Knitting

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Giveaway: First Frost

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first frost giveawayThis book has a strange title for one being given away in the middle of winter, but Lucinda Guy’s First Frost is full of fun projects to get you and yours through the frosty months.

It’s full of patterns inspired by the folk traditions of Scandinavia and the Nordic and Baltic countries and includes socks, gloves and mitts, tops, cushions, scarves, hats, a toy squirrel and a lovely project bag (which is actually one of my favorite projects in the book).

If you’d like a chance to win my copy, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, February 8. For a change why don’t you tell me your favorite thing about winter, since so many of us are complaining about it by now.

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

Comments

  2. Living in NC, I love seeing my daffodils poke their heads up through the fall leaves. Sorry, but it’s 60 degrees here today… And I don’t miss shoveling snow!

  3. My favorite thing about winter is when snow falls. It looks so peaceful and pretty. As long as I don’t have to drive in it, that is!

  5. My favorite thing about winter is how the freshly fallen snow will glisten like diamonds. Looks so pretty that I won’t even walk in certain places so the view isn’t destroyed by bootprints. I like sled riding too!!

  6. Favorite thing about winter…the combination of the steam from hot cocoa, the smell & warmth from a fire, combined with the crisp cool air drawn in with the cocooning texture of blanketing and a project splayed across my lap!

  7. Ground Hogs Day is come and gone, six more weeks of snow to come. New inspiration would be wonderful!

  8. I love sitting in my recliner by the picture window watching the snow fall or the birds in the trees. I sit all warm as I knit or cross stitch.

  9. My favorite thing about winter is the snow. I am still hoping to get some snow; we haven’t had any yet this season. So disappointing! 🙁

  10. My favorite thing about winter is curling up with a good book in front of an electric fire during a blizzard, knowing I won’t have to leave home for a few days!

  11. My favorite thing about winter is that it KILLS the bugs. I enjoy the pretty sparkle of new snow, the cozy feeling you get when you snuggle under an afghan with hot chocolate and watch the weather outside your warm room and the chance to concentrate on inward things, but the real joy in winter is the lack of the bugs.

  12. My favorite thing about with is sitting by a roaring fire with yarn and needles and not having to go outside. As I look at the blizzard happening outside my window… 🙂

  13. My favorite thing about winter is that the days kind of blur together and my nesting instinct goes into overdrive. That’s when I tend to redecorate, knit things for the home, and buy my wool for spring things.

  16. My favorite thing about winter is how quiet it is early in the morning after a snowfall.

  17. My favorite thing about winter is boots & lots of knitwear. I’m in northern California so, for the most part, our winters are not extreme. Not much snow so far this year.

  18. My favorite thing about winter is that I get to wear the beautiful cowls, scarves and mitts I’ve made! Now I’m working on some sweaters. Since I moved from Georgia to northern Minnesota – I’m going to need them. It was VERY cold last year here, not so much this year though.

  19. One of the things I love about winter is Snow days off from work. I always cook something special that I usually don’t have time to make and sit and knit every time I take a little brea. Actually doing that today as we woke up to 14″ of snow this morning.

  20. I live in New England, and even though I am not eager to shovel any more snow, I do love winter, especially the sunny, cold days. And I love a winter walk at dusk.

  22. Oh, goodness, there’s not much I like about winter now that I’m living in the frigid North! The best I can say is that the beginning of winter has some awesome holidays… 🙂

  23. I love snuggling up in my chair with a book, a blanket, and a cup of hot tea when it’s really cold and windy out.

  26. I love the cooler temperatures, not necessarily the snow and ice, but just having it cool enough to wear sweaters and socks without getting all sweaty! 🙂

  30. I live in Southern California so my favorite thing about winter is the rain. Just wish we got more of it. It would be nice to have a real thunder storm again too!

  31. Hi Sarah! I actually love winter as long as it’s not too cold 🙂 I like a little brisk cold that allows you to snuggle up under warm (knitted) layers.

    This books looks amazing. Thanks for another wonderful giveaway!!

  32. I don’t get snow where I live, but I love the crisp, clean, cold air. It feels good in my lungs!

  34. Ilike when you wake up to a fresh fallen snow without any tracks in it. It looks so soft and fluffy.

  36. I LOVE winter. 1st, it isn’t hot & humid summer. Then, sweaters!!! hot beverages, snuggling on the couch… Winter!!!!!!! Yessssssssssss!!

  37. I love being warm and cozy inside, knitting with a cat on my lap and a cup of tea while the snow falls. And best ever is a snow day from work, which we got yesterday. Nice.
    wahoomerryf on Ravelry

  38. Unfortunately we have not had enough winter here in California. But I am a sweatshirt/sweater girl, so I love being able to wear my favorites. And someday soon I will make a sweater 🙂

  39. I love how much fun my boys have in winter. The are definitely true swiss Canadian boys, loving anything to do with snow.

  41. I love snow and was sad that in my area we did not get our usual snow fall. Snow, winter, I want to knit, crochet, cook

  43. My favorite thing about winter is staying in the house in front of the fire! I am NOT fond of the cold 🙂

  45. who doesn’t love that diamond glitter that crisp snow gets under a full moon? Love winter and Ontario.

  46. My favorite thing about winter is… that it’s COLD!! It doesn’t bother me, if I’m wrapped up (and knitting indoors:). Thanks for the giveaway!

  47. I never get tired of watching the snow fall… from the comfort of my sofa under my favorite knitted afghan, of course!

  48. I actually like (I won’t go so far as to say love…) when the temperature dips. That’s when I can wear my hand knits without fear of overheating. So in the winter, I don’t feel guilty about having so many scarves, and hats, and mittens…

  49. One of my favorite things about winter is how it makes my normally stand-offish cat very cuddly!

    thanks for the giveaway!

Have you read?

Beyond Basic Pumpkin Knitting Patterns

Over the years I have shared a lot of pumpkin knitting patterns, and I’ve knit and crocheted a lot of pumpkins myself. But it feels like there are always more fun things to try with knit pumpkins, so this year I wanted to look a little more beyond basic stockinette or ribbed pumpkins and share some pumpkin patterns with cables, bobbles and colorwork. 

In the cable collection we’ve got these cute little basic cable and ribbed pumpkins from Elly Bear Knits. There are two sizes that make a wide, flat pumpkin and a taller round pumpkin. Both are worked in the round as a tube that’s cinched top and bottom when you’re done, and they use bulky weight yarn. 

Another cute cable pumpkin knitting pattern comes from Gray Bear Akswokrat. This one is knit flat and it looks like a chunky yarn but you could use other weights to make pumpkins of different sizes. This one also has an I-cord stem and uses yarn to cinch up the sections of the pumpkin, giving it a more natural look. 

Add some bobbles to your pumpkins with this design from Autumn Shelter Makes. Also worked in the round in a tube, it features a repeating pattern of bobbles and uses yarn wrapped around the outside to make segments. This one looks like worsted weight yarn to me. 

Of course there’s nothing that says your pumpkin has to be a single color, so let’s throw in some colorwork. I love the look of the Cozy Fall Pumpkin knitting pattern from South Stitch Girls. The little leather loop adds a rustic touch but you could also just add a stick. These pumpkins have five colorwork options and are worked in worsted weight yarn in the round. 

There’s also the Autumn Fair Isle Trio pumpkins pattern from Equestriann Style, which has three different sizes of pumpkins with four colorwork designs. They are worked in super bulky yarn in the round and look good with high contrast or more muted color combinations.