yarn – Cosmicknitter

March 22, 2024March 23, 2024

Spring Break!

Two sixth grade girls came to the office to turn in a lost lock. Naturally, I showered them with all the love and fuss that a school secretary can muster. “Thanks girls, you’re the BEST!” To which they replied “No, YOU are! You’re iconic!” ICONIC! Do you know who is iconic to a middle school girl? Taylor Swift (and I have it on good authority that these girls are hard and fast Swifties). Well, if TS can have Swifties, then it’s only fitting that Mrs. Messa have “Messies”. I am taking pre-orders for t-shirts!! Tour to follow!

It is Friday afternoon. We just started our Spring Break. If I could bottle the energy the kids have on a day like today, I would make millions selling it. If you ever wonder where they get their energy, look around the halls of their schools…they suck it out of the teachers and staff!!

The Knits

I’ve been making a lot of gift knits lately. The thing about gift knits is that you give them freely in the hopes that the receiver loves them as much as you do. But they may not. And that’s ok! But doesn’t it feel so good to see your hand knits being worn and loved?

My latest knit is another gift for the new grand niece. After knitting the Kayleena by Taiga Hillard, I knew I would find a pattern in her extensive collection. I landed on the Edna Rose. This is a little bolero type sweater in “just right” sizes. The new baby has a two year old sister and I had enough yarn to make a little/big sister set. Here is the “little”one.

Somebody stop me!

See that sweet postcard? That was included in my button purchase from Pigeon Wishes on Etsy. The postcard came with a personal note and a garment tag to add to my knit. I know people push for shopping local, but I get far better service and attention to detail from my favorite vendors on Etsy than I do locally. Raise your hand if you have ever walked into a LYS and gotten the cold shoulder.

I have another pair of socks on the needles. The stitch pattern is based on Hermione’s Everyday Sock by Erica Lueder. I am modifying the pattern to knit toe-up and two-at-a-time.

These are knit with Rowan Sock yarn in the Coral colorway. This is a single ply yarn that is soft and pleasant to knit with. I started with the Turkish cast-on and for the heel, I want to try something a little different. I have been reading about the Simultaneous Heel Flap and Gusset technique on The Kninja Knitter blog and it seems to provide toe-up sock knitters with a way to knit a sock with a heel flap and gusset. Be still my beating heart! Stay tuned for the reveal.

Carver!

Our boy is becoming such a sweet little snuggler. I think he is losing his “puppy look” although my son assures me he will always be the little puppy.

Look at him, all grown up!

The Colleagues

You know from my posts about Halloween and cheese in a can just how much I love my colleagues. In many ways we are all cut from the same cloth.

I’m not like this because I work in a middle school.

I work in a middle school because I’m like this.
~Some wise school secretary

A colleague asked if I had hot sauce for her lunch. I opened my desk drawer and produced 4 different bottle of sauce in various flavors and intensities. You’re welcome…

A few days later, she appeared with this:

I love my job!

I am having difficulty deciding which ones to keep in the desk and which ones to take home.

The Poem

Recently, another blogger, Nanacathydotcom, wrote about Spring. She wondered if any readers had a favorite poem about the “renewal of the seasons.” My reply? Spring, by Walt Whitman.

Spring (first stanza)

To frozen clods ever the spring’s invisible law returns,
In the soft rose and pale gold of the declining light,
I heard the first hum and preparation of awakening spring—very faint,
Whether in the earth or roots, or starting of insects, I know not—but it was audible,
Then the first chirping, almost singing, of a bird,
And the grass not without proofs of coming fulness—
Palpable spring indeed, or the indications of it.
Walt Whitman

This poem is long; a full 18 stanzas. If this speaks to your heart like it does to mine, you can enjoy the full writing here: In the Words of Walt Whitman. Spring has always held such a feeling of hope for me. I recall walking in the yard and the woods behind my childhood home looking at all the newly sprouted buds and nesting birds. Daddy would leave scraps of old rags out and about for the birds and I would delight in finding a nest with one of those scraps woven in amongst the twigs. To this day, I toss yarn scraps around for the birds to claim. They seem to love the colors as much as I do! It is such a special time of year.

