Emily M. DeArdo's Blog, page 31
May 7, 2020
A Little Bit Stuck?
Are you feeling like your energy and motivation varies wildly from day to day?
I asked this on twitter the other day, and from the responses I got, I think I’m not alone.
Self-isolation or “stay at home” orders, or whatever you want to call it….it can be hard to drudge up motivation to do things, right?
comfort knitting!
So here’s what I’m telling myself—I do the bare minimum every day, and anything else is extra. I have a list of things I want to do, and if I feel energetic and focused, I can knock out things on the list. If I don’t, then maybe I do one little thing, like a load of laundry or clearing off part of the counter. Whatever.
I think we really need to give ourselves grace and space during this time. It’s a really different way to live, and there’s stress about unknown things. Even the basics, like church and school, aren’t happening, and that can throw us off in deep ways.
Right now, I think giving ourselves grace, space, and flexibility are all good gifts.
May 6, 2020
Wednesday Notebook #8
It’s the Fourth Wednesday of Easter!
St. Joseph with the Baby Jesus. Since the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker was on May 1, I thought this was an appropriate image to share today!
Making
Elementary Wrap
Boothbay Cardigan
(More on the knitting projects in this week’s Yarn Along!)
Anne Boleyn, a King’s Obsession
Jane Seymour, the Haunted Queen
Anna of Kleve, the Princess in the Portrait (why yes, I am reading Alison Weir’s Tudor Queens series, how did you ever guess????? :)
Knitlandia, by Clara Parkes (eh)
A Circle of Quiet, by Madeleine L’Engle
WatchingOutlander
The Last Song (yes, I did watch a Miley Cyrus movie. It’s pretty good. Don’t @ me.)
The Star Wars movies: Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith
Yarn Along #97: Emily Knits a Cardigan UPDATE!
Hello alll!
So you may be wondering where my cardigan project is?
It’s on the needles, humming along….
In case you’re new to this, here are the posts in this series so far:
Emily Knits A Cardigan—pattern, schematic, basics
Once I got gauge, I was happy as a clam and began immediately.
This little gauge is the BEST THING EVER, really.
So all was going well until…..
I had to RIP OUT. Alas! I dropped a stitch and I didn’t like how I fixed it, so I figured it was better to just rip it out and start again….so I did. I’m almost back to where I was before that, which is good! (I had just joined the third ball to the back piece, and was getting close to beginning the raglan shaping. EXCITING! :)
(Really, it is!)
So that’s been my main project. I am loving it. I have a bunch of yarn here for other projects that I’m debating casting on and then just rotating through projects but I also feel like I need to give the cardigan most of my love.
I’ve also been loving my Knit Stars classes, which I bought when they were on sale during the Early Bird period, so now I have Knit Stars 1 and 2 and 5, when it officially opens in October. Yay! I’m learning so much, which is great, especially as I work on the cardigan.
I’m also still working on the Elementary Wrap from Purl Soho, but that’s more like weekend knitting. Most of my time is on the cardigan. :)
Although I did pick up this GORGEOUS yarn….
As for books.
Yes, a lot of reading. Some of this is research for book 2, and a lot of it is just reading to keep me sane. :)
What are you reading/knitting/doing?
April 29, 2020
Wednesday Notebook #7
It’s the third Wednesday of Easter!
Raphael, The Resurrection
It’s also the feast of St. Catherine of Siena, and the wedding anniversary of Prince William and Duchess Katherine!
St. Catherine with a little memento mori!
Making
Boothbay Cardigan
a fun comfort knitting scarf with color change yarn
Elementary wrap is still going….
ReadingDrums of Autumn, Diana Gabaldon
The Other Queen, by Philippa Gregory (finished—this one is just OK. Too many characters. Just the women would’ve been much more interesting, get rid of the whole George plot line!)
