Oh Knitters, oh wow. Thank you from the bottom of my woolly little heart for the response to our knitterly efforts for the Rally this year. I’ve read all the comments and been just so amazed by the kindness and the help.  You’re all good eggs, you know that? You inspire the heck out of me. (Also, thanks for being kind about the confession that I considered giving it a rest. It was a brief phase of cowardice. Thanks for letting me be human about it.)

There’s another training ride this weekend (I’m so hoping it will be warmer than that last craptastic ride)  and so many more after that, but I’ll slog along and do my best to deserve everything you’ve given.  (By the way, there’s another knitter on the Rally, I met Val on a training ride a few weeks ago. Apparently she was inspired by the blog to try this, and I think that means I have a certain responsibility to her – her link is here. Show her a little love.)

One of the things that I miss most when I’m training, is the knitting time. Try as I might, I can’t figure out how to combine the two. When I was on the trainer (that stand thing that turns your bike into a stationary bike) this winter, I thought I might be able to knit on that – after all, it’s not like you need to steer or anything, but road bikes force you into this bent over posture, and I found that I really needed my hands on my handlebars. I assure you attempts were made, and there was one particular incident I didn’t document where I got a decent amount of merino caught in my drivetrain, and that more than anything convinced me that they just don’t go together. (I can take a lot of pain for the rally, but the agony of yarn mangling and loss is just too much.)  Today though, is NOT a training day – I rode Wednesday and yesterday, and there’s a long one planned for this weekend, and that’s enough for this week. (So sayeth my arse, which is really not in top form just yet.) That means it’s a knitting day.

I’ve got this little sweater underway, and with any luck at all it (and the bonnet and bootees that go with) will be done this weekend, and then I’m going to start the blanket. I realized earlier when I was thinking about the loss of knitting time over the next few months, and thought about when I think that baby is going to come, that I really need to pour on the burn. I have a great idea for the middle of it, and I thought I had the edging worked out, but the whole thing was too frilly, and that’s not what I want, so – back to the drawing board I go.  (Also, the backup yarn hasn’t arrived yet, and I’d feel better if I had that in hand before I launched. I won’t need it for ages – if at all, but it feels like a risk.) So…

A knitting day. That’s what I’m having. Once I clean up this sty we live in, and finish my desk-work, and GIVE AWAY SOME PRESENTS!  Yup, it’s Friday, so let’s get this party started.

First up, an amazing gift that I’m not going to give away today, but Monday.  Elizabeth, of amazing Squam Art Workshops fame, has very generously offered up a whole registration for the Spring 2015 retreat. (I know, right?)

Instead of just pulling a name at random, and getting someone who can’t go, or lives to far away or something, I’m going to ask everybody who’d like it to send me an email. If this would be fun for you, just drop me a line at stephanieATyarnharlotDOT.ca (replace the AT and DOT with the right symbols) and make your subject line “Squam”.  On Monday I’ll do the random thing. Remember, anybody who’s helped with the fundraising can send an email – no matter how you helped. (Take a look at the previous post if you’re not sure what I’m talking about.)

Dani (Hi Dani!) over at KSC Designs has two beautiful presents she’s sending to new homes. First, a set of three needle rolls.

Those beautiful things will be going out to Jenn R. and she’ll get to pick the fabric. Dani’s also sending a handled box bag out…

and we both hope that Carolyn N will really love it.

Cecilia Campochiaro is both clever, and generous, and she’s giving away a copy of her intriguing book Sequence Knitting. (I own a copy, and I think it’s really neat.)

She’ll pop that in the mail to Blandyna W and I can’t imagine that they won’t love it.

Cynthia, a reader who’s very generous, and has excellent taste, has two beautiful presents to re-home. First, this  4 oz bundle of fiber called 2 Gems and a Pearl (club fiber) from A Verb for Keeping Warm. It is 2 oz of Superfine Alpaca and 2 oz of 50/50 Cashmere/silk bundled together will be going to live with Dorie L.

And as if that wasn’t enough, she’s also (somehow) parting with this beauty.

It’s Orangeflower Luxe 70/20/10 (discontinued), 2 ply heavy fingering yarn (400 yds), 2-ply Baby alpaca/silk/cashmere, in Tangerine. Cynthia says It is very, very, soft and warm and I bet that Leanne D is going to agree. It sounds perfect.

But wait, there’s more! I’ve had a love affair with String Theory Colourworks self striping yarns for a long time, and so I know that this next one is awesome.

A skein of the yarn of their choice (out of whatever’s in the shop) are each going to Tamsie H, Trish B, Regina J, Amy W, and AnnWG. Shazam! Self-striping madness.

Kathleen‘s offering three presents! First, her (rather amazing)  Ebook, “Flip for the next Feed: five reversible baby bibs” (I can think of a few babies who need these.)

She’ll send that out to Donna D. Then there’s her beautiful Baby Tops Quartet: the Wuv Vest (I can think of a little boy who might need that)  the Leafy Baby Poncho, The Parfait Cardigan and the Sweetness tank top.  Kathleen will be sending that right along to Nancy L.

Last but certainly not least, her Colourwork Quartet: The Bukhara mosaic cowl, Jianzhi double-knitted cowl, Old freshened stranded cuffs, and the Tracery stranded vest. (Look at that one!)

Kelly Y better get her needles warmed up.

Finally – a double dose of good Karma here.  Karen from Greyston Bakery is giving away a A twelve piece assorted brownie gift box.  Greyston Bakery is an over 30 year old social enterprise in Yonkers, New York focused on creating jobs for individuals with barriers to employment including homelessness, incarceration and chronic, generational poverty and providing access to the resources needed to improve their lives, their families lives and the health of their communities. Click on the link. They’re doing amazing things.

When Karen O eats them all up, she’ll know the world’s a better place about 16 ways.

Thanks to everyone. You’re all made of amazing.

(PS. I’ve emailed all the lucky helpers. Check your inbox if the name looks right!)