whispers Would you like to win lots (and lots) of yarn? In all sorts of near-edible colours? Yes?
Well I have to declare an interest in publicising the Stylecraft competition below, because look who is one of the judges, along with Lucy from Attic24 and the editor of Let’s Knit magazine! How much fun is it going to be to look through everyone’s colourful suggestions and work out what would work best in fibrous form? I’m sitting here willing everyone to let their colourful imaginations run riot. The only downside to judging this competition (and it’s a big downside) is that I can’t enter it. Oh well.

Now I’m sorry, but the competition is only open to UK residents… and it will look a tiny bit suspicious if there are suddenly two thousand yarn-loving inhabitants at my home submitting their entries, so I can’t help you there. (Actually it wouldn’t look very suspicious to the Stoic Spouse, who daily tolerates a multitude of yarn and yarn-lovers passing through his home and life.) But seriously, if you’re in the UK, have a go. Special kudos to my friend who, when told about the contest, suggested a transparent yarn with which to knit the emperor a new suit of clothes. 😉
Go on. Have a try. You might win. Is it possible to manufacture perfectly transparent yarn?
Meanwhile, there is knitting here, of course. The 100% pure, almost insanely soft, qiviut cowl is finished! I’ll toddle off to wash and block it in a moment for its proper photoshoot, but here in the meantime is a picture of when it was nearly done:-
Oh my goodness that yarn is soft. And getting softer. I really do see what all the fuss is about.
And of course I’m still NOT knitting socks. Oh no. Not even slightly. The picture below isn’t a swatch, motivated by finding some sock-suitable yarn left over from the camera strap I designed. Noooo. It’s, erm, well, y’know, just a way of keeping my knitting fingers occupied now that the cowl is finished, yeah?

Those needles are just are just crying out for meaningful occupation, and they happened upon some Rico sock-weight yarn. Could happen to anyone, yeah? They could just as well have been gainfully employed as hair grips. Like this:-

Yikes, when did I get so GREY? Oh, that’ll have been when the Twinnage came along. Sigh.
See, no need for any sock knitting addiction with these DPNs. Oh no.
I have often put my hair up with knitting needles, and may have forgot and gone down the shops like that once or twice! I think it’s quite a cool look 🙂
Or pencils. Pencils work well.
Goodness. You’re famous! ?
Nice cowl. Nice not-socks-at-all… Be interested to know if you do get hooked..
Well predictably, I caved. Socky blog post coming soonish….
I think I can feel how soft your qiviut cowl is just from the pictures! So lovely 🙂 Please start knitting socks…then it means that I will have to too!
I caved. There are socks on my needles. Blog post coming soon. YOUR TURN! 🙂
I might not be allowed to enter that competition but I CAN lick the screen and you can’t stop me…more licking over that soft yarn… tastes like fairy floss…emm…good try on the subterfuge but no banana Ms Twisted. We ALL know you are knitting socks and will be hopelessly addicted and furtively buying unusual yarns from elderly ladies wearing BIG overcoats leaning against the wall outside craft shops.
Yup, I caved. There are socks on my needles.
Meanwhile, at least you will no longer be reduced to merely licking the screen while this competition proceeds. Good luck if you enter.
Not sure I have time to enter…madly studying, learning how to code to make websites and create 3D images. For a technical Luddite like me that is tantamount to tackling the Holy Grail side on! Hopefully I come out at the end of this course a bit wiser, more skilled and with my mental faculties intact 😉
Oh my goodness I love stylecraft special dk.i think I have almost all the colours.
Sounds like you should enter. 🙂 Good luck! If you’ve got most of the colours, you’re well-placed to ponder on what needs to be added…
Your hairstyling adds another twist to your name. 🙂
🙂
I may not be able to enter but I am enjoying my blog side seat!
Now that they’ve changed the rules to make it worldwide, you CAN enter! T’was definitely the right decision on their part.
Awesome!
The cowl looks gorgeous–that’s a purple I could, maybe, just maybe, learn to love.
Good grief – I never thought I’d see you put ‘purple’ and ‘love’ in the same sentence! Ever!
I haven’t dared google Arctic Qiviut yet, as I know hubby won’t let us increase the mortgage (spoilsport). Is there really room in the Stylecraft range for more colours? I’ll have to investigate further. Thanks for the heads up:)
Hey, what’s a few more million on the ol’ mortgage? I mean it’s for yarn, right? Not something trivial? 🙂
I saw a shark sock with fins and teeth yesterday. Slipper, more like, I guess. Looked as though it was going after the leg of the wearer…That is a beautiful cowl, by the way, and I wish you pleasure looking at all those entries you’ll get…
Ooh shark socks – that sounds rather wonderful. And a little like a fish hat that I saw which is knitted to look as though it’s gobbling the head of the wearer.
Well, that would be an amazing competition to win wouldn’t it!! xx
Yup. Good luck, if you decide to enter!
Your cowl looks gorgeous! Your hair too 🙂 my husband asked why are your eyes so wide what are you reading? Well dear I am just daydreaming if I can win a contest that can make me 50 blankets for the rescue centres hahaha
Well very very good luck if you do enter. It’s a fabulous prize…
Do you know where the pattern for the blanket shown in this competition comes from please?
I’m sorry Jane, I don’t. I can ask them…
Well that’s quite exciting!
I use a double pointed to hold my hair up. doesn’t give me a headache
The contest was opened up to the entire world today I believe!
Yup, you’re right. Happy news! 🙂