Swept away

I tried to resist, but I couldn't stay away. After reading, "How are you going to feel when everyone is having fun without you?" I was toast. Oh sure, I put up a good front... left a comment saying I'd look away, that I'd try to last through Friday, blah, blah, blah.

Less than an hour later I was signed up. I'm officially one of 6700+ who are knitting the Mystery Stole #3.

Designer Melanie Leesburg suggests white or black yarn to stay true to the mystery theme. If I follow her guidance, almost all of the lighter weight yarn in my stash is ruled out.

There's the Panda Silk from Crystal Palace Yarns, but I only have 400 yds of it. I sent an email to Susan at CPY to see if she'd be interested in having me knit the stole in their yarn.

Crystal Palace Yarns Panda Silk
52% bamboo, 43% superwash merino, 5% silk

Susan responded with an enthusiastic "yes" and will be sending more yarn, so I made my swatch. Lovely pattern definition and beautiful drape. I found my yarn.

Mystery Stole #3 - Swatch

The beads were purchased yesterday at The Bead Asylum. It's amazing how different beads look in a tube as opposed out and laying on the swatch. I tried all different colors, shapes, and sizes--there was a really pretty green 8/0 hex that I loved, but was too small for the yarn. I decided on a classic tone-on-tone with a creme 4 mm cube. As an added bonus, the hole in these beads is HUGE and my crochet hook fits through easily.

From the bead store, it was a quick trip to Full Thread Ahead where Hollis concurred that the size 6 swatch looked best and I purchased a 24inch - US6/4mm Addi Turbo Lace needle.

Last night it was all knitting, all the time. Clue 1 had been out for a week and clue 2 was released yesterday morning. I was late in joining the knitalong, but I was determined to catch up.

Clue 1: Finished.

Mystery Stole #3 - Clue 1