One Skein Mystery Swap

The other day when I got home from errands and such, Hubband informed me that a box had arrived for me in the mail. It was full of wonderful surprises from Sharon, my partner for the One Skein Mystery Swap. She sent some fun books (of course, we are a book group after all!), yarn, a ladybug muscle massager, some potato pops (already consumed-very yummy!), and some (not pictured) very nice Neutrogena products.

 

But best of all was what she had made with the Fiesta La Luz I had sent her to work with. Sharon made the most beautiful scarf for me and included a wonderful scarf pin to wear with it!



Thank you so much Sharon for such a wonderful swap package and beautiful scarf. I will enjoy wearing it!

A Sister's Revenge Solution

Okay - this one was pretty sick! My only defense is that I didn't make it up (only changed the names). You don't really want to think about this one too much as the images can be pretty disturbing - but....here goes - Robin and Violet were Siamese twins. Lt. Dunnit could not put one in jail without putting her innocent sister in jail as well. As for the names being the same - well - we won't go there! There were a few correct guesses (and some great incorrect guesses) and the winner of the random drawing this week is Delores! Choose a prize from the prize locker Delores and e-mail me your address.


When Lt. Hugh Dunnit arrived at the scene of the crime Robin Lily was kneeling over her husband, Emerald Lily, who lay dead from a bullet wound to the chest. Her sister, Violet Lily, was right next to her, still holding the gun in her hand. "My sister shot him Robin sobbed".
Lt. Dunnit agreed - there was no doubt that Violet had shot Emerald. So why did he announce - "I cannot arrest this woman, and she cannot be punished for this crime?" E-mail your solution to me by midnight on Saturday, June 28 (grammieknits@yahoo.com)

Murder by DPNs Solution

The assistant lied when she said she was almost hit by the door when the maniacal grandmotherly type woman came running out of the store (a red herring!). Ms. Dunnit very quickly picked up on that since she 'pushed' the door open when she arrived - the door opened in, not out. I fooled quite a few of you with this one! But five of you got it correct and the handy dandy random integer generator chose Libbie as this weeks winner! Congratulations Libbie on your fine criminal mind!

Murder by DPNs

Ms. Dunnit's knitting group met every Thursday night at their favorite LYS, Opal's Yarn Shop. This week they were going to be working on a mystery pattern written especially for them by one of the group members, Margarete. They had only been given one clue to the mystery knit so far and that was to bring a ball of sock yarn and some size 2.5mm dpns. Ms. Dunnit was the first one of the group to arrive at the shop and as she pushed open the door she was met by Miss Opal's assistant, who was crying hysterically. She said that she had arrived at the shop moments earlier and was almost hit by the door as a maniacal grandmotherly type woman came running out of the shop shouting something about toothpicks. Then she pointed to a spot behind one of the yarn shelves where Miss Opal was lying in a pool of blood with a large, pointy, DPN stuck directly into her heart! Ms. Dunnit immediately called Lt. Hugh Dunnit and told him there had been a murder at Opal's Yarn Shop and that she knew exactly who had 'dunnit'.

Do you know whodunnit? E-mail me at grammieknits@yahoo.com before midnight on Saturday, June 21 with your answer.

Spring Swap Package

I found this package when I got home
today and saw that it was from my
spring swap pal, Joyce Laurie. Since
I only sent her two very small skeins
of alpaca yarn, I was surprised to see
a box this big! I dug into it and was overwhelmed by its contents!



First I pulled out this basket - isn't it
gorgeous! It's hand painted and
those are little sheep all around the
bottom of it. I usually keep the knitting projects I do at home in baskets - easy to pick up and carry with me around the house. I'll have to find a special project for this basket!

And, inside the basket.......




Two books - Alexander McCall Smith's Tears of the Giraffee - I love the Ladies Detective Agency series and haven't read this one yet so I'm thrilled, and Ice Blue by Anne Stuart, who I haven't read before and can't wait to start. Then there was
a Boston Red Sox hat (which I am wearing now trying to turn this afternoon's game around).
A tin of spice cookies that look delicious, a darling tiny sock on a hanger - so cute!
Some 'knitters soap' called "Orange Ewe Knitting?"
from Knitting Sisters, a pom pom maker, some stitch
holders, knitting thimble, needle gauge,felted flowers,
cute stitch markers (did you make them Joyce?) some
chocolate, some perfume samples, and last but certainly
not least......


