My mother sat near Bug, Grandma Frida’s “knitting” on her lap. As I approached, she picked at it with a crochet hook and unraveled another tangled row.
I paused by Grandma Frida and nodded at the metal carnage.
“He was watching your date, and the walls started buckling. I needed some old frames scrapped, so I gave him something to do.”
“What’s Mom doing?”
Grandma Frida gave me the evil eye. “That yarn cost $38 a skein. I want her to salvage it. I tried doing it myself, except I have frayed nerves today. I was going to set it on fire for closure, but your mother took away my blow torch.“
Torching the yarn would be bad. Thanks for the snippet.
Hahaha, Grandma Frida is awesome! Can’t wait to see what happens.
i hate it when people take away my blowtorch.
thanks for the snippet! and, happy new year!
I was a chemical engineering student. I wanted to do an experiment involving black pepper and fire. My kill joy friends took away my candles and matches. I bought a blowtorch replacement. My experiment was very fun. Then KJF took it away too. I only got it back because I bribed them with crème brûlée.
I really hate it when people take away my blowtorch 🙁
This is like a tumblr meme.
heh. “experiment.” rrriiiigggghhht. black pepper is also cool sprinkled onto your hot burners.
I now have a cute little baby blowtorch, specifically for crème brulee – it came in a set with little cups and everything. before that, I stole one of my dad’s industrial-strength blowtorches for my crème brulee, in no small part because the looks on peoples’ faces when I lit that thing up was HILARIOUS.
This is GOLD ?
My nose is beginning to itch just thinking about black pepper being on a hot pepper.
Burner. I meant hot burner. I’m blaming my cold medication on that.
I quite liked the smell, but I’m strange.
I love Grandma Frida. I’ve felt like blow torching yarn but remembered what acrylic, as well as wool, smells like when burned and decided not to. :p
Cotton, OTOH, makes a dandy wick – so with a bit of creativity and the right accelerant…!
Even better than cotton is Ramie. It is soft, white, shinny and goes up like a torch. (Ramie is a plant fiber like linen)
Lovely snippet. Can’t wait till the relaunch and new books.
It’s a kind of nettle, isn’t it? I’ve spun it before, though it’s been a while… (And I’ve retted standard west coast nettles, but never got mine anywhere as pretty as ramie – though some of that was probably my retting technique, which was, um, rudimentary.) Never burned either, though I’ve used flax linen as wicking.
After spinning so much, I get sticker shock on yearn pretty easily – especially since I always liked spinning more than knitting, so generally felt like I might as well just spin something nice for myself (or better yet, spin something nice and then make a trade with a friend.) Not getting much of any of it done since a former department head asked me to stop spinning in department seminars 🙁
You’re using a drop spindle rather than a spinning wheel, Tylikcat, or are there other techniques?
I’ve used a lot of different things, but I was using a high whorl drop spindle at the department seminars – the portability of a drop-spindle has usually ended up being most lifestyle-compatible for me, and I find it soothing. And I like the spin speed one gets with high whorl spindles, spinning them off one’s thigh. (Ramie generally is long enough staple that technically one should spin it off of a distaff, but I mostly spun it off my wrist and got by… but I haven’t spun ramie for years, and might be more standard in my technique these days.)
I gave away my wheel and looms (well, gave them to someone on long term loan, but it, ah, was turned into a gift) somewhere in the progression from moving from my old house to the housebarge and then to Ohio – and most of my yarn and fabric, not to mention the bulk of my other worldly possessions. It was really fun – kind of like playing Santa Claus. I’ve had less and less time in my life for fiber arts over the last many years, but I try not to completely lose touch.
Ramie makes my skin prickle, whick is a shame
Perhaps it is a sign that a ramie garment, properly prepared, would transform you to your true shape!
