Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Start of the knitalong: a giveaway!

Remember this post where I talked to you about knitalongs and quiltalongs? Well, today I would like to introduce our first knitalong (again, since I kind of introduced it in the explanatory post)!

We are going to be making a hat with earflaps and ties. Before you immediately stop reading this post because you don't know how to knit, you CAN learn with this project! You can make your hat any size and any color, or multiple colors! This is the one I'll be making, except I had lots of complaints that strawberries aren't fuschia, so I purchased some red yarn instead.

If you would like to learn how to knit, would like to try knitting with circular needles, would like to learn how to read a pattern, or just want to make a quick project, this is perfect for you! This project is great for doing colorwork (stripes, designs, etc) in the body of the hat, or for doing cabling, if you feel up to that. As a sidenote, cabling is actually way easier than it looks, but maybe I told you that already when I was going crazy showing you my cabled projects.

We're not going to start the knitalong for a couple of weeks, probably, because I want to give everyone time to think about what they would like to do in terms of colors, sizes, etc. This is going to be a pretty slow paced, but if I end up going too fast I expect someone to tell me! I wouldn't worry about that, though, because I have a good many projects to do on the side (is anyone but me still doing Christmas knitting? As in, Christmas 2009?).

Another reason that we aren't going to be starting for a bit is because I want to have a
Yarn Giveaway!
Yeehaw! I'm very excited. Okay, here are the details for the yarn giveaway:
  • Whoever wins gets to pick out a yarn color that they want (up to two colors), and whether they would like to make the hat out of 100% wool, a wool blend, or acrylic. I can give suggestions on that as well, if you're worried! :)

  • I will get the yarn for the winner, and get it to them (or, if you're local, we can meet up and go together if that works out). Another option is for me to get the winner a gift certificate to a local yarn shop of their choice.

  • Then, the winner will only have to get the needles for their project. Is anyone besides me excited about this?!

  • Also, even people who are related to me can win. All you have to do to enter the yarn giveaway is comment on this post, telling me if this is your first project, who you will be making the project for, and what color you plan to make it, if you know. The deadline for entry will be 12 noon, EST, on Tuesday, February 23.
Even if you don't want to make this project, and just want to score some yarn, you should still enter! Just comment on this post and tell me what you plan to knit next.

As a reminder, to be entered in for the yarn giveaway you must comment on this post! To do that, just click on the link at the bottom of the posts that says "comments."

Good luck to everyone who enters!

13 comments:

  1. Awesome!
    I plan to work on a bag, it's this big bright bubbly-ish bag, although, I already have the yarn for it! So in that case I would use yarn for the cabled wristlets you suggested!
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'd like to make a scarf for the girl that said that purling was hard. Or some mittens... for myself. I could make socks also. The possibilities are endless!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great idea!! I plan on making boot socks and/or a cable hat, if I can find a cable hat pattern I like!!:))
    Jeanne

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm going to do this knitalong! It looks like fun! My next project is going to be mittens...because my fingers are freezing in my current gloves! Hope you guys are keeping warm up there!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am making a hat and I am working on that. However I need to catch up on 2009 knitting and will need yarn for a second hat to go with a scarf I completed for Christmas. The first hat is to go with a pair of mittens I did complete for Christmas. I recieved a request for hat to match the scarf already done!!! Spring is coming!! Thanks for all the work in this.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'd like to enter your knitting contest but do not feel comfortable making my e-mail address public in the blog. How can I do this?

    ReplyDelete
  7. What I plan to do is assign each comment with a number, and use a random number generator, and then announce who won and ask for your information there. All you need to do is sign your name at the bottom of a comment, or you can email me at alexandyj@gmail.com. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Can't wait to see if I won... and to get started on a cable hat using a free pattern by Bernat in a plum color.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I would like to knit an ear flap hat-probably in a wool blend in a dark color.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I have wanted to learn how to knit for ages! I remember making scarves as a child. I think the little strawberry hat in red is adorable. Can't wait to learn!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I would really want to follow along and try my hand at a simple hat. I want to learn for good!! Not just try and then give up. This should be fun.....and winning yarn would be cool too.....Thanks for the chance!
    Jessica

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi, got your post about the yarn giveaway. I entered once, I was thinking to make a cable hat, however may make mittens now!! So many patterns, so little time!
    Jeanne

    ReplyDelete
  13. My experience with knitting is dish cloths, dish cloths, and more dish cloths, and yes a dish towel or 2. Just branched out to a scarf. (oh my) Would like to branch out to fun yarn and learn how to read patterns. My first love is quilting. I do like to take knitting on the go.
    (You may get this twice I hit post and nothing happened)

    ReplyDelete