Spin-A-Thon Contest

March 10, 2014 By Carole

One month ago today I posted about my commitment to the YMCA’s Spin-A-Thon. In case you’ve forgotten, you can read that original post right here.

If you’d like a quick recap, here tis: I love the Y. I am participating in a Spin-A-Thon on March 22nd to raise money for the Y. My goal is $500. Or maybe even more because I would love for it to be more.

To date, I have raised $350 and that is amazing. Several of you donated in response to my blog post last month and I appreciate that so much. Honestly, I got all verklempt at the amount of money that poured in almost immediately.

But, you know, as so often happens, the donations slowed after the first day or so. I thought to myself, how can I entice people to donate? What do I have that others might want. Hmmm.

And then, I remembered. I have yarn. And not just yarn but really good and sort of rare yarn.

That, my dear readers, is a skein of highly coveted Wollmeise Twin in the color Rhabarber and I am offering it as a prize for anyone who donates to my Spin-A-Thon efforts. Every $10 you donate gets you one chance to win this pretty pretty skein of yarn. Just $10 is all I ask but, you know, if you want to donate more, then go on ahead. The more you donate, the more chances you have to win.

If you have already donated then – thank you! – and please know that you are already entered into this contest. If you haven’t donated, well, I hope this will give you the motivation to do so now.

Click here and help me reach my goal.

Thanks and good luck!

Wednesdays Are For Knitting

October 2, 2013 By Carole

Before I get to this week’s knitting post, we have some housekeeping to take care of in regards to the winner of the Legendary Knits give away. I made a numbered list of all of the comments on that post (there were 74 total once I removed the duplicates) and then I used Random Number Generator to choose a number between 1 and 74.

The winning number is a low one: 3. And commenter number 3: Laurie! Hooray for Laurie! And hooray for everyone who commented – I have a whole list of new-to-me fairy tales to read now.

Okay, onward to the actual knitting content of today’s post.

I finished and blocked my Color Affection Shawl. Hooray! I actually call this my South Cape Beach Affection Shawl because the colors of the yarn, custom dyed for me by Vicki, were inspired by a photo I took at South Cape Beach, our summer vacation spot. (Refresh your memory here if you so choose.)

I started this on the first day of our beach vacation and kept it at for the entire two weeks we were there. Rows and rows of garter stitch are great for vacation knitting.

I finished it about two weeks after our vacation ended and I couldn’t be happier with it. The colors are so pretty and remind me of being at the beach with my family and friends. I tried to coordinate a trip to South Cape Beach for a photo shoot but time is short and I couldn’t work it out. Instead, I took it to the pond behind my office and set it up there.

I bet you never thought an oak tree would make a great model for a hand knit shawl, did you? Any port in a storm, my friends. Any port in a storm.

Ten on Tuesday: The Knit to Flatter Blog Tour Edition

April 23, 2013 By Carole

Today I have the privilege of being a stop on Amy Herzog’s Knit to Flatter Blog Tour and, since it’s a Tuesday, I’ve decided to use the Ten on Tuesday format to interview Amy about her book, her design process, and how we can all make sweaters that fit us well. So sit back, relax, and learn!

1. How did you first come up with the idea for Knit to Flatter?

It really started with me talking through changes I was making to my own sweaters with friends. I don’t have the standard body shape most patterns are written for, and I have crazy fancy taste in yarn, so if I wanted to wear the sweaters I was making I needed to figure it out, stat! A couple of friends in particular asked me about modifications they might want to make… and it kind of snowballed from there. When I wrote the tutorials that started the whole thing off, I honestly thought nobody would be really interested in reading them. I’m not sure I’ve ever been so wrong!

2. What was that first Knit to Flatter class like?

It was completely, perfectly lovely. It was very small, just 6 participants, and so we had a really intimate, friendly, warm setting in which we could all explore these ideas. I was instantly hooked!

3. What have you learned from the participants in your classes?

Oh, I’ve learned so much! Not only about the vast array of bodies out there and how to get sweaters that make each and every one shine, but about the wonderful things each woman can find in her own form. It’s incredible to watch someone come into class, on what can be a very intimidating topic, and leave with things she just adores about her figure and wants to highlight. I learn so much compassion and kindness and wonder from the participants, I wouldn’t miss it for anything.

4. What advice do you have on taking your own measurements?

Get help. Seriously. Some of the measurements are really really difficult to take accurately on your own. Engaging a trusted friend’s help is invaluable. If you really must take them yourself, I’d encourage you to do so in front of a mirror so that you can see when problems are arising–like the measuring tape slipping on one part of your body, for example.