Not great wool yarn make my skin itch and creates a rash. Found this out one year when my sister gave me a lovely pink wool sweater, tried it on, and couldn’t get it off of me fast enough. 🙁
With the ramie, I was thinking of the fairy tale, The Six Swans, where the young sister had to make shirts out of nettles, in silence, for all of her brothers who had been turned into swans in order to turn them back into humans – as ramie is a kind of nettle. (Nettle cloth was actually pretty common – and it’s hard to tell one bast fiber from another. I’ve always figured that the bit that sounded weirdest to me about that story as a kid probably wasn’t weird at all, though I never looked into it.)
That sucks about the wool. I’ve lucked out so far in not being allergic to any fibers. (Though I’m allergic to a bunch of foods, and a bunch of fragrances… and prefer the rest of them in very small concentrations, thanks!)
Feel for you. Most animal based fibers do the same to me. Rabbit and worm seems to be the exception.
As someone who does not knit, how high end is $38 a skein yarn?
Yarn mostly tops out at about $50. Grandma Frida bought pretty yarn, so it’s pricey.
Specialty yarns can go higher. I lusted over buffalo yarn (so soft) and it was $78 for 75 yards.
Heart attack over current yarn prices. !? 0_o
Obviously I used to use pretty low end yarn
Low-end yarns are still very reasonably priced. The problem is that after you work with these expensive yarns, the low-end stuff just doesn’t quite measure up! Everything in the craft industry has increased in price. Viking Sewing machines now has a computerized sewing machine that costs $15,000. No, I did not add too many zeros. This thing is almost as expensive as a nice small car. I actually took a picture of the thing (with the price tag prominently showing) and sent it to all my friends.
I know! Bernina’s latest embroidery machine priced at $12,000 and the big hoop was $500! Almost had a heart attack. Haven’t done much with the one I’ve got and cannot justify changing machines. I would like a new serger though. I bought a 5 thread and should have gotten the 4 instead. Afraid to even price one now!
I have a 4 thread serger and tried to serge something too thick. Two of the yarns broke and it took FOREVER to re-thread it. I think the people who design sergers should be shot. The way they thread is ridiculously complicated…I feel I should get a PhD just for managing to get it re-threaded.
I have a Viking serger and used it a couple of times. One thing I learned watching sewing shows a long time ago is when changing serger thread, knot the new thread to the old thread and use scrap fabric to “thread” the serger with the new color. It works like a charm. Another trick is, when done for the day, place a scrap of fabric on the throat plate and bring the needles down. This keeps the thread from coming loose and keeps your fingers from being cut.
In Argentina for the warranty to cover your machine, you actually need to take a COURSE on how to thread them. It’s ridiculous.
I’m living in London now and I want to knit my dog a better sweater than the one I made her back for what passes as winter in Buenos Aires, but the yarn prices are trowing me off (not more than the pet accessory prices though.)
Thank goodness for WalMart
(and cheap yarn)
I have been buying yarn for, well, since dinosaurs roamed the earth. I went to Micheals to buy some cheap acrylic mix for a daughter who won’t hand wash, and there Wasn’t a skein there with any % of wool that was less than 9.98! I remember when lambs pride was lass than $5.00 / Skein! Having said all that rant, I bought a ball of musk ox at rhinebeck that was $90 (my preciousssss…?) $ 38 is a skein of hand dyed 100% wool with 400 yards.
Dawn
Great snippet! Very funny. What date, indeed. I gave my mother-in-law quiviut yarn for Christmas: http://www.muskoxfarm.org/product-page-c143e/6a3f7c67-c17d-32f8-f8db-43f080b97859
I wouldn’t use it since animal based yarns generally give me hives, but I have a sister who would like the red yarn. She loves to lace knit.
I have always wanted to feel some of that yarn. I don’t know how to do any yarn crafts yet but I have read that that yarn is super soft and warm.
Oh, it’s a dream. And the muskox farm is adorable. At nearly $1 per yard, though, it’s a nice gift.
So mid-range pricy.
I love “baby” alpaca. Baby refers to the micron width of the yarn, not the age of the animal. I drooled over some skeins of specialty dyed yarn that was dyed with organic dye, but it was $43 for a 4oz skein. 0-o
It’s a dream to spin. Slippery, though – it was one of the first nice things I worked on when I first learnt, and I spun all this fine, fine thread for the weft on a shawl. (Seriously, there was so much I didn’t know, and I’m kind of amazed it came out. I was fifteen and mostly going by the seat of my pants.)
