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!
Judy says
Your patterns are exquisite! And to feel the softness of the yarn as you work must be a lovely thing.
Jan Doss says
I have never knit with alpaca yarn and this would be the perfect time for me to try it and your lovely patterns if I was lucky enough to win!
Maribeth Goodloe says
Stunning yarn and patterns!!
beth j says
Love her patterns and photography especially the alpacas. I never get her blog anymore or yours something to do with FeedBurner.? I follow you on bloglovin now.
Melinda C says
Beautiful creations! I’m hoping to visit an Alpaca farm in Elizabeth CO tomorrow. And I’m favoriting several of your patterns on Ravelry right now.
Nicole Spring says
Loving the patterns and the yarn. I would love to win this!
Debbie says
I have never knit with Alpaca before. It looks like a dream! Would love to win this giveaway!
Diana says
Those designs were fabulous!!!
Jenna K says
Gorgeous patterns and photos! Loving the Postcard Cardigan 🙂
JLCherry33 on Ravelry
Becca P. says
Oh this yarn is so beautiful! I would love to win some!
Kyna says
Beautiful patterns!
Robin B says
I took lessons with your sister at the farm. I’m knitting the Outlander cowl now and love it!
Kate says
I would love to win this yarn and patterns!
Rachel says
Lovely! Thank you for the chance to win!
Theresa says
The postcard cardigan will be in my Ravelry queue before this day is out! Beautiful patterns!
Heidi! says
All of your patterns are just beautiful. What a lovely post about the alpacas and your business/passions. Thank you for the opportunity to “love on” some baby soft Shibui yarn and make up an Outlander cowl!
Jenny says
The Tidal Wave shawl/wrap has been moving up in my Ravelry queue, and I go to MatchthePictures whenever I want to smile–the alpacas are adorable. What a great giveaway!
DaAnn says
Oh what lovely yarn!!
Sharon K says
oh, her work is so beautiful! I would dearly love to win.
Diane says
I love your patterns and would love to make the Outlander Cowl with your beautiful Alpaca yarn . I am sensitive to wool and have just started knitting a little over a year ago. Thanks for this fabulous giveaway.
jamie says
I am so very inspired! Thank you!
Maureen says
Beautiful!
noreen says
What a wonderful giveaway! Thank you!
Rosemarie says
Yarn and patterns look wonderful.
Patty bl says
This is an awesome giveaway!
Jani says
Ohmygosh – that Postcard Cardigan is the most inspiring pattern I’ve seen in a long while! Beautiful designs, Andee. Ginny, thanks for featuring them!
Kathy says
Beautiful knits! I’d love to touch your yarn.It looks incredibly soft.Love to be chosen for this giveaway!
Sarah R says
Such beautiful yarn and patterns – I’m off to Ravelry to check them out now. Thank you for the giveaway and for telling us about your lovely business.
Edye says
The yarn looks beautiful!
Cathy says
Love!
June says
Since I’m allergic to wool, I’ve been told by knitting friends that I should try alpaca so this is my chance. Even if I don’t win the drawing, I will definitely visit your Ravelry store. Your patterns and yarn are inspiring to a fellow knitter!
Junek
Danielle says
Beautiful yarn and patterns! Thanks for the giveaway.
Christina says
Beautiful!!! Thanks for the chance to win!!!
Pamela R says
How fantastic. Thanks for the chance.
Pat says
There is nothing more warm and beautiful than alpaca yarn. You are so lucky to be able to spend so much time with the animals. Thanks for the giveaway.
Richard says
I envy you and your Mom for having the farm; alpacas are quite interesting animals with some far-ranging color qualities. Your knit patterns are wonderful. Glad you made it to SmallThings.
Holly says
Oh this yarn looks absolutely beautiful!!!I am thinking of the amazing things I could make with it!!Thanks for the chance!!!!!
Georgi says
Beautiful! Would love to win this! Thanks for the chance.
Traci says
I have been knitting almost a year and have not used alpaca yarn yet, soon I hope. Very nice giveaway.
Kate says
what gorgeous patterns!
Cassie says
What a lovely give away, just in time to make Christmas gifts!
Aerial says
This is the best giveaway ever!
julie says
So very lovely!
Cheryl@OntheOldPath says
So beautiful, I dream of having alpacas and sheep one day…
Beth says
Beautiful!!
Marisa says
Beautiful yarn and patterns.
Erin says
Those patterns are beautiful! I don’t think I’ve ever knitted with Alpaca wool before but would love to try it out! Thanks for the chance!
angelina says
this would be crazy cool to win. that postcard cardigan ….LOVE. X
Barbara B says
This yarn looks lovely-must be wonderful to work with.
Meadow says
Incredible yarns! I’ve placed the postcard cardigan on my rav. Favorites. Dreaming away……