Oh look, it's the fifth time I've purchased this book!

Yes, I realized today that I have now purchased "The Mists of Avalon" five times. I was thrilled to find it for a mere 5.00 today. I finally got over to our local bookshop (Powells in PDX)after trying for three days now.

I was elated at the price but also dismayed a bit. To find a favorite book selling for such a low price is a bit disheartening in a way. It's such a rich and rewarding story that it should be priced better. On the other hand, the lower price enables more to afford to discover the story. It's a dilemma that ran through my mind at the checkout counter. As you can see, I don't have alot of seriously pressing issues, I have to make up some!

Even though this is a "used" copy, I think this is going to be a "keeper". Clearly, I need to keep a copy of it.

Now, to sort out the yarn and grab a pair of #8 circs and get that shawl started up. I'm too lazy to go get my camera and take a picture of shawl/scarf from the book but there is a blog dedicated to the book "Scarf Style" at here, and here is one person's adapation of the pattern, which will give you an idea of what I'm going to attempt.
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This one was knitted by Susanne from Germany. I think she did a lovely job and I can only hope mine turns out that well!

Hi Everyone!

Hi I'm new here. I wanted to give a brief intro. I'm 34 and read the Mists of Avalon many years ago as part of a book club I was part of. I loved it. It is one of my "I will never part with them" books. I've also read all the others in the series I believe. I love them all. I just got back from picking up a copy of the movie to watch to refresh my memory.

I wanted to post a picture of a finished project that seems to fit here.

This was knit and then felted for a friend of mine who is expecting thier first child in July. We all love shiny, pointy, things so I decided to make baby's first sword. I need to tweak the pattern a little before I make another one then I will be happy to share the pattern.
Lydia

Two Milestones!

I finished the first part of MoA last night, and found a pattern as well. I'll be doing a variation on Lucie from the Fall 06 Knitty. It's pretty close to what I had in mind, and I didn't really feel like making up my own pattern. It's too much math, and I am not a mathy person. I plan on doing the neckline a bit different, not a split neckline, but a boxy sort of thing. And short sleeves because I don't have enough yarn for long. And a different crochet trim.

I also finished one of these cabled arm-warmers a few days ago. You'll note that says ONE because I'm not terribly good at making things in pairs. I used a tweedy green wool from a farm just north of here. I bought it ages ago and sort of forgot about it until I saw it in my closet.



It turned out really well, and only took a few hours. I wanted something quick and cabled and almost every facet of my life seems to be related to the book right now! I could definitely see a Priestess wearing these to collect herbs in the early morning.

I'll have pictures of the sweater too, as that comes together. IF that comes together!

Another Introduction

Hi everybody!
After lurking this blog for almost a full month I finally decided to join up! I am really excited about this...can't you tell from all the exclamation points?
My name is Melanie, and I have never read Mists, or any of the books for that matter. So I am totally new to all this.
Funny, I have been wanting to read this book for a long time, but never got around to it. And then a week before I saw the KAL ( I kid you not.) I saw it at 1/2 price books and bought it on a whim. It must be fate. =)
As far as projects go, I love knitting lace, so you may see some of that from me. But you will definitely be seeing a pair of socks from me.
Socks? Yes that is right. I found some Lorna's Laces Sport yarn called Camelot. It seemed fitting to me!

New to the blog

Thank you, Em, for inviting me.

I knit and am getting into spinning and dyeing; I don't have the MOA books yet; however, they are on my to-find list...*G*

I'm 42, happily married and have been interested in working with wool and fiber for a long time. We live in Mid-Missouri, near the capital city.

I am also a Solitary Witch, and I follow the old ways...I am always researching and growing in this respect....

I believe that hand crafting/spinning/weaving were such an integral part of life if early witches that a lot of ananlogies that work into practicing the Craft come from that work, so not only will you find me working with fiber, you will also see me working on a good deal of other projects as well.

I have a hand spindle that I use, carding combs, and I also have a saxon style spinning wheel that I built from a kit that I got at a yard sale for $10.00...I am still trying to figure out how to use it, as it does not seem to want to maintain afull wheel revolution for spinning...I am going to have to take it to the local spinnig studio and say "HELP!"

I have three Icelandic sheep fleeces in the raw that I need to process, and I have roving that I would like to spin, wo we will see how that works out. Oh, and the knitting and weaving I do as well....*VBS*...so many projects, so little time...
I look forward to being part of this group and blog.

