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Weaving Together Faith, History, and Community: A Journey Through With The Prayer Shawl Chronicles Series

Knitting, like faith, is about connection—binding threads together into something purposeful and lasting. In my series, The Prayer Shawl Chronicles, I’ve sought to link the threads of faith, fellowship, and ministry to others.

Knitting, like faith, is about connection—binding threads together into something purposeful and lasting. In my series, The Prayer Shawl Chronicles, I’ve sought to reflect that deep spiritual truth: that the threads of our lives, intertwined with faith and fellowship, create something beautiful and enduring. Each book in the series stands alone, much like the individual strands of yarn we use to…

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Knitting Together Faith, History, and Community: The Prayer Shawl Chronicles Series

Knitting is much more than crafting a beautiful piece of fabric. It’s about weaving together threads that form something full of meaning and purpose. That’s exactly how I view my series, The Prayer Shawl Chronicles.

Knitting is much more than crafting a beautiful piece of fabric. It’s about weaving together threads that, on their own, may seem ordinary, but when intertwined, form something greater—something full of meaning and purpose. That’s exactly how I view my series, The Prayer Shawl Chronicles. While each book stands alone, much like individual strands of yarn, together they create a rich,…

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How Did Knitting Become A Worldwide Craft? Quick and Fun History Lessons on How We All Learned to Knit

Quickie History Lessons on How We All Learned to Knit! The Surprising Origins of Knitting in Warm Places

When you think of where knitting originated, you might guess the Netherlands, Norway, Scotland, or some other cold place. But Spain and Egypt? Really??? Where did the beloved craft of knitting get started? When I first picked up a history of knitting, I imagined knitting began somewhere around the North Atlantic, like the Scandinavian countries. The word “knitting” comes from the Old English…

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Keep Knitting Fresh and Interesting – Learn New Skills

Stuck in a rut with your knitting? Learn a new skill! #knitting #crafts #yarn #lifelonglearning

Feeling in a rut? Do you find yourself knitting the same patterns over and over again? It’s time to switch things up!  If you’re like me, you have several “go to” patterns you can do in your sleep…or certainly while watching your favorite show on TV. You know exactly how many stitches to cast on, how much yarn the project will take, and which size needles to use. But you may also have umpteen of…

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What is Nalbinding, and What Does It Have to do with Knitting?

What is Nalbinding, and what could it possibly have to do with Knitting???

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Introducing "Knitting Through Time," my newest book in The Prayer Shawl Chronicles

I'm delighted to introduce my newest book, Knitting Through Time, Book 3 in The Prayer Shawl Chronicles.

How did human beings learn to knit? Historians have no idea! So I made up a whole book of stories -based on historical facts- to suggest how we as a civilization learned how to make fabric from two sticks and a ball of yarn. Who invented knitting? No one has any idea. Knitting first appeared in Egypt, as far we can tell. It next showed up in Spain, then spread throughout western Europe and onto…

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Women’s History and the History of Fabric-Making (Spoiler Alert: It’s the Same Thing)

Interested in history? The history of knitting and fabrics is also women's history. #history #fabrics #women

Did you know that if you lived just a couple of hundred years ago – and any time before that – and you’re a woman, you would have spent much of your life making fabric? Yes, we as women still do much of the cooking and cleaning in our families, though the men in our lives and households do much, much more than they did prior to the 1970’s. We still cook, and some of us even enjoy it. Many of us…

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How Did You Learn to Knit? There’s a Story There

What your Origin Story of Knitting? I bet it tells a lot about you, your relationships, and those who loved you. #knitting #crafts #learning #love

My own story of learning to knit is a story of learning a few basics from my mother, then learning so much more on my own and from other women. How did you learn to knit? You likely could tell the story of a fundamental relationship in your life in answering this question. You may have learned from your mother, your grandmother, or another relative who took the time to spend with you, teaching…

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Craving Solitude: You're Not Weird and It's Good For You

Do you crave solitude? It's okay. You're not weird, and it's good for you. Science! #solitude #netgalley #bookreview #wellness #creativity #selfcare #wellness

A Review of Solitude: The Science and Power of Being Alone by by Netta Weinstein, Heather Hansen, and Thuy-vy T. Nguyen Are you someone who cherishes moments of solitude? Do you often find yourself seeking alone time, only to feel like it’s a strange or unusual need? Well, You’re not weird at all. In fact, your desire for solitude is perfectly normal, and this book dives deep into why this is…

