Cosmicknitter-ReginaMary

February 8, 2019February 8, 2019

Hiding a Multitude of Sin

Let me explain the title of this post. My daddy would often use this phrase to describe the benefit of things like heavy sauces and long overcoats! This was not an original saying, obviously; it originated from the Bible. If you knew my daddy, you would have guessed this, I’m sure. Five years ago on this date, daddy left this world to the sweet sounds of supplication to the Blessed Mother by his ‘favorite middle child’. (that would be me, y’all!) May his soul and those of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace and may divine assistance remain with him.

I should have finished this post two days ago, but I was too cranky to write. You all deserve better.

Back to the blog, and the title of the post. I have been craving a pair of socks on the needles since I frogged my Cheese-head Socks (you can see why in my previous post.) My intention is to do something a little different with each pair of socks I knit, and this latest WIP is no different. After participating in Knit Stars 3.0, I was inspired by Arne and Carlos to try Norwegian knitting. Norwegian knitting is done in the Continental style but with less movement between the yarn and your left index finger. I can’t explain better than the fellas, so please check out their You Tube channel for a video tutorial (sooo worth it!). How to Knit – Basics of Knitting – Arne & Carlos.

20190208_180418 — Hermione’s Everyday Sock

I chose a lovely yarn by the equally lovely Connie of ChileKnitz. The color is Blue Jean. The pattern I chose is the “Hermione’s Everyday Sock”. Both offer the opportunity to practice skills and, in the case of the yarn, hide a multitude of sin! I’ll admit, I have made a number of mistakes, and I have ripped out the heel at least 3 times. To be honest, I don’t mind; I am continuing until I have a successful pair of sock. This is a great learning experience.

Wanna know what else is a great learning experience? Knowing my daddy! I talked to him a lot this week. I asked him about how to be a good spouse, a good parent, a good colleague and a good Christian, because I felt like I was struggling at all of them. As in true daddy form, he was a man of few words! What he did tell me was to turn to God and put my troubles at the foot of the cross.

Today’s Saint is: St. Jerome Emiliani – he is the patron saint of abandoned children and orphans. I wish all children could have a daddy like mine. The world would be such a beautiful and gentle place for the young and young at heart.

Today’s beverage: Makers Mark Bourbon on the rocks with a slip of lemon zest

Today’s sounds: The Yarniacs Podcast. Listen to it on Podbean!

Thank you for stopping by.

Hug a child today, if you have the good fortune (I did!!)

Until next time, may you have peace in your day.

Love,

Regina

January 24, 2019

So It’s Been a While, eh?

The last time I blogged was last March. I had no idea so much time had passed. Yes, there was a lot going on, but I didn’t even start a draft. Good grief. I am going to try to post something at least once a month. Not as a New Year resolution and certainly not because I expect anyone to read this; I am doing this for me because I enjoy it. Anyhoo…

Life has been pretty nutty. Both boys have moved back home. They bring a level of joy and chaos to my day that is reminiscent of when they were children; the kind that only a mother can love. Let me just say, my food, laundry and prayer production is at an all time high. A certain 4-legged boy loves having his big brothers around and I even spied some liver treats in front of my son’s Xbox. It’s all good.

We have all been in relatively good health with only the passing cold or sinus trouble here and there.

My youngest enrolled in school and is starting to finding his way. So many young people aren’t prepared to make career decisions upon graduating high school. This was the case with my boys. I am proud of them both.

My honey finished his master’s degree in Theology. The graduation ceremony is in May and I am so excited. The conversation around what the wife of a theologian should wear has produced some very interesting conversations in our house!

In the world of knitting, I have been a little worker bee. It surprised me somewhat to see that I had met my knitting goals I set on Ravelry. It surprised me because I totally forgot I had done this. I think it speaks to that weird thing that happens to me whenever I try to knit on a deadline. The minute I put a deadline or goal on my knitting, it slows to a crawl. I am wondering if this happens to anyone else. It must. I’m sure. Right? I did participate in a KAL in the fall and finished the shawl at 11:00pm on the very last day. I loved everything I made last year, except for the attempt at two-at-a-time sock with an afterthought heel.

