Mystery Blanket Club 2023: post 4, May

HELLO EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO THE MAY INSTALMENT OF THE 2023 MYSTERY BLANKET CLUB! We are about to begin the fourth instalment of this year’s club, and with Spring in full swing and the sun shining, what could be better than a bumper month of squares, with six patterns for you to knit!

Several of the squares have options with four out of the six of them offering an alternative pattern to knit. So you’re going to have to make some decisions which I will give you some guidance with in this blog. So make sure that you take some time to read it (and listen to my intro) as there is lots of help and advice in it, plus news of a brand new ‘mystery’ KAL and some member stories. So settle back, make yourself a cuppa and let’s get started!...

There are no new tech vids this month so I begin with my intro and a friendly hello from me. And then if you need help with any knitting techniques you can refer back to previous tech vids which will give you all the guidance you need.

This is a reminder of the techniques that were covered in previous blogs:

• Square 8, Pixies & Nixies (both options): how to knit the decorative slip-stitch (February)
• Square 8, Pixies & Nixies (Option One): the Fairisle technique (February)
• How to knit the decorative loop stitch (February)
• How to bead, the hooking-in method (February)
• How to carry yarns up the side of the work (February)
• How to pick up stitches along a cast-off edge (February)
• Mattress stitch (horizontal) (February)
• How to cable (February)
• How to knit a contrast-coloured bobble (February)
• Square 16, Forager: how to knit the exaggerated decorative purl stitch (February)
• Understanding lace stitches (March)
• How to thread beads onto your yarn (March)
• How to bead, the slip-stitch method (March)
• The intarsia technique (March)
• How to add Chain stitch to your knitting (March)
• How to add Swiss darning to knitting (March)
• How to pick up stitches along a cast-off edge using several colours (May)

I BEGIN WITH THE VERY GOOD NEWS THAT ALL OF THE FIRST PARCELS HAVE NOW BEEN RECEIVED (HURRAY!) AND THE SECOND PARCELS ARE WELL ON THEIR WAY! Some of you have already let me know that you have your second knitting kit, but if you are still waiting then it shouldn’t be long before it drops onto your doormat. Sue and Julia started to parcel them up at the beginning of April and posted them in several batches with all the overseas shipped first followed by the UK. And with Royal Mail’s new super duper postal system, we are finding that parcels are reaching their destinations in much better time. So going forward, things are looking good!

BEWARE OF THE LITTLE COLOURED ENVELOPE IN YOUR PARCEL! This contains your Mystery Blanket woven label which has the name of the blanket on it. So if you’ve already guessed the title it’s no problem, go ahead and open it. But if you have not guessed it and want to keep guessing, then leave it somewhere out of sight in a safe place, and don’t be tempted! Later on in this blog I will be giving you another letter clue, so it might just spark an idea that results in a correct guess. Fingers crossed, let’s see…

I’VE HAD A FEW OF YOU ASK ABOUT A CHECKLIST FOR THE MAY PARCEL, which I did not include in the second kit. But you can check the contents using page 2 of your May mail out:

In the May Mail Out it says on page 2 that two packs of Red beads are included in your parcel, however, you might find that there is only one large pack instead. This is because one of my postal teams put them in two separate bags (there are over 500 in your second parcel) and the other postal team managed to put the whole quantity in one bag. So in total, with the Red beads that you received in your first parcel, you should have either two or three bags of them. And if you are not sure that you have the right amount, just send us an email and we will be able to advise you.

If on checking your May parcel you find that something is missing, please let us know straight away and we will send you what you need. I know that in some of the parcels the beads were tucked between and inside some of the yarns to keep them safe, so this would be worth a check before you contact us.

THE PRINTED PATTERNS HAVE ALL BEEN POSTED, with the overseas going out first on Saturday 22^nd April and the UK on the 26^th April. We had a few hold ups with some late corrections to make which delayed the printing of them by a few days. So apologies if you are still waiting for your printed patterns to arrive, but they should be with you soon.

UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE TWO CORRECTIONS WHICH WERE NOTICED AFTER THE PATTERNS HAD GONE TO PRINT. One of them has been corrected in the digital file and only affects the printed patterns. It’s on page 25, Square 37, Toadstool (Option Two) and it’s rows 6 and 14. There are no Black beads in this square so where it says to hook in Black beads, these are Velvet. It states Velvet beads in the Beads list on page 24, so it just needs correcting on these two rows.

The second correction is minor but needs pointing out to you, and it’s in both the digital and printed file. It’s on page 13, Square 18, Butterflies, Option Two, and it’s the statement about needle sizes after the Pattern notes and tips on the right-hand side of the page. It says that 3.50mm and 3.75mm needles are used but it is 3.50mm and 2.75mm needles (as stated throughout the pattern instructions and in the boxed needle info to the right of the image). So just to be clear, it is 3.50mm and 2.75mm needles that are needed to knit this square.

I have listed these corrections on the Addendum page on our website:

https://debbieabrahams.com/pages/addendum

I AM DELIGHTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT I HAVE LAUNCHED A BRAND NEW KNITTING CLUB THAT YOU MIGHT BE VERY INTERESTED IN. IT’S MY 2023 MYSTERY BABY BLANKET, AND MEMBERSHIP ARE ON SALE SO YOU CAN SIGN UP NOW!  We are constantly asked about baby blankets, they really are very popular with babies being born around the world every day. So if you know someone who is getting ready to welcome a new baby into the world, or you are looking forward to your own new little one, then there’s no better time than now to get yourself prepped and ready for this wonderful occasion.

Above: the 2020 Mystery Baby Blanket Club, Love You To The Moon & Back.

The project is knitted in Rowan Baby Cashsoft Merino, which is a mixture of merino wool, acrylic microfiber and cashmere. It is beautifully soft and has a luxurious handle, making it the perfect choice for a baby blanket. It is machine washable. The finished size of the blanket is approximately 110cm x 80cm.

There are two colour options to choose from. The base palette includes soft green, camel, butter yellow, taupe, cream and faded denim, and to complete it there is a choice of either:

Grey/Silver

or

Rose/Candy

After the club has finished the kit for this blanket will be available to buy in our online shop from 1^st June 2024 when the Club has finished, but there are lots of reasons to sign up now and grab yourself a membership. By joining the club you will benefit from:

• 10% off the cost of the membership (£139.50 + shipping after discount)
• 10% discount voucher for a single transaction in our online shop*
• Free fabric gift bag (by Paper Mirchi)
• A dedicated blog and technical support throughout the project
• The opportunity to knit the blanket before anyone else!

*excludes Mystery products.

Each member will receive a knitting kit which includes over fifteen balls of Rowan Baby Cashsoft Merino yarn, seven sets of emailed patterns (with the option to purchase additional printed patterns), a fabric gift bag and a woven label.

The blanket design includes the techniques of intarsia, fairisle, lace, textured stitches and stripes, offering you an exciting variety of squares to knit up over seven months. (There will be no beads or embellishments in this blanket).

If you would prefer to pay in instalments you can use our online payment system Splitit, which enables you to make your payment over two, three or four months - you choose what suits you best. Simply select this option at checkout when you make your first payment and then your remaining payments will be taken automatically from your account. It’s that easy!

When your payment has been made you will be sent a confirmation email confirming your package and your membership number. We will send this to you within twenty-eight days of signing up.

Above: the alternative colourway of Love You To The Moon & Back.

I just love designing baby blankets, they are so much fun! And I have a lovely design in store for you with lots of interesting and cute patterns to knit up. So I really hope that you decide to join me on this new knitting adventure!

THE 2023 MYSTERY CUSHION CLUB HAS ALMOST SOLD OUT WITH UNDER TWENTY PLACES LEFT!  So if you’ve been sitting on the fence and not made up your mind yet, then it’s time to make a decision. Here is a quick reminder of what I have in store for you…

Above: the 2022 Mystery Cushion Club, Pure Nouveau.

