The Last U.S. Yarn Giveaway
Misc. Knitting Magazines
Well, folks, the combination of lots to do and trying to write a post about color (and my love-hate relationship with color in knitting) have conspired to make me a slow, bad blogger. However, we leave on Thursday morning, which means that it’s time for the very last knitting giveaway. Because of time constraints, I’ll be choosing the winners tomorrow (Monday, 9/19) at noon EST. So get to commenting!
I also have some odds and ends of yarn that I don’t have time to photograph. If you’d like to receive a super-exciting mystery package, note that in your comment. Otherwise, remember to let me know which of the yarns or magazine sets shown here that you’d like to have. So – now I’ll give you guys a little update, to gain room for the yarn photos.
PennyRose Sock Yarn
This week has been a lot of packing and a lot of goodbyes – neither of which I’m good at. I applied for my visa, and I mailed off most of our photos to be scanned. Later, I realized that I had not sent in my passport with the visa application, nor had I included the tracking information in the photo scan box. [The visa problem has been resolved; the photo scan kerfuffle has not.] We ate at most of our favorite restaurants (left Restaurant Eve for a return visit). A friend had a small party for us, which was so, so nice. We spent a night at our favorite inn. We wrangled with a waterproofing company that forgot about our appointment for home repair (they should be done soon). I mailed out a lot of yarn and book giveaway packages, but in one batch I wasn’t able to put in little notes (major disappointment to me, for I am a dork).
Pear Tree Yarn: Yum.
It’s a strange place to be, these last few days. I am looking forward to so much about Oxford – most of all, the work I’m going to do when school starts. At the same time, I’m mourning my time here in the DC area. I was born here, grew up here (on the Maryland side), and returned here after college, graduate school, and New York City adventures. I love this area: the monuments, the museums, the tree-lined streets, even the politics. I love the fact that it takes about an hour to get to hiking trails and places to kayak and rock climb. I love the family history I have here – especially all of the people who knew and loved my mother. I loved teaching here over the past two years; I love all the knitters I’ve met here; I love that addictive yarn shop, fibre space.
Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino
At the same time, I love Oxford. I love the learning that’s happening there; I love the bookshops and the libraries and the beautiful architecture. I love that there are Sunday afternoon strings concerts for a pound. I love that I can go to London in an hour by train, and take the Chunnel to Paris and other parts of Europe. This is going to be a great big adventure, and I think that it’s important for me to take this opportunity. So I’m genuinely torn between two places I love, two paths.
The way to look at this is that I’m so fortunate to have two different places I love, and so many people I care about, and such an amazing opportunity. It is, of course, a lot easier to think this way when I don’t have to pack a ridiculous amount of yarn, clothing, and miscellaneous items into three suitcases (note that I’m up to three now! very exciting).
Stonehenge Fiber Mill Shepherd's Wool
A few of you asked whether I am going to continue to blog – the answer is, of course, yes. The next few days are going to be a little hectic, but you can find little bursts of updates on Twitter and Flickr, if you’re so inclined. Also, I’ve decided to continue to offer a giveaway from time to time, as well. I really liked putting together packages for you folks. Plus, if I can’t pick up an extra skein for my super-duper readers when I go to a yarn shop in Europe, well, what are yarn shops for?
I have a little catching up in the winner-announcement category (although everyone should have received their yarn by now). Here we go:
Winners of the Small Knits yarn giveaway:
- Gwendolyn won the Claudia Hand Painted yarn;
- Wendy won the Noro Silk Garden;
- BigAshDog won the Rowan Calmer;
- Lynda won the Louisa Harding Grace.
Winners of the Mr. Trask yarn giveaway:
- KateL won the Fyberspates Scrumptious DK;
- Cathy won the Rowan Tapestry;
- Lorraine won the Dalegarn Falk;
- Patty won the Harrisville Tweed.
And…in a ridiculous turn of events…I realized that I had never done the drawing for the Yarn Multiplies in Storage yarn giveaway. I am so sorry, people. I am losing my mind over here. Here are the results:
- Annie won the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran;
- Wendy won the Dream in Color Groovy (lucky Wendy – two wins in one post!);
- dreamspunfiber won the red NFC sock yarn;
- Eva won the Shepherd’s Wool;
- Jessica won the Jamieson & Smith tweed yarn.
Here’s what we have today:
- Three sets of magazines: Vogue Knitting Winter 2009/10 and Interweave Knits Spring 2011; Interweave Knits Fall 2010 and Debbie Bliss Knitting Magazine Fall/Winter 2010; and Burda Verena Knitting Fall 2010 and Knitting Today Nov/Dec 2010.
