Anxiety Control

I am usually rather open about my anxiety and depression, so hopefully the title of this post isn't a surprise to you.  There are times that my anxiety runs high.  So high, that I can't do some things that I need to get done during a day.  I often have battles with myself to literally leave the house. 

On the days where I can't think clearly or can't really do much more than sit on the couch, I knit.  When I knit, it soothes my mind and decision making is easier.  Occasionally, I get hyper focused on a project, but that is OK. 

At one point, my go to soothing knitting project was a Hitchhiker Beyond Shawl.  I loved that  project.  The way the colors striped in a rainbow of colors.  The way the yarn felt as it went between my fingers and onto the needles.  Something about it calmed my anxiety and made the nagging thoughts and tears just stop.  It was a project that I started when I was going through a rough patch.  It filled in the gaps when therapy wasn't enough and it soothed my mind.  I carried it with me for quite a few months.  I picked it up when my soul needed soothing.  I even knit it while at a Knit In Public event in Saratoga on World Wide Knit In Public Day.

These are some photos I took of it in progress.

 The past few weeks have been a little stressful for me.  I could have worked on the 2 other Hitchhiker Beyond shawls that I have been working on, but I decided to make dishcloths since they are quick and rather portable.  I like quick projects sometimes because I feel like I accomplished something, even if it is one dishcloth a day.  These are the ones that I have finished over the past few weeks.

These are some that I finished while working on Christmas gifts toward the end of last year.  Sometimes working on multiple large projects can cause me anxiety because I feel like I need to get everything done now.  The smaller projects calmed down the get it done now voice.

Every Once In a While, You Have to Learn Something New

Over the past few months, I had seen a lot of posts of other crocheters making this beautiful shawl called a Virus Shawl (I found the pattern here: https://www.woolpedia.de/english/crochet-tutorials/shawl/). 

This was the first time I learned a pattern by watching YouTube videos.  The links to the videos are on the website listed above.  I was somewhat apprehensive about learning the pattern this way.  I was fearful that I would forget how to do the pattern, but once I made it through all of the videos, it was like second nature.  Each row fell into place perfectly.  I have made 4 of these shawls so far.  All of them were made with Mandala by Lion Brand Yarn.  The first 2 photos that are below are of shawls that I made for me, the last 2 shawls are prayer shawls that I made for others.

 If you crochet, I highly recommend that you give this pattern a try.  The pattern works up quickly, so there is the satisfaction of having a quickly completed project.

After A While, I Don't Really Know Where to Start

I know I haven't posted in a while. It isn't because I haven't been knitting or crocheting. It isn't really because I have been busy. I guess it is that the spark to blog just hasn't hit me in a while. I am still Co-Coordinator of the Needlework Ministry at FUMC Schenectady. The majority of my needlework time is spent creating projects that make the recipient feel loved. My main focus has been on prayer shawls, prayer blankets, baptism blankets, and confirmation blankets.

Over the past year, I have been crocheting rainbow hearts. I have made close to 800 of them since the beginning of the year. Some of them went to the United Methodist General Conference and were handed out by Pastor Sara of FUMC Schenectady and others. Some were put out on a table at FUMC Schenectady and have been taken by those that needed a reminder that they are loved.   In less than 2 weeks, 500 of them will be making a trip to Syracuse with me for the Upper New York Annual Conference and will be placed at the MFSA booth, to remind our LGBTQIA Siblings in Christ that they are still loved even though the plan that was passed at General Conference makes it feel like they aren't. 

Even in the midst of this darkness, we need to remember that there is hope.  Even though we feel as if we stand alone, we are surrounded by the love of others. May be be led in peace.

A New Year, A New Start

Admittedly, I haven't been the best with keeping up on this blog. I will try to be better this year. Especially since I haven't posted anything in 5 years (where does the time go?). So far this year I have been keeping busy with gifts, prayer shawls, prayer squares, and I will soon be starting on dishcloths again. I have been busy, but just not posting. Hopefully, I will get another post up here soon.

My Charity Knitting

Well, my charity knitting really started something. In April I sent 24 purple baby hats to Emily's Hats For Hope for her Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey project.   I also sent 7 shawls to Waco, TX for the victims of the fertilizer plant explosion in West, TX. A week after they arrived in TX, I received a card and a package in the mail. The card was from one of the Pastors at FUMC Waco. The package contained a card and God is BIG Enough bracelets from a member of their Prayer Shawl Ministry. I showed the package and card to a friend of mine at church FUMC Schenectady. She talked to Pastor Daniel and they decided that I should write an article for the church newsletter. 

This is the article that appeared in the newsletter. 