The Sex Lives of Cannibals (yes, terrible title. It is FUNNY, though), by J. Maarten Troost (finished)
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, by Maria Di Lorenzo (research!) (finished)
Knitlandia, by Clara Parkes
Angel of Repose, by Wallace Stegner
WatchingNorma, the Met Opera. SO GOOD.
Giselle
Catholicism
The Prince of Egypt (I just love this movie!)
Links and SuchHow to get through these days? Lots of E.G.
You can still join to Consider the Lilies with Take Up & Read! Here is all the information!
April 27, 2020
The Living Memento Mori Book Club!
I am so delighted to bring you this virtual book club!
I know, Lent’s over, but I still think it’s worth getting together to talk about Living Memento Mori, because it’s a message we need all the time, not just during Lent.
Here are the details:
The kick-off is Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at 3:00 on my Facebook page.
The entire schedule of meeting dates can be found here. We’ll meet every Tuesday at 3:00 on my page from May 12-August 18, so this will run almost all summer. We’re taking a chapter a week, and there are fourteen chapters, plus the epilogue.
You can purchase the book at Amazon, Ave Maria Press (where it’s on sale until April 30!), or any other bookstore (links to various retailers can be found here).
It doesn’t matter if you use an e-book or a hard copy—we’re just taking it a chapter a week, so flip to the appropriate chapter.
I’m really looking forward to doing this with you! If you have any questions, drop them in the comments and I’ll answer them!
April 24, 2020
Seven Quick Takes--Second Friday of Easter (and BOOK CLUB!)
-1-
What a week!!!
So my body has decided it needs to misbehave….so I’ve got a sinus infection and my gallbladder is acting up, but since the last place we want me right now is a hospital (and I do not one to go to one), we’re trying to treat at home. The cipro I’m on for the sinus infection is really knocking it out, thank goodness, but the gallbladder issues are a bit harder. OH WELL.
-2-
(Because people always ask—yes, I am on cipro. I’m on a lot of antibiotics prophylactically, which means to keep me from getting sick—I’m basically the human version of a chlorinated pool—so that when I get an infection, we have to use Big Guns to knock it out.)
-3-
Around here this week:
And the big Ave Maria Spring sale continues! My book is available for $9! (The sale ends next week, on the 30th, so hop to it!)
-4-
Also!
Take Up & Read is going to begin studying our first book, Consider the Lilies, on Monday—and we’ve made it available in a digital format!
We’ve never done a digital copy of our studies before—normally, they are published by Amazon. But with the pandemic, it’s hard to get our studies right now, so we decided to make Consider the Lilies available digitally!
This is the perfect study for right now. Do you feel lost? Confused? Upset? Wondering where God is in all this mess? Then you need this study. It’s a beautiful one!
I hope you’ll join us! Here’s all the information you need.
-5-
OK SO BOOK CLUB!!!!
KICKS OFF MAY 13!
3:00 PM EST on my facebook page (link above).
We’re doing one chapter a week: here is the schedule.
Check back on Monday for more!!!!
-6-
I’ve started research for my next book!!!! It’s exciting! It’s about saints who were single—single in the world, not single like priests and nuns. So I’m researching and getting to know these saint friends, and how they found their purpose, which I think is important for singles now. As you know, if you’ve followed me for awhile, I have Thoughts! :)
-7-
How are you doing? Any prayer requests? Concerns? Need to talk? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
April 22, 2020
Wednesday Notebook #6
Second Wednesday of Easter
“The Resurrection of Christ”, Paolo Veronese
Making
The Boothbay Cardigan!
Elementary Wrap
Rachael Ray’s Smoky Black Bean and Rice Stoup —this is amazing and mostly a pantry meal! It has bacon so don’t make it on a Friday if you don’t eat meat on Friday. Super easy. I used soy sauce because I was out of Worcestershire sauce—it’s fine. I also used pressed/crushed tomatoes instead of tomato sauce. Also fine, and indeed I might like it better. If you go that route, make sure they’re really crushed. Like, liquidated.
