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

Cables from a Friend

Dear hearts,

If you've been with me since the beginning of this adventure, you know that designer Fiona Ellis and I are kindred spirits. She was among the first to produce a pattern with one of our yarns–the beautiful Re-Gathering Intentions–and has done it again with exciting results.

Fiona, like your present correspondent, is compelled by insatiable wanderlust.  Born in England, she now lives the life of an expatriate in Canada; even so she cannot help seeking new horizons.

Last year she lived abroad for an extended time in Buenos Aires, Argentina. There, bewitched by the colors and textures of the city, she captured a stream of vivid images...

...and grew fascinated with the city's fabled tango culture.

The tango as it is danced in Buenos Aires is no prim, arid combination of steps to be taken across the floor in between sips of cream tea. It is self-evidently, as dear Robert Frost put it, "a vertical expression of a horizontal desire." He wasn't speaking specifically of tango, so far as I know; but he might as well have been.

Fiona is herself a dancer; so it surprises me not in the least that the sinuous movements and unique beats would have influenced her to design Milonga in our own, dear Steamer Trunk.

Milonga is the name for a tango gathering...

...and in this asymmetrical (but perfectly balanced) cardigan I detect the swoops and turns and clutches of a tango pair in full flight.

If you'd like to join the dance, Milonga is available via Ravelry.

I'll be pleased to burn the floor with you any time, Fiona darling.

Yours Ever,
Mrs. Crosby

San Francisco, California

A Tulip in February

Dear Hearts,

Word comes from home that although the sunshine is brilliant, the cold is infernal. I cannot help but feel a twinge of guilt at my own situation, enjoying a fresh breeze off Mediterranean in the south of France. But like all twinges, it will pass.

Some come here to plunge into the social whirl like tiny ships flung down the maelstrom. Me, I have come to retreat. Whatever the weather, I turn contemplative in winter. Last night I closed the door of my borrowed cottage to all visitors and, as there isn’t a moon, lit the fire and knit myself to sleep.

The friend who has leant me this corner of solitary heaven is a retired sculptor. As his hands no longer admit the working of fine details he must content himself with collecting. Set into the wall near the fireplace is my favorite of his acquisitions.

Not only is it handsome, but as you can see it makes cracking good yarn storage.

Now, to the happy task at hand: the announcement of our newest monthly contest winner.

Heartiest congratulations to Renee, who interpreted Lindsay Pekny's classic pattern Tulips, A Colorful Cardigan for Baby–in no fewer than four shades of Steamer Trunk.

I find the combination of intense colors from the red/violet stretch of the spectrum with quiet neutrals to be a genuine pleasure–exciting without being overwhelming.

Clearly the cardigan’s recipient agrees.

Renee wrote of her experience, “Your yarns are lovely. The colour is so vibrant, and it’s a joy to work with. I can’t wait to make my next Mrs. Crosby project.”

Thank you, Renee darling, and you need not wait long. In exchange for your good work you will receive fresh skeins of Mrs. Crosby yarn to begin a new adventure. Please be in touch as soon as possible via frolic@mrscrosbyplays.com to arrange for the selection and delivery of your prize.

Dear reader, I do hope you will consider playing, too–for the full details, visit our contest page. The next deadline is March 10, 2015.

And What's More: A Knit-Along

Meanwhile, we are forming our first knit-along, to begin March 1 and focus on Bristol Ivy's brand-new pattern, Newsom. It may look like a plain cardigan at first glance, but guess again. Clever, no? For details, pay a call on our Ravelry group.

Until next we meet, I remain

Yours Ever,

Mrs. Crosby
Tourrettes-sur-Loup, France

Our January Winner: Revealed!

Dear hearts,

I have the pleasure of writing these lines to you from an éscritoire tucked into the turret at the top, the very top, the toppiest bit of the top, of these stairs.

The climb is (almost) enough to keep one from over-indulging in the Beirão before retiring for a nap.

My room is small and spare, very white, with only bed, desk, and cupboard. As you can see, I do have certain modern conveniences like a access to the Internet. However, the fitful nature of the connection suggests that it is powered by an infirm hamster running fitfully in a wheel.

Here, after the tumult of a pell-mell transit across a stormy sea, I am at last able to announce the winner of our first Finished Object Photography Contest.

First, I must thank all who entered; the range of work was so impressive that choosing a victor would have turned me green if the churning sea had not already got there first.

And now, darlings, please join me in congratulating Sarah N., creator of this lovely sweater.

The pattern is “Katie” by designer Karen Borrel, available via Ravelry in both English and French. Sarah’s piece makes use of Steamer Trunk in Smoky Granite and Crème Fraiche.

In addition to Katie’s top-notch execution and fit, we admired the simple but striking, unfussy details–the stranded color work, the thumb loops–that make this one of those pieces simply everyone asks about because they want one. Where did you get it? Where can I get it?

Sarah kindly added, “I absolutely love, love, love your yarns. They feel so good. They smell so good. They look so good. They are my favorite ever!”

One blushes. One also feels compelled to cast on immediately for a Katie of one’s own.

Sarah, do please be in touch with us via frolic@mrscrosby.com to arrange for the selection and delivery of your prize.

The Next Round

Please remember that our contest is monthly, and submissions are being taken now for the next round–you have until February 10, 2015. (If you sent in an entry after January 10, 2015, it is being considered for the February prize.) For complete information and the submission form, visit our contest page.

Lots of luck, dear hearts–and thank you for coming out to play.

Yours Ever,
Mrs. Crosby
Evora, Portugal

Hunting for Color

Dear Hearts,

What with one thing and another–where “one thing” is a ranch in Wyoming and “another” is a camp site in Chiapas–I’ve not had a moment to paste into this notebook a few photographs* from my recent stay in Morocco.

In the souk of Marrakesh, where I’ve lingered for many an hour, you will be delighted to find dyers hard at work…

creating yarns in colors so proud and revelatory that make one feel as though one has long been looking at the world through a grey veil…

Of course, when it comes to color Morocco as a whole is nothing short of a revelation. Sometimes, as a game, I pick a color in the morning and see how and where it pops up. These are from a blue day…

I’m simply over the moon to note that our own, dear colors are proving inspirational to a growing cadre of knit and crochet designers. Here follows a list of tremendous patterns either designed with our yarns or noted as being particularly suited to them.

Each title links to the pattern’s Ravelry listing.

Voyager Wrap (Julie Dietz)

Jewel Neck Shell (Karen Connor)

Raspberry Beanie (Lauren Sanchez)

Re-Gathering Intentions (Fiona Ellis)

Alice Elizabeth Shawlette (Laura Linneman)

Broadwyn Shawl (Miriam L. Felton)

Jersey Jacket for a Child (c. 1888) (Franklin Habit)

Gloria Cloche and Headband (Quirky Bird Knits)

Gloria Handwarmers (Quirky Bird Knits)

Oakdale Hat (Darla J. Fanton)

Go Team, Go! Mitts (Lisa Ortale)

Chevron Stashbuster Mitts (Lisa Ortale)

Fancy Panties Hat (Lisa Ortale)

Dream Weaver Baby Blanket (Lisa Ortale)

Santa Maria Scarf (NorthbrooKnits / Joyce Weida)

Foliage Garland (Kristen Ashbaugh-Helmreich)

Cara Cardigan (Lorna’s Laces)

Where shall we go next?

Yours Ever,

Mrs. Crosby
Chicago

*Speaking of photographs, I do hope you'll be playing along in our new photography contest.