20180918_113523-1 — I am calling this my ‘second-thought heel’

Edward Scissorhands would have been at home in my knitting bag. There were size 1 dpns EVERYWHERE! I regret that shot of bourbon. I frogged the socks and started over.

In April I went on my first Long Island Yarn Crawl! I had such a wonderful time. We visited the shops on the north part of the island, but there are so many places on the south of Long Island that I really want to see! This year the dates are April 4-7, which works out perfectly for me. Last year I met some wonderful people, bought a few pretties and scored some swag.

IMG_20180421_174021_674 20180421_174159 IMG_20180421_160935_676

Also in April, I knit Mariel’s Cowl; a pattern my friend wrote. I did not make any changes to this one, but I do plan on making another and doubling the pattern rows. I prefer my cowls deeper (wider? taller?). This was made with some Ester Bitran Hand Dyed Andes. Aren’t the colors pretty? The pattern is free, so go check it out. NOW! But come back, ok? 🙂

Ester Bitran Hand Dyed Andes

My knitting companion

If only I can teach my knitting buddy to hold my yarn when I wind it.

I think I’ll finish up for now. I’ll have more knitting deliciousness to post, but that’s for another day. Consider this your only warning.

saintfrancisdesales3-2x

Saint of the Day: St. Francis de Sales – Patron saint of the deaf. I am so thankful right now that I can hear the silly sounds of the middle school kids in the hallway.

What I’m sipping: coffee, coffee and more coffee…

So be well everyone.

May you have peace in your day.

Gratefully,

Regina

March 13, 2018

Swimming in a Sea of Laundry

Laundry has always been a way for me to show my family how much I love them. The boys would get a whiff of fabric softener when they pulled a t-shirt on and they would be reminded of me. Honestly, is there anything better than a whiff of soap on your favorite shirt, or clean sheets on a freshly made bed? One of my favorite memories as a child was the smell of the sheets, hung on the clothesline to dry in the sun. At night, I would fall asleep wrapped in those sheets and the summer quilt that my grandmother made; it always smelled of the cedar from the blanket chest that it was stored in. I always have mounds of laundry in all three stages of development. I try to stay on top of it, but there are times when I need help. You can learn more about my favorite laundry service here.

Look what I did!

Blocked and ready to wear

The colors are prettier in real life.

I really need to take a photo of me wearing this, but until then you’ll have to deal with my understudy.

I learned a lot from this project. I loved knitting with beads and I definitely recommend you add it to your repertoire. I plan on using beads in future projects and thanks to the Laura Nelkin group on Ravelry, I have been given many sources for purchasing beads. This yarn was a single ply; it tended to get fuzzy or cranky when it was handled too much and beads require a lot of action on the yarn. I would definitely choose a smoother yarn with a tighter twist for my next project. Many thanks to Razz for modeling this for me. (he was NOT happy).

Winner! Winner! Chicken …Wait! Apparently, I lost this game of yarn chicken. Here are my lovely “Twas the Night Before Christmas” socks from Little Bobbins. I thought I had enough yarn to finish, but apparently there will be no chicken dinner for me. I have ordered another ball of Knit Picks Palette so I can finish these cute socks.

In other news, I was taken with all the great and versatile projects based on the log cabin pattern by Mason Dixon Knitting. This is my first attempt. I have decided to make it into a dishcloth because I worked out a lot of little nuances with this square (trust me when I tell you it is square!) The yarn is Katia Bombay, 100% cotton. It is very pretty and I would like to work with it again. I held two strands together and it made a sturdy but soft fabric. I played around with where I picked up new stitches to find out what was most pleasing. Have you ever worked on a project and realized you did something incorrectly but it still worked out? I think if it is consistent through the project it doesn’t really matter. In this case, I would want to pick up stitches along the bind off edge consistently through either the front or the back of the stitch. The pattern does not indicate which way to do this, so I think I’ll contact the designer to ask. Again, I think what matters is that it is consistent.

