You don’t typically hear from me more than once in the same week, but I thought this quote was very dear and worth sharing.
Do you ever look at your blog’s ‘Stats and Insights’ page? Being a self-proclaimed geek, I love reading this data daily. (data? barely know her!).
Yesterday, I looked at the map showing the home country of all my readers; it was so amazing that I just had to share it with my husband. His response was “my wife, world traveler!”. That got me thinking (a rare and sometimes frightening phenomenon).
Regina conquers the world!
We are so blessed to live in a time where relationships can be forged from hundreds or even thousands of miles away by celebrating that one singular worsted weight thread that we all share. I believe this connects us as makers as well as sisters and brothers of God.
Today, I will meditate on this while giving thanks for the graces I have received by knowing you and traveling with you on this journey around the world. Thank you for inviting me into your homes and hearts.
Happy New Year, friends! I hope your holidays and holy days were blessed.
The title of this post is the brain child of my husband. I wanted to write about how my first projects of the new year were actually repurposed from WIPs that have been lurking on my shelf for way too long. And in one case, 8 years! As I explained this to him, he offered his ever-expanding knitting vocabulary as a suggestion for the title (very sexy). I am knitting forward into the new year, by tinking back old projects. Clever, eh?
During the Christmas break, I went into all the closets and dark recesses of my home where WIPs tend to lurk. I flushed them all out and took stock in the projects. To my credit, there were only a handful-maybe 3 or 4- with only one not worth saving. I made up my mind to stop what I was currently working on to finally finish or frog these long-forgotten projects. So over the next few posts, I’ll take one project at a time and share with you what they were and what they became.
The first project I dealt with was the Shawl Collared Cardigan by Erika Knight. I started this for my oldest son last winter (as in 2018). As soon as the wool arrived, I cast on and went full steam ahead until I had 6 pieces that required blocking then seaming. It had been so long since I knit a garment flat that I forgot how much I dislike seaming. None the less, this was made with super bulky yarn and it worked up rather quickly. The primary challenge was finding a place on the edges to insert my needle without creating a large hole. Once I got in the groove, it was smooth sailing. Until the zipper. Have you ever been faced with a new technique that you avoid for no rational reason except fear not knowing exactly what the h*ck you are doing? Fast forward a few months and I finally put the time aside to sew it in. Took me a few attempts, but after about two hours, it was done. One more final blocking and an hour of pulling off Razz’s floof and the sweater was complete. I wrapped it and put it under the tree for Ben. I am very pleased with the final product and it definitely falls into the “Mommy Hug Sweater” category! The wool is Rowan Big Wool in black. http://knitrowan.com
Isn’t he handsome?
Super cozy, squishy, super bulky wool
I used to be a monogamous knitter but with the advent of knitting video podcasts, I found myself downloading and casting on way too many projects. I never realized how this habit hindered the joy of the project I was actively knitting at the time. This exercise in finishing or frogging was a great reminder of the freedom I feel when I am not bogged down by too many projects. I have since made it a priority, upon finishing a knit, to block, snap a few photos for Ravelry and Instagram, then I completely unpack my project bag, returning all needles and notions to their proper place, dropping any left over yarn into a bowl for a scappy project. There is less clutter around the house and much less clutter in my head! And, I am actually getting things done! win-win-win!
So, does this post fall into the “a little about knitting” or “a lot about nothing” category. Not sure, but I do think it is time to wrap things up. I want to thank you for stopping by. I look forward to sharing time with you in the months to come. If you have a moment, drop me a line in the comments and tell me what you are working on, who you are rooting for in the Super Bowl or what your best fur baby has been charming you with lately.
Be sure to peek in on Razzle, he would love to see you.
In my cup:Â Tea in a sweet little tea set from my boys
Saint of the day: Saint Sabastian. St. Sabastian had a rough go of things toward the end. He was not popular with the emperor Diocletian who had him beaten and thrown in a sewer. Does it surprise you that he became the special protector from the bubonic plague? He is the patron saint of archers and pin-makers. Today, I will say a special prayer for all the wonderful knitters and creators whose little enamel pins adorn my project bags and totes.
