"The Best Knitters Make the Most Mistakes"

         

         Right before Christmas, I put the finishing touches on the first Little Lamb for Peace.  On a cold Saturday morning, one of my yoga students arrived early as she usually did for warm conversation before class.  Erin saw the little lamb sitting on my coffee table and she immediately picked it up and gave it a squeeze.

          "This is so comforting!" she said, holding it close.  "So cute!"

          Soon my friend, Barb, walked through the door.  "Look what you inspired," I smiled as she took off her coat and boots.  Barb had encouraged me to knit toys for the families of Sandy Hook the week previous and my enthusiasm quickly bubbled over into what Erin was now cuddling.

          "Oh, that's so sweet," Barb said, taking it from Erin.  "And it's still warm."

          Soon the little lamb was passed around to all of my students as they arrived and was hugged and loved by each of them. I'm sure that whoever receives it in the weeks to come will be blessed by their positive energy and joyful response.

          Many knitters have told me that they've never tried to create a toy, that it looks too complicated or out of their range of skill.  I've encouraged knitters to come together as a group and work on one lamb.  A new knitter can make the ears or legs, while a more experienced knitter can work on the head and embellishments.  It's the desire to create something positive that's important.  Mistakes will happen, but that's all part of the learning process.

          One of my mantras for new students is:  "the best knitters make the most mistakes."  They simply learn from them, correct them and try again.  Recently my little pal, Harshil, asked me to teach him to knit and although it was challenging, he persevered and made a lovely change purse for his sister for Christmas.  When he made mistakes, I'd remind him of my mistake mantra and laugh, "Harshil, if I had a dollar for every mistake I've made, we could take a trip to Paris."  He smiled and kept knitting.

         

          I've knit dozens of gifts for people of all ages and often keep a picture of the person nearby as I work.  Weaving love into every stitch is not a cliché for me...it's a reality I fuse into every sock, sweater, toy and hand-warmer.  It's my wish that whoever receives a hand-knit gift will not only enjoy using it, but also receive the intangible loving thoughts, prayers and memories that were floating through my mind as the yarn flew through my fingers and wound itself around the needles. 

          May your hands be blessed as you knit your Little Lamb for Peace and may you know the joy of gifting someone with your unique creativity and warmth.   You may just want to knit one for yourself!  

Little Lambs for Peace Pattern

          

          When I became a certified yoga instructor, I had already been practicing for nearly three years.  What began as a weekly respite from the demands of a busy job soon became a life preserver, and eventually a way of life that continues to evolve as I do.

          Shortly after my certification training was complete, I was given the yogic name, "Chitananda."  Not knowing the comprehensive definition or its application, I was told to continue my yoga practice and knowledge would reveal itself in time. 

          A year later I was in attendance at a workshop with a teacher who spontaneously began to speak about the journey of "chit ananda."  He said that as a yogi moves through their path in life, events occur that challenge their fears so they can awaken to what is authentic, and the true knowledge of the inner self, the higher Self, can be known.  He went on to say that the literal translation of chit ananda means "knowledge of bliss or peace."

          My mind wandered back to a warm spring day in 1980 when I sat crouched behind the organ at Glendale Presbyterian Church with a Bible verse in my hand.  Our youth group leader has assigned each child a passage from the New Testament and we were asked to find a quiet place in the church and study the verse until we knew it by heart.  I was given Philippians 4:6-7:  "Do not worry about anything, but with prayer and thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God and He will give you the peace that passes all understanding."  Decades later, when I learned the meaning of chit ananda, my past and present fused together, east met west and I was blessed with the awareness that peace has always been within me. 

         

         Peace can be translated in many ways.  To me it does not mean to be free from stress, challenges, living a life filled with obstacles or hard work.  It means to be in the center of all of those things and find my inner calm and awareness, regardless of what the outer world is telling me.  Repetitive movement, intentions and actions create who we are and who we eventually become.  Yoga, gardening, knitting and meditation have all been avenues to finding peace in my life and it's a joy to share these gifts with others. 

          In creating this pattern for Little Lambs for Peace, I decided to write it so that the majority of the lamb is knitted in the round, which can be a very meditative way to work.  Like a pebble dropped into a pond, we can evolve in ever-expanding circles, and it's my hope that you will share this pattern, make it your own, add a bit of your personality to each lamb you knit and then share it with someone who needs a little comfort, a little hope, a symbol of peace.

