Welcome to the second last edition of Karmic Balancing gifts for the Bike Rally donors. We leave on Sunday, and I know that it’s been all Rally, all the time around here – it feels that way if you’re me too. I have mixed feelings about leaving Sunday. I’m terrified, and thrilled. Terrified because I am still largely sane, despite this decision, and thrilled because I don’t know how much longer I can take being terrified and it just makes sense to end it.
This week the training tapers off so that riders can be well rested, my bike goes in for a really good tune-up (here’s to wishing there was somewhere I could drop myself off) and our little family will gather their camping things and buy inner-tubes and try to find an air mattress that will fit in the tent but not weigh a million pounds and install yet another bag on the bike to see if I can get knitting in there… I think that one is just me.
It’s almost over, or at least that’s what I keep telling myself. That means there will be a round of Karmic Balancing gifts today, and then more when I come back. (There’s still tons of stuff.) Sam’s scarf was adopted for a beautiful donation, and she was blown away by the response. Thanks for all the bids guys – Sam really feels like her effort paid off, and she’s proud. (Proud enough that she’s still knitting, but we’ll see if it lasts.) In the meantime, I give you this weeks round of gifts – and all our thanks.
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First up, five, count ’em five lucky knitters are going to choose their favourite tie-dyed drawstring bags from Benita and Sandy at Dyed in the Wool.
These handy project bags will go to Nancy H, Cerridwen J, Kyle P, July H and Jan B.
Laura, of Laura Helton Designs, would like to pass on two sets of custom stitch markers.
Kristine M and Kelly A will be choosing their favourite colours and styles.
Genia went into the stash and came up with 546 yards of Plymouth Earth Ranch alpaca, that she’s graciously going to mail to Amanda I.
A knitter who wishes to remain anonymous has donated four beautiful skeins of Handmaiden Seacell.
I know. Right? One set will be going off to Katherine S (our lovely Presbytera of the comments) and the other to Elizabeth M.
Nicole has a great gift. A brand new, beautiful photo album, and she’ll throw in pre-cut scrapbook paper in whatever colour is Amanda B’s favourite – to be photo mats or journaling boxes. (I love this gift.)
Kathleen Dames has offered up what she does best:
Both a digital and print copy of her pattern book Avast No. 1, she’ll be sharing it with Carol T.
Jeanne makes bags for her friends – and they’re pretty as all get out. For the purposes of today’s karma today Beth B is her friend, and Jeanne will be sending her a beautiful bag like this.
(There’s actually another one. Beth will be choosing. How nice is that?)
The Ladybug Fiber Company has two great gifts. Dutch Tulips is a (be still my beating heart, you guys know how I feel about this) SELF STRIPING merino/cashmere/nylon yarn that’s going to live with Michelle H.
and this skein is Quinoa. Kettle dyed sock yarn.
Gorgeous, and going to live with Faith N.
I am going to try hard to be happy for both of them.
Kit over at Insouciant Studios has a gift certificate that she’s throwing into the universe…
and Beth R is catching it. Good luck choosing. There’s a lot of nice stuff there.
Riin over at Happy Fuzzy Yarn (a long time friend of the show) has a generous gift.
Two skeins of her gorgeous merino/tencel fingering weight yarn in Purple Kale are going to live with Stephannie R. (As an aside, Riin is working on a cool Local Wool Project.)
Patti’s stash has offered up something wonderful (I suspect it was actually Patti)
It’s an incredible skein of Wollmeise "We’re different" Lacegarn. 300 grams, or an amazing 1575m. When Heidi A gets it, I feel like she’s going to make something great.
Last, but certainly not least, Danielle is offering a nice gift.
This is her pattern Shipshape, and it’s just an example of what you can get in her shop, which Tania H will soon discover, since Danielle is making her a present of three Makewise designs.
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Finally, last but not least, I’ve got two amazing gifts that aren’t yarn – so I don’t want to give them away the same way. The idea of someone winning one of these gifts randomly and not really, really loving them is too much for an avid knitter to bear, so I’m going to do it the same way as Sam’s scarf. If you want them, email me with a bid (StephanieATyarnharlotDOTca) and I’ll have the donors mail these wonders to the highest bidder. Only I will know what you donated for it to come and live with you (again, I like the karma on that better.)
First, Patti B has knit this amazing shawl. The pattern is Gale, and the yarn is Loft, and damn, isn’t it the prettiest?
This would make a great scarf/wrap for the winter, and I just know there’s someone out there who’s heart just turned over when they saw it.
If you love this, then email me (not a comment) about Patti’s shawl.
Not to be outdone, lookie what Lisa sent.
For those of you that don’t have your own way of getting one (
either because the thought of purls in colourwork makes you want to chew your own arm off, or because you don’t know how to knit, both are valid) that there is a Bohus hat, made from the green meadow kit, and it’s amazing.
If you want to keep your ears warm in style this year, email me about Lisa’s hat.
A special thanks to both Patti (who is this Patti) and Lisa (who is Lisa Kobeck of ST-2 and Retreat fame) for these amazing gifts. It’s hard to part with something that beautiful, and I’m impressed with both of you.
Stay tuned tomorrow, when I’m summing up the Tour de Fleece and trying to be as gracious as the two of them are. I’m going to try and give everything I made on the tour away as a karmic balancing gift.
Try.