Dream Big (Plus Giveaway)
So just to recap, way back in March I introduced you to the amazing Dreaming of Shetland project in support of Deb Robson’s work. Then, in August, the first installment of the book came out and I talked a bit more about the project itself. Now, I’m happy to say, the installment with my project in it is out!
I can’t tell you how delighted I am by this book. It is a beautiful example of the fiber community coming together to support one of our own. You know how you have that sneaking suspicion that knitters really are pretty much the nicest group of folks you’ll ever meet? Yeah…projects like this are proof of that. Everyone working on it (and wow are there a lot of folks who worked on this) volunteered their time and expertise to support Deb in doing her important work, and that work will make the fiber world a better place. There are dozens of beautiful patterns, several charming essays, plus a heaping helping of good karma. Every time I think about it I get a big goofy grin on my face.
So to help spread the love, I’ve got a copy of the book to give away to one of you. If you think it should be you, just leave a comment either telling me which of the projects would find its way onto your needles first or (for extra credit) telling me your favorite story of knitters being awesome. I’ll leave comments open till the end of the day Thursday, and announce a winner on Friday (oh, and be sure to use a real email address so I can notify you if you win…I won’t use them for anything other than notifying the winner, cross my heart.)
Love the Not-Squatty Sidekick by AMANDA BERKA. Gorgeous!
JavaPurl on Rav
The shetland flat cap. And the real question is: when aren’t knitter’s awesome? (Never.)
Rav: MrsZuvers
I love the cabled ladders shopping bag. So fun!
Congrats on your pattern being in such a gorgeous book! So many beautiful designs! I think I’d cast on Rialto first, although it’s hard to pick just one!
I expect that the Interstices will be the first of these on my needles. I believe this was the pair I want to knit in sage green and wear to a polo match (it seems harder to find a polo match in Texas than I was expecting, but I am going to do it!).
I also like the California Poppies Fingerless Mitts and the Crossing Paths Socks.
I think your Interstices would jump on the needles pretty fast
Love all but the Crossing Path socks would be the first place I’d start.
Knitters being awesome story: I was admiring a yarn used in a beautiful sweater made by a fellow Raveler and when I wrote to ask her about it, she OFFERED UP THE SWEATER to me (WHAT?!) for just the cost of postage. She had outgrown it and had gotten 5 great years of wear out of it and did I want it? Yes I did, only if I could contribute a donation worthy of that sweater to her favorite charity. Being awesome, she had a favorite charity which I could not have been more delighted to donate to and now I have a magnificent sweater that is like a blessing every time I put it on 🙂
Interstices. Lovely! Knitters are always awesome. Love my knitting group for jumping on a knitterly cause and supporting it whole heartedly.
I think interstices would jump on my needles too. I have a wonderful deep yet bright toned blue/green merino silk that would be perfect for this. As for knitters being awesome- the ladies in my Wednesday knitting group are just amazing people who will go out of their way to help with even non-knitting related issues.
I realized that I depend on knitters for way more than knitting. I recently made a new recipe and realized it was from one of the knitting blogs I read. Today I learned of a new meditation program… on a knitting blog. Knitters are delightful.
Oh, and I’d probably knit the Blodini.
Safe harbor shawl might be one of the first projects I would cast on from this. So many beautiful projects!
and by the way, knitters are incredibly awesome and generous – just think of Doctors without Borders…
The Crossing Paths Socks by Ann Budd look right up my street. I could really do with a good pattern that counters pooling.
Oddly enough, I’ve already knit one of the patterns, the Cathalina Faroese style shawl for a friend’s wedding back in 2004 or something. Later I used the lace pattern to make a baby blanket for a coworker. I would love to see how this one is written out and finally make one for myself 🙂
For knitters being awesome, I was having a rough coupe of months (unemployment and then my fiance suddenly lost his job) and was obviously worried about money, but I had planned my first Rhinebeck trip and didn’t want to miss it. While there, I met up with a ravelry friend from the then-Sanguine Gryphon group who had conspired with another raveler to purchase some Cephalopod Yarns yarn for me as a gift. It warms my heart to this day!
Normally when I look for a new project, I go for socks, but the details on Gussetry are fascinating! Fancy!
My first will be the Solely Felted slippers, since I think they’ll work up fast enough for me to make some to donate to the Colorado flood victims. As for the kindness of knitters, last year, after the High Park fire, a friend called: would I mind taking the wool yarn from their Linus Project, since they couldn’t use it? Try a HUGE bag of glorious Brown Sheep and Tahki wools, plus some basic needles to re-start my stash. Yep, knitters are amazing!
Probably I would start knitting Solely Felted Slippers or the Gansey Mitts first. Tough choice.
My sister Diane is my inspiration for being an awesome knitter. We are both in the 100+ mother bear knitters club and knit for A4A, but she also finds the time to knit preemies hats for the local hospitals, knit 6″ squares that are made into a blanket for abused children after they have been rescued, and knits for people at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. An amazing woman who in her spare time knits sweaters, lace shawls, and other treats for herself. All while working full time.
It would be a difficult choice, but probably the Rialto, although any of the lace patterns make my spirit sing.
As for knitters being awesome, my Community Knitting group knits blankets for a home for children at risk (hundreds of blankets for way too many children who are taken from their homes); knits outfits for dolls given to girls with very serious illnesses; knits blankets, socks, mittens, and sweaters for the Lakota People and Afghans for Afghans; knits preemie caps for local hospital neonatal units; knits blankets for the local police chaplancy; and knits bears for the Mother Bear Project. Probably more, but it’s hard to keep track! Each month the handwork arrive, usually more than a half dozen blankets and many other projects, and we wonder at the skill and art put into each one! When a natural disaster happens, they always step up with beautiful knitted garments to keep warm those in harm’s way. Many warm items were sent to Japan and to the US east coast after Hurricane Sandy. Some of the knitters knit nothing for themselves, just for others.
I love the black lace stole!
Knitters are always doing and being awesome!! There are a group of ladies in the community I live in that knit purple hats that get donated to mothers for their babies to bring awareness to the purple crying phase.
Thanks for the chance!
Verona is just what I need now!
tktl on Ravelry
I love the Black Lace Stole. I would jump right on that! As for knitters being awesome, I think all knitters are awesome!
A difficult job to narrow the choices down to one, too difficult, so walden waves wrap is my first choice with the felted sheep bag right behind!
I am really intrigued by the California poppies fingerless gloves, though I’d probably start with the Verona cowl, for short and sweet!
Verona. I like it and is probably a quick and chic piece to knit.
asteride on Ravelry
So many lovely patterns to choose among, I think I’d probably knit the Gansey Mitts first.