giveaway

Love + Leche / July 10, 2018 by jen geigley

A couple of years ago, I tried Love + Leche lotion bars and they quickly became one of my very favorite things. As a knitter/crafter/mom, lotion bars are the perfect daily solution for my dry hands. There are lots of things to love about Love + Leche, a farm fresh and woman-owned company that makes all-natural handmade moisturizing bars, so I was excited to try out their new Little Bee beeswax lotion bars. They are absolutely delightful (and adorable.)

Little Bee bars are the perfect size for travel, your knitting bag, your purse … they’ll even fit right into your pocket. I’m actually packing my weekend bag right now for a road trip, and yup - you guessed it. My Little Bee bar is definitely going into the bag.

(And also into my knitting bag.)

Little Bee lotion bars are available in Cedarwood, Lemongrass, Lavender-Mint, Citrus-Rose, Lavender, Lavender-Rosemary and Unscented. I have tried both the Cedarwood and Lavender scents, and they smell so lovely when they’re on your skin. I’m a big fan of essential oils, so natural scents plus a beeswax lotion bar are truly the best of both worlds. (Is it weird to deeply inhale and enjoy the smell of your hands all day? I don’t think so.)

I own the full-sized lotion bar in Lemongrass, which is also quite lovely. I’ve included a pic here of the original lotion bar (left) alongside the new Little Bee bars (right) so you can see the size difference. Each Little Bee bar comes with a reusable tin, which I love.

Take a look at the gorgeous hand-poured reliefs of these bars. I just love those little bee designs. They are truly a joy to hold in your hand and they radiate a gorgeous, natural golden honey color. Pure local beeswax, coconut oil, almond oil infused with locally-grown certified organic calendula flowers, essential oils are the only things that go into these products.

And they’re not just for hands! You can use Little Bee lotion bars on your lips, dry elbows and feet … wherever you need some extra TLC. Your body temperature softens the oils and beeswax and your skin will feel replenished and deeply moisturized. Need a cool gift for a knitter in your life, or anyone really? Check out their gift sets and other awesome products. Try them all, or share with a friend.

So, you're ready to give Love + Leche a try, right? Well, I have a super sweet deal for you!

Get a FREE Little Bee Lotion Bar ($8 value)
with a $25 minimum order when you enter
the coupon code 'JenGeigley' at checkout.
(Expires 7/31/18)

Shop here

Awesome, right? Treat yourself to an all-natural lotion bar or balm and say goodbye to dry hands. Enter the coupon code above, hit the 'Apply Coupon' button and you're all set. Also, follow Love + Leche on Facebook if you have a sec. You'll love their beautiful photos.

also! click the button below to sign up for a
giveaway from Love + Leche! (Ends 7/31/18)

A huge thank you to Love + Leche for letting me try out the Little Bee lotion bars and for the awesome coupon for my blog friends. Enjoy!

(Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post.)

soaking and blocking (and a giveaway) / June 30, 2015 by jen geigley

I've been doing a lot of this lately, which is a good thing. There's nothing like giving your sweet new baby sweater a gentle, loving dunk in the sink. But plain water isn't enough for your sweet new baby sweater. You have to use Eucalan. I have used Eucalan for a few years now and it's a must-have for your soaking and blocking process.

You don't skip this part, right? (Right?) Because you owe it to yourself to finish out these last steps properly on that amazing handmade garment that you spent so much time knitting. A good soak in a bowl or sink filled with lukewarm water and wool wash will do wonders for how your hand-knits look and feel. Really.

Last month at TNNA, I was one of the lucky attendees at the Marly Bird Designer Dinner and received a swag bag of epic proportions. In that bag was a sweet little bottle of Eucalan's new scent, Wrapture by designer Kristin Omdahl, infused with the essential oil of Night Bloom Jasmine. It's as good as it sounds. It not only smells wonderful but also has a ton of benefits. All of the Eucalan scents have natural moth inhibiting properties, and the lanolin and essential oils act as natural fabric softeners that will make your sweater extra soft, also allowing the fibers and stitches to lay really nicely. Wool wash cleans and softens your hand-knits with amazing results ... and you don't have to rinse.

Typically, I use Eucalan the 'traditional' way – soaking my garment in a sink or a bowl of lukewarm water (with one teaspoon of Eucalan per gallon) and then laying it out to dry. However, sometimes I knit sweaters that require a bit more care. Sometimes I'm wary of completely submerging them. With these delicate garments, I add a couple of drops of Eucalan into a spray bottle of water and boom, I'm ready to dampen and block my sweater. Eucalan is a no-rinse wool wash so it's perfectly okay to spray it on your garment and let it soak right in!

So. Would you like to soak your next finished project in Eucalan? I know you would. (Giveaway time!)

THE PRIZE

A Eucalan Getaway Gang pack

Pack includes: 2 each of the individual use single use pods (Eucalyptus, Lavender, Grapefruit, Unscented, Wrapture),

6 stain-removing wipes, 1 pack lint removers, 1 nail file and 1 sewing kit in a re-usable vinyl zipper bag.

