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The Read Along Knit Along is Here!

October 2, 2017 Leave a Comment

The Scarf of Dreams by Heidi Gustad - a mystery knit along design inspired by The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

After months of planning, knitting, designing, testing, editing and re-editing, it’s time for our Read Along Knit Along featuring The Night Circus! I’m so exited!

Queue & Buy the Pattern / Join the Ravelry Group / Does your library have The Night Circus?


The blog (here) is where you can find new tutorials as they’re posted and enter the giveaway (scroll to the bottom of this post and look for the entry box). We’ll be discussing the pattern & book on Ravelry, and you can get in on sharing and seeing everyone’s work-in-progress pics on Instagram – just use & look at #RALKAL. And in case you’re in the Chicago area, we’ll be doing RALKALIRL (Read Along Knit Along in real life, get it?) at Firefly Fiber Arts, which is right by the Damen Blue Line stop.

The Scarf of Dreams – Clue 1

The first clue is finally available! If you preordered the pattern on Ravelry, the update of clue one should have arrived in your account last night. If you still need to get your hands on the pattern, you can get The Scarf of Dreams right here. (Psst! You can save 20% in the shop by signing up for the Hands Occupied newsletter in the sidebar.) While you’re there to grab clue 1, don’t forget to join the Hands Occupied Ravelry Group, which is where we’ll be discussing the book & the pattern for the next 6 weeks.

Clue 1 of The Scarf of Dreams by Heidi Gustad - a mystery knit along design inspired by The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Anticipation

Actually, I lied about having planned this KAL for months. To be honest, it’s been years! No joke – I’ve been planning a knit along featuring The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern since before I’d fully developed the Read Along Knit Along concept last year. I first solicited yarn support from Leading Men Fiber Arts at the Stitches Midwest conference in August 2015 after seeing a skein of their Soliloquy yarn in Poison Apple. Between the appropriately-dramatic name and gorgeous red color, I knew it was the perfect yarn for a design inspired by The Night Circus. I’d had the book on my to-read list forever, but as a librarian, there’s always a million things to read for this or that book group, review project or committee. When I finally read The Night Circus, I fell head over heels for it, due in no small part to the role red, handmade scarves play in the story. BUT! Since I know some folks will be finally crossing TNC off their own to-read lists during this RALKAL, I’ll refrain from spoiling anything beyond the phrase “red scarf” and the following quote, which seems appropriate for RALKAL day 1:

“What kind of circus is only open at night?” people ask. No one has a proper answer, yet as dusk approaches there is a substantial crowd of spectators gathering outside the gates.

You are amongst them, of course. Your curiosity got the better of you, as curiosity is wont to do. You stand in the fading light, the scarf around your neck pulled up against the chilly evening breeze, waiting to see for yourself exactly what kind of circus only opens once the sun sets.

For week 1 of this RALKAL, we’re knitting clue 1 of The Scarf of Dreams and reading Part 1: Primordium of The Night Circus. You can 100% read ahead if you like, but in the spirit of a good mystery knit along, we’ll focus our chat for this first week on just clue 1 and part 1. Here’s a break down our reading and knitting schedule for the next 6 weeks:

  • Oct. 2: Clue 1/Week 1 Section 1 & Part 1: Primordium
  • Oct. 9: Clue 2/Weeks 2-3 Section 2 & Part 2: Illumination
  • Oct. 23: Clue 3/Weeks 4-5 Section 3 & Part 3: Intersections
  • Nov. 6: Clue 4/Week 6 Section 4 & Part 4: Incendiary & Part 5: Divination

I, for one, will be listening to The Night Circus on audiobook. Of course, audiobooks and knitting go hand in hand, but this audiobook is really good. It’s narrated by the legendary Jim Dale. He’s such an epic narrator that you might even have heard of him from his audio work alone. He’s the guy whose whimsical voice brought the entire Harry Potter series to life on audio, and he narrated the utterly-charming (and unfortunately short-lived) TV show Pushing Daisies. I know audiobooks aren’t for all knitters, but consider this paragraph my strong case in favor of giving this book in particular a shot. ;)

Giveaway

This RALKAL prize pack is basically what I wish I could get for Christmas every year. There’s a skein of Leading Men Fiber Arts Soliloquy yarn, the yarn The Scarf of Dreams was designed with, in the Evil Queen colorway. Plus, there’s a gift pack of Eucalan Delicate Wash in 5 amazing scents, as well as a Love+Leche lotion bar featuring two adorable, nuzzling sheep. The bar even comes in a drawstring bag that works great as a mini project bag.

Leading Men Fiber Arts' Soliloquy yarn in Evil Queen
To enter the giveaway, use the box below. Open to US, UK, Canada, Denmark, Germany & Australia. If you’re on mobile, you’ll need to click a button that takes you to the entry page. If you’re on the desktop site, you’re all good to go right here! Full terms & conditions available by clicking the link in the box provided.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway prizes were provided by Leading Men Fiber Arts, Eucalan & Love + Leche.

Filed Under: Knit Along Tagged With: kal, knit along, ralkal, ralkalirl, read along knit along, the night circus, the scarf of dreams

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. She specializes in knitting, crochet, latch hook and macramé, and her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now!

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

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handsoccupied

Craft book author & pattern designer ❤️💛💙
knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
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Please email for pattern support. 🧶

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
For the first time in a long time, there’s a new For the first time in a long time, there’s a new tutorial from Hands Occupied! 🎉 The video is live on YouTube & the blog. 
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The post covers what provisional cast ons are & how they differ, and the video covers how to work a one-step provisional cast on using scrap yarn and a crochet hook. (This is a great one to save for future reference.)
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I learned several names for this method while researching this video & post. Crochet provisional cast on, one-step cast on, scrap yarn cast on - if you know even more names for this technique, please share! 
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#handsoccupied #provisionalcaston #knitting #scrapyarn #crochethook
Working on a sample for some upcoming videos. It’s an overcast day with intermittent sunshine & I have a scruffy little sidecar. 🐶 Can’t complain! 
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What’s on your needles this week? 
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Yarn: @debbieblissknits Cashmerino Aran 
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#handsoccupied #knitting #knittinglife
Peg boards and craft room organization go together Peg boards and craft room organization go together like peanut butter and jelly. So, as you can see, do latch hook tools and screwdriver organizers! 🪛 
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I think this trick translates to any tool with a thick handle, so leather working tools, punch needles, print making tools, etc. should work! What other tools am I, a needlecrafter, blanking on right now? 
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#craftorganization #handsoccupied #latchhook #latchhooking
Pegboard storage is my favorite for craft supplies Pegboard storage is my favorite for craft supplies, so getting a few hung in my new studio has been a priority. Here’s my first attempt. 🔨 
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Details: This pegboard panel is for organizing my knitting needles, latch hook tools, sewing thread, etc. It doesn’t need to hold much weight, so I didn’t anchor this into a stud - just used basic drywall anchors. I’ve also got a set of two 2’x4’ panels for another spot in my studio, and those will need a stud/more than 3 drywall anchors. Wish me luck! 
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[description: video features a woman hanging a panel of pegboard using a square dowel and drill]
It’s time for the annual Hands Occupied new year It’s time for the annual Hands Occupied new year update, and for the first time in years, I feel like I have some clarity about what I’m doing next. ❤️ Head to the blog to read all about it, the 1ink is where you’d think. 
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#handsoccupied #knitting #creativeburnout
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