Righty-ho, peoples, it’s giveaway time. Lemme hear ya say, “Oh really? How delightfully intriguing.”
So. (At this point TheTwistedYarn sneezes, sits down, clears her throat, and attempts to adopt her best, most official voice. Unfortunately the voice comes out sounding more than a little squeaky. Ah well, no matter.)
Those of you who’ve been following the ‘Yarn for a while *waves and thanks you enthusiastically* will know that this blog won the Deramores Award recently, which entailed quite a few goodies landing on my doorstep. These included a small stack of signed Arne and Carlos books, and I’ve decided to run a giveaway of two of these, just to share the joy around a little, because the world would be a better place if everyone had some Arne and Carlos in their lives. If this goes well, other giveaways will follow from time to time. Maybe some stork scissors will come next, given that they’re a regular feature of this blog.
For now, I’m giving away two lovelies: one signed copy of Knitted Dolls With A Designer Wardrobe, and one signed copy of Easter Knits, both beautiful books by Arne and Carlos.

Both are wonderful treats of clever, colourful patterns, but they’re also visual feasts in themselves. I love Arne and Carlos books as much as lifestyle guides as for the patterns they contain. Arne and Carlos are geniuses. Yes, you’ve seen patterns for knitted dolls and knitted decorations before, but you’ve never seen ones as original and elegant as these. Here are some treasures awaiting you in the dolls book:-

And here’s a sample of loveliness from the Easter book. There are decorations, rabbits, chicks, and lots and lots of gorgeousness (much of which would be useful for plenty of other occasions, not just Easter).

Both books are signed by the authors. HOW COOL IS THAT?!

Anyway, there are two ways to enter, and each one earns one entry, so I recommend doing both, in order to double your chances of winning some loveliness.
(i) Leave a comment below (including some way in which I can contact you if you win, such as Ravelry username, email address, or somesuch).
(ii) Potter over to Facebook, ‘like’ the Thetwistedyarn page if you haven’t already, and leave a comment under the giveaway announcement there. If you really, really are a Facebook conscientious objector, then as an alternative you can send me an email at thetwistedyarn [at] outlook [dot] com (address disguised to confuse spammers), telling me that you heartily resent the incursion of Facebook into our lives but would like to enter the competition nonetheless. Okey-dokey?
(iii) Actually, there’s a third way of earning an entry. Here’s how: make a large sign saying “www.thetwistedyarn.com – the world’s most fabulous craft blog“, stand somewhere really crowded with it displayed prominently for at least an hour (New York’s Times Square, say, or possibly Shanghai Railway Station), and post a photograph of yourself doing so in the comments thread below. I will then (a) be gobsmacked and love your forever, and (b) give you a bonus entry in the competition. Can you detect the machinations of an evil marketing genius mind at work here? Or is it painfully obvious why I was encouraged to leave my only ever marketing job, years before I became a psychologist?
The deadline for entries is midday GMT on Sunday 14th September 2014. On this date, I will use an internet random number generator to select one winner, who I’ll then contact asap. I’m happy to post the books anywhere in the world, because I realize that most of the ‘Yarn’s readers are from outside the UK.
Terms and conditions apply:-
- Mum, I’m sorry, but you are not eligible to take part. If you won, it would just look like a fix. Ditto the stoic spouse.
- You must be over the age of four to enter. *Frowns and shakes head at the toddler twinnage.*
- Entries from anyone named Algernon will automatically be disqualified. Sorry, but I just don’t like the name Algernon. My giveaway, my rulez, innit.
- More seriously, I’ll make every reasonable effort to contact the winner immediately. If after a week of trying, they haven’t responded or it’s proved impossible to track them down, I’ll select an alternative winner by the same fair and random method.
So there it is! The Arne and Carlos giveaway! Tell your friends! Tell your enemies! Tell your enemies’ enemies (who are, presumably, your friends).
I am glad you won the Deramores blog! Well done
Oooooooh this is just too exciting!!! Think you know how to contact me given our mutual internet stalking but I’d love to be entered please!!!
I love Arne & Carlos! Thanks for the giveaway. I’m amazinggrace on Rav.
I came racing over here as soon as I saw this post in my email, despite the need to move away from the computer, make a nice cup of something and go to bed and read my book [NOT an Arne and Carlos sadly!] Do you still have me on email? I can leave another comment with it in if necessary [will that count as two entries I wonder?]
