Knitting

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Giveaway: My First Knitting Book!

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Win a copy of my first book!I’m still getting over the crazy of the end of August (book deadline, my birthday) and the beginning of September (holiday weekend, my daughter’s birthday), but things are starting to get a little more back to normal. To that end, I’m really catching up on giveaways this time, and there are a couple of long outstanding ones whose winners I never heard from so I’ll be picking new winners today.

Anyway, to celebrate my third book making its way to the publisher, I thought it would be fun to give away a copy of my first book.

Picture Yourself Felting Your Knitting was published back in 2008 (you can read Linda’s review of it from right here at Craft Gossip), who said, “I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn the ins and outs of felting.” Awww…

It’s a book that takes you through the basics of knitting, felting by hand and machine, wet felting and needle felting, complete with projects, tips and ideas for making projects your own. It also includes a gallery of before and after felted swatches to show how different a yarn can look in its felted state.

If you’d like to check out the book yourself, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day next Sunday, Sept. 14. I’d love to know if you’ve done any felting before and what you like about it if you have.

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

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Comments

  1. I am a NOVICE at felting…have only done wet felting. Have never attempted needle felting, but looks beautiful.

  2. My comment disappeared so I’ll try again…knitted a handbag once…felted it…turned into a great bottle bag…not what I expected…really would love a book that shows me what to really do…

  12. I’ve never done any felting because it kind of intimidates me,but I’ve always been curious about it because I like the look of the product once done.

  13. I love felting… but have only done small projects with my students.. like soap or flowers… I have felted a large knitted tote.. and made it into a purse… looking forward to doing more when retired.

  14. I’ve done wet felting, but never needle felting. I would love to win your book for the valuable instruction you give.

  15. First and foremost, congratulations on getting your third book on its way! That’s a very real accomplishment …

    As far as felting, it took the arrival of a granddaughter to embolden me to try it. I wanted to knit her the set of three soft (stuffed) blocks in primary colors that I had seen some time earlier in the back of an Interweave Knits issue, and they required washing-machine wet-felting. It worked, but it was nerve-wracking to see those carefully constructed pieces deliberately transformed by elements not completely under my control!

    Thank you for the great giveaway … and, again, congratulations on your achievement!

    gkgreen on Ravelry

  16. I’d love to learn the art of felting. Thank you for offering your book . Happy belated birthday to you and your daughter.

  17. I have wanted my daughter to learn to knit for years…maybe this in her stocking would be a motivation…:>)

  19. I have never felted a project, but would really like to make a felted bag. This book would be very helpful to me.

  22. I knitted a lovely handbag which was to be felted but it still awaits the felting stage because I have difficulty finishing projects when it is a new procedure to me. I need a kick in the seat of the pants to get it done.

  23. i have never felted before and im not a knitter but i’ve wanted to learn both so thanks for this opportunity!!!

  24. I have felt knitted fabric with various degrees of success. One is a crochet bottle bag. I am planning to felt slippers and knit rings. The hardest part is finding out how the yarn is going behave in the felting process. So maybe I need to read your book instead of my trial and error method! Thank for the Giveaway..

  25. I have never felted or knitted before. Felting is on my learn how to do list, I am so fascinated with this craft

  26. While I have done knitting and crochet, I have never heard of felt knitting and now would love to try. PS: since finding your site I have learned a lot and have gotten some really great solutions and new ideas, it’s become my ” go to ” !

  27. I’ve tried felting a couple of times and have enjoyed it but haven’t done any at home and this book sounds perfect for me to start doing this!

  30. I recently discovered needle felting and absolutely love it! I am always looking for tips and tricks to crafting that perfect wee critter or fairy and would love to have your book! I also feel the bug coming on to learn how to knit. There are several things I wish I had, or could make! Thanks for your experience, advice and wonderful giveaway!

  34. I’ve done lots of felting (on purpose and not on purpose). I’ve knitted items to be felted and felted thrift store sweaters to create up many things. I also save the little felted balls that come off the sweaters. I’m going to spin them into novely yarn some day.

  35. I felted a tote bag for myself and 13 Booga bags for a charity event, but I have never needle felted and would love to try.

  36. Congratulations for your book! I have tried needle felting and with soap but I haven’t tried any other kinds of felting… a part from quite a few washing mistakes! It is something I have always been fascinated by and would love to learn more about.

  38. I have felted a few simple projects, but would love to bump it up with some new and creative ideas! This book looks like fun!

  39. I bought all of the supplies to start felting, but haven’t done anything yet. Winning your book would motivate me to get going.

Have you read?

Knit a Spiky Balaclava

Not too long ago my daughter and I had a discussion about what a chestnut really looks like. The nut itself is small and brown, of course, but on the tree they’re covered with this weird kind of spiky, kind of fuzzy shell. It’s a wonder anyone ever figured out they were edible.

If you didn’t know that, you might wonder why this project is call Chestnut balaclava, but now you know.

This fun design from Yevheniia Pyroh is covered with spikes just like a chestnut shell, and is even the same color, though of course you can make yours whatever color you like. It uses two strands of fingering weight yarn held together (which it says is fingering weight but you could try a light/DK yarn and see if you get gauge with it if you’d rather).

There are two different design options in the pattern. One is a more fitted balaclava style hat (it doesn’t cover the face but does go around the neck) and a looser fit hood.

It’s worked primarily in garter stitch, with shaping done by knitting and purling in the same stitch and through various decreases (including a knit 3 together).

The pattern is charted but also explained in words. It’s worked flat to the size you want, and then joined into a hood shape with ribbing at the neck. The opening for the face is finished with I-cord.

This hood/balaclava would definitely be a conversation starter and in different colors it might read more dinosaur than chestnut, which could also be fun. The sizing is totally custom so you can make it fit whatever head you’re stitching for.

If you want to try it for yourself (and I’d love to hear about it if you do!) you can download the free pattern from Ravelry.

[Photo: Yevheniia Pyroh]

Balaclava Knitting Patterns

Colorwork Balaclava Knitting Pattern [Knitting]