This beautiful lace cowl made from the yarn that I sent. The picture really doesn't do it justice - it is really
gorgeous - just the perfect thing
for the yarn I sent.

Thank you so much Joyce - you really
spoiled me - I'm overwhelmed by your generosity!

Spring Swap!

This the incredible package I received from Jane in the swap. Wanted to get it posted because I know she is going on vacation! Look at all the goodies! A Grisham book that I have been wanting to read, Chocolate(with a capital C), some cool sock yarn, coffee, really cute note cards and, just look at the bag! Two of my favorite colors put into a felted bad! Another one of my faves - bags! This one will be the one I take to the beach as a knitting bag next week. Planned on taking just sock yarn and this is going to be perfect. Thanks, Jane. You are a wonderful (read generous!) swap partner. Have a great time on your trip!

Susan's "Did Bob Kill Pat' prize

I solved the mystery of Did Bob Kill Pat? and was the lucky winner of the prize draw.I chose the soap felting kit. The kit includes everything needed to felt the soap. I will post another picture after i actually do it.Thanks, Jane!

Susan

Mystery KAL June 08 - done!

I just finished the mitts from the June Mystery KAL, and I'm very happy with the result. It was fun to knit, and they can be worn in two different ways. For all who are still struggling: Keep on knitting, it's worth the effort!

More details and a larger photo can be found in my blog.

The Case of Red Sports Car Solution

Solution: The blood on the seat of the car proved that he was killed before he was thrown from the car, so the murderer must have sent the car racing down the mountain with the dead man's body in it.
And the winner is..... one of our new members - Anne from Hamburg, Germany. Her name on Ravelry is Jinx if you would like to visit her there. Congratulations Anne!




Lt. Hugh Dunnit was responding to a 911 call along with his brother, Captain Howie Dunnit when he suddenly slammed on the breaks. Howie would have been thrown through the windshield if he hadn't had his seat belt on. A red sports car had come racing around the hair-pin turn on the mountain road ahead. Out of control, the car had crashed through the guardrail. The impact didn't stop the car, but it flung the driver straight up. He seemed to land in the air a moment before plunging out of sight.


Hugh Dunnit and Howie Dunnit climbed down the two hundred-foot precipice. The driver's body was a shattered mass of broken bones and blood. About one hundred feet beyond, the sports car lay on its side, a total wreck.


Strange, said Lt. Dunnit, pointing to the seat belt, obviously unused, which lay in the fresh blood that covered the driver's bucket seat. I doubt that even a seat belt could have saved his life said Hugh.


I better call the state police said Howie. It looks like one more traffic fatality for the year. Do you think he fell asleep at the wheel?


No, said Lt. Dunnit. He was murdered. Why murder?


e-mail your answer to grammieknits@yahoo.com by midnight on June 14.

Lisa Scottoline Prize Package

This is the prize package for the Lisa Scottoline project contest. Projects are due June 30.
Victorian Yarn Sampler by Knit Picks

A sampling of Knitpicks cotton yarns inspired by the floral beauty of the Victorian era.

Main Line- Harbor

Shine Worsted- Terra Cotta

Shine Sport- Willow

Comfy- Honeydew

CotLin Island -Coral

Crayon - Beach Glass

Including free patterns for a lace scarf, lace cap, fingerless gloves, lace headband and a tea cozy with the sampler. You can knit all five of these projects with the yarn in the sampler.

June Mystery KAL

I just finished the first clue. I think the pattern looks great, and it was a real quick and easy knit. Since in Europe the dpns come in bundles of five, my whatever looks rather squarish at the moment.
Jinx

Did Bob Kill Pat- Solution

Solution: Yes, that's right - Bob is a cat and Pat is a fish...and Bob was very naughty, but you can't arrest a cat! In a random drawing of all the correct answers Susan Mrenna was the winner! Thanks to all of you for playing - you are all way too smart. I will have to start coming up with some harder mysteries!