The theme of the Mystery Cushion is, as always, a ‘mystery’. However, I can tell you a few snippets about the project that won’t give the game away! This year’s design uses one of Rowan’s most popular summer yarns, Summerlite DK, in a colour palette of sweet, sugary colours that are vibrant and cheerful. Debbie has combined together a mixture of pretty fairisle patterns, beading and textured stitches that will take you on a calm and pleasant knitting excursion this summer, giving you the perfect project to pack away and take on holiday or relax with in the garden.

The knitting kit includes ten balls of Rowan yarn, Debbie Abrahams Beads and buttons for fastening and decoration.

For every Mystery Cushion sold we are making a donation to the mental health charity, Mind. Last summer we tragically lost a dear friend of ours and his last wish was for any money raised in his memory to be donated to Mind, so from the profit of each membership we are donating £5 to this charity. Mind gives support and help to those is need and works tirelessly to raise awareness of mental health issues. You can read more about this and about our friend Kyle in our blog: https://debbieabrahams.com/blogs/news/raising-donations-for-mind

If you want to spread your payment then you will have the option to pay in 2-4 instalments using our Splitit payment plan, or you can simply pay in one go. There are no admin fees for splitting your payment so you can choose whatever is easiest for you and your finances.

Fancy it? Then pop across to our online shop and grab one of the last remaining memberships before the club sells out. And then you can sit back and look forward to a brand new project beginning in June. I can’t wait and hope that you are excited too!

AFTER AN INITIAL FLOOD OF CORRECT GUESSES OF THE TITLE OF THE MYSTERY BLANKET, WE HAVE HAD A SLOW TRICKLE, which means that there are still many of you out there trying to guess what it is. Congratulations this month go to Jennifer Goodliffe, Donna Ryberg, Jo Boraston, Melanie Makin, Kathryn McAteer, Sian Bennett, Myra Sharp, Sheila Hatler, Jackie Smith, Judith Bridges, Vivian Burgess and Claire and the Woolly Wanderers. So very well done to you all, the guessing game is over!

But for those of you who are still guessing, here is another clue. This month the letter I am giving you is... “T”:

T  H  _  / _  _  _  H  A  _  T  _  D  / _  _  _  _  _  T 

As the months go by it should be getting easier. So if you’ve got an idea, send your answer in to Sue at sue@debbieabrahams.com and she will let you know if you are right. Good luck everyone!

THERE ARE SIX SQUARES TO KNIT THIS MONTH, with alternative options for four of the squares:

Square 1, Falling Leaves 2 (Option One) – intarsia leaf motifs with hooked-in beads and Swiss-darned and chain stitch details:

Square 1, Falling Leaves 2 (Option Two) – textured pattern with slip-stitch beads:

Square 18, Butterflies (Option One) – fairisle pattern with stripes, textured stitches and hooked-in and slip-stitch beads:

Square 18, Butterflies 2 (Option Two) – striped pattern with textured stitches and slip-stitch beads:

Square 36, Pixies & Nixies (Option One) – fairisle pattern with stripes, textured stitches and hooked-in beads:

Square 36, Pixies & Nixies (Option Two) – textured pattern with stripes and hooked-in beads:

Square 37, Wise Old Owl (Option One) – owl motif with slip-stitch beads and Swiss-darned and chain stitch details:

Square 37, Toadstool 2 (Option Two) – textured pattern with hooked-in beads:

Square 38, Bracken 2 – three-colour stripe slip-stitch pattern (same for both options):

Square 45, Vines – cable pattern with slip-stitch beads (same for both options):

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 will help you and give pre-warnings as to what look out for in the pattern instructions. Also take note of the description under the title of each square as this tells you what the stitch structure is.

You can use the tech vids to help you knit your squares. But here are a few extra tips to assist you:

SQUARE 1, FALLING LEAVES (Option One): this is similar to Square 43, but the leaves have been rotated round and there are some differences to the colours of the embroidery too.