- PennyRose Yarns sock yarn – 20% nylon, 80% superwash wool. Lovely colors!
- Pear Tree Yarn 8-ply in light blue. Gorgeous and soft. There’s another skein in cream around here; I’ll pop that in as well. It’s been wound into a ball but retains its gorgeous nature.
- 2 skeins Shepherd’s Wool – one grey, one dark green.
- Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino – one full skein red, one partial skein white. Perfect for a child’s hat.
The rules are the same as always (view in the Stash Giveaway FAQ). So, commentors, what do you love about where you live?
Knit Like You Mean It. 
The Shepherd’s Wool sounds lovely. I’ll put in a note for that, but the mystery package sounds very interesting as well. Best luck in Oxford. If you meet any strange Americans studying/teaching Welsh, be wary.
Penny Rose is the yarn for me but all the others are yummy too.
I live outside of Lancaster, PA and have always been a Pennsylvania girl if you don’t count the first two years of married life spent in BelAir, MD.
I love the combination of farmlands and historic buildings in Lancaster. At one point in my life, I wanted my tombstone to read “She tried to save the Baumgardner Warehouse”. We lost and now we have a lovely CVS sitting on the corner of Lemon St. and Prince St. C’est la vie…..
I really enjoy reading your blog and am happy to read that you will continue it when in Oxford.
It’s such fun to connect with a fellow knitter:)
Thought you got caught up in the OMG I’m leaving whirlwind. Glad you will keep blogging so us stick in the muds can travel vicarously.
Am I a Greedy Gumshoe if I come back to the trough for more yarn to feed my growing obsession after allready being gifted with One Skein (gotta make one of those awesome knit cupcakes for my friends birthday) and the gorgeous Mochi Plus for participating in Innocent Hats (It’s not too late – hats need to arrive by Oct 14th)www.innocentdrinks.co.uk/bigknit/get_knitting.
If you have extras the Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino would be fun for the next hat or I love surprises so short ends are great too.
Thanks and Bon Voyage!
Cguard
Oh and about where I live. It usually takes visitors to remind me of how awesome a place it is. We just had little boys here who were in awe that you could fall out the front door and row a boat and fish all day on our own pond, watch calves frolic, collect fresh eggs, dig potatoes and worms out the back door and see the stars year round. Except for missing good resteraunts and MUD season country living suits me so fine my passport is long expired.
As a native San Franciscan who’s never lived farther than 50 mile away I can certainly understand how you feel about leaving. I’ve traveled some, but never wanted to move anywhere else (Hawaii was tempting, but expensive). On the other hand, I’ve never had an opportunity to do something exciting and fulfilling in another country! The closest I got was an offer to do the same job in a snowy northern location, at lower pay, or get laid off. I chose laid off. It’ll be great fun to share your adventure.
Good luck to everyone in this last draw, and congrats to all my fellow winners from past draws. Plus a hearty Hurrah! and Thank You to our hostess.
I live in Texas. Generally I love it here because of our mild winters and the fact that there’s so many different cultures here. German in the hill country, Hispanic/Mexican, a bit of cajun in the east. The music and food are awesome. I hope you enjoy the UK, I would love to visit there someday.
Oh and I’ll take a mystery if I win!
First of all, I’m so tickled I won one of the last drawings! I’ll be donating as promised via your button shortly. Thank you so much, the yarn is even prettier in person! 🙂
So, the question this time is what do I love about where I live?
For me the answer is so simple – our seasons. Minnesota is pretty amazing because we truly experience all four seasons. Yes, there are the cold temperature extremes which many people in the south shake their heads at us and think we’re crazy for staying here and enduring them, but there’s also such beautiful parks, rivers, lakes, farm fields (yes, I think they can be beautiful – think rolling hills, swaying grasses or corn, that’s gorgeous to me), museums, theaters, history, restaurants, architecture, people (oh, we’re interesting, let me tell you) and so on and so on… Which leads to another part of my answer, this is one heck of a state where you can honestly take a ‘staycation’. There’s so much to see here and learn about, heck, I’m in my late 40’s (don’t tell anyone) and I’m still learning new things about the state I’ve lived in all my life.
As for this drawing with regards to my preference, well, I’m torn between the Pear Tree yarn and the PennyRose yarn. Really though, it’s all good stuff to me. 🙂
Leaving your home town is such a big step, but adventure is waiting for you in Europe. I look forward to reading about your new life in Oxford and what you think about the British quirkiness. =)
I love the look of the Pear Tree yarn and this would be my first choice. Mind you, the magazines look enticing, too.