Making A Difference, One Shawl at a Time

By Alice Nash

“Whether they are called Prayer Shawls, Comfort Shawls, Peace Shawls, or Mantles, etc, the shawl maker begins with prayers and blessings for the recipient.  The intentions are continued throughout the creation of the shawl.  Upon completion, a final blessing is offered before the shawl is sent on its way.  Some recipients have continued the kindness by making a shawl and passing it onto someone in need.  Thus, the blessing ripples from person-to-person, with both giver and receiver feeling the unconditional embrace of a sheltering, mothering, God!”

From Shawl Ministry Website (http://www.shawlministry.com)

When I heard about the explosion in West, TX in April, I felt that I should try to help.  Most of the nation’s attention was on the bombings in Boston, and in our area, there really wasn't much attention on the West, TX incident.  I am a member of an online group of prayer shawl knitters.  One of the other members asked if some of us would be interested in making some prayer shawls to mail to First United Methodist Church in Waco, TX.  FUMC Waco had members who lived in West and were affected by the explosion.  I went on their website and noticed a lot of posts about fundraising efforts.  Most of them were by a Rev. Steve Ramsdell.  I had 3 shawls already made up and decided to set a goal of having 4 more made before I shipped them off to FUMC Waco.  After I completed the shawls, printed up a card to put in each shawl, I mailed them out on April 30^th.   I also enclosed a letter telling Rev. Steve Ramsdell how inspired I was by his church coming together to help out their neighbors in West.

On May, 11^th, I came home to find a card and a box both addressed to me from West, TX.  The card was from Rev. Su Milam.  She is the leader of the Prayer Shawl Ministry at FUMC Waco.  She wanted to thank me for the beautiful shawls that I had sent.  My shawls were going to be going to the nursing home residents who were forced to move into new nursing homes near Waco.  The box was from one of the members of the Shawl Ministry.  She wanted to thank me for sending the beautiful shawls.  She sent me some bracelets from another ministry of their church.  Each one says God is BIG Enough.  I have since emailed with Rev. Su and she told me that the residents of the nursing homes were so thankful to receive my shawls.  She also told me of how she wished I could have seen their faces light up when they received one of my shawls.  She also wanted to ask how I found out about the need for prayer shawls.  She was so amazed of how all of this happened, she wrote a blog post on the church website.  It can be found at http://www.fumcwaco.org/fumcblog/ , it is titled God is Big Enough and it shows a photo of some of my shawls with Schenectady, NY 12304 from the return address on the box.

I have been crocheting and knitting prayer shawls since October of 2005.  My first prayer shawl went to the aunt of my then boyfriend who was diagnosed with terminal cancer.  She was a Methodist missionary.  I know that the shawl provided her with comfort.  I have made shawls for family, friends, and for people I don’t even know.  The recipients have been cancer patients, tornado victims, injured soldiers, people recovering from surgery, and others.  I have made them for the people of West, TX, Tornado victims in Kansas, and for a crisis pregnancy center in Louisiana.  I pray for each person as I am making the shawl.  The shawls carry no magical powers, they are meant to offer comfort.  I find that I am more focused on praying when I am crocheting or knitting. 

My shawls may not change the world, but they may change a life and brighten someone’s day, at least for a little while.  

Since I wrote that article, there is a small group of us that have decided to start a Christian based knitting/crocheting/sewing ministry. We will make prayer shawls, baby items, and hats for the homeless. Each of us has a strong point. Some like to knit hats, some like to make prayer shawls, and some like to make items for newborns or preemies. Each one of us will hopefully make a difference in someone's life. Just like my 7 shawls brightened the day of 7 people I never met. 

These are the 7 shawls that went to West, TX. 

24 baby hats that I made that went to Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey to prevent shaken baby syndrome. 

This is one of the bracelets that I received. I am working on a child's hat that will go to a shelter in Schenectady or will be given to someone in need by FUMC Schenectady.  

Red Scarf Project

This past January, I made scarves for Mechanicville United Methodist Church to donate to St. Mary's Hospital. The hospital, in turn, sells them as a fundraiser. I have attached photos of a couple if the scarves in progress, each scarf close up, a full photo of each scarf, Pastor Ginny of Mechanicville United Methodist Church blessing the scarves, and Gary with the scarves. Gary is the member of Mechanicville United Methodist Church who was going to be bringing the scarves to St. Mary's Hospital. I was a blessing to be able to help them with this project. They were able to donate the 5 scarves that I made, I was able to get 11 skeins/balls of yarn out of my stash.

A Couple Hats For A Friend

My husband has an awesome friend who is in the Army and is stationed in California. He asked me to make him a hat. When he asked for this at first I thought he was joking. He lives in California, isn't it supposed to be hot there? I watched the weather for where he lives and found that some of the time it is as cold in California as it is here. So, I decided to make him 2 hats. The solid colored one is made out of Caron Simply Soft yarn and the camo looking one is made out of Bernat Camouflage.