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Giveaway: DIY Holiday Magazine

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Win a copy of DIY Holiday magazine from Interweave/F+W.

Congratulations to Deanna, Maureen and Mary.

If you’re a multi-crafter who likes to give handmade and/or decorate your home with handmade things, you need to check out DIY Holiday 2014: The Crafting Life, a new crafty magazine from Interweave/F+W.

The magazine is 100 pages long and is chock-full of patterns and inspiration that you can quilt, sew, bead, knit, crochet and weave, as well as mixed media projects.

In the knitting realm you’ll find a cool woven heart ornament by Ann McDonald Kelly, Cathy Carron’s garter stitch mug cozies, a two-color snowflake cowl by Celeste Young and Andrea Babb’s unisex Walker Scarf, which features twisted rib and little trails of cables at the ends.

Other projects I like include a biased granny square crocheted pillow by Vickie Howell, the lovely, easy and ever-so useful quilted trivets by Debbie Bento and Susan Haynes Opdhal’s lovely embroidered Shisha Ornaments. The resin bangles by Heidi Boyd, which allow you to show off a little of your passion on your wrist, are simply amazing, too.

The magazine retails for $9.99 and is available online at the above link (paper or digital), but I’m giving you a chance to win one of three copies this week.

If you’d like one, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, November 23. I’d love to hear what kind of crafts you’re working on for the holidays, whether for yourself, your home or to give as a gift. I have three of the six cowls I need to make done, and I’m taking a break from them with some super simple all stockinette arm warmers that are just for me.

Thanks for visiting, commenting, and sharing, and good luck!

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Comments

  2. This year I decided not to make myself crazy, and yet i find myself racking up a couple must-do knitted hat projects once I finish the Spider Man blanket I started 1-1/2 months ago. I’ve got just over a month, right?

  5. I’m taking it easy on myself this year 🙂 I have a sweater that I want to finish by Christmas, and one seashell wreath (no knitting) that I’m making for a gift. I love the projects in this magazine. Thanks for another great giveaway!!

  10. Right now I’m trying to finish up a baby shower gift – due the weekend after Thanksgiving. I’m almost done and then I can start new projects. I’m not really planning anything special for Christmas gifts this year although I might make something for 3 friends (fingerless mitts, perhaps?)

  11. Right now I’m working on gift baskets (taco themed) with homemade salsa, seasonings, etc. and some homemade potholders.

  14. Im making up 1″ hexis in xmas fabric and stringing them together as little garlands for the tree : )

  15. For holiday gifts, I’m knitting socks, car cup holder cozies, and mason jar drink cups (fixings for coffee, hot cocoa etc).

  16. I am working on a hat and scarf for my daughter as this is her first year living in the snow. I also have a few ideas going for other people’s gifts but haven’t quite decided what to make for who yet. I need to get hopping on that! Thanks so much for the chance to win – this magazine looks fabulous!

  18. I’m making seasoned pecans for lots of friends this year and a little crocheted snowflake to decorate each jar of goodies. Would love the book.

  23. I’m working on 6 pairs of slippers, a coffee cozy, a kitchenaid mixer cover, a “death star”, and some coasters! Love creating!

  24. This year I’m making an infinity scarf for a friend. I haven’t started yet, but I should get it done in time!

  26. I love DIY gifts! I am making jewelry this year and my 8 yr old is sewing gifts for the first time!!!

  28. I’d love a copy! I’m working on a knitted lace shawl that I’m not sure if I am going to keep or gift…

  29. Ooh! I would love to win! I’m crafting cards for the holidays as well as making some ornaments with fabric and will crochet some too!

  30. I’ve finished 3 pairs of wrist warmers and I’m on the 8th (and most difficult I’ve ever made) hat. My hands will look like commas by the time I’m done! Thank you for the chance to win a copy of this magazine. 🙂

  31. Still working on t-shirt quilt for my son, and a cross stitch project for my Mom. Thanks for another great giveaway.

  32. i am working on a cross stitched stocking, needlepoint sunglasses case, knit cowl, knit handmitts, knit baby pants, and a knit christmas pillow. Plenty of Christmas projects.

  34. I made leaf stamped stepping stones for my sisters and am going to make scented sugar scrubs for them as well. Also did some fall leaf “prints” for my sister to hang in her new home.

  35. Cowls, fingerless mitts and maybe even finish the scarf I’ve been knitting for myself… Just when one project is done, I find another one to make – sigh…

  37. No knitting for me this year because I am up to my ears in shrink film (shrinky dinks) snow flake jewelry and ornaments. I’m cutting each snow flake by hand and once they are baked I then use clear glitter nail polish to make them shine!

  38. I’m making a stuffed toy for my godson and have some handmade cards made for friends but I could really do with some more inspiration! This magazine would be perfect!!!

  39. I am trying to use up leftover yarn by making some fingerless gloves, scarves and coasters.
    I may make a Joseph afghan with all the small bits of different colors of yarn.

  40. I am trying to create a “bath mitt for gifts and also doing snowflakes crochet for my windows. Doing plastic canvas desk caddy, sewing country aprons for my friends and family.

  41. Hoping to make some little stocking stuffer gifts for my kids. No sew accesories for AG dolls, perler bead jewelery and ornaments.

  43. I am always making…whether things are ever done for Christmas, that’s another story. I never start early enough, like in January!

  44. I’m stamping my Christmas cards this year and also making some beaded jewelry gifts. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of the new magazine!

  50. I have a few cross stitch ornaments waiting to be finished, then I hope to knit a coupe of cowls as presents!

Have you read?

Book Review: Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit & Crochet Blankets

Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four. 

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

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