Thank you Nate!

So here is the mystery ball project - done! It was a quick knit and a pattern that I will definitely do again! And there are all the goodies inside! Wonderful gift!

Mystery Yarn Ball Prize??????

Look what I received in the mail today - a prize for putting the best yarn ball together! This is my group and I didn't even know there was a contest for that LOL. I was Bonnie's upstream pal, and look what she sent me! Two balls of Regia Galaxy in tan/blue/brown which is perfect because I wear a lot of brown. And this beautiful skein of what looks like hand-dyed yarn. Don't you love the colors! And can you see the adorable little lamb?

Thank you Bonnie!

Whoduknit Easter Egg Hunt

We're going on an Easter Egg Hunt! Want to join us? Search the blog and the Yahoo Group for the answers, then e-mail them to me (privately, NOT to the group!). by midnight on Saturday, April 11. All of the correct answers will go into a drawing for this mini-felted Easter Basket full of goodies, including an illusion bunny dishcloth. No, you won't get it in time for Easter (unless of course I hand-deliver it - you just never know!).



1. What was the most fun that Shelly (Kadezmom) had in ages?

2. What yarn and colorway did Patt use in Traveling Baby Blanket #3?

3. What was Aunt Kathy's Casting spells project and who did she cast a spell on?

4. What was Penny munching on when she went on her Santa Cruise?

5. What is Joan's favorite Christmas ornament?

6. What would MaryLynn like us to do to "Save the Children"?

Now - hop, hop, hop on over to the Whoduknit Yahoo Group Homepage and search some more! (Hint: You will need to search the files, database, polls, and links)

7. Whose books did the group read last April (2008)

8. Who knows where to find vintage knitting patterns?

9. Who is Knitted Zebra on Ravelry?

10. Who donated two skeins of Austermann Torino wool/acrylic blend, super bulky, orange/brown/dk.pink to the prize locker?

11. What are the names of the books we voted on in the poll for our December, 2008 book?

12. Who posted message #4000 on the Yahoo Group?

Blanket 2

Blanket two continues it's tour of the north american continent. Today it is off to Beaverton, Oregon.

Mystery Yarn Ball Unravelled

I finished the pattern for the mug cozy that Robbie sent with my mystery yarn ball. It was a very interesting pattern with a cable stitch that I hadn't done before. I really liked this yarn (Paton's Decor) and love the result. These are the goodies that fell out as I knit. You can see how good I was - the candy is still there! I'm not sure what that little silver thing is next the the sample shout package. It has a hook on each end - anyone take a guess?

When I finished knitting the mug cozy I still had yarn left - so I kept on 'unraveling - and knit this little baby hat too!

Thanks Robbie for a great mystery yarn ball!

And Then There Were None project

"The 2 skeins of wool were later found to have been made into a wig and placed on the dead body of Justice Wargrave. 'Five little Indian boys going in for law; One got in Chancery, and then there were four.' "


When I read that line I immediately thought of Hallowig. I decided to go with some purple yarn I had, instead of getting gray. I also made it longer than the pattern called for, with plans of working some wire into it to make it curl up, but bailed on that idea.

 

Mystery Yarn Ball

I received my mystery yarn ball from Robbie today! I love the colors in the yarn - the pattern is for a cup cozy and there are little treats sticking out of the ball. I think I'll start knitting! I'll let you know what I unravel!

Chain Reaction

What started as a scarf ended up as the handles for a handbag. I love it, Danielle. I still think I should make up a felted bracelet or choker for Abby on NCIS.......time time time, how can I get more?

UPDATE: The easier question to answer would be what DIDN'T fall out of the yarn ball!!! This is by no means a complete list: a lindt truffle, a package of california poppy seeds (to plant), stitch markers of various kind, a Celeste's garden bobby pin, hot chocolate mix, "Be Fearless" (which I need to tattoo to the back of my hand as a reminder and some cute little sheep clips.

As to how I made the bag from a scarf...I started out making the scarf. I was totally loving the process, but I realized that I wouldn't wear it often enough to tell people the wonderful story of how it entered my life.....so I made to baby scarves (marley's ghost pattern and put it on a handbag I made up as I went along. I felted it and this purse is the result. Life Is Good!!!! (just like the t-shirt says)

Thank you Nate!