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A Springtime Garden Reflection

What would you like to see grow in the #garden of your life story? An #Easter meditation for reflection. #nature #spirituality#springtime

As Easter approaches, what can you learn about spirituality in your own garden? The first soft, warm breeze of spring brushes your face.  After a long winter of enclosed spaces, the cruel sting of subzero temperatures, and a bleak landscape, you finally feel the hope and the possibilities of new growth in the short-term future. Early springtime garden, with new growth All of us have a place…

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Ten Reasons to Teach Knitting or Crochet in Summer Kids' Programs

Thinking about summer kids activities coming up? Consider teaching #Knitting or #Crochet ! #summerkidsactivities

Those of you planning summer youth camps are undoubtedly thinking about what activities you’ll offer in your programs this year. You’ll want something fun and engaging, something parents will talk about favorably and youth will remember fondly.  Why not teach life skills that will equip them to find their own sense of peace and calm in their lives, as well as serve as an outlet for personal…

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Forest Bathing is For Everyone. And It's Not As Weird or Difficult as You Think

Looking for ways to improve your health and inner peace - as well as that of your kids? Opportunities are closer than you think. Go outside! #nature #wellbeing #innerpeace #healthychildren

You don’t need hiking boots and the Appalachian Trail to connect with nature. While those who do are at a mastery level of nature appreciation, most of us are not, and that’s perfectly fine. We meet nature where we are. “Forest bathing” is simply going out into the forest or other wild or semi-wild places and communing with nature. By immersing yourself fully in nature, you can let go of…

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Patterns in Nature, Patterns in Fiber Arts

See a #knitting pattern you love? You probably first saw it in #nature! Here's how patterns in nature show up in our #FiberArts !

Why do some knitting patterns just “look right”? Where could you find inspiration for designing your next fiber arts project? Look no further than Mother Nature herself! Certain patterns are found time and time again in nature. Intuitively, we are already hard-wired and attuned to recognizing these patterns. So if you find yourself stumped for design ideas or a pattern that’s sure to please,…

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Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced in Knitting Patterns – What the Definitions Should Mean!

"Beginner" knitting means just knits and purls, right? Not so fast...here's what labels of difficulty SHOULD mean! #knitting #KnittingSkillLevels #knittingbasics

Spoiler Alert: “Advanced” is reserved for “I couldn’t possibly knit that while watching TV” Do you ever check the “Level of Difficulty” on a knitting pattern? Have you ever picked up a “beginner” level pattern, only to find it way, way, way beyond your skill level? Or found that an “intermediate” pattern required you to count each and every movement of the yarn you made, and it still didn’t come…

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A Lenten Rose Parable

Nothing beautiful or sustainable happens overnight - a Lenten meditation based on Lectio Natura. #Lent2024 #spirituality #nature #Lentendevotional

A meditation on Lenten Roses for the Lenten season of 2024 Out in the garden of my relatively new house, a Lenten rose with gorgeous purple blossoms stands its ground amongst recently planted replacements of the same variety and red clay dirt. I bend down to photograph it, tilting the camera to get a full picture of these downward looking flowers.  I sigh in relief. Finally, a Lenten rose has…

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A Month in Florida – An Unexpected Sabbatical

An unexpected sabbatical resulted in my most productive writing days ever. Maybe we need to let a "Time Away" find us once in awhile?

How did I spend Tennessee’s recent “Snowmageddon” of January 2024? Walking on the beach every day and spending lots and lots of “alone time” in a little Florida town with one redlight, one great seafood restaurant, and a gas station.  I hadn’t planned on taking a sabbatical last month. But I sure got one. Sometimes spiritual retreats find us, I suppose. I had planned to visit friends, do some…

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It's All About Color: Crafting Color Symbolism in Every Stitch

Want to add extra meaning to your knitting project - especially prayer shawls? Think about color symbolism!

Exploring Symbolic Colors in Prayer Shawl Design When you embark on the journey of creating a prayer shawl – or any other crafting project – the choice of colors goes beyond aesthetics; it can carry profound symbolism. Across various traditions, colors have played a significant role in conveying concepts and stories. Whether you’re crafting for spiritual or personal reasons, understanding the…