Saturday 3 October 2009

Giveaway!!!!!!!!!

Hi Everyone,

I and my blog are celebrating our one-year anniversary! I can't believe it's only been a year, it seems like I've been doing this for years and I can't imagine life without blogging now!

I started this blog in August 2008 as a way of venting about my knitting projects, showing any (limited) success I had, and trying to meet fellow knitters. One of my favourite things is hearing from non-knitting friends about things that they've read or seen on the blog.

Over time, my skills have definitely grown, and so the blog has grown with me. I now have free patterns available that I designed, and am pleased to count as friends, those who visit me in cyber space. The blog (and comments I got from readers) also gave me the idea to start up a knitting group where I live, as I realised how popular the craft had become. Hammersmith Stitch N' Bitch is now also thriving, with new members coming along every week!

Anyway, to celebrate, I am giving away a small token from my stash. This helps me too; like most knitters' stashes, mine is getting too big to handle! So what's up for grabs, I hear you ask? Well, see below:


Three balls of Debbie Bliss Rilato Aran (100% Merino Wool, extra fine superwash, 80m/50g, wash at 30 degrees, recommended needle size 5mm):

1 ball stone-blue, colour 21203, dye-lot 78
1 ball forest-green, colour 21209, dye-lot 79
1 ball teal-blue, colour 21211, dye-lot 86*.

I bought the yarn to make some Fetchings for some friends, but didn't get around to making them, and probably never will (my to-do list is growing!). I made a pair for myself some time ago, which I love. They keep the hands toasty while allowing the fingers to work! I wore them all last winter.

Each ball is enough to make a pair of Fetchings, that's right, a whole pair! So you could get three pairs in total out of these balls. Of course, you don't have to make fingerless gloves; you can make whatever you like, incorporate them into a small blanket pattern perhaps.
**Edited 05/10/09**
Sorry, I should have said, leave a comment before 11th October.
People in the US and Canada are not excluded from the competition. That wouldn't be fair now, would it. The giveaway is open to everyone.

Here's what to do: leave me a comment (making sure I'm able to find your email address) about something you like about Rowanberry, or something you saw or read in one of my posts, or anything you'd like me to blog about or see more of on the blog before 11th September, and I'll put the numbers in to the Random Number Generator, and come up with a winner. I'll then ship the yarn to you, covering all postage and packing expenses. If you have a blog I'd really appreciate you mentioning Rowanberry (everyone could do with more site traffic).

*This yarn comes from a pet-free and smoke-free home.

Here's to another few years of Rowanberry!
*** Edited 11/10/09 at 19.51 ***
Thank you so much for your lovely comments. Comments are now closed.

80 comments:

MurrMade said...

Love your blog. I visit occasionally to get inspired. I am in Canada so I am sure it would be too expensive to ship your great giveaway. But just wanted to leave a comment of inspiration.

http://murrmadeknits.blogspot.com

Victoria said...

Hi Rowan! Well, I'm a newbie when it comes to blogs and have only recently discovered how interesting they can be so I've been following yours (and just found out how to officially follow!). Having read some of your posts, I decided to create my own blog page and am finding it a great way to just talk about what's going on with my projects, tricky bits/ new yarn in the post and or course the achievement and success when you finish a project and just want to show someone who understands what kind of work and patience it takes to create!

I quite like reading about current projects people are working on, and have had my eye on the pink shrug you made - might be casting on some new projects soon I think!

Anyway, this is a cool idea - and those aran colours are gorgeous!

Victoria

swjart1 said...

i love your blog and some of the pictures are wonderful. i am in south florida and find inspiration in nature sometimes for knitting.
julia talmadge
swjart1@earthlink.net

Anonymous said...

Happy anniversary!

I so envy you your trip to CA and I loved looking at the pictures!

Enjoy blogging and I hope you will have some more happy blogger years before you!