          May you be blessed in your knitting practice, and may others be blessed by the healing thoughts and prayers your hands and heart create through these tangible gifts of grace.

Om, Shanti, Namaste 

Our first Little Lamb for Peace

            I'm delighted to share the very first Little Lamb for Peace, hot off my knitting needles.  I'll be working on other color combinations over the holidays and will have a complete pattern ready to post in a few days.  

            In the meantime, if you're out and about shopping this weekend and want to pick up supplies, here's a list of what you'll need.  For those of you who don't knit, but would like to donate yarn, it will be knitted with love and gratitude.

Supplies:   Any light worsted weight yarn (I use Caron Simply Soft found at JoAnne Fabrics):

                    220 yards of white; 100 yards of light brown or grey; 

                    a small amount of soft pink for inner ears, 

                    a small amount of black yarn for accents                                                                                                       

                    

                    Size 4 US double pointed needles; size 4 16" circular (optional) 

                    Tapestry needle, polyester stuffing, scissors and plastic safety pins

            Our first Little Lambs for Peace free workshop will be on Saturday, January 12, 2013 from noon until three at Biggby Coffee (Cricket West) in Toledo.  Mark your calendars! 

            May you and your family have a blessed Winter Solstice!  

Introducing...Little Lambs for Peace Project

          I spent most of the nineties as a first grade teacher with Washington Local Schools in Toledo, Ohio.  The joy and delight in teaching children how to read, write and discover the world is something hard to describe to those who've never been in an active classroom filled with six and seven year olds.  Even though I chose to leave the classroom in 1999 to pursue a writing career, I've stayed in touch with kids through teaching yoga at a local Montessori school where I met my little friend, Satish.

            Last Friday, after a very busy day out and about, I was there picking up Satish (now seven) and his little brother, Danta (six), for an afternoon of fun.  Satish  had asked me to teach him how to knit, so we were off to the craft store to  pick up some yarn and head back to my house for cocoa, candy canes and some holiday fun. 

            On the way home, Satish and Danta asked me about the mamma skunk that lived beneath my hut when I lived in California years previous.  They'd heard the story many times, astonished that I would enjoy the transient company of a skunk and her two kits.

            "Didn't that mamma spray your room only once?" Danta asked.

            "That's right," I replied.
       "She was just protecting her babies from the raccoon that was trying to get them," Satish remembered.  "It must have been important 'cause skunks take a whole week to make more stink."

            I glanced at their adorable faces in the rear-view mirror.  "If I were a skunk and you were my babies, I'd protect you, too."

           

            Hours later, their mother picked up the boys, then I returned a phone call to a friend who told me about the Sandy Hook School shooting and the horrific details of what the children, teachers and administrators endured that morning.  Memories of my first grade class came flooding back as I could easily picture crowding my little ones into the bathroom to keep them safe.  Like the rest of the nation and the world, I was stunned.  The next day, I was talking to one of my friends at yoga class and Barb suggested I knit some toys to send to the families and surviving children.  I'd been avidly working on animals all during the holiday season and was delighted to have finished my gift list early.

            That afternoon I begin writing my first toy pattern and Little Lambs for Peace was born.  Here's the completed pattern...please feel free to share.

Little Lambs for Peace Pattern

by Kate Ingersoll

Supplies: 

Any light worsted weight yarn (I use Caron Simply Soft):                

*220 yds of MC (main color)      

*100 yds of CC (contrasting color)

*a small amount of soft pink for inner ears

*a small amount of black or pink for accents

*a small amount of any color yarn for collar, or ribbon for a bow tie                                               

Size 4 US double pointed needles (dpn)

Size 4 US 16" circular needle, optional               

Tapestry needle, polyester fiberfill stuffing, stitch marker, scissors and plastic safety pins

Abbreviations:  (please use YouTube for assistance with these knitting techniques)

k:  knit

p:  purl

m1:  make 1

k2tog:  knit 2 together

p2tog:  purl 2 together

k2tog tbl:  knit 2 together through back loop

St st:  stockinette stitch (K one row, P one row)

kfb:  increase, knitting front and back of stitch

TLst:  twisted loop stitch (k the stitch, leave it on the left needle; pull the loops from the right needle out 2-2.5 inches with your fingers.  Place your finger in the loop and twist the loop until it fold over on itself.  Place the loop on the left needle and k the 2 stitches together.

NOTE:  To watch your little lamb come to life, it will be sewn together as you create it.  Directions are in bold italics.