I am so excited! I cant wait to start this project.....1/2 a sleeve left to do on my February Lady sweater....or this.....I hate making decisions!

Anyway, the pattern is for a mini yarn tamer - something that I can definitely use - and you can see the beautiful multicolored cotton yarn Nate sent me for this!

Cant wait to start 'unwrapping' the goodies inside!

And Then There Were None Project

Emily Brent brought her knitting with her to Indian Island. She was working on a new knitting bag. She had 3 skeins of gray wool and one of green. Unfortunately, two of the gray skeins went missing, so Miss Brent could not finish her knitting bag which was just as well, I suppose, since she would have no use for it. "Six little Indian boys playing with a hive; A bumblebee stung one and then there were five."

The 2 skeins of wool were later found to have been made into a wig and placed on the dead body of Justice Wargrave. "Five little Indian boys going in for law; One got in Chancery, and then there were four." (Or so we are led to believe).

In memory of poor Miss Brent I finished her knitting bag for her - I hope she would have been pleased with it!

I've got California Sunshine, on a rainy Minnesota day

Today has been the day of extremes. I'm struggling with everything related to life (all self-imposed to boot) and have been all week (I like to be complete and thorough) but my basketball team won AND THIS came in the mail from Danielle.

Thank You Danielle.

I'm so excited to get started. I love everything I've seen so far, and this pattern is going to be a BLAST!!!

Knitted details to come!!!


.UPDATE (10:05pm cst): No I did NOT cheat and unwrap that loose stuff. Danielle was very nice to me and left me a few goodies to get me started. Thanks Danielle!!!!

Bonnie's Mystery Yarn Ball

I was Bonnie's upstream pal and thought I was being soooo sneaky! But she guessed who I was even before she received my package, which I had cleverly put my DDs return address on. Didn't count on her recognizing the postmark of the town I work in!

At least the pattern is a mystery (or has she figured that out too?)

I even pretended to be a Yankee fan.

Well, no I didn't go that far! The hat is a Red Sox hat (she's a Red Sox fan too) and it is technically in the yarn ball because it has a few yards of yarn wrapped around it.

I had so much fun winding up this ball. I hope that Bonnie has as much fun unwinding it!

Traveling Baby Blanket #2Update.

Group 2...just in case you were wondering....the blanket has been living at my house since Monday. I finally sat down tonight and clicked out my piece. Thanks to the Orangemen going for the 7th overtime in two days (and one tonight) I was able to finish. It's all packed up and ready to go. Now, I'm not sure I'll have the get up and go to get to the post office tomorrow, but at least that's the only hurdle left for it to leave Minnesota on it's way to Stephanie's place. Look out Stephanie.....it's gonna be your way before long!!!

Thanks for this opportunity. It's been a blessing.

Well, I was just going to say,

that I got my Mystery Yarn Ball Swap Package yesterday, but Shelly seems to have beaten me to it! Hubband and I had gone North to The Cities that are way bigger than where we live, while Shelly had headed East from her home to come to the "bigger town". (What was it yesterday with people needing to be in a place "bigger" than where they live?) When we got home I noticed a package on the front porch, but there wasn't a notice about it with the mail.
So of course I looked out there, and I found this pretty box with identifying information on the lid.

 

Inside was this wonderful Mystery Yarn Ball with a wonderful pattern to knit a market bag. I will be casting on very soon, because I have wanted a Market bag for ages, and because I want to see what all is hiding in that ball!

The most fun I've had in ages.

Okay, the secret is out...and I have to tell you, I've had a blast. Thanks Barbara for playing along!

Barbara was my partner (and yes, I massacred her name on the box...this is what happens when Shelly gets too amped up AND is being pushed by the family to get going)

She lives about 45 miles from me in a bigger town. I can ALWAYS find something to do in a bigger place. Namely, shop. I convinced the family that this would be a great outing for Saturday. We loaded up the car and headed down the road. That's her swap package on the dash (which was only there long enough for it's photo op). As we neared her house, I became more and more nervous. Remember the feeling before you tp'd somebody's house? Yep. That's the one I'm talking about. My palms even got sweaty. We pulled into her driveway and put the package on the porch, snapped a picture and went on our merry way.