Once again, thank you, Emily! -- Kim H.

What To Knit For The KAL?

Well, I have dusted off my copy of The Mists and am ready to begin reading, from the beginning. I am hoping to squeeze in a chapter or two, this evening. I have a really busy day ahead of me. I think I have decided what I am knitting for the KAL too. I don't sound very convincing, do I? I had considered knitting a shawl for the occasion, but many of you are already doing that. I have to be different. LOL! Maybe I am a bit crazy, but I have decided to knit a pair of stockings based on these tall socks. I am going to purchase some "Aran" colored yarn to make them out of. I am also thinking of embroidering the tops of the stockings when they are finished. We shall see...

Face it, it was cold and damp in the British Isles. I did do a bit of research on stocking during the time period and most stockings that women wore were woven out of wool. The piece that I read said that knitting did not come into play in Europe until 1050-ish, or so. It also said that knitting originated in Syria of all places. Who knows? I figured womens stockings were appropriate and that is what I am going with.

Oh, in my copy of The Mists of Avalon, in the back, there is a section on "Reading Group Discussion Topics." Do all copies have this, or just the newer ones? If anyone is interested, I can post the 10 discussion questions on the blog here. Just let me know...

Help!

I'm asking for help. A terrible state for an Avalon High Priestess but I cannot figure out how to add buttons/widgets to the sidebar that people can take. We have three beautiful buttons already if only your Fearless Leader could work it out! If anyone out there has the patience to either leave a description in comments or email me at knitter.natter@yahoo.com it would be highly appreciated.
Welcome to the blog! If you don't see your name on the sidebar and think it should be, again, send me an email. Thanks!

Hi Everyone

My name is Lana and I am new here. I stumbled upon this blog quite by accident and I loved the idea. Knitting and reading, what a perfect idea. I love Authurian legend and the Mists story. I have seen the movie twice and read the book only halfway through. The book has been on my nightstand for almost two years collecting dust. I read about halfway through and then my attention was diverted away. My family and I moved to another state. We picked up our lives and belongings and moved to Oregon. I have yet to pick the book back up. I joined this group in the hopes of getting inspired to read the book again, from cover to cover. I have decided to begin the book over again, from the beginning. I have not decided what my knitting project will be, yet. I have a few ideas and will have to peek into my small stash to see what I have to work with.

What else? I am a stay-at-home Mom with two daughters, ages 15 and 10. I have two cats and a husband too. LOL! I live in Portland, OR and love it here. I am Pagan. Also a knitter for the past three years. I also learned to crochet as a teenager, from my mother. I occasionally write my own knit patterns and fiction (short stories, novellas). I blog daily at: Lana Knits. Hmmm...I think that's about it, for now.

I hope to get to know everyone here and have some healthy discussions on the book and/or knitting. Have a lovely day and I am going to go dust off my book.

Oh, I almost forgot...I made a button for my own personal blog use. If anyone else wants to use my button on their blog, to link to here, feel free.

Hi one and all!

I'm so excited, the Mists of Avalon series has been one of my faves for quite awhile. So naturally, combining this book with knitting was almost a custom made order for me. I'm off to purchase yet another copy of it so that I can re-read it with everyone. My copy was "disposed" of when we moved (my books put us overweight with the movers!). Luckily for me, Powell's (bookstore) is just down the road from me and they have a copy put aside. I already have my project picked out and just need to pick up a couple of skiens extra of yarn to work on it.

UPDATE ~ I have resized it so you won't have to if you wish to use it.

Hey, Everyone. Just wanted to drop in and say a quick hi. I also wanted to see where everyone was at. My book came in today, and I actually had time to read a chapter. Yay. I had also decided on a shawl but I don't have enough yarn and my husband won't let me buy any more. (pout) He says a chest full of assorted balls and skeins is more than enough for any sane person. Bleh... most of it's acrylic anyway and that's just not going to work for this. I was given most of the yarn and I've been using it to make things for the kids, such as play food. They're starting to get quite a little pantry stocked up. Or, at least they will if I can actually get it all knitted. The kids already sat down and helped me choose the colors. LOL Orange bread. Leave it to a two year old.