Can you see where I picked up stitches inconsistently?

This is a square. I promise!

So, this post has been sitting in my draft folder for over a week. I am going to wrap it up before I forget what the heck I am talking about.

Sipping: coffee

Watching: X-Files (still)

Current location of Razz: under the dining room table

Be well,

Love,

Regina

February 20, 2018February 18, 2020

So I’d like to know where, you got the notion

OK, so Banshee how many of you have that song by The Hues Corporation in your head now? For that, I apologize. I really do. I woke up the other day with an Elton John song in my head for no particular reason and it wasn’t one of his better ones. Regardless, it didn’t belong in there and it took the better part of the morning to get it out!

About notions. I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorites with you from time to time.

I am just about finished with my “Twas the Night Before Christmas” socks. We all know that knitting with size 1 US dpns can be dicey at times, and I love a good challenge as much as the next gal, but when I discovered these little needle holders, I wondered how I had gotten on without them. Check them out. How cute are they???

They are even cute on the inside. Like me!!

I purchased these on Etsy. The shop is Handmade by Jayney and she has some really sweet items for sale. They fit 6″ dpns perfectly. In fact, I secured the needles that held the instep stitches in the case while I turned my heel. I was like a woman on fire. On FIRE!

The other super lovable notion I am using with this project is…

A Hello Kitty Lunchbox!!

I know what you are thinking. Regina, you have just blown my mind and I need a minute to process.

Take all the time you need, my friend. While you acclimate to your new-found enlightenment, let me further impress you by telling you that the stitch markers are kept in a Trader Joe’s Green Tea Mints tin, and yes…my Pilot G-2 pen is wearing a Hello Kitty band-aid to prevent people from walking off with it. As you see, it works like a charm.

I prefer using boxes like this because:

1. fancy-pants project bags snag my yarn on the zipper

2. fancy-pants project bags snag my money – have you priced some of these babies??

3. fancy-pants project bags don’t protect my needles against my 85 lb golden retriever’s rump, or protect my 85 lb golden retriever’s rump against my needles.

Win-win-win

Show me your stuff. What is your favorite notion?

Sipping: Killian’s Irish Red (Good ol’ Uncle George!)

Listening: Why this, of course!

Today’s magnificent Saints are: Saints Jacinta and Francisco Marta. If you aren’t familiar with the story of Fatima, I encourage you to learn more about it here. Really awesome stuff.

Have a wonderful week!

Hugs,

Regina

February 15, 2018November 29, 2023

When Lent and Mid-life Collide

My husband is so freakin’ adorable. He is a really wonderful man and he loves his faith – we both do – and Lent is a very meaningful time for us. So, imagine my surprise when he lamented the fact that he was exempt from the prescribed days of fast and abstinence because he was a ‘man of a certain age’. But what a wonderful way to view aging. To him, though, it is not about what he has ‘lost’ rather, about what he has to gain. Does that make sense? To keep it real, even Snoopy had his moments!

On to knitting…

Oh boy am I enjoying the All-Ways Cowl. I am also enjoying the compliments I am receiving! Mind you, for all the years I have been knitting, I still look at my work with hyper-critical eyes. Sure, I have made some oops on this project, but I am reluctant to rip back because the yarn is single ply and with too much fuss becomes wild and crazy! Honestly? The beading is really the focal point and if I get that part correct, it will be a stunner. Wanna see an updated photo? or two?

