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Sunday, August 21, 2016

A Giveaway, Alpacas in Sweaters, and more.

*** THE GIVEAWAY IS OVER! THE RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR PICKED #40 - Shannon Steinberg!

Thanks for playing! ***

We have a book review and a giveaway! We'll give away the book Refined Knits by Jennifer Wood, plus, your choice of yarn: A skein of Cozy from the Plucky Knitter OR 3 skeins of silk/cashmere. You choose!
 But first, the book review.
The book features sophisticated lace, cable, and Aran lace knitwear. The book has lots of photographs, and is very well laid out. You can see every angle and every detail of the garments, which is great. And, you can purchase either hard copy or e-book. 

The book starts with a cute story of how the author learned to knit. It then goes on to the patterns. Let's start with Willa, a cozy rustic sweater.




Its slightly lower than usual neckline gives it a modern look. I like that the pattern includes helpful tips, and a description of the construction of the sweater. The cables run from the neckline down the sleeves, in a variation on the saddle shoulder. It adds a very pretty touch. 





Adelaide is a scarf that is reversible. Its very thoughtful design includes cables, and gently ruffled ends.  








Idril is a graceful and flattering pullover sweater.  
It is worked top down, and is nicely shaped and fitted. 



Next comes Brielle. This is a v-neck cardigan that uses two different yarns thereby getting both a nice stitch definition and a soft halo. 

Ada is a pullover with a really nice contrast color I-cord edging. The I-cord gives it a very elegant finish. It is a raglan construction, worked top down. 







In the next section we have Victoria -- it is a diamond lace pullover, top down raglan, knitted in one piece. It has lace inserts in the front and back, lovely and graceful. 


The book includes tips for reading lace charts. It should be noted that the book has charts only, no written instructions. 

Vivian, is a sleeveless pullover that is worked top down, in the round. It features a loose drapey cowl neck. 






Camelia is a cardigan with a very nice pine cone lace pattern.  


In addition to patterns, the book includes information on choosing suitable yarns, instructions on how to cable without a cable needle, and various other techniques. 

 
All in all, I would recommend this book for the advanced beginner to intermediate knitter. 
There are lots of sweaters I would love to make for myself!

Do you want to win your very own copy? Just enter a comment on this blog saying why you want to win. Also tell me which yarn you'd like, the Plucky Knitter in color "Princess Phone" (260 yds worsted weight) or the 3 skeins of SilkyB blue silk/cashmere blend (an artisanal yarn from a small producer in Pennsylvania).  You must include your email or Rav id or Instagram handle so I can tell you if you've won! 
Please sign up for the newsletter, too (top right), as you must be signed up in order to win
I’ll draw a winner on Sept 1.
Good luck!

Note: I was given a review copy of the book by F+W Publications.

Alpacas in Sweaters

Here’s what’s new in my Etsy shop. I have added a cute fabric featuring alpacas in sweaters and scarves.  It’s available in both drawstring and zipper styles. 

Here are some comments from my past customers:

"This bag is so well made! Great work and super fast door-to-door! Already stuffed with goodies to knit! Thank you!!!!"
"Fast shipping, great product, couldn't be happier. I'll come back again and again! "

Reminder


All my Ravelry Patterns are 20% off with code SUMMER, until Sept 1, 2016.

See you next time!

50 comments:

  1. I love all these patterns - esp Willa! I'd like the SilkyB as that's my favorite color (bright blue). Thanks for the giveaway (asimplehomestd on Ravelry)

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  2. Thanks for the giveaway! That SilkyB looks irresistable. I've seen this book at the library and love it. Victoria and Vivian are both stunning. I've been wanting to knit a sweater with the drapey sort of neck on Vivian. (knittingwithwords on Rav)

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  3. I love the sweaters, such beautiful details. If choose I would pick the cashmere because I've never had any yarn with cashmere. Thank you for the giveaway

    ummrania on rav

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  4. I love the Brielle pattern. That's why I'd like to win the book. I'd also love to try the SilkyB. Although I've never knit with Plucky so that would be nice, too.
    Lmecoll on Ravelry

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  5. I would love to knit up each pattern!! So beautiful!

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  7. I would love to knit Victoria from this book. I would probably choose the blue yarn, as it's my favorite color!

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  8. Oh, my Instagram is @nailyaplaskeydesigns

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  10. Hi Brenda! Thank you so much for your generosity! I would love be to knit Willa. I'm not very good with cables so this sweater will give me the practice I need. IG : Catsandyarns Rav ID: Hsings. I would love to try the SilkyB yarn. Thanks so much!!!

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  11. I like the Adelaide scarf .. So pretty.. Blue is my color, i will choose silkyB if I'm the lucky winner.

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  12. I love the Billie Hat, and would probably knit it first. But the Victoria sweater is so lovely as well. Thanks for the chance to win! katepricey on Rav

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  13. I love the patterns in the book. My favorite is Corrine.

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  14. Camelia is such a gorgeous pattern, it's already jumped to the top of my Ravelry queue. The SilkyB blue yarn is also calling me!
    lindarumsey on Ravelry

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  15. Oh I really need this, beautiful.

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  16. I would love the Silky B. My mom has asked me to knit her a sweater. Willa would be perfect. Thanks for the chance to win. Rav ID Gracie57

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  17. These sweaters have beautiful details. I've been knitting more garments and it's worth choosing a stunning advanced pattern. Plus, I'm addicted to knitting books. Thanks.

