Mystery Knit Along

I am taking part in a Mystery Knit Along on Ravelry.
This is a pic of Part 1
I am using size 6 knitting needles, and Caron Simply Soft yarn in the color Persimmon.

Tips for Knitting Fair Isle Mittens

Caring for your mittens Hand wash mittens in cool water with gentle wool wash. Do not rub or wring. Squeeze out excess water, then spin in washing machine or roll in towels to remove rest of water. Lay garment flat to dry out of direct sunlight and shape to original measurements.




Knitting Tips



Fair Isle mittens are funtional as well as warm, and beautiful.



Try using wooden needles instead of metal. Wooden needles are less slipery, the wooden needles will grip your stitches better.



You can bind off Fair Isle mittens with a 3 needle bind off from the inside.



The easiest way to knit Fair Isle mittens is to use 4 needles, and devide your stitches evenly onto 4 needles.



Using 5 DPN's will help to avoid ladders.



When choosing colors for your mittens, make sure that there's enough contrast between the background colors and the pattern color so the pattern doesn't get lost.



Carry the strands of unused color loosely in the back of the project.



If you carry the yarn, that is not in use to tightly, you will have puckers.



Loose stitches can be tightened, but it is almost impossible to loosen stitches that are to tight, and they will cause puckering on the right side of your project, and may even affect the fit.



To help you keep your place on the chart, use a magnetic board or a piece of sticky note paper to mark the row you're working, This makes it easier to follow the chart. You can move it up as you finish each row. The reason for placing the marker above the row you are working on, is so that you can see how it fits with with what you have already knit.



You can also make a working copy of your chart and inlarge it, so you can make your own personal notes on the pattern, this will alo help you follow along better.



The key to organizing your yarn, is to keep one ball on your right side, and the other color on your left side. You should hold the main color in which ever hand you feel the most comfortable.



Putting your ball of yarn in a bowl, so that it can roll around in the bowl, may prevent twisting of your yarn.



I like to use a ribbed cuff on my mittens, because the rib is more snug, and very elastic. Your ribbing can be shortened or lengthened, to make the mitten perfect for you.



If your mitten does not fit perfectly, washing and blocking the mitten can change the size. I always block my wool Folk mittens.



Felted wool is warmer, and more water repellent.



Kitchener Stitch I use the Kitchener Stitch to graft the lives stitches together in my Folk Mitten Patterns.

Using the Kitchener Stitch, you will be able to seam the live stitches together invisibly.

You need to make sure that the two pieces you are grafting together have the same number of stitches. Then you will

create a row of stitches with your sewing needle.

1) Draw your yarn through the very first stitch on the front needle as if to purl, and leave it on the needle.

2) Draw your yarn through the first stitch on the back needle as if to knit, and leave it on the needle.

These first 2 steps are only done once.

3) Pull the yarn through the first stitch on the front needle, as if to knit, and slip it off of the end of the needle.

4) Pull the yarn through the next stitch on the front needle as if to purl and leave the stitch on the needle.

5) Pull the yarn through the first stitch on the back needle as if to purl, and slip it off of the needle.

6) Pull the yarn through the second stitch on the back needle as if to knit, and leave this stitch on the needle.

Repeat rows 3 through 6 until you have all of your stitches grafted together. Then weave in your yarn ends on the inside of your mitten.

Just remember Knit, Purl, Purl, Knit while grafting the stitches on your mitten, and you will have a beautifully finished mitten.



Blocking Folk Mittens

Either water or steam is used in the blocking process. Once your mitten is completed, the blocking is done. Blocking will help adjust, and reshape both the length and width of your mitten. Both of your mittens should be identical. Blocking will ensure proper size and fit of your mitten.



Your mitten can be dunked in cool water until completely saturated before shaping. Steam can also be used by pinning the mitten to the correct measurements, then using a steam iron held above the mitten to steam it into shape. Don't let the iron touch your mitten because the natural fibers can be scorched, and man made fibers will be ruined.

Which ever method you decide to use, it is important that the mitten should dry completely.



After blocking your mitten it should still have texture, and life. It should not be blocked to the point where the stitches are lifeless and flat.

10% discount

Use the coupon code HANDSPUN10 to get a 10% discount on any order in my Etsy shop this month.
http://mrae123.etsy.com/

Lena Rivers by Mary J Holmes

Lena Rivers is very much a Cinderella like story. An easy, delightful read. I enjoyed the book.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Aurthur Conan Doyle

I have always enjoyed reading of Sherlock Holmes Adventures. Sherlock is a detective, he uses his logical reasoning, and many disguises to solves his many cases. This book is a collection of 12 of his Adventures. I enjoyed this book so very much. If you like Sherlock Holmes. You must read this book.

Giant Cookie

I bought Big Top silicone cookie bakeware. My Granddaughter and I baked a Big Cookie today. We Love this bakeware!!!!

Squash Muffins

I added butterscotch chips, and nuts to my muffins. This recipe made 23 muffins for me.

Ingredients


3 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 cup milk

1 cup pureed cooked winter squash

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

2 eggs, lightly beaten

Directions

1.In a large bowl, combine first six ingredients; mix well. In a separate bowl, combine milk, squash, butter and eggs; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups about two-thirds full. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-22 minutes.

The Abandoned Room by Charles Wadsworth Camp

This book is full of history, mystery and secrets. A Great Who done it. Read it!!!! you will enjoy it!!!

Sweet Revenge by Diane Mott Davidson

This is the first book that I have read written by Diane Mott Davidson.
The whole time I was reading the book, I was thinking this is Not Realistic!!
The book at the end was not wrapped up well.
I had a feeling she just ended the book.

Life

Written by a 90 year old




This is something we should all read at least once a week!!!!! Make sure you read to the end!!!!!!



Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio ..



"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.



My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:



1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.



2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.



3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.



4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.



5. Pay off your credit cards every month.



6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.



7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.



8. It's OK to get angry with God He can take it.



9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.



10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.



11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.



12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.



13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.



14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.



15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.



16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.



17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.



18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.



19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.



20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.



21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.



22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.



23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.



24. The most important sex organ is the brain.



25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.



26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'



27. Always choose life.



28. Forgive everyone everything.



29. What other people think of you is none of your business.



30. Time heals almost everything Give time time.



31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.



32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.



33. Believe in miracles.



34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.



35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.



36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.



37. Your children get only one childhood.



38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.



39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.



40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.



41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.



42. The best is yet to come...



43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.



44. Yield.



45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."