Bright Wednesday Yarn Along

Holy Week as too busy to begin with to

work on my beautiful blanket.

It's still at section two of it being almost finished.

I did make about 4 or more washcloths,

not all pictured here.

*

As many of you know,

my beloved Mr. Husband and I are still

dealing with the sudden loss of Mr. Husband's 

adult godson, 

so everything is a bit of a blur.

I had gotten this lovely small icon of

Christ's Resurrection

at the Monastery I was at 

just a few weekends ago with my dear friend

and her sister.

I was going to use it in my Pascha basket

but with the extreme lack of sleep

and inward disorganization that hovers in grief,

I forgot. So next year, God willing.

But at least it is out now in our home 

and it is offering much beauty and consolation.

The hope in Christ and in His 

Resurrection is huge, esp in this unexpected time.

Thank God I had the house clean and set up for Bright Week

before I left.

And my friend gave me some beautiful Pascha eggs

that I have put around the house;

I hope to do a blog post about our Bright Paschal decorations

in our home.

*

I have not read books lately other than Holy Week Services.

*

I am going to be getting these two books though:

I read the one above years ago and 

it will be good to read it again.

I read the first edition of this years ago

when I was grieving the loss of a woman

who was like my first spiritual mother

who died when I was 21.

*

I am 38 now and I feel, with the 

grief I have worked through in the past and

with the prayers for the departed that we do as 

Orthodox Christians,

that I am better prepared to grieve in ways

that are more life-giving than

debilitating. 

That said, it's still a long road and I know that.

But the prayers alone have great healing power.

*

So about the yarn along button -

I can't seem to get it to work.

I have seen others use it but it just shows up as a

little jpeg box icon that you see when a picture is not

working. 

Any suggestions?

*

Do tell me what you are making and reading!

Yarn Along with us!

Yarn Along ~ Simple knit and a profound read

Doing some cream coloured wash clothes.
As I transition slowly but quickly into fall
(funny how transitions are!)
I have a lot of things that need tending...
so simple wash clothes is my go to knit for now!
*
I have begun the article in the latest Road to Emmaus:



I began the longer essay
A Feeling for Beauty: The Aesthetic Ground
of Orthodox Ethics 
when we were newly living in this home, before
my three weeks of kids-in-the-house
and then we had my wonderful visit of my parents-in-law and then
PEI and then Ottawa...
Meanwhile Mr. Husband was overseas for business and took
the journal with him and read this essay and began re-reading it,
he, like I, found it so very good.
It's astounding actually.
So good that we are thinking of getting extra copies
to share...
*
What are you reading and creating?
Yarn along with us!

Cowl update...

 

I have two life lines in my cowl
so that if I make a huge mistake I don't have to lose
everything.
*
My knitting teacher had to fix my knitting on it last week...
I had purled when I was not supposed to and such things...
I finally feel like I am getting it....
*
Mat. Emily, when I was telling her of my cowl difficulties,
suggested stitch markers,
and they have made all the difference!
*
I am making this for my Mom and
am excited that I got through all 24 rows of the pattern...
Much more to go but I am hopeful!
*
The slippers are also going well!

What a weekend... and here it is Tuesday afternoon!

It's been a whirlwind last days...
Friday drive up for liturgy,
Saturday at home,
Sunday drove up for liturgy
and stayed overnight,
as Mr. Husband had some business up there to do.
*
So I visited two friends from church yesterday;
we hung out in the small downtown of Princeton.
It's pretty there.
*
Saw this old cross stitch.


I found myself thinking about how
on a perfect Autumn day
with sunshine
that we don't always think or even want to think
about the fact
that our time on this earth
is so limited,
swept away like grass...

 

Here someone made this in centuries past
and it speaks of the same thing.
I do wish more people would remember
that we need our Dear Saviour
as this world will close for us
and another will open.
*
Meanwhile,
I am gearing up for my first of 4 knitting classes.
I was practicing doing stockinette
which kept alluding me.
*
Sunday night found me reading these short lines
from the lion brand website:
To figure out whether you should be knitting the row or purling the row, put your work in your left hand. 
Which side is facing you? 
If the V's are facing you, you are on the knit side and should knit the row. If the bumps are facing you, you are on the purl side, so purl the row. 
*
Suddenly I understood what I had been doing wrong.
When seeing the purl side, do that,
when seeing the knit side, do that,
while holding it in one's left hand.
*
I went to a yarn store and got a third tip on this topic:
see what side the yarn at the end of the row is hanging down
and that is the side you are working with now.
*
So suddenly I am doing stockinette with a sense of ease!
I knew I had to get this down, as
I hope to start on this cowl this month.
*
On other topics,
my post tea with a friend had the pictures
fail on it.
I fixed it if you'd like to see it properly...
*


Today
I was at my local church for the
new calendar feast of Holy Protection
as I would not be able to be at my far away
church for this feast in just under 2 weeks.
It was wonderful to be present for this feast,
one that I love dearly.
Blessed Feast today to all who celebrate it and love it!
*
Afterwards I have brunch and knitting with a dear local friend...
*
So, do tell me
what is new for you this day?

