With the change in my business and personal life, this blog will change, too. I'm going to be adding more personal anecdotes and information to the blog. Not just knitting news, but news from me and my family.

One thing that's been weighing heavily on me is the story from a friend. Heather Ledeboer is the owner of Mom4Life, an online boutique for products for the journey of motherhood. This past weekend, she gave birth to her son, who was stillborn. His heart stopped beating over a week before his birth. I can't imagine how I would get through such a challenging situation. Heather has taught me the grace and strength she is sharing with the world comes from Christ. Her faith is amazing, and I just wish that my own faith is strong enough to hold me through whatever life brings. Her story is chronicled on her blog. I encourage you to read it - but have a box of tissues nearby.

As my newsletter subscribers know, I've been doing some soul-searching and life changing lately. I have decided to accept a position with the new NASA Orion program to return to the moon. No, I won't personally be going there. I'll be working with a group of engineers developing and testing the abort system so if there is a rocket anomaly at launch, the crew can abort and (hopefully) return home safely.

I don't foresee any major changes to be still & knit as you know it. The biggest change will be that I am no longer going to offer handmade items at craft shows and retail boutiques. If you are interested in a class or party, I am still available to schedule at your convenience. I will also continue to offer handmade items through my website.

I joined about 300 other knitters to see Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (the Yarn Harlot) at the Tattered Cover bookstore in Highlands Ranch. It was a wonderful evening, and to top it off, Stephanie signed my copy of her latest book.

Check out her blog entry and read about the great knitters who were there. Plus, you can see me in her famous "traveling sock photos." I copied the photo here with an arrow to show my tiny head....

Did you receive a be still & knit baby gift? What do you think of our products? If you think what we have to offer is adorable, essential, or just a plain good idea, please tell Oprah!

I am so excited! I was featured on the Weekend Entrepreneur Magazine blog today!

Author Michelle Anton interviewed me and posted the story on her site. I am thrilled to be able to share my story with aspiring entrepreneurs.

Thanks to all my readers, students, and customers for all your support in making be still & knit a success.

I'd appreciate your taking the time to stop by the blog and add your comments about your experiences with me and be still & knit!

This pattern is a free one that I've had in the webstore for a while, but I wanted to get it out here on the blog so more people would take a look at it. I finally gave up my shawl to my daughter, but am thinking that I need to make myself another one....

Anyway, I designed this shawl with a rippled chevron pattern of purl stitches. It's originally made from JoAnn's Rainbow Boucle held double stranded, but any bulky yarn would work. It's supposed to be a shawl to wear around your shoulders during all those midnight feedings. I made it wider and shorter than the average shawl to keep shoulders warm and stay out of the way of little ones.

Here's the pattern in .pdf

I was so inspired by the hat at Knitty that has the flower top, that I worked to create one of my own. I've put the instructions here for anyone to take a look. The pattern is written for baby size, but you should be able to resize it if you want.

This is a great hat for using up stash. It takes less than 25 yards per color! The top is made in a chocolate brown so that it looks like dirt, and the three flowers on top can be whatever color you like.

I think this is a great hat for boys or girls. Just choose the colors to suit the gender or the outfit.

These instructions have not been checked for errors, so please let me know if you find any!

With white, cast on 72 sts. Being careful to avoid twisting, join in the round.
Round 1: Purl
Round 2: Attach CC1, *K1 with white, K1 with CC1 repeat from * to end of round.
Round 3: *Sl1wyib (white sts), P1 with CC1, repeat from * to end of round
Round 4: *K1 with white, K1 with CC1, repeat from * to end of round
Round 5: Repeat round 4
Round 6: Repeat round 4

I was browsing the web today and ran across this pattern for the cutest little crochet basket. She has been using them for diapers and baby things, which is an absolutely perfect thing! This may become my next baby shower gift idea. Please go check out her blog and enjoy crocheting!

I challenged you at the beginning of the year to commit to knitting and living fearlessly this year. How are you doing with your end of the challenge? Stop by the website and take the poll. Let me know what you're doing and see what others are doing, as well!

I'm starting a new feature in my newsletter in February. I've been getting so many requests to re-start the Musings of a Peaceful Knitter podcast. I just can't commit to the time and bandwidth requirements for podcasting, but I am going to start a new feature in the newsletter.

Starting February 1, each edition of the newsletter will have a Peaceful Knitting Knook with a thought for you to contemplate over the upcoming two weeks. It may be a thought related to knitting, crocheting, crafting, or eating. It may be a question to stimulate your personal growth or a question to encourage you to make changes in your professional life.

I'm also planning to open up the Peaceful Knitting Knook blog where you can comment on each question as it is posted. Stay tuned, and subscribe to the newsletter to start creating more peaceful and mindful knitting time!