Jan 9, 2013

Winning Wednesdays

I'm joining in Ginny's Yarn Along this week.

It might be different where you live, but for some reason (which I really can't explain), I don't have many knitting friends. I mean in-the-flesh knitting friends.  My circle of fiber friends exist in the virtual world and with the ease of technology today, I have no complaints.  It's a rich and sincere and joyful circle. Still, sometimes it would be nice to actually knit with someone and chat over patterns and yarn and projects.

Much to my absolute delight and surprise, the other day, as I left my house for a walk in the sunshine, I passed my neighbor, Jess, as she arrived home.  I couldn't help but notice the stack of library books in her arms, with one in particular that caught my eye.  On its spine was the word KNITTING and after a quick chat, I learned that Jess was teaching herself to knit.  Fast foward, Jess came over the other night and I taught her how to cast on and knit garter stitch. Now that I'm an intermediate knitter, it was eye-opening to step back in time and teach the basics, making sure to use the right language and include the right steps. I wanted to make sure I didn't assume too much (or too little) and I wanted to focus on good habits.  I gifted Jess my pair of US9 wood needles so that she could have a better grip -- both in her hands and with her yarn.  It was lovely to chat about her aspirations with knitting and my huge passion for it.

Our visit reminded me how much I enjoy sharing and with this in mind, I'm starting a weekly giveaway which I'm calling Winning Wednesdays. Every Wednesday, I'll have a little something to offer which I hope you'll like.  All you have to do is comment on the post or answer a question I may pose. I'll draw and announce the winner on the following Wednesday. Hope you'll play....and hope you'll win!


This week, the giveaway is two skeins of Fiesta Rayon Boucle, one in lilac and the other in clematis. This is worsted weight, each with 240 yards.  Imagine the beautiful spring-inspired shawl or shrug you can knit with these! Leave a comment below for a chance to win.

Now to my reading: I finished A.M. Homes May We Be Forgiven and was pretty speechless when I was done. How do writers do it?  How do they create characters who are so real, so complicated, with entire lives that they inhabit?  I'm a really slow reader and at 480 pages, I wondered at first just how long this novel would take me to finish.  I was riveted and polished off this book in a mere two weeks!  That may not be impressive to some of you super fast readers, but for me, it was like winning silver in a marathon.  Go read this book!

41 comments:

  1. I love teaching other people how to knit. I was lucky enough to teach a kids class in the Fall. I am hoping to be able to have another class this coming Spring. That yarn is gorgeous! I am feeling Spring and warm weather looking at that :-)

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  2. OK, that yarn is beautiful! I'm with you, most of my knitting friends are here on the weekly yarn along. My friends at home don't knit. I have one friend from work who does, but she lives on the complete opposite side of town and if I were to go with her to her knit shop for knit night, it would take me an hour of drive time each way. My local knit shop does a couple of knit nights, but I don't know anyone there. I should just bite the bullet and go.

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  3. I can relate! I sometimes wish that I had real life knitting friends too but then I remember that Yarn Along on Wednesday is all I can manage with two little ones to juggle.
    I would love a chance to win that yarn.

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  4. Thank you for sharing this story- I guess I assumed you went to a knit night, or maybe even hosted one yourself! I have a few in the flesh knitting friends but none living near enough to meet up very often.
    Beautiful yarn: good luck to everybody ♥

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  5. I don't have many real life knitting friends either - and I worry that I totally freak out new knitters because I am sure that my eyes pop and my mouth froths when I get started talking about knitting.... But, my mum is a long time knitter and, although on the other side of the world we chat about our knitting on Facetime. I have to laugh sometimes, it's like having a video podcast, holding things up and trying to get the colour right!
    Lovely idea for a regular giveaway! The Boucle is fab - Oh the things I could do with some of that :)

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  6. Stunning yarn! Also, this is the kind of book review writer's dream of! :)

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  7. I live in an isolated region of Quebec. My friends are all on Ravelry. I think it would be lovely to have someone to chat and knit with. The yarn colours lilac and clematis makes me yearn for spring .

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  8. Oh, why can't you be my neighbour? I bet you can still teach me enough! I'm happy to have a knitting night once a month. There are a couple ladies I now see pretty often during the rest of the month, for knitting or shopping or sewing. I ♥ my crafty friends! The ones I've met online and the ones I see in real life! ♥

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  9. aww it's lovely to meet knitters and have some lovely knitting time - it sounds like you had alot of fun. have a knitty wednesday xx

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  10. I too have been teaching a friend how to knit. This is the first person I'm teaching, so I am so afraid that I'll mess up and tell her something wrong.

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  11. Thank God for my LYS! Because of the wonderful store and its owners I have met some great ladies that I knit with every Friday. On any other day i can just drop in and stay a while and knit. What a gift.

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  12. Your post caused me to step back and be thankful for my in-real-life knitting friends, (and daughter) who have taken the time to teach me and then to cheer me on each week at knit night.If not for them, I would not be a knitter now. Your friend is blessed to have you, as am I to *know* you! I would love to get together and knit over a hot drink with-- and by the way, you finished your book much faster than I would a book that size.
    The yarn is lovely I can just picture it on my stash shelf!
    *smiles*

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  13. I completely know how you feel, I have taught multiple girls on my floor to knit and it's crazy seeing them make the same mistakes I used to!