Videos to watch for assistance with this square:

• The intarsia technique (March blog)
• How to bead, the hooking-in method (February blog)
• How to thread beads onto your yarn (March blog)
• How to bead, the slip-stitch method (March blog)
• How to add Chain stitch to your knitting (March blog)
• How to add Swiss darning to knitting (March blog)

So what option should you go for? I would suggest that you opt for the same square you chose for Square 43 as this will keep the design balanced. But the choice is entirely up to you, and you may decide to go off-piste if you are not concerned about symmetry.

This is an intarsia square so that means either winding off small amounts of yarn for each section of colour, or using yarn bobbins (which is my preference). Remember that you are creating a single thickness multi-coloured fabric so there is very little carrying of yarns across the back of the work. This should only be done when you need to move a yarn across because of where you need to use it on the next row. So looking ahead to the next row is vital to make sure that you have the colours you need in the right place. You can use the fairisle technique to carry them across the back of the work.

I think it’s always best to block and press a square before embroidering it as this will ensure you have a nice, flat, smooth surface to work on. I did mention earlier on that some of the embroidery has changed colour, so watch out for the Chestnut leaf which has Harvest embroidery - that bright new yellow you have in your second parcel. And the stem on that same leaf is chain stitched using Blackberry.

SQUARE 1, FALLING LEAVES (Option Two): this is the second option and it’s almost the same as Square 43 but there is a slight difference to the beading.

Videos to watch for assistance with this square:

• How to cable (February blog)
• Understanding lace stitches (March blog)
• How to thread beads onto your yarn (March blog)
• How to bead, the slip-stitch method (March blog)

If you knitted this option before then you might remember that it has a variable stitch count, which means that the number of stitches changes throughout the pattern. When there is a change to the number of stitches this is stated at the end of a row. So to ensure you have the correct number it is important to count your stitches regularly as it’s far easier to go back one row than several.

The beads are threaded on before casting on and the colours are in the reverse order to Square 43. This is the only difference, the rest of the pattern instructions are the same as Square 43.

Several members got in a bit of a pickle with Row 1, so I just want to clarify how this works. It’s the instruction in the brackets which says, ‘(K1, yf) 3 times and K1’. This is all worked into the same stitch so it only uses one stitch up, and not two.

SQUARE 18, BUTTERFLIES (Option One): option one and option two for this square are quite similar, the difference being the fairisle section in the middle. So if you have not ventured into fairisle before and fancy a go at it over a small amount of rows, this is your chance.

Videos to watch for assistance with this square:

• How to pick up stitches along a cast-off edge (February blog)
• Mattress stitch (horizontal) (February blog)
• How to thread beads onto your yarn (March blog)
• How to bead, the slip-stitch method (March blog)
• How to carry yarns up the side of the work (February blog)
• Square 8, Pixies & Nixies (both options): how to knit the decorative slip-stitch (February blog)
• Square 8, Pixies & Nixies (Option One): the Fairisle technique (February blog)
• How to bead, the hooking-in method (February blog)

You can choose either option for this square as at this point it will not affect the rest of the design.

It begins with an easy stripe which has beads set into garter stitch edged stripes. I would advise that you carry the Ginger yarn up the side of the work but cut off Pasture and Maple (as instructed in the pattern).

The decorative slip-stitch row uses the same technique as Pixies & Nixies from Mail Out 1, and the tech vid from February will help you if you need a reminder of it. This time it uses Pasture and Simply White to create a bold decorative stripe before the fairisle begins on Row 35.

Note there is an increase row before this which increases the stitches by six, resulting in 51 stitches. The chart is on page 12 and begins with a couple of rows of simple stranding with no weaving-in necessary. It’s on Chart Row 3 that weaving-in is recommended, and if you are not sure how to do this then there’s a tech vid to guide you through the technique.

On the image you can see there are black beads for the eyes, and you may wonder where they are on the chart. However, they are hooked-in on Row 44 at the bottom of page 11, which is the next row after the chart. So don’t despair, I haven’t forgotten their eyes!

