This is the soap sack that I made for my Mom for Mother’s Day. I thought this was one of the most nifty ideas…it’s a drawstring bag perfect for little slivers of soap. You can actually lather through it and the drawstring is long enough to hang over the shower head! My Mom loved it!
I’m grateful to Darlene who runs Heartlight Knitalongs on Yahoo Groups for giving me permission to print her pattern here.
Today, I’m just going to print the actual knitting instructions but if you choose to knit the soap sack, you will need to join the group to get the sewing instructions or email me and I can send them to you! I would like to see a picture of your finished sack! You might even get a guest pic in the blog!! : )
May KAL
Happy Mother’s Day
Yarn: 100% cotton
Needles: 4.5mm (or 5.mm)
Gauge: not important
Cast on 17 stitches
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: k2, yo, k5, s1k2tog-psso, k5, yo, k2
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: k2, yo, k5, s1k2tog-psso, k5, yo, k2
Row 6: Purl
Row 7: k2, yo, k5, s1k2tog-psso, k5, yo, k2
Row 8: Purl
Row 9: k2, yo, k5, s1k2tog-psso, k5, yo, k2
Row 10: Purl
Row 11: k2, yo, (k2tog)x3, k1 (k2tog)x3, yo k2,
Row 12: purl 4, M1, p1, m1, p3, m1, p1, m1, p4
Row 13: Cast on 15 more stitches then
K17, yo, k5, s1k2tog-psso, k5, yo, k2
Row 14: Purl
Row 15: K17, yo, k5, s1k2tog-psso, k5, yo, k2
Row 16: Purl
Row 17: K17, yo, k5, s1k2tog-psso, k5, yo, k2
Row 18: Purl
Row 19: k2, (yo, k2tog) x6, k3, yo, k5, s1k2tog-psso, k5, yo, k2
Row 20: Purl
Row 21: K17, yo, k5, s1k2tog-psso, k5, yo, k2
Row 22: Purl
Row 23: K17, yo, k5, s1k2tog-psso, k5, yo, k2
Row 24: Purl
Row 25: K17, yo, k5, s1k2tog-psso, k5, yo, k2
Row 26: Purl
Row 27: K17, yo, k5, s1k2tog-psso, k5, yo, k2
Row 28: Purl
Row 29: K17, yo, k5, s1k2tog-psso, k5, yo, k2
Row 30: Purl
Row 31: K17, yo, k5, s1k2tog-psso, k5, yo, k2
Row 32: Purl
Row 33: K17, yo, k5, s1k2tog-psso, k5, yo, k2
Row 34: Purl
Row 35: K17, yo, k5, s1k2tog-psso, k5, yo, k2
Row 36: Purl
Row 37: k1, (yo, k2tog) 15 times, k1
Row 38: Purl
Row 39: Knit
Row 40: Purl
Bind off in knit and leave an 18 inch thread. Follow diagrams to sew the sack. (See photo section) make a twisted cord and thread through the holes; secure and give to mom. Mom’s Soap Sack, copyright 2006 Darlene Cutler
Now, if in case you don’t know what all these little symbols mean…knitting is definitely a skill that you want to learn. It is so much fun and the items that you can create are both beautiful and functional! Give it a try!
On to other things….I woke up yesterday just knowing that this was going to be a great week for us. My children asked why I felt this way and I told them that I just had a feeling. I even went so far as to list a few things that would be happening. “Daddy’s business is going to pick way up, we’re going to try some new things, and someone is even going to get a letter from their pen pal!” ….we’ve been waiting for awhile for a return letter. Wouldn’t you know it! Yesterday was awesome! Paul had a wonderful day, I tried something new (I’ll explain in just a minute) and Courtney did actually get a letter from a pen pal! She came in from the mailbox a little surprised to say the least! I’m believing the same for today. I can’t wait to see what the day brings!
O.K., I mentioned something new….as you know, a couple of weeks back, I made a wreath for my wall with honeysuckle vines. It’s all dried out now and I’m getting lots of compliments on it so I decided that I wanted to make another. I went out to gather my honeysuckle and realized that we were disturbing a little bird sitting on her nest. We decided to leave her alone for now and opt for using privet limbs instead. Still very flexible, definitely longer, I was unsure of how strong they would be for weaving.
I brought them into the house, stripped the leaves, boiled them for two hours. The first thing that I noticed was that the bark is much harder to strip but overall the limbs seem to weave in just about the same manner. They are definitely thicker than honeysuckle so you have to be careful not to over bulk your project in one area, but other than that they seem to be O.K. I finished another wreath, this time for my front door, and started a basket. It’s looking pretty nice so far, I’ll post a picture of this too, when it’s finished drying.
I have been asked why I would spend so much of my time working on projects of this nature. I would have to say that as the manager of my home, I believe that it is my responsibility, and honor, to create the best home for my family that I possibly can. This means many things but among those are to make the most with what I have. I have to go about my daily tasks with the understanding that it is within these walls the foundations of my children’s lives will be built. I must also realize it is my place to bring my husband good (see Proverbs 31:12). I should be actively working to further his projects, praying for him consistently, and making the most of the resources he works so hard to provide for our family.
With all of that said, this is an excerpt from one of the pet projects that I hope to have completed and ready for distribution before the end of the summer. It is from “The Frugal Housewife”:
“The true economy of housekeeping is simply the art of gathering up all the fragments, so that nothing be lost. I mean fragments of time, as well as materials. Nothing should be thrown away so long as it is possible to make any use of it, however trifling that use may be; and whatever be the size of a family, every member should be employed either in earning or saving money.”
This is off topic, but I would also like to mention that after speaking to our business mentor, he suggested that we ask others around us for referrals for sales people. He was really excited about our business model and said that it would be an awesome opportunity for someone in sales who “is looking for something better”. If you know someone who would be a fit, please ask them to give us a call!
Prayer Requests:
Stacy McDonald of Homeschooling Today magazine. She’s been battling an infection on her foot that had the potential for becoming quite serious. Please pray for her continued recovery.
Jacob Greenlaw is having minor surgery on his mouth this morning.
Kimberly Greenlaw who is still not feeling totally well these days.
I’ve been battling a slight virus over the last few days…please pray for a quick healing process for me.
My Grandmother goes for her cast today (I originally thought it was yesterday). My uncle will be taking her to live with him following this appointment. I’m sure that it will be a difficult transition for her to live with him at first but in the long run, it’s going to be better off for her, I’m sure.
Today, I’m Thankful For:
So many wonderful things happening yesterday.
Ben is starting to go potty all by himself!
The items that I’m able to create at low or no cost to our family.
Time spent playing with my precious Emma this morning before others were awake in my home.
The progress that we’re making in training our parakeet.
Tracy’s Task:
Yesterday, you filled in the gifts that you would like to make for others for the holidays…today, you are going to start thinking toward creating a holiday planner. This will be the first addition. I always keep mine in a folder that has the three prongs in the middle. That allows me the pockets on the front and back to store recipes and receipts and I can add or take away paper as I would like. So girls, find your folder or binder and lets work on planning for upcoming holidays so that it doesn’t pile up on us last minute!
What I’m Learning:
Little Jiffy Greenhouse with tiny growing plants labeled with paper labels left in the rain over the weekend (the plants are getting too big to keep the lid on now)….bad thing. Now we are left with a tray full of little vines…the only two that we can really identify are the lavender and tomatoes….we’re going to have more fun than I originally thought with our gardening this year. Our first objective will be to correctly identify the growing plants! UGH!
Today’s Scripture Meditation:
2 Chr 7:14
“…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
(NIV)
