Super Delicious Giveaway!

Hey there, boys and girls! It's giveaway time - just cuz! I have two types of my quality recycled yarn (available at my store, Howard Knits) to give away - another 770 yards of the silk/viscose/alpaca/cashmere blend that was featured in the previous giveaway and 990 yards of a 100% cotton in a cool denim blue color.

This worsted weight 72% silk/13% viscose/10% alpaca/5% cashmere blend is super soft and a dream to work with. 770 yards should give you plenty to make some mitts and a hat, an amazing cabled scarf, or whatever you dream of.

This multi-ply chunky weight 100% cotton would make some great mesh bags, a few cool wash cloths, or a heavy tee. Course, you could make whatever you want with it!

There are three ways to enter:

1) Leave me a comment about what attracts you to a blog. What really makes you want to read longer or dig deeper? What really turns you off? In other words, in your opinion, what makes a blog perfect?

2) Sign up to be a follower and tell me in a separate comment. If you are already a follower, let me know that, too, in a separate comment.

3) Blog about the giveaway and link back to your announcement in a separate comment.

I will pick a winner using a random number generator next Monday and announce the lucky winner in the blog! So get going, win some yummy yarn, and knit or crochet something amazing!

Lace Knit Along Update

So I've completely changed my mind about what to knit. I am knitting the Cold Mountain Stole by Kieran Foley from the summer 2009 issue of Knitty. I'm not much into girly lace and I'm growing sick of socks because of the current pair I'm knitting, so I did a total knitting turn around. This stole is right up my alley and would work with yarns and supplies that I already have.







I tried using my red merino wool cashmere blend, which I have tons of, but I have found that if I pull it too tight it breaks. I suspect this would be a problem with any one-ply cashmere, so I'm just going to be careful with it. I think red would work extremely well with this pattern. Another option, but one that would take a bit more time, is that I have a 100% silk sweater with 4 ply lace weight yarn that I haven't unraveled yet. It's a salmon color, which isn't a fav of mine, but silk is incredibly strong - oh, and it's silk. BUT, I probably could make a boatload of money off of 100% silk laceweight, so I think I'll go with the red (stream of consciousness writing helps solve so many problems, I've found).

So that's it. Will be casting on Monday! Happy Sunday!

Hundreth Post Yarn Giveaway!!

For my hundreth post, I'm excited to offer a yarn giveaway. This yarn is from my inventory of recycled yarns that I sell on etsy at Howard Knits. I recycle only top quality sweaters with luxury yarns. The only disadvantage that I have found about recycled yarn is that manufacturers use knots to do joins, so they are occassionally encountered in the yarn. But I would never offer up yarn that I wouldn't knit with myself, and this yarn is AMAZING!



Should you win, the yarn you will receive is a dove grey 70% silk/15% cotton/15% cashmere blend. You will get a total of 810 yards (divided into two skeins). At 15 wpi, it is appropriate for any project that calls for a sport/DK weight yarn.



The yarn is dry clean only.

If you tried to buy similar yarn at yarnmarket.com, you'd spend at least $80 for this much yardage. You'll get this for free! All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below about what you would like to make with this yarn. I always love to see what other people are thinking about knitting!



On Thursday, I will use a random number generator to determine the winner. So let the commenting begin! Good luck! And thanks for sharing my hundreth post with me!


LisaWynnMist, photobucket

Faith Stone

My husband, who is well versed in my current faith dilemmas, gave me this stone. The picture shows it placed on my bed stand (it has a new place, though, since Will likes to take it and hide it. It's his thing. My phone is currently missing. And he turned off the sound.) Anyhow, I put it in my pocket every day and when I put my hand in my pocket, which I do a lot, I'm supposed to think about what faith means. I understand that it's "giving it all to God," "letting God be in the driver's seat," and all that, but I am so darn independent and bull-headed. Stubborn is another word that comes to mind. I want to be in control.

Oswald Chambers said, "I have to learn that the aim in life is God's, not mine. God is using me from his greatest personal standpoint, all he asks of me is that I trust Him, and never say - - Lord, this gives me such heart-ache . . . He simply asks me to have implicit faith in Himself and His goodness." Implicit faith. Get over the stubborn need for control. Easy enough, right?

So that's really it. Snuggled in after our huge snowstorm, keeping dry and warm (though the kids are not - they are getting as cold and wet as possible!).

And as a final note, this is my 99th post. For my hundredth, I'm going to give away some SUPER YUMMY yarn. Tell your friends! Let the yarnies know. To tempt you, I will tell you that silk and cashmere are involved. MMMmmmm!

New Super Yummy Yarn

I've been working hard here at Howard Knits recycling beautiful yarns.



This supersoft, wonderfully colorful yarn reminds me of party streamers. It's a cotton, acrylic blend that would make a great hat or mittens and hold its shape well because of the addition of the acrylic. 435 yards available for $9.00.



The most absolutely luscious yarn that I have ever had the pleasure to recycle, this beautiful silk / viscose / alpaca / cashmere blend will leave your fingers happy. 310 yards of this sport / DK weight yarn available for $17.50.



Buttery soft merino wool / angora / cashmere blend that would make the coziest, yummiest hat or mittens. 220 yards of worsted weight yarn for $10.00.



I LOVE this yarn! It is the perfect inky blue tweed acrylic / wool / angora blend. It's fuzzy, chunky, perfect for a great scarf or, well, anything! 425 yards for $9.00

I also have laceweight cotton, virgin irish wool, super soft red angora, and many others, and multiple skeins of most. I love this yarn, and I'm sure that you will, too!



Took some time to decorate tha mantle today. It's really starting to look like Christmas here!