Tag Archives: giveaway

January purge, book giveaway

Posted on January 18, 2018 | 27 comments

I just looked up, and January is half over. Whoa!

I’m doing a deep toss of my studio office. Lots of dumping and recycling going on, and I’ve moved more of my knitting books in, and more of my kiddos’ books out. I now have three shelves of knitting books. The top three shelves are mine, and the middle shelf of the three is the powerhouse; it has all my reference books.

I also found this lone mitten. Once upon a time, I made 8 pairs of these, with Bugs Bunny buttons, for eldest son’s third birthday. Pretty swank party favor! I knit these flat and seamed them, because I didn’t know how to knit in the round yet.

January feels like it’s time to tidy up! My studio is also the guest room, so it will be much nicer for guests to not be drowning in my yarn and papers.

I found duplicates of several books, so I want to have a giveaway. First, I have this book, Shetland Lace Knitting, in Japanese and in English (funny story here). I bought the book at Kinokuniya and decided I wanted to read the rest of the text. I found out that the original book is in English, so I bought that, too.

If you can work from charts, this book has lovely stitch patterns and edgings that are accessible to you. I’m having a drawing to give the Japanese copy away. Leave a comment below and let me know you’re interested! USA readers only this time, please. (I just sent a book to Canada last week, and it cost more than the book itself to send it, ouch.) I’ll pick a winner on January 31.

If you’re a newsletter subscriber, you can also reply to the upcoming newsletter for a second chance to win. (Newsletter coming out in a day or two.) Not a subscriber? You can subscribe here.

Last fun thing: I worked as an extra last summer on TNT’s The Librarians. Season 4, Episode 8 is now out there, and I can say that I saw myself very briefly!

(ETA: Video unavailable. Glad I got the screen shot while I could.)

The original call was for knitters, but they eventually changed the knitters into quilters, and I ended up being a townsperson, and not a needleworker at all! It was an interesting experience.

If you don’t blink, you can see me walking by in my Garland Shawl! So many hours for a tiny bit of screen time.

The Purple Hat ad we did at Twisted last year is airing again locally. That was much more fun to film, and had actual knitting in it. Here’s the backstory on that, if you missed it.

Back to my knitting!

27 Comments

Posted in book review, giveaways, Knit

Tagged books, giveaway, Knit

Aura e-book winner, Chinatown exhibit in PDX

Posted on April 4, 2016 | 5 comments

Stole vs Poncho: The readers have spoken! It sounds like it was a good idea to hedge my bets and have Trellis Vines be wearable both ways. I am currently wearing mine as a poncho, but glad to have the flexibility to unlace it later. I do love how ponchos stay on my shoulders.

Thanks to everyone for commenting. Random.com has spoken, and the 29th commenter is the winner of the Aura e-book! I’ll send Juanita an email to let her know.

I went with my mom and one of my sisters to the Oregon Historical Society to see the exhibit on Portland’s Chinatowns. I didn’t know that the first Chinatown was on Southwest 2nd Avenue; I thought it was always on the North side of Burnside where it is now. Lots of interesting artifacts and pictures. We even saw Mom’s grandmother in a picture of the Portland Chinese Women’s Club Anniversary Celebration from 1948. Cool! The exhibit runs through June 21. Admission is free if you’re a Multnomah County resident, and not a lot if you’re not.

Speaking of grandmothers, here’s a picture that has both of my grandmothers. It was taken at an event in 1938 or 1939. The Chinese community was protesting the sale of US scrap iron to Japan before the US entered World War II. Lily Lee on the left, Violet Wong on the right. (Family friend in the middle.) There were other pictures from this event in the Chinatown exhibit. It was interesting to be able to place this family photo in historical context, and even more interesting to see family members as activists!

It’s been a busy few days. How was your weekend?

5 Comments

Posted in giveaways, Knit, Portland area fun

Tagged aura book, chinatown, giveaway, grandmothers, History, knit picks, oregon historical society, trellis vines

Lobelia shawlette pattern and yarn giveaway

Posted on November 4, 2015 | 47 comments

Thanks for the warm welcome for Lobelia! I love this shawl and shawlette, and I’d like to share the love.

As you can see, Lobelia looks great in both gradients and semi-solids. I have these two lovely semi-solids from Knitted Wit from my stash. Both are 4 ounce skeins of fingering weight 100% superwash merino. I’m not sure of the yardage, but I’m guessing that there is at least 437 yards in each skein (label is for 100 yards, but these are heavier than that).