As we enter into Holy Week, I wish everyone a beautiful, restorative and hope filled Spring!

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

ReginaMary

In my cup:

A shot of Makers Mark bourbon. (Did I mention I work in a middle school and it was the last day before Spring Break?) At least I waited until I got home.

In my ears: Nothing. Silence. (Did I mention I work in a middle school and it was the last day before Spring Break?)

Saint of the Day: Saint Darerca of Ireland was a sister of Saint Patrick. Aside from her relationship with the well known Irish Patron Saint, Saint Darerca was known for her piety and her many offspring (14 sons and 2 daughters). Many of her children went on the become bishops and later saints. She is the Patroness of Valentia Island, located off the west coast of Ireland.

February 20, 2024February 20, 2024

Apotheosis

Some of the best dreams I’ve ever had are the ones in which I am flying. Not in a plane, rather soaring like a bird in the air. I had a recurring dream as a child that began at my front door. I would run toward our hill and before I knew it, I was airborne. It was magical. I could see the tops of houses in my neighborhood and familiar roads that took me into town. It wasn’t a dream filled with unfamiliar sights, it was my neighborhood, my town and my home. At some point I learned I could control my dream. I recall a time where in my dream I suddenly began losing altitude. I thought “I’m falling!” as I frantically flapped my arms. I felt like Peter feebly attempting to walk on water toward Jesus. Then I started telling myself “I can fly, I can fly!” and just like that, I took off into the air once more. On more than one occasion I woke up in tears because I didn’t want the dream to end.

In my last post, I reference the video game Journey. It is a breath-taking game where the main character’s ability for flight features prominently in the game play. Oh how I longed to play! No long after I wrote that post, my son found the game as a download from the PlayStation Store, and I booted up. This game was everything I imagined and more. The music and scenery were evocative and beautiful. With each level, I became familiar with the landscapes and more comfortable with my character’s ability to fly (thanks to the scarf). As I moved closer to the end, the energy and intensity increased until the final level, Apotheosis, which culminated in a powerful and exhilarating ascent to the top of a magnificent mountain. The game ended. The credits rolled. I cried. It was that same feeling of freedom and awe I felt as a little girl who dreamed she could fly.

Now, on to the knits.

I completed the Wild Posy by Melody Hoffmann. This was a thoroughly enjoyable knit, but it was not without its drama. I was cruising along on the first sleeve when I thought I would try it on for length. I could barely get my arm in! Nothing in the pattern seemed off and I still don’t know what the problem was, but I needed to do some serious tinking. Except, of course, that this is Plotulopi…the “moody child” of the knitting world. There is no ripping or tinking back, only cutting. I cut the sleeve off, people!! You heard me. I collected my supplies: sharp scissors, strong bourbon and a deep breath. I cut about 1″ from where I picked up for the sleeves and went to town. And it worked! I had one row of stitches to wrestle with, inserted my needles and went back at it. This time, I didn’t decrease the full number of stitches and was sure to check the fit as I went. This sweater is warm and lightweight. The yoke is subtle but elegant.

Next off the needles was Declan, a sweet little knit for a sweet little boy.

The pattern is #214 Baby Pullover by Diane Soucy Knitting Pure and Simple. A joy to make, this knit up in a week using Blue Sky Fibers Sweater Worsted. A blend of merino and cotton, this is my favorite yarn when it comes to knitting for ‘The Littles’.

Here’s another “Little Knit”!

“Lil Will” , modeled by Lil Will himself is #37 Top Down Roll Raglan by Melinda Goodfellow of Yankee Knitter Designs. The yarn is a Yowza skein from Miss Babs in the Petrified Forest colorway. Have you ever knit with a Yowza? There is a whopping 560 yds in each skein! Say it with me…YOWZA! That’s a lotta yarn. Another great choice for easy-to-care-for hand knits, Yowza is a hand dyed superwash merino with enough yardage to knit a sweater for 6 mos to 2 yr. You might know Miss Babs from the insane line at the NYS Sheep and Wool Festival. Here’s a pro tip. While you stand in line for your yarn, send someone out for the cider donuts.

