53 Years!

Today is our 53rd wedding anniversary!  Yes, 53 years with the SAME man!  unbelieveable!  If someone would have told me when I was younger that I would have been with the same person that long-I would have laughed in their face!  "Me?  Not me!"

It has been ups and downs over the years, but I think that is what makes us stronger--celebrating each day to the fullest, even when he throws his dirty laundry on the floor, doesn't take out the trash, falls asleep in front of my favorite TV show, grumbles about shopping, and says "whatever" when asked what he wants for dinner.  Sometimes, he irritates me to no end!!  Of course, there is no way I can irritate him~~ I'm perfect!! Yes, he has his faults, but he's always there for me and the family!

We have grown comfortable in our skins together--
                                                                      Happy Anniversary!

Wednesday Yarn AL

I love knitting lace patterns!  And this one is no exception.

Clue one of Gerda by designer Bethany Hait went smoothly--

no problems, no errors

and we waited for clue 2........

Here is clue 2 finished--but, in some patterns, this clue had some errors.

you knit and find that there is a correction, so you rip it

and wait for the right correction.

Finally, all was cleared and you're off to the races.  my needles aren't long enough to

spread out the pattern, but it's going to be lovely once blocked.

Now, I wait-----for clue 3, which can't come soon enough!

Dubbelmoss?

I stumbled upon this when searching the web for something completely different--but, that's what gets me into trouble!  I should stick to the game plan instead of detouring, but

I do learn something interesting things while roaming.

Point in case, is this interesting construction with great strandwork.

Hence, you have Swedish Dubbelmossa. Dubbel means double and mossa means cap so Dubbelmoss is a doubled-hat. It is worked from the provisional cast-on out on both ends in a tube. The lining end, the blue side in this case, is much shorter in length to accommodate for the turned up brim or cuff. The cuffed part of the hat is actually four layers so it is a very warm hat. 

Susan Anderson recommend the Dubbelmossa pattern. It is not difficult, very straightforward, really you are just reading simple charts. It is a great way to practice stranded colorwork.   
I know I won't be knitting this anytime soon--no way we can use this type of warmth in Humid TX--but, it was great lesson learned on another knitting technique.

Mystery KAL= True Love=Shawl

What a perfect opportunity to knit another mystery and practice my Spanish?!! Woo Woo! This KAL begins June 1 but you must register by May 21 on her website in order to get the pattern free or pay at a later date.

Mystery KAL +True Love+ Shawl

Let’s start 1st june. 4 Clues. To register HERE
Free pattern only for MKAL participants!!
Deadline 21 May. Join us in my group (Ravelry, of course!)

ONLY English version

Bottom-up lace ending and short-rows construction

Dimensions/Weight Blocked
Large: 71 inch x 19 inch (180 cm x 50 cm)

Medium: 62 inch x 19 inch (160 cm x 50 cm)

Yarn
fingering weight or lace
600 m – 700m / 656 – 765 yds

Needles
US #5 - 3,5 mm and US #7 - 4,5 mm (cast on and bind off)

Other Notions
stitch marker, tapestry needle for weaving
Cast on, short-rows, increase and decrease

Gauge
28 sts x 32 rows over 10cm/4” in stockinette stitch (before blocked)

The pattern contains written and charted instructions

Tour-de-Sock!

Have fun and raise money for a worthy cause in this speed-knitting competition based on the famous bike race with a similar name! Competitors will race to finish a pair of socks in each of six stages earning points for finishing the fastest. Registration fees (less paypal and shipping expenses for prizes) will go to Doctors Without Borders to help continue their excellent work of providing medical care to those in need around the globe

Tour-de-Sock 2016 is fast approaching!  Please join us in the Ravelry Group for any off-season news. Registration Is open till May 31! 

Registration for Tour-de-Sock is OPEN! 

Show Off Those Large Prints!

Now here is free pattern: Olé for Cinco de Mayo 

to show off those special fabrics you don't know what to do with!

Would make a great "I Spy" quilt for a young heart!

Philosophers' Stone Mystery KAL

I so enjoyed knitting other of Erica's lace knitting patterns--she has a seasons--Earth, Wind.  Here is another opportunity to gather some of her lovely yarns for this knitting venture.

Download this pattern free HERE until July 14, 2016.

Pattern PDFs are non-refundable once purchase. No exceptions.
Free download link will only work once per customer.

Yarn for this shawl can be found on FiddleKnits.com

Cast On: July 15, 2016
Clues: July 15, 22, 29, and August 5, 2016

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The Yarn
For this pattern you will want to use a solid or gradient yarn in a fingering weight.
I will be using 2 skeins of Polka fingering weight in one of the solids dyed for this MKAL which are: Sorcerer’s Stone, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, The Potions Master, Vino: My Kind of Alchemy, Butterbeer, and Transfiguration.

Polka is a 100% superwash merino fingering weight. This is my favorite shawl yarn as it blocks of magnificently. Each skein is 100 grams/400 yards. You will need two skeins of the same color to complete the shawl ($22 each).
Polka will be sold on FiddleKnits.com (while supplies last):philosophers stone

Interlude yarn is also appropriate for this design, however, it is not currently being sold. Interlude was available only as a pre-order. This was a 150 gram/600 yard skein of 80% superwash merino/10% cashmere/10% nylon. (If you placed a pre-order for Interlude and would like to switch to one of the Polka colors now that that option is out you are more than welcome to do so if your yarn has not already shipped. Simply email me with the name on your order and your new choice. Direct emails to: Erica@FiddleKnits.com)

Yardage
Be prepared to use all 150 grams (600 yards) of your yarn if using the Interlude gradients.
The last several rows of the pattern are such that you can continue to work in the pattern until your yarn is finished, or cut off a few rows if you’re running short.

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Receival of clues: An email/message containing each clue (1per week for 4 weeks) will be sent to your email address or Ravelry inbox. There will be a link in the message that directs you to download the new PDF file. If you are receiving the clues on Ravelry you will also notice the option to update the pattern in your Ravelry library (if you have chosen to store it there). What if you no longer wish to receive the updates? Every MKAL I get emails asking to be removed from the update emails. Designers cannot take a persons name off a pattern list. Once you sign up you must also sign out. At the bottom of every update email is a link you can click to opt out of future updates.