Body: 

• Using MC and dpns, cast on 9 stitches, K one row, then divide evenly on three needles (3 stitches per needle)
• Round 1:  kfb in each stitch (6 stitches per needle)
• Round 2:  K
• Round 3:  kfb in each stitch (12 stitches per needle)
• Rounds 4-6: k
• Round 7:  (k2, kfb) repeat to end of the round (16 stitches per needle)
• Round 8:  k
• Round 9:  (k3, kfb) repeat to end of the round (20 stitches per needle)
• Rounds 10 - 12:  k
• Round 13:  (k4, kfb) repeat to end of the round (24 stitches per needle)
• Round 14 - 16:  k
• Round 17:  (k5, kfb) repeat to end of the round (28 stitches per needle)
• Round 18 - 20:  k
• Round 21:  (k6, kfb) repeat to end of the round (32 stitches per needle)
• Place a stitch marker on Round 21; continue on dpns or switch to circular needle and k all round until body measures 3 inches from the stitch marker
• 
  

Decrease rounds:

• Round 1:  (k6, k2tog) repeat to end of the round (28 stitches per needle)
• Round 2:  (k5, k2tog) repeat to end of the round (24 stitches per needle)
• Rounds 3 - 11: k; change back to dpns on round 11
• Round 12:  (k4, k2tog) repeat to end of the round (20 stitches per needle)
• Round 13:  (k3, k2tog) repeat to end of the round (16 stitches per needle)
• Rounds 14 - 25:  k
• Round 26:  (k2, k2tog) repeat to end of the round (12 stitches per needle)
• Thread the tail from the cast on edge and sew hole at the bottom.  Weave in end, then stuff with fiberfill.
• Round 27:  k
• Round 28:  (k1, k2tog) repeat to end of the round (8 stitches per needle)
• Round 29:  k
• Round 30:  (k2tog) repeat to end of the round (4 stitches per needle)
• Finish stuffing firmly, gently stretch the neckline to shape.
• Round 31:  (k1, k2tog, k1) repeat to end of the round (3 stitches per needle)
• Cut the yarn, leaving a ten inch tail to sew the head on later.  Pull through the remaining 9 stitches and gather to close hole.  Stitch to secure.

Head:

• Using MC and dpns, cast on 9 stitches, K one row, then divide evenly on three needles (3 stitches per needle)
• Round 1:  kfb in each stitch (6 stitches per needle)
• Round 2 - 3:  K
• Round 4:  kfb in each stitch (12 stitches per needle)
• Rounds 5-7: k
• Round 8  (k2, kfb) repeat to end of the round (16 stitches per needle)
• Round 9:  k
• Round 10:  (k3, kfb) repeat to end of the round (20 stitches per needle)
• Thread the tail from the cast on edge and sew hole at the bottom.  Stitch to secure
• Rounds 11 - 24: k

Decrease rounds:

• Round 1:  (k3, k2tog) repeat to end of the round (16 stitches per needle)
• Round 2:  k
• Round 3:  (k2, k2tog) repeat to end of the round (12 stitches per needle)
• Rounds 4 - 5: Change to CC, then k
• Round 6:  (k1, k2tog tbl, k6, k2tog, k1) repeat to end of the round (10 stitches per needle)
• Rounds 7 - 12:  k
• Round 13:  (k3, k2tog) repeat to end of the round (8 stitches per needle)
• Stuff firmly, gently stretching to shape muzzle..
• Rounds 14:  k
• Round 15:  (k2, k2tog) repeat to end of the round (6 stitches per needle)
• Round 16:  (k1, k2tog) repeat to end of the round (4 stitches per needle)
• Finish stuffing firmly.
• Round 17:  (k1, k2tog, k1) repeat to end of the round (3 stitches per needle)
• Cut the yarn, leaving a tail to pull through the remaining 9 stitches and gather to close hole.  Stitch to secure.  Weave ends inside head.
• Using a color of your choice, take a couple of stitches for each eye and nose accent, using photo as a guide.  I gently shape the head to make the muzzle more pronounced.
• Whipstitch the head to the body using tail from the top of the neck.  I usually go around at least twice to make sure the head is secure.

