Knit Christmas Stocking

 This is a family tradition where each child got a stocking knit with their name on it. The full pattern including charts is available for free at: 

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/jumbo-santa-claus-stocking 

Below is the pattern written out, meant to be used in accompaniment with the charts.

​CHRISTMAS ​STOCKING

​1 PAIR ​#6 NEEDLES OR ​5 M​​​M

​1 SET OF 4 SOCK NEEDLES SIZE 6 OR 5 MM

2 BALLS WHITE YARN

1 BALL RED YARN

1 BALL PINK YARN

1 BALL BLACK YARN

1 BALL GREEN YARN

WITH LON​G NEEDL​ES CA​ST ON​ 59 STITCHES.IN RED.

​K1,P1 FOR 10 ROWS

​STOCKING ST IN WHITE FOR 4 ROWS

CONTINUE IN WHITE STOCKING ST & BEGIN WHITE IN RED - 10 ROWS TOTAL (10 ROWS HIGH AND 7 STS WIDE FOR EACH OF THE LETTERS)

CENTRE NAME

AFTER LETTERS, STOCKING ST IN WHITE FOR 4 ROWS

​THEN DO GREEN & WHITE THEN DO GREEN FOR 4 ROWS

BEGIN SANTAS PATTERN AS PER GRAPH

AFTER SANTAS, DO 12 ROWS OF GREEN STOCKING STITCH & THEN 4 ROWS OF WHITE STOCKING ST.

bEGIN CANDY CANES AS PER GRAPH 

AT THE END OF THE 13TH ROW DIVIDE WORK ON 3 NEEDLES. PUT 15 ST ON NEEDLE 1, 29 STS ON NEEDLE 2, 15 STS ON NEEDLE 3

CONTINUING ON CENTER 29 STS, COMPLETE THE CANDY CANES. 

DO 4 ROWS OF WHITE STOCKING STITCH

PUT 30 HEEL STS ON ONE NEEDLE

WORK IN STOCKING ST IN WHITE FOR 2" ENDING ON KNIT ROW

1) P1, P15, P2TOG, P1, TURN

2) K3, SL1, K1, PSSO, K1, TURN

3) P4, P2TOG, P1, TURN

4) K5, SL1, K1, PSSO, K1, TURN

5) P6, P2TOG, P1, TURN

G) K7, SL1, K1, PSS0, K1, TURN

7) P8, P2TOG, P1, TURN

8) K9, SL1, K1, PSSO, K1, TURN

9) P10, P2TOG, P1, TURN

10) K11, SL1, K1, PSSO, K1, TURN

11) P12, P2TOG, P1, TURN

12) K13, SL1, K1, PSSO, K1, TURN

13) P14, P2TOG, P1, TURN

14) K15, SL1, K1, PSSO, K1 - 16 STS ON NEEDLE

CUT YARN

CAST ON 13 STS. K THESE 13 STS & 16 HEEL STS AND CASE ON 13 MORE - TOTAL 42 STS

​

1) K1, PURL TO LAST ST K1

2) K1, K2TOGH, K TO LAST 3 STS, SL1, K1, PSSO, K1

REPEAT THESE 2 ROWS TO 26 STS ON NEEDLE

WORK IN STOCKING ST TILL FRON IS SAME LENGTH AS BACK

CHANGE TO RED YARN & PROCEED ON 4 NEEDLES

3RD NEEDLE - K13, 2ND NEEDLE - K29, 1ST NEEDLE - K13: (55 STS TOTAL)

WORK IN STOCKING STITCH FOR 2"

CHANGE TO GREEN YARN & WORK 6 ROWS IN STOCKING ST.

SHAPE TOE 

REARRANGE STITCHES 1ST NEEDLE: 14 STITCHES, 2ND NEEDLE 27 STITCHES, 3RD NEEDLE 14 STITCHES

1) 1ST NEEDLE - KNIT TO LAST 3 STS, K2TOG, K1, 

2ND NEEDLE: K1, SL1, K1, PSSO, KNIT TO LAST 3 STS, K2 TOG, K1, 

THIRD NEEDLE:K1, SL1, K1, PSSO KNIT TO END OF NEEDLE

2) KNIT ACROSS ALL NEEDLES

REPEAT THESE 2 ROWS TILL 15 STS REMAIN

KNIT THE STS OF 1ST NEEDLE ONTO THE END OF 3RD NEEDLE.

BREAK YARN LEAVING A 12" STRANGE

GRAFT TOE

PRESS

SEW HEEL TOGETHER

SEW BACK SEAM

SEW ON 3 JINGLE BELLS ON GREEN POINTS

Below are charts that my Mother and Aunt did that help for placement but you can just use the original pattern if you prefer. You can see how old these papers are!