Sooooo, the giveaway. One skein of yarn in the color of your choice, plus a pdf download of either Lobelia, or one of my other single skein shawl/shawlette patterns. Which color speaks to you? Mint Mojito? Or the purple, whose name I’ve forgotten? Huckleberry, maybe? Which pattern? Leave a comment and let me know which color/pattern combo is calling your name!

To make this easier, here are links to my single skein shawls/shawlettes. You can also click their names on the sidebar.

Lobelia (bottom up crescent)
https://pdxknitterati.com/patterns/garland-shawl/ (sideways)
Webfoot (bottom up crescent)
Filigree (bottom up crescent)
Ooh La Lace (botom up crescent)
Fern Lace (sideways)
Zen Rain (top down, wide, shallow, fun!)
Pacific (top down extended wingspan triangle)

I’ll choose a winner at random for each color on Monday, November 9. Remember, you need to name both a color and a pattern for your entry to be valid. Have fun and good luck! And remember: The Lobelia pattern is still on sale for 20% off with coupon code GRADIENT through Sunday, Nov. 8.

ETA: Winners posted! Congrats to Noreen and Emme.

47 Comments

Posted in giveaways, yarn

Tagged community supported yarn, giveaway, knitted wit, Lobelia Shawl, yarn

XOXOKAL

Posted on February 4, 2015 | 27 comments

I’ve cast on for the February Hugs and Kisses KAL, now tagged XOXOKAL on Ravelry.

Four pattern repeats done on my Fern Shawlette. The beads are very subtle here, but they do show up better in real life.

The yarn is Louet Gems Fingering in Willow, 100g, and Miyuki Delica beads (tubes rather than seed beads) in Celery.

It’s a pleasure becoming reacquainted with this pattern of mine. It’s not difficult, but it does require paying a little attention, and also pausing to add two beads on most right side rows.

I’m using my trusty Bead Aid to add beads to my knitting, and managing my beads with my bead tin. Do you bead your knits? One of the KAL prizes for the weekly drawings is a set of Bead Aids. I know someone will love theirs as much as I love mine!

There’s still time to join the KAL; we’ve only just started casting on. And the Criss Cross patterns are still on sale for 20% off with coupon code WEAVE, through February 10.

KAL details here.

For a little more fun, I’m giving away 2 patterns from this collection here and on Instagram. To enter, leave a comment and let me know which is your favorite! If you already own your favorite, let me know that and your hoped for pattern. On Sunday, February 8, I’ll draw a name from here, and a name from Instagram. (Do you Instagram? I’m PDXKnitterati over there, too.) You can find names of these patterns in this post.

When I’m not working on my Fern Shawlette, I’m being lured by the siren song of a new to me yarn.

This is Malabrigo Rastita, a DK weight slightly felted single ply yarn. I am enchanted by it. This color is Solis, a mix of greens and blues. Not quite as blue as this picture would lead you to believe, and knitting at night it looks only green, but by daylight it is gloriously both.

I can’t show you what I’m making with it yet, but I have already knit through one 100g hank, and I’m not bored with it at all.

OK, comment time. Let me know your favorite pattern from the XOXOKAL set! And anything else you want to comment on.

27 Comments

Posted in beading, KAL, Knit, yarn

Tagged bead aid, Fern Shawlette, giveaway, kal, louet gems, malabrigo rastita, Miyuki Delica beads, xoxokal

Tauriel by Chic Knits

Posted on March 11, 2014 | 197 comments

Edit 3/19/14: We have a winner! See this post for details.

A few weeks ago, Bonne Marie Burns of Chic Knits sent me an email asking if I could suggest someone to help her with a photo shoot the next day, because her usual helper was not available. I told her I could do it, and so I did.

The photo shoot was at Laurelhurst Park, although it could have been anywhere.

This is Tauriel (Ravelry link), a very lovely cardigan. (Photos by Bonne Marie Burns)

I especially love the cable along the back neckline. And the fact that this is knit seamlessly, so when you’re done knitting, you’re done!

It was a cool, cloudy morning, which made the lighting magical, and it didn’t even rain on us…much. I learned some new tricks about staging and lighting, and got to know Bonne Marie better. A very good morning!