Also, REALLY mash the beans when the recipe says to. They don’t have to be perfect, and it doesn’t have to be exactly half, but I did a really good job mashing last night and it makes lots of difference.
This reheats beautifully. It made a huge pot for me—serve this with some bread and you’ve totally got a full meal. You might not even need bread or salad. It’s that filling.
ReadingThe Two Towers (YES STILL)
Voyager, Diana Gabaldon (finished)
Drums of Autumn, Diana Gabaldon
Slow Knitting, by Hannah Thiessen (finished)
The Other Queen , by Philippa Gregory
Habitat: The Field Guide to Decorating, by Lauren Liess
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati: Journey to the Summit, by Ana Maria Vasquez (finished—research for book two!)
Kateri Tekawitha: Mohawk Maiden, by Evelyn Brown (Finished—also book two research!)
WatchingOutlander (series re-watch)
Links and SuchApril 17, 2020
Seven Quick Takes--Easter Friday
-1-
HE IS RISEN! Wooooo!
Let’s try to party as much as we can? OK?
-2-
Little bit of business first—Ave Maria Press is shipping books again, and my book is on sale!
The book’s sale price is $9, so grab a couple, stock up! Or buy some other great books—Joyful Momentum , Pray Fully, and Giving Thanks and Letting Go, are other great reads!
-3-
On the blog this week:
-4-
Whew, I feel like I have a lot of things to tell you, but I don’t know if I really do! :)
My birthday was last Thursday—Holy Thursday. Obviously we didn’t “go” to Mass. I watched Bishop Barron’s Mass from Santa Barbara—his Masses are captioned, so that’s why I watch those in particular.
There was cake….
There was mucho birthday yarn….
There were other gifts, too, but I didn’t take photos so I’ll have to talk about them next week. :) Maybe I’ll do a whole birthday post so we can have some fun?
-5-
And Easter was weird, too…..I mean, no Mass, for starters. I did watch a Vigil recording at my home parish. BUT—IT IS STILL EASTER. So even though it’s not what we’re used to, the Resurrection still happened. :) We are still Easter people!
-6-
(LONG!)
A couple things that I’ve been thinking about—If we’re all going to be wearing masks for the near future, I, and other hearing impaired folks, are massively screwed, because we read lips. (Well, some of us do!)
Can I just ask—if someone asks you to pull your mask down when you’re talking to them, can you step back and do that? Because otherwise, I really have no idea what you’re saying. In hospital settings my doctors and nurses don’t wear masks, because we end up having a “What did you say?” marathon. It’s just not practical. I’ve seen some pieces that have talked about face time calls or having someone with you to “translate.”
Massive sigh.
Guys. First off, if I had to bring one of my parents to every doctor’s appointment I had, they’d go nuts. And they can’t go to every one. Second, this denies me my agency. I hate to say that because it’s sounds so jargon-ish, but people need to talk to me, not the other people with me. ME. THE PERSON, THE PATIENT.
There are, apparently, masks with clear sections around the lips for lipreading in development. They have to be FDA approved, for starters. And then put into production. And honestly, I don’t think they’re going to be produced for a while yet, because they’re just not a priority.
It is already hard enough for me to get hospitals to email me or talk to people who aren’t me because I can’t use the phone. But if mask wearing becomes super en vogue, a lot of us are really screwed, and I’m going to be either having meltdowns in stores, or I’ll be answering all the wrong questions and looking like an idiot.
I’m trying not to freak out about something that might not happen. But I would ask you all to be aware—if you’re talking to someone and it seems like they’ve really lost the plot, and you’re wearing a mask, chances are they’re hearing impaired.
Oh, and also—and this is just in general—if I ask you to repeat yourself, please do it. Don’t huff about it or be annoyed about it. Just repeat yourself. You don’t need to start with “I said.” And also DO NOT SAY YOU SAID NOTHING. You clearly said something.
