2.23.2011

Branching Out

Some WIP news: I ended up having to frog my first attempt at the Textured Shawl because the fabric did not have as much drape as I would have liked. Going up one needle size solved that problem. Still knitting away on Turmeric. I won't bore you with progress shots because not much has changed since last week. Now for the exciting part: my first contest! Ever since starting this blog last October, knitting has been the main focus. Well, I hope to change that this year by slowly branching out into other crafts. Today, I wanted to share with you my one and only crocheted finished object: the tulip stitch washcloth, which is kind of misleading since it has never been used as a washcloth. Instead, it has a place of honor in my home on top of my precious basket of Peaches and Creme yarn. I am slowly refreshing my crocheting skills and hopefully will have more to show for it in the future.
One designer in the world of crochet that I really admire is Robyn Chachula. She has a terrific sense of style and color. For this contest, I am giving away her latest book, Baby Blueprint Crochet. If you want to see cute personified, check out this and this. In addition, the lucky winner will receive three skeins of Tahki Yarns Cotton Classic to welcome in Spring. Just leave a comment about your most favorite crocheted project.
For you knitters that have not ventured into crocheting yet, what are you waiting for? Just kidding! I am giving away to you two skeins of Shibui Knits Sock yarn. Leave a comment about your most favorite knitting project so far.
The contest will be open until the end of Sunday, March 6. I will announce the winner during WIP Wednesday with TAMI'S AMIS on March 9. Leave your contact info (ravelry username or email or blog name) with your comment. Good luck! And head on over to TAMI'S blog for some fun crochet and knitting projects in progress!

40 comments:

  1. Do I have to pick just one? Tam C is probably my current favorite, judging by the amount of wear it gets... Citron may take its place when and if I ever finish it! Lovely giveaway!

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  2. My most favorite knitting project to date is likely my Haruni shawl - it is my favorite as it was my first major lace project and my first experience with the magic of blocking!

    I am econnerd on Ravelry.

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  3. Wow generous giveaway. My favourite knit has to be my Noro Stripy Ribbed Scarf as directed by Jared Flood. It was sooo much fun to make and I LOVE wearing it.

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  4. I think my favourite knit project so far has got to be 16 cables beret- it was so fast and so delicious. My favourite outcome though was my Haruni too, it kicked me when I was down but I won through.

    Lovely blog and giveaway! I'm Greentrianglegirl on Ravelry x

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  5. Sorry to hear you had to frog your shawl!

    What a great giveaway! I'll share my favorite knitting and crocheting project and you can just enter me into either one. :)

    My favorite crochet project I've done is the dinosaur ami that I made for a swap. It probably wasn't the cutest ever, but I was most proud of it because it was the first time I designed something myself.

    My favorite knitting project is probably my fingerless gloves that I made with my own dyed yarn. I use them constantly (even in San Diego!) and I just love how the yarn turned out dyeing wise.

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  6. Crochet is something I have never quite got the hang of despite numerous tries.

    My favourite knit would have to be a dinosaur jacket I made from the Knitty website. I forget the name but the look on my sons face when i finished it made all the arm aches worthwhile.

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  7. I'm not a crocheter yet, but that washcloth is beautiful!
    My favorite project so far would probably be my husband's Klaus sweater because I had fun blogging about it and then seeing him actually wear it!
    Thanks for the generous contest!

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  8. I don't crochet very well, but that book looks like terrific inspiration! So, I'll share my favorite knitting project so far -- it's my girly version of Ysolda's Elijah elephant. I had no idea what I was doing and totally stunned that it turned out as well as it did. Those are fun!

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  9. This is a great giveaway. I don't really know how to crochet yet, but my favorite knitting project so far probably would have to be a pair of shorts I knit for a guy I know. They are ridiculously comfy and just plain ridiculous.

    my email is mzaza9 at gmail dot com

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  10. oooh a contest. How fun! I'll put one for both and you can pick where to enter me.

    I'm a mediocre crocheter but my favourite project is an earflap hat I made for my husband when we were dating. He still wears it : )

    For knitting my favourite project so far has been knitting beanies for everyone at Christmas with their names on. They made for a lot of fun pics over the holidays

    I'm nursenikkiknits on Rav. Thanks for the fun giveaway!