Anyway, I had nothing to do while feeding my youngest daughter. She has gotten old enough now that she no longer ignores pretty yarn so I had to stop knitting while she suckles. And there's not much else one can do except vegg out in front of the tv or computer. So, I had a hand free, and I made this:

I do hope no one minds. I made it for my personal blog, but then I thought it might be nice to share.

Done!

I finished the book tonight. I had to, I was sixty pages from the end and I was not putting it down.

There's so much in it, I need to let my thoughts simmer for a bit, but I will say, to me, reading Mists was like eating an incredibly rich dinner. I kept saying to myself "Just one more page, just to the end of this section, just to the end of this chapter..." all the while getting overly full on the text.

Sometimes, if I'm reading a well crafted book I'll find myself taking on the feeling of the characters (trust me, I know it's weird ;-), and throughout Mists I felt moody. Not Hormones Gone Wild, but a sense of foreboding and concern and the overall dread of, however the story went, it wouldn't end well.

And now I know *sigh*, and I'm not sure what I think yet. I do think MZB gives a highly credible twist to the Lancelet-Gwenhwyfar- Arthur relationship that explains, at least, Lancelot's dilemma, and in some ways makes Arthur a little more culpable (or more of a participant) in the Gwen-Lance relationship. Even that I might have to mull over...

I'm thinking, now I'm through the book, of doing a (wait for it) shawl. I've got nearly seven hundred yards of lovely deep green JaggerSpun Zephyr Lace at my disposable and if anyone has a good lace pattern for a first-time lace knitter I would be forever in your debt (or something equally Avalonian). I'd like to find something that embraces the spirit of Morgaine or- dare I try it?- Viviane, who is, little Fairy hands down, my favorite character (I still can't talk about that banquet scene with Viviane and Balin- I just... I'm going to need some time).

I'd like to add, when Brooke and I first started this KAL, we figured we'd have exactly three members. I can't say how thrilling it's been to see so many women interested in participating and we are so pleased and appreciative of all the posting and pictures and dialogue that's taken place at this early state! I can see- without the Sight y'all- this KAL is going to be far more interesting and worthwhile than we ever expected. Thank you for that!

Yarn, at last!

Because I'm on a yarn purge this year, any new yarn that wanders into my life has to be a) gifted, b) spun by myself or c) dyed by myself. And after seeing that pretty bronze Manos the other day, I wanted it something fierce. So I decided to dye it myself, and after some trial and error, I got the colour I wanted!



It's 1320 yards of fingering weight yarn, and it ended up being half a pack of orange Kool-Aid a hank, overdyed with ten bags of tea per hank. I have another skein of the same yarn, but in a different colour, sort of a "Fireworks" colourway, a friend likes to call it, so I'm going to use that for a contrast, somehow. I'm thinking sweater, but who knows.

I also just rewatched the movie version of MOA. I've seen it before, when it first aired, and I still like it. I was just really annoyed at the beginning when Igraine was using a spinning wheel! Unless someone went to China or India to get one for her, there's no way she was using a spinning wheel in England the 5th or 6th century. Was it too hard to get the actresses to use spindles? My boyfriend told me no one else probably noticed this, and I know spinning wheels look entirely more theatrical and dramatic, and yes, it's just a movie, but, it annoyed me.

On another note, is there any music any of you MOA veterans recommend for getting in the mood of designing and knitting a related garment?

Greetings!

Hi, Everyone. My name is Ami and I'm so excited to be here. I haven't read the Mists for many years. I was still in highschool, the last time I tried and I never read the second half. I wasn't ready, I think. Since then, I have discovered my own spirituality as well as borne several children so I have a much different view of life.

In January, I started thinking about it a lot and actually felt rather obsessed with it. I tried to check the book out from the library but it wasn't in, and when I checked all of the numerous bookstores around town, not one had a copy. Bleh. I also sent my poor husband to the video store to rent it but all copies were out. I had just ordered it offline when I stumbled onto this. I just sat there, for several moments, thinking about coincidence and how nothing is really a coincidence. I have always felt that things happen for a purpose, and exactly when they are meant to. Every time I get obsessed with something, in my search for it I have almost always learned something. I don't always know what though. I can't always figure it out. For instance, I was obsessed with Faeries, the 1981 cartoon based on Brian Froud's book of the same name. It took me forever to fin a copy of it and I'm still not sure why I was so obsessed with it.

