Category: things I make

yarn along

MarthaKimball7 Comments

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So I FINISHED my very first sock!  I’m super proud and stoked.  I have learned a lot of new things while working on this one, and I’m pretty hooked on knitting.  I started the matching sock for it last night.  I am pretty eager and ancy to get these done before Christmas and I’m feeling like at this rate I will most certainly not get everyone’s finished!  😦  Phoebe has seen me working on these, she sort of thinks they are for her but I haven’t said anything directly.  Even this morning, Noah saw me taking these pictures and he was excited to see the finished sock.  He asked, “Is that Phoebe’s?”  And I said yes and he was so enthusiastic.  I have been sort of thinking they won’t be that excited about these, but both seem super interested and excited that mommy is maybe making them something.

Also, I’m still reading a couple of Advent books, and working through The Things of Earth but this book has been a favorite of mine with to read with the kids this year.  A library find, but I will probably have to buy it.  It is set in the mountains where we live, such a sweet story of a humble family and hope, and the little girl is named “Ruthie” just like our little Ruthie (Philippa Ruth).  I have added a list of some of our other favorite + treasured Christmas children’s books in my little book store (on the slide-out sidebar under “Recommended Reads”).

Joining up with Ginny Sheller’s weekly yarn along today.

yarn along

MarthaKimballLeave a comment

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The past week has been busy with family and gathering, the best sort of busy.  I’ve been trying to crank out some knitting on this sock in the few quiet moments in between.  This is my first time knitting in the round + knitting socks, I really am enjoying it now that I’ve started to see it take shape.  I’m skeptical that I’ll finish 4 sets of these before Christmas at this rate! 😦  But maybe I’ll get faster as I get the hang of it?  I’m just about ready to start on the heel flap on this one.  Lots to learn!

I’m still reading The Things of Earth of course, it will take me a bit to work through that one.  I’ve also started a few Advent books, this one is edited by Nancy Guthrie, an author I love, and is a compilation of some Christmas reflections from some of the best pastors and theologians such as George Whitfield, Martin Luther, Charles Spurgeon, John Piper, Tim Keller, Jonathon Edwards, Augustine, Schaeffer, etc.  I’m enjoying it so far.  I’m also reading Ann Voskamp’s The Greatest Gift and the children + I have been eager to dive back into the child’s Advent book Unwrapping the Greatest Gift.  We worked through it last year and all loved it so much.  I think it will be a treasured family tradition for us!

(Joining up today with Ginny Sheller‘s yarn along!)

yarn along

MarthaKimballLeave a comment

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I’ve been making a ton of hats lately, still have a few more to make per various requests, but I’m starting (finally!) on these Christmas socks I plan to knit for my children + husband.  You guys, this is my first time trying to knit in the round and it’s so hard!  SO hard!  I can’t imagine ever being able to relax and do this.  It’s also my first time working with a size 3 needle and learning to knit ribbing.  So that may have something to do with it, too.  I’m pretty determined, so we’ll see how it goes.  Notice I focused in the picture above on my book rather than my knitted work. 🙂  Don’t look too closely.  As for the book, The Things of Earth, I am loving it so far.  I haven’t read something so brain stretching, theologically, in a little bit and it’s been hard at times to get my mind to focus on things like “perichoresis” and such, but so worth it!  Everything within me is resonating with what Rigney is saying and I love the way he carefully handles Scripture.

I hope to have a good picture of my very first child’s sock progress for you next week!  Because I know you’re dying to see it.  HA.

(Joining up with Ginny Sheller’s Yarn Along today.)

yarn along

MarthaKimball9 Comments

joining up today with Ginny Sheller’s yarn along to share what i’m reading + knitting this week!

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I am still working on making a few knitted baby bonnet hats for some nieces + nephews, per request.  I can’t tell you how much it means to me to be able to make something for those I love that they really like!  For a stay-at-home-momma of three on a tight budget, it enables me to give a unique gift of value that is affordable on my part.

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This one I finished up for my nephew, being modeled here by my son.  I’m also working on three more of these, and still working on some dishcloths.  I’ve ordered some supplies to make some hand knit christmas gifts for my children, so I’m excited to get started on those + will share pics soon!  Also, Phoebe has asked me to make her a scarf, and has already picked out her yarn, so I will be onto that soon too.  Many things to keep my hands busy!  I’m finding myself taking my knitting with me everywhere now.

