giveaway #99

The winner of the Storied Yarns giveaway is:

Doula Mommy

Congratulations! Please contact me at yarnonthehouse@gmail.com to collect your prizes.

One of my favorite online yarn shops is SandraSingh.com. The customer service is top notch, the selection of yarns and patterns is fantastic, and shipping is fast! If you've been following the blog for awhile, you'll know that Sandra has visited us before a couple of times. She is the owner and lady behind the yarn store, but she also recently designed and released a lovely new cowl pattern called On the Hudson. Here she is to chat a bit about her store and newly released pattern:


1. Welcome back to YOTH, Sandra! What have you been up to since you were on the blog last?

I'm really glad to be back Veronika, thanks for hosting me once again. Its been a little over a year since we've last spoken and a lot has been going on, I've been busy working with knitwear designers developing patterns from my Sandrasingh Yarn line, plus I wrote my very first pattern, On the Hudson.

I've been lucky to collaborate with some very talented lace designers and have introduced 4 new shawl designs for my Sandrasingh Lace: Heartstrings' Gentle Breezes, Loida by Chiagu, Linda Choo's Spring Maple and a Free pattern by Nisey Knits' Melody's Stole.

The Melody's Stole pattern has a cute story. In early 2011 my customers decided my running sheep mascot on my home page needed a name and organized a contest to name her. I say her because once we determined that both rams and ewes can have horns they named her Melody. This was the inspiration for designer Denise Twum to create the Melody's Stole pattern!

2. For those followers that are new to your website, please tell them what your site is about and what you do.

I'd be happy to! Sandrasingh.com opened it's virtual doors in May of 2005 and has been open 24/7 ever since.

I was inspired by my joy and commitment to helping others transform their creative inspirations into beautiful realities. Whether online or in my Showroom I supply the materials, tools and ideas needed to stimulate and inspire creative aspirations. I continue to expand my product line, improve service and evolve in direct response to your feedback, so please ask your questions and share your knitting projects and dreams.

I realize there are as many different knitters as there are yarns! With this in mind I carry premium domestic yarns from different regions of the United States, but at the same time I recognize that gorgeous yarns are being produced afar and I'm pleased to offer the finest imported brands as well. And in May 2010 I introduced my very own yarn line, Sandrasingh Yarn.

All my yarn lines are fully supported by both knit & crochet patterns. My easy to navigate pattern section offers you over a thousand designs ranging from Garments & Accessories for men, women and children and more. I work with many of the best and most respected Independent Knitwear Artists in the fiber arts community. And I am constantly searching for new talent to introduce to you.

We would love for your readers to become part of our Sandrasingh community. To learn more about upcoming blog giveaways, sales and KALs visit my blog Knittingwithsandrasingh.blogspot.com, my Ravelry group Sandrasingh.com, follow me on Twitter Sandrasinghcom and friend me on Facebook I'm Sandra Singh. You can also sign up for my Newsletters on my Home Page.

3. You are sharing your beautiful cowl pattern On the Hudson with us this time. What inspired you to design this cowl?

Thank you Veronika I'm delighted to hear you like my design! My inspiration for On the Hudson was my view, our apartment over looks the Hudson River and I get to watch the trees change color on the stark granite bluffs that over look the swiftly rushing, alternating currents, all under a crystal blue sky! This cacophony of colors and textures spoke to me when I picked up my needles and I selected a beautiful mix of yarns, my Sandrasingh.com 1 Ply Merino Worsted, Malabrigo Merino Worsted and Cascade 220 Superwash and 220 Wool and stitch patterns that are reversible, so you can relax and enjoy wearing the long or short version of On the Hudson however you please.

4. The cowl is knit out of 4 colors and I see that you offer kits for this pattern. Please talk a little bit about your color and yarn choices that you have available.

The idea was to mix my Sandrasingh 1 Ply Merino Worsted with other worsted weights to show how versatile this yarn and these colorways are. It was a lot of fun playing with all the yarns I carry to select a mix of colors that reflect the beautiful fall foliage and that also work together texture wise for the four different stitch patterns used. And for this giveaway I added new Kits, but I'm also happy to work with you to customize a special kit, just email!

5. You have a gorgeous yarn line named after your shop. Can you talk about that and the yarn colors that you offer?

Once again, thank you. I had so much fun working with the hand painters to dream up these colorways. From bright and colorful variegated shades to more subtle semi solids each one was a labor of love. I wanted a mix of colors that appeal to many and are flattering on all skin tones, but are still unique and stand out for their originality. And naming the colorways was another adventure! My friends and even their children gathered and we poured over ideas. I even took photos and emailed them to friends afar to get their input. Overall I believe there is a lovely range from blues to greens and purples and reds that will speak to just about every fiber enthusiast.

6. What made you want to put together your own yarn line?

Having my own yarn line was a dream since I opened my website in 2005. After years of searching finally in May '10, my site's 5th Anniversary, I was able to introduce my own collection. It happened rather quickly when a fellow fiber enthusiast put me in touch with a family from Uruguay who had been working with Uruguayan Merino Sheep for nearly a decade. Upon sampling their 100% merino wool yarns I discovered they crafted some of the softest, most supple yarn available and all of a sudden my ambition had taken on a life of its own!

7. What's new in the Sandrasingh community?

We have two KALs going on right now for the Sandrasingh Exclusive lace shawl patterns: Chiagu's Loida and Nisey Knits' Melody's Stole. You'll get loads of expert attention because both KALs are being run by the designers and they both feature prizes for the fastest knitters and both designs are knit in just one skein of my Lace!

8. Let's chat about what you're currently working on. What's on your needles right now?

Right now I'm working on the Susan Sideways cardigan by Rebecca Hatcher. She wrote this pattern for the Schaefer Yarn Company's sport weight, cotton yarn Susan. It's a fairly quick knit worked in 2 pieces from cuff to center back, but I added extra length to the first sleeve and didn't jot down the new measurement! So now I have to get myself back to my knitting class and get my teacher to help me take the proper measurements. I'm enjoying it though, can't wait to get it done and we have a KAL for it going in my Ravelry group and everyone is welcome.

And on a sad note, The Schaefer Yarn Company is closing at the end of 2012, if you need any of their yarns call 877/519-1693 or email me sandrasingh@sandrasingh.com.

9. What is your favorite thing to knit? Do you like small projects or larger ones? Or, maybe you have multiple items going at once?

My absolute favorite garments to knit are sweaters, pullovers or cardigans, I love them both. And like most avid knitters I do tend to have a "few" projects going on at once.

10. Can you share a favorite holiday drink?

Hmmm my favorite Holiday Drink? In my family we're more foodies than drinkers. I do like a really dry white wine with dinner, but I'll drink that any time of year. And a glass of champagne is necessary on New Year's Eve. Now if we're talking food for the holidays I love turkey with my mother's stuffing. No matter how many times I watch her or help her make it, I can never quite get mine to taste as good as hers. I also love my middle brother's chocolate chip cookies. I could name more, but I'll quit with those two before I gain weight just thinking about it!


Sandra has been sweet enough to offer one lucky, lucky follower a chance to win a choice of one of the eight On the Hudson kits available. Check out the bottom of Sandra's page to see the color choices. Here it is in Kit #1:




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, 12/16/12. Which kit would you pick if you were the winner?


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