Annette from Germany
(nosupermom (at) gmx (dot) net)

Dulcinea said...

i love that your blog shows the knitting progress from new-ish to where you're designing your own patterns! makes me realize how ignored my own blog is... must get it back to life!

anyway, the yarn looks yummy!

zuzu said...

I feel your pain on the SMs -- those are my faves as well. And they're inexpensive enough to buy them in quantities!

Li loves David said...

Love the post on CA, AZ, & NV, three of my favorite places in the world! The Rowanberry is beautiful. Happy anniversary on your blog!

Cheers,

Li
nooner911 (at) bellsouth (dot) net

beautyredefined said...

What a blog - I love your rainbow blanket, and your pictures from your travels. I admit to being a little jealous. :)

Thanks for the generous giveaway!

I'm also beautyredefined on ravelry.

Jennifer Conway said...

I am so appreciative of anyone who posts pictures of and writes about yarn and knitting; keep it up!

And I LOVE giveaways! A blog can't have too many of those! They keep me visiting, because I loves me so surprises ;-)

Manda said...

Hi Rowanberry!

I am fairly new to blogs as well as Ravelry which is where I found your giveaway post.

I learned to knit when I was 15 from my grandmother and have been knitting every since. However over the last 4 years my knitting has dropped a lot because I have been in medical school. I have recently picked it up again and am hoping to begin some new projects.

Thank you so much for the inspiration and I hope to get back in the knitting game!

Love the colors and Happy anniversary!

Jess said...

I like to read about the journey involved in designing patterns, as I try to dabble in that from time to time myself (though I'm a hooker, not a sticker, ha ha). :)

Great blog, and gorgeous yarns!!

Jess
jessicacook17@hotmail.com

Pat said...

Uh oh! Am I adding another blog to my roll? I love more opportunities to keep myself from doing what I should be doing!

And I would love to win the giveaway.
I am golfandknit on Ravelry.

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary! Awesome blog! ;)

Anonymous said...

Woweeee! Look at all of the de-lingerers! Love it!

You know I admire your blog and the spin-off of Real Live People that you've formed into a knitting group. I too am pleased to have found a fun circle of cyber-homies (come visit me! sassydoesit.com!). It makes knitting feel more like a team sport, even when your mates are no where near you.

Not only do you have lots of nice knits to share, but you also come over to say hello on my blog thousands of miles away.

And you post pictures of lovely vacations.

And lots of flowers.

I think I'll stick around. ;)

I love Fetching (queued) AND the Rialto Aran...but the premium on US postage should throw my name out of the hat!

InJuneau said...

Your knitting is lovely, but what I most liked, just having watched the PBS "National Parks" series is your photos from your travels. The Grand Canyon is magnificant!

damons at gci dot net

Marsha said...

Happy Blogiversary!
Love the posts and your patterns.

The giveaway is an awesome gesture.

Becky said...

Hi, I happened across your blog and decided to stay a while. I too,just lost my markers,but sadly have not stashed them for safekeeping*sigh*.So glad you found yours! I live in the Pacific Northwest(Oregon) and it's definitely knitting weather here.Brr. Summer ended abruptly a few days ago,but it's so lovely now that the leaves are turning. I'll be dropping by frequently to see what your needles are up to. Happy Fall!

Dori said...

I've just found your blog through the giveaway, and reading it I'm blown away! There are some lovely pictures of what you're making, and I'm looking forward to reading about the completion of your shawl and how you find making it. It's always nice to be able to add something lovely to our wardrobes that we've made, isn't it?

Dori, from Bristol

Sarah {The Student Knitter} said...

I just started following your blog yesterday! Can't wait to read some old posts and learn more about you. :) I just started my knitting blog a few months ago and have been blogging an average of about 4 days a week. I know how exhausting it is! So congrats on one year! :)

Larissa said...

Wonderful pictures!

April Edwards said...

just found your blog, but I love your colorful elegant shawl (even without any lace)

Happy blogiversary!