Ms. Dunnit lives next door to Tony, Ilene, Pat and Bob. Sunday evening she got a frantic call from Ilene saying that she and Tony had just returned home from a dinner out and found Pat, lying dead, in a puddle of water surrounded by shattered glass. Irene was certain that Bob had killed Pat, (they hadn't been getting along at all) and when Lt. Hugh Dunnit was called in, he agreed that all of the evidence pointed to Bob. However, Bob was never arrested or prosecuted for the crime. Why not?

E-mail your solution to me (grammieknits@yahoo.com) by Saturday, June 7.

Ready for the June Mystery KAL?

I've got my yarn - hand dyed sock yarn (a gift from Deb. B.) and my size 2.5m needles (a gift from Vidgis), did a swatch and got gauge. Yes - I know it's a tiny swatch - but these are tiny needles! I felt like I was knitting with toothpicks. I have knit socks, but size 3 US was the smallest needle I have used and that was a magic loop addi turbo. This should be a very interesting KAL for me- hope you all are joining us!

Miss Silver project

I read "The Girl in the Cellar" and Miss Silver was knitting a baby item, a shawl, and a football sweater for a nephew. I noticed that several other people commented on the amount of baby items Miss Silver made up. I had started a baby blanket for a friend of mine and am almost done with it, so am hoping it counts as a Miss Silver item! I realize she would probably not have used some (and certainly not all) of the colors I am, but these are the ones the mom-to-be-picked.

Cindi's Miss Silver Project

A Little Late, A Little Early

It's taken me a little bit to post my needle cozy pic...my bad. I used Lily Sugar & Cream Twists (a little hard to see the cabeling)

As soon as I finished my Lisa Scottoline book (Mistaken Identity), I got started on my knit for it...here it(they) are...handcuffs! I found the pattern on Ravelry (had to make some adjustments and corrections!)

Haunted House Mystery Solution

Solution:
When Lt.Dunnit was in the upstairs bedroom he 'pushed open' the bedroom window to get a better look at the terrace.
Yet, Rip Herringbone said that he saw Hank Yarnover slide up the window and throw Purl to her death, so he concluded that Hank was innocent.
8 of you got the answer correct this time, and Patt Marcial won the drawing. Congratulations Patt!



Lt. Hugh Dunnit and his wife Knitty loved the house the real estate agent was showing him. It had everything they were looking for. Large rooms, and a modern kitchen on the ground floor, and best of all, the master bedroom on the second floor looked out over a beautiful terrace. As Lt. Dunnit pushed open the bedroom window to get a better look, the agent added that the house also came with a ghost!



"The ghost is Purl Yarnover", explained the agent. One year ago she was hurled from this very window. Her body was found on the terrace below. At first it was thought that it was a suicide or an accident, but then they realized that the window was closed when she was found. Her husband, Hank Yarnover, admitted that he had entered the bedroom and closed the window himself. It was a chilly day and he claimed that he didn't know his wife lay dead on the stones below. Of course he was sentenced to life___"



"On what evidence?" asked Lt. Dunnit. "His neighbor, Rip Herringbone, saw the whole thing. He had been out birdwatching and through his binoculars he had seen Hank Yarnover slide up the window and throw poor Purl to her death."



"I've decided not to buy the house," said Lt. Dunnit, but I'm going to see that Hank Yarnover is given a new trial."



Why? E-mail your answer to me personally - grammieknits@yahoo.com by next Saturday, May 31.

My Miss Silver Project

I haven't finished my project BUT I did want to show I was working on one. I was cruising along pretty well when I came to a point where I needed DPs that I did not have (can you believe it?). Anyway in my book Miss Silver was knitting a blue cardigan for her niece. Here is my blue cardigan; it's the sitcom cardigan from Knitty and based on designs from the 50s, so I thought that historically it was right on target as well. I'll post a photo when I get it done, too.

Oops One more Project

I almost forgot I made a pair of socks last week, and in reading the post before mine I see socks is an acceptable project, woo hoo. So here they are... Child size rainbow slipper socks.

My May Project

Well I have yet to read along with the group. I just joined and didn't have a book for May. Therefore I don;t have any May projects except the Mystery Kal. It's funny as I started knitting it I thought it was a headband, then when I saw it was to be sewn together I thought it would hold those long stick matches... but why would anyone want to put matches inside a knitted sleeve??? Yeah my solving skills need some serious fine tuning.

