MS3 Info and Updates - Email Control

Yesterday was a big day for MS3. A couple weeks ago I got an email from a columnist interested in writing a story about how the Mystery Stole Knit Along has taken off across the world. So he came out to the house yesterday to interview me. He brought along his copy editor (I hope I got the job title correct) who is actually part of the KAL - I got to see her stole!

I felt like this would be an important thing to do for a couple of reasons: first, because knitting projects don't usually merit media attention and second that the group deserved to be recognized for what it represents - an international knitting circle that is working on the same project simultaneously and cooperatively despite language, cultural, religious, political, economic, and skill level differences. This group exists because the knitters keep coming back for more. Some of our numbers have been on board since MS 1, other's found us last year with MS2, but most of this year's knitalong is new to the Mystery Stole KAL. Because there was such a huge swell in numbers this year (more than 6 times last year's number and close to 9 times the first year's membership), we've gotten the media's attention. Oh, and just in case you were wondering what paper the columnist writes for? It's USA Today. WooHoo!



I also need to take part of today's post and answer some questions that have been asked in previous blog comments because Blogger doesn't give me email addresses to reply to.

If you missed the cut off for sign ups on the MS3 KAL, I'm sorry. The group is closed to new members at this point. You haven't missed out on the design entirely however, because I always release the design in a traditional pattern format after the KAL is over. I'm shooting for late August/early September for the pattern release. I also always put extras into the traditional pattern that aren't part of the KAL. If you want to make sure you don't miss out on the next MS KAL, take a look at my group Pink Lemon Knits - there's a link in the sidebar with more information.

If you are being overwhelmed with mail and are thinking of leaving the group, you might consider going on Special Notice Only mails. This way you are still part of the group, you can read messages at the group's site, you can ask questions, but the only MS3 related mail you'll get will be Special Notices that I send out - mainly this will be announcements of the new clue being posted. To set this up, go into the group's site and at the top of the screen you'll see "Edit Membership." Click this and scroll down a bit. I think Mail Preferences are in #2. Change your settings to Special Notice Only and click "Save Changes" at the bottom of the screen. It can take Yahoo up to 48 hours to change your settings.

If you want to unsubscribe to the group, go into the group's site and click "Edit Membership." Somewhere on that screen is "Leave Group." If you need to leave the group for whatever reason, you can unsubscribe that way. Again, it can take up to 48 hours for Yahoo to take you out of the email loop.

Finally, for those of you who are wondering when MS4 will be, it will not be starting right after MS3 is over. Mystery Stole is a once a year thing. If I had to do it more than once a year, I wouldn't do it at all because of the huge amount of time it eats up. I'm spending 3-4 hours a day on the computer, just going through emails and answering questions. That doesn't include the designing and knitting time or the pattern writing time. We are making plans for MS4, but it won't be until next year. I love that you all love the idea of knitting a mystery, but I wouldn't enjoy it if it was more than once a year. If you want to make sure you are notified when MS4 has sign ups, please check out my Pink Lemon Knits group (link in the sidebar).