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Giveaway! New England Knits

by

What do you think of when someone says “New England”? Myself I think of storm swept beaches and rocks jutting out into the ocean, snowy landscapes, rolling hills in every color imaginable, big red barns, and of course cozy fisherman sweaters.

This book has all of that and more.  And not just sweaters but  vests, hats, bags and mittens too.

Cecily Glowik MacDonald and Melissa La Barre have teamed up to bring us 25 patterns with classic wearability and contemporary style for knitters of all skill levels.

This book is available over at Interweave Press on July 1, so you’ll be one of the first to get this. To enter, tell me what you think of when someone mentions a “New England Knit“. What’s the first thing that pops into your mind?

Leave me a comment! This giveaway is good until next Friday, July 2, 2010 (yes, I know, July already… deal with it!), when I will, with the help of my 65 lb lap-puppy pick a winner.

Ready, set, go……

Comments

  1. i can’t wait until this book comes out, i’ve been stalking the photos on ravelry and everything in it looks so gorgeous!

  2. Your description of “New England” is exactly what I picture in my mind’s eye. I think the sweaters would also look delightful with my high mountain desert as a backdrop!

  3. Well, the FIRST thing that pops into my mind is heavy and scratchy, but the second thing is classic styling.

  4. Having lived in New England my whole life, a New England knit is cozy and warm for wearing to November football games or light and airy for wearing for an evening walk on the beach.

  5. I think of sailboats, fishing boats, rugged waters and windswept cheeks. And the wool sweaters to keep everyone warm and dry. Thanks for the great giveaway!

  6. First thing that popped into my head was a big, cuddly fisherman’s sweater, with a turtleneck! Yum.

  7. I think of woolly natural yarns and fisherman sweaters, the book looks amazing btw…

  8. I think of fall back in New Hampshire curling up with blankets made by my Great Grandmother and my Grandmother. I also think of my daughter’s first fall in Maine, snuggled up with those same blankets!! I moved away from New England 2 1/2 years ago, and seeing the patterns in this book reminded me of some of the things I miss most about home! Thank you for such a great giveaway!!!

    Cheers!
    Sharon

  12. “New England Knits”? I think of bulky cable sweaters in cream colored wool, photographed near the shore.

    The projects in this book look wonderful. I’d love to win a copy.

  15. I think of chill winds outside while I am warm with hot chocolate and cozy sweater inside. I would knit everything in this book.

  27. Definitely some cozy sweaters, knit in fall colours with lots of detail. This book looks fantastic!

  32. When I think New England Knits, I think classical and warm outfits. I think of a cup of tea/coffee and knitting my the fire on a brisk fall evening. I think wool and alpaca cuddled softly against my hands as I knit something for my mother, boyfriend, or (selfishly) for me!

  35. I have been drooling over this book ever since the previews were released!

    The title makes me think of stormy ocean waves crashing on beaches. Same as you, I guess!

  38. new england knits brings soft, cozy sweaters and hot tea in the snow to mind 🙂

  44. To be honest, I think of thick, warm, gansey sweaters. Or maybe a novelty sweater with an intarsia lobster.

    …I hope this book really sincerely changes my mind, since I think a New England knit could be quite chic!

  46. Big thick wonderful sweaters for walking by the ocean – that’s what New England sweaters says to me! The patterns are so individual with great lines and design.

  47. Big thick wonderful sweaters for walking by the ocean – that’s what New England sweaters says to me! The patterns are so individual with great lines and design.

  48. When I think of a New England Knit I think of the ocean waves and pretty shades of blues and greens:)

  49. I am really excited about the New England Knits book! There are some awesome sweaters in there!

Have you read?

A Shawlette with a Ton of Design Options

There’s a lot to like about the Eloise Bandana from Katryn Seeburger. This cute little colorwork triangle can be worked as a bandana or kerchief size or a bigger shawlette. 

It’s worked in two colors of fingering weight yarn so you can use whatever yarn you have in your stash and just make it as big as you can (since it is worked from the bottom up). 

You can see the two sizes from the photo, and also two colorwork options: strawberries and lily of the valley. 

But that’s not all the choices you have. In fact, there are 34 different charts you can choose from to knit onto your project. Some of the options include happy faces, a lobster, a pumpkin, a snail and a butterfly. There are cherries, peaches, tomatoes and radishes.

There’s even a blank square you can use to draw your own little design if you want to use something else. Or keep it blank and make it a plain checkerboard design. 

And while both of these shawls use the same icons throughout, you could also use different designs throughout if you want. Say a fall version with a bat, pumpkin, leaf and acorn, or a summer beach theme with sailboat, fish, lobster and a bird? I keep suggesting four different icons because the larger size has four rows of squares, but the smaller has three, so you could do stripes of the same icon or alternate a couple of different ones, whatever you like. 

Look through the finished projects on the Ravelry project page to see lots of different options, from rows to individual icons. There are also some projects that are smaller than the suggested size to make a smaller bandana. You could also keep going a make a bigger shawl working increases in the same way as you have been going. 

Check out all the details and grab a copy of the pattern on Ravelry. 

[Photo: Katryn Seeburger]