Moving Along Nicely

Growing Leaps and Bounds

The photo on the left reflects the colors best. Regardless of the outcome, I consider a project, knitting or otherwise, a success when I come away with a better understanding of how things work. With this one, I have learned I must be very ginger with single-ply yarn. I have learned that there are multiple methods for adding beads to your knitting and there are reasons for each. I have also learned that leaving my knitting out at work attracts the curious, which results in the dropped stitches that immediately follow the cry of “oooh! let me see what you’re working on!” :cue the sound of beads bouncing off the desk: I don’t have to tell you that the reason employers use that speckled, low-pile carpet is because it hides a multitude of sin, and in this case, teeny-tiny beads.

Other fun things on the needles include two pairs of socks, and a baby sweater for a little girl. I will post more on these as I make progress; right now they are in their infancy.

In my glass: Coconut water and frozen fruit cubes. Delish!

In my ears: INXS Original Sin. You can read about this tribute album here.

Saint du Jour: St. Berach, an Irish Abbot. He is the patron saint of Kilbarry, County Dublin. I’ll drink to that!

In my heart: These guys…

February 9, 2018February 9, 2018

When Irony Is Not Lost

Supermarket face plant My local supermarket is in the throes of renovation and reorganization. Typically, the feminine supplies are located somewhere in the vicinity of the health and beauty aids, right? Now they are conveniently located in the snack aisle. Yuppers…Potato chips, Fritos, and feminine supplies. Not quite sure if this was the brain child of a man or a woman, but I am convinced someone accessed the deepest darkest recesses of my brain. Some people go for the chocolate, but for me, it’s all about salt. Is there really any limit to how many pistachios a gal can consume? I think not, and I would consider myself a pistachio expert.

On to knitting…

I cast on for the All-ways Cowl (for the third time) and knit the first 8 rows. As an FYI, there are multiple techniques for incorporating beads into your knitting. I watched two videos, neither of which were by Laura Nelkin Designs, and neither of them were the ‘right‘ techniques for the project. Three is a charm indeed. I am going to show you the very early stages because I am just so freakin’ happy that I finally get it. I give all credit to the dedicated folks in the Nelkin Designs Ravelry Group, and Laura herself for not leaving knitters high and dry. I know the photos are lousy, but can you see how the yo and ssk are creating an angle? I feel like the beads could stand out more, but I wasn’t familiar with all the different bead sources available (again, something I learned from the Ravelry group). Once finished and blocked, I think this will be a real beauty.

Finally getting the results I wanted

Creepy up-close shot. Blocking will help.

Eating: Honey Crisp Apple

Listening: Me crunching on a Honey Crisp Apple

Who is today’s Saint? So glad you asked! St. Jerome Emiliani, patron of orphans and abandoned children. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if St. Jerome was out of a job? Sending love and hope to children everywhere.

Enjoy the day and have a truly wonderful weekend.

Love,

Regina

Oh, I forgot to tell you! I posted two new photos here and here. You’ll never guess the subject! Hey! I own my obsession… just sayin’

February 7, 2018

Not Bad for a Monday (even though it’s Wednesday)

It was a productive and pleasant day. Work was very busy, but it always is when school is delayed due to weather; somehow those two hours get crammed in somehow. During lunch, I made some progress on knit on my ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ sock. Initially, I wasn’t crazy about Knit Picks Palette, but it is growing on me and I think the final result will be a nice, sturdy sock. I adore the pattern. It is easy enough to do and the result is very subtle. If you don’t know the designer (Dani), I recommend you check out her podcast Little Bobbins Knits. Bobbins is her pup and he makes a very cute co-host.

After work, we went to the gym. I stayed on the treadmill, but after reading a blog by AJ of A Petite Slice of Life , I was motivated to add a little running to the mix. I ran two miles. No, not all at once. I alternated walking with 5 minute intervals of running (trotting? lumbering?). My son was running on the treadmill to my left, and each time I switched from walking to running, he would look over and give me a high five.