The only part missing from my finished KAL is the button. I couldn't find my stash of buttons... where they are is a MYSTERY, lol. So I quickly ordered several sets from ETSY on the 13th, but they still have not been sent. So alas I must photograph without the button, just picture one there OK?

This first picture was taken with my sons camera, I get a much sharper picture but it messed up the color, here it is looking orangey
But the real color is PINK, my favorite and that is no MYSTERY.
Here is a close up, see how I tried to secure the flap down with the knitting needles, pathetic huh?
Well there you go. I am officially ready though for June. I have a PD James book on the way. Look out I will be knitting away in June, LOL

By the way in case I haven't introduced myself I am Aunt Kathy (AK for short) I am a grandmother, knitter, friend, mom and wife (in that order, lol) I live in Upstate NY (near Albany) but was born and raised in San Diego CA area.

That's all folks,
AK

MY MISS SILVER PROJECT

I actually did manage to get a project finished for the Patricia Wentworth mystery I read. I read Danger Point. AND as usual Miss Silver was knitting baby stockings.

So I knit baby socks. I thought I would "kill two birds with one stone" as the old saying goes because they are going to be a present for a new grandma.

I even knit two pair of baby socks. They should fit a 3 - 6 month old. I knit them using left over fingering weight sock yarn. The pattern is from my 2007 knitting page a day calendar. AND the best part is how easy they were.

AND here they are.
Of course, I am putting a few other goodies in the package.

Now despite the time I need to have something to eat and get back to packing.

Miss Silver Prize

The Miss Silver project prize (generously donated by Stephanie) is 5 skeins of vintage blue worsted weight wool AND a knitting pattern brochure from the 1930s AND The Wisdom of Nancy Drew which contains a "Get a Clue" Book and 12 classic cover magnets. So be sure to get your projects posted by the end of May!

The Case of the Murdered Musician/Solution

This one was just a little bit harder than the past mysteries, some of you were close - but there were only four correct answers, and the winner of the drawing was Danielle, who gave the answer "How the heck can you play a cello with a long sheath skirt?" Yup, that was it, she was wearing a long sheath skirt, so obviously she was not dressed to play in the concert and Merino was lying. As for the clue about the prize - No, unfortunately it is not a white Buick! Although I have one that I would like to give away! (Imagine DH's surprise when I tell him that it was a prize in one of my whoduknit contests!), and No, I'm not going knit Danielle a white sweater! The clue was in the name of the murderer - Dennis "Merino" (that would be Paton's Classic "Merino" Wool).

Thanks for playing - come back later for a new mystery contest!

The body of Rose Malabrigo lay beside her white Buick in the driveway of her home in Bangor, Maine. She had been murdered at 8 p.m., 15 minutes before she was due at the Bangor Civic Center to perform in a concert beginning at 8:30 p.m.
She had been shot twice. The first bullet had gone through her right thigh, leaving a large bloodstain on her long black sheath skirt. The second, fatal bullet, had gone through her heart, leaving a bloodstain on her white hand knit sweater. Inside the Buick was Miss Malabrigo's cello.
Lt. Hugh Dunnit was called to the scene and took statements from three people.

The neighbor, Mrs. Cashmiro, who found the body, said Rose had decided to attend the concert but not to play, because she had argued with her boyfriend, Dennis Merino, a fellow orchestra member. Rose hadn't practiced her cello or taken it from the car in a week.

Dennis Merino insisted that he and Rose had made up and she had told him she would play in the concert. She said that she would pick him up at 8:10 p.m. so they could drive together to the auditorium. However, she never showed up.

The the conductor of the orchestra said that the women members of the orchestra wore dark skirts and white tops and the men wore white jackets and black trousers. The orchestra members dressed at home. He added that Rose certainly could perform well without any practice, since the concert was a repeat program.

After reading the three statements, Lt. Hugh Dunnit immediately knew that Merino was lying. How?

E-mail your answers to me privately (grammieknits@yahoo.com) by Saturday, May 25. Not only is the clue to the answer in this story, but the clue to the prize in in there too!