LOVE the Pear Tree Yarn and i love mystery yarn too i love any kind of yarn. I live in the Hampton roads area of Virginia. I do love where i live even with all the traffic from all the different military bases we have here. As a army brat i love that i had a small part of my childhood moving around until my dad retired and we settle in Hampton roads, i love this area cause of VA we close to so much history and not far rural area and still closes to semi major city like VA Beach.
I love seeing you post on G+ and now going enjoy reading through your blog. Good luck in your new adventure it sounds so fun and exciting.
What I love about Florida is the amazing opportunity to people watch. We have people come from all over the world to visit this area. I’ve lived over most of the state and I can honestly say that living in the Cocoa Beach area is the only place that truly feels like home to me. We’re close enough to a large city (Orlando) to get to do all the metro-type stuff, but we truly live in a small town. Just, y’know, a small town with a very diverse tourist make up! 😀 Plus, it’s a heckuva lot cheaper to take my kids to Disney or Sea World than it is for most people. That’s a bonus!
If I win I’d like either the PennyRose sock yarn or (even better!) the mystery package. I’m a sucker for mystery packages. I miss buying grab bags at the Sanrio store when I was younger…
I always liked surprises so I would like to enter for the mystery package. I was originally born in Massachusetts but not reside in Washington by way of Las Vegas. There are a few things I love about were I live now the Farmers Markets, going for a drive & seeing Mt. Rainier from just about anywhere. Pikes Place Market. I also enjoy the variety of people you run into around here.
I would love to move out of the country at some point to work even if just for a little while I think it would be quite an adventure. I can’t wait to see what life has in store for you once you get moved & settled.
I STILL CAN’T BELIEVE YOUR GIVING ALL YOUR YARN AWAY.I do love your yarns.Have A wonderful trip and new England yarn.
Victoria
Oh wow, I just found your blog today, but I am in the same place in a way. We are living in Austin, TX, which I really like, but we have an opportunity to move back “home” to Colorado. And we have no idea what to do. So many pros and cons to consider. I am excited to look back through your blog and see where your moving journey started and what went into your decision making process.
And as for yarn, I would love to win something. I am all for super secret. Looking forward to getting to know you.
Thursday will get here soo quick. Good luck on your new adventure!
Let’s see what I love about where I live? Well I don’t LOVE where I live now and have a big move planned in about a year. The things that I will miss when I’m gone are mostly related to weather. I love that it is never too cold to grow anything here. Farmers markets and CSA’s are year round. I never have to shovel or dust my car off and it’s never too cold to go outside.
I love the colors of the Penny Rose, but a mystery pack would be great too. I love suprises!
Thank you for all your giveaways.
You’ll love Oxford! It’s such a beautiful city and there’s so much to do. If you’re a culture-vulture like me, you’ll never get bored. And if you do, London is an hour train ride away! If you have any questions or would like details of people to meet, please just let me know!
I’d love the Shepherd’s Wool if it’s still available 🙂
As for where I live now, I’ve moved so much in the past 10 years, that I’ve gotten accustomed to falling in love with different aspects of any place I am. I loved the maple trees in Japan, just as I love them in New England. I love the long-horned cows and ease of vegetarian eating in India. I love the tea selections and museums/art shows/symphonies in Oxford (and the pubs in St Andrews!!). In California now, I love how close the water is, and that I can see the sea from the library, and smell the salt in the air as I jog. There is always something to sweep you off your feet, wherever you are. Just keep your eyes/ears/heart/mind open 🙂
Oh, or a mystery package! That would be great!
You are so fortunate to have 2 places you love! & a wonderful adventure awaits you to boot!
What I love about where I love (Indiana)? The people, the farmers’ markets, Lake Michigan which gives the illusion of the ocean, & the nearness of Chicago.
Thankk you again for all your giveaways. Love the PearTree & PennyRose although a mystery package would also be fun. As far as the magazines are concerned, throw in my bid for the Berda Verena & Knitting Today, since I have all the others.
Godspeed to you & Mr. Trask.
What do I love about Oregon? The big furry trees and the gorgeous coastline. The 9 to 10 months of rain that make those trees possible, I could do without.
I love that Penny Rose sock yarn. The Pear Tree yarn looks nice and mystery packages are always fun, so I’d love to get either of those. But I really, really, want that Penny Rose yarn. I want it so much that I googled Penny Rose yarns. She has some other lovely colorways in her Etsy shop, but not the one you have.
Enjoy Oxford!
Wow, this is so momentous, it’s hard to know what to say besides safe travels and good luck. We’ll make it over soon to visit you in your literary, knitting madness. I sense lots of fun knits for a traditional English Christmas in your future! Bon Voyage! Enjoy!
