thoughtful knitting and some progress updates

Some of you may have noticed the 2 latest projects on the sidebar: the alpaca prayer shawl and the prayer socks. A couple of weeks ago my 17 yr. old cousin was diagnosed with a very scary life-threatening disease. It has been terrible to imagine this coming out of nowhere for a young man who is an amazingly talented pianist and no doubt has a bright future. The prayer shawl is for his mother, my aunt, because as a mother I can not imagine the strength it takes to help your child through an ordeal like this. I'm using Miner Creek Alpaca for its softness and just doing a very basic triangle garter-stitch shawl. And the prayer socks are for my cousin, because I just feel the need to knit for him and a shawl isn't quite appropriate. I'm planning to use some nice hand-dyed superwash merino by Fiber Denn. Please send your positive thoughts and prayers their way in these next difficult few months.

I still have no FOs to report, so I'm just breaking down to give you a bunch of pictures of the progress of my WIPs. First up? Teddy Bear Sweater:

Back, right front, both sleeves, and half of left front finished. Remaining: half of left front and collar.

Next, OSU socks for my Dad and my HollYarns socks:

I bought the OSU yarn from Lavender Sheep because it's the colors of the OSU Beavers (my undergrad alma mater, and my Dad's as well). These were supposed to be a Father's Day present, but they weren't even started by Father's Day. They really only need to be done by football season, rather by the COLD part of football season (my parents have season tickets).  Of the HollYarns socks: one completed, one remaining.

Oh! I did finish some socks for Campbell that I never put on the sidebar or wrote about! She picked out this pink Opal Rainforest (this color is now sold out) from my remnants stash and got a quickie pair of socks:

Last, and least, the Brown Blob (AKA the Phyllo Yoked Pullover from Knitting Nature). Slowly growing . . .

Comments

[Destiny]

OMG!! Friend I think we may have your cousin on the prayer chain at church. Not many 15-17 yr old boys in the local area. I will keep praying. This disease hits close to home for me. Nice project progress too.

[Yvonne]

I'm so sorry to hear about your cousin. It just has been a crazy summer all around this year.

[kaetlyn]

both socks are great...i love both colorways! aplastic anemia is a tough diagnosis...i hope that the prayer shawl can work its magic and help his family find some comfort...

[Sarah]

Very sorry about the bad news. I am sending my positive thoughts to you family.

[Mokihana]

I am so sorry about your cousin; how wonderful of you to make a shawl for his mom, too, not to mention the socks for him. I'm sure your love and care went into every stitch.

[terri]

My SIL was diagnoised with that disease almost ten years ago. She had experimental equine antigen theraphy at the National Institute of Health, today she is in remission and has two children. Do not give up hope, treatments are available.

[leslie]

Oh, I will keep you and your cousin in my thoughts!
The shawl is lovely, and so sweet.......

Adorable socks for campbell!