-7-
On that note….happy Friday? :) I’ve been watching a lot of the Met Opera live streams. If you’re an opera fan, be sure to check it out. If not, check it out! Tonight is Madama Butterfly, super popular, and a great first opera! Also, this is a gorgeous production.
April 15, 2020
Wednesday Notebook #5
He is Risen! He is Risen indeed!
Happy Easter!Making
The world’s BIGGEST SWATCH :)
Elementary Wrap
ReadingThe Two Towers
The Met’s Romeo et Juliette —GORGEOUS
Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker (birthday present! :) )
rewatching Outlander from the beginning….I keep thinking I’ll do a series about Outlander and Catholicism, so I’m re-reading the books and re-watching the series to get the information fresh in my head.
Links and Such
A poem about the harrowing of hell in Anglo-Saxon (with commentary!)
How to sleep better during COVID-19
10 Ways to Create a Calm and Peaceful Home (Some of these things you might not be able to do right now, but you can think about them!)
We might all need some Padre Pio socks! (Or Mary….or St. Therese….or St. Dominic….or St. Joan of Arc….or St. Augustine….or JPII…..they have so many!)
April 14, 2020
Emily Knits A Cardigan!
Yes, folks. The time has come.
I am going to knit a cardigan.
If I don’t do it now, when everyone is at home and I can ask EVERYONE QUESTIONS ALL THE TIME, then when can I do it?
Now is the time. It is the spring of our discontent but it will be the SPRING OF THE CARDIGAN.
So first up, what pattern?
I chose Hannah Fettig’s Boothbay Cardigan, because it can be knit in pieces and them seamed.* I definitely wanted to do one that was knit in pieces so that if something went horribly awry, I could rip out that piece, and not the whole thing. I’m not that great at frogging (ripping back ) to a certain point and then trying to pick up the stitches. So, a seamed knit it was.
Images from Hannah’s website, Knitbot
I didn’t want a brown cardigan so I chose a medium heathered grey, which is one of my favorite colors just because I think I look good in it! :) And it goes with a lot of other colors, as well, so it can be worn a lot. It’s Quince and Co Lark (the suggested yarn) in Kumlien’s Gull. (picture at the top of the post)
A few things, before we really get into the cardigan goodness:
When you’re knitting a garment you obviously have to choose your size. There are various ways to do this. The way I did it for this was measured my upper arm, and then chose the number on the schematic that was closest to this.
A schematic looks like this:
So, you want to take the number that is closest to your actual measurements (I am generally going up here) and you also want to look at the ease, which is listed in the pattern. Ease is either positive or negative. Positive ease means the garment fits more loosely; negative ease means it’s more form-fitting. This cardigan has a positive ease of 2.75”. So knowing that, I also chose the higher number for my garment, because I want he cardigan to be able to go over a long-sleeved t-shirt or a dress.
Knowing your measurement determines how many skeins of yarn you need to get. In my case, it was 17, and I threw in an extra one for swatch purposes.
Once I wound all the yarn (as you can see above, it was a lot of yarn), today (Monday) I cast on to knit the swatch. Gauge is fairly imperative when knitting a garment! So I had bought an extra skein just for swatch purposes.
BIGGEST SWATCH EVERRRRRR
The swatch was then blocked (ie, it took a bath!), and is drying.
Once it’s dry, I will check the gauge. If I’m bang on, it’s good to go. If I’m not, then I will knit another swatch with either larger or smaller needles, depending on which way I’m off. The book gives instructions for this, which makes me very happy! The fact that Hannah puts in so much good information in her book is one of the other reasons why I chose it for my maiden cardigan voyage.
So, that’s the beginning of Cardigan Adventures! Stay tuned….
*Hannah’s book
Home and Away
(from which Boothbay comes) is full of lovely projects, and all of the cardigans and sweaters can be made either seamless or without. There are also really useful essays in the book, so I highly recommend picking this up!