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  18. I would love to win this book and yarn because my favorite things to knit are lace and cables. I would like the Silky B blue yarn.
    rav id: knittingdancer

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  19. Ah, I'd love to knit any of those sweaters...make a surprise gift for a friend whose having a tough time--would brighten her day. And the silkyB is gorgeous. I'm @lorien on IG...my email is lorien@lorienyoga.com Thanks for running the giveaway. What fun!

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  20. I haven't made a lot of sweaters lately (have been caught up in the shawl craze), but I was just thinking that I'd like to get back into sweater knitting. This books seems like just the thing to get me started! I love the SilkyB blue yarn. Deb in NJ (JerseyShoreDeb on Rav)

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  21. I would love to make one of the sweaters with the diamond patterning at the neck. I find this so flattering.

    I would love the blue yarn if I win.

    Thanks for the giveaway! I am paintermom on Rav.

    Susan aka paintermom

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  22. The Victoria, Camelia and Idril are all lovely. I enjoy knitting sweaters and am sure I would find many from this elegant book I would want to make. If I am fortunate enough to be the winner, I'd like the SilkB yarn. I'm handmadebysue on Rav or suehorowitz@gmail.com.

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  23. Hi! This book looks amazing. I've had quite the knitting fever lately and am attacking a wide range of projects. I'm sure that I could learn so much from this book. Both yarn choices look amazing, but I will have to go with the Plucky Knitter. I've followed the Plucky Knitter on IG for some time and have been eager to try her yarn. Plus, the colorway looks just perfect for a yummy Autumn project. As always, thanks for the fun giveaway opportunity! Rav ID: Booshkaboo; IG: booshkaboowho (my new knitting account)

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  24. I love the patterns in this book. I like the Plucky Knitter yarn. I've never used it and would like to try it.
    sparky136 on Ravelry

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  25. I want to knit some garments rather than shawls and this book would give me a real kick to do so. Also would like to try some worsted weight yarn so Plucky knitter, please.
    amaknitter on Ravelry

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  26. What a terrific book! I love all the sweaters- such beautiful details along the necklines and I love cables. I love the Silky blue but Plucky is always a good choice! Thanks for the opportunity of a giveaway!! I love the llamas in sweaters!! IG Chrissyknitz

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  27. I'm am drooling over this book. The sweaters are fabulous. I would love to make several of them. I would love the SilkyB blue skeins. Thanks for the chance. sherryglover1 on RAV

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  28. Duh...free yarn. I'll go for the cashmere any day.

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  29. Thank you for the book review. These are exactly the kind of garments I would love to make. Cables down the sleeves and lace insertions, oh my!
    The SilkyB blue skeins are beautiful - my favorite color!

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  30. I love these patterns and would love to win. I'd love the SilkyB. My rav Id is Kristin loves yarn.

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  31. The sweater patterns are delightful. That being said, I am a sucker for a reversible scarf. I just love them! I think the blue yarn is the prettier of the two choices. What a nice thing for you to do. My email is mchristian48@yahoo.com and I am already on your mailing list. Here's hoping.

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  33. I would love to knit Camelia...I have some Mad line tosh Sock in Candlewick that woukdmorkmperfectly! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  34. What a lovely book of patterns! I really want to knit the Idril - such beautiful shaping and cables. For the yarn, I'd choose the lovely golden Plucky Knitter yarn. It would make a great baby sweater. My ravID is Turbogal, and I'm already on your mailing list. Thanks for the opportunity to win!

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  35. what lovely patterns in the book. I would love to have the book, I can see some of my gifting coming out of it. I would also like the SilkyB yarn. :) my Rav id is jweston, I am on your mailing list already. Thanks!

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  36. These are all lovely patterns, just what I love knitting. I would love the SilkyB yarn, blue is one of my favorite colors. My Rav ID is karenlynn, Instagram is karenlknits. Thank you so much for the giveaway and the intro to a lovely book :-)

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  37. These patterns are stunning and so is the yarn! Absolutely breathtaking!!!! I would choose the SilkyB yarn. My ravelry is angelicembers and my Instagram is also @angelicembers

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  38. Love the article, and the patterns. Especially the Victoria I love. Thank you for a chance to win the give away items. The yellow / golden yarn is beautiful

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  39. Would love to knit one of these beautiful sweaters, especially in that gorgeous color from Plucky! Email: shanstei@gmail.com, Instagram: woodsyandwildshop

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  40. I would probably try the Adelaide scarf first, simply because I have not tried to knit a sweater yet. For the yarn I'd love to try the Plucky. Rav is LayneL. Instagram is emporesszia.

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  42. The book looks gorgeous -- and so does that blue yarn! I'm really into cables right now so I'd love to get my hands on some of those patterns. My Ravelry ID is MoonandSixpence. Kate

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  43. I would like to win the book because I think many of the patterns are lovely. If I win I would like the blue yarn. YarnMoll on Ravelry

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  44. RavID: kangath If I win I will review the book, knit the lovely Idril (and maybe others), then give the book away on my blog! I have a slight preference for the blue yarn, but they are both breathtaking.

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  45. I love the Corinne pullover and Brielle cardi! I would really enjoy working with the Silky Blue yarn. Just so luxurious.

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  46. Oh, definitely blue! And I love cables, so the photo you sampled really caught my eye. (RavID: MLH860)

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  47. Keavy is my favorite thus far, along with Brielle. Ooh, those yummy, squishy cables look delightful. The cowls are beautiful also.
    I feel those 3 hanks of SilkyB calling my name.
    My Rav Id is Blue-EyedCrafty.
    My IG handle is BlueEyedCraftyPhotography.

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