Yarn along: summer shrug & thoughts *updated

Knitting along for the first time in months with Ginny...

I've been working on a simple summer shrug, and when I say simple, I really  do mean it.

I needed a project that would take some time, as the children are always watching to see what it is that I do. Whatever it is, it should take time and effort; nothing in haste. I know they'll be excited to see me wear it tomorrow morning as I'll be finished with it tonight!
It also needed to be simple in nature, as I like to sit and knit alongside of them...I plan on the interruptions and knitting a project that requires great concentration just isn't in the picture right now:)

Summer Shrug
Free Pattern:

Materials:
size 10.5 circular needles 16" (you'll be knitting back and forth, not in the round)
worsted weight yarn (less than a skein)...I used knit picks 100% cotton Swish in peapod.

CO 40 stitches
Row 1: *k1, p1, rep. from * to end of row
Row 2: *p1, k1, rep. from * to end of row

Repeat rows 1 and 2 five times for a total of 10 rows

Row 11: knit across
Row 12: *k1, yo, rep. from * to end of row
Row 13: *k1, drop yo, rep. from * to end of row
Row 14:  knit across

Repeat rows 11-14 until the drop stitch section reaches across the back from shoulder to shoulder

Knit 10 rows in seed stitch (as beginning)

Bind off

Fold in half and sew seed stitch rows to form your sleeves.

*I'll update this post with a photo of the finished project tomorrow*

UPDATES and FINISHED PHOTO:

 

My sweet photographer left out my face which is just fine by me:)

I stopped at our local health store today and received many, many compliments on the shrug and a few questions regarding the ease of this project. I can't say enough how easy it is.

As for reading, I've been finishing up my required Summer reading for Waldorf EC teacher training...I leave this coming Monday! The reading has been wonderful and so very interesting. I can't wait to be in a group to discuss so many of the concepts which are somewhat difficult to grasp...
such as..

What a fantastic read, even if some of the material is "over my head" at this point, but this included poem by William Wordsworth touched me profoundly...

   Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:
          The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star,
              Hath had elsewhere its setting,
                And cometh from afar:
              Not in entire forgetfulness,
              And not in utter nakedness,
          But trailing clouds of glory do we come
              From God, who is our home:
          Heaven lies about us in our infancy!
          Shades of the prison-house begin to close
              Upon the growing Boy,
          But He beholds the light, and whence it flows,
              He sees it in his joy;
          The Youth, who daily farther from the east
              Must travel, still is Nature's Priest,
              And by the vision splendid
              Is on his way attended;
          At length the Man perceives it die away,
          And fade into the light of common day.

~INTIMATIONS OF IMMORTALITY FROM RECOLLECTIONS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD

 

The book has a section on the study of children's drawings which was very interesting...."the young child portrays with supreme artistry his experience of coming in from the cosmos an taking hold of his body. his drawings and painting are a spontaneous expression of this process..."

I went to bed last night thinking more about incarnation and the process...which I know so little about, but I'm way intrigued and so, so eager to learn. I felt especially full of awe during our candle snuffing at snack time when we sing "smoke goes up to heaven"....the eldest child looked at me and said, "We should say, 'Wesley goes up to heaven', since he isn't born just yet..." 

 Other titles I've been finishing up include:

 

 

..a book I've been slowly reading for about a year now.

For wonderful titles on Waldorf Early Childhood,click here.

This is our last week of Playgarden before I leave for school. We'll resume July 11th, which just seems so, so far away. I'm excited to bring back fresh ideas, inspiration, reflections, and more ways to better care for the children and myself.