Rip Roarin' Christmas at Home

The last winner for the Christmas Giveaway was littlebirdbigcity. Thanks to everyone for participating!
As it happens, I did get me a snow day. Four day weekends capped off by a Christmas at home can be rather fruitful! Grinchy cookie making (come with rather frightening eyes)
Hoodie present giving to sister (I think she digs)
and flip-top mitt gifting










Those ones were for my mom. I also gave her one of my new obsession, my good friend the rooster man. Here's the one I gifted to her:


Slightly funky looking beak, but I loves him still. Have yourself some good holidays all! My seasonal sugar intake had spiked - hope yours has too :)

Indie Designer Day

Designer: Katarzyna Tarasik
Blog: Fiubzdziu
Rav ID: fiubzdziu
Some Great Designs: fiubzdziu's Rav Designer Page

Generously offering her patterns for free, fiubzdziu is another addition to my list of awesome designers who utilize the power of simple lines, shapes and textures to wonderful results.
Pictured right is the fantastic Longoria's Something cardigan. I particularly enjoy the innovative twist on the open-cardi concept, with the tall neck and large buttons placed thereupon.
A great wrap-sweater is her Purple Haze. The lace is a simple repeat with great effect on the FO.
Her most recent addition is Romance, a subtley puff-sleeved cardigan that looks incredible with a nice leather belt. The neckline detail and sleeve-lace make this garment a perfect wardrobe basic.

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This'll be my last profile of 2008 - back in the new year!

Galo Português para minha Vavó

Rooster vs. Rooster

This year I've decided to make my grandmother a rooster... a lucky rooster!
This guy (clearly, my sewn version on the left) is from a folk story and is a good luck symbol. I just think he's rawkin.

I had a lot of fun sewing him up - I just used some quilting scraps, fibre-fill stuffing and a couple left over buttons from my Gaets cardi. I've got plans for a rooster family. This guy has to fly off to my grandma's, but his brothers are hatchin in me brain.
...and what, no knitting content, you say? That is true. As can happen, my yarnny machinations have overloaded and caused a short in the circuitry. I got on a colourwork kick, and have careened downhill from there. Now that my baking is almost done, and my present making is on the verge of completion, I think my mind will turn back to tricot and I'll have some defo progress to show before Ludi-christmas (I've been on a 30 Rock watching kick!)
They're calling for a massive amount of snowfall this weekend - fingers crossed for a SNOW DAY tomorrow! *grinny grinny*

'Twas the Giveaway before Christmas...

Congratulations to last week's winner, The Yarniad!

This is the last week of the Giveaway before Christmas. Thanks to everyone for your participation.
eta: a very good question was asked of me re: how winners are picked. I use the lovely Random Number Generator on the interwebs. People are assigned a number in the order in which they responded to the question, and the Generator does the rest!
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Last week before Christmas and one item remains,
only one question this rhymey contains!

1) Do you want this sweater?


sweater details:
measures
waist - 14"
hips - 17"
bust - 17"

reason I'm giving it away: it's just a touch too big for me liking.

...and here's what else you'll get:

-one ball of Knit Picks Elegance (in same yarn and colour as in sweater)
-two hanks of Knit Picks Shimmer
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Thank you to everyone and good luck!

Indie Designer Day

Designer: weirdrockstar
Blog: WeirdRockStar
Rav ID: weirdrockstar
Some Great Designs: weirdrockstar's Rav Projects Page

I love it when I come across a designer who's Rav project page is filled with original designs. Weirdrockstar is one of these amazing knitters.
Her aesthetic is a splendiferous mix of gothically-classic-pinup. See her wonderfully cabled Green Brunhilde.
I love her Kimono (pictured right). Look at that wide belt! In her pattern notes she states that it's almost 4 metres long - this makes my knitting-cortex whir with appreciation and astonishment. Four metres! And it gets wider in the middle! Mmmm, incredi-design! Also: don't miss the photo she's posted of it from the back: such gorgeous cascades of cables as I've never seen.
Spring Sonata is a bold marriage of ruffle and lace that maintains her aforementioned aesthetic and has a classy and fun feel to it.
Green Cardi - she dyed it herself ladies and gentlemen (not sure if there's any gentlemen readers here, but I'll include you nonetheless). I love the wide neck and all over lace.
Make sure you check out her blog, where she includes some designs that aren't on her Rav page. I especially love the recently-blogged about lacey collar. Once again, how cool is that from the back!
Her gorgeous Project Spectrum jacket is yet another knitting wonder. Her use of colour is thoroughly attractive. The length of the piece gives is an almost regal air. The hood enhances this impression, and is equally splendid worn up over the head or down around the shoulders.
And her most recent post outlines the creation of a cute shorty-capelet creation. I love it with the two top buttons done up - very 50s chic!