And here’s the fun part: Bonne Marie is giving away a pdf copy of this beautiful pattern through my blog. If you’d like a chance to win this pattern, leave a comment on this post, and let me know your favorite thing about this design. The cables? Neckline? Seamless construction? The chance to feature the perfect button that’s been rolling in your stash? Something else?

I’ll take comments through Monday, March 17, and draw a winner at random on Tuesday. Good luck!

197 Comments

Posted in giveaways, Knit

Tagged Bonne Marie Burns, Chic Knits, giveaway, Tauriel

RCYC KAL begins in one week! Parties and more…

Posted on January 10, 2014 | 43 comments

Can you believe it? One week until the cast on for the Rose City Yarn Crawl Mystery Shawlette KAL. The official cast on date is Friday January 17; the first clue will be released that day. If you’re local to Portland, I’d love to knit with you! I’m having a cast on party at Twisted from 5 to 8 p.m. We’ll have refreshments and prizes; drop by any time and knit a bit with us. I’m thrilled to be the designer of this mystery shawlette!

I’m also knitting with the KAL/CAL group at the Knitting Bee on Sunday January 26, from 1-3 p.m., and bringing a little trunk show there, too.

And Lorajean (Knitted Wit) and I are planning a trip to For Yarn’s Sake on Friday, January 31 during their KAL time, 4:30 to 6 p.m. I love having these opportunities to knit with you; knitters are the nicest people.

I’m ready to cast on! Well, I will be, once I get my yarn from Knitted Wit next week. This is what happens when you hang out with a dyer.

I changed my colors, because I finally realized that I’ll get the sample back next year. My new yarn colors: clematis and tugboat.

This is not the actual yarn, just the color. The yarn will be Knitted Wit Single Fingering, rather than this plied sample. Lorajean gave me yarn for the KAL, but now she’s talked me into the blues. I asked her if she wanted the silver lining and madge back, and she said that I should give it away on the blog! This is your chance to win these two skeins of gorgeous yarn. Leave a comment by midnight January 13 to enter to win. (Fine print: Winner must be a USA resident, so I can mail it out quickly in case s/he needs it for the KAL.) Thank you, LJ!

I hope you’ll be knitting along with me. And when we’re finished with the KAL, I hope to see you on the crawl with your beautiful shawlette! I’m also hoping that we can get a group picture at the Yarn Ball on February 26. That will be a rainbow of awesome! Rose City Yarn Crawl is also giving away prizes in conjunction with the KAL and CAL; more info on that later. The actual yarn crawl dates are February 27 through March 1, and includes 18 Portland-area yarn shops.

Here’s the scoop on the KAL: The pattern is available through Ravelry here for $6. You’ll receive a pre-MKAL information sheet telling you about yarn and dates. Every week beginning January 17 the pattern will be updated with the next clue so you can download it.

The RCYC group on Ravelry is here: Pop on over and see what colors people are choosing in the pre-MKAL thread!

Are you ready to cast on? Do you want to win yarn? Leave a comment, in either case!

43 Comments

Posted in events, giveaways, KAL, Knit, yarn

Tagged cast on party, giveaway, kal, knitted wit, prizes, rcycmkal, yarn

Under 100 Knit Collection: book launch and giveaway

Posted on December 30, 2013 | 51 comments

I’m so pleased to have one more pattern published this year. It’s my Fern Shawlette, and it’s part of the Under 100 Knit Collection from Knit Picks which goes live today. Each of the 30 projects in this book takes 100 grams of yarn or less. Hats, socks, scarves, shawlettes, mitts, accessories…all my favorite things, and all knit up very quickly.

Here’s my Fern Shawlette, as shown in the book.

And here’s Fern, in a lighter color so you can see the detail. (Thanks, Bobbi, for modeling!)

The Fern Shawlette is knit with 100g (or less) of fingering weight yarn. This is Knit Picks Palette, 100% Peruvian Highland Wool. It’s a lot like Shetland, and knits up to be light and airy. Beads are optional on this piece.

You can order this book from Knit Picks as an ebook, or as a print book. The patterns are also available individually. I’ve had the pleasure of paging through the print copy for the past week, and I’m giving away a copy of the ebook here on my blog. More on that in a bit.

I’ve had a fun knitting year; here are the designs I’ve published or had published in 2013.

