• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

  • About
  • Symposium
  • Hymnal
  • Jogues Missal
  • Site Map
  • Donate
Views from the Choir Loft

Knitted thuribles and other toys

Veronica Brandt · December 13, 2014

Harsh Beta Testing OU MIGHT THINK THAT KNITTING would be the last thing on my mind in an Australian summer, but with Christmas coming up it is a great time to see what sort of toys can be made.

The idea for a knitted thurible arose about ten years ago with my sons fascination with the thurifer at Mass. They would swing just about anything around in imitation. One particular wooden push-a-long duck was sadly battered to pieces. Having a background in knitted toys, I imagined a thurible in acrylic yarn and fibrefill. At first I used crochet, as it was easier – you can see the first pattern here. It went pretty well, and I made a few as back ups and then as gifts.

More recently I had another go knitting thuribles which could be opened. Instead of stuffing I’m using rolled brims to hold the round shape. Mostly I have been knitting on the fly, but the last time I kept notes. The pattern is now up on ravelry: How to knit a flying saucer thurible and if knitting is not your thing, you can buy the thurible at Cozy House Curios.

The photo shows some vigorous testing by a friend’s sons. Results were good. One feature (or bug) is that having removable knitted charcoal, while a cute idea, does tend to result in the charcoal being launched with a sling shot action. I do offer to sew the charcoal in place, or maybe I can make some sort of button closure mechanism. More prototypes to come!

This week I stumbled across these Fr Peter Cutouts. Priest and altar boy paper dolls from 1943. So far my boys have colored them and cut them out. The next step is to glue them onto card – which would have been easier had they not cut them out first, but that’s how you learn, isn’t it?

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 5, 2021

Subscribe to the CCW Mailing List

About Veronica Brandt

Veronica Brandt holds a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering. She lives near Sydney, Australia, with her husband and six children.—(Read full biography).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

19 May 2022 • “Trochee Trouble”

I’m still trying to decide how to visually present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores, using what is (technically) the official rhythm of the Church. You can download my latest attempt, for this coming Sunday. Notice the “trochee trouble” as well as the old issue of neumes before the quilisma.

—Jeff Ostrowski
16 May 2022 • Harmonized Chant?

This year’s upcoming Sacred Music Symposium will demonstrate several ways to sing the CREDO at Mass. This is because—for many parishes—to sing a full-length polyphonic CREDO by Victoria or Palestrina is out of the question. Therefore, we show options that are halfway between plainsong and polyphony. You can hear my choir rehearsing a section that sounds like harmonized plainsong.

—Jeff Ostrowski
14 May 2022 • “Pure” Vatican Edition

As readers know, my choir has been singing from the “pure” Editio Vaticana. That is to say, the official rhythm which—technically—is the only rhythm allowed by the Church. I haven’t figured out how I want the scores to look, so in the meantime we’ve been using temporary scores that look like this. Stay tuned!

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“You should try to eat their food in the way they prepare it, although it may be dirty, half-cooked, and very tasteless. As to the other numerous things which may be unpleasant, they must be endured for the love of God, without saying anything or appearing to notice them.”

— Fr. Paul Le Jeune (1637)

Recent Posts

  • PDF Download • “A Canon Choirs Love!”
  • On Mistakes (Part I of II)
  • 19 May 2022 • “Trochee Trouble”
  • “Gregorian Chant Not In Danger Pope Tells French”
  • PDF Download • “O Salutaris” (Modern Setting)

Copyright © 2022 Corpus Christi Watershed · Gabriel Lalemant on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.