Remember to change needle size when instructed as this will help to make those stripes extra neat, and keep the fairisle pattern uniform in width to the rest of the square. There is a change down to 2.75mm needles for the stripes and a change up to 3.75mm needles for the fairisle.

SQUARE 18, BUTTERFLIES (Option Two): this square begins in exactly the same way as Option One with beaded stripes, but the fairisle in the middle is replaced with a textured, decorative stripe.

Videos to watch for assistance with this square:

• How to pick up stitches along a cast-off edge (February blog)
• Mattress stitch (horizontal) (February blog)
• How to thread beads onto your yarn (March blog)
• How to bead, the slip-stitch method (March blog)
• How to carry yarns up the side of the work (February blog)
• Square 8, Pixies & Nixies (both options): how to knit the decorative slip-stitch (February blog)
• Square 16, Forager: how to knit the exaggerated decorative purl stitch (February blog)

You will recognise the decorative stitch from Square 16, Forager. The exaggerated purl stitches are knitted in Pumpkin and Clay on a background of Maple.

Refer back to the tech vid from the February blog if you need a reminder of this. But once you get going, I think it will all come flooding back - it’s a fairly easy stitch to knit, and hopefully enjoyable too!

SQUARE 36, PIXIES & NIXIES (Option One): this square is a repeat of a previous square you’ve knitted before with no changes to it at all. There are two options, and this is the slightly trickier one.

Videos to watch for assistance with this square:

• Square 8, Pixies & Nixies (both options): how to knit the decorative slip-stitch (February blog)
• Square 8, Pixies & Nixies (Option One): the Fairisle technique (February blog)
• How to bead, the hooking-in method (February blog)
• How to carry yarns up the side of the work (February blog)

I would recommend that you choose the same option that you knitted for Square 8. But if this square comes up again in the blanket (and I’m trying not to give anything away here!), then you could go for the other option then. But I will talk about this in more detail in a later blog when the decision has to be made.

So you’ve got a decorative slip-stitch, fairisle and some hooked-in beading to do in this square, and the tech vids from the first blog back in February are there to assist you if you need any reminders of the techniques. It should be an easy knit so sit back and enjoy!

SQUARE 36, PIXIES & NIXIES (Option Two): this is the easier option of the two and replaces the fairisle section with a decorative loop stitch pattern. It is exactly the same as Square 8, Option Two.

Videos to watch for assistance with this square:

• Square 8, Pixies & Nixies (both options): how to knit the decorative slip-stitch (February blog)
• How to knit the decorative loop stitch (February blog)
• How to bead, the hooking-in method (February blog)
• How to carry yarns up the side of the work (February blog)

The decorative loop stitch section on rows 8-31 may look quite complicated - there are a lot of instructions for some of the rows. But once you get going you should be fine as it’s the same as Square 8 - you’ve just got to think back to February! And the tech vid is always there as a back-up if you get stuck.

SQUARE 37, WISE OLD OWL (Option One): so here we are, our first creature in the blanket, and an intarsia challenge for anyone who fancies it!

Videos to watch for assistance with this square:

• How to pick up stitches along a cast-off edge (February blog)
• How to pick up stitches along a cast-off edge using several colours (April blog)
• Mattress stitch (horizontal) (February blog)
• The intarsia technique (March blog)
• How to thread beads onto your yarn (March blog)
• How to bead, the slip-stitch method (March blog)
• How to add Chain stitch to your knitting (March blog)
• How to add Swiss darning to knitting (March blog)

I would recommend that you opt for the same square you chose for Square 9 as this will keep the design balanced. But the choice is entirely up to you, and you may decide to go off-piste if you are not concerned about symmetry.

It would be a good idea to study the chart before you begin and get your bobbins (or small balls of yarn) wound off so you are ready to go. To begin you will need two balls/bobbins each of Chestnut and Maple, and one of Barn Red, but a second one of Barn Red for Row 3 when the owl’s bib in Clay begins (I would actually introduce the second ball/bobbin of Barn Red on Chart Row 4 when Clay is three stitches wide).