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  11. The yarn is gorgeous! My favourite knitting project so far is my Vivian hoodie, (design by Ysolda). It was the most involved thing I had yet attempted, and I felt a real sense of accomplishment when I finished. I'm notpanicking on ravelry :)

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  12. My fave crochet project so far is a little basket with a kitty colorwork pattern around it. I love it (despite its slight crookedness) because it's very useful. I keep it near my desk and throw random stuff in it that would clutter the desk otherwise.
    If you're super-bored, you can have a look at it here: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/nightpaws/a-perrrrfectly-wonderful-tapestry-crochet-kitty-bag

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  13. I've a bit of a novice knitter, but my favorite project I've made so far has probably been a dinosaur, which I knit for my little niece. I was really only familiar with hats, mittens, and scarves... so making a ferocious stegosaurus felt really good. :)

    I'm PurlsEntwined on Ravelry, and here's a picture of my dino:
    http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/liberrian04/50739710/DSC08339_medium2.JPG

    Thanks for offering this sweet giveaway!

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  14. I really like that washcloth! I never use the washcloths I make. They are just too pretty to dirty up.

    I'm trying to learn how to crochet amigurumi, but I don't think my skills are good enough for the book (even though those patterns you liked to are adorable!), so I'll leave that for someone else and talk about my favorite knitting project. I think it would have to be my Scarecrow Bunny pattern. It's the first toy pattern that I look at and think, wow, I designed that! It didn't give me any problems either. I knew what I wanted it to look like and everything just fell into place, which usually doesn't happen when I'm working on a design. It ended up exactly as I had envisioned!

    Thanks for offering the giveaway! I love Shibui knits!

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  15. I really lock the yarn for knitters. I have not ventured into crochet. I think my favorite project so far would be the "Hip in Hemp" skirt by Gudrun Johnson or the Chinook Shawl from Knit picks.

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  16. Your crocheted square is beautiful. Yes, I'd have a hard time using it as a washcloth too. What great contest items. I'm a knitter who is terrified of crochet so...in order to win the yummy looking shibui, my favorite knitting project so far has been the KellyJ All Keyed Up hat. I've actually knitted more than what I've posted on Rav.

    Glad I found your blog via WIP Wednesday.

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  17. Anonymous2/23/2011

    Your crocheted square is lovely. In fact, a couple of those would make an adorable hostess gift. :)

    My favorite knitting project ever, is probably my current WIP: Aran by Norah Gaughan. It's a gift for my Mom and it's so beautiful! I am hoping it will be come a family heirloom. I want to make another for myself in Ivory.

    I'm BeLovedKnits on Ravelry. I am so glad I found your blog; it's lovely. :)

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  18. I can't crochet worth a darn but I do love knitting socks. I think my favorite project is my Doctor Who knee socks knit out of Knitpicks Felici

    sadiekate on ravelry

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  19. Great job on the crocheted wash cloth. It's my favorite color.

    My favorite knitted project so far is my Mediterranean Shawl.

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  20. Hi there,
    I also cannot get the hang of crochet, doesn't matter how many times I watch tutorials on Youtube.

    My favourtie project; a blanket I am making for my first grandchild. Every stitch is with love.

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  21. Great giveaway! Thanks for sharing! Grandchild #7 is in the making!

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  22. Just one project huh? I'd have to say the Max suit I made for my friend last Halloween. Not because it was the most fun, or the most detailed, but it was the most EPIC. I mean, adult sized, hooded, footie pajamas? what could be better?

    Rav name: SillyLittleLady :D

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  23. Nice washcloth! I can't even crochet a chain right- lol.

    My favorite knit thus far would have to be The Man Hat by Haven Leavitt. I've done a couple of them since January for my son. It's a super fast knit, easily remembered so you don't have to take the pattern with you everywhere and it looks great!

    Rav Name: ShainR

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  24. Your washcloth is lovely, no wonder you're not using it for anything mundane like washing!

