Knit and Pray

Catholic woman talks about knitting, sewing, crocheting, cross-stitching, crafting and Catholic Faith and family.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

WHAT'S UP!





Good morning everyone! Just a quick post to show what I've been up to and what I will be working on the rest of the week.
The hat I fiddled with, using the same lace pattern as the lavendar blanket, turned out so cute! Just added a frill on the brim using basically the same hat pattern I normally use (basic hat pattern from Care Wear) and substituting the lace pattern. The socks are the Michelle socks I normally make but lengthened them and added the frill.
The round blanket is done! Yeah! The middle part is done in Red Heart Soft Baby in the "Naptime" colorway (just used all of the 6 oz. skein), then I did six rows using Caron Simply Soft in "Soft Blue", twelve rows in Caron Simply Soft in "Off White", then eighteen rows in Caron Simply Soft in "Soft Green". It's approximately 43" in diameter.
The lavendar blanket will be my next project I aim to finish.
The black and yellow "Hawkeye" blanket is on it's way to having the ends woven and the squares sewn together. Just need to knit up one more yellow block.
Have a wonderful rest of the week:~D

Friday, September 21, 2007

LITANY OF SAINT MICHAEL

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven,
Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Queen of Angels, pray for us.
St. Michael, pray for us.
St. Michael, filled with the wisdom of God, etc.
St. Michael, perfect adorer of the Incarnate Word,
St. Michael, crowned with honor and glory,
St. Michael, most powerful Prince of the armies of the Lord,
St. Michael, standard-bearer of the Most Holy Trinity,
St. Michael, victor over Satan,
St. Michael, guardian of Paradise,
St. Michael, guide and comforter of the people of Israel,
St. Michael, splendor and fortress of the Church Militant,
St. Michael, honor and joy of the Church Triumphant,
St. Michael, light of angels,
St. Michael, bulwark of orthodox believers,
St. Michael, strength of those who fight under the standard of the Cross,
St. Michael, light and confidence of souls at the hour of death,
St. Michael, our most sure aid,
St. Michael, our help in all adversities,
St. Michael, Herald of the Everlasting Sentence,
St. Michael, Consoler of souls detained in the flames of Purgatory,
Thou whom the Lord has charged to receive souls after death,
St. Michael, our Prince,
St. Michael, our Advocate,

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

V. Pray for us, O glorious St. Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ,
R. That we may be made worthy of His promises.

Let Us Pray
Sanctify us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, with Thy holy blessing,
and grant us, by the intercession of St. Michael, that wisdom
which teaches us to lay up treasures in Heaven by exchanging
the goods of this world for those of eternity, Thou Who livest and
reignest, world without end. R. Amen.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

WHAT A DEAL!



First: Got the skeins of TLC Wiggles reg. price $3.44 for $.99 each at Hobby Lobby last night. Yeah! They will become Pinwheel Baby blankets.
Second: Just for a change made up this cute Petal Bib from Oneskein by Leigh Radford. Used Sugar'nCream in Robins Egg Blue.
Third: Sarah is having a contest on her blog for anyone to knit or crochet preemie baby items. It's open until November 29. Yet another mom of a preemie trying to give back. The preemie items are such instant gratification to make and are SO appreciated too! Come along and play and win some fabulous prizes:~D You can tell her I sent you;~)
Fourth: Here's a smile for you Carolyn!!!

Sunday, September 16, 2007

HATS, BIBS, BOOTIES...





Here are some pictures of what I've been working on this weekend. The hat for afghans for Afghans is done:~D A large preemie hat/bootie set and some white large preemie booties are all sewn up with little heart button accents. Just need to weave in ends and sew on buttons for these bibs.
Was showing Norm the sweater pattern I intend to make Eric's sweater out of (Fall 2007 IK Cobblestone Pullover) and asked if that looked like something he would wear so...Norm will be getting a sweater for Christmas, God willing!
The temps have dropped this weekend and it's been a little wet, real sweater makin' weather. Too bad it's going to be up near 90 the next few days! We've all been snotting and coughing around here since school has begun. I usually make the boys wash their hands first thing when they get home, so don't know if it's a cold or allergies.
Eric has gone to see the Cardinals play at Hammons Field with some buddies at school the past two evenings. He's been such a big help around the house he deserved some fun just for him with no little brothers to tag along.
The month is half over and there are so many things I want to get accomplished! It is sometimes difficult to acknowledge our own shortcomings, but the fact is I probably won't get everything done that I'd like. Maybe I should just forgive myself and say the Serenity Prayer:
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardship as the pathway to peace. Taking as Jesus did this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen.~Reinhold Niebuhr
Have a great week!!!

Saturday, September 15, 2007

PRAYERS TO OUR LADY OF SORROWS

LITANY OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven,
Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary,
Pray for us.
Holy Mother of God,
Pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, etc.
Mother crucified,
Mother sorrowful,
Mother tearful,
Mother afflicted,
Mother forsaken,
Mother desolate,
Mother bereft of thy Child,
Mother transfixed with the sword,
Mother consumed with grief,
Mother filled with anguish,
Mother crucified in heart,
Mother most sad,
Fountain of tears,
Abyss of suffering,
Mirror of patience,
Rock of constancy,
Anchor of confidence,
Refuge of the forsaken,
Shield of the oppressed,
Subduer of the unbelieving,
Comfort of the afflicted,
Medicine of the sick,
Strength of the weak,
Harbor of the wrecked,
Allayer of tempests,
Resource of mourners,
Terror of the treacherous,
Treasure of the faithful,
Eye of the Prophets,
Staff of the Apostles,
Crown of martyrs,
Light of confessors,
Pearl of virgins,
Consolation of widows,
Joy of all saints,
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
Look down upon us, deliver us, and save us from all
trouble, in the power of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Let us Pray
Imprint, O Lady, thy wounds upon my heart, that I
may read therein sorrow and love--sorrow to endure
every sorrow for thee, love to despise every love for thee.
R. Amen.
(Conclude with the Apostles Creed, Hail Holy Queen,
and three Hail Marys, in honor of the Most Holy Heart
of Mary).
This litany was written in Latin by Pope Pius VII in 1809
during his captivity under Napoleon Bonaparte.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

