The Wearing of the Purple

Dear Hearts,

I do not as a rule plan itineraries so as to land in national capitals on national holidays; but the coincidence is always charming when it arises. Greetings from Ireland, on St. Patrick's Day.

I am in Dublin for only a day, however a day in Dublin is far better than no Dublin at all.

Before I meet Siobhán at the Palace Bar for a whiskey, it is my duty and pleasure to share with you this month's winner of the Finished Object Contest.

Please join me in applause for Karen, who knit up Heidi Kirrmaier's marvelous Vitamin D for none other than her own, dear mother (seen below) using Hat Box in Monkey Orchid.

Writes Karen,

"Every Christmas I knit her a sweater, but this one she just loved, and she says she has received many compliments from the ladies in the retirement community. The yarn gives such wonderful stitch definition - I'm working on one for myself in Submarine."

Your mother makes a perfect model, Karen, even unto the detail shots. Proof that playful elegance is never out of style.

Simply lovely fabric, don't you agree?

Karen, darling–do please be in touch with us as soon as possible via frolic@mrscrosbyplays.com to select your prize skeins and arrange for delivery.

Remember, dear readers, that as of this writing the next deadline for the photo contest will be April 10, 2015.  What have you been making with needles, hook, or loom that you would love to show off? Visit the contest page for all the details.

Until next time, may the roads rise up to meet you; but not because you've had too much whiskey and stumbled on the cobblestones.

Yours Ever,
Mrs. Crosby
Dublin, Ireland

Cream, Sugar, and New One-Skein Patterns

Dear hearts,

If you've taken a gander (pardon the pun) at our range of "multi" colorways, you will have divined that I am an inveterate bird-watcher. The chance to tiptoe among the toucans is one reason I write to you this morning from Costa Rica, where beautiful plumage abounds.

The evening mail canoe brought a letter from the charming nineteeth-century town of Guthrie, Oklahoma–do you know it? If not, you should. Guthrie is full of delights for the hunter of antiques, of history, and of yarns. It is home to Sealed With a Kiss, a yarn shop with a deservedly fanatical following.

Keely, doyenne of SWAK for lo these many years, wrote to tell me about the tea party she recently threw in my honor. Sadly, high winds prevented us from leaving Pago Pago in time to reach Oklahoma; but the photographs relate that the local knitters believe (as do I) that every day is the perfect day for a Really Good Hat.

Mixed amongst the sandwiches at the party were no fewer than five new one-skein patterns designed specially to go with our yarns. Five patterns, darling. I am prostrate just thinking about it.

Here are two in which I am particularly interested: the classic, textured sock, Dame Audrey

and the elegant keyhole scarf, Miss Vining.

To see the entire collection and read about the party, pop over to the Sealed with a Kiss blog.

And now, as the birds are calling, I must away.

Yours Ever,
Mrs. Crosby
Somewhere in the General Vicinity of Palmar Sur, Costa Rica