Rogan was watching Nevada’s date? Oh… I can’t wait for this book!
So much fun in such a short snippet…
Neva’s date with someone other than Rogan!
While Rogan was apparently “hanging out” at the house with Mom and grandma?
And Bug moves into the Baylor house/warehouse? Has he taken over the Hut of Evil with Bern off to college?
Ooh… maybe they ended up moving in with Rogan!
You could almost see the exclamation points jamming the thought bubble over my head when I read this.
Is it a real date? Is it a “date” like Kate’s date that sparked her and Curran finally sleeping together? Is it related to an investigation? Did Nevada and Rogan somehow decide to be just friends (or Nevada decide and Rogan reluctantly, teeth gritted and metal shrieking ominously in the background, bend his head forward just enough to be mistaken for “yes”)?
Can. Not. Wait.
Mine too.
I didn’t realise until later that it was for Wildfire and not White Hot.
When I did I was like “A date?! Not with Rogan? On the THIRD BOOK? WHY?”
After reading about the bent metal frames I can see another reason why it was a good thing the blow torch was taken away. Rogan + blow torch = Nevada’s fried date.
Oh I love Grandma Frida. Of course I love All the Authorlords’ misfits. No one writes delightfully loony quite like Ilona Andrews must be a fun family.
My favorite is still “Get the guns, we’re going to WalMart”
Yep, that’s a good one.
Line for a T-Shirt
So Grandma did end up taking up knitting?!!? Have a feeling the yarn part of this seen is based on real life events.
Can anyone recommend a good Knitting For Dummies book? There seems to be several but is there one that is easier to use and understand?
Well this is weird. This comment / question was supposed to be by itself at the end of the main line. Somehow was put up here next to what I previously typed.
I learned to knit a sock by watching tutorials on Youtube. It’s better than a book because you can see the tricksy bits.
Ooooooo! Thanks for the tip!
Klutz learn to knit. Got it at Barnes and Noble or Michales, it is a kit with needles, yarn and instructions. It is geared to kids but works just fine for anyone. That plus youtube if you get stuck and it is a good way to start.
I have found that youtube videos work well teaching beginners especially if you are a visual learner.
Stitch and Bitch is a good starter knitting series
This is So. Very. True. And such a unifying theme of what I’ve loved between all the books.
(There isn’t a family selective re-writing service is there? Oh, gods…)
My mother is dead, my Dad is in Russia, Gordon’s mother is dead, her husband is dead… his real dad isn’t in the picture and never was. he does have cousins in NC, but mostly it’s just us and the kids against the world. 🙂
Sorry to disagree, but it is you guys, the kids and all your friends against the world. Sometimes a good friend is closer than a relative.
Amen, family of the heart can sure make you crazy just like blood relatives.
I’d offer you some – I think I’ve pretty well established that I have far more family than I have time to deal with – but we’ve already fairly rigorously tested methods of familial transfer and exchange, and never got it to work right. Though the circumstances were generally a bit macabre, which might have had something to do with it. (I’m not talking straightforward adoption and family of choice, which thank heavens works great.)
Re-writes though – I really think there’s a business model in there! I mean you could replace, say, an alt-right troll who is stalking and making death threats against women on the internet (for a not nearly as random as I’d wish example) with a quirky but lovable reprobate. Money would just roll in!
I’ll be happy to adopt ya’ll,,, added to the rest of the crew we’d make a pretty big family. 🙂
Someone asked me once how many grandchildren I have and I said 17. One of my daughters was with me, and she just shook her head and muttered (only 5 are biologically hers, the rest she sort of acquired with their parents.)
I almost can’t wait until June to get the next book. It’s a great comfort to know that wildfire is progressing. Thank you ?
Goss how long till the next one is out again? Thank goodness for snippets to keep us going 🙂
Omg omg mog ??? I cannot wait!
