"Cover"-ed Girls! - Page 5

[Liquesce]

Originally Posted by lil_earthmomma

See, I think that's an awesome attitude. I shouldn't have said I never show anything, I know there's a chance that some breast shows, but I don't mind, as I view bfing as natural. That being said, I think that everyone has a different comfort level and you being comfortable covered DOES show other women that bfing is natural and fits into every women's lifestyle.

The interesting thing to me is that when I was living in a neighborhood in which women's public dress overall was defined by full, loose, quite fastidious religiously-inspired coverage, when it came to breastfeeding it was perfectly usual to see women on the street, out shopping, etc, just going about their daily business, stopping to breastfeed a child, some taking care to stay covered, some taking some care but not really stressing about it, and some just not minding at all who saw what since it was in the context of there being a perfectly legitimate reason to be exposed. It was really nice to see breastfeeding culturally perceived as being such an ordinary, necessary part of life that among the unanimously modest any level of modesty about it was perfectly acceptable ... except not doing it due to modesty preferences.

[Liquesce]

P.S. - Does anyone here knit? This looked to me like it has some interesting winter-wear potential.

[mommaduck]

Originally Posted by Liquesce

P.S. - Does anyone here knit? This looked to me like it has some interesting winter-wear potential.

Wow, thank you. I'm actually making a feather and fan throw for one of my sisters.

[mommaduck]

Originally Posted by xekomaya

Hi! Can I join on a part time basis since I'm a part time cover-er?

I'm Catholic and cover for mass/worship per 1 Cor. We interpret that to mean specifically for worship though so there is no calling to cover full time just on that passage alone. I do cover on days my religious life needs a boost -- and also to keep my 6 month old from yanking my hair out at the root.

I head coverings. I sometimes feel sorry that I don't come from a tradition that covers full time, or have those deeply held beliefs. I guess when I reach a point in my life that I can resume daily mass, I'll be covering every day.

May I ask which part of Catholicism you generally partake (Latin rite, etc)? I know some Catholics that cover majority of the time, some services only, and other not at all.

In answer to smeisnotapirate's question: I will nurse anywhere, anytime. But I will leave service only because I'm more comfortable on the big couch in the foyer. I can listen to service from there and since we rent the building from another church, there are people coming and going, but no one has said a word. One church I visited (we were staying with friends) kept trying to get me to move to the nursery...uhm, no thanks (1) there were a ton of women in children in there (2) I could also hear their services in the foyer (3) I came to hear the services, not the women gossiping, which is what they were doing when I went to change a diaper and (4) they all gave me the oddball looks because I was covered, so I didn't want to add to their fodder.

[smeisnotapirate]

Originally Posted by Liquesce

P.S. - Does anyone here knit? This looked to me like it has some interesting winter-wear potential.

Liquesce, I thought of you yesterday! I got out an old book of knitting patterns, and saw one that looked like hijab - full hair coverage, too! It was sooooooo pretty and fuzzy and warm. Very cute!

[AlpineMama]

Today is the first day I'm spending covered... DH doesn't want me to, so I'm only doing it while he's not home, for now, and (ironically) just doing it at home where no one can see. How rebellious of me. Hey, I could be doing worse things than practicing modesty, right?

Anyway, I like it. Baby steps, right?

[mommaduck]

Originally Posted by AlpineMama

Today is the first day I'm spending covered... DH doesn't want me to, so I'm only doing it while he's not home, for now, and (ironically) just doing it at home where no one can see. How rebellious of me. Hey, I could be doing worse things than practicing modesty, right?

Anyway, I like it. Baby steps, right?

Yep, baby steps is good.

May I ask why your husband would be against?

[AlpineMama]

Well, he's against it because we've recently moved to a pretty conservative neighborhood and he's afraid of us standing out. Our last name is already often commented on, not always in a positive light. He doesn't want us to physically stand out as well. Plus he has no religious background of covering women and doesn't see why I would want to. He is supportive of my beliefs and has no objections to me raising our kids in my faith but that pretty much stops at the covering thing because it makes us stand out.

[smeisnotapirate]

Originally Posted by AlpineMama

Well, he's against it because we've recently moved to a pretty conservative neighborhood and he's afraid of us standing out. Our last name is already often commented on, not always in a positive light. He doesn't want us to physically stand out as well. Plus he has no religious background of covering women and doesn't see why I would want to. He is supportive of my beliefs and has no objections to me raising our kids in my faith but that pretty much stops at the covering thing because it makes us stand out.