To members of a certain Tribe, you know who you are…
I did not write on my birthday, so I am declaring this day – September 21, 2019 – ‘Birthday 2.0’.
I have some traditions on my birthday. The most curious being the tiara that I wear ALL. DAMN. DAY! I don’t plan anything for my birthday, rather I let the day come to me. I follow my heart and do whatever comes my way with a sense of the divine, handing me the most beautifully wrapped gift. The day always includes my husband, Razzle, my boys and a whole cluster of people that I love and who are a part of my day because they want to be, not because of some self-inflicted, guilt-riddled sense of obligation. That is what I love most about them.
This last birthday, I turned 54yrs old and to be honest, I haven’t felt this young since I was in my twenties. My youngest son has a client who is a masseuse. (I think that is how you spell it, but I am too lazy to look it up.) He treated me to an hour of total pampering, followed by a light lunch at our local health food store. As we sat in the cafe we were being observed by a table of older women. I chalked it up to the tiara. As we left, one of the ladies did inquire about the tiara. My hunch was correct. As I explained that it was my birthday and my son was treating me to some pampering, the looks on their collective faces changed! “He’s your SON? We thought you were a cougar!!” True story.
The older I get the younger I get. I could chalk it up to working in a middle school, or it could be the side effect of being knocked down a peg, assuming that peg-knocking has a reverse affect on one’s degree of maturity. Or, just maybe it has something to do with living life with eyes wide open. Stay with me on this one. Not to long ago, I sat down with myself and took a long, hard look at some things in my life that were just not working for me anymore. It is very difficult to change habits, whether they be behaviors we do on auto-pilot, or those thoughts that have been residing in your brain for years, undermining your confidence and self-esteem; taking up real estate, rent free. Ironically, we can all attest to the fact that our thoughts influence those behaviors, right. So, there I sat…and there they were-those unproductive habits. I made up my mind right then and there that I would try to look some of these habits squarely in the eye and serve them a notice of eviction.
I know you are wondering what that has to do with feeling younger as I age, and the only thing I can say is that to me, breaking bad habits or changing unhealthy patterns is much like learning to walk. There are forward steps, backward steps and fall on your ass steps, but with perseverance and support we keep at it until we can walk. On our own. Always forward toward our destination. We walk alone, with family, with friends and in my case, with a Tribe.
Thank you all for your companionship.
Your sister in Christ,
Regina Mary
In my glass: Saranac Diet Ginger Beer
In my ears: The beautiful sound of my husband at the piano, and Auburn Football.
Saint of the Day: St. Matthew. Little is known about St. Matthew. except that he was likely born in Galilee. He worked as a tax collector, which was a hated profession during the time of Christ. According to the Gospel, Matthew was working at a collection booth in Capernaum when Christ came to him and said, “Follow me.” With this simple call, Matthew became a disciple of Christ.
Do you give your Ravelry projects names? I do, but often wonder if others do as well. My Ravelry ID is ‘Gamermom’ because I do love a good video game. When I began creating pages for my knitting projects, I would name each one after a video game or character. Lately I have been wondering if others create their own names as well. If so, what inspires you? I get the obvious “Christmas hat for Bobby” names, but if it isn’t so obvious, what is the inspiration?
2018 for me was a year of knitting with friends. It is way too easy for me to pick up my knitting and tune out the world. I don’t think I am the only knitter with this tendency. What made last year so stellar was the projects that I knit in community with my friends, both real and virtual. I tend to avoid KALs because I have an aversion to combining knitting and deadlines. But, when awesome people and awesome projects walk into the room together, who can resist? Here are a few projects that were made better by the wonderful company I kept while knitting them.
Our own little KAL!
My friend and I decided to knit the Humulus sweater, long before the pattern went to the top of the heap during Mason – Dixon’s March Madness Competition in 2018. That’s right, we are trendsetters and don’t you forget it! Mine is knit in Malabrigo Worsted in Orchid and Olive. Sassy girl chose a beautiful grey palette by Knit Picks Simply Wool Worsted. We are both thrilled that Isabell Kraemer is the mastermind behind the latest Mason-Dixon Field Guide!! I got mine…did you?
