Friday, January 04, 2008

Come One, Come All: Win Yarn

Ok, technically this is my 99th post, but I couldn't wait for the 100th. And didn't have anything else to write about, if you'd like to know the truth.

In celebration of 100 posts here at Friender (and my first blogiversary coming soon), I present to you a Deep Sea Diving Expedition. We're fishing for comments here, readers. I know, but I'm a middle child, so I need the attention.

So here's what you do:

Leave a comment (with your email address so I can get in touch with you if you win) by January 11th answering the following question:

If you were only allowed to knit one thing in 2008, what would you knit?

Three people will win yarn!
Araucania Ranco Multi - 302 blues/purples
Araucania Ranco Multi 302 blues/purples

Joslyn's Fiber Farm Sheep's Gift - Montego Bay
Joslyn's Fiber Farm Sheep's Gift in "Montego Bay"

Mountain Colors Weaver's Wool Quarters - Raspberry
Mountain Colors Weaver's Wool Quarters in "Raspberry"

Creativity counts! Really think about it and put in your comment by midnight on January 11th. **Winners will be contacted via email, so please do fill out the little form with your email address if you'd like to be considered.** Thanks for reading!

edited to add: I don't want to force people to leave their email addresses in their comments. If you have a blog attached to your profile on Blogger, I can find you! If you are blogless, please give me some way to contact you. thanks.

86 comments:

KnitaSaur said...

One thing? A lace shawl in itsy bitsy yarn with long color changes. It would challenge me and keep me entertained. Especially the color changes. I'm a simple creature!

Jadielady said...

Hmm. not sure if its cheating or not, but I would go for a pair of socks. I've never knit socks, or used DPN's... so I figure they'd take me a good long while to do.
If not then a sweater - pretty much the same reason.
I've mostly only knit scarves so far :)
my email is jadielady at jadielady.com

Michelle, Queen Behind the Lens! said...

As the mom & stepmom of three boys, I am excitedly awaiting the birth of a baby girl in Arpil! If I could knit only one thing in 2008, it would be a large afghan to wrap us both in while we nurse & cuddle during her first days home with us. I would knit if from the softest cotton/wool blend I could find in spring colors-- petal pink & leaf green & pale lavender & whisper white. Later on, it would become her blanket & she could fold it at the foot of her bed to keep her toes warm at night. :)

Michelle, Queen Behind the Lens! said...

liviningraham@comcast.net

Brynne said...

I'd knit Serrano, from the Fall 2006 knitty, with the yarn I bought while I was in labor with my second this past spring. I wasn't about to let a silly thing like being in labor stop me from going to the Schaefer trunk show and sale at my LYS! The thing is, with the lace pattern and tiny gauge, it would probably take me all year to knit. :)

http://knitlet.typepad.com

Bertha said...

My answer will be the exact opposite of creativity so I hope it doesn't disqualify me! If I could only knit one thing in 2008, it would be a Clapotis. The reasons for this are multi-fold: 1. It's the first pattern I saw that really made me want to learn how to knit, 2. I'm not much of a lace knitter or a shawl person but this looks like it would be perfect because you can wear it is a dressy wrap if needed, or scrunch it up and wear it as a scarf with jeans and a sweater, 3. 2008 being touted as the year of fearless knitting, I think it would be a good project to get over my fears of "large" projects. Right now I think the largest thing I've knit is June's stocking, and uh, that's not very large. It also seems like a really complicated project to me, even though I know people say it's simple (but have you seen all those crazy Clapotis spreadsheets out there?? Do I really want to knit something complicated enough to require a spreadsheet?), so I'd be super impressed with myself if I was able to do it, and 4. I have the perfect yarn for it in my stash, 3 skeins of Sheep Shop 3, a 30/70 silk/merino blend in a pretty wildflowery color, so it takes care of the stash knitting requirement too.

Katie said...

Only one thing? It would have to be a long-term project so I wouldn't finish it with too much time to spare. Maybe a lace bedspread? Pair of floor-length curtains? That red evening gown of Annie Modesitt's design? Or more realistically, a nice big afghan. An aran afghan. There you go, an aran afghan! That's what I'd knit.

jessica said...

only one thing eh?!... well I actually just bought some yarn to make some norwegian mittens... but if it was for a whole year I'd have to say a fair isle sweater for ME!!! It would be given full attention with no other knitting distractions around. I'd also really like to chalange myself.

