Thursday, October 09, 2008

Time to Give Back

I have been very lucky this year and I owe it all to my lucky charm, Miss Melody. I love entering blog contests and to my surprise I have won quite a few so far. Some of the prizes I have already posted about, but there has been recent ones that I haven't gotten around to showing yet. I only get a little bit of time to myself each day, so photographing things can take me a while.

Any way, the point of my post today is that I want to have a blog contest. It's my little way of sending back some of the good vibes that I have received into the blogging universe. I have always believed that one good deed deserves another.I hand dyed these yarns just for the give-away and it was nerve wracking. It was so important that these come out perfectly because I didn't want to give anything that I thought was crap. I was very careful and they turned out well. So well that I wanted to keep them for myself. That's always a good sign. :-)

The skein above reminds me of the flower, Birds of Paradise. I dyed each section a different color: Green, Orange, and Red.This one was labor intensive. I alternated red, orange, red, orange sections with a total of 4 sections. Then I over dyed the whole things 4 times with different reds to make the colors blend a little a better. It was a interesting experiment because it helped tone down the contrast, but the color difference still remained.I even took the time to wind it into center pull yarn cakes. It's really neat to see the skeins all balled up because it looks totally different than the skeins.

Now for the details! I dyed them with Kool-Aid and each skein has 220 yds/100 grams. They are both worsted weight, 100% Wool.

There will be two winners, one for each ball of yarn. To enter the contest, just leave a comment by October 16th, Thursday, midnight Eastern Time. The winners will be picked randomly by a method that I have yet to determine (probably by a random number generator). Good Luck everyone! (Anyone is eligible and I will ship out of the US if necessary.)

58 comments:

hetty said...

What? No photo of Melody? Oh, well. The yarn is kind of cute too. Pretty colours! Okay, enter me in your contest. I'm feeling lucky!

Sarah said...

Both skeins are beautiful! Where the heck did you find the green Kool-Aid? I can only ever find reds, oranges, and purples at my grocery stores.

Unknown said...

What wonderful fun to try your hand at dying! They are both unique and beautiful! I would so love to have the opportunity to win something handmade by you!

Micki said...

You seem to be a natural at yarn dyeing! Thanks for offering to share your pretty yarns. :)

Marcia said...

Nice colors. It really looks pretty when it's wound.

rohanknitter said...

They are both really pretty - you did a very nice job!

Salihan said...

Absolutely gorgeous colours! I would love either one of them! Can I borrow Miss Melody as my lucky charm? Pleaseeee, pretty pleaseee...

flanthrower said...

Oh wow! Both skeins are lovely. Kool-aid dying is tricky so nice work!

Glyn said...

I love both skeins, especially the oranges! Kool-Aid seems to make the best oranges!

The two skeins look like they would work well together, too!

EmmaApple said...

Wow good job! Very clever. I love both the skeins but if I won I would make the bird of paradise inspired one into a scarf for my mum in New Zealand. She has two beautiful BOP bushes, and I know she would love it. I miss them over here in New York!

Anonymous said...

I absolutely love the colors and my hands are already itching to knit up something adorable!

YayaOrchid said...

Great looking yarn! I love both of them. So pls do enter me in the drawing. I too miss a picture of Ms. Melody!

Anonymous said...

So I just wanted to say your daughter is adorable. I have been reading your blog for a while but this is my first time posting.

annemarie said...

Awesome yarn - what fun it would be to knit something with this yarn!! Love your blog and all your projects.

priscilla joy said...

those are sooo pretty!!! what super fall colors!

misplacedpom said...

Pretty yarn and I bet they smell good too ;o)

Anonymous said...

The yarn colors are lovely and how kind of you to work so hard for a gift for us. Thank you for sharing your sweet little one, the boys,your yummy recipes and great knitting projects with us.
Sharon

Anonymous said...

This is so generous of you- Those skeins are absolutely gorgeous! Who ever wins is lucky indeed. No need to enter me though... As much as I love these skeins, wool still makes me sad. :(

Jennie said...

