Just a few days and Lent is upon us. The children have gathered their supplies.
So, what do these various craft items have to do with Lent, you query?
Well, as I've mentioned before , my children naturally love to create things. I remember when I was a little girl, my dear Auntie Irene told me I had 'good working hands.' My hands have never been pretty or stylish or manicured, but I've always treasured that assessment made by my Aunt. Lent is a time when we put our 'working hands' to good use making things for others as part of our sacrificial giving, sharing our time, talent and treasure.
True to form, Josiah has joined the army. The Rosary Army, of course. He requested rosary twine as a Christmas gift and has started (with the camo, of course) his tour of duty making knotted cord rosaries.
This a great craft especially for fidgety boys, and what boy doesn't love knots and string! Rosary twine can be purchased from FNT Industries in many assorted colors. They also sell plastic crucifixes, which are usually acceptable for rosaries donated to the military. They have a nice sample kit which contains cord for one rosary, a metal crucifix, and instructions all for $2.50 including shipping. Josiah completed one of these before we took the plunge and ordered all of the twine pictured above. Now he nightly knots during the family rosary, and always has some cord in his pocket in case he gets a spare moment. It is helpful to cut the twine with a heated tool such as a soldering iron or a wood burner as you can cut and seal in one step. My husband cuts numerous lengths at a time so Josiah always has some ready to use. A heated tool is also helpful for sealing the ends when the rosaries are completed, another Dad job.
But rosaries can also be made by little people! Those colorful pony beads will be strung into rosaries. We recently donated these to a local church for their Catholic shop.
As you can see, they are a merry sight! Young and old alike enjoy using these rosaries because you can slide the beads as you count. The rainbow colored ones make it easier for little ones to keep track of the prayers as there are ten different colored beads. And what little girl could resist a colorful rosary with heart or butterfly Our Father beads!
We purchased a spool of #60 white twine from FNT since we were ordering other items, but we have also used other cord from craft stores. I would think a hardware store would have it as well. These two rosaries have been in use for at least five years and are still going strong.
Even young children can string up the beads, and then an older sibling or parent can do all of the knotting. Start with a length of cord approximately 4 1/2 feet long, heat seal or put a piece of tape on the ends. String on all of the beads. A clothespin works well to keep them from sliding off of the other end. After the beads are all on start knotting at the 'stem' end, leaving a couple of inches for attaching the crucifix. Also leave a couple of inches between the 'stem' beads and the first decade because that is where you will attach the other side at the end. I like to put knots between the decades and also on either side of the Our Father beads, as shown. Leave a little slack so the beads can slide a bit. If you are using hearts or other shaped beads be sure they are all upright when the rosary is finished.
Then you just knot the two together in the space left, in lieu of a centerpiece. Add a crucifix to the bottom. If you are using a synthetic cord you can heat seal the ends, or use a bit of glue on the end knots if you are using a cotton cord. You can usually find inexpensive crucifixes at your local Catholic shop, or order them by the dozen if you plan to make lots of rosaries. Lewis also sell Mission Rosary Kits, but we have never tried this type of rosary. Lewis has a list of places to send donated rosaries. The Rosary Army accepts knotted all- twine rosaries, and you can even send them without the crucifixes.
And finally we have all of that luscious yarn. The household Crochet Ladies will be turning all of their efforts into baby hats!. Sorry, Bitty Baby and all of your little friends- no more new hats or dresses or booties for the next Forty Days! Here is Lydia with some of the creations from last year.
These hats and many more were donated to the local CPC. Find a simple pattern here, or at any of the numerous sites online for charity crochet.
I'm sure you can think of many other crafts suitable for sharing. It is a great joy to be able to bless others with the work of our hands, and we have a lovely time together in the process.
Have a Blessed and Holy Lent.