Joan said...

If I were to only knit one thing in 2008 it would probably be mitered afghans to use up my two big hampers of odds and ends. Using black as the first row, I've made two of these in the past and they look like stained glass...and no sewing up.

Rachel said...

Email: fiberfiend6891@gmail.com

I'd knit a house cozy. Yes, I do mean like a tea cozy, but for a house. I wouldn't want to finish my year's allotment of knitting too soon, so let's make it a mansion cozy. That'll keep me occupied.

Jodi said...

What marvelous goodies! If I could knit just one thing, it would be a fair isle baby sweater from the classic Debbie Bliss book Nursery Knits.

knittindaisy said...

ok, i'll bite. mostly because it's an easy question for me to answer. if i could only knit one thing in 2008, it would be my striped coat. i've been drooling over the pattern for 2 years, bought the pattern about a year ago and finally purchased the yarn last november as my birthday present from hubster.

Kim said...

If I could knit one thing for myself...wow, that is hard. I always knit for my kids, very rarely for myself. So, as much as I want to say I would knit Swing Thing for my dd, I really would have to knit Mr. Greenjeans for myself. I have some of the yarn I need for it, and will be buying the rest slowly but surely. Like I said, I never knit for myself, so it would be nice to have something for me.

Kim said...

I forgot my email addy - kimborchert AT gmail DOT com

Devonshire said...

Now normally I would go the selfish route, but for this one thing I would knit my husband a fisherman's sweater. It is a large project (one I have yet to do), it is done in the round, it is full of gorgeous cables (love them), it would take me a while to complete and make sense of all the cables and it would be a wonderful Christmas gift. Happy early Blogiversary and 100 posts!

Vicki Knitorious said...

I would knit either a huge cabled cardigan -- actually, probably more of a coat -- or I would tackle and learn (and hopefully master -- do-able in a year?) Fair Isle or a Dale-type sweater.

ikkinlala said...

I'd knit a huge crazy-quilt-style afghan, because it would probably take the whole year to finish and I'd be able to incorporate just about any techniques or yarns that caught my fancy. I'd make the middle in thick, warm wool and tight patterns (maybe even double-knit) to wrap up in when it's bone-chillingly cold, and toward the edges I could add lighter yarns or lace for a change of pace (or hang socks and mittens off the edges? I could call it fringe...) I could do patterned pieces when I wanted a challenge and plain pieces when I wanted to relax, and I could use up all my yarn scraps (which would bring back good memories of things I'd made in the past).

I probably don't have the artistic vision to make such a project end up looking good to anyone else, but it would be fun and useful and I'm sure that by the end of it I'd have convinced myself that it was beautiful too.

I've been saving all my scraps for just such a possibility.

MorganMagic said...

what I'd really love to knit, a huge project, is the Lizard Ridge with Noro yarn
I'm chronically ill and have pain 24/7, so I spend most of my time on the couch knitting or sleeping, under a warm and cosy blanket; I would love to lie under a self-knit one ;-)

RisaJ said...

If I could only knit one thing this year it would be the River Knits Year Long Afghan. With this afghan, you will knit one square a month and by the end of the year you will have finished your afghan. Each square is different and you can use different colors for each square.

This should keep me busy for the year and I won't get bored by looking at only one color.

Risa
coffee dot knitting at gmail dot com

Yarn Tails said...

I have the perfect one thing to make for the year 2008. Bought some merino/silk blend roving last summer to spin on the new wheel. The reason for this was I fell in love the Bee Field Shawl. So for me would be to spin the yarn into lace weight and knit that baby up. I am just about to the lace weight on the spinning wheel. A little more practice should have the shawl to me by next December! ;)

Miss T said...

Only one thing...a gigantic lace shawl, complicated and endless and made from luscious cashmere. Mmmm..

Wendy said...

Only one thing??? Wow! That's a tough one! Honestly I don't think I could do without a pair of socks on the needles somewhere among the several projects I seem to have going on at once. So it might be socks as they seem to be quick take anywhere projects that keep me motivated during the longer projects. Then there's the desire to create larger wearable knits. I'm almost finished with my first ever sweater and I'm already jonesing for the next one. I just hope this one fits really well when it's all said and done.

