Princess of the Midnight Ball - Jessica Day George [87]
King Gregor shook his head and muttered something about “stubborn old fool.” Galen caught Rose’s eye, and they shared a small smile. Then, while Lily helped Heinrich to a sofa and Orchid brought them cake and lemonade, Rose sat down on another sofa with a sigh.
Galen sank down beside her. “So that’s my cousin,” he said musingly.
“Yes, and that’s the great scandal of Bruch as well,” Rose said. “The gardener’s son fell in love with a princess, and then his father declared him dead when he joined the army.” She shook her head. “It was all the gossips could talk about, until our worn-out dancing slippers came to light.”
Galen touched her cheek. “Will you never dance with me? I rather enjoyed that time, at the Midnight Ball. But I wouldn’t mind being visible, so that you’ll step on my toes less often.”
Rose made a face at him. “Ha! I’m a wonderful dancer! But I did promise my father no more worn-out dancing slippers.”
“Very well, then,” Galen said. He leaned down and pulled off her shoes, tossing them over his shoulder into a lilac bush. “If I may have this dance?” Galen led Rose out onto the smooth lawn and waltzed her across the soft green ground until the sunlight died and stars sparkled in the black night sky.
The Knitting Patterns
A man who knits? Unheard of!
Well, perhaps not …
For centuries, commercial knitting guilds were for men only, because knitting was considered too complicated for women! But even after women were allowed to take part in the “manly art” of knitting, men still continued to knit. In many Scandinavian schools, everyone is taught to knit and has to complete a pair of mittens before they can graduate. I had a friend in college who had a beautiful pair of mittens and matching snowflake-pattern hat that her Swedish husband had made in school. And it really wasn’t uncommon for soldiers in the first and second World Wars to knit their own socks, washcloths, and hats.
My grandmother started to teach me to knit when I was thirteen years old, but when she had trouble explaining something to me, my grandfather took over. He started knitting to pass the time on long business trips—taught by his boss, no less—and made beautiful blankets for everyone in the family. After he passed away, I finished his last blanket as a gift for my mother.
Rose’s Shawl
Materials:
US #13 circular needle
(You may choose to start on straight needles, and switch to the longer circular when shawl becomes too large for the straights.)
Approximately 430 yards bulky weight yarn.
Tapestry needle to finish ends
Instructions:
Cast on 4 stitches. Fasten a safety pin or split-ring marker to the first stitch, to indicate the right side of the work. All odd-numbered rows will start with this marker on the right. Row 1: Knit 1, knit into the front of the next stitch, don’t drop it off the left needle, knit into the back of the stitch, drop it off. Repeat, knit last stitch. You now have 6 stitches. Row 2: Knit 2, knit into the front and back of the next 2 stitches, knit 2. 8 stitches. Row 3: Knit across. Row 4: Knit 3, Yarn Over (loop the yarn over the right needle to add a stitch without knitting), purl 2, YO, knit 3. Repeat rows 3 and 4 until piece is 12 inches long. You can now add flower pattern, available as a PDF at www.jessicadaygeorge.com. If pattern is not desired, continue to work Rows 3 and 4 until shawl measures fingertip to fingertip of wearer. Bind off.
The Black Wool Chain
Materials:
US #10 double-pointed needles (set of 4)
1 skein wool yarn
Instructions:
Cast on 24 stitches, dividing them evenly among three needles (8 per needle). Place marker and join for working in the round, careful not to twist. Knit 4 rounds, bind off and weave in ends. Cast on 24 stitches, slide previous link onto needles so that it is hanging from your middle needle, making sure that your working yarn is not entangled in the link. Join and knit 4 rounds, bind off. Cast on 24 stitches, slide your links onto the center needle, making sure that