If you need a reminder about how to pick up stitches to begin the square using several colours, you can go back to the April blog where you will find a tech vid for this. But if you are casting on rather than picking up stitches, you could take a look at the tech vid from the 2021 Mystery Cushion Club which shows how you do this:

https://debbieabrahams.com/blogs/news/mystery-cushion-club-post-1-june

When I knitted this square, I decided to omit the single stitch of Barn Red (which begins on Chart Row 30, in the middle) and knitted straight across between the eyes with one bobbin of Chestnut. I then Swiss-darned the Barn Red stitches on afterwards. I found this much easier to do and might be something that you could try - fewer separate balls of yarn are needed and it saved on some loose ends as well.

There is some chain stitch embroidery to add to the knitting around the eyes using Harvest yarn. And if you look very carefully at the image on page 22 and at the chart on page 23, you will see that there are two smaller circles embroidered around each bead using Blackberry yarn.

I have not specified in the instructions that the single outlines of Simply White on the bib and the outer circles in Maple around the eyes are embroidered on, but I have suggested in the Pattern notes and tips that they could be Swiss-darned onto the square after it has been completed. This is what I did and I found it a lot easier to do. But the decision is up to you, and you need to do whatever is neatest.

This square is a bit of a challenge, but it’s not too tricky once you get started. It’s all in the preparation, and it will take time to knit as there is lots of technique involved. But it will be worth it if you want this feathered friend in your blanket!

SQUARE 37, TOADSTOOL (Option Two): this is your easier option to knit and it is the same as Square 9 from the April instalment, but a different colour (and different coloured beads as well).

Videos to watch for assistance with this square:

• How to pick up stitches along a cast-off edge (February blog)
• Mattress stitch (horizontal) (February blog)
• How to bead, the hooking-in method (February blog)

This is the square with a variable stitch count.  So it’s a good idea to count the number of stitches at the end of every row after there have been increases or decreases made, just to make sure you haven’t missed any.

Don’t forget that this square uses a smaller needle than the suggested main needle size of 3.50mm. So make sure you grab your 3.25mm needles and not the slightly larger ones!

SQUARE 38, BRACKEN 2: So here’s a square you will recognise from the previous mail out (April), but there’s been a change to the colours.

Videos to watch for assistance with this square:

• How to pick up stitches along a cast-off edge (February blog)
• Mattress stitch (horizontal) (February blog)
• How to carry yarns up the side of the work (February blog)

You’ve got a three-colour stripe pattern and a four-row pattern repeat to contend with here, but if you can think back to last month when you knitted Bracken for the first time, you should be okay, it’s just a bit of revision with one colour change. Chestnut and Maple remain but Leaf is swapped out for Acorn which results in a slightly darker version of this square. I am fascinated how different it looks with just one colour change!

Because of the stitch structure - it’s a slip-stitch pattern - there are many more rows in this square than in others in the blanket, however, it should knit up to the same length as the other squares. I have had comments from a few members that it knits up rather long, and if this is the case then you may need to knit fewer rows. If your square is knitting up too long then this will be because your stitch tension is on the loose side, so you could try using a smaller needle. However, be careful as this will also affect the width of the square. If you have any queries over this, just send me an email and I will advise you.

SQUARE 45, VINES: if you like cabling then you’re in luck as this square is packed full of them, twisting to the back and the front with a scattering of glittering beads!

Videos to watch for assistance with this square:

• How to pick up stitches along a cast-off edge (February blog)
• Mattress stitch (horizontal) (February blog)
• How to cable (February blog)
• How to thread beads onto your yarn (March blog)
• How to bead, the slip-stitch method (March blog)

The beads in this square are knitted in using the slip-stitch technique so this means you will need to pre-thread them. Instructions for this are on page 28.

You can choose to knit this square from either worded instructions or from a chart. If you are not too familiar with charts it might be worth working from the chart, and then you can check any rows you are not sure about against the worded instructions.