Anonymous said...

knit only one thing? That is a hard one. I have about 15 projects going on at the mo ( i get bored easily).

I think my one thing really should be the knee high stripey socks I promised my housemate way back in september. I bought the yard and everything but they are still sitting there in my stash pile looking a little bit rejected. Its not my fault (well actually...) but there are always more interesting things to knit!!

gemmadbryan at hotmail dot com

K. Anne said...

If I could only knit one thing, it would be something to keep the new baby cuddly! (Due Feb 15th) Either a blanket or a sleeper. My email is ksknitchic@yahoo.com. Happy 100th post!

Criosa said...

hmmmm... just one thing?

it's a toss-up between a cabled afghan (there's a few in my queue - the GAAA, a reversible Lily Chin one, and the one in MagKnits a few months back) or argyle socks to match my non-existent Highland dance kilt. or maybe a 'traditional' Aran sweater. I'm sure with swatching and all I could make it take a year.

http://knit.criosa.com/blog/

goodkarma said...

Maybe this is a boring answer, but if I could only knit one thing this year it would be the Tangled Yoke Cardi that I started before the holidays and put down in order to make a pile of hats and mittens.. and then I started the Tilted Duster... and my goals lately have been to be a bit more of a monogamous knitter. I really want to get back to that cardi soon and wear it!

Congrats on meeting milestones with your blog... the yarny prizes are so beautiful!

Yarn Devil said...

One thing, Ok if you mean I can make multiples of one thing it would be socks. If you mean that it has to take me all year to knit one thing, it would be a big comfy cabled sweater for me... :)
Congrats on your 99 posts!

Melissa @ Banana Migraine said...

Hmmmm...this is hard. I think I'd knit a fair isle sweater. I haven't tried fair isle yet, so i'm sure it would take me awhile to master!

Happy 100 posts :)

Lauren said...

if I were to only be allowed to knit on a single item all year I would have to find a complicated pattern for a blanket in fingering-weight yarn and make it king-sized (at least!). if I were to only be allowed one type of item it would be a more difficult decision... I've been on a sock craze for the last year, but I can feel myself switching out of that towards self-designed tops.

Eliza said...

What a difficult question (and a lot of answers!)!

If I could knit one thing, I would knit myself a very comfortable but attractive all around sweater. What sweater that is is another question... probably either Oblique from Knitty or the Breton Jacket by Mari Lynn Patrick. Both patterns would keep in occupied and interested but also result in something that I'd probably wear several times a week.

Sharon said...

If I could only knit one thing in 2008, it would have to keep me busy and interested. I think I would have to go for a Sudoku Afghan - 9 different patterned squares, each in 9 colours to give an 81 square blanket with no repeat of colour or pattern in each row or column.

serendipity.uk AT googlemail.com

Agata said...

The one thing I'd knit this year...

Gosh. It'd have to fulfill so many requirements - it'd have to take a long time (since, well, I'd want it to last me a decent fraction of the year?). It'd also have to be made out of some truly kick-butt yarn. And some pretty fun color work to keep my brain working. And above all, it would have to be a meaningful project.

All that being said, here's the final verdict:

I'd knit a thigh or shin-length sweater coat, inspired by the gorgeous designs in Russian Dressing from Vogue Knitting's Holiday edition. When I saw those patterns, I immediately thought of my grandmother who passed away last year. She was Polish, and so the Slavic themes remind me so much of her home and her sense of style. She was also the reason that my mom, and therefore I, got into crafts - she was a seamstress, knitter, crocheter, and all around amazing woman. Her hand-crocheted table cloths are worthy of being museum pieces! I can just see her wearing a coat like the one I'd knit! And once I was done, I'd give it to my mom - she took her mom's death really hard, and hopefully it would bring back good memories in addition to staying warm!

knittinbrit_in_wi said...

Well, the realistic part of me would say that I'd knit Rogue in cardigan form, then sweater, one with and one without the hood. And any other variation I could come up with that would provide me with ample knitting time, so that my hands weren't left needleless for part of the year.