I love catching up on knitting podcasts while I am doing cardio; really makes the time fly. Today, I watched one of my favorites, The Gentle Knitter. Nicole is from Canada and she has a quiet and soothing demeanor. Her work in a natural history museum speaks to the earth girl in me. Her episodes rarely exceed an hour, and the projects she creates are done in very muted and natural wool. As much as I love all the speckled this and fancy that, I prefer things a bit more earthy in nature. As she was sharing some of her recent FOs and give -away items, I decided to make it a goal this year to make a fair isle sweater for myself. If any of you have a favorite pattern, I would love to hear about it. Raglan style with a two-color yolk would be my preference. She is wearing the Branches and Buds pattern that seems to be everywhere these days, but I would be seeking out something a little less mainstream. I imagine I could take the main construction of the sweater and incorporate a different design on the yolk, but to be honest, I don’t think I have the skills. Isn’t the neckline beautiful? So feminine.

We are expecting snow in the Northeast tomorrow. Snow days = knitting days!

Currently casting on: The All-ways Cowl by Laura Nelkin. I have joined her 2018 First Quarter KAL. This will be my first project incorporating beads into my knitting, as well as my first KAL. The group is extremely helpful and Laura is very active as well, offering her guidance when people like me complicate the uncomplicated. (it’s a gift) I am only in the casting on stage so I have nothing to show. I do recommend you take one of her Craftsy classes, or if you really want a treat, participate in the Knit Stars series. Very cool!! After a few false starts, I am ready to cast on. All the beads have been strung.

The yarn is Crystal Palace Mini Mochi and I selected glass beads in various shades of mauve and pink. Soooo pretty!

That’s it for now. I hope you have a blessed day and if you have the good fortune to hug a doggo, do so at all cost! My hug will be going to this guy!

Sipping: Coffee, coffee and more coffee

Listening: To my boys playing video games!

Today’s Saint: St. Colette Read more about her here.

Love,

Regina

February 6, 2018February 6, 2018

The Measure of a Man…

The True Measure of a Man

There is an unpublished version of this quote. “The measure of a man is directly affected by how much snow is expected.”

I had such a nice post for today. I wrote it bright and early this morning. OK, so it was dark o’clock, but still lovely. It had photos and links and everything! I interrupt that post to bring you the following rant.

I live in New York. Not Southern New York where they get a possible ‘wintry mix’, or Upstate New York where your eyelashes freeze when you get the mail, but the Mid-Hudson Valley where, in the summer we have warm weather and thunderstorms and in the winter, we have snow. SNOW people…SNOW! We don’t need dog sleds or skis to get us from point A to point B because we have plows. Big trucks that move snow, destroy mailboxes and render lawns impossible to mow in the summer. Oh sure, we have blizzards and other extreme weather, but a foot of snow 12 hours from now, does not warrant jackass behavior! Driving to and from the supermarket this afternoon was a daredevil act not worth repeating. Listen up. In my humble opinion, nothing warrants tailgating. Some drivers took it to another level. If you want to drive THAT close to me, there better be a tornado chasing you. At the supermarket, as if cashiers we Zombie Minion ren’t already at a premium, some dear soul in her haste, dropped a glass jar of some awful smelling somethingorother, requiring that line to shut down while another one opened, as customers argued about who was in the line first. (This is a perfect example of why liquor should be sold in supermarkets). The one humorous moment came when an elderly woman on the line next to me, inquired if the Zombie Apocalypse was real. I want to kiss her whole face!!

Snow day or not, I will share my previously written post with you all tomorrow.

If you are in my neck of the woods, enjoy the day…grab a bottle, hunker down and knit.

On the ears: Madden Football for the PS4

In the glass: Santa Cristina Toscana

Have a wonderful evening.

Peace to you all!!

Regina

February 3, 2018February 3, 2018

I am really excited to write to you today

For the past few days, I have been telling the reasons why I have decided not to do a podcast at. this. time. Today, I am going off track to tell you why I considered it in the first place, and about the revelation I had on the treadmill.