Who wouldn’t love an Arne and Carlos give-away? The books look so pretty. I tracked them down when you first mentioned them and have the garden book on my watchlist on Fishpond [do you have Fishpond in the UK?} So hoping the price will reduce a little…………
You are also showing yourself to be a marketing whiz – the NY Time Square/Shanghai Railway Station suggestion – GENIUS!! Wish I’d thought of that when I did my give-aways.
Now I have to whip on over to face book – though I feel the time may be approaching when I shall develop a severe case of fbitis, it isn’t quite here yet.
Looking forward to seeing the mandala in place – just saying…..
Cool giveaway – I’m slowly working my way through their Christmas decoration book, but would love to get my hands on one of these. deballan on ravelry.
What beautiful goodies!!!!You’re soooooooooo generous!!!!Seriously, I’m drooling on it….they would fit well at mine he he he he he he …. and you already know how to contact me……. 😉 I’m looking foward September 14 th….. 😀
What a lovely giveaway! Thanks for introducing me to Arne and Carlos – great inspiration.
I’ve seen Arne and Carlos pop up from time to time in my crochet magazines, and I’d LOVE to get my hands on some signed books! So count me in! 🙂
Congrats! On your recent award. The Arne and Carlos books are awesome.
Sharon
What fun books! I’m a sucker for dolls. Good thing I have two little girls to knit for! 🙂
Oh, and my Rav ID is SaraMCrafts
I wish I could do the New York thing for you. Would be so much fun. Um, I am not a crafter or knitter, just an admirer, so maybe you should leave me out of the giveaway.
I’ve not come across Arne and Carlos before but they look great fun. I’m kirkykoo79 on Ravelry (same as here!)
Hello from the Willamette Valley of Oregon. I am glad that I found your blog as I can so relate to your ability to find the time to keep creating while living your busy life. A day is never to busy to not include at least a wee bit of time in the sewing room or at least with the latest knitting! Your imagination and skill with the little characters you create is just amazing! I would love to win one of your books but sorry the shipping would be so much more for you 🙂
My names equato on ravelry, I really love your blog! Thanks for keeping it up 🙂
hello from a sunny Bridlington! Thanks for sharing your prize!
Love ❤ their books, ravelry user name alainea.
Thank you for the great giveaway!
I totally love Arne and Carlos and would LOOOVe to win one of these books! Yet I am in the US and you may be limiting this to UK folks (which I wouldn’t blame you due to postage), but I’m entering anyway since you only listed folks by the name of Algernon not to enter.:) I’m headed over to Facebook to like you page there! Thanks for offering this giveaway! I’m Drawn2knit on Ravelry, but we chat via wordpress so you can get a hold of me should I be one of the lucky ones!
🙂 I am in and always !
Congrats on your blog award! Heres luck to all for the give away!
Wow, I love the look of the dolls book, if I don’t win I might just have buy one. I really love your blog your posts always bring a smile to my face.
Cool giveaway and great books! 🙂 You know me on Piper Crafts, but I’m also indigobird on Rav. xx
What a great competition! I’m Jenbear- on Ravelry. Thanks.
I have been following for only a short time, but I feel like a kindred spirit. I really enjoy your site.
Holy macaroni those books are good! Ms Pauline from Thecontentedcrafter sent me on over here because I am on a mission…you see I had to come up with something original to give my eldest daughter this year for Christmas and aside from having NO idea what to give her I had a serious case of the penniless student hippy so I suddenly came up with the brilliant (insane) idea to crochet her a complete set of amigurumi dolls of her favourite band. The favourite band in question is Korean…and WAY out there…needless to say with my limited crochet ability I am starting to panic. I have one semi complete “Plum man” prototype cobbled together from several patterns on the net (plum because of his colour, not his over endowed propensity although while hunting the net I did find a lady who makes completely anatomically correct dolls…er…say no more!) so I have till Christmas to come up with a set of 5 dolls…except I am slightly daft and have decided to make the dolls (and dress them) according to one of their top selling songs which also involves several clothing changes. If you want to see why I am twitching so much check out “Big Bang – Fantastic Baby” and you will start to get a hint of how much panic is starting to mount up BUT there is a chance that I could win the doll book here? I am ON it! I blog on over at theroadtoserendipity and whilst it is more about life, the universe and everything, there is a smattering of crochet to be found there (desperate wide-eyed crochet against the clock and the gaping jaws of the dog…). Please oh PLEASE allow me to enter your giveaway. I live in far flung Tasmania but I am just about to tuck your blog tenderly into my RSS Feed Reader between “The Snail of Happiness” and “The urban guide to becoming self sufficient”. As you can see, you are in top notch company ;). Next over to Facebook to lob you into the motley crew of assembled craziness that regularly crops up on my feed and the poster? Hmmm…I live in rural outercumbuckance Tasmania 50km away from the nearest city BUT in a curious twist of fate, I am a media student…you would be amazed at just how quickly I could find myself in Times Square with a large poster (albeit a few centimetres of drop shadow mysteriously clinging to my nether regions 😉 )…leave it with me Ms Twisted…and cheers in advance for letting me enter this giveaway. Desperate times call for desperate measures! 😉
I would adore this book! It looks really fun!