Remembering my Oma or what it means to love vintage today

My relatives from Canada came
with all their love and
while with them I finished this scarf
for the middle munchkin who is currently 4 years old.


I learned that my Oma crocheted.
I had forgotten that doilies are crocheted.
Why did I not have an interest in this earlier!?
I never asked my Oma how to do these things and
here I am trying to learn and she is
I pray praying for me with our Lord and Saviour
in the heavens... 

I just finished a bigger yellow square
like this one
for the September School Blanket.

It started with this ball of yarn.
*
I knew that I was honouring and remembering my Oma
by learning her craft of knitting.
*
I find myself hungry for stories of how Oma created.
How did she live?
What did she do?
Why did I not ask more?
*
I had once written down a lot of stories that she and Opa told us
on one of the last visits they had to Michigan
years ago.
I wrote them down in a blue and white journal.
I remember I wrote it with deep dark blue ink.
That journal has been lost for years now;
perhaps mistakenly thrown away in a
bedroom move when I was in my late teens/early 20s.
*
My Aunt talked about things she had from Oma,
lost now because of the fire that
burnt their house down a few years ago.
*
I find myself wanting to know
how to spend my days and everything is new for me
and yet I discover again
how I miss my Oma or
how I am grieving her
or how I am grieving a lost way of life
that so many of us are trying to recover.
*
I forget this somehow;
how grateful I am to have grown up a Christian
and now to belong to a Christian tradition of many centuries past.
I have thought often about how so many are into
crafts now,
rediscovered from our Grandparents time
and how vintage,
what was called retro a decade ago,
is in and how we love it.
I see it where I live.
I see it in the places I walk.
I see it in the churches that have
been here for a century
or more.
*
What I think many sadly do not realize is that
they are not just wanting the fashions of decades back,
or the precarious peace,
or the seemingly more simple times...
*
Yes, we are looking for more organic living,
Yes, we are looking for a kinder way to live, more sustainable,
more responsible,
more loving to the earth we walk on.
And yes, we want beauty, we want to create,
we want to go back to good ways of non-disposable things
that are not just used and thrown away.
*
We are looking for all this but MORE, so much more.
We are looking for the paths of peace.
We are looking for a way forward.
We are looking for clues, even in snatches, of how to live.
We are looking for ways to raise our families
and have a way of life that will make our children
able to survive the tragedy of life,
to have the wisdom to know how to navigate life
and above all, to have a sense of meaning,
a inward motion and purpose that is
not failing or wavering.
And for this
I remained convinced
we need the Church.
*
It is the Lord Christ and the way of life that
He puts forward for us to live in.
It is a path, a way of life
that brings health to the bones,
inward and steady peace
and a clear eye.
*
It is this that the crave and love for vintage,
for my Oma and her love of the Lord Christ,
it is for all this that we are searching
far and wide for.
*
It is this Christ that we must pray to and seek to
pray to as we raise our children.
As we knit scarves, blankets and socks.
It is Christ's mercy and way of life
that is sought for,
even for those who are yet unknowing of the One
who they so desperately searching for...

Picking up Stitches

I used this video to learn about
picking up stitches.
*
However,
upon watching it,
I began without looking at other videos
and thought I understood how it was done.
*
I made a few mistakes.
*
First,
I did not knit as I went along,
which this video suggests.
*
I gathered the stitches,
got the added thread through the stitches and
thought this is what I needed to do.

I remembered
them saying to pick a stitch two or three
in from the top...
So I did this and, once I knit past the picked up stitches,
 it created a ridge instead of a
smooth transition:


The ridge is from top to bottom on that side.

So that is now the bottom side of the blanket.
I am not expecting perfection from myself
yet as I am still new to knitting.
And I find that while I do frog things back,
sometimes I would rather just have the finished result
show where I am in the process and be part of what
becomes the uniqueness of it.

So then I decided to try again for the other side,
as this blanket is blue with a yellow boarder.