The yarns look great, I'd love to try to dye yarn with Kool Aid, but it's not easy to get in Sweden.

Anonymous said...

Those colors are beautiful. I hope I have a chance at winning!

Anonymous said...

I've been meaning to post a comment anyway; your baby pictures are seriously ADORABLE. Hope she's feeling completely better now.

Marisa said...

Your Kool Aid is waaaaayyyy too kool! Pick me pick me!!

Anonymous said...

The yarn is gorgeous - love the red one! But where is the picture of Melody!

Rebekah said...

this yarn is gorgeous! You did a wonderful job dying it. The colors are so bright and fun and cheery :)

Anonymous said...

Well, I don't know what kind of a comment you're looking for, but these are really lovely skeins and I know I could work up something beautiful with either of them.
Rebecca

Debbie said...

I have the article about how to dye yarn with kool-aid. I have not done any dyeing to date...I don't spin either. Between knitting, beading and crocheting I feel like if I took up another hobby someone in the house would have to move out...lol

Rima said...

Yay! Count me in! :)

Anonymous said...

That is so cool looking, I've read about yarn dying with kool-aid, but never tried it. Is it messy?

j-dō said...

my knitting class starts next monday and i need yarn.

thanks for the give-away!

Anonymous said...

Kool-Aid dying sounds like so much fun. These are really beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Great yarn colors. I'd like to see how they knit up!

ikkinlala said...

Lovely yarn - I'm amazed, especially considering that you used Kool Aid!

ikkinlala said...

Ack! I left out an important comma in my last comment. I meant that I was amazed you'd used Kool Aid, not that I was surprised that you'd end up with wonderful yarn.

Lynn said...

The yarns are gorgeous. My mind is racing on what could be made with them.

nico said...

your colors turned out so beautifully! nice work :)

Stephanie said...

The yarn looks great! good job.

Marilyn said...

Very pretty...hope I win.

LittleCanoe said...

Yay! Those yarns turned out so well! I need to try again, I think.
Is it wrong to enter when I see you every week?
Hey, I'm doing it anyways! Just call me yarn greeeeedy.
xo

Jen (pieKnits) said...

Beautiful job on the yarns! I really like over-dying; it does just seem to harmonize the colors so well.

Stina said...

ooh, they are both gorgeous and i'd love to win either one of them.

Anonymous said...

Always been a fan of your website, keep up the beautiful knitting!

Kate Detwiler said...

You are very talented. I wish I could dye and spin. Perhaps one day! I love the colors, and such a seamless transitions b/w colors.

Have a great holiday!

Kate

Taradactyl in a Modern World said...

Nice yarn!

Christy T said...

fun stuff! I've been wanting to try kool-aid dying, but haven't been brave enough... they turned out REALLY well!!!

Danielle said...

I was just checking in to say "Hi", and what luck I have to find such a beautiful yarn give away going on at your blog :)

Wow you did such a gorgeous job on those skeins of yarn. I want to win them too:)

Anonymous said...

They are gorgeous, you outdid yourself!

Anonymous said...

Ooh I can't resist. That yarn looks perfect for the season...

Anonymous said...

Yay!! Contests are so much fun. I've entered a few but have yet to win.

Anonymous said...

Love the fun colors - have my fingers crossed!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing the love. Count me in! :)

Anonymous said...

Awwwww, both look fantastic!!!!!

Thanks for sharing...

Caro211@free.fr

Anonymous said...

I love it ,I love it ,I love it...oooohhh..I wanna win that !!!!!!!!!

Meika said...

The yarn is gorgeous! I especially love the second one with the reds and oranges.

turvid said...

Beautiful yarn!

charleneanderson said...

Lovely, beautiful, spectacular! I love them!

Anonymous said...

love your blog, melody is gorgeous and so is the yarn!

Anonymous said...

Wow! What great results with koolaid. I've done some koolaid dying, but never with such success. These are so shaded and nuanced.

Jackie said...

Hey there, m i too late onboard the goody train ?