The Pear Tree yarn looks lovely, but I’d also be up for a mystery package, since, let’s face it, all the yarn you’ve given away so far was yummy (Thanks again for the Shepherd’s Wool!).
I’ve been living in Chicago for about 2.5 years now, and it’s my first time living in a big city. I love the cultural life, and that there’s people out and about at any time of day/night, but most of all I love the abundance of amazing restaurants. It will be very exciting to hear about your adventures in Oxford. Best of luck to you and Mr. Trask!
I’m excited for you! I love to move, it’s one of my most favorite past times ever. If I win I’d like either the surprise package or the Penny Rose.
As for where I live, I live in Arizona, in a tiny little town in the mountains at 6700 feet. I grew up in Phoenix so it’s a massive culture shock for me. Everyone knows who I am, what I do and how I do it. I miss my privacy! I miss being able to go buy liquor and tobacco at the gas station without hearing about it later. I miss being able to go the grocery store or shopping for clothes or even get gas without running into a dozen people I know or it being closed.
i want to thank you so much for the Dalegarn Falk yarn…its just perfectly coordinated and really soft..i cant wait to knit it up!..on to the question..the thing i love the most about the place i live in is the close proximity of the water..im about 5 mins from the bay and about 10 from the beach(maybe 15 in the summer because of traffic) i can also hop on a ferry and tail it over to fire island if i desire..i like the water it seems be a requirement of mine..i also like the fact that i can hop on a train and head to nyc for yarn shopping or other events (about an hour or so)..or visit my sister in queens with ease..so i guess its the best of both worlds..that being said i would move in a heartbeat..the cost of living in ny is insane..and although i love it..i dont know how much i really do..id love to live in another country but i cant even wrap my mind around that concept..so many things to do before making a move like that..and im such a chicken..anyways i can babble on forever…yes please on the shepards wool..i seem to be drawn to hunter green lately..or the magazines…but my kitty cat curiosity also draws me to the idea of a mystery prize….hmm..would anyone say no to a mystery prize?
I just found your blog, and this is an awesome idea. Wish I’d thought of something like this when I moved across the country. (Most of my stash went to charity) I love the idea of a mystery package!
Penny Rose is gorgeous! I don’t know how you find time to do your generous destash with so many things on your mind. Hope you sleep very well next week 😀
Sounds like you are in for a wonderful adventure!!! Make the most of it and we will look forward to hearing all about it! Everything looks lovely, and I would be happy to win any of it!!
Good luck to you!
Hooray for three suitcases! Woo-hoo!
I’m a fairly new reader of your blog, but I must say I admire and envy your move to oxford. I’m a grad student myself, and would love to have an opportunity like that. I look forward to continuing to read about your adventures!
I love living in South Carolina because it’s beautiful, has great weather, except in August, and we have some killer food here. We are, however, a bit lacking in yarn shops.
I’d love to win any of the yarn, and the mystery package sounds fascinating too!
Once again I have my fingers & toes crossed that the Random Number Generator picks my name — this time I’m tossing my hat in the ring for any of the magazines. What fun this is!
I’m looking forward to your blogs from across the pond. Knitting in Oxford — you can’t get cooler than that.
I live in Maryland, about an hour from Washington DC and 1.5 hours from Alexandria, VA. I’m looking forward to a trip to Fibre Space – they have a great website, and your recommendation! This hot, humid summer just about sent me packing for a cooler climate. I can’t wait until I can retire in Oregon, where the drizzly, gray days are perfect for knitting.
I’ve lived in Baltimore for the past 17 years. There’s tons to do here. I love that I’m a hop, skip and a jump from DC. I love that I’m really within two hours of Philly, Harrisburg, Hanover, Frederick, Harper’s Ferry, Gettysburg and so many other awesome places; and that there’s so much to do and see! We homeschool so having all these amazing historical places nearby makes learning fun for us. I have to tell you though that I miss living in Jerusalem, Israel. Talk about being immersed in history!
I can’t wait to hear about your adventures in Oxford. The SO is considering applying for a position teaching abroad and Oxford is one of the schools he’s looking at.
As for the yarn, I love Shepherds wool and the Pear Tree yarn is just yummy!
Good luck!! Have a great adventure! DC will all ways be there for you to go home to.
Oh, it’s moving time! Good luck and hope things go smoothly for you.
I love mystery packages, so I am up for that one please 🙂
Good luck !
i love Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino
I can’t believe you are leaving in a few days! With 3 suitcases! What an adventure! When can I visit?
Oh, oh – the other part. What I love about Chapel Hill, NC: Artsy-fartsy movie theaters, terrific restaurants, outstanding lecturers, an excellent music scene, great walking trails. Pretty amazing stuff for a relatively small town.