I do have several projects going on, and I don't know how fast I will be able to read the book. It's ok for spoilers though. I would enjoy reading your perceptions of that sections and then thinking about that when I read it myself. I don't know what project(s) yet that I will do for this book. This subject is very personal for me so I have to wait until I find something that speaks to me. I love a good shawl, so I may do one. But I also have a vague glimmering of an idea so I might do it instead.

There is also a wonderful baby blanket pattern that I think would be perfect for this, Brigit's Round Baby Afghan in The Knitting Goddess by Deborah Berman. And my brother is expecting his first little one so this may be a good incentive for me. I think it would be appropriate for this book because of Mordred. The one thing that I remember from reading the book so long ago before putting it aside was the terrible sadness I had for this poor little one that didn't have a mother and was being twisted as a pawn. I just wanted to wrap him up in a snuggly fluggy blanket and hold him close as I have since done with all of my own little ones.

I do have a blog, it's called Carey's Cats. LOL. You'll have to visit it to find out why. It started as a way for far flung family members to keep up with what's going on in our family, but since knitting is one of my passions, of course you'll find a lot of it on there. :D

I'm so happy to be here and look forward to seeing what projects everyone is doing, and what everyone's different impressions of the book is. Blessings everyone and have a wonderful day.

To Foster or to Train???

I really can't imagine sending my own child out for fostering - although there were moments during her 21 years that I might have thought it a good idea! ;~)

Can any of you imagine being in the same situation as the characters and doing so?

In MoA, I think it is not so much about socializing the children as it is about training Arthur and Morgaine to fulfill their destinies. (It seems to have been a fairly common practice amongst the gentry. It was also a way to use children to (again, as pawns) to foster alliances between families.)

I know this is an important part of the exposition of the story, still it makes me so angry at Igraine for letting them leave. I'm also irritated at the Lady of the Lake for manipulating others in such a cold-hearted way. It makes me mistrust both their motivations from the start.

Fostering (and a project idea)

I'm intrigued by the use of fostering in this book, or sending your children away to be raised by someone else. As a new mom, initially I was shocked by this - how could anyone send their child away? As I thought about it, though, people today do a milder form of this when we send our children to daycare for the majority of the day. It's not neccessarily a bad thing, just a way for a community to balance the care of children with the other duties that we must undertake.

Since children and childbearing seem to be an important theme in MOA, I've decided to knit something for my son. I have some organic undyed cotten that I think would be appropriate for baby Arthur or any of the other babies in the book. I'm looking for a simple pattern to use, since I imagine everyday baby garments would have been simple and utilitarian, so if anyone has any suggestions I'd appreciate it!

Update

I am finally picking up the book again after a few days, my oldest DD has a cold and my 9 mon. old is teething, I have'nt done much reading the last week or so. I'm changing my project, as I worked more on that scarf it just did'nt 'feel' right to go with the book, i'm going too do the shawl I originally wanted and i'm using a wool/mohair blend in shades of green and a pale yellow, I think the colors better represent the book :)

Poor Igraine

I've made a good start on the book and also my first project. I was inspired immediately by Igraine, cooped up in her castle while the harsh wind and cold beat against her door and she brooded about her future. I wanted to make a shawl for a woman in such a spot and I also wanted to make it "period," so I asked some SCA people I know what kind of shawl would be correct for fifth century Britain. I was told that for that time and place people would most likely be wearing simple woven cloth squares or rectangles fastened with pins or brooches.

For a long time I've had the pattern for this Sea Breeze shawl in my stash and I thought it would be perfect



Here's what I have so far, in a heathery green perfect for Igraine's golden coloring



I'm leaving a comment to this post with some of my first impressions of the novel; I thought that would be a good way to hide any spoilers from view.

Hello, Everyone!

I'm so excited to be joining you all! I found this group quite by accident - while I was looking for a sock KAL, no less. It was a wonderful moment of finding you - a total synchronicity because on January 1st I had decided to read the other Avalon books before re-reading my favorite book of all time, MoA. I have recently completed Ancestors of Avalon, Priestess of Avalon, Lady of Avalon and am reading The Forest House right now. And, I wasn't even looking for a Mists group - but there you were! What fun! :~)

While I have done many crafts, in the last two years I have become besotted with knitting. I always have at least 3 projects going at once, however I have yet to attempt a sweater or anything large. I mostly enjoy engaging myself with small items and learning new techniques. I've branched out into designing simple projects and love combining yarns to create my own variegated palette.