Then I heard about the pending snow storm. I'm envisioning this box with the mystery yarn ball stuck in a snow blower, or blown all over the neighborhood, etc.

Thankfully, she arrived home and safely got the box before anything happened to it.

What happened to the snow? Well, I don't know what happened at her place, but in the next 48 hours, I plan on blogging about it. It's was THAT pathetic! Come on over and see my at kademomDOTblogspotDOTcom. It involves a near blizzard forecast and the search for flying flakes.

Thanks for being such a good sport, Barbara, and I do hope we can meet up one of these days!

A Game of Whoduknit Clue

Rules of the Game

Mr. Boddy has been killed once again. One clue a day for the next 6 days will be posted on the Whoduknit Yahoo Group. Read the clues carefully and by process of elimination, you will figure out WHO is the murderer; WHAT weapon was used in the murder and WHERE the murder took place. Clues begin on Sunday, March 8 and end on Friday the 13th (will it be your lucky day?). After the last clue has been posted you will have 48 hours to solve the crime and e-mail the correct answer to me. grammieknitsatyahoodotcom. Please do not e-mail your answers to the group!

Suspects: Mr. Green, Professor Plum, Col. Mustard, Mrs. Peacock, Mrs. White, Miss Scarlet

Weapons: Knife, candlestick, revolver, rope, lead pipe, wrench

Rooms: Ballroom, kitchen, conservatory, study. billiard room, lounge

I recieved my Mystery Ball yesterday :-) It's from Bonnie! This really is the best group ever. The exchanges we have on WhoDuKnit are always "trustable". I have been in several that are not! So I'm here for ever :-)



This is what I got from Bonnie. A great ball of yarn filled with goodies for me to find, and a card with a pattern for a shawl. So now I'm knitting all day long to get it finished. You can follow the progress and the goodie-findings over on my blog. THANK YOU, BONNIE!

Traveling Blanket #1

This is the most recent picture of our first traveling blanket. My contribution is done in a true purple. I hope to get it in the mail tomorrow. That wicked cold that's been going around has been visiting with me. Promise not to send it on with the blanket!

My Casting Spells Project

Here is my Casting Spells project (nothing like posting at the very last hour!). Actually, there are two of them. These made me think of the shawl Chloe made, and though they aren't so fine and delicate, they are lacy. They are blocking on my bed, and I guess I'll have to move them, so I can sleep tonight. Hmmmm, now where shall I put them to continue drying, where the cat won't get them?

Casting Spells Projects

Socks, it seems to be all about the socks for me. At first I thought it would just be about my Ice Cream Socks, because the colors remind me of ice cream and that did seem to be one of Chloe's comfort foods (and these are comfy socks). These are a Wendy Johnson pattern, toe-up, and I finished them January 2nd.

 

At that point I was feeling a bit of the "Sock Love" and cast on these Toe-up Thuja, which was a semi-"Wendy"-modification of the original pattern.

 

Bear with me, because by now I was falling prey to a paraphrase of the tag-line on the cover of the book, "The heart can be ruled by (sock) magic" and I made these Stripe Socks out of Noro Kureyon sock yarn.

 

I will admit that by now I may have a bit of a sock obsession because then I made these Valentine Socks for my husband, and since I finished those, I have cast two more pairs of socks; one pair is two-at-a-time, toe-up on two circulars, and the other pair is two-at-a-time, cuff down, Magic Loop.
(All of the links go to my posts about them on my personal blog, and you can also find info about them on my Ravelry projects)

Traveling Blanket #3 Crochet

Hi Group,

Here is a photo of the traveling blanket #3 in crochet after I have finished my part for it. I will be mailing it to Anita next in a day or so.

I used Red Heart Baby Soft in the colorway Bunny Print. It matches really well with the first color that Jane used.

Heather's Casting Spells Project

I noticed Chloe never seemed to have a hat on so I knit up this great Meret (mystery beret) for her. I also have on the needles what will be a super long scarf that I have named Aerynn's scarf because I loved the name and well you can never have too many scarves.

Casting Spells Project

Lindsey's Scarf
Originally uploaded by mlj1954ohio

While it isn't an Orenburg lace shawl, it is lace and my 8 year old thinks that blocking is just like "magick." He loves to help block things because you can just see it all "come out." We shall see how he feels about it when I have some huge thing to block!!