Jelaus Rogan… now that’s something worth seeing ?
Last weeknd I re-read for the x time BFM. My 10yo daugther got curious about the marathon so I explained to her the publishing story of HL. She just summarized “So you have 2nd and 3rd book already bought but they’re not out yet? And you’re going to read this book all the time until June??”
…
I think it was her first peek into my geeknes. ?
Thank youfor sharing this!
Please please share some more from both WH & WG?
Gorgeous! Good thing grandma’s on the job or Nevada may not have had a warehouse to come home to…
So much fun! I am (impatiently) waiting for these books to come out.
I think everyone missed the fact that the snippet says it’s for Wildfire, which means that Nevada and Rogan don’t get together in White Hot. (Or perhaps they got together briefly and then Nevada backs off, which is scenario #2.)
Maybe Nevada is undercover and that’s why Rogan is with her family?
Ooh, I like that possibility.
Or maybe this is a “business” date but Rogan still feels jealous…
All the speculation gives me the giggles. The sweep books taught me I am almost NEVER right. The Authorlords usually take a creative left turn from where I imagine things going. So enjoyable and that’s not my usual reaction to being wrong.
Ooooooh! Really awesome! If they were all watching the date then there had to be a camera, was that why bug was there? To spy? Or maybe it was a stake out, and she had to flirt and be nice to get information, and the ‘date’ was the touchy feely type – either way that would get some metal twisted up.
Well that is it, I now have a countdown counter to the release of both books on my computer… a distressingly large counter. Thanks for the snippet, now I am going to go read Burn for Me agian. ^-^
Wow, this brings back memories, like last week.
For the other Patricia Briggs fans among the Horde… There’s a new Mercy snippet on her site… http://www.patriciabriggs.com/books/SilenceFallenSnippet2.shtml
(Ilona’s, I hope it doesn’t bother you that I posted that link in your blog.)
Two snippets for new year. Awesome, thanks.
March seems so far away. But it is January now.
Yep. Time to put in my personal leave request for March 7. I’ll have a Patricia Briggs and an Anne Bishop book to read that day. Not if only I could get the trifecta with an Ilona Andrews release on the same day.
Hobb’s Assassin’s Fate is supposed to be released on March 7 also. Then Kristen Britain’s Fire Brand two days later. Four on my list in less than a week!
Ooooooh!!! I love Hobb’s Assassin series
Thank you Tink!
Thank you! Loved reading it!
Thanks for the heads up. I may be wrong, but Ilona is a reader, so she probably doesn’t mind mentions of other books. After all, they can’t provide us with a new book every month, no matter how much we might wish it. Buying Patricia Briggs will never stop me from having Ilona Andrews on auto buy.
I found knitting rather relaxing, but the click, click of the needles drove my hubby nuts. Must be a Madame Defarge Syndrome.
Wow, just love your humor. Madame Defarge Syndrome. LOL. 😀
“click of the needles drove my hubby nuts”
Now see, I’d take that as incentive to keep going, but I’m kind of mean that way. Mwaa-ha-ha.
Change to wooden/ bamboo knitting needles!
Here’s a joke:
What was the first dessert Rogan took Nevada out for?
I don’t know. What was the first dessert Rogan took Nevada out for?
Peach Cobbler!
That’s terrible! And hilarious ?
Can’t wait! Thanks so much for the snippet! It’s so nice to have updates and teasers here even though the OFS serial is finished.
AUGUST is sooooo far away.
i am with the other non kniters in wondering what kind of yarn cost that much
I was working late and thought I would check the blog before logging off. A wonderful surprise! Can’t wait for all the great stuff coming out this year!
I LOVE Grandma Frida! I love her picture taking, I love her view of the world (“your school is dumb”–what a great response), I love her giving kids the attention and distractions they need with no judgement and the fact she apparently just did the same for Rogan. I love the whole Baylor family with all their quirks. So great! Yay!
SIGHS. really can’t wait for this book. and the one after that. your series are always so good.
Yay!!! Grandma Frida is amazing ?
