Felted Knitted Bag

Spiritual - The homily in mass tonight really hit home. It was about the gospel in which Christ asks Peter three times, "Do you love me, Peter?" The third time Peter answered, "You know that I love you, Lord, you know everything." Yes, He knows everything - He knows just how weak we are. He knows that we love Him - UNTIL we have something else to do, we're asked to do something hard, we're asked to forgive someone we don't want to forgive, we're asked to sacrifice.... Yes, He knows everything. He knows how much we love Him. The Good News is that He loves us with wide open arms anyway.

Sewing - I love this bag! This has been my "grab to go" project whenever I'm riding in the car or waiting in an office, etc. I used 3 skeins of Lamb's Pride (125 yds each) and 15 yds of Karabella Festival yarn. I cast on 100 stitches onto a #13 circular needle and knitted about 10 inches and started alternate bands of 5 rows of purl and knit (just to practice the different stitches) till I had just enough of the third skein to cast off. About four inches from the top I mixed in three rows of the Festival yarn. The bag went through only 3 cycles of warm water  in a regular wash cycle. I didn't want any more shrinkage, although it could have been felted a little more. See the before and after pictures.  The alternate bands of knit & purl did not add any texture or change the appearance of the bag. This is going to be one of my favorites. What color will I use next?

Ahh - Knitting

Spiritual - Contemplate this: "God could make a bigger world or a wider sky, but He could not raise a pure creature higher than Mary for the dignity of Mother of God is the highest dignity that can be conferred on a creature" (St. Bonaventure).

Sewing - I am a beginner knitter and having so much fun. This is the third time I've tried to learn to knit since 1980 or so. This time I'm determined to learn. I've made several scarves over the winter and loved wearing them. Now, I'm into felted totes. These totes use bulky yarn and a size 13 circular needle. The project is very fast. For the first one, I cast on 100 stitches and used 2 skeins of Lamb's Pride (125 yds ea) and mixed in about 35 yds of Karabella Festival yarn four inches (five rows) from the top. I used the knit stitch. After knitting, I threaded the bottom and pulled into a circle to close. I tossed it into the washer (hot water) for three cycles. Towels were stuffed in to shape the bag until it was dry. I was really surprised at the amount of shrinkage. It ended up being more of a bowl than a bag!

The Diaper Bag

Spiritual - Why do we go to mass/church on Sunday? A Christian is not isolated - he belongs to the great human family that is baptized, grafted onto Christ, and becomes a member of His Mystical Body, the Church. Our individual spiritual prayer life is born, grows, and matures by association to our mother, the church. This high expression of our faith should be inserted into the prayer of the church - liturgical prayer. It is the prayer that the whole church addresses to God - a UNITING FOR ALL TIME of Jesus' prayer to His Father. Just think - "In the glory of heaven and in humble effacement on our altars, He praises Him in the name of all creatures and intercedes with Him for the needs of each one in particular." (Divine Intimacy, Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen,1964) Public prayer and private prayer must be present in such a way that they penetrate and sustain each other. One can not take the place of the other.

Sewing - I completed the diaper bag. It is huge! Jennie will be able to put the baby in there too! The inside has great pockets and there is a cell phone pocket on the outside. Because there were just a few visuals in the instructions, I had to read them several times for each step. Also, it was bulky to sew - I broke 3 needles. HA! I learned a lot from sewing this bag, but would do it again. 

Totes & Bags

Spiritual - Today my husband and I brought Eucharist to the nursing home. The individual situations and conditions of the patients are often so sad and seemingly hopeless. They are grateful to see us and happy to receive communion. As walk down the halls going from room to room I feel so blessed to be there, and wander if I'll have their courage if I am ever in their situation. I believe, according to my faith, that they are truly blessed to share in the in the Lord's suffering for the salvation of the world, and, that they are already in purgatory. BUT - being fully human and dealing daily with pain, loneliness, illness, and endless days, these souls must also share in the feelings of Christ on the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me!" They, like all souls in purgatory, need our prayers.

Sewing - I really like making totes and bags. I can match them to outfits I make and can re-design the patterns to suit my needs. They are easier to make that one may think. You have to pay attention and follow directions. It does take time. I often wonder WHY as I making this when I can buy one alot cheaper than I can make one. Well - I can choose the fabric and style that I want. I can develop my sewing skills. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcvp/sets/72157616731582283/

I am working on a diaper bag for my DD who is expecting her 3rd baby. She decided on the "modern diaper bag w/ changing pad" by Amy Bultler. Of, course, she wanted the exact material - so - into local fabric stores and onto the Internet to find the different fabrics, interfacings, and fusible stabilizers. The instructions in Amy Butler's book for this bag are great. There are adorable ideas for baby clothing, toys, blankets, shoes, and nursery items in this book!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcvp/3497381573/in/set-72157617562807129/