And we have a winner...

After completely spacing the fact that I had to draw the Alluvia giveaway winner tonight (hey, it's been a long week!), we now have a very lucky winner!

There were 41 entrants (after weeding out a couple duplicate comments) and so I asked Jeff to pick a number between 1 and 41. He chose 11.  For some reason I didn't like that number (he was a little hurt that I didn't like his choice), so I decided to consult the Random Number Generator for a second opinion.

And wouldn't you know it?  It gave me 11 as well.  So, apparently, the 11th commenter was just destined to win!

The winner of the Alluvia giveaway is none other than Gail Litter (GLitter-knitter on Rav)!

Gail is my old roommate and married to one of my oldest childhood friends.  We used to knit together and obsessively watch all three seasons of Arrested Development over and over (and over) back in my early knitting days (she can attest to how far I've come!)  How I miss knitting together during the long, dark winters!

I swear this wasn't rigged...apparently since both Jeff and the RNG both picked 11, it was just meant to be!

So, Gail, you better start picking your fave flavors of Wool of the Andes!  I'll ship them right to you, just in time for some Colorado fall knitting!  Email me at allison@alaskanpurl.com with your choices...better yet, you should call me....we need to catch up!

Thanks to all for entering!  I've got some exciting things that I'll be able to share very soon in the next few weeks.  And I might even have another giveaway or two to celebrate!  Stay tuned....

An Alluvia Giveaway!

Lately my mind has been turning to thoughts of fall...mostly because it feels like fall has already come to Southeast Alaska! We had a very warm May, which served as our "summer", and then there was termination dust (aka SNOW) on the peaks by mid-June. Ever since, it's been rainy, cold, gray, and very very windy.

I am absolutely giddy about this! I'm watching the fireweed blooms slowly travel up the stalk, meaning they are moving closer and closer to the time when they will turn to cotton and summer will soon be forgotten, as the saying goes.

I just love living in a cold weather climate, mostly because it means that I get to work with wool year round without getting sweaty and itchy!

So, to celebrate this wonderful fall weather in July, I've decided to do another giveaway. The real fall will be here before we know it, and wouldn't you like to have a great fall accessory ready to use when it gets here?!

Here are the giveaway details:

1. What am I giving away?

A copy of the Alluvia Felted Tote pattern and 8 skeins of Wool of the Andes Worsted in the colors of your choice! You could go with muted tones or vibrant shades...the possibilities are endless!

2. How can you enter?

Just leave a comment on this post letting me know what your favorite shade of Wool of the Andes is!

3.  Is there a deadline to enter?

Yep, you must leave a comment by Friday July 30 at 8 PM Alaska Time. I'll use the random number generator to choose the lucky winner and will announce it soon after that!

4.  Can I enter more than once?

Yes, if you'd like a second chance to enter, just blog about my giveaway on your blog and then leave a comment letting me know that you did so!

******************************************************************

Good luck, everyone! Looking forward to hearing your favorite shade of WotA...mine's a tie between Firecracker Heather and Tidepool Heather!

Alluvia

Do you ever have a project or design that lurks around for what seems like forever?  And then just when you think you will never finish it, somewhere in the depths you find the strength to power through and just get it done?  Well, then you know how I feel about Alluvia. (Rav it)

I began this bag about a year and a half ago.  It was my first ever design submission and, with hindsight being 20/20, I can see now why it was not at first accepted to any publications.  The colors I initially used were all wrong (I went stash diving and worked up the oddest color combinations of Cascade 220 ever) and the submission itself...well, let's just say a five year old could have done a better job.


But with that first rejection came a fresh perspective on the design and over the next few months, a better (and actually a little bigger) version took shape and morphed into the beautiful pattern I present to you today!


I was so excited for this design to be apart of the Knit Picks IDP, because it meant that I could choose any shades of Wool of the Andes that I wanted!  But, it turns out, I got shy about choosing the colors (too much pressure!), so Stacey at KP (who is so wonderful, by the way) picked them out for me.  And she couldn't have done a better job!


She thought working from the bottom to the top and going from darkest to lightest would be a cool concept and I say I have to agree.

She sent along the black and then the various shades of purple for me to use.  But I thought it needed something extra, so I threw in the red from my own stash, just for fun!


Named for the interesting ridges that form in the sand at the mouths of glaciers, the Alluvia Felted Tote is the perfect accessory for fall! 

{Shown here unfelted...don't you love the colors?!}

Worked in the round from the bottom up, this tote utilizes an exaggerated pleat stitch that forms the folds of material that become the felted ruffles. With so many shades of Wool of the Andes Worsted from which to choose, the possibilities are endless to create a colorful and unique accessory!


Details:


Pattern:  Alluvia Felted Tote (Knit Picks link, Rav link)
Suggested Yarn:  Wool of the Andes Worsted  (Shown in (from the bottom up) Coal, Cobblestone Heather, Black Cherry Heather, Claret Heather, Amethyst Heather, Lullaby, and Iris Heather)
Needles:  32" size 8 circulars and size 8 dpns
Techniques Used:  Working in the round; Magic Loop; i-cord, decreasing, felting

I'm so glad that this design is finally available!  I've loved watching the transition it has undergone and I'm actually glad that the first version of it was rejected....it would never have morphed into the unique piece it is today!


Please do not hesitate to ask if you'd like to know more details about this pattern.  Happy knitting, everyone!