But there is only so much variation you can get from one pattern, unless it's socks. So I'd take the basic sock recipe and a Barbara Walker Treasury and make as many different variations of socks as my little size 0's could produce.

Oh wait a minute - what about mittens - I could really have fun with those and have a lot of variety.

You know... I just can't narrow it down. So my answer is:

If you were only allowed to knit one thing in 2008, what would you knit?

Something/anything in wool and lots of it.

Now, my guess for what you'd pick would be either socks or different top down sweaters, as I know you love them.

Aren't you glad that we aren't stuck with one project.

whitney said...

Oh, wow, to knit only one thing would be so hard! I always have about 6 different things on the needles at a time. But if I really could only knit one thing in 2008, I'd make it a Bohus sweater, one of the kits from www.solsilke.se (probably "Wild Apple"). I had such a blast knitting my bohus-inspired sweater in a heavier weight yarn last year, so the pattern would surely make me happy, and the fine-gauge angora-blend yarn would be both heavenly to knit with, and make the sweater take a whole lot longer than my worsted-weight Bohus did!

Mari said...

Hey! What a great idea for a contest. And I feel your pain, I too am a middle child. :)

One thing, huh?

Hmm, well, sweaters take me forever to get finished, so that would work. I want to make Oblique. And since this fantasy, right, I would want to make it in a very soft grey cashmere. Ha, if only! Do you know how many skeins that would be? How much moola? Of course, if it was the only thing for the year, it would probably be equivalent to what I would spend normally for all the yarn and projects I do throughout the year.

email:my_weezy@yahoo.com

E said...

If I could only knit one thing, it would be a baby blanket. My best friend (we've been friends for 17 years now) is having her first child in May and the blanket would be for the new baby.

mamarara said...

If I could knit only one thing it would probably be a sweater for myself. Or I would make my son a Christmas stocking

T.M. said...

If I could only knit one thing it would be a Fair Isle sweater. I've never done any so I think it would take me quite a while to knit it.

misplacedpom said...

If I could only knit one thing... it would be something without a screw up! No miscrossed or forgot-to-cross-ed cables, no split yarn, no obvious lame brain moments, just one perfect thing, any one perfect thing!

(Can you tell I flung the back of my sweater across the room in disgust a couple of hours ago?!)

Alana said...

Sounds like a great opportunity to tackle something I very much want to knit, but keep putting off because it's big and I don't want it to interfere with all the other projects that also call out to me!

An afghan. Big, cozy, and soft! Maybe one with cables, or else one with lots of fun colors--perhaps a geometric design. I love geometrics!

mybusyhands at gmail dot com

Robin said...

Hey Friender...remember me? I finally found you again, now I'm adding you to my GoogleReader so I won't lose your blog again!

You can't make me knit just one thing...can you? Well, I guess it would have to be something cabled like St. Brigid from Alice Starmore.

maitai said...

i don't need anymore yarn (yarn diet, over here!!!), but congratulations! fun contest! :) i think i'd choose to knit myself a nice sweater if i could knit only one thing in 2008!

Holly said...

1 thing I would finish my son's blanket, that I started. Better add it to my list to finish this year.

Holly said...

hwaldrop@gmail.com Sorry I forgot to put it up.

Heather said...

I gave it a lot of thought and since I am intimadated by socks it will have to be SOCKs, a pretty striped(self striping) pair I think:)
My email is twoaugustgirls@comcast.net
Congtas on your 99th post!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Well, if I had to limit myself to a single 'thing', that's easy! I'd knit a King Sized Sampler Afghan *grin* It might be cheating, but at least it'd keep me knitting, and is about the only way I'd ever complete something THAT HUGE with knitting LOL. I'd do one with little dishcloth sized blocks or samplers of stitches (because stitches make me so happy!) and then get to put them all togethah!

Happy bloggerversary!

Anne (www.yarnfamily.com)

Anonymous said...

Happy nearly 100th post!! :-)

I have yet to knit anything for myself, actually, and so I would love to knit either the Central Park Hoodie or Mr. Greenjeans, just for me. I think I deserve a little fibery goodness, don't you?!

Missy said...

