Mystery Baby Blanket 2023: post 3, Mail Out 3
Debbie AbrahamsWELCOME TO THE THIRD INSTALMENT OF THE 2023 MYSTERY BABY BLANKET CLUB! The weather has taken a real turn here in the UK and this morning I woke up to clear blue skies and a thick frost. I love this time of year when winter begins to take hold and the whole landscape changes. It’s the perfect climate for knitting, and with five more squares to knit this month, what could be better than settling yourself in your most comfy chair, needles in hand, ready to make a start!
I’ve recorded an intro to this month’s blog which I hope you will tune into and give a listen before you read my blog. As well as talking about the squares and what this third instalment has in store for you, I have lots of other exciting things to tell you about, including some lovely gift ideas for the festive season. So simply click on the link below, sit back and enjoy!...
There are no new tech vids this month, but if you need a reminder of any of the techniques that you’ve come across so far, this handy list will help you to locate what you are looking for:
- Debbie’s intro! (MO1 blog)
- How to knit intarsia (MO1 blog)
- Picking up stitches to knit the next square (MO1 blog)
- Mattress stitch (horizontal) (MO1 blog)
- How to carry yarns up the side of the work (MO1 blog)
- How to knit fairisle (MO1 blog)
- How to add Swiss darning to your knitting (MO1 blog)
- How to cable (MO1 blog)
- How to knit a bobble (MO1 blog)
- How to add Chain stitch to your knitting (MO2 blog)
I SAID IN MY INTRO VID THAT THERE IS A LINK TO A PREVIOUS MYSTERY BLANKET BLOG FOR THE CABLE TECH VID, however, it is actually included in the first Mystery Baby Blanket blog, so you will find it in the tech vids in Mail Out 1
I ALSO SAID THAT THE CHAIN STITCH AROUND THE OWL’S EYES IS IN PUDDLE/ROSY, but it’s actually in Heavenly for both colourways. It’s the bobbles which are in Puddle/Rosy. So the pattern instructions are correct – it’s what I say that is wrong, oops!
MAIL OUT 3 HAS BEEN EMAILED TO ALL THE MEMBERS ON 1ST DECEMBER. So if you have not already checked your inbox, you should find it waiting in there for you.
The printed patterns for members who paid for them have been posted, with the overseas sent on the 22nd November and the UK on the 28th November. If you did not sign up for printed patterns but have changed your mind, contact Sue and she will be able to set this up for you for an additional cost.
Don’t forget that each month you can also download the patterns from your Debbie Abrahams account.
This is a quick guide to how you can do this:
- Log into the website with your username and password: https://debbieabrahams.com/account/login
- Under "MYSTERY CLUB DOWNLOADS" click "View all downloads"
- Your latest available mail-outs will be visible here in PDF format to download
BEFORE I TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE SQUARES YOU ARE KNITTING THIS MONTH, I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT SOME GREAT FESTIVE GIFT IDEAS WHICH MIGHT SOLVE SOME OF THOSE HARD-TO-FIND THINGS ON YOUR SHOPPING LIST…
WINTER WONDERLAND READY-TO-WEAR SOCKS: I have teamed up with UK high-street sock designer, Julie Cox Queen of Socks, to create a set of three socks inspired by my 2019 Mystery Blanket, Winter Wonderland. They are machine-knitted in a fine gauge in premium super soft cotton, with a touch of sparkly metallic fibre to represent the sparkly beads in Winter Wonderland. So there’s no need to sit for hours knitting a pair of socks –put these straight on and your feet will be cosy and warm instantly! You can buy them individually or in bundles of two or three – the more you buy, the bigger discount you get.
Choose from three designs, (left to right): Rockin' Around, Winter Ball, Oh Tannenbaum!
Fibre content: 65% Cotton, 29% Polyamide, 4% Polyester, 1% Metallised Fibre, 16% Elastane. Machine-washable.
Price: 1 pair £7.50; 2 pairs £14; 3 pairs £20 (exc. shipping).
Size: one size to fit ladies 4-7 (UK).
FESTIVE MYSTERY KNIT BOXES: these have been selling fast but we have some left – but not for long! So if you fancy a treat for yourself (go on – you deserve it!), or you have a knitting friend you need to buy a gift for, then grab yourself one of our boxes before they sell out.