Legs:  (make 4 pieces)

• Using MC and dpns, cast on 24 stitches, leaving a ten inch tail.
• K one row, then divide evenly on three needles (8 stitches per needle)
• Knit every round until piece measures 5" from the cast on edge
• Change to CC to begin the hoof:
• Round 1:  (k1, m1, k6, m1, k1) on each needle (10 stitches per needle)
• Round 2 - 7:  k
• Round 8:  p
• Rounds 9: k
• Round 10:  (k3, k2tog) repeat to end of the round (8 stitches per needle)
• Round 11:  (k2, k2tog) repeat to end of the round (6 stitches per needle)
• Round 12:  k
• Round 13:  (k1, k2tog) repeat to end of the round (4 stitches per needle)
• Round 14:  (k1, k2tog, k1) repeat to end of the round (3 stitches per needle)
• Cut the yarn, leaving a tail to pull through the remaining 9 stitches and gather to close hole.  Stitch to secure.  Weave ends inside hoof.
• Stuff firmly with fiberfill, then whipstitch the top of the leg closed.  Using the photo as a guide, whipstitch the legs to the body.

Outer Ears:  (make 2 pieces)

• Beginning at lower edge with MC or CC, leaving a ten inch tail, cast on 10 stitches
• Beginning with a k row, St st for 4 rows
• Increase row 1:  k1, m1, k to the last stitch, m1, k1 (12 stitches)
• Increase row 2:  p
• Next row:  repeat increase row (14 stitches)
• Beginning with a p row, continue in St st for 13 rows
• Decrease row 1:  k1, k2tbl, k to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1 (12 stitches)
• Row 2:  p
• Row 3:  repeat row 1 (10 stitches)
• Row 4:  p1, p2tog, p to the last 3 stitches, p2tog, p1 (8 stitches)
• Row 5:  k1, k2tbl, k2, k2tog, k1 (six stitches)
• Row 6:  p1, p2tog twice, p1 (4 stitches)
• Row 7:  k2tbl, k2tog (2 stitches)
• Row 8:  p2tog (1 stitch)
• Cut the yarn and pull through remaining stitch, then weave into the wrong side of the work at the tip of the ear.

Inner Ears:  (make 2 pieces)

• Beginning at lower edge with pink yarn, leaving a ten inch tail, cast on 8 stitches
• Beginning with a k row, St st for 2 rows
• Increase row 1:  k1, m1, k to the last stitch, m1, k1 (10 stitches)
• Increase row 2:  p
• Next row:  repeat increase row (12 stitches)
• Beginning with a p row, continue in St st for 13 rows
• Decrease row 1:  k1, k2tbl, k to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1 (10 stitches)
• Row 2:  p
• Row 3:  repeat row 1 (8 stitches)
• Row 4:  p1, p2tog, p to the last 3 stitches, p2tog, p1 (6 stitches)
• Row 5:  k1, k2tbl, k2tog, k1 (4 stitches)
• Row 6:  p2tog twice (2 stitches)
• Row 7:  k2tog (1 stitch)
• Cut the yarn and pull through remaining stitch, then weave into the wrong side of the work at the tip of the ear.

Place inner ear into outer ear, purl sides facing and tips touching.  Pin in place, then using the tail from the inner ear, sew the lower edge in place (there will be two rows of the outer ear still showing), then sew along outside edge of inner ear, tucking the stitches inside the curled edge of the outer ear.  Weave in pink yarn.

Fold the ear in half at the lower end, sew into place and take a few stitches up the inside of the ear until you reach the inner ear.  Whipstitch onto the head, slightly down-turned (see picture for guidance).  Weave in end of yarn inside the head.

Curly Top:

• Using 2 dpns like straight needles, using MC or CC, cast on 10 stitches
• Row 1:  TLst in every stitch
• Row 2: K
• Repeat rows 1 and 2 four or five times, depending on your preference, ending with row 1
• Bind off in K
• Attach the curly top on the head between the ears, attaching the back seam, then taking a few stitches underneath to tack it down securely.

Curly Tail:

• Using 2 dpns like straight needles, using MC or CC, cast on 6 stitches
• Row 1:  TLst in every stitch
• Row 2: K
• Repeat rows 1 and 2 three times, ending with row 1
• Bind off in K
• Fold tail in half then sew it to the back of the lamb between the hind legs, taking a few stitches underneath to tack it down securely.

Optional Collar:

• Using 2 dpns like straight needles, use any color yarn and cast on 5 stitches
• Make an I-Cord approx. 9" long
• Cast off in K, thread the yarn through the remaining stitch and pull tightly.  Weave in end.
• Fold cast on end of collar approx. 1 - 1.5 inches and tack into place on the collar to make a loop.
• Place the collar around the lamb and loop into place.
• You can also use a small piece of ribbon and make a little bow tie.