That must be tough.

How are you covering? I can totally agree that in today's day and age, the way you cover may make you stand out. There are coverings that scream a certain religion, like the Old Order kapps or Muslim hijab. Maybe you can find a way to cover without your DH feeling like you'd stand out. Bandanas? Tams? Cute scarves/headbands?

[mommaduck]

yes, there are many ways you can cover that look more stylish and soon people just see it as part of you.

Are you and hubby different faiths?

[xekomaya]

Originally Posted by Liquesce

P.S. - Does anyone here knit? This looked to me like it has some interesting winter-wear potential.

I have one of those on the needles for my mom's Christmas gift! I have another ball waiting to make one for myself but I doubt I'll get to it for a while. Such a pretty pattern!

I also recently finished this beret.

Originally Posted by mommaduck

May I ask which part of Catholicism you generally partake (Latin rite, etc)? I know some Catholics that cover majority of the time, some services only, and other not at all.

Just Roman Catholic. There is a lot of turmoil right now following the (relatively) recent Vatican council. Most women my age and younger don't know that we're called to cover, and our moms (incorrectly) believe that Vatican II abrogated the requirement. So, there are relatively few Catholic women who cover in America, but the number is increasing.

[Ruthla]

How about stylish hats such as baseball caps/sunhats in the summer, berets in the winter, etc. Headcoverings that "won't stand out" will vary depending on local styles, season, etc.

[AlpineMama]

That's true, there are lots of ways of covering. Right now I was working with a tiechel (sp?) because it's so easy to do, but I'm really digging the one-piece hijab pieces, I forget what they're called. The ones you slip on, ready to wear, and are made of sort of clingy fabric?

Where I grew up (Eastern Europe) lots of women covered but not really for religious reasons. Rural women covered and city women didn't, I guess... That's way generalizing though.

And yes, DH is non-practicing Catholic (honestly he just identifies with that because he was baptized in it, he knows very little about the religion and doesn't practice it at all). I also grew up Catholic but I'm now Onycan. (Which is a monotheistic faith system similar to Islam, but not quite Islam.)

[wombatclay]

I'll jump in too to add another pagan covering voice.

I've been "sort of" covering for about 5-6 months now... maybe longer, since it happened really gradually. I had been a member of a recon pagan tradition* for many years but that group never required (or suggested) that women should cover (either generally or during ritual). I left that group shortly after I married DH and have followed a more personal spiritual path. However, since dd2 arrived I've been re-examining things and...well... I feel like some sort of covering is appropriate for me at this stage in my life.

Sounds a bit woo-woo I know since I certainly don't live in an area where headcovering is common, and I don't come from a tradition (or currently practice a faith) in which head covering is the norm. But there it is. I've been wearing bandanas and scarves for several months now and think I want to explore a slightly more "formal" look.

AlpineMama- at least around here, bandanas totally blend into the crowd. And I've also tied my hair back with pretty scarves that sort of cover the area a wide hariband would plus a bit of fabric hanging down the back. I've also seen patterns for really fun and funky knit caps that probably wouldn't shout "I'm different". The knitting books I have generally describe these caps as "after skiing" scarves (to cover "helmet head") or as "holiday party caps" with beads and sparkles worked into them. The book "Handknit Holidays" is the one I'm thinking of (I think ).

*recon traditions are those in which practitioners do their best to continue the religious traditions of their ancestors as closely as possible... usually they involve a lot of historical, anthropological, and archaeological research and they are very different, at least in intent, from most neo-pagan traditions in which fluidity or "cultural borrowing" is encourged. Many recons learn the original languages and follow many of the cultural norms of the people whose religion they are continuing. Hellenistic, Irish, and Norse recon grouops are the most common. Interestingly enough, those three cultures all happen to have traditions of head covering (in both genders), but I don't know any recons IRL who cover.

[Liquesce]

Originally Posted by smeisnotapirate

Liquesce, I thought of you yesterday! I got out an old book of knitting patterns, and saw one that looked like hijab - full hair coverage, too! It was sooooooo pretty and fuzzy and warm. Very cute!

What's the name of the book? Or is that old as in "hopelessly obscure."

Originally Posted by xekomaya

I have one of those on the needles for my mom's Christmas gift! I have another ball waiting to make one for myself but I doubt I'll get to it for a while. Such a pretty pattern!