In each box there are ten gifts including beauty, home décor, something sweet to eat, knitting accessories and a new festive knitting kit using Rowan yarn designed by Debbie. The ‘mystery’ is that you don’t know what is in the box until you open it, so it really is a box full of surprises! (All boxes have the same contents).
Price: £69.95 (exc. Shipping).
FESTIVE KNITTING KITS – 10% OFF UNTIL 16TH DECEMBER: we have a fabulous offer at the moment on all our festive knitting kits, so you can grab yourself some seasonal home or fashion accessories at a reduced price. Whether it’s something for the festive table or an accessory to add to your winter wardrobe, there are many lovely sparkly things to choose from including our super soft Snowflake Cowl, Mini Festive Stockings, Let It Snow Mitts, Festive Bunting and Mini Festive Favour Bags. Here are a selection of the kits that are currently on offer:
BEADYKNITS CHRISTMAS TREE DECORATION: Jenny has been busy again making some wonderful festive decorations to add to her colourful handknit collection, and she is delighted to share with you her latest creation, this lovely Christmas Tree!
Jenny says: “My Christmas Tree Decoration is quick and easy to knit as the beads are threaded on so you can decorate the branches as you knit it! Adorn your own Christmas tree with this hand-made creation, hang it on a chair or give it as a gift to someone special.”
Kit price (kit makes two trees): £16.00 (exc. shipping which is calculated at point of order).
This kit is only available to purchase through BeadyKnits and not through the Debbie Abrahams website. To order your kit today, contact jenny@beadyknits.com to pay by Paypal. Or visit her shop on Etsy where you can purchase this kit and see all of the other lovely kits she has for sale: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/BeadyKnitsByJenny?
2024 MYSTERY BLANKET MEMBERSHIP: if this is something you’ve been meaning to do, then you have just one more month to get yourself signed up to next year’s Mystery Blanket. What could be better than having a whole knitting kit packed with gorgeous yarns and sparkly beads delivered to your doorstep, and patterns arriving in your inbox every month from February to November!
So what’s in store for 2024?
I am absolutely thrilled to be using my own bespoke Light Wool DK yarn again for this project which has been produced by the wonderful team at Laxtons in North Yorkshire, UK. I have combined it with a selection of my most favourite Rowan yarns including Felted Tweed, Alpaca Soft, Kidsilk Haze and Soft Yak. Vibrant shades of teal and ocean blue graduate into bold purples and pinks, which are softened with pale turquoise, dreamy lilac and blush pink laced with flecks of cool silver and pale gold. There are plenty of sparkling beads in it too!
The blanket design includes the techniques of intarsia, fairisle, lace, textured stitches, stripes and beads, offering you a feast of squares to knit up over ten months. And there will be a choice of two options - as there is this year - for the trickier squares (fairisle and intarsia), enabling both novice and experienced knitters to participate in this unique knitting experience.
My monthly tech vids have been extremely popular this year, so I am pleased to say that I will continue with them in a dedicated monthly blog so that you have all the help and support you need as you work your way through the forty-nine squares.
The club begins on 1st February 2024 and runs for ten months until November 2024.
The finished size of the blanket is approximately 135cm x 135cm.
What does my membership include?
Each member will receive a knitting kit which includes over forty balls of premium quality yarn, ten sets of emailed patterns (with the option to purchase additional printed patterns), Debbie Abrahams size 6 beads and a woven label. The kit will be posted in two halves with the first one delivered in February, followed by the second one in May.
NEW! Download pattern option
For the first time we are offering the ten sets of patterns as monthly downloads enabling you to use yarns and beads from your own stash to knit the blanket. The list of yarns and beads for the first part of the kit will be released a week before the project begins. If you decide to purchase the yarn and beads for the project yourself, the cost of all the materials, like for like, is approximately £340. We are unable to guarantee that all of the colours in my Light Merino DK yarn will be available to purchase so substitutes may have to be used.
Choose to spread the cost of your payment
For those who would prefer to pay in instalments we have an easy-to-use payment system in place called Splitit which enables you to make your payment between 2-4 months. This means you can secure your membership today with a deposit with nothing more to pay until next month. Simply select Splitit at checkout when you make your first payment and then your remaining payments will be taken automatically from your account.
