Today’s giveaway is from Andee, whom you might know from her blog, Match the Pictures. She’s been a regular part of our Yarn Along here at Small Things for as long as I can remember. I am very pleased to be sharing this space with her today!
“My name is Andee and I am a wife and a mother of two sons. I have a huge passion for the Fiber Arts. I have been knitting and making my own patterns for the past 15 years. I grew up on a farm with horses and I loved the lifestyle of living on a farm. About five years ago my parents no longer had any horses or ponies and they decided to fill their pastures up with alpacas. I was so excited when the first alpacas came to the farm. I couldn’t wait for the day when I would be able to start using their fiber to knit with.
Each Spring we shear the alpacas and send their fiber to a small fiber mill to have it processed. Some of the fiber is spun into yarn, some is processed into roving (which we spin ourselves) and the rest is turned into rug yarn. We have the fiber processed per alpaca or alpacas. Sometimes we blend similar alpacas’ fibers together so we can get more yarn in a certain color. All of the yarn is tagged with the alpaca’s names and sold in our farm store.
I have learned over the years that each time we get the fiber back from the fiber mill it varies in thickness. I wanted to design some patterns that would work well with the yarn from the small fiber mills as well as for handspun yarn. People who come to the farm are so excited to purchase yarn from our alpacas and always ask what they can make with it. This inspired me to create some knitting patterns that would work with varying weights of yarn.
I was also inspired to make knitting patterns after falling in love with some hand-painted yarns. I have found different Indie yarn dyers that make amazing skeins of yarn. I have found myself falling in love with the color of the yarn and couldn’t resist purchasing it. I enjoy designing patterns for these types of yarn.
I started publishing my patterns about a year ago and I have been overwhelmed with the support I have gotten from knitters, yarn companies and yarn store owners. I plan to keep designing patterns that work well for Indie yarn dyers, hand-spun yarns and fiber mill produced yarns. I do also enjoy working with commercial yarns, but my passion is for the specialty yarns.
Because I love yarn and knitting so much and I want to immerse myself in the fiber arts as much as possible I also work part time at Chelsea Yarns in Colts Neck, New Jersey. I help customers select yarn, I help them with their knitting projects and I offer lots of encouragement. It is the type of LYS where people come together to knit, appreciate yarn and a place where many customers make lifelong friendships. It is a wonderful environment and I’m very happy to be on the Chelsea Yarns team. I must admit one of my favorite parts of working there is getting to wear my hand knits!
All of my patterns can be purchased online in my Ravelry Store. They can also be purchased in person at Arrow Acres Farm or Chelsea Yarns.
If you are in the Monmouth County, New Jersey area and want to meet me and the alpacas I will be at Arrow Acres Farm this weekend (Directions HERE). We are having an Open House for National Alpaca Farm Days September 27th & 28th. It is an educational weekend for the public to come and meet our alpacas and learn all about alpacas and the fiber arts. I will have samples of all my patterns on display as well as the patterns available for sale.”
For the giveaway I am offering a copy of my Outlander & Standing Stones E-Book which contains both my Standing Stones pattern and Outlander pattern. To the same winner I am offering three skeins of Shibui Baby Alpaca yarn in the colorway Mineral, which will knit up wonderfully as an Outlander Cowl or a Standing Stones Cowl. In addition, I am giving 10% off my knitting patterns on Ravelry until October 5th at midnight EST using the code “SMALLTHINGS”.
For your chance to win, leave a comment on this post.
***Comments are closed and the winner is Amber who commented, “Ahhh!! I love alpaca fiber! Pick me! Pick me! ;)”
Thanks, Andee!
Jennifer R. says
What gorgeous patterns…truly lovely. I am very envious of the alpacas. I would love to have alpacas.
Deborah B says
I have the Standing Stones Cowl already in my Favorites on Ravelry…. Just need some excellent yarn to make it with! 😉
Bonnie says
Your work is outstanding! I love the color of the prize yarn.
Eva says
I hadnt seen your patterns before and I really like them!
Melissa N. says
Gorgeous patterns! I love the colors and patterns she chose, she definitely has a gift for designing. Beautiful yarn and beautiful work.
Sheila says
Thank you
Barb says
Really lovely giveaway, story and patterns…the knitted items are beautiful!