Central Park Hoodie. I am dying to knit myself a sweater and it will take a while. The yarn is on it's way, just have to buy the pattern. Thanks for the contest, I am adding you to my reader.

:)

mhighfill at gmail.com

Anonymous said...

If i could knit one thing in 2008 it would be a lacy shawl....with teeny needles and delicate yarn....I have yet to master lace, but hey, a girl can dream can't she???

Alwen said...

Well, I'd sure love to win yarn! And such pretty yarn, too.

Only ONE thing? I guess it couldn't be socks, then.

Okay, if I could only knit one thing in 2008, I'd knit an Orenburg shawl. That ought to take up the whole year.

Mandy said...

If I could only knit one thing all year, it would be a fair isle hat using at least four colors. That way, when I was finished, I could unravel it and start again with a different pattern.

(P.S. You have tons of great entries to choose from! I'm enjoying reading them all, and sadly, I no longer think I'll win.)

Unknown said...

I would have to knit a long sweater coat. I drool over many patterns, but I never feel like I would stick with it long enough to finish. Maybe that's how I'll get through one... Hmmm maybe your onto something ;)

ponyknit@yahoo.com

dsb said...

I would knit a cabled blanket for two of my friends who are getting married. I know it has disaster written all over it :) but I can't help but want to show my love with wool.

dsb said...

briarl at gmail

wenders said...

Only one thing?! It would have to be a lace shawl, probably a very simple one. I really like the idea of Muir, from Knitty (http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall07/PATTmuir.html). The reason? I'm going to CHINA this year and need something that's challenging, airplane friendly and that will take a while...! ;)

Chelsea said...

A sweater full of complicated cables. It would be challenging, interesting, and fun since I like cables.

Anonymous said...

One thing - definitely a Christmas stocking for the babe-to-be so the family stockings are complete. You certainly know how to get to your Internet buddy! LOL! Kathy

Trista Hill said...

I think that I would knit a sweater and get it right this time. Meaning, knit it so I could really wear it. Something a little sexy (can a sweater be sexy?). Feminine, warm, something I can feel enveloped, embraced, comforted by... something that would help me remember I'm still creative even when I don't feel like it. Hmmm.... maybe I'm describing a robe. !!! I love reading your posts -- happy blogiversary.

Anonymous said...

If I could only knit one thing - I would want to knit some super complicated, full of cables, aran style fisherman sweater for the hubby. But lucky me, I get to knit multiple things! hee..hee! BTW - just wanted to leave a comment. You can leave me out of the drawing since I have so much!

Anonymous said...

If I could knit just one thing it would be a fair isle cardigan that I have been putting off for two years because the idea of steeking scares me. And then I'd wear it until it fell off me. Which I plan to do this year anyway. :)

Mary Mary said...

If I could only knit one thing, i would knit these: http://www.louet.com/patterns_online/overthekneesocks.shtml
I've never knit socks before, and the knee high length would ensure that it would take me, a traditional turtle knitter, all year long to complete :)

Anonymous said...

Hi* what a funny contest! :D I would knit a calendar! I should knit one day each day, and the weekends were to knit a set to put the previous week and/or month. This way, I wouldn't loose track of time (I never know which day it is) and keep me occupied everyday! Should be fun! :D

My email is knitisses [at] gmail [dot] com

kisses from Portugal*

sheep#100 said...

I'd knit a king sized comforter - so that I wouldn't run out of knitting to do for the entire year.

Hmmm. Now that's an idea. Big huge blanket. Lots of different colors and textures in each square....

nova said...

this one is easy. Autumn Rose. Well, maybe the Venezia Pullover...no, autumn rose, all the way. That would be my one knit for 2008 if I absolutely had to choose.... what is yours?!

Michele said...

Wow, only one thing to knit?

I would have to say a log cabin blanket. I have always wanted to knit a blanket for my house but I know that I would never finish it. Since it is so big it would probably keep me busy all year!! :-)

Happy Blogiversary!!

Dj said...

I would knit a sweater for me because I have never knit anything that I didn't give away to someone else.

Ruth said...

Tough one! I have such a hard time being a monogamous knitter.

I think my first choice would be something Fair Isle. Which I would have perfected. No lumpy floats in my One and Only Knit!

Jen C said...