How do I make my purchase?
It’s really easy. You just need to visit the shop on our website and there you will find the 2024 Mystery Blanket Club for sale. There are several options to choose from starting with the basic package which includes the full knitting kit and emailed monthly pattens. Or you can upgrade and add on printed patterns (UK and overseas), and/or Special Delivery (UK only). All overseas parcels are posted by Tracked International Delivery.
Memberships are limited and when they have sold out the club will be closed. The patterns are exclusive to members only, so if you want to be part of this unique knitting experience and don’t want to miss out on all the fun and excitement next year, pop across to our shop and get yourself signed up today. And then you’ll have peace of mind that you are onboard again for another great knitting adventure with me next year!
GUESSING THE TITLE OF THE MYSTERY BABY BLANKET IS PROVING TO BE A BIT OF A CHALLENGE THIS YEAR, AND CORRECT GUESSES HAVE BEEN FEW AND FAR BETWEEN! In the past month we have had no correct guesses sent in, so I am giving you another letter in the puzzle below in the hope that it might generate some ideas. The letter I am giving you this month is “Y”:
_ O _ / I / _ _ O _ / _ Y / _ _ _ ‘ _
Any ideas?!? With another letter revealed, perhaps you’ll have a fabulous lightbulb moment! If you do and you think you know what it is, please send your guesses to Sue at sue@debbieabrahams.com. And with your permission we will publish your name in the next Mystery Baby Blanket blog. Wouldn’t that be great!
THESE ARE THE FIVE SQUARES TO KNIT IN MAIL OUT 3:
Square 1: The Letter ‘V’ – striped pattern with fairisle letter motifs:
Square 2: Hug – cable pattern:
Square 3: ‘O’ is for Owl! – intarsia owl motif with chain stitch details:
Square 9: The Letter ‘T’ – striped pattern with fairisle letter motifs:
Square 10: The Letter ‘P’ – intarsia letter motif:
On each pattern page there is a list of Pattern notes and tips that are worth reading before you start to knit each square. These bits of advice give you a pre-warning of what to look out for, as well as some useful information about how to knit each square. In the following notes below I am going to give you a few extra tips about the squares so that you can knit them with complete confidence.
SQUARE 1, THE LETTER ‘V’: if you think back to the first mail out and Square 29, this one should ring a few bells as it is the same stripe pattern, but you are knitting ‘V’s instead of ‘Z’s.
Tech vids to watch for assistance with this square:
- How to carry yarns up the side of the work (MO1 blog)
- How to knit fairisle (MO1 blog)
There are several needle changes in this square, so make sure you watch out for them in the pattern instructions (they are in bold so you can see them more easily).
The stripe pattern is a simple one and combines stocking stitch stripes with garter stitch stripes. The trickier bits to knit are the two bands of fairisle. But if you’ve knitted Square 29 you will find that this is very similar. And if you need any advice about the fairisle technique then my tech vid is there to remind you of how to strand and weave in yarns.
There are two colourways for this square, but the fairisle chart is the same for both. You will find this on page 7 of Mail Out 3.
SQUARE 2, HUG: this cable pattern combines c4b and c4f to create a bulky, cosy cable that feels like a super big hug!
Tech vids to watch for assistance with this square:
- Picking up stitches to knit the next square (MO1 blog)
- Mattress stitch (horizontal) (MO1 blog)
- How to cable (MO1 blog)
It says in the description of this square (under the title on page 8), that it is a cable and bobble pattern, but this is a typo – there are no bobbles – so you can ignore that and be sure that you’re not missing anything!
You are offered this pattern as both worded instructions and a chart, so feel free to choose whichever suits you best to work from. If you are new to cable charts and feel a little daunted by them, then this is the perfect opportunity to give it a go. It is a simple chart with minimal symbols and a strong pattern repeat which makes it easy to follow. And if you do find yourself in a pickle, you can check what you’re doing with the worded instructions which are written so that they correspond row by row with the chart.