This ended up 62" long. It is Knitpicks Bare and I really enjoyed doing it. Well, except for the time I had to frog six inches of it.

I think I am going to use this lace pattern to make myself a shawl for my niece's wedding in June. It is going to be an outside wedding and June in Cleveland can get cool in the evenings.

Traveling Charity Baby Blanket #1

Here is my part of the blanket. I chose Vanna's Choice Baby in Cheery Cherry. What a fun project!

February 2009 Mystery KAL

The February Mystery KAL being modeled by a size large Palmolive Dishwashing soap bottle. Yes, that's right folks, it's an apron for your dishsoap! Bonnie had the first correct guess - well, she guessed it was an apron that is, but since she has a passion for Barbie Dolls - she decided her apron was for............well, I'll let the picture say it all:


Congratulations Bonnie - your prize will be on it's way to you!

Casting Spells project

Knitted a pair of elf slippers/boots for my "Casting Spells" project. Hope everyone doesn't faint because I:
1. completed a project; and
2. posted a photo!

--Stephanie

My Casting Spells Project

My Castin Spells project...

The book opens in chapter one... in Sugar Maple, Vermont So what better to project then a Sugar Maple design.

First I started off with the awesome orange and yellow colors of the leaves in the Fall in the Northeast, their beautiful colors can really cast a spell on you, don't you think?

And then a focus on the leaves themselves, blending with the green, after all Vermont is the Green Mountain State.

And then just a view of the two together. I sewed them together for a double thick padded square. It can be used as a pot holder or a hot pad or a very strong dishcloth. Perfect for scrubbing up the Maple syrup. LOL

Now to cast a spell on Jane so I can win the prize this month, LOL

Crochet Traveling Baby Blanket (Group #3)

Here is the starter section for our crochet baby blanket. I used Caron Simply Soft in Country Blue and crocheted in a shell stitch. This will be on its way to Patt first thing Monday morning!

MYSTERY YARN BALL SWAP (Members only)

Whoduknit Mystery Yarn Ball Swap

(For Whoduknit Members Only!)

Is anyone ready for another swap? This is one of my favorite swaps - and usually does not take a lot of time or money - something we all seem to have very little of these days. We've done this one before. If you are a new member - here is how it works:
You take one skein of yarn, or two if it's a very small skein, and wind or re-wind it up into a ball. As you wind you add little goodies to the yarn ball. Sometimes these balls look more like lumps - but that's okay! After all of the goodies are wound into the ball, you send it off to your pal along with a mystery pattern for your pal to knit with the yarn. As she/he knits the pattern the goodies fall out. Stash yarn is fine to use. The goodies can be anything from stitch markers, row counters, cable needles, handmade items, candy, charms, buttons, stamps, stickers, jokes, to $100 bills (kidding!) Once you start -the ideas will come to you! The only rule is that everything you send to your pal has to be wound up in the yarn ball, except for the pattern. Sometimes things end up sticking out - but as long as they are part of the ball it counts. Then we post photos or descriptions of the ball when we receive it, and the finished project with all the goodies when we finish it. There is no time limit on how soon you have to finish knitting the pattern you receive with your yarn- but....you cannot get all the goodies out until you do! No cheating!
Want to Play? Sign-ups begin now and end Feb. 23. You will receive your pal's name the first week in March. As always, it is up to you whether to remain anonymous or not. For some that is fun - for others it is a hassle - so do what is easiest for you. Deadline for mailing is March 31, but you can certainly mail earlier. And, oh yes, there is one more rule - you have to have fun!
E-mail me (grammieknitsatyahoodotcom) even if I already have this information, it's easier for me if you send it with your reply.
Name
Address
e-mail that you check frequently
blog address if you have one
Do you prefer to mail in the US or international?
Your promise that you will complete the swap!

Group #2 Traveling Charity Baby Blanket

Group # 2's pastel blanket is ready to travel! I knit the first section with Bernat Satin. The pattern is Quilted Diamond. It will be on it's way to Danielle tomorrow!

Traveling Charity Baby Blanket - Group #1

Second section done! I used Vanna's Choice Baby yarn in Baby Boy Blue in a basket stitch.