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  14. It is very satisfying to introduce someone to the world of knitting! thanks for the giveaway fun!

    mamagiff on ravelry

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  15. I'm the same way. I don't have a knitting group & sometimes I really wish I did. My mom knits though & when we get together we almost always knit together. When Ree is older maybe I'll join the knitting group at the local store. What a wonderful story about teaching your neighbor to knit. I don't know if I have the patience to teach someone! What beautiful yarn you are giving away. You are so generous!

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  16. I think it's wonderful that you have someone you can now knit with and help learn this wonderful craft. I do not no anyone who knits in person, only in blogland. I keep trying to teach my husband how to knit,but he doesn't want to learn.

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  17. oops, that should be know, not no! ;)

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  18. Hey Evelyn, happy new year and all the best in 2013. I remember my first knitting attempts - terrible stuff! I made my sister the ugliest scarf, poor thing wore it too so as not to hurt my feelings. Hope you have a great knitting year in 2013. I have been reading healthy recipe books - that tells you were I am at after the holidays!!

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  19. I love spending time with like minded people, it so much fun to craft with others. I've taught a few people to craft now and love it. Gorgeous yarn. Deb x

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  20. Teaching someone a new skill like knitting is the best feeling. I loved teaching my nieces to knit. Even if they take up the needles sporadically, I know that I have passed along something special to me. The Winning Wednesdays giveaway is so generous of you!

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  21. I hope your wish to knit with someone human transpires with your neighbor Jess and you have hours of fun together.Currently I am knitting some fingerless gloves and plan to start on another sweater by next week. Smackewich on Raverly

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  22. I love your story about teaching your neighbor the knitting basics! Passing on what you know and are passionate about is really special. I wish I had more in-the-flesh knitting friends too.

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  23. How lucky for you. A new knitting friend. :-) I think its lovely that you could help out and maybe you will have lots of fun together in the future. I just love teaching people to knit or crochet especially that moment when they get it and it all falls into place. I have a few friends that either knit or crochet but they don't seem to be as obsessed as me. hehe.

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  24. Thanks for sharing this. It is some how good to know, that other people don't have many in flesh knitters around them either. Reading the yarn along always shows me that there are so many other knitter out there but just not somewhere near me. The only people I might share my knitting with are my mum, my grandma and my boyfriend's mum. Oh and then there is that friend of a friend who knits and the waitress where we have lunch sometimes but both only do easy stuff. And another friend is crocheting... But still. Other than that most people go: "Wow, you are knitting. Isn't that awfully difficult? Even my mum doesn't know how to knit..."
    So I can just say: I wish you lots of fun with your new knitting friend!

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  25. I would love to teach my daughters to knit and crochet but they simply do not like it. Maybe they will change their mind in a decade or two.

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  26. How fun to find a knitter so close. Have fun with your new knitting buddy!

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  27. It is exciting to help others learn to knit, isn't it? I have been fortunate enough to have a group of knitters to knit with once a week and we all help each other along. I have taught a couple of people to knit the basics and it is so fun to see them create awesome projects!!

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  28. Six of us knitters /quilters had our monthly lunch/afternoon out.

    We talk current project, pass around FOs. An exchange of books lent and have a look at what's new from the library.

    We do actually knit during our afternoon out.

    Yes, Evelyn, I do consider myself fortunate to have 'in the flesh' knitting pals.

    Hugs

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  29. A weekly giveaway? Oh boy your stash must fill a room!
    I love how you taught your neighbor how to start knitting. You know I have done that a few times and it feels so good and rewarding. I know one of my adult students really took to it.

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  30. Love the yarn!!! Thank you for sharing.

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  31. I belong to 2 different knitting groups, one meets every Wednesday morning and the other meets every Saturday morning. It just makes my week to go to my knitting group. The beautiful colors in the yarn reminds me of spring, too. Thanks for having these winning Wednesday for your virtual knitting friends.

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  32. Me and my mum knit, but I don't know anyone else that does. I did not sleep at night when I was a baby so my mum would wedge me in on the sofa with some cushions and I would watch her knit. I don't remember learning to knit - I think that I must have just absorbed it from an early age. I now have a 4 year old daugher and I do so hope that she joins me and mum. I love reading your blog. It is so nice to have that connection. Bx xxx

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  33. even though I know I don't need any yarn, when I see giveaway I automatically apply.....the last time I won something, it was a bunch of lace...and I gave it all away to my teammates on Nerd Wars....so more than one person got to share in that one...

    the yarn is great!

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  34. Beautiful yarn, glad you found a near knitting friend. We all need all the enablers possible

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  35. Beautiful yarn, glad you found a near knitting friend. We all need all the enablers possible

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  36. Knitting and reading..my two favorite past times...I too wish I had some real kitting friends nearby.

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  37. I wish I had more IRL knitting friends!

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  38. I wish I had more IRL knitting friends!

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  39. How fun you got to teach your neighbor to knit! Thank you for the give-away.
    strawberrykid on ravelry.com

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