Category: giftalong2016

Posted in giftalong2016, Indie Design Gift-a-Long, knitters, knitting, knitting patterns

So I Went Pattern Shopping the Other Day…

Posted on by Carol

As you know, I’ve been participating as a designer in this year’s Indie Design GAL. Previous posts, here and here. Last year during the GAL, I was madly working on getting The Wayfarer Hat ready for publishing. This year, however, there’s a bit of a lull, and I might actually be able to knit someone else’s pattern.

So…a few days ago I went pattern shopping…just in case! And here’s what I found…

Spate by Jane Richmond. I love the cables on these mitts, as well as the length of the mitts and the folded top cuff. Beautiful! It’s knit in worsted weight on size 7 and 8 needles, so it should be a quick knit. The samples are shown in Sincere Sheep Bannock, which is 100% Targhee wool.  I loooooove Targhee! It is sproingy and it’s perfect for texture!

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© Nicholas Kupiak

Skógar Mitts by Christelle Nihoul. This pattern is from the Colors of Iceland Collection. It’s shown knit here in a yarn called (Vi)Laines Précieuses, a fingering weight that is 70% Wool, 20% Silk, 10% Cashmere goat.  This length of mitt always appeals to me, and I love the button detail. This color of green has been making me swoon recently.

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© Christal LK

The Ghost Ranch Cowl by Jessie Ksanznak caught my eye by the way that it mimics woven material through the use of slipped stitches. It could be a lovely addition to my wardrobe.

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© yarnovernewyork

Julia Trice’s Yukiya Pullover has been in my Ravelry favorites for a long time. I love its fluid lines and use of color.  It’s so flattering! The yarn it is shown in here is Shalimar Yarns Paulie (60% Merino, 20% Camel, 10% Silk, 10% Cashmere). Wouldn’t that be lovely against the skin? I really, really want to find the time to make this!!!

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© mindofwinter

Next into my cart went Bogvine by Miranda Grant. Again, there is that wonderful mitt length. This yarn is Cephalopod Traveller (100% Merino DK) in the colorway Bog of Eternal Stench (!). The colorway is perfect for the mitts. And I love the way the mitts are staged…also perfect for the piece.

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© Miranda Grant

My final pattern purchase of the group was Demeter Tank by Ashwini Jambhekar. I have long admired Ashwini’s designs. This is worked in a fingering weight 100% Merino on size 2 and 3 needles. This would be a lovely addition to my work wardrobe, and those cables and eyelet leaves would be a great deal of fun to work. This is definitely in my queue!

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© Ashwini Jambhekar

So, yeah, I went shopping! Lots of hours of fun and satisfying knitting here, with beautiful results. The 17,000+ patterns that are available for the GAL can be found here. Remember, the GAL goes through the end of the year and there are lots of great prizes. Enjoy!

xoxo

knit equals joy

~all participating GAL designers have given permission for their photos to be shared on social media.

Posted in giftalong2016, Indie Design Gift-a-Long, knitters, knitting

Indie Design GAL – Sale Thru 11/30!

Posted on by Carol

The Indie Design GAL on Ravelry is continuing in full force.  If you missed my last post, I wrote all about the Gift-A-Long here.

The most important piece of information right now is that the 25% discount on each designer’s discounted bundle of patterns goes through this Wednesday, November 30th, at 11:59 pm (EST). The coupon code is giftalong2016. So be sure to take advantage of this special offer before it’s gone! My sale bundle is here.

If you are up for a challenge, you might be interested in Taming the Opadoo. The Opadoo is the 8-armed Gift-A-Long challenge, in which one completes at least one project in each of the eight GAL categories. Sounds like fun!

Additional ongoing fun activities during the GAL include these two threads: Designers Alphabet Soup and Designer Hunt Game. Both of the games allow you to get to know the indie designers better – and each winner receives a coupon code for a free pattern.

As of this writing, 247 projects are posted in the finished object thread. It’s a great place to look if you want inspiration for your next project. Designers hail from 32 countries, and GAL group members, from 66 countries. If you enjoy stats, here is a thread full of them.

That’s most of the new news about the GAL! More to come later!

picmonkey-collage8

xoxo

knit equals joy

Posted in giftalong2016, Indie Design Gift-a-Long, knitters, knitting, Ravelry

The Indie Design Gift-A-Long 2016

Posted on by Carol

Once again I’m excited to be participating as a designer in the Ravelry-wide Indie Design Gift-A-Long! (This post will be heavy on links to Ravelry; be sure that you join Ravelry if you haven’t already – so that you can follow the links right through to see what all the fun’s about!)

The Indie Design Gift-A-Long (GAL) is a HUGE knit-a-long/crochet-a-long (KAL/CAL) with tons of discounted patterns (during the discount period) and many, many prizes to be given out during the six weeks of the GAL!

The Designers

335 independent designers from all over are participating. You can see who they are here – with pictures indicative of their work. My post is here: #203.

The Discount – 25% 

From November 22nd at 8:00 pm (EST) through November 30th at 11:59 pm (EST) each of 335 participating indie designers will offer 25% off a bundle of patterns with the coupon code giftalong2016. How will you know which patterns are eligible for the discount? Each designer’s post includes a link to his or her Indie GAL bundle of sale patterns. My sale bundle is here.

The Prizes

There are over 100 physical prizes (pictures here) – I’m donating patterns for The Wayfarer Hat and Passport Mitts along with two skeins of Mmmmalabrigo Arroyo to make them with. Check out all the fun and lovely prizes!

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Additionally, each of the designers is donating 6 electronic coupons for free patterns. That means at least 2,000 patterns will be given away over the six weeks of the GAL!

The KALs/CALs

The GAL is divided into eight KALs/CALs, divided by type of project: head, hand, feet, kids, garments, shawls, neck, other.

When the GAL begins, there will be a thread for each KAL/CAL, and in that KAL/CAL, prizes will be given out, games will occur, and there will be lots of fun, chatter, and admiration of knitting (and crocheting).

The KAL/CALs will begin November 22nd at 8:00 pm (EST) through December 31, 2016 at 11:59 pm (EST).

Which patterns are eligible for prizes?

You can make any paid pattern by any participating designer to be eligible for prizes. While no more than 20 patterns will be in the discount bundle of any designer, all of the designer’s paid patterns are eligible for prizes.

Some amazing indie design volunteers are putting together Pinterest boards that will allow you to browse through the GAL-eligible designs by type, and they are also putting together some bundles that will allow you to use Ravelry’s advanced search to look through the sale patterns and all of the eligible patterns. These boards and bundles will be coming soon.

Will you join in?

I hope you’ll consider joining me for this fun and inspiring six-week GAL. This would be a great time to whip out some spa cloths or fingerless mitts for gifts (or for yourself)! Like the Ravellenic Games, the camaraderie is a powerful motivator to finish projects. The possibility of prizes doesn’t hurt either!

Questions?

Feel free to ask me here or in my Ravelry group, or ask over in the GAL group.

Check out this awesome infographic made by Kimberly of Around the World in 80 Skeins . Isn’t it amazing?

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If we don’t touch base again between now and then, have a very happy Thanksgiving.

knit equals joy