Miss Silver Project

In the three Miss Silver books that I read she had been knitting either socks or baby items. In one she was knitting leggings for a baby and in another a 'coatee' for a baby. I made these for my sister's first grandchild. The colors might be a little bit brighter than those she had available, but she did seem to like to knit with blue yarn.

Worldwide Knit in Public Day 2008

So, the worldwide Knit in Public Day is scheduled for Saturday, June 14. Unfortunately, I have plans for that day and won't be anyplace with a group of knitters. BUT, I will be knitting anyway, as I troll along doing the things I will be doing.

If you are interested in finding out if there are any organized WWKIP events scheduled in your area, go to the website which can be found HERE!

A Poll is up and a couple of other things

You should have all received an email that there is a new poll open on our Yahoo!Group. Click here to access the poll. This poll will be to decide how we will pick our books for July/August, and maybe September. It will close on May 31. At that time, we will then decide on the genre of the books we will read. Finally, we will decide on the author and/or books.

Can you believe that this weekend is Memorial Day weekend and the last full weekend in May! Phew! Time sure does fly by. Hope you are all working away on Lisa projects or the KAL or the Spring Swap or all of it!

Sneak Peak

Here is a sneak peak at what I am knitting for my spring swap pal (shhh - don't tell Joyce Laurie!) Any guesses?

And this is how much yarn I had left over! Phew! Hmmm, now what can I do it?

Mysteries Revealed!

First - the May Mystery KAL -It's a knitting needle cozy for Miss Silver - so that she has something to carry her needles around in when she is solving all of those crimes! The pattern was adapted from the Princess Needle Cozy by Classic Yarns . It really does hold quite a few pairs of needles - I have four in this one and could easily add a couple more. I found that the best way to put them in is pointed side up so that they don't come through the bottom of the cozy. I hope that you enjoyed knitting yours and will post your photos on the blog!

Two members guessed correctly what it was - Congratulations Valerie and Heather! If you two will send me your mailing addresses (grammieknits@yahoo.com) I will send you some personalized knitting note cards.

And...How did she know? While Tink was telling Miss Purl how he was going to kill her, she continued to plant the tulip bulbs. Little did he realize that she was planting them in a pattern. In the spring when Ms. Dunnit visited the flower gardens she could very clearly see "Tink killed me" spelled out in tulips.

At least this time you were all on the side of the law! 12 members guessed correctly - and the lucky winner is .... Aunt Kathy! Must be beginners luck! Choose a prize from the prize locker, send me your address, and it will be on it's way to you Kathy.


Be looking for a new Murder Mystery to solve later on today!

PRIZE ROSES RECEIVED

YUP I need 50 with an eyelash yarn for being so tardy in letting you all know I received my lovely felted roses. Aren't they lovely? Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you.
I loved them so much that is what I decided to make for my knitted gift in the Spring Fling Coffee and Yarn Swap. We had to make or purchase a hand crafted item that shouted spring and I think these roses did just that.
I hope to get the photo and more posted on my blog this weekend.

How did she know?

On a crisp fall day, Ms. Dunnit's old friend Purl was planting a border of Tulip bulbs around her garden. She was very proud of her gardens but she knew that this was probably the last year she would be able to do the planting herself. She had suffered two heart attacks in the past year and her doctor had warned her that she would not survive another. It was late in the afternoon when she finally began the last row of planting. Suddenly a shadow fell across the flowerbed and she heard a voice say "Hello, Auntie". It was her good for nothing nephew, Tink, who was always begging for money. But, not this time - this time he announced that he had come to kill her! He knew, that although she had bequeathed her house and gardens to a museum with the stipulation that they keep them exactly as she had left them, the rest of her estate would be his. Tink had gambling debts that needed to be paid off and he had decided he could not wait for his aunt to die of natural causes.

Not knowing what else to do, Aunt Purl went on planting her tulip bulbs very carefully. Whatever happened she was determined to finish planting the garden. Suddenly she turned and saw Tink take something out of his pocket. It was a water pistol and he explained that it contained Amyl nitrate, which was a powerful heart stimulant. He began squirting her with it, knowing that it would cause a fatal heart attack and that by the time her body was found the rain that was predicted for later that day, would have washed all traces of the amyl nitrate away.

