It seems that entities are always trying to divide folks – Red vs. Blue, Stay-at-home-Moms vs. Work-out-of-the-home-Moms, Mac vs PC, Pepsi vs Coke, Farmer vs. Cowman – the list is endless.

I believe the reason is division sells newspapers.  It’s sexy.

False division compels folks to fight with each other, and when people take sides, they become engaged and they’ll buy papers or watch TV shows that support their position.

I’m sick of it.

In the crafting world we’ve seen one of these divisions – the idiotic, trumped up gap between Knitting and Crochet – slowly, beautifully bridged as more and more designers are working in both.

These two ways of creating fabric with yarn work so beautifully together, it only makes sense that folks who consider themselves well rounded would learn at least the rudiments of either craft.

To my mind, knit and crochet are very similar.  I explain to my knit students that crochet is just like knitting except each stitch is bound off as it’s worked.  In knitting the stitches are left ‘live’ on the needle. 

In Tunisian Crochet, which is essentially a of blend of the two, the stitches are alternatively live for a row, then bound off in every other row.

Yes, that’s a rather simplistic way of explaining it, but it gets the idea across.  Sometimes a simple explanation is best – too many words get in the way when trying to convince someone to just jump in and use their hands!

This is my long-winded way of getting to a new collection of patterns by Kristin Omdahl that spans knit AND crochet, and they’re beautiful!

The patterns are all accessories, small and portable and ranging in difficulty levels.  It’s an exciting and beautiful collection, but the thing I love the MOST about it is that it may be instrumental in convincing a knit-only person to attempt some crochet, and vice-versa!

I’m giving a copy of this e-book/collection away!

If you’d like to receive this great collection, simply leave a comment below and I’ll select someone at random (using my highly scientific method) and email you the book!

And if you DON’T win the book, but would still like to have a copy, it’s available for $9.95 here!

The winner of the book below is Elizabeth Howard from Facebook.

She left a comment, I closed my eyes and
touched the screen and I landed RIGHT on her name!
Congrats to Elizabeth!

Stay tuned for more giveaways as life progresses!!

Using a VERY scientific process which involved paper, a bowl and two fingers, I have selected a winner of Knitting Everyday Finery.

Zoe from Minneapolis (PURE coincidence, I had no idea she was nearby!) will be receiving the book later this week.

I’ll be sending her book out to her later today – shoot, I should just bike it over – and I’m announcing a new book giveaway:

One + One: Scarves, Shawls & Shrugs is a great book full of small pieces worked in a variety of skill levels.

Most of the pieces are to be worn around the neck, or close to the face, which makes perfect sense as the yarn used is Iris Schrier’s Art Yarns – a wonderful selection of soft, shimmery, colorful fibers.

I would be happy to knit and own any of the pieces in this lovely book, but a few stand out as exceptional small garments which can challenge a new knitter while fulfilling an established knitter’s need for something engaging to occupy hands and minds.

Lacy Textured Cowl by Laura Zukaite

I especially liked Laura Zukaite’s Lacy Textured Cowl – a very wearable piece which could easily move from casual to extremely elegant.  The yarn chosen – Artyarns Ensemble Light – is a beautiful choice of soft cashmere and resilient silk.

Easy Cable Cowl by Michelle Miller

Michelle Miller’s Cabled Cowl would be an excellent small project to help a new cabler hone their skills.

Slip Stitch Wimple by Annie Modesitt

I have a piece in the book, too – the Slip Stitch Wimple (although it wasn’t photographed over the head, which is where a wimple usually sits, this could work as both a cowl AND a very warm hat-like piece)

Slip Stitch Wimple, Flat

For THIS giveaway, I’m going to select from among folks who leave a comment on my facebook page under this blog post announcement.

(yes, I DO understand you’ll have to be on facebook for this one, that’s how this particular cookie crumbles…)

Leave a comment by Wednesday at noon, and I’ll notify the lucky winner and send the book off soon after!