HOW TO ENTER

• Comment below telling me if you're a hard-core wool wash user, or a first-timer!

• Like Eucalan on Facebook or follow them on Instagram.

THE RULES

    •    Giveaway is open to US and CAN residents only

    •    Giveaway is open until Sunday, July 12, 2015 at 11:30 PM CST.

    •    Comments must include a valid email address or Ravelry ID so I can contact you if you are the winner. :)

    •    Winner will be chosen via random number generator and will be contacted within 48 hours after giveaway ends.

A huge thank you to Eucalan for this wonderful giveaway. Good luck and thanks for reading! :)

Scarves in the Round: a giveaway! / June 8, 2015 by jen geigley

Adorned by Heather Walpole

My amazingly cool and talented friend Heather Walpole is a designer and the founder of Ewe Ewe Yarns, and she has just written her first book! I'm super stoked to be part of her blog tour for Scarves in the Round: 25 Knitted Infinity Scarves, Neck Warmers, Cowls, and Double-Warm Tube Scarves.

Heather and I have been friends for a couple of years after collaborating on a 30 Day Sweater project. And I got to meet up with her, see her Ewe Ewe Yarns booth and her new book at TNNA a couple of weekends ago. She's fantastic. Her patterns are featured on eweewe.com and have appeared in the One + One series, as well as in Knit Simple, Love of Knitting, and Creative Knitting magazines. She's also a fellow graphic designer ... and she's done design work for IKEA. So, she's pretty awesome.

In this book, Heather uses circular needles to create fresh, modern takes on the old standby scarf. Finished items range from cowls to long tube scarves and neck warmers for knitters of all skill levels. Get ready to feast your eyes on gorgeous colorwork designs, entrelac, bold striping, geometric patterns and Fair Isle. Check out some of my favorite projects from Scarves in the Round below ... and keep reading to find out how you can win your own copy.

Basket Case Cowl

Adorned

High Speed Cable Cowl

Beach Break Loop

Changing Tides Cowl

Pretty awesome stuff, right? You definitely have to see the rest of her designs because you'll want to make them all. So ... would you like to win your own copy?

IT'S GIVEAWAY TIME!

THE PRIZE

Your Scarves in the Round: 25 Knitted Infinity Scarves, Neck Warmers, Cowls, and Double-Warm Tube Scarves

HOW TO ENTER

To enter, comment below with your favorite pattern from the book (you can view them all on Ravelry here)
'Like' Ewe Ewe Yarns on Facebook or Instagram

THE RULES

Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only
Giveaway is open until Sunday, June 14, 2015 at 11:30 PM CST.
Comments must include a valid email address or Ravelry ID so I can contact you if you are the winner. :)
Winner will be chosen via random number generator and will be contacted within 48 hours after giveaway ends.

A huge thank you to Heather for this wonderful giveaway, and congrats on the amazing book!

Knit and Crochet Now! (and a giveaway) / January 18, 2015 by jen geigley

When I'm out and about, I love to knit with friends. And when I'm at home, I knit and watch TV. (Don't we all?) A few years ago, I stumbled upon a show called 'Knit and Crochet Now' on PBS, and quickly realized it was a pretty fantastic knitting companion. Knitting friends on my TV/laptop! Because the only thing better than knitting is knitting while you watch a TV show about knitting.

I started watching a new episode each evening while working on whatever I was knitting at the time, and became totally hooked. I felt like such a multitasker. I learned so many new skills – both knitting and crochet – and looked forward to seeing what projects and guests would be featured each week. New episodes (Season 6!) of Knit and Crochet Now have begun airing on PBS this month.

You know how it's easier to learn a new skill (like, say ... duplicate stitch or entrelac) when someone is sitting there with you, showing you the way? That's exactly what happens when you watch 'Knit and Crochet Now' – you get step-by-step knitting and crochet instruction plus really helpful tips from the pros. I've watched episodes featuring all sorts of techniques: Tunisian crochet, amigarumi, wall art, incorporating fabric, colorwork, seaming, weaving, crochet short rows, knitted short rows, brioche rib, entrelac, felting, loom knitting, life lines, side-to-side dropped stitches, cast-ons, linings, crocheted cables and more. So many things! Here a few of the experts you will see on the show this season.

Brett Bara is the host with the most. She's warm and down-to-earth and I secretly wish she was my real-life crafty friend. When Brett is not in front of the camera on Knit and Crochet Now, she is a designer, author, blogger, and consultant in the craft and DIY community. She is the founder of Brooklyn Craft Company & Brooklyn Craft Camp and is the former Editor in Chief of Crochet Today magazine.

Special guest Drew Emborsky (aka The Crochet Dude) is a designer, teacher, author and most recently launched his own line of hand-dyed yarns. Drew will be hosting special segments featuring party accessories, kiddie toys, fingerless gloves, headbands and shawls. He is awesome.