I also recently finished this beret.

Awesome .. do you think it would be difficult for a moderate beginner? I've done patterns and cableknits and such, but I've not yet tried anything intended to be lacy.

The beret is really pretty.

Originally Posted by AlpineMama

I'm really digging the one-piece hijab pieces, I forget what they're called. The ones you slip on, ready to wear, and are made of sort of clingy fabric?

Al-amira hijabs ... the only thing about them is that there's a pretty narrow range of people for whom they are actually flattering (of which I am definitely not one myself ).

If you have the long, rectangular scarves already, you might try tying them into a sort of a bun at the back of your head ... it tends to come off more boho than religious. Of course then you might just stand out as bohemian, but people tend to not bat as much of an eye at that.

Onycan ... I've never heard that before. Do you know any good overview resources?

[smeisnotapirate]

Originally Posted by Liquesce

What's the name of the book? Or is that old as in "hopelessly obscure."

I think it's called "Hooked Hats." I'm not at home right now, so I'm not positive. I can always let you borrow it (since we live so far away ).

If you have the long, rectangular scarves already, you might try tying them into a sort of a bun at the back of your head ... it tends to come off more boho than religious. Of course then you might just stand out as bohemian, but people tend to not bat as much of an eye at that.

Like a tichel?

[Liquesce]

Originally Posted by smeisnotapirate

I think it's called "Hooked Hats." I'm not at home right now, so I'm not positive. I can always let you borrow it (since we live so far away ).

So if we ever work out that mall trek I'll just have to talk you into bringing it.

Like a tichel?

Why yes, very much like that. Although if it were me there'd be about a half dozen pins stuck all over my head holding it together. And because I've only ever done it with a wide, long scarf, not a square one, there winds up a lot more material, so the bun part has to sit higher to not fall victim to gravity .... it comes out a little more what one might consider an African headwrap style.

Oh! Actually I just remembered an acquaintance once posted a YouTube how-to on pretty much exactly what I'm talking about ... here. Probably a lot more clear than my trying to explain. The only big difference is anytime I've done that I've put my hair into a claw clip rather than a ponytail, because I prefer having a solid object to wrap around and I'm kind of like the girl in the video in that I don't have long or thick enough hair to make that substantial a bun.

[chimomma]

hello everyone. I have been lurking in here a little while and thought I would introduce myself. I am Muslim and cover pretty much my whole body except my hands.

I think this discussion is so interesting. It never really came into my mind how many women from different traditions, or without any tradition cover themselves. I really do think that this is part of our nature as women. Or as we say in Islam "fitrah" which is a word to describe our good, innate human nature. Sometimes the society we are in triesto bleach the modesty out of us, but we have to stand strong as women and resist this. Even if we stand out or don't look/act like what is expected of us, we should be proud to be in control of our own bodies and doing what we feel comfortable with. I know many people don't like to stand out or be stared at, but I say let them stare, you will get used to it and then barely notice it. As long as we have confidence that we are doing it for a bigger reason than how others may see us, we will only be stronger for it.

[smeisnotapirate]

Originally Posted by Liquesce

So if we ever work out that mall trek I'll just have to talk you into bringing it.

Why yes, very much like that. Although if it were me there'd be about a half dozen pins stuck all over my head holding it together. And because I've only ever done it with a wide, long scarf, not a square one, there winds up a lot more material, so the bun part has to sit higher to not fall victim to gravity .... it comes out a little more what one might consider an African headwrap style.

Oh! Actually I just remembered an acquaintance once posted a YouTube how-to on pretty much exactly what I'm talking about ... here. Probably a lot more clear than my trying to explain. The only big difference is anytime I've done that I've put my hair into a claw clip rather than a ponytail, because I prefer having a solid object to wrap around and I'm kind of like the girl in the video in that I don't have long or thick enough hair to make that substantial a bun.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh I see. It's just a much bigger bun than a tichel. Do you order your scarves online or get them locally?

I will definitely bring the book to our someday-mall-trip.

[philia]

Corinthians and covering

I was reading the covering verse and it says to cover but then it says your hair is a cover. What do you think ? I honestly just feel called to cover I guess. I only do when I pray at my icon shelf but I ordered some ware around the house types . I have the lace doily cover and it would fall off if I walked around. What does it mean to cover because of the angels ? I wish there was more biblical info on this.
Let me know,
Philia