ReginaG said...

Congratulations on your year anniversary!

I just started knitting two months ago and I'm almost done with my first tank top. Too late to wear this year, however. :/

I've bookmarked your blog and will be sure to check it in the future!

Good luck!

Zaneta @ Runner's Luck said...

I actually just found your blog! I am enjoying it because you blog about your knitting ans mishaps lol... its wonderful because it makes me feel better to know i'm not the only one who loses things lol ;)
Thanks for the giveaway!
Zaneta
superwoman_4002@yahoo.com

Jaime said...

Great idea to start a blog about newish knitting and people can see your knitting grow as you continue! Wish I would've done that. Great projects and great idea!!! :)

Turtle said...

happy blogiversary!! i know what you mean, that was why i started blogging as well and have made some great friends on line because of it!

Sheri Karobonik said...

Happy anniversary. I think I will try your cowl pattern..visit me at www.handmadebysheri.blogspot.com

skaro964@comcast.net

crochetgurl said...

Happy Blogaversary! I've been looking for a beret pattern lately, and your Russet Ripples beret looks quite interesting!

Egater said...

Happy blogiversary!
I do understand what you mean if you say, that ToDo list is growing and you probably never knit those Fechings,
But colors are sobeautiful and I would knit something small and nice ;)

Bekki said...

Didn't know you had a blog until now, interested in see your swallowtail when it's finished. Only thing i'd say is mine is made to the pattern and could do with being a bit bigger, maybe some more repeats of the main lace section. There is somebody on rav that has listed the changes, i'll link thm for you.

Magpieknitter

Knittingdancer on Ravelry said...

I love all of the pictures on the California story. The green and purple sm are pretty. I feel the same way about sock patterns. There are so many in the new patterns each day on Ravelry.
Knittingdancer on Ravelry

Kristen said...

I like all the photos of things you've seen as well as projects you're working on. Happy blogiversary!

dacg said...

Congratulations to you. Love your blog and will follow you. I love Debbie Bliss yarn...

Madre a beautiful hat for my granddaughter..Oh, I found you on Ravelry.

Peace,
Darla

TsunamiTattoo said...

Hey there! I just stumbled upon your blog via Ravelry and I have to say, I love it! The design process you've been going through and the beautiful pictures you post of your vacations are just awesome. I love all your progress reports on your projects too!

Happy Anniversary!

~Tsunami

Julia said...

Your contest is sure generating traffic! Isn't it fun to see people show up? Thanks for the contest- what a great way to celebrate!

The Mama said...

I just found your blog and LOVE IT!!! I'm definitely going to add you to my daily reads and will look out for you on Ravelry too!

Jenn

http://littlebittysteps.blogspot.com

cathe said...

I have just recently discovered your blog and I am so enjoying it. I am drawn to the lovely pictures of your LA trip as I spent 20 years there. I am enjoying all the pictures of places I have been and not been there. I am also looking at the free patterns for the scarf and hat...I love the yarn choice, the color is so vibrant! I think I am too far for you to ship the giveaway yarn (NW Florida) but I wanted to say hello and let you know how I am enjoying your blog. Cathe. hencat@bellsouth.net

elliecat said...

Hello Rowanberry!

I love the colour of that yarn. I just bought myself some teal dk to make a cardigan with (my first cardigan!).

Keep on blogging ;)

Unknown said...

Your patterns look lovely. I may use the cowl pattern at some point. Thanks so much for posting them, as well as for the giveaway. I'm also really enjoying your photos--can I have some of your FO-photographing skills?

Anonymous said...

Hi there. Hadn't seen your blog before, nice to have found it now. Congrats on the anniversary! I'd love to enter your giveaway, I'm in Massachusetts, USA.
recordersmith@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Hi! I came to your blog via Ravelry. I was going to say what liked about your blog was the free scarf pattern but I started reading back and now I have to say that I love the photos of your travels. Now I will have to read all the old posts to see if there are more.