If I were so fortunate as to win something, I’d like yarn.
Wishing you an easy move! xoxo
Have a great time in Oxford. I lived in Manhattan and loved it. Only every three months I had to go away to stay in toch with the real world. I’m European after all.
What do I love about Omaha, Nebraska, the changing seasons. We are finally out of the hot, humid, summer days. Days are cool and beautiful – fall is the best time of the year.
If I were to win – I’d like yarn, love the baby cashmerino
alounsberry@cox.net
I’m from KS – which I love – because people have so many opinions about what it means. There’s a painting of John Brown in the capital that is not to be missed, should you ever be there. Now, I’m in Arlington, and I think that’s fun because people actually want to visit. I’m a fan of the monuments at night.
I would love the sock yarn, and have a project for that gorgeous PearTree – but nothing is coming to mind for the baby yarn right now. Humpff.
Good luck with your move! I’m already enjoying the first book I won and looking forward to the second that you just emailed me about. THANK YOU!
Hi — Thanks for the giveaway, and happy travels!
I live in Columbus, Ohio, and one thing I love is autumn weather — clear, sunny skies, and the anticipation of a new school year.
Thanks again!!
I miss you already and hope you have a FANTASTIC trip. Glad to hear that you’ll post once you get settled.
I currently live in Virginia, and I love the 4 seasons (although I hate how hot and humid the summers are). The seasons are much closer to where I grew up in Wisconsin, compared to my seven years on the Central Coast of California near San Luis Obispo (where I totally got spoiled with the weather and became a weather wimp, preferring only mild changes!). Have also lived in Ann Arbor, MI, Chicago, Minneapolis and Sydney, Australia. Autumn is my favorite season, because it’s usually cool enough here to wear jeans again comfortably!
Love the Pear Tree or Penny Rose yarns… Bon voyage! 🙂
I live in Lithuania, and what I like to most about the place I live that it’s quite quiet, safe and green everywhere. After living in a bigger city previously, I can really appreciate this.
I guess I have to be honest and say I haven’t always loved where I live. At this point now, though, I think we’re starting to grow on each other and I definitely like where I live. One thing I really like is the sense of community people have her and wonderful group of crafters I’ve met here.
I’d love to get the red & white Cashmerino – I need to make a red & white hat for a grandchild.
You will be missed – I love reading your posts on your blog and at fibre space.
What do I love about where I live? Alexandria VA – it’s close to so many wonderful knitting and yarn opportunities, close to DC with its museums and monuments – and my neighborhood, Parkfairfax, is so easy to live in.
Best of luck in Oxford!
Hello!
All of these yarns are gorgeous, and I would be more than happy to get any of them including the mystery yarn, but I especially like the PennyRose Sock Yarn, the Pear Tree yarn, and the Shepherd’s wool! As to why I love living where I live… The street I live off of is an awesome street. It has about all the shops that I need (excluding a yarn store that closed a number of years ago 😦 ) There are arts and crafts stores, a library, some small grocery stores… It’s just great! Thank you again for doing the yarn giveaways, they were a treat to participate in!
My favorite thing about small town Portales, New Mexico is the knitting club. Meeting every Friday nights in a new shop: http://www.shabbysheepyarns.blogspot.com// with a big eclectic group in a cozy environment, this group is what kept me sane when I first moved here in December of this year all the way from the east coast of Canada!
The Penny rose yarn made me drool on my laptop I think. If not that yarn, well gosh darn any of the others will excite me just the same.
Thanks for your generosity and look forward to hearing how you settle into your new life in the UK!
I forgot to say I love any knitting magazines too. 😉
Debbie Bliss would be a first choice for me: I already know what I would do with it! But in truth, all of the yarns look very yummy.
I love living where I do because if feels like a small town street, with old apartment buildings, trees, and small parks, even though it is in the middle of the city. As an added bonus my LYS is around the corner 😀
I just found this, no idea if you’re still going… but since there’s an openended ‘Here’s what I have’ and no ‘winners of’ those yet, I hope?
Where I live, it’s usually a peaceful neighborhood, but there’s a lot more cultural diversity. The biggest difference I’ve found is the sheer variety of restaurants nearby. I also grew up waaaaaaaaay out in the country, which while I wouldn’t mind the peace and quiet again, I grew up hours from any yarn stores and learned to knit and crochet with Red Heart yarn. It’s also, despite being much further south then I was used to, cool enough in the winter for me to have learned the usefulness of good sweaters, scarves, and hats in winter… And so hot in the summer that learning lacy stitch patterns was a must, and cotton yarns are quite readily available here as well.