Taking my cue from a fellow blogger, I cast on for a JuJu Beanie by Aspen Leaf Knits. What a fun and satisfying knit! This knit up in a day. What makes a better beanie? Matching mittens, of course!

I went deep diving into stash for this wool. Techno, by Blue Sky Fibers, is considered a blown fiber. It unique construction consists of baby alpaca blown into a mesh tube of silk. It looks like single ply but without the spitting. Imagine whole lotta soft, spun into a tube, filled with fluff, then wrapped in a cloud. It’s like that; bulky but light, soft and cozy warm. The hat and mittens were knit with two strands held together. Notice the pom-pom? I am getting wise in my old age. This in no way resembles a tennis ball, therefore the little terrorist leaves it alone. Good Carver! I am not sure why the ribbing looks so wonky. Good thing I’ll be tucking that in my coat.

Not that long ago, I knit a Felix Pullover by Amy Christoffers aka Savory Knitting. I loved the pattern and the beautiful blue Donegal Tweed yarn. The sweater mysteriously found its way to my mother’s closet, but I longed for one of my own. I chose the same Donegal Tweed yarn in purple. Here is Felix 2.0, or as I have named it “Please Don’t Give This One Away“. (I’m looking at you, Robert!)

The Felix is one of those patterns you don’t mind knitting again and again. No modifications to this sweater, and this one is mine, all mine!

Finally, there has been action on the sock front. I cast on for these over a year ago. I had completed one sock and was working on the second when tragedy struck:

Carver found the ball of yarn for sock number two and chewed the top right off. So many things went into time out that night. The socks, my dog, and eventually me. Oh, I finally found a replacement skein from half-way around the globe, but by the time I had the heart to cast on sock #2 it was the fall.

These are Helgen Socks by Anna Lena aka Anna Knitter. They are knit with Opal 6 ply making them a warm, thick and slouchy pair of socks for wearing inside boots or around the house. What makes them so special is that I blocked them in a bucket of my tears.

I hope you all are well. That little groundhog better have his facts straight. I feel the sun getting stronger and warmer every day.

Thank you for stopping by my crazy corner of the world. Until next time, be well.

Love,

ReginaMary

Saint of the Day: St. Jacinta Marto, youngest visionary of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal in 1917. Her Patronage is broad:

• against bodily ills or sickness
• captives, prisoners
• people ridiculed for their piety
• sick people

I would like us to offer up a silent prayer to the victims of sex-trafficking. May God help them and have mercy on their tormentors. (don’t mean to be a downer, but seriously.)

In my cup:

Harney & Sons Formosa Oolong. Anything that can get away with “oo” is OOK in my book. Great brew!

In my ears:

Almost Blue from a live performance by Chet Baker. I was reading Kate Davies blog post from Sunday where she shared a playlist of songs about “Blue”. When she solicited other songs about ‘blue’ this is what I shared.

Here is the original Almost Blue by the inimitable Elvis Costello, featuring Chet Baker.

I can’t even…

December 19, 2023December 19, 2023

That One Rogue Flower

If you have been with me a while, you know that I name my Ravelry projects after video games. There are exceptions to that from time to time. Today’s post talks about one of those exceptions.

Battenfeld Farm is nursery here in Rhinebeck that grows the beautiful Anemone (a-nem-o-nee) for both wholesale and retail sale. You can pop into the work room and throw money into a cigar box and walk away with a beautiful bouquet. As I was putting my flowers in a vase, I noticed one rogue flower in the mix. A Ranunculus! And, speaking of the Ranunculus…

The Ranunculus is a pattern by Midori Hirose. It is well written and fun to knit. She provides video tutorials for most sections and there are plenty of knitters on YouTube who have done the same. I elected for the short-sleeved version and made mine a tad longer than the pattern states. This sweater is so comfortable and light-weight, and the color is stunning. A winner in my book. Please read the pattern through before knitting this and take advantage of those tutorials if you get stuck. It is so worth the effort. Carver agrees.

