The Sequoia Pullover Murder

Lt. Hugh Dunnit stood over the body of Mr. Paton and asked his wife what had happened. "Well, I was sitting in my rocking chair in the living room knitting a sweater for my dear husband," sobbed Mrs. Paton. "It was the Sequoia Men's Ribbed Pullover from Crystal Palace Yarns in his favorite shade of green. So, anyway, I heard a shot and I ran to the den and opened the door and found my poor darling lying forward over his desk with a bullet wound in his head. I saw a piece of paper clutched in his hand and then a tingling sensation of fear shivered up my spine."
"Did you see someone?" asked Lt. Dunnit. "No, I didn't see anyone but I somehow sensed that the murderer was there. I had a feeling that he was waiting to get the piece of paper that was in my dear husband's hand." "Did you take it?" asked Lt. Dunnit. "Yes, and I slipped it into a book that I had been reading earlier and had left on the desk. It was the June selection from the Whduknit Group, Interred With Their Bones by Jennifer Lee Carrell. I was on Chapter 21 and I slipped the paper between pages 159 and 160 where my bookmark was. It's a murder mystery - I just love a good murder mystery."
"But there is no book on the desk," said Dunnit. "No, just after I slipped the paper in the book the murderer came up behind me and hit me over the head. He must have taken the book with him."
"No, Mrs. Paton, it didn't happen that way," said Hugh Dunnit. You are under arrest for the murder of your "dear husband."

How did he know that Mrs. Paton was lying? E-mail me privately - grammieknits@yahoo.com with your answer by Friday, June 5 for a chance to win a prize from the prize locker.

Check this out . . . . oh, and by the way, the description says "Not for the faint of heart." No kidding.

You can get the kit on knitpicks here.

Whoduknit Scavenger Hunt Swap

(For Whoduknit Members Only)

We're Going on a Scavenger Hunt - Want to Come?

We all had a lot of fun with the mystery yarn ball swap, and I think that this swap, suggested by Joyce in NH, will be just as much fun. For this swap you will be going on a scavenger hunt to find items to send to your pal. You can search your stash, your bookshelves, your drawers and closets, Dollar Stores, Second Hand Stores, Discount Stores, LYS sales, etc., and of course you will use your creative minds to find each of the items for your pal. As always, our swaps are more about creativity, and friendship than about how much money you spend. We like to keep swaps affordable and fun for everyone.
You will be sending your pal each of the following items:

Murder Mystery
Yummy Yarn
Something Silly
Tasty Treat
Ewe make it
Regional item
Your Choice

To sign up send me an e-mail (grammieknits@yahoo.com) by May 1 with the following information:

Full Name:
Mailing Address:
E-mail Address:
Blog Address?
Ravelry Name?
Allergies?

Pal's names will be sent out the first week in May and deadline for mailing packages will be May 31.

Winter Study Project

My project - a crocheted flap hat for Robyn. I actually made it for my SIL for her March 1 birthday, but before it arrived she decided to go out to California to visit her daughter, and she is still there. I doubt if she will need it when she gets back to NJ - but there is always another winter next year!

The Bear Facts (A Whoduknit Mystery)

The Bear Facts (A Whoduknit Mystery)

Detective Hugh Dunnit and his brother Howie Dunnit were on a bear hunting trip in Maine. What they stumbled on in the woods, was definitely not a bear - it was the body of a middle aged man dressed in hunter orange, wearing a Yankee cap, lying in a shallow ditch.

An autopsy disclosed that the death had been instantaneous. A bullet had entered just above the hip and lodged in the heart.

The Dunnits assisted the local police in identifying the dead man as James Berroco, from New York City, and yes, sad to say, he was a Yankee fan. They further established that Berroco and a friend Billy Rowan, from Boston, had rented a hunting cabin near where the body was found. Rowan was brought in for questioning. He looked from Lt. Dunnit to Howie Dunnit before finally heaving a big sigh. "All right. I didn't mean to run away - I just panicked. James and I rent the same cabin every year," he admitted. "At night we sit around, drink beer, and watch the Yankees play the Red Sox. During the day we hunt. We've never failed to bring back one bear at least. We had spent a week in the woods, during which time the Red Sox swept the Yankees, and our time was up. It was the last day, and for the first time we hadn't even seen a bear in the woods. I noticed a rock formation and climbed to the top to see if I could spot one. Suddenly I heard James shout in terror in the clearing below me. A bear had got to him. I shot, but only wounded the bear. It reared on its hind legs. Just as I fired again, James got in the way. My bullet struck him and he tumbled into the ditch. The bear disappeared. I panicked, I admit, but I swear it was an accident!"

Lt. Dunnit told the local police to arrest Billy Rowan for the murder of James Berroco. What tipped him off that it was not an accident? And what was the motive?

E-mail me your answer privately (grammieknits@yahoo.com) by Saturday, April 25. Correct answers will be placed in a drawing for a prize from the prize locker.

Traveling Charity Baby Blanket #2

Traveling Charity Baby Blanket #2 is completed! I received the blanket yesterday from Tammy along with these goodies, sent along by the other members of the group.

This one was put together by Jane,

Danielle, Georgie, Shelly, Stephanie, and Tammy. After a washing and blocking, I'll be sending this one off to the Linus Project.

Mystery Yarn Ball

I received my Mystery Yarn Ball from Joyce in NH! She is so sneaky, inside of the ball, I found another ball of yarn, so she is keeping my very busy. The chocolate was yummy and the tea was very good. And, she included a recipe for Swedish Meatballs that was delicious, everybody here loved them. Thank you Joyce!

#1 Blanket ready to ship off

Here is the finished traveling blanket #1. I'll be sending it off either tomorrow or Friday, along with the little rabbit cloth

I got a wonderful Mystery Ball from England today! My first clue was the many bags of tea falling out of the package when I opened it. I have not gone through all the goodies yet but will post more as I make discoveries! Thank you Malgosia

The Mystery Begins

I received my mystery ball from Penny and I love it. She sent a new book too which I'll definitely have to read. Now to get one missing hint and I'll get started. Hmmm.....Penny what sizes needles or is that a mystery too?! LOL

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!