

By lunch time, I had grown concerned, so I hunted down the boy (this is one advantage to working at the same school my children attend) and queried him thoroughly.

“Don’t sweat it, Mama,” he said.  “I’ve got things covered.”

We agreed to meet up at Ms. L.’s classroom immediately after the final bell.

A couple of hours later, I waited…smiling as I saw Rooster escorting the Prince down the hallway.

Ms. L. sat in her room, chatting with students.  She’s a lovely, young Princess…popular in the kingdom I call high school.

She opened her eyes widely as the surprise was revealed…

The story goes that last year, Rooster had done a naughty thing, so he owed her.

He asked me to make the frog for her after seeing it on the cover of the March 2009 issue of Simply Knitting (you can purchase the pattern here).

I hemmed and hawed until I made one for Chicky’s friend’s father (the one going through chemotherapy).

Although Rooster was happy that I had been so generous, he was a wee bit peeved that he still did not have his frog for Ms. L.  By now, he had been promoted to the 10th grade, but he knew he still had to answer for his bad deed the Spring before.

The Ravelympics provided the inspiration I needed, and I got busy.  I tend to work quicker on a deadline (don’t we all?).  I cast on this project February 15th and finished it in the nick of time…right before closing ceremonies on February 28th.

I used Vanna’s Choice in Olive and Dusty Green.  I used I Love This Yarn in Buttercup for the crown.

So, although the Prince seemed a little fearful to leave his country of origin (and he was a bit miffed at the role reversal of moving into his beloved’s home), in the end, he seemed quite happy in the arms of his lady love.

And they lived happily

Ever

After.

The End.

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , , , , | 7 Comments »

The Frog Prince

Posted on November 10, 2009 by auburnchick

Once upon a time there was a fair-haired girl named Chicky.

Chicky had a friend named Happy who always had a way of bringing joy to those around him.

One day, Happy became sad when his Papa became sick.

Chicky visited their castle  and inquired how she might be of assistance, making special mention of the skills that her mother, Duchess of Knitting, possessed.

“Does she make stuffed animals?” Happy’s mom asked.

“The Duchess is very talented.  Your wish is her command,” and she carried the request back home to her very beautiful mother.

The Duchess found the perfect pattern (Frog Prince by Alan Dart) in a magazine she had stowed away (Simply Knitting – March 2009).

The Duchess then visited her local market, picking up some Vanna’s Choice in Olive and Dusty Green (we all know that Vanna’s been around for a very long time) along with some I Love This Yarn in Buttercup and Forest.

She toiled late into the night…several nights, in fact, and produced a work of art even a king would be proud of…

The frog’s crown is a reminder that there is a Great King who rules over the land, keeping watch over His children…

Chicky and the Duchess hope that every time Happy and his Papa look at the frog, they will remember to Fully Rely On God (see the acronym)…especially during this time while Papa is sick.

As the frog has great big eyes that see all, so does our Heavenly Father, who loves each one of us and keeps a close eye on each of His children…

And they lived Happily Ever After.

The End.

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , , , , | 8 Comments »

South of the Border Prayer Shawl

Posted on July 3, 2009 by auburnchick

You might remember that a couple of months ago, a friend at church gave me this pile of yarn…with the Mexican Rainbow Shawl from the Prayer Shawl Companion book in mind.  We’re both making shawls for our church ministry and had fallen in love with this pattern.  She surprised me by buying the yarn for it!

Alas, try as I might, I couldn’t make the yarn work with the pattern!  The pattern is written for DK weight, and the Vanna’s Choice just did not want to play nice!

So, I frogged what I had done (the center section and two of the orange sides) and went back to the drawing board…finally deciding on La La’s Simple Shawl, which is a free download on Ravelry.

This pattern allowed me to incorporate each colored yarn and, IMHO, gives it a “South of the Border” feel.

Project Stats

Date Started – June 22
Date Completed – July 2

Yarn – Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice:
  • Rust – 17 yards
  • Scarlet – 34 yards
  • Eggplant – 55 yards
  • Colonial Blue – 76.5 yards
  • Olive -102 yards
  • Mustard – 229.5 yards

The pattern did not specify a bind-off, so I used EZ’s Sewn Cast Off.  I like this bind off because it’s stretchy and invisible.  And it’s easy (although tedious when you have 265 stitches!!).

Forgive the state of my hair.  I woke up this morning and rushed to dress so I could get Chicky to take pictures before she heads to the beach for the day…hence no shower and no tamed hair (not that this is possible with living in Florida and having naturally-curly hair)…

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , , | 2 Comments »

New Projects

Posted on May 22, 2009 by auburnchick

You know I am not content to finish one project without casting on another.

I’ve actually got two projects going right now.

You already know about the Mexican Rainbow Shawl.  I’m using Vanna’s Choice yarn, a gift from one of my Bible study friends.

I’m experiencing a bit of anxiety about this project because the pattern was written for DK yarn.  Vanna’s Choice is a heavy worsted.  I debated about modifying the pattern but decided against it.  The center is supposed to be a square.  You can see, in the picture below, that this isn’t the case.  I’m currently working on the short rows that will allow the blanket to take on a semicircle appearance before actually becoming a circle.  It looks a bit wonky, but I hope things wind up working out in the end.

As you can see, the shawl is already rather large, so I decided to begin work on a second project…one that is more portable.

A KnittingHelp friend saw the last prayer shawl I made (the crochet one) and asked if I would be willing to make her one.  She’s having some trouble with her hands.  She is a generous lady, heading up the Canadian Oddball Baby Blanket Project.  I adore her, so it was an easy yes.

She requested black.  I think that’s a smart color to go with.  It will match just about anything she chooses to wear it with.

Here’s my progress so far, after five days…

We’re not traveling this weekend or next, so I hope to finish the black shawl and make significant progress on the other one.  I’m already scheming as to what I’ll put on my needles next.  I’m thinking socks!

Filed under: crochet, Knitting | Tagged: , , , | Leave a comment »

I Didn’t Buy These, I Promise

Posted on May 6, 2009 by auburnchick

Two bags of yarn…that’s what I saw when I walked into the empty room at church.  It was Wednesday night…time for Bible study with the ladies.  When I began meeting with this group, I discovered that one of the ladies was a knitter.  She’s been knitting a little while but is not overly confident in herself yet, preferring to stick with the easiest stitches.  We’ve formed a friendship, and I’ve been encouraging her to try new patterns.

Any good knitting friend will, naturally, enable another.  She buys the newest issues of magazines, and I run out to get them.  She buys a new book, and I do the same.  I discover a fabulous yarn store in New Orleans, and she visits and spends $150.

It’s a friendship made in heaven.

When I saw the bags of yarn, I figured they belonged to her.  We’re always showing off our latest cast-ons and talking about upcoming projects.

When she walked in, she nonchalantly picked up the bags and deposited them on the table in front of me.

They were for me.  For a shawl I’ve been ogling in this book, recently purchased with a 40% coupon at Hobby Lobby:

The pattern is for a Mexican Shawl:

As I pulled the yarn out of the bags, I counted them…12 skeins of Vanna’s Choice…in six different colors!

I am so touched that she would do this for me.  She has been personally affected by the financial woes that many of us have…a husband who only recently became employed again after being laid off…a house up for sale…a son newly home from Iraq…

To do something like this with pure excitement on her face…

A true blessing.

And a relief that I can honestly tell the Mr. that I didn’t buy more yarn.

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , | 4 Comments »

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