Oh how I loved this project. I purchased the yarn at Infinite Yarns in Farmingdale, Long Island; a friendly place with an abundance of yarn! I went with an open mind, not really knowing what yarn I wanted to work with. Then I saw it. The wall of Noro! ::she swoons:: Noro is a yarn that is lovely in photos, but in person will knock your socks off. The beauty of the Silk Garden yarn is that strand of silk that gives the yarn a subtle and distinctive sheen. The depth and variation of color makes this brand very special and I have yet to see images that do justice to its complexity . It is a woolen spun and slubby yarn that is dyed in colors that your eyes never tire of and the slight presence of lanolin make it easy on the hands. Give it a try.

Carver is getting better around my knits and it’s a good thing; there was a time when he could not be in the same room with any yarn. Look at that good boy!

Today’s Saint: Pope St. Anastasius I. Full disclosure. I picked this saint because out of all the saints whose feast is today, he was the only one that didn’t die a gruesome martyr’s death. I spared you the gories and you are most welcome. Anastasius was only Pope for 2 years, but he was a staunch defender of the faith. He is the one who instructed priests to stand and bow their head as they read from the Gospels. Don’t confuse this fellow with the other Anastasius who, you guessed it, died a gruesome martyr’s death.

In my cup: A delish cuppa white tea in this beautiful mug-both a gift from a friend.

In my ears: Absolutely nothing. I am typing this at 5:15am. The house is dark and quiet. The fire is starting to catch. All is right with the world.

I hope all is right in your world as we get closer to the arrival of Baby Jesus!

Love,

ReginaMary

January 10, 2022November 30, 2023

On God and Fruitcake

Do you think God has an opinion on fruitcake? I started thinking about this on my walk today. To be accurate I started thinking about Genesis 4.

Genesis

Cain and Abel

Pleasing God

First fruits

Old fruit

Fruitcake

Does God like fruitcake? It’s a perfectly normal question.

For decades I have heard the story of Cain and Abel but never understood why God was so unhappy with Cain. I am listening to the Bible in a Year podcast with Fr. Mike for the second year (yes, it’s that good) and it was his explanation of Genesis 4 that finally made things click. Abel gave God his first fruits while Cain sort of gave God his sloppy seconds. The re-gifted fruitcake. No parent would stop loving their child over a fruitcake, but it would be a sad encounter for sure! And that led me to think about my daily offerings. What part of my day do I give to God? Most days it is the very first thing I do each day. I say most days. And this is ultimately the icing on the fruitcake. This is what I took away from that chapter in Genesis and the revelation on that walk. God deserves my best, but at the very least, my first.

Now, on to the knitting!

I had the joy of doing another test knit for Melinda of Yankee Knitter Designs. The Color Block Mitten is a flexible and modifiable pattern in a variety of sizes. The first set I knit according to the pattern. Size Large, I used Malabrigo Chunky – Dusty for the main color with Tutto Santa Fe Fine Merino DK – Black Gorge as the contrast. I loved the pattern and the outcome. The mittens were true to size but since I wear size Medium, I tossed them in the wash for a spell and they felted beautifully! The fabric is dense and soft. These mittens keep my paws warm on the coldest days.

This is a great pattern because it is written for circular knitting using magic loop, or dpns and a version knit flat on straight needles. For my next pair, I used the same yarn, but rather than a color block design, I knit with both yarns held together. I also knit them flat using two 6″ dpns. Aren’t they cute? You can have a lot of fun with this pattern and the potential for modifications is endless. Oh, I forgot to mention, these knit up in a day!

**Two yarns held together make for warm and cozy mittens**

Our Holidays were quiet and peaceful; just the way I like them. The break from school always comes at a good time. Razz was hoping one of these gifts was for him.

