Oct Mys Box & KAL!

What time is it? 

 Mystery Box Time!

Keep scrolling for all the juicy details!

Last week was first day when there's a hint of fall in the air. Seeing trees trying to turn colors.  Mornings are coolish and the air feels bit less summery. Pumpkin recipes are flooding social media and we're craving comfort foods! Despite this week's heat spike, next week's forecasts the mercury drops and tonight is a chance of thundershowers!  Our Autumn Mystery Box promises cuddling up under soft, cosy wrap to ward off this lovely chilly fall air is just around the corner. 

Wee Bit Different This Time....

This time round we know what's in the box up front! Our Oct 2021 Mystery Box is your choice Marie Knit Shawl or Elana Crochet Wrap, two new patterns designed by Melissa Leapman for Juniper Moon's Herriot Great, a 100% baby alpaca (omg....an amazingly soft & cuddly yarn). We lovingly say it's an affordable cashemere. Works up like butter! 

For the Knit option, your "Mystery" is weekly pattern reveals during a new Melissa Leapman Marie Knit-Along starting Oct 2. Look at all the stitch patterns and techniques!

See that fuzzy bloom? That's pure 100% baby alpaca and it is bliss! Juniper Moon's Herriot Great is the yarn and we adore it. Seriously like working with butter and just as soft as cashmere without the steep price tag.  

This Mystery Box a bit more expensive ($89.99) but Herriot Great is SO worth it! Plus we loved chance to dovetail with a KAL. Melissa Leapman will have zoom sessions and technique videos on her website. This will make a gorgeous gift for a favorite loved one too and holidays here soon! 

Crochet Option

Couple of Crochet Box Caveats

• Eliana calls for 6 hanks MC, 1 ea of CC1 and CC2 but......this scarf seems pretty dang long.....we think you could easily get by with just 4 hanks. Instead you can incorporate the CC colors to make up for using less MC.You'll only use a tiny bit of these contrasting colors so there's plenty to just add more repeats of the stripe pattern. Or just make the MC sections shorter. You choose. 

• We don't think this pattern is part of the official KAL so probably no zoom sessions or videos tutorials....but we're thrilled there's a crochet option! All same color options apply

Colors Options up the Whazoo! 

Knitting Fever created only two colorways for the Marie KAL....but come on....we need more than that! So we dreamed up a few more! (Plus it gave Kim an excuse to have all the Herriot Great colors on order ship earlier! LOL) 

Be sure to scroll down all the way for two brand new color options just added, not shown above! 

LATE BREAKING ADDITIONS....... 

Just got word this morning: More colors available to ship out today! Since eight color options isn't nearly enough (heehee) here's two more!

You can indicate in checkout "notes" which color your prefer for MC.....or let us surprise you! 

There's a custom option if you prefer to choose your own color adventure. Just choose that option and include which colors you want, or come by the shop to pick out in person.  Note #145 below still on backorder and won't be available in time. But all others good to choose - even discontinued ones. 

Order Here

Your box will ship out/pick up Wed Sep 23. 

Melissa Leapman says:

Knitted out of the softest chunky alpaca imaginable from Juniper Moon Farm, the Marie shawl offers a fun and easy way to play with color. Believe it or not, this beauty uses just one color per row (yes!!!) to create garter stripes, a cool mosaic pattern, and interesting colorful lace.

Join this fun knitalong with Melissa and her friends as we work through 3 separate sections of this amazing asymmetrical shawl. We will have optional live get-togethers via Zoom for each clue so I can demonstrate tricky sections and answer your knitting questions.

4 hanks of Juniper Moon Farm’s gorgeous Herriot Great“ in your choice of two colorways, four clues sent out weekly via email and Ravelry, free live Zoom sessions for demos and Q & A, and eligibility for amazing door prizes!