The Simple Morning Drink / Tonic That Keeps Me Slim and Regular

 Jumpstart Your Gut Health with My Morning Breakfast Drink

Support digestion, reduce bloat, and even lose weight—naturally

Have you ever woken up feeling sluggish, bloated, or just “off”? For years I battled with gut issues, and through lots of research (and a little trial and error), I’ve found one simple, natural practice that has made a huge difference in how I feel all day long.

It’s my go-to morning breakfast drink—a natural tonic you sip first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Trust me, it’s not just about hydration. This drink helps your gut become more acidic—which is exactly what you want to properly digest food, reduce bloating, ease constipation, and even support healthy weight loss.

Let me walk you through what’s in it and why it works.

---

🌿 My Morning Breakfast Drink Recipe

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup filtered water

• ½ to 1 tsp apple cider vinegar (with the "mother")

• ½ to 1 tsp fresh lemon juice

• ¼ cup magnesium water (optional)

• A good splash of kombucha (optional)

• A pinch of sea salt or sole water (optional)

---

🧠 Why This Drink Works

• Apple Cider Vinegar: Supports stomach acid production, helps with digestion, balances blood sugar, and may curb appetite.

• Lemon Juice: Alkalizing effect on the body post-digestion, helps detox the liver, and is a great source of vitamin C.

• Magnesium Water: Excellent for muscle function, bowel regularity, and calming the nervous system.

• Kombucha: Natural probiotics to support a healthy gut microbiome.

• Sea Salt/Sole Water: Rich in trace minerals and helps the body absorb water more effectively.

---

🕰 How to Use It

Drink it first thing in the morning, before coffee, tea, or food.
✨ Do not eat or drink anything else for at least 30 minutes.
This gives your digestive system time to wake up and get to work before anything else enters the picture.

---

💡 A Few Notes:

• Start with less ACV or lemon juice if you’re new to this. You can always work your way up.

• Use a straw to protect your teeth from the acidity. This has never been an issue for me but some folks like to do this.

• Warm (not hot) water is great if cold is too harsh first thing in the morning. Personally, I love ice in my drink during the summer and warm in the winter.

---

👏 What I’ve Noticed

Since making this a part of my routine, I’ve noticed:

• Better digestion (no more feeling heavy after meals)

• Less bloating

• Clearer skin

• Improved elimination

• Even a bit of gentle weight loss—without changing anything else

It’s such a simple practice, but it can have powerful effects over time. And best of all? It’s completely natural.

---

✨ Try It and Let Me Know

If you try this drink for a week or two, I’d love to hear how it works for you! Everyone’s body is different, but sometimes the smallest habits lead to the biggest breakthroughs.

Here’s to healing from the inside out—naturally. 💛

Sunday Chat: Good Works or Not?? What the Bible Really Says About Salvation

God saved you by his grace when you believed.

 And you can’t take credit for this; 

it is a gift from God. 

Salvation is not a reward for the good things 

we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 

Ephesians 2:8-9 

 But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. 

Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven 

belongs to those who are like these children.”

Matthew 19:14

That even though we were dead because of our sins, 

he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. 

It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!

Ephesians 2:5 

 

Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. 

He did this through Christ Jesus 

when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 

Romans 3:24 

We believe that we are all saved the same way, 

by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” 

Acts 15:11 

But if it is by grace, it is no longer 

on the basis of works; 

otherwise grace would no longer be grace. 

Romans 11:6 

For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. 

He did this, not because we deserved it, 

but because that was his plan from before 

the beginning of time to show us his grace 

through Christ Jesus. 

2 Timothy 1:9 

Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, 

does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! 

Romans 6:15 

In the same way, let your light shine before others,

so that they may see your good works and 

give glory to your Father who is in heaven. 

Matthew 5:16 

And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, 

there will be great thanksgiving, 

and God will receive more and more glory. 

2 Corinthians 4:15 

This same Good News that came to you 

is going out all over the world. 

It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, 

just as it changed your lives from the day 

you first heard and understood the truth 

about God’s wonderful grace. 

Colossians 1:6 

 

And you yourself must be an example to them 

by doing good works of every kind. 

Let everything you do reflect the integrity 

and seriousness of your teaching. 

Teach the truth so that your teaching 

can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us 

will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us. 

Titus 2:7-8 

 

I have given you an example to follow. 

Do as I have done to you. 

John 3:15 

 In the same way, let your good deeds 

shine out for all to see, 

so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. 

Matthew 5:16