 

I got it much better and there is very little seam
left at the end.
However I found that the fabric is a bit stretched.
*
I am going to be doing more research on
how to get better at picking up stitches as
it is a very important knitting technique!
I feel like with this blanket
I am turning a corner in my knitting!
*
I still hope to do a yellow duck in the centre!
Any and all suggestions on how to do this welcome!
Also any suggestions or things I can look at
regarding picking up stitches,
do let me know!
I am so excited to learn!
And to show you the finished baby blanket!

Knitting and my Oma

 Couldn't resist re-posting one
of my blanket in process pictures!
I've sewn some more since my
post on this yesterday!
I'm really happy about this blanket! 

 

 As I was talking with my Mom...
about my Oma, her Mom.
*
So I was telling my Mom about how I like
to buy inexpensive or on sale yarn.
And I asked her,
Oma did not buy expensive yarn, right?
Oh no, my Mom assured me...
She would go to thrift stores to find sweaters
and Opa would unravel them while she
balled up the yarn....
*
I already knew that people would go to garage sales
and get yarn for her...
people often gave her yarn...
she always made beautiful things!
*
I knew when I began knitting that I wanted to be like
my Oma...
I remember her making her own balls of yarn,
knitting all the time
while conversation was going on around her,
and that she was frugal but still made
lovely things.
*
I am thinking that someday I may want to frog a
sweater or two from a thrift store...
I already am thinking of a dark green sweater from
years ago that I got ride of that
would of been perfect for this!
*
My Oma and Opa would of been
much better at some of the things I am doing
(like my uneven stitches)
but as much as I can
I'd really like to be like my Oma...
*
If you knit or crochet or like to make things,
how do you do things affordable?
Any tips on frogging a thrifted sweater?
Other tips?
Would love to know and hear your stories!
Do tell!!! :)

Another first ~ knitting a hat ~ plus blankets, scarves, dish cloths

A friend from my far-away church
is teaching me how to knit a hat
in a round!
*
I got a 16 inch cord, size 7 needles
and some (on clearance) Romanian wool
and I cast on 88 stitches and my
friend joined them together and knit the
first row.

I've knit more than an inch already!
It's fun that in a round I can do the garter stitch
and it turns into stockinette. :)

It's a very enjoyable knit!

I am almost done with another scarf.
Ravelry here.

Knitting a dish cloth for a friend.
I am going to have to frog a bit of it as
I made a few mistakes a row or so back...
Ravelry here.

I recently finished two baby blankets.
The story of the one above is here and
is teaching me acceptance of how things are.
Ravelry here.

This is the second one I knit.
Story here.
Raverly here.

 

I am still loving
The Hidden Art of Homemaking
by Edith Schaeffer!
*
I am reading it out of order,
since they are separate chapters on various
art and homemaking themes.
I really appreciated the chapter on Interior Decoration and
not waiting until one has their 'dream home'
to decorate and make things one's home.
Her tips on how to do things with creativity and
frugality are really wonderful
as is her section on when traveling take
a few familiar things with oneself for a sense of
continuity and how it is esp. important
for children who are traveling to have this.
*
For sure Edith would have loved the
movement in arts and crafts that we
are part of here,
knitting, crocheting and making beautiful
handmade things for our homes,
our families and for others.
*
What are you creating and reading?
Yarn Along with us!

Baby Blanket # 3

I had two friends
who were having babies this summer.
As a new knitter
I've been so excited to make baby blankets for them!

Here is my third baby blanket.

I was so excited for it and found it
to be a great knitted blanket...

I was so excited!
I had time (unlike the other blanket I did)
to wash it...
I put it on delicate cycle, used wool-lite and cold water.

When it came out
it was like a different blanket.

Instead of being a blanket that was
more tightly knit with a 'cushy' feel,
it has stretched. 

It's still a nice blanket
but it lost something by washing it...

I've been assured that it will still be
put to good use.

 

I am thinking next time that I will
knit on smaller needles.
*
Though the blanket changed,
it was soft if a bit thinner than before.
*
I guess it is like life,
we try our best with what we know,
what we have and then we have to leave the outcome
to God and appreciate what the result is.
*
This blanket did not turn out as I thought
but I fixed it up as best I could
(ends had come back out, unraveling)
and it is a more delicate blanket now.
*
And so it is,
life and knitting and seeing how things are
and being thankful for what one has.
*
Ravelry here.

Easter/Bright Week Baby Blanket

A while back I finished
the Easter & Bright Week Baby Blanket.
Here are some pictures when it was done but
ends not woven in yet.

