New Year's Eve 2013 Party on Knitting Help Forum!

Yes, it's that time of year again.  

Time to welcome 2013 with an online all night party for knitters! :)

Every year, in the Knitting Help Forum, I host a party that lasts all night long, so we can celebrate the New Year for every time region in North America.  Fun!

As usual, there will be PRIZES, so come and join the fun.  You have to register to win the prizes by posting a comment in the party discussion thread in the forum, so go there and take care of that.

Another thing we usually do is make a project together to commemorate our party.
This year, our project will be a MYSTERY!  :)

All you need to do is get two skeins of FELTABLE WOOL yarn, in contrasting colors.  Do NOT use superwash wool, because it will NOT WORK!  Just look at the label on your yarn skein, and make sure it is NOT WASHABLE WOOL.   Our project will be felted when we finish our knitting, so that's why I'm being so particular about the kind of yarn you should use.

I would recommend using Patons Classic Wool or Lion Wool or Lion Fisherman's Wool.
You can buy yarn in any color you want, making sure that you have TWO DIFFERENT COLORS that will contrast with each other, so one color will stand out from the other.  I recommend using one dark color, and one light color.

We will be doing duplicate stitch when the knitting is complete.  The duplicate stitching will be how we can personalize our project with "2013" and "KH" (or your initials).

You will also need a bag of rice for our project.  (OK, you people....don't be spouting out any hints or taking guesses...we want this to remain a MYSTERY!!!)

Materials:
Two skeins of worsted weight FELTABLE wool yarn, 
    in contrasting colors (dark and light)
Knitting Needles: Size 8 (US) or 5 mm
Yarn Needle for seaming and duplicate stitch
A bag of rice

To get started:  
Choose one skein of yarn, and cast on about 15-20 stitches.
Row 1: Knit every stitch
Row 2: Purl every stitch
Repeat these two rows, to make a stockinette fabric, until it is square.
Bind off, and set aside.

Next, get the other skein of yarn, and use it to make an identical square.
Bind off, and set aside.

When both squares are complete, use the dark yarn on the light square to work duplicate stitch for "2013" in the center of your square.  Then, use the light yarn on the dark square to work duplicate stitch for "KH" (or your initials) in the center of the other square.  (I will post links for duplicate stitch embroidery in the forum.)

We will finish our project in the Knitting Help Forum, so watch the discussion thread there, to see instructions for the rest of the project. :)