New to site but not to knitting or crocheting.

Hello all! I'm in my later 50's (really??) and have been married for 27 years to the best guy in the world. I'm disabled and no longer able to work as a registered nurse, which I did for 35 years. I'm pretty much confined to home and crochet and knit prayer shawls and lapghans for my church. I'm a one person pray shawl ministry! I'm thinking of starting a group prayer shawl ministry at my church.
I taught myself how to crochet the summer I was 12 and babysitting a lot. That is my main craft. I'm also trying to teach myself how to knit lacy looking items. So far it's just knit togs and yos, but I can still turn out some lovely items. I also use knitting boards which are fun, and cross stitch and bead on perforated paper, the kits made by Mill Hill.
Most of the yarn I use, along with needles, hooks, knitting boards and cross stitch kits comes from ebay. I guess I'm lucky because everything I've purchased has been as described or even much better!
I look forward to making friends on this site, and wish everyone a wonderful day!
nan

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Comment by nan ziegler on March 28, 2010 at 3:49pm: Hi all!!
decided to update you all. thank you for your comments!
I'm busy making strips of what really started out to be a couple of scarves, that I am making into an afghan, hopefully for me. I'm using Caron-simply soft in a sage-y green, off white, beige and chocolate brown. I've got 8 strips completed, 2 of each colour, and will make 2 more brown and 1 more off white. I'll then crochet all of them together and then put several rounds of edging around it all. I've also got a couple of shawls started, but have put those down until I finish the afghan. It is something I hope to take camping with me.

We have a pop-up camper. I do really like going, and spend quite a bit of time knitting or crocheting out in nature. Are there any other campers here???

Well, that's all that's going on in my life these days....

Comment by Linda R on February 20, 2010 at 8:46am: Hi, Nan. We have a prayer shawl ministry at church and can barely keep up with the demand. I know that the recipients of the shawls receive a lot of comfort from them. I have a friend who received one about two years ago when her husband died suddenly. She says she still takes her shawl and curls up with it for comfort on occasion. It would be wonderful if you could start a group in your church.
My great aunt taught me to knit when I was about nine and I taught my grandaughter when she was about that age. Of course, now she's fourteen and much too busy for such things...lol. My two daughters prefer crochet, but when I tried to teach myself I got tendonitis in the elbow. Guess I'd better stick to knitting:-) Take care,
Linda

Comment by nan ziegler on February 14, 2010 at 3:53pm: are you knitting with 4 needles then circular, or are you crocheting? I'm chicken to learn the 3 or 4 needle method, hence, I don't do socks. I'm also going to learn how to wirewrap beautiful stones that I've tumbled to turn the into pendants. I'm excited about that!
nan

Comment by Marsha on February 14, 2010 at 1:11pm: I'm finishing the 2nd baby blanket - just finish the fringe. I really enjoy making the blankets circular - it's different - & it's easy to wrap up!

Comment by nan ziegler on February 14, 2010 at 12:19pm: hi marsha!!!! You're right, there are all kinds of lacy type knitting and crocheting that can be done. I learned hairpin lace as a child, still have the loom, but haven't done it in years. I just started a triangle shawl from Debbie Macomber's Friendship Shawls book, and the adding on of stitches is done by adding 4 knit cast-on stitches every 4th row! The edges will be jagged looking which will be it's pattern.
I'm also making myself a blanket, using a scarf pattern in strips. the colours of: off white, beige, green and brown, I'll be cool lookin' I think. I often use scarf patterns, widen them to make prayer shawls.
What are other's working on, Marsha, Melissa??? nan

Comment by Marsha on February 14, 2010 at 10:05am: There are many ways to crochet lacy items, too. Have you ever tried hairpin lace? My husband's great aunt taught me how. It's put together in a variety of ways which effect the final look - from thick & close to very loose and airy. And of course the type of yarn affects the look as well. Try it!

Comment by Melissa Burnett on February 4, 2010 at 3:21pm: Welcome, Nan! You sure do keep busy! It is amazing that you are able to do so much with your prayer shawls. I think that starting a group at your church is a wonderful idea! I'm also glad that you mentioned EBAY for supplies. I never think to look there! Welcome to KnitIdeas.com and we can't wait to see some of your gorgeous projects!