I am cachola in Ravelry.

No blog but my email is:
cachola666atyahoodotcom

MaureenC said...

Happy Blogiversary,
I just completed my very own Swallowtail shawl, and now I think I will cast on for another one in a thicker wool. Looking forward to reading (and following) your blog.

zither AT telus DOT net

beattyw said...

Hi!
It was fun to see your visit to the States. I have been to many of the places you photographed, and it is interesting to see everything through someone elses eyes.
I found you through Ravelry, and enjoy your postings.

Beattyw@union.edu

Lydia said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lydia said...

I love the colors available in Rowanberry. Especially the ones you have on your blog for the giveaway.
Pretty pretty pretty!

Unknown said...

Oooo. Lovely! I've made the "guy" version "Dashing" for myself and I love them too! I wouldn't mind winning this yarn to try out the Fetching pattern though! I've got a few friends who said they wanted some handwarmers!

Kimberly said...

Hello! I'm a recent reader and love your pattern designing process. I hope to see more of that. Your photos are lovely as well.

Beth aka knitsNpurls69 said...

Oh my, it is SO WONDERFUL to find someone who feels the same way about those slippery stitch markers. I had never given them a thought....until I used them once...and that was all it took. Love at first use. Love all the pictures in your blog and also being able to living vicariously thru you on your trip to California. Fantastic!! Now I have added your blog to follow, making me wonder how in the world had I missed it this long???
knitsNpurls69 (on Ravelry)

Lilysunshine said...

Happy anniversary! I've just discovered your blog and it looks very nice. Will have to read more of it! :)

damascusannie@yahoo.com said...

Be sure to post pictures of the swallowtail shawl when you finish it--that's gorgeous yarn.

J said...

I have been wanting to make a couple pair of Fetchings as Christmas gifts! I enjoyed your vacation photos and your stitch marker drama. I use scraps of yarn myself, but I misplaced my smaller darning needle a couple weeks ago, when I needed it for weaving in fingering weight ends, and it did feel like somewhat of an emergency.

Anonymous said...

I found your blog from Ravelry. I have enjoyed yor entries nature and knitting. I commiserate about the sm. I have a large stash of many types and still can't allways find the ones I want.
Chris
Truki on Ravelry

Stephani said...

Your blog is fantastic and the photos of your trip are amazing!

And, loved your SM post - those are my favorites, too! I bought and extra package just in case.

Rose Scott said...

Hi Rowanberry,

I loved your blog. The photos from your travels made me very jealous.

Your knitting is lovely. I found your Rainbow blanket stunning. Where is your Mum in Scotland? My Mum-in-law is from Edinburgh originally but now living in Peebles.

What a lovely giveaway you are doing -- so very thoughtful.
rmscott@wisc.edu

Beth said...

I feel your SM pain. The soft green and purple markers are also my faves, to the point that I buy another bunch every time I see them. I'm glad someone else shares my Stitch Marker Snobbery.

Anonymous said...

loved your pictures from out west. I'm flying to SF and driving the 101 down to SD at the end of the month. Any suggestions for yarn stores on the way? Staying in SF, Cambria, Glendale, and SD.

otiva said...

Love reading you blog and now reading you are doing a Swallowtail makes me think I should cave in a try one. I love lace but fether and fan is all I've managed so far.
Looking at your pics. is the nearest I'll come to a trip to CA, thanks for letting us see them and for sharing your blogging journey. Happy Anniversary and wishes for more to come. x

C said...

Looks like you have a great blog going on here! I'm definitely going to have to start following you :). I love the look of your Russet Ripples Beret (as if I need anything else added to my queue!).

Congratulations on your one year anniversary of blogging.

Feel free to look me up on Ravelry (studentt)

Dorien Ruben said...