I have added the explanation for ‘c4b’ (cable four stitches to the back) and ‘c4f’ (cable four stitches to the front), to the Abbreviations section towards the back of Mail Out 3 on page 19. It might look like a complicated cable pattern to knit but it’s actually very simple – both cables are worked side by side, right next to each other, with six rows between the twists. And if you are in any doubt, my tech vid which shows the basics of how to knit a cable, is there for your perusal.
SQUARE 3, ‘O’ IS FOR OWL!: this is the picture knit for this month and this little owl can’t wait for you to start knitting him! It gives you another chance to practice your intarsia skills, which must be getting good by now as this is your third intarsia square in the blanket.
Tech vids to watch for assistance with this square:
- Picking up stitches to knit the next square (MO1 blog)
- Mattress stitch (horizontal) (MO1 blog)
- How to knit intarsia (MO1 blog)
- How to add Swiss darning to your knitting (MO1 blog)
- How to add Chain stitch to your knitting (MO2 blog)
So there’s a few things to think about here, including the textured stitches on the chest of the owl (which are represented in the chart by an ‘X’), the contrast-coloured bobbles for the eyes, and the embroidery. You are going to have to make the decision before you begin as to whether you are going to knit in the small details – feet, stars, moon, beak, ears and the letter ‘O’ – or whether you are going to embroider them on afterwards using Swiss darning. I decided to embroider mine as I found it easier and neater than knitting them in. But you need to do whatever is best for you and gives you the best result. I would recommend that if you decide to Swiss darn them, block and press the square before doing the embroidery as it will make the surface of the knitting flatter to work on. You can also block and press it again after embroidering, if desired.
There was a contrast-coloured bobble in Square 8, ‘W’ is for Whale! So you have done this before. But if you need a reminder of the technique, you can scroll back to my 2023 Mystery Blanket for some assistance: https://debbieabrahams.com/blogs/news/mystery-blanket-club-2023-post-1-february
One last thing I need to point out to you (and I mentioned it in my intro vid), is that you might notice a very small difference between the chart and the image of the Colourway 1 owl. On the chart on page 11 he has four horizontal Heavenly stitches for his left foot (it’s the right one as you look at the chart). However, on the image there are only three stitches, So there is one less stitch in my knitted square – ouch! It is the chart that is correct – I didn’t Swiss darn enough stitches – so be sure to follow this rather than the image of the square on page 10. My owl has a slightly deformed foot – oh dear! – but yours will be perfect – hurray!
SQUARE 9, THE LETTER ‘T’: stocking stitch stripes frame a fairisle pattern giving you the opportunity to try out some more fairisle within a small central section. This square is similar to Square 23 but this time you are knitting ‘T’s instead of ‘U’s.
Tech vids to watch for assistance with this square:
- Picking up stitches to knit the next square (MO1 blog)
- Mattress stitch (horizontal) (MO1 blog)
- How to carry yarns up the side of the work (MO1 blog)
- How to knit fairisle (MO1 blog)
There are two colour options for this square so make sure that you follow the correct instructions for the colourway you are knitting. Colourway 1 (Silver) is always written first with any changes for Colourway 2 (Rosy) written afterwards in brackets and bold.
On the striped section, stitches are transferred backwards and forwards onto the other needle so that you can pick up the yarn that is needed for the next stripe without the need to cut it and re-join it. If you are working on a circular needle then all you need to do is to slide the stitches to the other end of the needle and continue.
There are needle size changes in this square - smaller needles for the rows of garter stitch (the ridges that frame the fairisle section in the centre of the square), and larger needles for the fairisle. These needle size changes are important to maintain an even tension across the whole square, so don’t forget to change them over when instructed.
SQUARE 10, THE LETTER ‘P’: this intarsia pattern is the third over-sized letter in the blanket.
Tech vids to watch for assistance with this square:
- Picking up stitches to knit the next square (MO1 blog)
- Mattress stitch (horizontal) (MO1 blog)
- How to knit intarsia (MO1 blog)
So you’ve already knitted a large ‘Y’ and ‘S’, and this month you’ve got ‘P’ to add to your large letter collection which is knitted using the same technique. As tempting as it may be, it is really important that you avoid carrying the yarns across the back of the work and knit this as pure intarsia, otherwise you could risk the work puckering and looking very uneven. I used two bobbins of Cream and also worked off the ball (so that’s three separate balls altogether), and two of Camel.