    I am having a hard time choosing a favorite knitting project. My Traveling Woman shawl was the first of my "real" lace projects so that's special. I made a fair isle Christmas stocking as my first colorwork project and I'm still surprised that I succeeded! Recently though I think I love my Troubadour scarf (which I kept) and the Heart of Wales shawl (which I gave away to someone who loved it). I guess it's a good sign that I like them all!

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  25. Beutiful washcloth ... or cotton yarn basket cover, LOL! I can crochet and knit, but I definitely prefer knitting. I think my favorite knitting project so far was Ishbel, my first lace shawl, it was so interesting to see the pattern realy emerge once it was blocked.

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  26. Great job on your first crocheted project! It's so pretty. As for my favorite knitted project, I think it has to be Jared Flood's Fenimore Beret. The cables were addictive and I wear it all of the time.

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  27. I love to knit and my favorite project so far was probably my alpaca with a twist socks in undulating rib. It looks intricate and complicated but it is so easy once you get the rhythm down.

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  28. Lovely crochet project!

    My favorite knit project changes every day, but today it's the 198 yds. of Heaven I made in Malabrigo Worsted.. sooo smushy and cozy and pretty!

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  29. My favorite knitting project is the fingerless gloves I just made. I used some wonderful merino I got it a swap. It was so soft to knit with. However, I knit them as a gift...so off they go! knitterofhats on Ravelry

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  30. WOw!! Great blog and great giveaway! My favorite knitting project is my February Lady Sweater, that is the one I am the most proud of. Thanks for the chance to win!

    Sylviemom on Ravelry!

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  31. Favourite knit would have to be my 9-5 socks, it is a great pattern and I wear them immediately each time they come out of the wash. I don't do as much crochet, but I am quite pleased with the fired egg I made this evening, for some reason it makes me laugh

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  32. My favorite knitting project? Definitely colorwork mittens. I knit a pair of fiddleheads and they're my favorite yet!

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  33. my most favorite knitting project so far....i thing the dressing gown by jenny atinson (http://www.ravelry.com/projects/CatKnitting/dressing-gown), even if i had a hard time with it.. it was worth it!
    as i am just starting crocheing i can only choose from very few small thing and i thing i like making these cute flowers best...=)
    i am CatKnitting on ravelry

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  34. I've only finished one knitting project, but I'm working on Seedling right now and absolutely loving it!

    My most favorite crochet project is my Friendship ghan...A bunch of online friends made each other squares and then we each put together our own ghan...It is my most favorite...A personal crochet project would be my Zombie BBQ hat...I just lurves it!

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  35. As I am still failing at trying to teach myself to crochet, I do not have a favourite finished project as I am yet to finish one! My favourite knitted project is my garter stitch bracelet made from my first hand spun yarn, it's lumpy and bumpy and the yarn isn't my favourite colour but I have a soft spot for it.

    I'm goodgonegirl on Ravelry :)

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  36. I love knitting socks and have been on a scarf kick - knit long ways so it goes fast, scarf kick!! I am just really getting somewhat proficient with crochet and want to attempt something other than the hats I did (they were lots of fun too!). I am witchyknits on Rav.

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  37. Well,I crochet and knit,so I will answer both questions. I would say,my favorite crochet project so far,would be an afghan I made for our Dad for Christmas. It was done in the colors from his favorite Baseball team. For the knitting project,I would say,it would be a plush toy called a Monster Chunk,by Rebecca Danger. It turned out really cute.

    I'm roselake on Ravelry.

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  38. I crochet and knit both. And I love Robyn Chachula's patterns for unique construction and lovely use of colour!
    My favourite crochet project is the Hexagon afghan I made for my Ma, for the smile it brought to her face.I used a colour scheme of my own. And a very close second is the Northern Dreams Pullover made for my daughter.
    Amongst my knit projects, I love my Red River and Bonsai most!
    It's very difficult to select out when you love all the things you make :-)
    I am Rufarocrafty on Ravelry.

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  39. I don't crochet (yet) but my favorite knitting project so far is the Echo Flower Shawl.

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  40. I am just learning to crochet, ever so slowly! Thus far all I have managed are blanket squares. Your tulip cloth as inspired me!
    http://mcgreenexperience.blogspot.com/

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