Marie KAL Supplies Needed

• Juniper Moon Farm’s Herriot Great (131yd ea/100g)
• Color A: 2 hanks
• Color B: 1 hank
• Color C: 1 han
• Circular knitting needle US10.5 (8 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge, 29”
• dpn's size US10.5 (8mm) or size needed to obtain gauge

Gauge
In Garter Stitch, 11 stitches and 28 rows = 4”, blocked.

KAL Schedule

Oct 2: Knitalong begins & Clue 1 released
Oct 9: Clue 2 is released
Oct16: Clue 3 is released
Oct 23: Clue 4 is released

Let's get busy looking forward to Fall's Return and a fun new Mystery Box Project! 

Mystery Box Time! February 2021

UPDATE Jan 29th: 

New Color Option "E" Added Below - "A" on backorder-more coming soon

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 It's that time again......  

Mystery Box Time

 

 

This round is a wintery accessory to wrap ourselves or loved ones up with lots of hearts and kisses! 

 

You'll learn a new technique, dreaded by many but easily mastered with this pattern. It's a quick knit so you'll bash it out in not time. Probably before the first spring flowers peek out. And if Kim is on the ball....maybe we'll try some new video demos in the future....

 

Each box contains yarn and pattern. Our special handout will be sent to your email once you're box arrives. It'll include more details, tips, tricks and inspiration for other patterns.  

 

 

A Few Hints

 

February is Know for This 

Lovely Woolly Organic Yumminess

 

"Colorful World of Nature" 

 

There's 5 color combo choices

 

A  Miyama **update Jan 29: on backorder-more coming soon**

B  Kama

 

C  Lizuka

 

D  Hida 

Newly added on Jan 29th.....

E Kashima

 

Something a Bit Different....

 All boxes are shipped this time. Make sure to give us your shipping address during checkout.

This Mystery Box shows how our vendors recalibrated operations to support their local yarn shops during this past year. We are very grateful for them and you! It's why we're still here, chugging away despite the odds. After February I'll post up the details of what's so special....but for now it's a surprise!

 Use the promo code MYSBOXFEB2021 to waive our usual shipping charge.

That's it. Pick which panoply of colorful beauty you want and purchase here! 

Thank you!

Mystery Box Time!

Time for our next Mystery Box!

Theme is Easy Peasy Summertime 

Soothing, not too taxing....perfect for a day at beach or

relaxing in the shade by a creek.

Perfectly portable project good for popping in a bag

and toting along while exploring....

Head over to our online shop to purchase and choose your options....

Balls (knit or crochet project only)...or...

Balls and Book (smaller project and a book)

Which ever option you choose you'll have some

relaxing, fun summertime crafting ahead!

Even if we're trapped at home with our a/c blasting,

fans going and binging Hercule Poirot mysteries.....

(wait...that'll be me.....you'll probably do something much more interesting!)

Order Mystery Box June 2020

Don't forget to check off your options when ordering:

Balls or Balls & Book

knit or crochet

Exotic Destination Colorways

(can't decide which color? check top 3 and we'll choose for you....

because it's summertime and decisions are hard!)

Enjoy! This crazy year is officially nearly half over!

Mystery Box Reveal

Don't know about you but I'm ready to turn attention to some of my burgeoning pile of WIPs. Today I'm going to give a peek of our most recent Mystery Box pattern and yarns.

In the Feb 2020 Box
Aracuania Huasco Sock 
Ella Rae Silky Kid
Mason-Dixon Field Guide #6 Transparency booklet
Swerve by Deborah Frank (ObliviousKnits) pattern
Assorted patterns for Huasco yarn

Swerve is such a fun, easy knit. Just when you’re getting bored, time to switch to the other yarn! Or do some short rows.

Mohair is big trend right now and I can see why. This winter we loved holding a strand with another yarn to make hats. Now this one shows off the filmy, delicateness of the mohair. Paired with this super soft speckly sock yarn you’ll have a scrumptious, scrunchable lovely shawl to curl up with.