Ohh I really like your Fetchings :)
And what should be on your blog.. more happy knitting of course! :)
Blog about what you are into and having fun with will be great to read :)

Elisha said...

I love you entry about the SM's. I was just shopping on etsy thinking some fancy SMs would make me happy. I think simplicity may be the answer though. Thanks!

TripletMom said...

Happy Blogiversary! I love reading knitting blogs! So many that I have found are wonderful for a time, but just as I get hooked they stop posting. Keep up the knitting & the blogging :) Great giveaway by the way

TripletMom on Rav

Anonymous said...

I've been knitting for the last 20 years or so and just recently started checking out the various resources/blogs out there. I am so excited to have just discovered your blog and look forward to following. Happy anniversary.

pharmerjenn@hotmail.com

Elizabeth said...

Hello! I came across your blog from Ravelry. I love your ranibow bear and the green cable coushin! And your pics from California are amazing!

lizziebit on Ravelry

Bianca said...

Congrats on your blog-anniversary! I hope many years will follow

Margie said...

How very generous of you!! I lovemy Fetching gloves too. The Rialto feels wonderful.

mysticmoon said...

Happy anniversary! Fetchings is a fun, quick fingerless mitt pattern, just right for gifting.

kim said...

I love your pictures, especially the ones from your trip. I loved going out West and it seems like your vacation was fun filled. I also really like your patterns.

PBnJ said...

Hi! I really like all the pictures of your trip through AZ and CA. I'm from AZ, and I live in CA. Such beautiful states!

Jen said...

I loved your post about your California trip. I just took a trip to Yosemite a couple of months ago, so it was fun to see your pictures of places I just went to!

Thanks for the giveaway!
Jen
(zgma on Ravelry)

katerina said...

Rowan - one of the things I love about your blog is the header picture - I just love the colors and the stitch. It's so pretty to look at as I read :) I also found the humor in your stitch-maker 'saga' - I always find what I lost ... right after I buy a new one!
malabrigo lovers unite!

|chee-uh| said...

Fun giveaway...Thank you for hosting it! Fetching was fun to knit and I'd like to make a pair for myself.

munkiknits at yahoo.com
or monkalicious on Ravelry

Darcys Knotty Knitter said...

Happy blogaversary and I love the colorway of your umbilical cord hat it will look so sweet on a squishy baby:)
I like a blog that has a little of everything yours has travel, knitting, and patterns I like it:)Hugs Darcy

adriprints said...

Leaving a comment! I hope I win... love that Debbie Bliss yarn. And, congrats on the one-year anniversary of your blog. :D

adriprints (on ravelry)

Erin said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Trudy said...

I'm like many others...I love the free patterns you posted on your site! Thanks for offering such beautiful patterns to us!
My addy is :
toppingoff55@yahoo.com

Kitten With a Whiplash said...

I love the travel posts and all the great pictures. I'm rather a homebody, but I do love travelling vicariously. I've posted to my blog.

Shirley said...

Happy Blogaversary. I'm new to your blog and enjoyed looking at the travel pictures. I'm thinking of doing a Swallowtail too if I ever get the yarn for it!

Debbie said...

Happy Blogiversary! It so nice of you to have a giveaway. I've never used the Rowanberry, but I have made a Fetching. Next time, I'm going to add a gusset to it. Someone on Ravelry made nice notes about it. Would love to make 3 more! Debbie my Rav ID is gusek

GerryART said...

Happy First Blog-versary and here's to many more to come.
I've been wanting to give Debbie Bliss a try, and now here' my opportunity !!!
I'll mention this on my blog right now ! ! ! !

Petit Filoux said...

Oooh that yarn looks lovely!! Well i enjoy coming back to your blog to see what you've been up to - although it was a quiet summer! I see you've put up quite a few updates since I went on holiday this week, so I look forward to catching up on all of it! x

truki said...

I like your blog and left a comment. I don’t like to leave email in an open area.
Chris or Truki