Each knitted item,
one of my friends reminded me,
is unique.

This one has lots of green.

I enjoyed knitting it with the happy
anticipation of a baby girl being born and having it.

I gave it to the mother before
the baby was born...

A baby's birth I always find to be a real
act of faith and of hope.

It was a joy to knit because of
the happiness I felt for the parents.

 

I love making things to give to others!
*
Ravelry here.

Great Day Today

I finished this new square for my
Yarn Quilt.
*
I went swimming this morning with a friend at an outdoor pool!
*
In the afternoon I went to a new to me yarn store and
got this book:
The Knitter's Year
which was not just lovely things to work towards
learning how to make
but beautiful photographs as well.
*
And then Mr. Husband came home and we went out to eat!
A fish day ~ I had salad and mussels. :)
*
How was your day today?

Friday, Hot and Sunny ~ with reflections on things read

 

The above are the squares I have done
so far plus the other yarns I hope to use for this blanket.
*
Today is a tired day.
*
Mr. Husband is home,
we are eating simple ~ salads, almonds and baked potato.
While I am really tired today,
I am honestly grateful that I have the opportunity to rest
and be in a peaceful place.
*
I am making good progress on the book
on Abbess Thaisia.
She built an incredible female Orthodox convent
in her time as Abbess,
plus other churches as well.
It is hard to believe that within two years of her
falling asleep in the Lord
the Russian Revolution of 1917 happened.
The Orthodox church was quickly under attack,
priests, bishops and monastics (monks and nuns)
were killed, churches and monasteries
destroyed.
*
It has been wonderful to read the book
Everyday Saints
because it gives an idea to us of what was
going on during this time.
*
Mr. Husband is well-versed in history and
has a better memory than I.
*
We have talked together about the
similarities of the French Revelation
and the Russian Revelation
in terms of it's awful desecration and destruction of
churches, monasteries and murdered clergy.
*
I do not know why I was never taught this.
Why I never knew that the Church was under such
attack during these times.
I have known about the persecution of Christians in Russia
before communism fell
yet every time I read about it I am shocked.
*
This blog in general is one in which I do not write about
these things ~ but yet ~ I think it is so
important that we know about them.
*
Mr. Husband has said many times that
these times in history were ultimately
satanic and I cannot disagree.
*
Our world here is changing quickly;
we are so spiritually weak.
Things are increasingly
anti-Christian,
not to mention anti-human dignity
and it seems against all forms of traditional living
(including farming, bee-keeping).
*
It is a fight to the end to be a Christian;
the temptations are often subtle and
sometimes not so subtle!
*
But with God there is always hope...
not the promise that things will be easy
but that God is with us.
*
This new post on God as our Father
is a comfort to us...
*
Lord have mercy on us!
Lord save and protect us!

Sunny Thursday ~ new icons and knitting

I am waiting to hear about the
young adult who is in hospital.
Praying....

I was very happy to get new icons from
this monastery that Mr. Husband and I go to.
This icon is special to me as it is
the monastery's three main icons.
*
The one on the left is St. Mary of Egypt;
I had always wanted her icon and am so happy
to have it now! 

I also got this small diptych
of St. Xenia and St. Matrona.
I had been wanting one of St. Matrona for sometime,
so this was a real blessing!

I am about half-way through reading this book
on Abbess Thaisia.
She went through so many trials yet God
brought her comfort and help in the midst...
It's a real treasure of a book...
of course the reality that a Christian has to bear his or her
God-given Cross is not easy but
God promises to help us...
*
I have been making some new pages on my blog...
the one on Elizabeth and Family
I wrote as a further introduction
since with knitting I am
meeting some new to me people...
And I made one today that I will update as I can
on books I am reading this year...
doing this in part for my own record and
as a place to share books and links on or about them.

I am making a new knitting project ~
a small baby blanket for a
girl's doll.
I am using a 100% wool fingerling weight yarn
and have double stranded it for this knit.
The yarn was 50% off so I bought it :)

I am realizing that I enjoy working with smaller
knits and love the creativity in discovering what
I can do with different sizes of yarn.
Ravelry here.
*
For my yarn quilt
I am well on my way ~ I've made so far
cream, blue and red squares.
Question: I am thinking of using the
fingerling weight wool yarn 
to knit the squares together.
Would using wool yarn/thread to do this 
backfire because it is wool and may shrink?
The yarn I am using for the squares is
washable mainly or all acrylic yarn...
*
I am still tired from all of our travels but
have been so encouraged from
my visits to monasteries.
*
God is good to us and will bring help to us in
His timing...