Daffy Taffy Twists, Starwood Cowl & Cuffs, Filigree Shawl
Garland Shawl, Ooh La Lace Shawlette, Webfoot Shawl
Autumn Scarf, Fern Shawlette, Thrumviator

2014 is off to a great start. The cast on for the first ever Rose City Yarn Crawl KAL mystery shawlette I designed begins January 17 (are you going to participate in the KAL?) and I have another piece that will launch during the crawl, too. I have a club knit coming out at the end of January, and I’m also designing another club knit for March. I may be having a Thrumbelina KAL, too. My fingers will be flying; come knit with me!

To celebrate the debut of the Under 100 Collection, I’m giving away a copy of the ebook. To enter, leave a comment on this post telling me about the best thing you knit in 2013. I’ll pick the ebook winner on January 6. Good luck!

51 Comments

Posted in Knit, pattern design

Tagged contest, Fern Shawlette, giveaway, Under 100 Knit Collection

Autumn Scarf is live! and a giveaway

Posted on October 24, 2013 | 65 comments

My latest design is out! It’s the Autumn Scarf (Ravelry link), part of the 2013 Swish Pattern Collection for KnitPicks. This ultra-long scarf looks great doubled around your neck, and is cozy and comfortable in worsted weight superwash merino wool Swish. It begins with a provisional cast on at the center neck, and is knit out to one leafy end, and then the other. The leaves are my favorite part.

I told you it was long! (photo from knitpicks)

I’m really pleased to have a design in this collection. The collection includes six items, all created for Swish: four sweaters, a throw, and my scarf. Check it out here. All of the patterns are available as individual downloads, and also in an ebook and softcover book.

And the cool thing? I have two ebooks to give away. Enter to win by leaving a comment on this post; tell me what you want to knit first from this ebook! I’ll pick winners at random after October 31.

I’m having a great design year. Next up is a design coming out in Doomsday Knits from Cooperative Press in December. It’s called Thrumviator. I’ll leave it to your imagination for now, but you can probably guess that it involves thrumming! Mmmm, squishy cozy thrums. I have two more designs that will be published in December, and two by the end of January. This is the fun part, because most of the work is done, and I’m just waiting to see it happen. I’m looking forward to sharing all of these with you.

OK, go check out the collection, and then leave your comment for a chance to win the ebook. Let me know what you want to knit first!

65 Comments

Posted in Knit, pattern design

Tagged autumn collection, autumn scarf, giveaway, knitpicks, swish

Feedly’s a winner! and 5 years of PDXKnitterati means you could be, too

Posted on April 1, 2013 | 42 comments

I’ve posted about my angst over Google’s impending shutdown of Reader. I’ve tried several alternatives, and really just wanted something as quick as Google Reader’s titles view for skimming through blogs. Feedly was pretty good, but only offered a titles view in a browser, and I do most of my reading on an iPad. They asked for feedback from Reader refugees, and it sounds a lot of us were looking for this option.

As of this morning, Feedly’s iPhone and iPad apps now have a Title Only view. Talk about responsive! It’s not an April Fool’s joke. I’ve updated my apps and I. Love. It. I’ve played around with it, and it does what I want. I think it may be even better than Reader; I haven’t figured out all the shortcuts yet. You may have issues with Feedly on a computer, because it requires an extension on your browser, but the extension issue doesn’t bother me. Feedly is working on cloning Google Reader’s API, and says that the transition will be seamless when Reader shuts down on July 1. Sounds good to me. Done!

Hmmm, knitting content. I can’t show you what I’m knitting right now. Sometimes design work means nothing to show, for months and months! But it’s spring, I have a new blog reader, and I just realized that I’ve been blogging for five years as of March 17. That went by in a flash! To celebrate, I’d like to share some yarn with you, because that’s what knitters do.

This is Knitted Wit Silky ‘n’ Single, worsted weight, 60% Merino/40% Silk, 220 yards, 100g. I don’t know if this color has a name, I got it from Lorajean’s Community Supported Yarn club last year. It hasn’t told me what it wants to be, but maybe it will tell you!

And this is Three Fates Yarn Eponymous Sock, 2 ply 100% superwash merino, 400 yards, 100g, color Mulch. I chose this rich brown yarn at Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival last fall because I had a brown project in mind, but I ended up using a different yarn. I can’t show you that project, either, until later this year, but it turned out just right. But I digress.

Hmmm. Tell me what you think each yarn wants to be, and I’ll do two random drawings to choose the lucky winners. I’ll take comments through next week Monday, April 8. Good luck!

42 Comments

Posted in Blogging, Knit, yarn

Tagged blogs, feedly, giveaway, google reader, yarn