5. How can someone tell, from looking at a pattern, if it will be flattering to them?

This is a great question. I think the first step is just to be aware that most photos are staged. There’s a scene set, a mood the magazine or etc. is trying to evoke. Try to be aware of that, and set it aside. Imagine how the sweater would look, laying on a table. The schematic can be very helpful here; if the sweater looks curvaceous on the model but the schematic is boxy, there might be a very flattering camera angle going on (just to pick a common example). Once you’ve imagined it laying on the table, try to consider the visual elements at play. How wide is the neckline? How long are the sleeves? Etc.? Then compare those style elements to the things you regularly pull out of your closet. If there’s a mismatch, consider modifying!

6. Can any design become flattering with the right customization?

Yes. Emphatically, unequivocally, YES.

7. Do you have a favorite yarn for sweater knitting?

I tend to prefer yarns that are soft (though not always smooth, I love a good tweed and I don’t find wool itchy), often with another fiber like silk blended in for drape. Right now I have a mad crush both on Sweet Georgia Merino Silk Fine and Indigodragonfly MCS Sock, but the “top” list definitely rotates. (laughs) I’m a player!

8. The designs in the book are awesome! Do you have a favorite?

Thank you! I have a couple of favorites. I got myself a (modified) Draper right away, because it goes perfectly with 90% of my work wardrobe. For a non-work sweater, I have to admit that I have a real soft spot for Holloway. I am a big fan of “sweater girl” sweaters, and this is a very sexy one without being revealing.

9. What advice do you have for someone just picking up this book?

Let yourself fall in love! And don’t be intimidated. Believe it or not, all of the designs in the book are pretty great choices for a first sweater, and they’re all intended to be very classic wardrobe staples. You won’t get tired of them in a year, you’ll wear them again and again.

10. And finally, how do you manage to do everything you do – designing awesome sweaters, writing a book about them, working full time and raising a family??

Hah! Well, thank you for the lovely compliments in there. I’m not sure I have a great answer for you though. I’m terrible (terrible) at sitting still, and I knit quickly. I prefer to be active and doing, and I’m good at letting the small stuff slide.

Those are awesome answers to all of my questions and I know I learned a lot about Amy and her design process. I think her attitude about loving our bodies and knitting sweaters that will look good on us is wonderful. Thank you so much, Amy, for asking me to be a part of your blog tour. I think the book is fantastic and the designs are inspired and flattering and I can’t wait to knit some for myself!

Now here’s the fun part for all of you – through the generosity of Amy and her publisher I have a copy of the book Knit to Flatter to give away. Everyone who leaves a comment on this blog post will be entered to win and, as an extra incentive, those of you who participate in Ten on Tuesday and provide a link to your post will receive an extra chance. It all ends Thursday at midnight so get goin’!

Sock Yarn Winner

August 18, 2011 By Carole

I knew a contest would generate a lot of comments and I’m glad to have received every one of them. It was especially fun to read about everyone’s favorite sock pattern. Turns out there are a lot of us who like a “plain vanilla” sock and I think that’s a very good thing. The Monkey Sock pattern was mentioned many times and certain designers, like Cookie A. and Anne Hanson came up over and over. Some of you have excellent taste and chose my Picot Edge Sock pattern as your favorite.

Only one of you, however, can be a winner (I always want to say wiener, you know) and this time our winning number, as chosen by the Random Number Generator, is #56. Commenter number 56 was Susan, a long time friend and occasional commenter – perfect. Congratulations, Susan! I hope you’ll love your skein of Woolen Rabbit Sock Yarn.

As for me, I’ll be knitting with this:

A pretty cake of Sunshine Yarn superwash merino in the color Fades Away.

The colors remind me of the blue ocean and sunset filled sky on Cape Cod so they will be perfect for my vacation knitting.

And we won’t talk about how the name Fades Away is reminiscent of what my summer is now doing.

Knit Socks!

August 15, 2011 By Carole

Wow! Thank you all so much for the deluge of comments on last Thursday’s post. I really appreciate that many of you took the time to de-lurk and introduce yourselves. I loved the comments from my long time readers and friends, too. I certainly didn’t mean to make any of you think that I was considering giving up the blog because that’s certainly not the case. I love writing it and sharing my life with all of you and I have every intention of continuing. I couldn’t imagine not having the connection to this community we’ve all built.

Speaking of community, Kathy and I have decided it’s time for a knit along. We want you all to knit socks (any pattern you like) and we’d love it if you’d knit those socks with Woolen Rabbit sock yarn. Kim is such a sweet friend of ours and she dyes gorgeous colors and we think you should all give her yarn a try. Of course you are free to choose any of Kim’s colors that appeal to you but Kathy and I will be knitting our socks with “Pussywillow” and we’d love it if you all used that color, too.

In fact, I’m giving away this skein of Pussywillow to get a lucky reader started. Just leave a comment on this post telling me the name of your favorite sock pattern and you’ll be automatically entered in the contest. And just for the sake of closure, let’s say the contest is open until midnight on Wednesday, 8/17.

A contest and a knit along. How’s that for jump starting this ole knitting blog?