I'm a mom of a lovely 21 year old daugher, happily domesticated with my SO, a graduate student working on an MA in Rhetoric and Writing, work for a professor as a grad assistant, and am a teacher of Composition and Writing for the Workplace.

I began my MZB reading-fest because I wanted to get back into touch with my inner goddess and these books offer such wonderful inspiration to do that. It was my sole New Year's resolution. I have always believed in cultivating magic in my life, but "busy-ness" had stolen me away from it. I want the magic back!

Thanks for letting me join you. I look forward to getting to know you all.

ps - someone asked in a previous post about whether or not they should read Mists without having first read the prequels. I'd say it is totally okay to read Mists first. They can really be read in any order, in my opinion.

Book ordered!

I am so excited, I have ordered a copy of the book second hand from Amazon (99c, oh yeah!) and it should be here in a week or two. Just wanted to share the joy...yes, I am very excited about finally catching up with everyone else in this KAL :)

Parisa x

Swatching

I'm swatching away with the Manos del Uruguay in Topaz. What do you think?

Knots that bind us together...

I am so pleased to be a part of this KAL. My name is Parisa and I am from Ireland. I had never heard of this book before a friend of mine Brooke (yes, one of the 'high priestesses') introduced it to me. I look forward to learning more about the links between the Paganism I feel is so much a part of my mother-culture and the Christian beliefs that the Irish are so famous for promoting. It is the mixing and compromising between these two things that I look forward to explore. My mother was raised Catholic, but would always telling me of the Celtic festivals and traditions and the different ways they were absorbed into the Irish Catholic tradition. Where I live in Ireland still has fairy thorns, wishing spots and oak forests filled with stories and traditions that date back to when the High King of Ireland ruled from the Hill of Tara. To learn of these things from the English percpective and to reconnect with stories I learned as a child (Arther, Guinivere and the Lady of the Lake) is exciting!

I started this project a little while before I joined the KAL, but the book had been on my mind and the more I knit it, the more I felt that it related to everything I was looking forward to discovering in this KAL. These wristwarmers are of my own pattern and show off what little celtic knotwork I am able to do :) they also include moss stitch (known as seed stitch I think in America) and for me represent maybe what a priestess might have worn (totally talking that out of thin air, nothing to back it up with)




Sorry that the pictures aren't more clear. I have started the second one and am now trying to think of a name for them. Something maybe to do with Avalon, or Tir na nOg, which is the Irish version of the same place. I also was thinking of something to do with unifying or binding together..knots, get it ;) Would love some imput and help as I haven't started reading the book yet so don't really know anything appropriate from it. Thanks everyone, looking forward to the fun to come!

Another Intro!

I'm Janis, and I just started reading MoA a few days ago, and yesterday found this KA, and had one of those, "whoa, coincidence!" type moments. I'm really, really loving the book so far, and I'm trying not to devour it, as I tend to do.

It hasn't inspired any knitting projects yet, but I have been spinning a lot more. I was so impressed by the ease and seeming casualness of Igraine whipping out the spindle. It was always much more of an "I'm going to spin now!" thing for me, not just a regular part of my day but an event. I'm trying to change that, by keeping my spindle and fibre close at hand. So far it's working. I'm spinning more, and better, just by not making a big deal of the whole thing.

Most of you are doing shawls, it seems, and that sounds like a good idea. I have a ridiculous amount of lace weight yarn just sitting around so I'm thinking this is the way to go. Also, I'm not buying any yarn this year. (If you saw my stash, you'd understand.) But what colour! And pattern! Those are the hard parts.

I'd love to do a lace cap as well, and some tapestry-inspired gauntlets, but let's face it, there's a deadline here. And I guess it HAS inspired some projects, I just didn't realise it yet!

Anyway, I look forward to reading more, knitting, and chatting with all of you!

