"Knitting from the North"- Review and Giveaway!

I'm pretty sure that all my savvy blog readers know that I have a sweet spot for colorwork.  Classic designs or bold graphics, knitting with color just gets me excited.  I am constantly inspired by projects I see via Ravelry, Pinterest, and Instagram.  There is a wealth of creativeness and ingenuity in our craft and I love to see what everyone is working on.

For a long while, I have followed Scottish- based Hilary Grant via Instagram.   Hilary sells luxury knit items that feature beautiful colorwork patterns worked in high-grade lambswool yarns spun and dyed in the UK (take a peek at her shop- pure inspiration!).   As I was perusing Amazon a few months back, I found her name printed on a soon-to-be-released book and was nothing less than ecstatic.  I pre-ordered and waited patiently while books were being printed and then finding their way to knitters everywhere!

When my book arrived I couldn't wait to peruse all the projects.  This book is a beaut', let me tell you!  There are nearly 30 projects (including various accessories and garments) and the photography takes you away on a journey to the North- where you can truly see the inspiration behind the knits.

From Knitting from the North by Hilary Grant, © 2016 by Hilary Grant.  Photographs by Caro Weiss, © 2016 by Caro Weiss. Reprinted by arrangement with Roost Books, an imprint of Shambhala Publications, Inc. Boulder, CO. www.roostbooks.com

And the best part?  I have three copies to giveaway and share with readers! I will be giving away two with this post, and one will be added to the grand prize of the Tannenbaum contest (still 2.5 weeks left- hurry, hurry!)!

From Knitting from the North by Hilary Grant, © 2016 by Hilary Grant.  Photographs by Caro Weiss, © 2016 by Caro Weiss. Reprinted by arrangement with Roost Books, an imprint of Shambhala Publications, Inc. Boulder, CO. www.roostbooks.co

Interested in getting your hands on this gorgeous collection?  You can snag a copy from any of these online retailers: 

Knitting from the North on Roost’s Website

Knitting from the North on Amazon

Knitting from the North on Indiebound

Knitting from the North on B&N

From Knitting from the North by Hilary Grant, © 2016 by Hilary Grant.  Photographs by Caro Weiss, © 2016 by Caro Weiss. Reprinted by arrangement with Roost Books, an imprint of Shambhala Publications, Inc. Boulder, CO. www.roostbooks.co

In order to be entered to win one of two copies here, you must be in the US and comment below (make sure you leave your email address or Rav name so I have a way of contacting you if you win).  That's it- say hello, tell a joke- anything!  Can't wait to see your comments and pass these along :-)

(Giveaway open until 11:59 EST Friday, December 2, 2016- winners will be contacted the next day- good luck!).

"Knitting from the North" published in the US by Roost books- hop over to their website to see more of the fabulous books they carry:

Roost Newsletter

Roost Instagram

Roost Facebook

**CLOSED- Winners have been chosen and contacted.  Thanks s much for your participation!**

Ready, Set, Graph!- A Contest/Giveaway

Yesterday I introduced you to "Tannenbaum"- the stocking.  Today, I'd like to introduce you to "Tannenbaum"- the contest!  

Now, I know in that first sentence I got the attention of all my highly competitive knitter friends out there, now I'd like to get everyone else's attention.  For the next month, in conjunction with this contest, "Tannenbaum" will be available on Ravelry as a free pattern!  

One of my visions for this book was that it would encourage knitters to branch out.  That each pattern could be a sort of starting point, but that the crafter could tweak and make changes to suit their own needs.  Yesterday I talked about "Tannenbaum" being a blank slate of sorts.  The pattern  is knit in the round with minimal shaping and just a few color changes (and no colorwork, which means you are only ever working one color at a time).

After knitting is completed, the motif is adding using duplicate stitch, a simple technique that involves a sort of tracing of knit stitches with a contrasting yarn.  

So here's what I'm looking for:  a Tannenbaum stocking, with your own flair!  Knit the Tannenbaum stocking and then add whatever motif you like.  The sky's the limit!  There's of course the motifs that are included in the book, but bonus points for coming up with something meaningful to you.

Towards the end of the pattern, you will find some blank graph paper to work on your design, but there are also some great resources online.  You can find customizable, printable knitter's graph paper by doing a Google search.  Knit stitches aren't a perfect square, so these knitter's graph papers are an excellent choice when trying to visualize a motif.  I found some here, here, and here (and there are many more if you search around!).

To enter the contest, just post your completed stocking on Ravelry (linked to the Tannenbaum pattern) by December 15, 2016.  At that point I will choose a winner and ship out their prizes:  

-Print copy of "Comfort & Joy"

-2 skeins of Harrisville Highland Yarn

-Set of 6 "Knit Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" gift tags by Knitterella

-"Unfiinished Business" project bag by Knitterella

Copy of Hilary Grant's new knitting book, "Knitting from the North", published in the US by Roost Books.