When Ms. Dunnit called to pay a visit the next day, she found Purl's corpse in the garden and called the police. The coroner ruled death by natural causes and no one (except Ms. Dunnit) saw any reason to doubt it. Tink inherited the bulk of her estate, except for the house and gardens, and promptly began squandering it on gambling and other unsavory activities.

In the spring Ms. Dunnit paid a visit to the police and told them she knew that her friend Purl had been murdered and she knew who did it!

How did Ms. Dunnit know that Tink had killed her friend?

E-mail your answers to me at grammieknits@yahoo.com (please don't comment on the blog - you'll give it away!) by Saturday, May 17.

Happy Nurses Day!

Happy Nurses Day to all my fellow nurses on the list!

Spring Swap Yarn

I received my yarn from Joyce Laurie, my swap partner in the spring swap, today. It's my favorite yarn so I should have a problem coming up with a project to make with it.

She also sent an adorable cell phone bag which I love (including the candy!), and The Strand Magazine, which has short stories and interviews by Elizabeth George and Sue Grafton - can't wait to read it.

Mystery Swap, and Mystery gift!

This is my Mystery YarnBall Swap! And it’s from Kim! THANK’s Kim! I love it!!! It really, really made me smile and smile and smile! It’s so fun with these swaps. Unforunately they sometimes get lost. But then you just have to try agian, right? This did make my day!



And that wasn’t all! I got a mystery package moer. And that was from Steph. She sent me Hot tomales THANK’s, Steph! My camera said goodnight, so I don’t have any pictures of them…and now it’s a bit too late……i don’t know why….



But, really Kim….did you think I could wait to unravel all the goodies????? This was what was inside the beautiful yarn ( which I’m going to make a shawl of!) And Kim, you got me wanting to dye again, so tomorrow I’ll find everthing and start dyeing on Wednesday Thank’s again, love!

Coffee cup cozy

Here is my finished coffe mug cozy. It fits my starbuck cup pretty good. I ended up not following the pattern I was doing simply because it wasn't tall enough. But I'm happy with my cozy. I think Miss Silver would appreciate a nice gift like this. What do you think? lol

For the buttons I used 2 knitting charms. the top one says I heart knitting and the second one is just a ball of yarn with needles.

Whoduknit Spring Mystery Swap

FOR WHODUKNIT MEMBERS ONLY!

The mystery in this swap won't be who , since it will be a mutual swap - the mystery will be what!
Here's how it works:
Part 1: You and your pal will send each other one skein of yarn. You know that special skein of yarn in your stash that you just couldn't resist buying but have no idea what to do with? Or maybe it's a single skein leftover from another project. Or, maybe it's even an excuse to go out and buy an interesting skein of yarn. You will want to get to know your pal first and find out if she has any fiber or other allergies and what her interests and knitting abilities are - you wouldn't want to send me some of your gorgeous lace yarn for example, since lace is still a mystery to me!
Part 2: When you receive the skein of yarn from your pal, you will knit something with it for her- this is the mystery. You won't be telling your pal what you are knitting.
Part 3: You will send the finished project back to your pal, along with a book you think she would enjoy, and maybe even her favorite treat.
Part 4: You will have made a new friend on Whoduknit, (or gotten to know an old one better) and you will have a handknit item that you didn't knit yourself!

Sign-ups for this swap are open now and will close on April 25. You'll receive your pal's name by May 1. Yarn should be exchanged by the May 14 and finished projects should be mailed by June 30. That should give you plenty of time to knit a one skein project.

E-mail me (grammieknits@yahoo.com) with:
Your name
Mailing Address
An E-mail address that you check frequently
Blog address if you have one
Do you prefer US or International?
Also, to help with match-ups:
Would you say you are a beginner,
intermediate or experienced knitter?
Do you have pets? Cat? Dog?
Allergies?
Smoke or smoke free home?

Miss Silver Recipe Number 2

Better with Butterscotch
Group Recipes is to cooking as Ravelry is to knitting. While recently exploring all things butterscotch, I came across the following recipe and thought it would be a perfect Miss Silver contribution. I had read the Grey Mask (1928) already, and I recently read Anna Where Are You? (early 1950s). I thought the contributor comments here were particularly appropriate.