WIPS IN GREENS AND PURPLES

Ahem, this post should read "An Embarrassment of Riches". I decided to go through and pull out all of the WIPS on the needles. From left to right: Daniel's sweater ( and remember that Eric gets a sweater too after this one is done, HA!); a wool hat for Afghans for Afghans; the beginning of a plain garter stitch place mat; the light green diamond pattern blanket; the clapotis that I'm ready to begin the middle part on; and the growing lavender lace blanket. Yes, I've suffered the dreaded startitis. I need to focus on only one or two items so they can get done and off of the needles, but I find that there are SO MANY wonderful things I want to make that as soon as I'm done with one thing I want to start on another. I have been also working on some white large preemie booties that need sewing up and some Mason-Dixon Knitting bibs that need the ends weaved in and buttons sewn on, so I know there has been progress on that front. I admit that I also have a large WIP that I just started on September 1 for myself(woohoo!) and will reveal it when it is done. Don't hold your breath folks cause it will take A WHILE, but I don't think you'll be disappointed when it is revealed. Now, if you'll excuse me, I believe I have a bit of knitting to get to!
PS If you collect cookbooks with tried and true recipes and/or are looking to buy a great Christmas gift for $13 plus shipping & handling check out this post from Preemie Project volunteer Libby:~)
PPS The boys are doing well in school (thankfully) even thought the first two days for Eric were a bit rough.

YELLOW, PINK AND BLUE WIPS

I have about 5 more yellow squares to make for a Hawkeye blanket; the light pink is a medium preemie hat (pumpkins are in addition to the regular donations of The Preemie Project); the never ending sock yarn blanket that will be a WIP for some time (as it takes 15 minutes to do two rows! and I've got three more skeins to get through); the meager beginning of the summer top I was going to knit for myself.

PASTEL WIPS

The blue is the beginning of a burial bunting; the frilly one on the right is to be a baby jacket; and in the center is the ever growing (although slowly) circular blanket.

FIRST TOOTH

One down and three to go. Two permanent teeth have already come through in the back of the front bottom. If the others don't fall out naturally by October 15 then the dentist will pull them. What an excited kid! He got a dollar bill for this one. That's inflation for you. When we were kids Norm and I only got a quarter each:~D

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

THE ROSARY: OUR WEAPON OF CHOICE


When your Mother asks you to do something do you do it and how fast? Our Lady has asked us to pray the rosary. She leads us to her Divine Son. The Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious way of the life of Christ. There are some fine sites which include Holy Scripture when saying the Rosary called Scriptural Rosaries. It's a wonderful thing to remember what The Good Book says while reciting the prayers of the rosary. For those who think the rosary is only vain repetative prayer, this article explains beautifully the truth to that assertion. Now more than ever we need people of faith to pray...our Mother said so! A wonderful site I go to to pray the Rosary online is here. The blue beads become golden as you pray and move your cursor over them. The beautiful Ave Maria is playing as well. We are living in a time of grace, but also a time of purification. If we don't stop allowing the abominations of abortion, euthenasia, lukewarmness...we have only ourselves to blame for any horrific consequences. You don't have to be a Catholic to pray the rosary and I invite all to do so as Our Lady has requested we do.

Saturday, September 08, 2007

ON PRAYER

"Be attentive to your reason in order to do what it tells you concerning the way to God."
~St. John of the Cross
*******
"Your prayer cannot stop at mere words. It has to lead to deeds and practical consequences."
~Blessed Josemaria Escriva
*******
"Prayer is the raising of the mind to God. We must always remember this. The actual words matter less."
~Blessed Pope John XXIII
*******
"Do not be either astonished or discouraged at the difficulties you find in prayer. Only be constant and submissive and God will be pleased with you."
~Blessed Claude De La Colombiere

Sunday, September 02, 2007

BLANKET AND SWEATER UPDATE


The lavender blanket made from this pattern is coming along nicely. I may be making more of these in various colors.
The back of Daniel's sweater is ready for the arm shaping. The fabric us so nice and soft. Daniel is very excited that I'm making him something too:~D
(Hey, charity begins at home!)

PRAYING FOR THE DEAD

"Bury my body wherever you will...One thing only I ask you, that you remember me at the altar of the Lord wherever you may be."
~St. Monica
*******
"St. Thomas teaches that Christian charity extends not only to the living but also to all who have died in the state of grace. Hence, as we are bound to relieve our living neighbors who require our aid, so we are obliged to comfort these holy prisoners."
~St. Alphonsus Liguori
*******
PRAYER FOR ALL THE DEAD
Accept this prayer which I offer You, merciful Father, for those who have died, those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith, and those whose faith in this life was known to You alone. Have mercy on them all and bring them into Your kingdom of peace and light without end where You and Your saints live in the happiness which this world has not known and cannot give. Amen.
*******
Please pray for the repose of Sally Mezzacapa, a young woman who just passed. Thank you!!