Giveaway: 3 years of blogging

When I started this blog three years ago, I never dreamed how much joy it would bring me. I've loved being a part of the crafting community, and I have big goals for the upcoming year.

To celebrate, I'm assembling a package of goodies for one reader.

The package is still in the works, but it will definitely include this skein of indie sock yarn, by the Family Pendragon, with a generous 560 yards of soft 100% superwash merino wool. The colorway is Fezzik, and it is perfect for fall. The package will also include this HiYa HiYa sock needle (it's a US size 1, 9" needle, perfect for sock knitting!). Some fabric and/or notions may creep into the box as well.

To enter, just leave a comment. Simple. Please enter by Tuesday, November 16th, 6:00 PM CST.

P.S. I've felt a little pressure (self-induced) in pulling this giveaway together. And since I like having giveaways every so often, I may do another one with better planning, sometime at the end of the year (maybe to celebrate my golden birthday next month!).

What's on the Needles?

Before I show you what I've been working on lately, I wanted to let you know I'm celebrating a third blogibirthday this week, and assembling a giveaway package for one of you. I'll have details at some point this week.

My attention has been divided between several projects lately, but I enjoy it, even if it means it takes me longer to finish.

Back in July, I started this pair of Impressionist Socks, but stalled out after starting the heel too soon. The sad sock sat (say that five times fast) untouched for months, but has new life now. I've knit past the length described in the pattern, but I've decided to continue the pattern until I run out of yarn, as I want to use every inch of this Koigu (which I picked up in Boston last fall). I'm excited to actually be knitting a sock during Socktoberfest; I believe that's a first. The lace pattern keeps my interest, and the variegated Koigu doesn't hurt either.

Up next, I cast on for the Emerald Isle Cardigan a few weeks ago. I've dubbed it my Gray Skies Cardigan, and I'm using Wool of the Andes in Onyx Heather. I'm currently about mid-way through the back piece. I just love the tab sleeves; it looks so wearable.

The third knitted project getting my attention is a cast-on inspired by Kara, who's been rocking the colorwork as of late. Colorwork was a 2010 goal, so I decided to jump in with Opus Spicatum, a gorgeous hat pattern.
I'm only a few rows into the colorwork, and it feels so foreign. Part of the problem is that I hold my yarn very differently than other knitters I've seen. I think it's going to hurt me on more complicated colorwork patterns, so I'm trying to be conscious and modify my hand posture.
I picked up this RYC Cashsoft Aran in a soft red and gray this weekend in Austin.

Finally, I've been working on the table runner project, and I'm nearly done with the top (and don't worry; I haven't forgotten about the quilt!). The striped squares were so much fun to make, and two more of those is all that's missing from the top pieces.

So, to recap, a lot of projects, some progress, but nothing finished.

And the winner is....

is #7 (omitting my comment), Crooked Knits!
Email your address to parandroid7 at gmail dot com and I'll send you the two skeins of Malabrigo and some extra goodies! Thanks to everyone who participated.

*randomly selected (I asked my bf to pick a number between 1 and 10)

Two years old and a contest!

Yep. Two years of blogging for me! I'm not tired of it yet, and hopefully, you're not either.
On this, my blogibirthday numero dos, I find it funny that again, my number of completed projects is twenty-one. Apparently, that's my magic number.

The breakdown for this year:

5 hats

7 shawls/scarves/neckwarmers

1 pair of gloves/mitts

2 cozies/misc. items

6 shrugs/sweaters/vests

0 socks (<----Lame!!)

0 bags

At least eight of these are gifts.

I've also got
eight
WIPs on the needles right now.

To celebrate my blogibirthday, I'm having a little contest. The prize:
Some of my stashed Malabrigo. Two skeins, to be exact.

One in powder blue, one in Loro barranquero. Additionally, I will send you a couple of pattern booklets or magazines to round out the package. And, by leaving a comment with your favorite Halloween candy, you might find some of that in the package as well!

I will take comments until Saturday, October 31st, 6:00 PM CST.

I will post the winner next Sunday.

Thanks for reading. I enjoy this little (not so little, really!) world of knitters, crafters and bloggers. I've learned so much in the past year, and I'm glad to be a part of it.

ETA: If I don't have an email or ravelry username for you, be sure to check back here next Sunday in case you win!

One year old

It's my blogibirthday!! In the past year, I've finished 21 projects. That sounds like a lot, but most of them are one skein or less, so don't be impressed. Here's the breakdown:
9 hats

2 scarves/neckwarmers

4 pairs of gloves/mitts

2 purses

1 cozy

1 sock (my worsted practice sock)

2 shrugs/sweaters

Of the 20 projects I completed, 14 were gifts.

I'm out of town for the weekend, but I will announce a winner (or maybe winners??) on Monday. Thanks to everyone who participated! Good luck!