Another project my friends and I worked on together in 2018 was the Water hat by Thea Coleman, as part of the “Waterfor Flint” project. Please take a moment to read about this wonderful outreach. When you are done reading, please take another moment to tell me how to take decent photos. Thank you in advance.
Miss Babs YowzaJill Draper Makes Stuff
The final project came out of some of my favorite video podcasts. Chevas of the Chevyrell podcast hosted the In the Light KAL. I don’t know why I chose to join this KAL, being allergic to deadlines and everything, but Chevyrell is funny and naughty and sweet and enjoys a well curated cocktail! I selected Fiber for the People yarn which is dyed by Tayler of the Wool, Needles, Hands: a Fiber Journey podcast. Tayler, was very patient with me as I attempted to select 3 different yarns for this fade-y shawl. We exchanged many an email before the final yarn was purchased. I had hours of knitting, chatting and Instagram fun from start to finish with this project, and now, I am one of the moderators for Tayler’s Ravelry group! I KNOW! Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t make friends on social media.
The face only a Goldie can love!
Do you have friends that bring all sorts of happy to your knitting? I would love to hear about them.
Today’s Saint: St. Frances of Rome. She founded a society of women bound by no vows. They simply offered themselves to God and to the service of the poor. Who did she do this with? Her sister-in-law and friend, Vannozza! See? Friends Rule!
My husband commented on my blog name the other day. I describe this site as “a little about knitting, and a lot about nothing”. He kissed me and said I “fill the space between knitting and nothing nicely.” I thought that was a sweet thing to say. My hunny has such a clever way with words, and he is never at a loss for saying things that just melt my heart.
What have I been up to? A question that has been burning in your hearts, no doubt.
In the knitting department, I finished my third Scoreboard Cowl. Who isn’t nutz about those Pittsburgh Steelers? Black and Yellow. The Killer Bees. This year, I noticed a trend: the team I pick has a losing season. Next year I will knit one in the NE Patriots team colors. I did something differently than in previous years. Typically I delineate between games with a row or two in white. This year I played with colorwork, while leaving the white out. I wasn’t nuts about knitting with the three colors and this seemed like a cool way to show where one game ended and another began.  I am really pleased with the results and future cowls will use the same technique. You can find the details on my Ravelry page: Killer Bees Scoreboard Cowl
Other projects completed in 2018 were Bodhi Knit Washcloths from Mason-Dixon Knitting Field Guide No. 7: Ease. If you have not had the pleasure of owning one of their guides, I suggest you do; each one shares a collection of knits from some very talented knitters with each guide based on a theme. The Bodhi was one of the most addictive, enjoyable and portable projects I have ever knit. The highlight of this project was having them shared on Instagram by the designer as well as the Mason-Dixon ladies! I wrapped each cloth around a handmade soap from Merriweathers in Rhinebeck and gave them as Christmas gifts to my “knit worthy” friends and colleagues.
In other news:
Take a minute and check out the latest in “Razz…” and “Things I Love” for more on what I have been busying myself with lately.
What’s in my glass:Â A Bourbon Negroni (look it up, it’s divine!)
What’s makin’ noise:Â Oh, just 50 mph wind gusts!
Saint of the Day: St. Tarasios – he was the first secretary to the Emperor Constantine and his mother, Irene. Apparently he was a pretty big deal in his day. One of the things he advocated for was that the practice of veneration of icons be restored in the church. Personally, I would like to thank this man. I love gazing on icons during prayer or meditation. They are beautiful, inspirational and a tangible manifestation of the history of the faith. Good job Tarasios, good job!
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. Â
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:Â 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!!)
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.Â
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.
I am calling this my ‘second-thought heel’
DPNs be damned!
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.
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.Â
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.Â
What I’m sipping:Â coffee, coffee and more coffee…
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:Â coffee
Watching:Â X-Files (still)
Current location of Razz:Â under the dining room table
OK, so 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???
Double-pointed needle case
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!!
Hello Kitty! Whatcha making?
Prepare to be amazed…
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:Â Killian’s Irish Red (Good ol’ Uncle George!)
Listening:Â 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.
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!
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!
In my glass: Coconut water and frozen fruit cubes. Delish!
Cosmicknitter 