Cables and beads are knitted on right-side rows only which you can see this quite clearly if you look at the chart on page 30. You will also notice that the beads are knitted in on the same rows as stitches are cabled, but their position alternates every eight rows to give a staggered effect. This may look quite complicated, but once you make a start and complete the first few rows you will be fine. There is a strong repeat pattern which help, and you can always mark off the rows as you go to keep track of where you are.

To keep the cables nice and neat I would suggest that the yarn is pulled firmly as you take it back and forth between the cables. Sometimes the edge stitches of a cable can be a bit loose, so an extra tug on the yarn as you begin and finish each cable will help tidy them up.

IF YOU LIVE ANYWHERE CLOSE TO NOTTINGHAM, THEN YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED TO KNOW THAT YARN LOFT ARE HOLDING MONTHLY MYSTERY CLUB MEETINGS. The good news for me is that this lovely knitting shop is at the end of my road, so I’m only a hop and a skip away from it! We have contacted members that are in Nottingham and the neighbouring areas to invite them to the meetings, but if you think this something you would like to come to, then let us know and we will send you the details.

We had our first Mystery Blanket meeting on the 5^th April and I was delighted to be joined for a couple of hours by eight members, left to right: Carol Williams, Catherine Pope, Kerry Bloodworth, Vanessa Briscoe, Alison Riddell, Claire Goode, Lyn Fitzsimons and Mary Leeson. Doreen who owns the shop made us hot drinks and fed us cake while we chatted and knitted. The last time that I was at a meeting like this was way back before Covid times, so it was absolutely wonderful to be able to do this again.

Being in such a gorgeous shop surrounded by such a wide range of beautiful yarns and accessories was the perfect place for meeting up. If you have not visited Yarn Loft before then it really is a super shop that stocks not only Rowan yarn but a large selection of independent yarns as well. It was very tempting to be sat there for a couple of hours and some of the ladies did treat themselves with a purchase.

We always find so many things to chat about - it’s not just about the knitting! - but the meeting gave the ladies the opportunity to ask questions about the squares and the techniques, so we were able to sort out some of the queries too as we sat together and knitted. One thing that did come up was the length of the Bracken square from the April mail out. I talked about this further back in this blog and advised the same - to knit fewer rows if necessary.

A question was also asked about the washability of the blanket once it has been completed. All of the Rowan yarns used in it are machine washable. However, the Light Wool DK - my bespoke yarn - does not have a machine-wash finish on it. If you look at the ball-band, it states that it is handwash only. So I would not recommend that you machine-wash your Mystery Blanket. Handwashing is always the best option for a handknitted blanket as I don’t think it’s worth the risk putting it in the washing-machine. Just think if you were to put the wrong cycle on by mistake - it doesn’t bear thinking about! So my advice is to handwash it, it’s safer for you and your blanket!

If you are interested in coming along to our next meeting on Wednesday 3^rd May then the meeting is between 4-6pm at Yarn Loft, 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.

Just send a quick email to me at debbie@debbieabrahams.com to let me know you are coming and we will make sure that we have a cup of tea and a cake ready for you!

AND NOW FOR A COUPLE OF STORIES FROM THE MEMBERS, BEGINNING WITH VICKI LEAVERS FROM WESTLEIGHT, NSW, AUSTRALIA. I mentioned in a recent Instagram post about sending in photos of your happy knitting place, and Vicki responded with this most amazing photo!

Vicki says: “Just to advise you that my second parcel arrived today in Sydney Australia - great news! This is my first Mystery Blanket and it has been so enjoyable. I saw on Instagram that you asked to post a photo of our happy knitting place, so this is mine, Cowan Creek /Hawkesbury River, Sydney Australia. In the distance you can see the morning mist lifting, and this favourite spot of ours is about 20 kms from home so we frequent it as often as possible. My knitting always looks better when I’m in this special place.”

Your happy knitting place looks idyllic and is definitely a great place to knit. It’s wonderful to see your Mystery Blanket knitting out and about in such a beautiful location. Thanks so much for sending this in Vicki. And if anyone else wants to share their happy knitting place, then please send in your photos and a few words to me at debbie@debbieabrahams.com and I will include it in the next blog.

