Knit One, Purl Two

I have a secret passion. The more I do it the more I become obsessed. I love to knit. Back in college a family friend Kathy Lay taught me the basics of knitting. She showed me the two basic stitches and how to cast on and bind off. I was quite the quick scarf maker back then. Then when I was on my mission there was a senior sister (Sister Hill) who I discovered was an amazing knitter. During the slow winter months on the Joseph Smith Farm she helped me increase my knitting skills by teaching me different stitches and teaching me how to fix mistakes and read knitting patterns. She even helped guide me as I knitted a baby blanket for my niece. We made a pattern together, and I even got to share that pattern with a nonmember lady from Denmark who was visiting the sites and asked if she could have a copy of my pattern to knit a blanket for her grandbaby back in Denmark. Sister Hill is such an amazing women! I have fond memories of sitting and memorizing scriptures as I would knit, purl, knit. In a way it made me feel connected to the Smith family girls who I would like to believe sat in those same homes where I sat and learned the same skills I was learning. In fact most of the sister missionaries learned how to knit that winter. We had so much fun!

Now I'm so excited because I get to knit for my own family. I knit a blessing blanket for Colson. And I have just finished this baby's blessing blanket. But this time, I decided that it was time for me to teach myself and increase my talent for knitting once again. I found a neat pattern online for a pinwheel blanket but I had to knit in a round with circular needles. I practiced trying to make a little hat first, and soon found out that I needed to learn how to use double point needles too. So I sat down and looked at a few tutorials on YouTube and began to practice. I think I started and restarted this blanket like 20 times no joke. After an afternoon of struggling and laughing at myself I finally conquered using five double point needles at a time.

This might seem weird for me to say about knitting, but looking back at this past week, I am so grateful for this skill/talent my Heavenly Father has given me. The thing about it is I have had to work really hard at learning how to accomplish this. Line upon line precept on precept. I felt such joy as I was able to search out and learn for myself how to acquire and increase this skill. Whether it was finding the person who could help me learn or finding a resource that could help teach me. I feel like I've learned a very valuable lesson that doesn't just go with knitting. Shouldn't this been how we approach all "good, praiseworthy things" in our lives? I know I'm guilty of not always worked on all things in my life with such vigor and excitement, but starting today, I'm going to try. My scripture study. Preparing for church lessons I teach. New fun things I do with my kids at home. Everything that I need to be seeking after that is good!

And now the pictures...... (If you had the patience to read that whole post lol)

This is the start. I started with 3 double point needles then added 5 and then eventually switched everything over to a circular needle which is 2 needles connected by a piece of clear soft plastic.

Here it is after I bound it off.

And in Colson's own words "TA-DA" After I put the edging on! I'm so excited to use it on my baby boy!