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?

Textured Baby Blanket Knitting Patterns

There are so many baby blanket knitting patterns out there I could probably do a post a month full of them and not run out for a very long time. This time I thought I’d look specifically at single color baby blankets that are interesting because of the inclusion of textured stitching. This makes them easy enough for new knitters but engaging for knitters of all skill levels. 

Take the Textured Checks Baby Blanket from Janet Dubbelman for example. This project is mostly stockinette stitch, with some what looks like reverse stockinette and garter stitch thrown in to make the ridges. You can use whatever yarn weight you like to make blankets of different sizes. Find the pattern on Ravelry. 

The Seedling from Modern Made Shop is just about as easy as it comes, combining seed stitch with a garter stitch border. It calls for worsted weight yarn and is perfect for beginners. 

The Julie Baby Blanket by Elisabeth Kristiansen is another one with an easy allover stitch pattern that you can knit up in a flash in whatever size you want. (The pattern notes say any gauge but it also says 28 stitches per 4 inches, which would be a superfine or fine weight yarn. Learn more on Ravelry. 

The Oscar Baby Blanket from Snufflebean is another one with an easy repeating stitch pattern that has a really fun, graphic effect. This is also great worked in a bright color, reminding us that babies don’t have to be in pastels! This one uses DK weight yarn. 

If you want to get a little fancier, check out Sammy Bristow’s Georges Blanket. This one alternates blocks of stockinette stitch with boats and anchors made by purling on the right side of the blanket. It calls for DK weight yarn and has multiple sizes for dolls through toddlers. Check it out on Ravelry.

Another cute texture is this heart blanket with diamonds that are a little reminiscent of argyle. Yarn Sonata Patterns has this one, which is worked in DK weight yarn and comes in four sizes. It includes a chart and row by row instructions. 

Or try the pretty Seton Portage baby blanket from Knitted Wishes, which has a border of trees and textured stitches that look like snow falling. The pattern includes different options for snowflakes and doing a mirror image of the trees on each end of the blanket. It’s worked in worsted weight yarn. This one includes charts, written instructions and video tutorials for special stitches.