I started my Swerve before the holidays but had to set aside to prep for the Building Lace class. Now I'm a homebody for few weeks, along with my teen-age son (yes!! enforced family time....I love it!), I can get back to this project. It's a delicate, frothy alternative to the endless rounds of St st in my Weekender pullover.

Our Mystery Boxes usually include a packet with my tips and tricks, alternative pattern suggestions for included yarns, yarns for a specific pattern. The Feb 2020 box highlights the dreaded Short Row. I can hear those sighs and groans....but no more people! There's a fantastic alternative to the standard wrap & turn drill. Do them German Style!  You'll never use the old-fashioned “wrap & turn” method again! It’s much, much easier to remember and execute.

Here’s my go to video by Carole Feller:  

 

For any short row she's my favorite because....

1) She does fantastic job in her video tutorials  

Short Rows: Wrap & Turn (w&t)           Short Rows: Japanese Style

2) She's Irish!  Listening to her refreshes my dusty Irish accent and today is St. Patrick's Day!

[Did you know as a teen I lived there for a year and came home with such strong Irish accent Dad couldn't understand me for months?]

Below is my shorthand version written out. Caution! Don’t read ahead unless you like mentally trying to work something out first. If you disregard my warning… don’t worry. Watch video and you’ll get it!

Garter St German Short Row Breakdown: 

1. Knit to where you are told to “turn”  
2. Slip with yarn in front (slwyif) purl-wise 
3. Pull working yarn up, over R needle to back of work: see a “double stitch” (looks like an upside-down V, or A without its bar) 
4. Continue knitting your row as usual 
5. Later when come to your “double stitch” you knit it as 1 stitch  (kinda like a k2tog motion)

That's it for now. Time to tackle these clutter piles forming on the dining room table and do some normal chores around the house today.

Now that we're officially home, no school, no open shop, stocked larder.... I'm ready to get busy digging out WIPs and focusing on overdue tasks I usually procrastinate upon (like using my new fancy digital camera I've been very intimidated by since Christmas morning.... LOL)

Hope everyone is settling into new temporary routines to get us through the next few weeks. Stay safe and healthy. 

Click here if you want to order up your own Mystery Box. We can ship out this week! 

Mystery Box Summer 2018

After a break we're back with next round of our popular Mystery Box. 

Seasonally we curate a fun surprise for you. There's a theme and of course hints because let's face it,  that's the best part of a surprise...trying to guess! Number of hints depends upon Kim's loquaciousness (yes, I referred to myself in third person AND  used a big ole Mr. Schultz's Freshmen Vocab word in context. Unlike Algebra, you do use what you learn in English the rest of your life, which my brainy Math-Son will vehemently disagree upon....but he is 14 now. That's par for the course)

Theme this time? We picked our favorite summer yarn and found various projects inspired by a nursery song that for whatever reason I couldn't get out of my head each time  visualized the next mystery box. That's it in a nutshell. Basically this box is inspired by an ear-worm! LOL But unlike an ear-worm...you'll love this and will have hours of pleasure making beautiful handmade objects.

(For your listening pleasure, a cute video embedded below that I promise will stay with you for days and days and days....don't hate me!)

Except we have a slight variation on the theme...

Head...Shoulders...Knees...or Toes

because frankly....who wants to knit something for their knees?

Box Hints

Box contains 3 balls of 3 colors. Variety of patterns included that address the Head Shoulders or Toes theme. We both LOVE this yarn! It's a pleasure to work with. When it's on the needles, I return to them just because it's this yarn. Great yardage and perfect for all-year long projects. Your box will yield 1-3 finished items depending upon what strikes your fancy. Great way to get a jump on gift-making season. Color palettes are below to help you choose.  Same price: $50 and ready to ship/pick up on Sep 15th.

Enough hints? Head over to order up your lovely surprise Mystery Box!

1. Quince

2. Pumpkin

3. Greys

4. Blush