I cast on using the ball of Cream and then introduced the first bobbin of Camel on Chart row 6. And on this same row I introduced the first bobbin of Cream (for the right side of the letter, as you look at the chart). On Chart row 29 I introduced the second bobbin of Cream for the centre of the letter, and I also introduced the second bobbin of Camel.
There is a tech vid for intarsia if you need a reminder of the technique. The key thing to remember is to cross the yarns over every time you change colour as this will prevent holes, thus creating a smooth transition from one colour to the next. This needs to be done every time you change colour on both RS and WS rows.
There is a half-page Notes section on page 16 which could be useful if you want to write down how you knitted this square and on which rows you joined in the yarns.
IF YOU ENJOY SOCIAL MEDIA AND ARE NOT FOLLOWING US, THEN GET ON BOARD AND JOIN US ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS!
If you are not already a Ravelry member, then it is very easy (and free!) to join. Just follow the instructions on their website: http://www.ravelry.com
The Debbie Abrahams Mystery Knitters group on Facebook is another fun way to keep in touch with other members. It was set up a couple of years ago and has grown in size to over 650 members, so that’s well worth joining too.
We also have our own Facebook page where you will find regular updates on everything we are doing from knitting kits to workshops and events!
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OUR MYSTERY CLUB MEETINGS AT YARN LOFT IN NOTTINGHAM ARE PAUSING FOR A FEW MONTHS, BUT WILL RECOMMENCE IN FEBRUARY. Meetings take place at Doreen’s lovely knitting shop in Carrington, close to the city centre of Nottingham, called Yarn Loft. Doreen opens her doors on the first Wednesday of the month and keeps us going with hot drinks and light refreshments while we knit and chat for a couple of hours.
If you belong to any of my mystery clubs, then you are welcome to join us. It’s a great opportunity to meet other members and have a chat while cracking on with your squares. It’s a lot of a fun and we have a lot of giggles too! And if you have any questions about the mystery projects, I am on hand to answer any queries or help with techniques.
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 7th February from 4pm - 6pm. Yarn Loft is at 118 Hucknall Road, Carrington, Nottingham, tel number 07825 702433, website: www.yarnloft.co.uk. To cover the costs of hosting the meeting there is a small sub to pay (£3.00), which can be paid to Doreen on the day.
In the new year I will send out an email to our Mystery Club databases, and if you are interested in joining us then a quick ‘yes!’ to me at debbie@debbieabrahams.com is enough to reserve a space for you. Whether you can make it to one or two meetings, or to all of them, we’d love you to come along and join in all the fun!
MEMBERS GALLERY AND FURRY FRIENDS! Thank you to everyone who has sent in photos and stories for our end of year/new year galleries. The Furry Friends Gallery (which is going to be such a lot of fun!), is launching imminently (I did say it would be November, but I’ve re-scheduled it for early December). But there is still time to send in pics of your Debbie Abrahams projects for the Members Gallery (mystery and non-mystery projects are welcome!). This is your chance to share your ‘Debbie’ knits globally with knitters and makers worldwide. It is always such a joy for me to see what you’ve been creating over the past twelve months, and it is inspiring for others to see what you've done too. So if you’ve got something to share, please send in your pics with a few words to me at debbie@debbieabrahams.com and I will be delighted to include your wonderful work in the Members Gallery in January. Please send your pics uncropped and in their ‘raw’ state as that makes it easier for me to make any necessary edits at my end. Thank you!
So as we begin the busy month of December I hope that you find enough time in between shopping, merrymaking and prepping for the big day to knit your Baby Blanket squares. The tips and advice in this blog will set you off in good stead so you can knit away confidently and create the most perfect squares for your blanket! I find knitting a great relief from the stresses of everyday life, so if you are feeling the strain of the festive season and need a break, grab your knitting bag and settle down with a square to knit and escape for a few hours. And if you feel the need for a treat, don’t forget to have a browse in our online shop where you can order something really special for yourself or a friend at the push of a button! So whatever you are doing and wherever you are in the world, I wish you all a peaceful and happy Christmas and look forward to seeing you back here in the new year! Take care everyone, love Debbie x
