Monday, September 21, 2009

A contest

Our life here is not especially exciting and therefore, neither is this blog. So to shake things up a bit, I'm holding a little contest. (I'm also aware of more than a few lurkers out there who never post comments. Perhaps this will flush some of you out.)

Below, I give you a hand-knit scarf and cap.

This is a very special hat and scarf and not just because I made them with my own two hands. The multi-colored yarn is a discontinued line from here. It's so special because it was the very last hank on the whole universe. It's also one of my very favorite colorways - a color called 'Tamarak and Spruce' that is hand dyed. Those two facts together are enough to make me wonder why I am giving it away...I prefer to share the fibery goodness, I suppose.

The scarf is on the narrow side so that it's not over-warm when wrapped around your neck. It's yet another moebius - they're so simple, yet so complex. The nice thing about the moebius is that it won't slide off your neck when it's hanging loose. The hat is super snuggly with the welts alternating between brown and the Tamarak and Spruce - it has a perfect blend of green, browns, rust, a hint of gold and all sorts of gradations in between. It fit both Craig and myself equally well. Big I not so much.


The hand-dyed yarn is made from corriedale which is one of my favorite breeds with which to spin (though I did not spin this particular yarn). The brown in the hat is an unknown wool with about 25% alpaca mixed in. Corriedale is about in the middle on the itchiness scale. Craig and I both find it very comfortable on our necks, but if you're super sensitive to the woolies, you may not care for it. It's all about the micron count.

So, how do you go about winning this lovely little bit of custom-made warmness? Check out some of the info on sheep here. Then post something you learned in the comments. That's it. It can be anything: something about a sheep breed (some of my favorites are Border Leicester, Jacob, and Australian Merinos, just to name a few), or perhaps tell us what the most common sheep breed in the U.S. is, or what was used in the old days to mark every 100 sheep in the herd thereby making them easier to count.

I'll randomly pick a name and post the winner this Friday, September 25. You'll have your prize sent to you just in time for the cold weather or to perhaps pass on as a Christmas present.

18 comments:

  1. PieBald sheep === "bible based" sheep.

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  2. And I know someone who has those 'bible based' sheep and got a few fleeces. They're very fun to spin. And 4 horns on them too.

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  3. The first thing I learned is that I sure don't know much about sheep! I love the majestic stance of the rams, and the fantastic curling horns on some breeds. The Large Tail Han is incredible, I can't believe they can even get around! Thanks for introducing me to this site. Thanks also for the giveaway, the scarf and hat are beautiful.

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  4. I bet John C. has a few tid bits to share on sheep.

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  5. John C. was the one on my mind, too. He knows lots about sheep.

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  6. Kitten- that is a good one! I have no idea who you are, but thanks for stopping in!

    Mom and Andy - this is a family-rated blog, I'm a little afraid of what Mr. C would have to share about the sheep...

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  7. I know a lot about sheep but the link to sheep information taught me a lot more.

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  8. Mmmm Sheep actually remember things---that's more than I can do!

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  9. Holy Sheep Batman! I had no idea there were more than 40 different types of sheep, huh, interesting. And I thought that all sheep had wool, never thought that some might have hair.

    Cool. Learn something new every day.

    My MIL Linda Romeo is friends with your mother & sent me you blog info. So I thought I would stop by enter your contest and say hello. Hi. Nice to meet you. Your family is beautiful :) I have been wanting to learn to knit for years. That hat & scarf set look great.

    ~Lisa

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  10. Hi Lisa- I've heard about you many times. (Mom really likes that bag you made.) I wish I lived there - I'd teach you to knit. Congratulations on your new little one recently!

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  11. bah bah black sheep...

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  12. i've heard that sheep can make good drink coasters too

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  13. Naked Sheep parent to naked sheep kids: "And guess what, Kids...your Aunt Emily made all those sweaters herself!" Kids took down at their wooless skin...
    I actually have a card with that cartoon on it.

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  14. Coasters? That doesn't even make sense. You could make some felted coasters I guess. I don't get Melissa's joke either. Maybe it's too early yet...

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  15. Sheep coasters would be neat! Would they be machine washable or dry clean?

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  16. Sorry, Lisa, it's the jewelry you make! I got it mixed up. Mom, who made the scrappy bag you have?? I remember you showing it to Sue when you were here last.

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  17. Stephanie made that. Chris C.'s wife.

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  18. I wish I had half the talent that either one of my DIL's have.

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