gussek on Ravelry
i love these guys!!! thanks.. ang – slikchik on rav.
fb liked you ! cheers! x
I’m tktl on Ravely and have never laid hands on one of their books but am oh so intrigued. Not on Facebook. And not letting the toddler twins enter as per rules.
I have a modest collection of signed books but don’t have nearly enough crafting ones! Besides, these look fun to make, and who doesn’t like having fun?
Congratulations, and I am trying to enter the giveaway. I usually can never understand the directions; that’s why I’m saying I’m trying. Anyway, my revelry name is mbwlcsw. Now over to Facebook!
Hi!
I would like to enter the giveaway 🙂
I.H (from Norway)
I will throw my hat into the ring, although it may mean committing to make one too many knitted dolls for my daughter. I will, however, keep the keyboard away from her, although she is now eligible (newly 4 years old). If she wins I would definitely have to make her something from the books; she already claims a stake in everything that I work on as it is and speed of turning out work is not my strong point. My email should be attached, but if not you can find me on ravelry as scientist.
pick me, pick me, she says jumping up and down, tee hee!!!! I may have a penchant for the Easter book 😉
Love the books! Would love to dive in and learn some new stuff. My name is Melissa and my email is littlelovescrochet(at)gmail(dot)com!
Fun, fun, fun books. Thanks for hosting the giveaway. alcbrooks on Ravelry
(1) I am not your mother;
(2) I am waaaaaay older than 4 (just never you mind by how many);
(3) my name does not even remotely resemble ‘Algernon’, although it is considered unreasonably complicated by many people; and
(4) I can be found on Ravelry, lurking under the name of ‘nicewitch’
Looking forward to winning [she says, implying some sort of spooky precognition thing] !
Cool! I love these books! My name on Ravelry is asteride, and I’m sorry your mom can’t enter, I’m sure she loves knitting book madly like us.
I had never heard of Arne and Carlos til I read this post. How ignorant am I? So educate me further please and send me one of the books! 😉 tamsinb on ravelry.
I would love to win one of these books. Congrats on your blog. I can be reached via my blog lillymycat.blogspot.com
Congrats on your award! These books look so much fun – my rav name is jemarrowsmith
Don’t think I’ve already entered – would love to cherish these vbooks
Please let me win!!! Fingers crossed. X
Newbie to the world of crafting and always in need of inspiration; these books look like great fun. Loving your blog by the way x Hookiebee is my Ravelry username
Okay, okay, you’ve got me. I like knitting dolls and other stuffed creatures, and a wardrobe….I could knit a world with a hot knit fashion industry! (That makes it worth the winning, am I right?) You can find me through the name this comment is posted from via a gmail.com account or with the same name on ravelry which I don’t frequent as much as I should, or at Knitting Journeys (plug for my own blog;-)), on the wordpress site. I’m also on facebook, but am beginning to pull away from the social networking there and am considering other sites. I’ve been enjoying your blog. I considered making the poster and standing down at CMU, but I get bored easily. Perhaps we could stage a knit-in there someday;-).
Wow, well done on the award. Much deserved.
I would love to enter the fab giveaway and you can find me at quirkypig.WordPress.com or my ravelry name is sparklymoose.
Love your blog, and these books are fab! Can be found on twitter at @knitted_jumper, think I’ve left this comment with my wordpress blog too! 😀
I would love to win the Easter book. Thanks for the opportunity. Savannagal on Rav.
What a fun giveaway… heading straight to fb after this! I’ve knit a few dolls in my time, but haven’t ever heard of Arne and Carlos 🙂 ❤ <3