Butterscotch Pie From The 1920s
By Chefmeow
This recipe comes from my mother's collection. She obtained it from her knitting group in 1952. She said it had been around for years at that point. She is guessing that this is a recipe from the 1920's.

Cook Time: 20
Prep Time: 10
Average rating 5 (dunno what this means)

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup water
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2-1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1-1/2 cups milk

Brown butter in pan. Add sugar and cook together stirring constantly until sugar is melted. Add water and stir slowly cooking until sugar is again dissolved. Combine cornstarch, egg yolks and milk then add to sugar mixture.Cook until thickened; then pour in baked pie shell and top with cream. (From http://www.grouprecipes.com/)

Miss Silver project

No cozies for me! In the book I read (The Case is Closed), when Miss Silver was first introduced she was knitting white socks. So here are my off-white socks (close enough), which I just finished for another KAL.

Joan in West Texas

Jacobean Socks

Recipes for Miss Silver (Patricia Wentworth)

Yorkshire Pudding

1 Cup flour
1/2 t. salt
1 t. sugar
3 eggs
1 c. milk
1 T water

Sift together flour, salt and sugar. In a separate bowl beat together eggs, milk and water. Add egg mixture to the flour mixture. Chill for one hour. Heat meat drippings from a roast in a pan in the oven at 450. Pour the batter into the pan and cook at 450 for 20 minutes. Serve with gravy. Serves 6-8 people.

This recipe comes from my nephew's wife's great great uncle who served Yorkshire pudding at their inn in Scarborough, England, which is about 300 miles from where Patricia Wentworth lived from 1920-1961.

English Trifle

Sponge Cake Base:

4 eggs, separated
1 cup sugar
4 T hot water
1 t. vanilla
1 full cup flour
1 t. baking powder
1/8 t. salt

Beat egg yolks and sugar until thick and lemon-colored. Add water and sifted dry ingredients. Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites and flavoring. Bake in two layers in a moderate oven (350) for 20 minutes.

Creme Anglaise:

3 egg yolks
1/2 c. powdered sugar
2 T. flour
2 T. cornstarch
2 c. rich milk
2 T. butter
1 c. whipped cream with vanilla to taste

Cook ingredients in double boiler until thick. Strain so that the custard will be smooth. When chilled, add whipped cream.

To assemble:
The trifle should be assembled in a glass bowl for presentation. Place one sponge cake layer in bottom of bowl. Sprinkle lightly with Grand Marnier. Spread with currant jelly.

Cut second layer into triangle shapes and place around the sides of the bowl. Spread currant jelly along the triangle edges.

Pour the chilled custard into the bowl on the cake layer taking care that the side pieces remain in place.

To decorate:
Place mounds of whipped cream on the surface of the custard. Decorate with toasted almonds or fresh strawberries.

This recipe is from my sister's neighbor who is from England.

tea cozy and Patricia Wentworth books

I've decided to make the above item for this months project. Since I don't have a teapot but do have lots of mugs I think this can fit on my coffee mugs just fine. I got the pattern from Ravelry, here is the link: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/knit-tea-cozy-3

I will start on the cozy while I'm waiting for the book to come. A group member is sending me one. Isn't that the nicest thing?

Kashmiri Rost Project Prize Winners

And the winners are....

Joan, Joyce Laurie, and Penny (scroll down to see their great projects) - will each receive a set of felted roses with knitting needle stems. Thanks for your great projects ladies!

This is my project for The Last Kashmiri Rose - and also the project prize.

The stems of the felted roses are size 8 bamboo knitting needles.

Projects for this book are due April 15 - can't wait to see what you come up with!