I am making progress on Shawlography with only one set of clues to go. I know, better late than never.

Take a gander at this beautiful necklace. It was a gift from a very thoughtful server at our favorite restaurant. We bonded one evening over insects. These are the wings from a Brood X Cicada. Have you ever???

We had our first snow day last Friday. There is something really fun about having a snow day on a Friday and this school secretary secretly did a happy fanny dance. OK, so maybe not so secretly.

That’s all I have for the first post of the year. No resolutions, no ‘word of the year’, just a whole lot ‘o nuthin!

Saint of the Day: Saint Gregory of Nyssa. St. Gregory the Bishop of Nyssa. He was a very smart fella who fought the Arian Heresy (a really big deal). He is the patron saint of musicians, singers, students, and teachers.

“Peace is defined as harmony among those who are divided. When, therefore, we end the civil war within our nature and cultivate peace within ourselves, we become at peace.”
––St. Gregory of Nyssa

February 4, 2020

Finish or Frog part 2

Hello dear friends! I must say, the Finish or Frog adventure was one of the best things I did for myself, even though I was not the beneficiary of the finished projects. This next project should have been frogged years ago. And I mean YEARS. My son and I picked out the yarn together at the NYS Sheep and Wool Festival (aka. Rhinebeck) with the intention of my knitting him a set of socks. The yarn was very popular for socks at the time and we waited on line for quite a while to buy it. I cast on immediately and knit 3/4 of the first sock but I was not in love with how it was knitting up; it was stiff and the wool was discoloring my hands and bamboo needles. So the project sat there, in my closet for close to 8 years. You heard me. 8 YEARS! So out of the closet it came. I rewound the wool and decided it would make a nice hat that would showcase the yarn’s subtle color variations. I had forgotten how handsome the wool was. I chose the Barley Light pattern by Tin Can Knits The yarn is Blue Moon Fiber – Silkie Socks that Rock in Ravenscroft color way (black with yellow and green highlights)

In keeping with the habit of naming my projects after video games or characters. I named this hat Vivi after that black mage in Final Fantasy IX- the little fella with the big hat!.

Vivi also makes a minor appearance in Kingdom Hearts, one of my son’s favorite video game franchises. The word ‘vivi’ literally means “to live to see”. This yarn definitely lived to see the day when it became a fully finished object (FFO?)!

What’s going on at work? When surrounded by middle schoolers, it is never dull. The daughter of a faculty member created this beautiful bulletin board. These kids definitely help me find my wings. If they only knew.

And then there are days like this:

Fortunately, there are more quarters in the right jar!
My dog makes me a better human.

I think that’s it for the time being. It is always a pleasure visiting with you!! I enjoy reading your blogs, and I certainly hope you enjoy mine as well.

Naturally, this post would not be complete without a photo of Razz. When my husband has to be away for a prolonged amount of time, we all miss him, Razz included. The first night home, Razz climbs in Robert’s bag and beds down for the evening. It is the cutest h*cking thing evah!

Have a blessed week! Drop me a line, I would love to know how you’re doing. If you have a quirky pet, tell me about him!

I wish you peace in you lives, and endless hours of knitting!

Love,

Regina

Saint of the Day: Saint Joseph of Leonissa – As a boy and as a student in early adulthood, Joseph drew attention for his energy and virtue. He said “When we suffer anything, we give proof of our love.” Sometimes I find it so difficult to see love in the face of suffering. That’s something to ponder, yes?

In my mug: Earl Grey Tea

In my ears: Bill Evans. He is a jazz pianist. I had not heard of him before, but my hunny, shared this link with me. I hope you enjoy it! Portrait in Jazz – Bill Evans Trio

Favorite Tweet from the Super Bowl Half-Time Show: “This is the best Super Bowl themed bachelor party I have ever been to!”

The Knits

Carver!

The Colleagues

The Poem

Spring (first stanza)

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!