IT’S ALWAYS LOVELY TO SEE MY PROJECTS KNITTED UP, AND NICOLA FARR FROM LINCOLN IN THE UK HAS MADE A SPENDID JOB OF THE AUTUMN BAG! She has knitted it beautifully and lined it as well with the perfect fabric. I can see why Nicola is so pleased with her creation!

Nicola says: “I just wanted to share with you how delighted I am with my completed Autumn Bag. I loved the colour combinations as soon as I saw the kit for sale and found some wonderful fabric for the lining in a local shop. I’ve added a couple of pockets for phones etc - an extra challenge for myself as I do very little sewing. I’ve also recently knitted the free snowflakes mitts pattern that came with Winter Wonderland. Now looking forward to my first mystery cushion! Thanks for all the designs.”

Nicola was very lucky to get one of the last Autumn Bag kits in this colourway as they are now sold out. It used some of my bespoke Rowan Cotton Glace colours from the 2018 Mystery Blanket, Casa Batlló. The lining fabric is lovely and finishes it off so well. I always think that a knitted bag really benefits from a lining, and as it’s something that I am really no good at, I need to take some lessons from Nicola!

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SENT IN THEIR PHOTOS OF THEIR FURRY FRIENDS ASSISITING WITH THEIR MYSTERY BLANKET KNITTING! I mentioned this at the end of my previous blog after seeing many photos of furry friends on the Facebook group page. I am planning to include them all in one blog in a few months’ time. So if you have a photo, please send it into me along with the name of your pet and a few words. It will be good fun to see who’s assisting you with your blanket knitting! And any creatures are welcome, furry, feathered or scaly!

IF YOU MISSED OUT ON THE 2020 MYSTERY BLANKET CLUB, OUR PRECIOUS EARTH AND WOULD LIKE A KIT, please email Sue at debbie@debbieabrahams.com as one has come up for a private sale.

IF YOU WANT TO KEEP UP TO DATE WITH ALL THINGS ‘DEBBIE ABRAHAMS’ THEN WHY NOT FOLLOW US ON ALL OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, and enjoy the messages and photos that are shared between myself and the members:

Instagram: debbieabrahams_knitting

Facebook: Debbie Abrahams Mystery Knitters (members page)

Facebook: Debbie Abrahams Handknits

Ravelry: Debbie Abrahams Handknits

AND FINALLY, I CLOSE THIS POST WITH THE FOURTH 2023 MYSTERY BLANKET CLUB PRIZE DRAW!!! Each month a member is picked at random to win a Debbie Abrahams prize. So it is worth reading right the way to the end of each blog to see if you are that lucky member!

PRIZE DRAW FOUR (MAY): this month’s winner is member 192, Michelle Lally from Nottingham in the UK. Well done Michelle! Please choose a prize from the following selection:

• Your choice of one of Debbie’s knitting kits up to the value of £28.00 (take a look at them in our online shop).
• Five packs of Debbie Abrahams Beads (size 8/0 or 6/0) from the selection on http://www.debbieabrahamsbeads.co.uk

• A £25 voucher towards a Debbie Abrahams Mystery Club membership: 2023 Mystery Cushion Club; 2023 Mystery Baby Blanket Club or 2024 Mystery Blanket Club.
• A Mystery bag of five gifts!

We will notify Michelle to let her know the good news!

Thank you for reading my blog and listening to my intro. It’s always worth doing this before you make a start on each months’ squares so you are fully prepped and ready to go! Don’t forget that my new Mystery Baby Blanket Club is now on sale if you fancy taking on another exciting KAL this Autumn. And I also want to see who your furry friends are, so send in a pic if you have one for the blog. There’s a lot of squares to knit this month so I’m going to sign off and let you crack on. So until the next blog in June, please take care of yourselves, enjoy the squares and I will see you back here in a month (unless I see you before that at Yarn Loft!), bye for now, Debbie, x