Bake that Orange!

When the needles go silent, the oven starts up. Fruit-laden Christmas trees are my bag.


As is this.
They turned out pretty good. It's actually all the dry ingredients for some oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

Quick survey!
As you can tell, I'm thoroughly into my Christmas baking. I wanted to make me some empire cookies, but I'm not sure if the cookie itself is traditionally a shortbread or a sugar cookie. So, how do you make your empire cookies?

'Twas the Giveaway before Christmas...

Congratulations to last week's winner, Xiuwen.

Ready for another round?
___________________________
This time one answer is all I require,
look at my rhyming, I'm on fire!

1) Do you want this sweater and a bag of yarn?


sweater details:
measurements
Shoulder to bottom edge: 23"
Across bottom: 14.5"
Across hips: 14.5"
Across waist: 10"

(note: the reason I'm giving this sweater away is because it's too itchy for me. If you have sensitive skin, this would not be the sweater - nor the yarn - for you).

And also in this giveaway are six (and a bit) balls of the very same yarn as in this sweater, Rowan Tapestry!
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Thanks and good luck to all :)
Last week is the last in this little giveaway. Stay tuned!

Indie Designer Day

Designer: Megan Rogers
Blog: Dulle Griet
Rav ID: dullegriet
Some Great Designs: dullegriet's Rav Design Page

What this designer can do with fair isle!
If you scan her projects page you'll see a sea of colour and cables. Beautiful colours and temptingly textured cables!
To begin: her lovely maize scarf has given me yet another reason to buy two hanks of Malabrigo Silky Merino.
While this scarf is a lovely example of design, I think her insightful use of colour is demonstrated well in the eye-catching Bobby's Garden blanket. It's quite an adaptable pattern as well, containing instructions for various sizes.
Another lovely is her Flyte Fair-Isle Pullover. I love the sleeves... love the deep ribbing... love the dancing hues of fair-isle happiness... and I looooove the neckline! (and I've got some love for the pics in the pattern, you know, those ones with the camelid creatures).
Pictured above is the design that first caught my eye, the gorgeous Truffle Cardigan. Dullegriet has generously posted this pattern tutorial for free. The delicate scallop edging complements the textured body and twining cables so wonderfully! This one has been on my list for a long time. It's rare when I find a cardigan/sweater with long sleeves that I wouldn't alter into shorter ones. This is one that I wouldn't change at all!
If you find yourself in Portsmouth, NH, you can pop by Macroscopic (a shop which provides "Distinctive Gifts for the Home and Body") and see some of her hand-knits in person.

'Twas the Giveaway before Christmas...

Firstly, thanks to everyone for taking the time to participate in this giveaway.
An interesting factoid: four times as many people prefer patterns with the photos, instead of the layout where patterns are collected at the back. Perhaps all the mags/books should have done some market research before changing the popular format!

Congratulations to last week's winner, Charity!

As always, this giveaway will stay open for the entering until Saturday, at which time I'll pull the name of the winner and announce that person's name on Monday.

Here's your gooftastic rhyme for week #3's goodies:
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The giveaway before Christmas continues today,
answer these two questions and a gift may be on its way!

1) How do you hear about new knitting books? Ravelry? Word of mouth? LYS?
2) Do you prefer patterns that are challenging or easy?
...and here is what you'll get:


-two hand-crafted felt owls
-one handknit bear
-one roll of ribbon
-two hanks of Rowan Summer Tweed
-one handmade purse with vintage wooden handles (approximately 14" long and 9" deep, excluding handles)
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Thanks to all! Still two more week's worth of giveaways to come :)