Introduction

Hi,

I am Chrissie and I am happy to be joining this knitalong. I read the trilogy years ago. MOA is heavy on weaving, spinnng and dyeing, but not as much as the book which chronicles Vivian's life as a young priestess. Nobody seems to knit in MOA, but all the women spin and weave. Too bad I don't weave. Shawls are a very common item, so I am thinking of knitting a handspun shawl. Anybody have any idea whether they would be rectangular or triangular? Right now, I am very tempted by the Leaf Lace shawl (or any other shawl with a leafy pattern), in a sort of reddish fingering weight handspun, for the color of the autumn leaves that the fairy folk wear, and also because the characters who resembled the "dark and little" fairy folk often wear red to bring out their coloring, and I am dark and little. Hah! otherwise it would be blue.

I don't think Avalon's really like Tinkerbell, actually ... because, while access to it is only possible with belief, existence is not, in that in MOA Avalon exists whether you believe or not, but you can only get to it if you believe. Does that make sense? Perhaps too carping? You see, one would be only everyone's inner possiblilities, the other one, that there is some external force ... so Avalon would be more like the Christian heaven than it seems.

Can we start knitting?

Chel says hello

Em, I registered at blogspot and here's the address: http://ctlynn.blogspot.com/

Hi, everyone. I'm so excited that I tripped over this event. Coincidence/fate can be a marvelous thing. I am a complete newbie to blogs and KALs, tho I have knitted and read for some years now. ;)

I am planning on cracking my old copy of Mists of Avalon out this evening. I see from the last time that I even highlighted passages, so I know there's some good stuff in there. I look forward to rediscovering it.

As for the knitting angle, I can't get the TV miniseries out of my head and am trying to remain unencumbered by those costume images. But a nice shawl may be in order? I agree with the previous posts that Mists of Avalon almost requires a natural fiber, preferrably hand-spun.

Look forward to 'meeting' you all.

If you believe...

I just love the whole premise of Avalon existing only because it is believed that it exists. It reminds me of Michael Ende's "The Neverending Story", where the Nothing takes over the land because humans no longer have imagination to believe in such places and things. It's also a bit like clapping your hands for Tinkerbell.

This is my first time reading the book and I am having a hard time putting it down. There are so many ideas of projects that would go with the book. The trouble is choosing one!
I look forward to discussing some of the aspects in the book here.

Check-Check, How are we doing out there?

I wanted to check in with the format of the blog (really, one day I am going to post about the book).
I should have everyone listed who has joined. Please make sure your name is under "Priestesses" and spelled correctly and links to your blog- you know tiny details that I will, if at all possible, mess up ;-). If you didn't have a blog, I put this KAL as your blog. If that changes let me know and I'll update.
Turn-out is amazing- much better than Brooke or I ever expected! Thanks so much for participating and keep up the good posts!

Decision made

I have decided to knit a tunic sweater for this KAL - it has a deep split neck with seed stitch border. I am using a hand spun hand dyed yarn my daughter in law gave me two christmases ago. I thought this appropriate since any fabric of the period would have been hand made. The color is burgundy and i also have two varegated balls that match. I plan to use these for the border to represent the embroidery often used to liven up clothes in this period.

getting ready to begin has been fun but beginning is even better!

New Member Intro

Hi! I'm Hope and I just joined today. I think this is going to be a great project. I don't know what I am going to knit yet, but I have a few possibilities in mind; I'm going to wait and see what "speaks to me" as I read.

I started the book this morning and got a few chapters read before things got busy around here. I actually bought this book several years ago when it was recommended to me by my best friend -- at the same time the miniseries premiered on TV -- but then never got around to reading it. I didn't watch the miniseries either, so this is all fresh to me!

I look forward to seeing everyone's work and talking about this book. The first chapters are certainly intriguing.

spoiler idea

I think putting the book and chapter your going too talk about in the subject is a great idea, that way if your not there yet, don't read that post LOL

I've chosen too make a scarf using Lorna's Laces Purple Iris and a pattern out of One Skein Wonders, it's a simple wavy pattern, i'll post a pic when I get a little more worked on it :) I started the book and the project last night so i'm not very far into either yet

Question to the KAL

I'm calling all Priestesses to ask: how should we handle the reading/spoiler issue that comes along with reading any book? I've put my book aside to let others catch up, but a) it's really hard not to read it and b) I don't want to forget what I've read!

I ask: How should we handle this?

Maybe, prior to posting a point, label it "Spoiler from Book 2, Chapter Six" or something? Would that keep from ruining a surprise, but still keep discussion interesting for those farther along in the book?