Oh great Authorlords, we don’t have in our greedy reader hands White Hot and you tease us with Wildfire snippets?! Arghh where is the time machine when you need one?
These Wildfire and White Hot snippets are like drips into the IV. Thank You.
yes! well said.
whatever was the reason for Nevada’s date – the fact that Rogan watched it and got so angry/annoyed/jealous/whatever emotional that he started shaking the warehouse…priceless XD
Thank you!
So many possibilities in such little space.
Wheee!
I cannot wait for the two Hidden Legacy books to come out. It has been such a long long wait!
Thanks. It made me smile. I needed that.
I loved it!! Thanks for this. I am very, very excited about these books coming out this year!
Ilona, I love how your love of knitting (and yarns) found its way into this snippet. Grandma Frida is a fun lady. I love reading about her…she reminds me of my dad’s mother.
This was a nice gift for what has been a rather cruddy start to the new year. *Bang Head* I am going to place my bets that this is either 1- in regards to some type of investigation. The warehouse is made of metal so it would suggest they are at the family’s home. Bug was providing surveillance, he was watching. 2- Given the synopsis for the last book shown in amazon, it could be related to an expected date and he had Bug tap in and watched. I’m probably leaning more towards 2 but both appeal to me. I will say that this year I have quite a few authors releasing books so March through July will be nice.
The description about Wildfire talks about Nevada’s magic making her attractive to other mages. Maybe she was pressured in some way.
I feel like I’ve been waiting for this sequel forever. …sigh………..
Glad to see that Bug is back, such an interesting character. Who was she on a date with that required watching?
Yea, go Bug. That means they are all living together. Must have been a business date.
This is a great choice to tease us with. So much speculation generated from such a small portion of text.
Was it a real date or part of a case?
Why are Rogan and Bug at the Warehouse?
Cue wild speculation…
So something has happened to Rogan’s house which is why he and Bug are holed up at the Warehouse. Have we seen the bad guys make an overt move against him? Massive explosion takes out the mansion and a substantial portion of his workforce?
Looks to me like he and Nevada haven’t made things official yet given his reaction. Also, given the lack of outrage from Nevada at the news that he was watching her date, I’m going with it being some sort of set up.
Why is Grandma Frida trying to knit? Not out of any sort of guilt about warping her Grandchildren. She’s clearly not doing it for fun given her urge to blowtorch the whole project. If I engage in even wilder speculation, maybe there’s a Great Granchild on the way? If so, whose? Am I wrong about Nevada and Rogan not yet getting together? Has Bern done something a little silly at college? Hopefully not one of the sisters, although it could be an interesting story arc in itself.
I think I did too much English Lit in my school days. I’m reading far too much into this 😀
Glad I’m not the only one really excited about each snippets and starting to ask questions and make speculations about everything (but it’s a form of torture since we can’t answer them…)
Ooh, crossover idea just hit me! A Grandma Frida and Grandma Mazur (Stephanie Plum series) get-together. Wouldn’t that be a riot?
One carrying a blowtorch, the other a gun.
Nevada is on a date? And not with Rogan?? Now you’re just being mean. 🙂
It is better to light a blowtorch than to curse the darkness. Go Grandma!
Lol. I love reading the comments on this blog. They always make laugh. Something that is a therapeutic necessity right now.
I guess she took “Grandma, why don’t you knit?” as a challenge.
I just cannot wait for these books. Ugh! But in a good way.
I am so ridiculously excited about this series!!! Please let May come quickly.
Thank you for the snippet!
Thank you! Can I be greedy and ask for more?
Bug, knitting, walls buckling, blowtorch. All in one little snippet. Amazing!
I would suggest furnishing Grandma with stainless steel yarn if she’s that determined to use a blow torch. (Yes, it does exist. No, I don’t have any. It was well beyond my grad student budget when I saw it, and the yarn store that stocked it has since closed.) She definitely strikes me as the kind of person who would enjoy knitting with metal.
I want to be like Grandma Frida when I grow up. Thanks for the tease 😀
Mad Rogan watching Nevada’s date with who??