I would say, the primary reason for considering podcasting is to be part of a larger knitting community, sharing what we love to do and a little bit about who we are. Sounds good, right? I think so. I did, however, become a little discouraged when many of the more popular podcasts became hour long episodes of frantic show and tell, coffee drinking and product promotion. Nothing wrong with that, but I was under the impression that there was no place in that world for me. I just don’t think that way, and it would not make me happy. I would never want to make someone feel they need to have all the fancy notions or project bags in order to knit. It isn’t practical, and in my case, I am very happy with what I use. Then I went to the gym, and while on the treadmill, I started to search for podcasts that are less familiar. Enter Michelle Carter’s “My So-Called Handmade Life” The episode that came up was #3. I typically search out episode #1 because they tend to have a little ‘getting to know me’ in the beginning. However, this episode was just what I needed to hear. She spoke at length about the relationships formed by virtual means such as podcasting, blogging and sites like Ravelry. She shared how fulfilling these relationships have been to her. And that’s when I started thinking (typically dangerous, but in this case, productive). Here’s why. I live in Rhinebeck. Yup, The Rhinebeck. In fact, I live directly across from the Fairgrounds. Yup, The Fairgrounds, yet every year I attend the NYS Sheep and Wool Festival alone. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy my company (we never disagree, never argue and we like the same food), but to attend an event like Rhinebeck with my only real social interactions occurring while on line at Miss Babs, is somewhat saddening to me. Large crowds give me terrible anxiety. Just going to the event alone is a monumental feat for me. How wonderful it would be to have familiar faces to look for in that crowd! Oh, I see many people I know, but they are milling about with their own group of friends, and I am not comfortable inserting myself into their plans…that goes back to my insecurity. What if I had plans of my own? That’s when I start to doubt myself. Would people really want to spend time with me? Actually, I think they would. I have a great personality, quirky sense of humor and I’m a really genuine person. Yet I go to “Rhinebeck” alone.

So, while everyone is writing about #goals and choosing words to inspire their year, I am going to make 2018 about finding a date for Rhinebeck!

Here is where you come in. Would you consider sharing my blog? Maybe something I have written will resonate with someone. Maybe there are people who avoid going because of anxiety or lack of companionship. Maybe that person is YOU! We could go and be anxious together!

My husband just planted a yummy smooch on me…

As I was saying… Do you think this is possible? Do you have the same feelings as me, or do you have a posse that you enjoy festivals with? Here’s a question for you: Do you have a friend you only know in the virtual sense? How about one you met through Ravelry or blogging? Have you ever met your online friends in person?

I really feel good about this. I feel like I can finally overcome a hangup that has been gnawing at me for years. I also feel better about podcasting because I have been watching ones that don’t speak to me!

After listing to her podcast, please take a look at Michelle’s blog, also called “My So-Called Handmade Life”. I think she is really special and I would like to meet her some day.

On the needles: Little Bobbins Knits “Twas the Night Before Christmas” sock. Here is #1, it’s unblocked and really cute:

In the cup: Twinnings Green Tea – Jasmine

On the ears: Razz’s snoring

Check out the Saint of the Day: St. Blaise. He is patron of throat illnesses, animals, wool combers, and wool trading! I always knew the history behind throat illnesses, but his association with wool really surprised me!! I am dedicating this post to all my woolie friends, those I know and those I look forward to meeting.

Be well,

Love, Regina.

February 2, 2018

I Changed My Mind

This is post 5 of 7 (remember I promised 7? or actually 6 because Sunday is the Superbowl?) I had a very captivating post planned for you, however…my son returned home from the Army today and I am finding myself a bit puddly.

Let’s talk tomorrow, ok?

Sweet dreams.

Love,

Regina

This is too good not to share!

This is too good not to share!

This is too good not to share!

This is too good not to share!

This is too good not to share!

This is too good not to share!

This is too good not to share!

This is too good not to share!

This is too good not to share!

This is too good not to share!