Close Knit Killer (21 page)

Author’s Note

The next Knitting Mystery takes place as Kelly and friends try to help Jayleen save
her ranch. I don’t usually set my stories so close together in time, but I was revising
Close Knit Killer
in early June 2012, almost ready to submit the eleventh in the Knitting Mysteries
to my editor. And then, the High Park wildfire broke out in Rist Canyon just northwest
of Fort Collins, Colorado, where I live. I call that canyon Bellevue Canyon in the
mysteries.

Life as normal changed in Fort Collins and the entire area of Northern Colorado at
that moment. Even though Fort Collins was never in any danger of the wildfire spreading
into our city (there is a large and very long lake—Horsetooth Reservoir—that stretches
almost the entire length of the western side of Fort Collins), we were all riveted
by the fast-moving, wind-whipped wildfire as it jumped and darted about our canyons,
leaping from Rist Canyon into the Buckhorn Canyon area, and briefly into Cache La
Poudre River Canyon and several other mountain communities. Smoke filled the air,
and those of us who lived on the western side of Fort Collins sought shelter with
our friends on the north or eastern edges of the city. My dear friend Joey Waltz very
generously let me stay in the house she had just moved from and was preparing for
resale. And it was Joey who told me during the first week of the fire, as we watched
from her wide windows looking toward the mountains, “You have to include this in the
mysteries.” I knew immediately that she was right. So, I totally revised the entire
manuscript. Interestingly, I already had the novel taking place during late May and
early June of last year. And the day the story ended, with Kelly and Steve in Estes
Park at the Wool Market, was the actual day the wildfire started.

The next mystery in the series will be out June 2014, and the High Park wildfire will
definitely play a large role. I will not pretend that I will write a newscaster’s
account of how the High Park wildfire affected all of Fort Collins, but I promise
I will try to include real-life details of those life-changing, dramatic events of
June 2012 as seen by Kelly and her friends and all of the folks at Lambspun. Jayleen
Swinson has her alpaca ranch up in Bellevue Canyon, so everything she’s spent the
last twelve years building is at risk. Kelly and all of the characters—and new ones,
too—will come to Jayleen’s aid. And—don’t worry, mystery readers—I won’t forget that
I’m writing a murder mystery. So, a dead body will definitely be part of the story.

Author Note: Kelly used the easy Collapsible Cloche hat pattern with size-eight needles
for the baby hat she knitted. That pattern is found in book five of the series,
Dyer Consequences.
Here’s a more challenging hat pattern for tiny babies.

Sweetheart Baby Hat

Fits Newborn–4 Months

MATERIALS:

Main Color (MC)—2 ounces cotton yarn of your color choice. Can double to obtain gauge

Set of 4 #6 double-pointed needles, or size needed to obtain correct gauge

Set of 4 #8 double-pointed needles, or size needed to obtain correct gauge

Tapestry needle or crochet hook to weave in ends

GAUGE:

In MC on larger needles, 4½ sts = 1 inch

HAT:

On smaller needles, loosely cast on 60 sts with MC.

Join work, being careful not to twist sts.

Work in modified twisted rib as follows:

Rnd 1
: (K1, P1) around.

Rnd 2
: (Kb1, P1) around.

Repeat these two rounds until piece measures 1” from beginning. Change to larger needles
and work for ten (10) rounds in stockinette stitch.

Work in seed stitch for 3 rounds as follows:

Rnd 1
: (K1, P1) around.

Rnd 2–3
: Knit the purls sts and purl the knit sts.

Decrease as follows:

Rnd 1
: (K2 together, K8) around.

Rnd 2
: (K2 tog, K7) around.

Rnd 3
: (K2 tog, K6) around.

Rnd 4
: (K2 tog, K5) around.

Continue in this manner for a total of 8 decrease rounds.

Rnd 9 and 10
: (K2 tog) around.

K in the round on 3 remaining sts for about 1½ inches for nubbin.

Break yarn, leaving a 4-inch tail. Pull tail through remaining sts, then through nubbin
with tapestry needle or crochet hook and weave securely into crown on wrong side of
hat. Weave in all other loose ends. Tie a knot in the nubbin if desired.

Pattern courtesy of Lambspun of Colorado, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Here are the Best Cold Appetizer recipe winners from my Knitting Mysteries Appetizer
Contest.

Caprese on a Stick

Contributed by Julie Dewar.

Ingredients: 1 pint grape tomatoes; 24 small basil leaves; 1 container ciliegine (small
fresh mozzarella balls); balsamic vinegar. Marinade: ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil.
Finely grated zest of 1 lemon; 1 ½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 1 tablespoon dried
thyme leaves or basil; 2 garlic cloves, minced; kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
to taste. In a large bowl, whisk olive oil with lemon zest, lemon juice, thyme, garlic,
and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Add tomatoes and ciliegine to bowl and turn
to coat. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Skewer grape tomato, basil
leaf, and ciliegine ball onto toothpicks and place on a serving dish. Drizzle with
balsamic vinegar.

Dill Dip

Contributed by Judy Seeley.

Ingredients: 1 cup sour cream; 1 cup mayonnaise; 1 ½ tablespoons dried onion flakes;
1 ½ tablespoons dried parsley; 1 ½ teaspoons dill weed; 1 ½ teaspoons beau monde or
bon appetít (whichever one your store carries). Pinch of accent. Mix all ingredients
together and chill before serving.

Tzatziki Dip with Raw Vegetables

Contributed by Liz Veronis.

Mix thoroughly: 8 ounces of plain, whole milk Greek yogurt (American yogurt requires
draining excess liquid through cheesecloth); 2 cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and diced,
with excess liquid squeezed out; 2 tablespoons olive oil; juice of ½ lemon; 1 tablespoon
chopped fresh dill; 3 cloves garlic, peeled. Some recipes call for salt and pepper
to taste, but we are salt free. Refrigerate, covered, for 1 hour.

Chutney Mold

Contributed by Maryfrances Charnley.

Ingredients: 12 ounces Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened; ½ jar bacon bits; ½ can
cocktail peanuts; 3 heaping tablespoons sour cream; ½ cup chopped scallions (green
onions)—fine; ½ box raisins (I use golden raisins). Mix all ingredients. Shape into
a log wrap in plastic wrap and foil and freeze overnight. To serve: Pour one jar of
Major Grey’s Chutney over log and sprinkle with coconut. Serve with crackers.