Any suggestions? Thoughts? Freaking out about Lancelot and his, er, confusion? (If you're not through at least Book Two, don't ask- though I think MZB's take on Lancelot explains a lot)

I love seeing people introducing themselves! It gives the blog a nice, homey feel I think!

And if anyone's interested in a second Read-a-Long KAL, Ann and I are hosting a Harry Potter and the Seventh Book KAL. All HP fans welcome- even Slytherins!

If anyone else has a KAL they'd like to promote feel free (it's not only for hostesses blatantly abusing their power ;-).

An Introduction.

Hi all, I'm Linda and I just recently joined the knitalong. This is my first time reading "Mists" so I'll probably have a lot of questions along the way. I've read through several chapters so far, and I'm already thinking of things I'd like to knit. A shawl would be nice - maybe in red? I'm also thinking of knitting something for my 7-month-old son, who is my own "Arthur".

I look forward to some exciting discussions!

Hello :) Thank you for letting me join!

My personal goal for this KAL, is to make it last the entire year, breaking the chapters of the book down, so that I read two chapters (approximate) for every one project I make. Re-reading the text as often as necessary during a project. If for some reason I fail an average of 35 projects, then I'll finish reading the book before years end, and if I manage more than said number, then I'll start the book over I think. I fully plan to enjoy this whole process of reflection and art.

Here is my first: My "Prologue Purls" (even though they are crocheted...)

There isn't much to discuss from the prologue, but a bit of text stood out to me as lovely and magical. I have snipped bits inbetween, and placed it as it spoke to me...

"The world has changed, and Arthur -king who was and king who shall be- lies dead in the Holy Isle of Avalon. There was a time when a traveller, if he had the will and knew only a few of the secrets, could send his barge out into the Summer Sea and arrive not at Glastonbury of the monks, but at the Holy Isle of Avalon; for at that time the gates between worlds drifted within the mists, and were open, one to another, as the traveller thought and willed. And now the priests have closed those doors (which were never doors, except in the minds of men), and the pathway leads only to the priests' Isle, which they have safeguareded with the sound of their church bells, driving away all thoughts of another world lying in the darkness."

Peace, Luthien Elendil

More Thoughts on the KAL

First, I'd like to welcome Barb, who recently joined, and asked a wise question yesterday: Can we start reading?
Yes, please! is the answer. And please start discussing too! I know I'm more than halfway through and I'm ready to talk. I'm also thinking lace or something shawl-ish, hmm, great minds think a like perhaps?
Also, deciding I'd rather not have my full name and email splashed all over Blogger (a bit late now, but what are you going to do?) I've changed my email on the blog to knitter.natter@yahoo.com, if anyone needs to get in touch with me.
My next post will be about the book- honestly!

Hi

Hi, I just joined this KAL yesterday :) I dug out my book last night and am all ready to start, has anyone else started reading yet or are we waiting until after Feb 28 when sign-ups close too all start at once? I'm not sure yet what i'm going to make too go along with the book, i'm thinking a shawl but not decided yet :)

Contests!

There will be three contests in play throughout the KAL.

1) First, and most obvious, a completed project, finished and submitted by April 27th, can be entered to win. While you may craft anything that strikes your fancy- shawls, scarves, sheath for the sword, etc.- we ask it be either a knit or crochet item. It should be something related to the book, and, much like being back in tenth-grade English, an explanation as to why you knit the item and how you feel it relates would be grand ;-).

2. Second, though in no way less than the first contest, is for the most thorough participant in book discussions. Not only is this blog about crafting, but reading too and we'd love to keep a discussion of the book, the characters, plots, and overall themes going. The winner of this contest will be a frequent participant in posting and commenting and will also bring interesting ideas, questions, and feelings on the subject to the KAL.

Before this sounds too much like we've all gone back to school, let me add- there are Prizes! These will be surprises, rewarded May 1st. Before, you wonder if these prizes will be worth it, I'll point out, Brooke has her own shop on etsy and I work at a yarn store. So, I'm just sayin', the prizes- no one should go home diasppointed.

And there is a third contest- that was not a typo! It's our *Test of Mystery.* This is too see how closely people are reading and putting the blog and book together. More than one person can win- technically everyone on the blog could win this one and it will have a nice little treat attached.

Who doesn't love a reward at the end of a KAL, hmm?

Good reading and good crafting!