So what are you waiting for?!  Download the pattern, start your scheming, and cast on!

Oh, Tannenbaum!

To give you more of a feel for "Comfort & Joy", I'll be spending some time here on the blog to talk about each design a bit more.  The first pattern in the book is "Tannenbaum", named so for the lovely tree that adorns the front.  

"Tannenbaum" is knit quite simply.  There's no colorwork involved, so it might just be the perfect stocking to try if you are a rather new knitter or still a little intimidated by the thought of dealing with different colors at the same time (but we'll get you there eventually!).  Besides this, all the stockings in the book incorporate a band heel.  This lesser known heel lends perfectly to the look and shape of a Christmas stocking, while steering clear of complicated shaping and is totally gusset free!

As the "plain vanilla" stocking of the collection, "Tannenbaum" was the first stocking I knit.  To be quite honest, I knit it more than once :-(

...but I was trying to achieve (what I thought) was the ideal stocking shape.  When I did complete my prototype, the rest of the stockings were designed based on this pattern/shaping.  

My goal was to create a true collection, stockings with enough variety to be different, and enough cohesiveness to adorn the same mantle every holiday season.

Although "Tannenbaum" is usually spotted with a tree, it's true beauty lies in the fact that it is completely customizable.   In the back of "Comfort & Joy", you will find bonus motif options, along with blank graph paper for you to come up with your own design.  After the knitting is completed, the motif is added using a technique called duplicate stitch.  Think of it as cross stitching on your knits- the possibilities are endless!

Comfort & Joy Blog Tour

Next week it all begins!  "Comfort & Joy" will have it's moment of fame on the pages of some of my favorite blogs.  Be sure to hop over for your chance to learn more about the book or to win yourself a copy.  Here's where it will be:

Week of 11/7.......................... Drea Renee Knits

Week of 11/14.............................By Annie Claire

Week of 11/21.....................................Knitterella

Week of 11/28............................Flax and Twine

Week of 12/5....................................Tot Toppers

I'll make sure to update the links here as posts go live, so check back often!  Besides these stops, I have a few tricks up my sleeve as well.  As much I've been enjoying this Indian Summer we've been having, the Christmas season is fast approaching.  The next month and half will be an exciting time!

Let the Christmas Knitting Begin!

Yes- it's a highly debated topic... is it acceptable for radio stations to play Christmas music as soon as Halloween is behind us?  We all seem to have different opinions.  There's those of us who just love the soothing sound of our favorite Christmas crooners that even two months doesn't seem like enough.  Then there's the "Christmas purists" who insist that the season must be contained in it's allotted time slot as not to disturb the other holidays that live in the mere shadow of Christmas (ahem... hi, Thanksgiving).  But, as knitters, I think we all must agree that Christmas knitting can start as early as we'd like it to (and continue through the year if need be!).  

So, now that we have finally put spooky ghosts and cackling witches to rest, I'm feeling the urge to move on to cozy fires and oversized knits season.  Who's with me?!

Today I'd like to share an excerpt from my book, to help prepare your heart for the long knitting season ahead :-)

"As a young child, my favorite gifts on Christmas morning were the ones that were stashed in my stocking.  Little puzzles and trinkets could elicit as much excitement as the larger gifts that had been adorned with bows and placed prominently under the tree.  These precious stocking treasures could easily be packed up for long car trips to relative’s houses, where we would be welcomed into cozy homes with warm fires for evenings of family, and creating memories.   

As an adult, I still look forward to a full stocking on Christmas morning, but now, I enjoy unpacking our family stockings from their boxes even more.  As soon as Thanksgiving is over, our holiday decor goes up.  Fresh evergreen hangs from curtain rods, the crisp white lights surround the front porch, and the handknit family stockings adorn the fireplace for an entire, magical month. And once the house settles down each evening,  I find myself indulging in the most silent and peaceful nights as I welcome the new season that is approaching.  

The stockings are where it all starts for me.  Each year, this comforting tradition reminds me that a time of family and rest and warmth will soon be here.  My hope is that this becomes more than a book on your shelf.  My hope is that the love stitched into each stocking you create starts a new tradition that kicks off a season of togetherness in your own life."

I love both giving and receiving homemade gifts, and I hope that this collection can help facilitate this process for you this holiday season.

In the coming weeks, "Comfort & Joy" will be on a little trip around the country by way of a blog tour, where you will find book reviews and giveaways.  On top of this, I will be running some contests where you will have the chance to win both books and yarn. Looking forward to sharing this knitting season with you (and now I'm off to sip some nog while listening to "Silent Night")!