Knot Guilty (25 page)

“I didn't say you had to listen,” he muttered. Then he was looking at his watch and saying he had to hurry to get to Jeffrey's show.

After that it was all pretty much over. The crowd thinned to nothing and the marketplace finally closed. Mr. Royal came to pack up the booth.

“You did good,” he said with a happy smile as he saw how little merchandise was left. Not only had we sold lots of books, tools and yarn, but we'd collected a long list of people interested in the crochet parties. There were other lists of people who wanted to join some of the bookstore groups. We'd given out tons of cards that listed our location and all the things we offered.

CeeCee stopped by before she left. Her eyes were shining. “That reporter from Channel 3 did an interview with me. It turns out she's a big fan of the Anthony movie, and she said on camera she thought the Oscar buzz was real and that I'd get a nomination when they're announced in a couple of weeks.”

Adele took down the banner and threw it away. She looked at the crochet logo that had caused so much trouble. “I'm going to give this to Ruby Cline for her store. She's somebody who will appreciate it.”

As I was helping Mr. Royal put the leftovers back into the plastic bins, my phone rang. It was Mason telling me all the final details were taken care of. He'd talked to my son about the trip and he'd been glad to take care of everything while we were gone. “See you soon,” he said. “We're going to have a wonderful time.”

They were rolling away all the curtain-covered partitions as I got ready to go, and the space had gone from being a bazaar of yarn shops to just a big, empty room. Adele hugged me before she left. “Thank you for everything. I want you to be my maid of honor,” she said. “I can't wait to design the dresses.”

Dinah knew I was waiting for Mason. “Have fun,” she said with a devilish smile. She was off to a line dancing event at the senior center that Commander had organized.

And then I was standing in front of the hotel waiting. I shivered from the chilly air and the anticipation of what was to come.

I heard a siren in the distance, and then it grew louder, and when I looked toward the street, I saw a rescue ambulance fly past. A moment later a small fire truck went by as well. It was drowned out by the thwack of a helicopter as it flew low over the hotel. I heard more sirens and went to the end of the curved driveway to look up the side street. Still with their lights flashing, the equipment had stopped barely a block away. I strained my eyes to see what had happened. The headlights of the fire truck illuminated a tangle of cars. I leaned closer to get a better view, and my breath caught as I saw the familiar black Mercedes on its side. And then I began to run.

Dinah's Granny Square Pins

Supplies:

Size 3 (2.10 mm) steel hook

1 ball of DMC Cebelia, 50 grams 100% Crochet Cotton (enough to make several pins)

8 small pearls or beads

Needle or piece of thin wire to get beads onto crochet thread

Small safety pin

Note: At the yarn show, Dinah gave out small safety pins to attach the finished pin with. But you can coat the finished granny square with fabric stiffener and attach a pin back to it.

Finished Size:
Approximately 1¾ inches square

Stitches Used:
Chain (ch), slip stitch (sl st), double crochet (dc)

Use needle or wire to string beads onto the crochet thread. Chain 6 and join with a slip stitch to form a ring.

Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), move bead up, 2 dc, ch 1,* dc, move bead up, 2dc, ch 1 * repeat from * twice more; attach with sl st to top of the beginning ch 3.

Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), turn work, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc (first corner made), ch 1; * 3 dc, ch 1 3 dc (next corner made) ch 1 * repeat from * twice more; attach with sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3.

Round 3: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), turn work, move bead up, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc (first corner made), ch 1; * dc, move bead up, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc (next corner made), ch 1; repeat from * twice more; attach with sl st to the top of the beginning chain 3. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Adele's Stash Buster Wrap

Supplies:

Size L (8.00 mm) hook or size needed to obtain gauge

Approximately 400 yards of assorted bulky weight yarn. If you're using lighter-weight yarn, you can use a double strand.

Tapestry needle

Large kilt pin or other shawl pin

Finished Size:
Approximately 52 inches × 16 inches

Stitches Used:
Chain (ch), single crochet (sc), double crochet (dc)

Gauge:

8 double crochet stitches = 4 inches

2 double crochet rows = 2 inches

Note: You might want to decide in advance in what order you'd like to add the new yarn.

Ch 100 loosely

Row 1: Sc in second chain from hook and across. 99 stitches made.

Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc) and turn work. Dc across.

Row 3: Repeat row 2.

Row 4: Repeat row 2.

Row 5: Ch 1 and turn work, sc across.

Repeat rows 2–5 until the work is approximately 16 inches, ending with a row 5 row. Add new yarn as other runs out.

Fasten off and weave in ends with tapestry needle.

To wear, overlap the ends and hold in place with a kilt pin or shawl pin.

Bob's Oatmeal Power Squares

3 cups rolled oats

1 cup organic brown sugar, packed

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons nonaluminum baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

1 cup milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

½ cup butter, melted

¾ cup mixed raisins, dried cranberries, dried cherries, dried blueberries (or dried fruit of your choice)

1 cup chopped walnuts

Paper baking cups

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease a 9 × 13 pan.

In a large bowl combine oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and salt.

In a separate bowl beat the eggs. Mix in milk, vanilla and melted butter. Add to the oat mixture and blend. Sprinkle in the dried fruit and chopped walnuts.

Spread in the greased pan. Bake for 40 minutes. Cool completely before cutting into squares. Put into paper baking cups to serve.

Makes about 24 squares.

Bob's Linzer Torte Cookie Bars

1½ cups flour

1½ cups powdered sugar

1½ cup ground walnuts

¾ cup softened butter cut into pieces

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup raspberry preserves

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 10 × 15 pan.

In a large bowl mix flour, powdered sugar, walnuts and cinnamon. Cut in the butter using a pastry blender until the mixture is crumbly.

Spread
²
⁄
₃
of the crumbly mixture in the pan and press down. Spread the raspberry preserves on the crust. Sprinkle the rest of the crumbly mixture on top and pat down gently.

Bake for approximately 20–25 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Makes about 42 bars.