THE LAST KASHMIRI ROSE PROJECT

Here is my project for The Last Kashmiri Rose. I chose to make a bag from recycled sari silk I had in my stash. If I had time I would have made the tote bag but due to the shortage of time instead I made the Unbiased Bag from Knitty.com. I have calls out for some funky fabric to line it with and I will also look for a unique button to close the bag with. I think using a lining fabric will stiffen the bag and give it a bit more shape and having a closure is always a plus. I took this photo outside hoping it would photograph better and the color would show up better. It almost blew away it was so windy out there. Here is a close up taken inside for what the photo is worth. If you can't tell the bag is knit in all garter stitch. Four identical parts which are sewn together. I changed the handle just a bit. I was talking to a friend and telling her I was going to decrease the handle to nine stictches from 10 and do an icord as I felt it would hold up better. She suggested I take an idea from the Sophie bag and make three icords braiding them together when completed (not done on the Sophie Bag) which is what I did but I don't think you can tell from the picture.
I had to wind the fourth skein I had into a ball for this project but used very little of it. I just used some to sew up one of the seams and add to the handle.

Who's Who on Whoduknit New Contest

In order to answer the questions for this contest you will need to visit the Buddy Map, the files on the Yahoo Group, and the archives on the blog. If you cannot access any of these sites, let me know and I will try to help you out.

The Whoduknit member who answers all of these questions correctly will win......... your choice from the prize locker.

If there is a tie there will be a drawing to determine the winner.

So, then, let's get to know each other!

1. Which Whoduknit member do you live the closest to?
2. Who do you live the farthest from in your own country?
3. Who do you live the closest to in another country?
4. Who said "love is snuggling in bed with my children"?
5. Who guessed the correct number of eggs in the "Don't Put All Your Eggs in One Basket" contest, and how many eggs were there?
6. Who made DNA and for which book was the project made?
7. Whose goal for 2008 was "To live my life the best I can"?
8. Who won the Left-over turkey recipe contest? What was the name of the recipe.
9. Whose name is before yours and after yours on the "Sleuths" list.
10. Who posted the very first message on the Yahoo Group and on what date?
11. Who is our newest Whoduknit member (as of the date you submit your answers)
12. Name every book we have read on Whoduknit.
13. Who 'made' a cheeseball for our 'Anniversary Party"
14. Who taught us how to knit two socks on two circs?
15. Who taught us entralac?
16. Who (author) joined our group while we were reading her book (hint: her books were based on the Lambspun Yarn Shop).
17. What did Joan knit with her mystery yarn ball?
18. What was Vigdis' birthday (anniversary) gift to us?)
19. Post a message on the blog telling us 5 things about yourself!
20. Find the prize locker and choose the prize you would like to have if you win this contest.
21. E-mail me your answers and choice of prize personally (not to the group!) grammieknits@ yahoo.com
by Sunday, April 13.

Have fun getting to know your way around Whoduknit!

Joyce Laurie's Kashmiri Rose Project

Five things about Mary Lynn

1. My husband and I will be married 28 years on April 18
2. Our kids are 22, 14 and 7
3. I am a stash, ummmm, what is the nice word for . . . ummmm . . . hoarder, yeah, that's it.
4. I can sew incredible things but can have hems and buttons that need to be fixed or replaced
5. On April 29, I am going to have my past the middle of my back, hair cut and dyed and my husband will lose his strength . . . sigh . . . it is only hair.

Five Things About Me and Last Kashmiri Rose project

1. Besides knitting and reading, I like to do needlepoint, most other types of needlework, and beading.

2. I'm addicted to knitting socks!

3. I'm a natural born collector--I currently collect owls, Santas, Laurel Burch cats, purple (amethyst)glass, and thimbles. And books. And yarn.

4. I'm married, have five children and 10 grandchildren+one on the way

5. In Feb. I made a major life-style change. My daughter-in-law has lupus and is unble to care for their two small childre (ages 2 1/2 and 5) without help. So, I left my house and husband back in Lubbock and am staying in San Antonio with my son and his family so I can help take care of the kids. Not easy at 55!

5 things about dob

First, I have not had nearly enough time in my life due to teaching full time and taking classes to be a certified high school math teacher.

Second, my son is a senior in high school and we just got back from attending the open house at UM of Technology - Helena. (He may be getting older, but that doesn't mean I am.)

Third, I will be painting 2 houses this summer...at Dayton and here at the farm.

Fourth, I am going to make the Must Have Cardigan...it may take me forever, but I"m doing it!

Fifth, I hadn't really read many mysteries until I joined this group. I had wanted to expand my genres and everyone has helped me do just that. Thank you!