Robyn Chachula, the author of six books, including Blueprint Crochet, Baby Blueprint Crochet, Blueprint Crochet Sweaters, and Simply Crochet, creates architecturally inspired pieces and has her own crochet design company, Crochet by Faye. Her patterns have been featured in numerous magazines, including Crochet! and Inside Crochet.

Crochet expert Ellen Gormley is the Editor of Crochet! Magazine and is the instructor for two Annie’s online classes, Learn to Crochet and Crocheting with Beads. Ellen is the author of Go Crochet! Afghan Design Workbook, is particularly well-known for her stylish bead crochet and join-as-you-go crochet and motif designs.

Special guest Jenny King is the talented Australian crochet designer behind Jenny King Designs and has written several books that include Annie’s Bavarian Crochet On-the-Go.

Color expert Kristin Nicholas is the author of eight books, including Color by Kristin, Kristin Knits, Colorful Stitchery, Kids Embroidery, Knitting for Baby and more.

Lena Skvagerson is the designer of many of the gorgeous projects for Knit and Crochet Now! She is the in-house exclusive designer for the Annie’s Signature Collection, as well as Creative Knitting Magazine, Crochet! Magazine and Crochet World. Until recently, Lena was a Designer for Drops/Garnstudio. She has been designing knit and crochet patterns for the past 25 years.

Projects featured on 'Knit and Crochet Now' include garments, accessories, toys and jewelry, but the main focus is on education and learning new techniques. I cast on this chunky lace scarf and worked right along with the show, finishing one repeat of the lace pattern as I watched! How fun is that?

Each episode features knit and crochet projects, exciting new yarns, interesting stitch patterns and a popular segment called 'Knit and Crochet Now Scarf of the Week.' Full instructions for each of the featured projects are available on KnitAndCrochetNow.com.

Have you watched this gem of a show? You can check here to see if it is airing on your local PBS channel. Or, if you can't catch the show on live TV, you can sign up for a Knit and Crochet Now! All Access Membership to get on-demand videos and free patterns. Sounds pretty awesome, huh? For $24.95 a year, members will have access to all of the episodes from Season 1-6 (65 episodes) and 225 patterns – every episode and every pattern is at your fingertips on your computer, tablet or smartphone. Your All Access Membership also gets you 10% off everything at AnniesCraftStore.com. Yarn, needles, hooks, and even more patterns and videos!

GIVEAWAY TIME!

THE PRIZE

One lucky reader will win a Knit and Crochet Now! All Access Membership for 1 year!

THE ALL-ACCESS MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES:

All 78 episodes ON DEMAND
Free downloads for all 210 projects
Save 10% on everything at Annie's Craft Store

HOW TO ENTER

Comment below telling me if you are a knitter or crocheter (or both!)
'Like' Knit and Crochet Now! on Facebook

THE RULES

Giveaway is open until February 1st, 2015 at 11:30 PM CST.
Comments must include a valid email address or Ravelry ID so I can contact you if you are the winner. :)
Winner will be chosen via random number generator and will be contacted within 48 hours after giveaway ends.

A huge thank you to 'Knit and Crochet Today' for the awesome giveaway. Best of luck and thanks so much for reading!

P.S. Want a shot at another giveaway? Visit Berroco's blog from January 21-28 to enter to win enough yarn to make the two hats featured in Episode 2. The winner will be selected on January 29th.

Australian Superfine Merino by Cleckheaton – and a GIVEAWAY! / January 12, 2015 by jen geigley

This month I had the opportunity to try out a new yarn – Cleckheaton's Australian Superfine Merino. It was such a treat to knit with these candy-colored brights! I found Cleckheaton's Superfine to be extremely soft and springy and a joy to knit with; it's silky and smooth and completely comfortable next to your skin. And this hat! It's pretty much perfect. As soon as I started knitting, my daughter asked if we could share it. HA. Definitely.

Australian Superfine Merino wool is recognized as one of the world's finest and is grown on specially bred Merino sheep that graze on sustainable grasslands. It is then lovingly twisted and dyed by the people at the Wangaratta Woollen Mills in rural Victoria. This magically soft merino warms you up in the cold and helps you feel cool when it's hot. But the best thing about this yarn is truly the softness.

This luxuriously soft and springy yarn comes in 30 amazing colorways – neutrals, brights and everything in between. You can see them all right here. The color combo I used to knit my 2 Colour Beanie was 14/Garnet and 52/Ice Green. Do you love this hat as much as I do? If so, you can download this awesome pattern for FREE. :)

Another very cool bonus is the tag that comes with this yarn. First of all, it's letterpressed and completely beautiful. And! You can sew the ribbon to your knitted accessory/garment as a tag! Love that so much!

And if that's not enough eye candy for you today, check out all of the gorgeous patterns on the Cleckheaton Superfine website. Wow. Here are just a few of my favorites. (Visit to the website to download.)