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Lots of things to do this weekend, including lots of Christmas knitting, but I do have some links for you!
bits & pieces
- If you liked the mittens I posted on IG, this is the pattern: Minky Mittens.
- I also like this vintage mitten pattern — it's fairly straightforward and has all the sizes.
- My theory is that we can't have good stories or even comedy without a sense of the transcendent and the conviction that behind everything, there is the Good. We have to confront this fact about our time and what it means for our culture: “The poverty of … postmodernism-passing-for-irony is that it is enslaved to its own fear of being banal. It refuses to take the world seriously without understanding the seriousness of that pose.” Matthew Morgan, Laughter and Tears: Is Life a Comedy or a Tragedy?
- Remembering C. S. Lewis. “For Lewis, the great tragedy of the 20th century was the loss of confidence in objective moral norms and an objective sense of truth. In his essay ‘The Poison of Subjectivism' (1943), Lewis stated bluntly, ‘Unless we return to a crude and nursery-like belief in objective values, we perish.'”
from the archives
liturgical living
A virtual tour of the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
Tomorrow is the first Sunday of Advent
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The boards of the others: Rosie’s Pinterest. Sukie’s Pinterest. Deirdre’s Pinterest. Habou’s Pinterest. Bridget’s Pinterest.
And the others on IG: Rosie’s Instagram. Sukie’s Instagram. Deirdre’s Instagram. Bridget’s Instagram.
Kate says
I have the original booklet with that vintage mitten pattern! I knitted quit a few red mittens for my kids when they were young. When they were older, they wanted gloves (beyond my knitting skills). I’m knitting a scarf for a Christmas gift. When I had a third of it knitted, I ripped it out because I realized I had cast on too many stitches, making it too wide and I would run out of yarn before I was finished. I suffer from the same yarn estimation problem as you. I need to get some Christmas sewing started. And where are my Advent candles?! In my tinfoil hat moments, it has crossed my mind that Thanksgiving is an anti-Catholic plot, having it so close to the start of Advent. (Well, Puritans didn’t celebrate Christmas.) The Canadians are much smarter about their Thanksgiving. A Canadian friend once said to me, “And what American genius thought having two major holidays so close together was a good idea?”
Mrs. Bee says
I can’t see basically anything anymore on IG now without an account. If you feel inclined to suggest a good way to learn to knit in the round, go ahead – I’m embarrassed to confess that I make a mess of every method I try, so I’m still here stuck with flat knitting or doing seams. But I’d love to do those vintage mittens for my youngest! I made a scarf for him and sort of promised matching mittens… two winters ago 🙁
Leila says
Mrs. B — is it the joining that gets you? Do two rows flat and then join. Later you can use the tail to seam those two rows together.
Once you do it, you will never turn back! Going in the round allows you to just knit and knit instead of all that purling!
However, the vintage pattern also has directions for flat 🙂
Mrs. Bee says
Sorry, I am seeing your reply only now! Yes, joining is a mess. I tried hard to make the magic loop work, and I always end up having no idea where I am or what stitches I’m really working on.
Your suggestion is intriguing, thank you – it might work even for me!
I’m also rusty, I haven’t been knitting much this past year, though I thought I would have more time. But yesterday I stopped by a cute little thrift shop and found the darlingest blanket, crocheted by hand in such wonderful wool that I started longing for yarn in my hands – I told my husband I felt like Mole suddenly smelling his house in The Wind in the Willows!
Mrs. T says
Needed the reminder on affection as a tool because my thirteen year old son, well….good grief. He doesn’t even like when I touch him. I try to sneak in a hug every now and then, but he stiffens immediately. Teenage boys are interesting creatures. I’ve referred to your article often on “mothering the thirteen yr old boy” as a reminder that all this is “normal”. Hopefully I can survive the next five boys….kidding! Sort of.
Leila says
Mrs. T — it is normal! Sometimes it works better to say something like “Come over here and give me a hug” so that he can mentally prepare himself for it. Also hopefully there is a little toddler you can fling his way! Teen boys can get their hugs from babies. In a year things will be better… give him his space but don’t let him go entirely.
Mrs. T says
There is a toddler and a baby. He is particularly affectionate with her. Thank goodness.
Kimberlie says
Wonderful reminder about affection as a tool!
julianamama says
Leila, do you have a post anywhere with Christmas music recommendations? I’m looking for both non-hokey folk music and Western tradition religious (I have lots of Eastern tradition). Like, what would traditional Catholics listen to during both Advent and Christmastide? Just searching iTunes isn’t narrowing it down very well. Latin or English (or French, if anyone has ideas!) I might get back on IG just to poll all my Catholic friends.
-Arielle
Amy says
I’m not Leila, but I love Advent at Ephesus by the Benedictines of Mary Queen of Apostles! Very beautiful Advent choral music, my children love O Come Divine Messiah for an Advent lullaby. I also like the albums In the Bleak Midwinter by Marian Grace and O Night Divine by L’Angelus for the folk side of things. Good luck, there’s lots of lovely Advent music out there!
Leila says
I have several posts about Advent music (you can search for them), but was a bit stumped for one about Christmas music!
I know we have many in our collection that we enjoy, but I haven’t catalogued them here.