I'd have to knit Venezia (IK winter 06). I've already started and I'm definitely going to finish. I'm using Kureyon sock as the pattern color and the color changes are keeping me going. The color changes are also going to be a problem since I want the sleeves to match the patterning in the body (like the sweater in the mag). So working through that will keep me entertained for some time.

MamaMay said...

I would knit baby booties because I am preggo and am just that way.

My Ravelry ID is MamaMay so contact me there please.

evergreenknits said...

Um, how about I just keep knitting one huge scarf out of everything in my stash ... with the sneaky idea that I can eventually cut it into individual scarves at the end of the year! Sort of cheating, I know, but I don't think I could bear to do just one thing.

p.s. I posted about this contest at WiKnit

lexa said...

If I could only knit one thing this year it would have to be a very fair isle sweater -- lots of pattern and color changes. Not that I knit stuff like that, but it would take me a long time. Since it would be the only thing I could knit then it would have to take awhile, wouldn't it?

darganknits at hotmail dot com

KT said...

The one thing that I would knit this year is a baby blanket for my first niece (or nephew?), due in July. It's not going to be hard, though it will take a while, it's just that I know that it will be cherished for a very long time. It will be green, and probably a cotton/acrylic blend, and it will incorporate some kind of stitch pattern that is fun but easy to remember.

I'll be knitting this blanket anyway - but of all the projects I have planned for the year this is the one I'm most looking forward to. Which reminds me, my second niece (or nephew!) is due in August, so probably I'll have to make two blankets!

cthulhulovesme said...

Just one thing? I think it'd have to be a Lizard Ridge afghan made with Noro Silk Garden. Knitting, for me, is as much about color and texture as it is the finished product. I know I'd be happy if the only thing I could knit all year was Silk Garden.

Shea said...

If I could only knit one thing this year it'd have to be a sweater. Maybe the Bella Paquita by Marnie Mclean?

Sharon Rose said...

A very complicated beaded lace shawl. It would keep me busy and challenged for a long time... This is actually one of my knitting goals for this year!

Unknown said...

daaang this is a pretty difficult question.. i think i would have to say a sweater (specifically, a light v-neck pullover with a hood), because i have yet to knit one, and the yarn for my first sweater is sitting in my stash right now. so it just seems practical. plus, it'll probably take me all of 2008 to finish anyway! :) great question though.

chris (cauyeung@ucsd.edu)

Kitty Kitty said...

Only one thing? Probably one of the Finish Shawls on 000 for that it would last the entire year. I wouldn't want to be sad without any knitting for the year.

cillaann at gmail dot com

edina said...

Only one?! I guess I would pick a project that is beyond my current ability and would take me awhile to finish, so it would probably be the Forest Path Stole (Interweave Knits Summer 2003). I have yet to knit lace or entrelac so it would be a big challenge!

Rachel said...

Hmmm...one thing. I guess I should limit it to something that I actually have the skills to knit (cuz Autumn Rose would be at the top otherwise!). So I'd go with a Hemlock Ring Blanket. I love that pattern! Thanks for the contest!

monica said...

Well, that's kind of a terrifying thought, but I'll take the plunge: I'd knit a sampler blanket, trying all kinds of new stitch patterns in 8 inch squares. The seaming alone, with my procrastination, would take months!

No blog, but I'm monicawhitley@gmail.com

MiniLaura said...

I would knit St. Brigid by Alice Starmore.

Happy 100th post!

Lucie said...

I would make a garter stitch jacket that is smushy and cosy to warm me up during this cold winter.

Turtle said...

Yup, a big lace shawl, one you could really wrap yourself up in. It would have tight stitches, or small ones with beads worked into the design. It would keep my fingers busy!

Heide said...

Only one thing? Yikes! That would have to be a very large blanket out of very small needles and DK weight yarn so that I didn't complete it and then not have anything else to knit the rest of the year.

YoMamma said...

One thing?
A cocoon

I don't crochet so I'd have to convert the pattern...

dragonxser said...

only one knitting project?? Well, then it would have to be a wedding ring shawl of the type in Heirloom Knitting - tiny needles and tinier yarn that would make a project to last the year :) And of course, given how often I would have to rip things back, it might take more than a year!!