Mary says
I think I might have to revisit Knitting if I won this. I love the look of the infinity scarves and I want one right now, not in ten years, which is how long it would take me to finish. But, if I won, I would give it a go. Maybe it would be easier than it looks.
Wendy says
So beautiful! I would love to be entered in the giveaway. Thank you!
Elisabeth says
The Standing Stones pattern is one of my favorites ever, and I can’t wait till I get a chance to knit it some day soon! Thanks for the opportunity!
Kathleen says
I love her patterns. Really lovely. I checked out the yarns too and the colors are lovely. I am bookmarking for next project. I would love to win and work with those lovely patterns
Birgit says
I love those designs!
Birgit says
I really like your designs.
Nicky Gray says
Stunning photos.
The designs are beautiful too. Love the lacy coat
fibbermcphee@hotmail.com
Shannon says
Beautiful !!!
Annie says
Your patterns are beautiful! I would love to knit one.
ikkinlala says
Those are some gorgeous patterns!
Veronika says
So beautiful! I love your patterns.
Lucie says
Oh my! your patterns are so lovely! Thank you so much for the giveaway and the discount 🙂
~ Lucie
lissa says
these patterns are gorgeous and very well suited to alpaca. absolutely lovely give-away 🙂
DanielleB says
My husband wants to get some alpacas when we move to our land. He is most definately into the whole process of yarn making from beginning to end. I knit ☺That is my third passion (after Jesus and my family) what a wonderful giveaway! Off to check out your patterns on Ravelry!
Rebecca says
I love the texture of the designs.
rebekah says
wonderful giveaway!
Meg says
What a great giveaway, and I loved reading about the alpaca yarn process!
Kathy-June says
Gorgeous! Great Giveaway.
Jennie says
How beautiful these patterns are, and such useful accessories!
becky m says
my goal this winter is to learn to knit – I already crochet. What a wonderful shawl that yarn would make.
Sue says
Beautiful…just beautiful!!
Justine says
Thanks for the chance to win 🙂
Isabel says
What a lovely sharing post! I’m headed over to her Ravelry store now to check out the patterns! I’d love to win this giveaway. Thank you — Isabel
Audrey says
I love the shawl!! Beautiful!
Word Lily says
I always love trying new yarns, I’d love to win!
Maria Malaveci says
Thanks so much for the giveaway. I absolutely love Outlander, and would love my very own Cowl scarf! I am obsessed with the books and the show! Thanks so much for the chance ♥
mmalavec(at)med(dot)umich(dot)edu
Ann Ball says
Beautiful patterns. Wish I lived close enough to visit the farm.
Karen says
What a clever girl ! The patterns are beautiful and I love that they don’t seem complicated . Thanks for your kind offer and discount.
Miss Manitas says
Gorgeous patterns!! I love the cardigan!!
Ethel Smith-Bowen says
Ginny – I love your site.
Andee – I love your patterns, yarn and ALPACAS!!
Thanks for the giveaway and discount on Ravelry!
Loretta says
It’s been my dream to own sheep or alpacas to make yarn!
Mary says
Great story! And awesome giveaway!
Melissa K. says
Wow! The patterns are so beautiful! Thank you for a chance to win!
Janice Vavra says
Your designs are beautiful! Very inspiring….
Cathy from Conway says
She is so beautiful! And so are her patterns!
Leah says
i would love a chance to win this! Beautiful patterns!!
gracey says
I don’t normally enter your giveaways, as I don’t have children, and many of them are geared toward children, but I absolutely love this giveaway…..her patterns are great….
Holly says
Thanks for the drawing. I love the patterns.
Kathy says
My, all of those are beautiful! I love the postcard cardigan! Lovely story and best of luck! Thank you
Dizzypink says
Hi, I have been admiring your patterns for a while now, especially the outlander themed. We haven’t been able to get the series in the UK so I have been re enjoying the books from audible.
Great patterns and a fantastic give away.
Charlotte says
that yarn is beautiful, Thanks for the chance to win … I’m off to stalk you on ravelry and “favourite” standing stones. I was lucky enough to visit stone henge last year and I’m still in awe
SandraR says
Gorgeous patterns I have now put in my favourites. Thanks for the chance.
Melissa says
Thank you for the give away and the pattern discount.