giveaway #68

The Grand Prize winner of 3 skeins of Sandra Singh 1 ply Merino and a PDF copy of the Hooded Scarves and Cowls is:

Laura

The 1st Runner Up who wins 2 skeins of the same yarn and a copy of the pattern is:

Fluffy

And, lastly the Runner Up who wins a copy of the pattern alone is:

Wooly Knits n Bits



Maybe I'm aging myself here, but I'm still amazed at how the internet works in many wonderful and mysterious ways! I'm astonished at how easy it is to meet and form friendships online through various communities - especially awesome knitting communities like Ravelry. And, I still hold true to saying that knitters are some of the nicest folks around.

Since starting this blog, I've had the opportunity to meet many knitters and crafters from all over the world. Natalie Servant, this giveaway's featured knitter and artist, is one of them. Natalie and I met via my blog! She started following and entering my giveaways, and ended up winning one last year. We have stayed in contact since then and Natalie has come full circle and is now sponsoring this week's pattern giveaway along with her friend, Hasmi, who is the indie dyer of Rocky Mountain Dyeworks and is sponsoring the yarn portion. Here's Natalie sharing a bit about her inspiration behind her newest pattern collection, Summer in Provence:


What made me come up with my "Summer in Provence" series of shawls?

I'm always looking for inspiration, for new challenges. I'm a big fan of Art Deco, which is why my first lace designs were based on the Chrysler Building and the Eiffel Tower. I had so much fun running a Tour de France knit along (KAL) for my Eiffel Tower Shawl that I decided it should be an annual thing. I also wanted to continue with a French theme for the event. Late last year I began searching for the right idea.

I've been lucky enough to visit France a number of times and I have fond memories of visiting a perfume factory in Grasse. I also have a set of greeting cards that I've been hoarding because I love them. The box shows lavender fields in bloom with their characteristic rounded rows. All of these things plus the lavender growing in my own garden started me down the path to this series. I had also recently purchased a zingy purple fingering weight yarn from Posh Yarn in the UK, so I was set. The Lavender Fields Shawl was born and the design process just seemed to flow naturally. It has both of the rounded rows of lavender in the body and of the little lavender buds as nupps (or beads) in the border.



When I thought about creating an e-book of related shawl designs, I pictured the wonderful views you see when watching the Tour de France when the cyclists are whizzing around the country. I started a little list, and settled on three more designs: sunflowers, vineyards, and poppies. I sent Hasmi at Rocky Mountain Dyeworks some of my inspiration pictures and she very graciously dyed some yarn for me.

With the Sunflower Field shawl, I played around, sketching a little before I had exactly what I wanted. The shawl is very true to my drawings, with the big sunflowers at the top, the sunflower leaves down the middle, and the border echoing the petals of the flowers. Hasmi's Sunflower colorway in Bow Falls Fingering was perfect. This shawl was the subject of my Tour de France KAL this year. I've got to remember not to do another yellow triangular shawl for next year's KAL!



I've promised 2 more shawls for the e-book. The Vineyards Shawl is due out in the next couple of days, and I'm thrilled with the results. Once again, Hasmi worked her magic on some yarn: Glacier Ice Lace in Vineyard and Merlot. Mmmm, alpaca & silk. I knew from the start what I wanted to accomplish with this shawl - stockinette leaves on a vine standing out from a lace background with little curlicues. Then I topped that off with a border full of bunches of grapes. This one was a little more painful to design, but I'm so glad I stuck to my vision.



The fourth and final shawl in the series is due out at the end of September. I've got some great yarn lined up for my design based on poppies, and I hope that all the folks that have told me they're waiting for my poppy design enjoy it!


Thank you, Natalie & Hasmi, for being our lovely sponsors! Now, check out what you have a chance to win:



One Grand Prize winner will receive TWO skeins of the gorgeous and super soft Rocky Mountain Dyeworks Glacier Ice Lace in the colorways Merlot (purple) and Vineyard (green) and a PDF copy of the Summer in Provence e-book. Two Runners Up also have the chance to win a PDF copy of the e-book!


I would like you to do the following if you would like to be entered into this week's giveaway:


1. Read over the rules if you have not done so already.

2. Leave a comment on this blog post by the end of Sunday, 9/11/11. Check out Natalie's patterns and tell us which pattern you might like to knit up.

I am in love with the Chrysler Crown Shawl. I have plenty of lace weight skeins at home that would be very happy to become a new shawl for me to wear!!

I'll randomly pick the winners in 2 weeks and post the results along with the new giveaway, so be sure to check back. Good luck everyone.

Sincerely,

Ve