Also, I’ve just started on The Things of Earth: Treasuring God by Enjoying His Gifts by Joe Rigney.  This is one I’ve been dying to read for some time now, but have been busy with some other books.  The theme of this book is one very close to my own heart and core passion, that of enjoying God in His good gifts, rather than seeing “the things of earth” as being far less important than the things of the soul + spirit.  I’m hoping Rigney makes a strong biblical case for our finding God in the good gifts He gives us and worshipping Him through them.  (I’ve written briefly about my passion for this here, here, and here.)  John Piper wrote the forward and it looks a theologically rich read that I’m eager to sink my soul into.

 

yarn along

MarthaKimball3 Comments

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I’m joining up today with Ginny Sheller’s weekly yarn along, where we share what we’re currently reading + knitting.  I took some of your advice, fellow knitters, and am working on some simple cotton dishcloths.  It’s interesting working on increasing/decreasing, I suppose, but I can’t say I terribly love making dishcloths.  It seems sort of a rite of passage though, as a new knitter, to make a stack of dishcloths and work on tension + consistency.  Plus, I do need some new ones.  I’m looking for a pattern for some cozy/simple socks for my kids for christmas.  Would that be crazy to attempt knitting three pairs of socks in the next month-ish?  I’d like to learn how to knit in the round.  If you have any pattern recommendations, let me know.

Also, I’m over half way through 7 Women: And the Secret of Their Greatness by Eric Metaxas and, of course, really enjoying it.  I read his biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer last year and enjoyed his writing style as much as the content.  It’s a book I still think often about, even a year later, and this one will probably be the same.  I’ve enjoyed getting to know more about the daily lives + history of women I’ve heard about but never really studied: Joan of Arc, Susanna Wesley, Hannah More, Saint Maria of Paris, Corrie Ten Boom, Rosa Parks, and Mother Teresa.  What’s probably most interesting is the ordinariness of these women, who we often hold up as other-worldly, and the various ways they impacted their generation profoundly.  I will review the book in greater depth when I finish it!

yarn along

MarthaKimball5 Comments

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I’m joining up with Ginny Sheller’s yarn along today.  So, my first knitting attempt was a flop.  I was using the wrong size needle + probably the wrong sized yarn,  but I still learned a ton.  For those of you who wanted to see how it turned out, here it is:
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I could probably keep extending down the sides of it and make it into a real hat but that’s for another day.  To redeem myself, I tried the pattern again with a chunky yarn + the right sized needles and within a day knitted up this sweet little hat for my daughter.
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I still need to weave in the ends + attach ties somehow but otherwise it’s done + I love it!  She seems to, also.  My other kiddos all want one now.  It’s a really easy fun pattern + I’m ready to try something a little harder!  I’m probably going to try one other kind of child’s bonnet + maybe attempt my first shawl.

I am reading a couple of books right now, still finishing the last chapter of Jewel’s memoir + a starting on 7 Women: And the Secret of their greatness by Eric Metaxas.  I’m really enjoying reading this version of Anne of Green Gables to my Phoebe girl.  She loves a good chapter book with beautiful illustrations, and I love sitting to read with her when I can!

Yarn Along

MarthaKimball16 Comments

You guys!  I feel so cool right now. 🙂  This is my first time being able to join in with Ginny Sheller’s weekly Yarn Along!  Ginny is a homeschooling, homesteading momma of seven, and a big-time reader + knitter.  Basically, I have fallen in love with knitting via her blog and have been itching to learn.  I’ve had a couple of attempts, but it finally clicked when I spent some time with a friend recently who taught me.

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I’ve been working on this free pattern, making a little hat for Philippa and basically working on just my stockinette stitch.  I think I’m about done + ready to bind off.  Will post a picture of the finished product soon.  And I’m officially addicted!  Brandon thinks I’ve finally reached old lady status, but I really can see why people love to knit.  So, if you have any free favorite knitting patterns for beginners that you’ve loved, please let me know in the comment section below!

Also, I’ve been reading this new release, Never Broken: Songs are Only Half the Story, by Jewel.  Her music really spoke to me when I was younger, and I read all her poetry and was encouraged in my own poetry and song writing at the time.  It’s been interesting reading more of her background and story, and at times it’s been hard and depressing.  She experienced a way more difficult childhood than I had known or imagined, abused + neglected by her parents and basically left to fend by herself in the harsh Alaskan wilds.  I have been saddened to see what she had to overcome, and yet surprised at how well she endured it, and how graciously and intelligently she writes her story.  Also, sometimes we think people who have “made it” so successfully in their field, in her case selling millions of albums, have arrived there by chance, probably one day being “discovered” and everything going on smoothly from there.  Reading her book reminds me that it is a ton of work, constant “trying again,” often overcoming difficult criticism and misunderstanding to continue to offer your art to the world.  I’m not quite done with it, just the last few chapters left now.  I’ve enjoyed it but I’m ready to move on to some other books I’ve put on hold!