Super End of Summer Giveaway

Edited to Add on Aug. 26th, 2011: The giveaway is now closed and no further entries are being taken. Thanks to all who entered.

Hi Knitters,

I've gathered some wonderful goodies for you today for my Super End of Summer Giveaway. To start, there is a new book out by the wonderful Larissa Brown. Larissa is also the author of a favorite book of mine called, Knitalong. Her new book is, My Grandmother's Knitting.

It is more than a knitting pattern book because Larissa persuaded (happily I'm sure) some of the top knitwear designers around to share their family histories involving knitting. My Grandmother's Knitting is exactly the kind of book I adore. I want to hear the story of how Wendy Bernard learned to knit from her Grandma Shorty and how Meg Swansen was so strongly influenced by her smart and clever mother, Elizabeth Zimmermann. The book is simply a satisfying treat.

The book is divided into two sections. The first section is Family Stories. Here is a list of all of the knitters' stories included: Wendy Bernard, Pam Allen, Meg Swansen, Ysolda Teague, Jessica Marshall Forbes, Kay Gardiner, Joan McGowan-Michael, Kristin Spurkland, Teva Durham, Jared Flood, Norah Gaughan, Anne Hanson, Leigh Radford, Chrissy Gardiner, Adrian Bizilia, Kirsten Kapur and Emily Johnson.

What an impressive group of knitters and authors and designers and storytellers.

Each family story is better than the next. The stories shed light on the generational aspect and personal history that everyone's knitting contains. Today's influential designers share their talents with us because of their grandmother's or mother's or father's or some other beloved relative's knitting.

I love family stories in general and when they involve knitting it is all the better to me.

In the second section of the book, each of the knitters listed above, and a few more, then offer a pattern inspired in some way from their family story. It could be a project directly from their knitting loved one or something inspired by, modernized and updated. The patterns include everything from scarves, gloves, a cardigan, a colorwork sweater, a cowl, a shrug, a cape, a pillow, hats, socks, a shawlette, mitts, slippers, a dishcloth and blankets. The variety is wonderful. All levels of knitting skills are included.

To see all of the pattern click here to go to the Ravelry page for My Grandmother's Knitting.

Here are a few patterns I love. The Storm Cloud Shawlette, by Hanna Breetz, is a simple and sweet little knit.
The always popular Ysolda Teague offers up these gorgeous little Fiddlers' Mitts.
I just love this simple scarf that is a striped tube by Rodger P. Murray. I want to make one of these this winter.
These mittens are knit starting at the top of the thumb and then the top of the mitten and all worked on double-pointed needles. I can't wait to try these out.

Well, it is a lovely book that I think many of you would enjoy and use. I am happy to be able to offer you a chance to win a copy of My Grandmother's Knitting today but there is still more....
I also want to offer you a chance to win a beautiful repurposed felt flower pin. This one is mine and was given to me at TNNA from Heather R. LeFebevre. I think it is so well-made and sweet. I love the name, Reincarnations, very clever.

Heather has generously offered to give a flower of choice from her Etsy shop to the winner of this giveaway. You get to pick your favorite which is such a treat.

Click here to check out Heather's Etsy Shop!

Click here to check out Heather's blog!

But wait, there's still more...

I've decided to throw my latest and only handspun yarn of this summer into the gift pot! I recently finished spinning this Cloudlover Polwarth hand painted roving called Wild Bunch. It turned out great. The finished yarn has lavender, purple, bright green, blue and even a dab of pink in spots. It is gorgeous.

Click here to see the Cloudlover shop! I'd like to have one of everything, please.

Back to my handspun yarn, the larger hank is a 2-ply, about a sport/dk weight, 264 yards which is plenty for a cowl, mitts, or a hat or two.

The tiny hank is a Navajo plied sampler that is about 28 yards.
The Wild Bunch yarn was soaked in the Amy Butler Soak Wash. I can't stop squishing it and smelling it because it is just so darn yummy. There are some thick and thin spots, it's far from perfect, but I think this yarn could make a very cute project for one of you and you'll know that I spun from my heart when you cross those imperfections.

Okay, leave one comment, and one only, on this blog post to enter to win a copy of My Grandmother's Knitting, a terrific felt flower from Heather's shop and a hank of my handspun yarn. If you enter please leave me an email address or Ravelry id/name where I can reach you if you win. I will then contact you to get your mailing address. I will pick a winner via a random number generator in a few short days.

Good luck with the Super End of Summer Giveaway!

Let the comments begin.

best, susie