I just can't say enough about LOVE. It most certainly is what makes the world go around.  Love is everywhere.  You truly don't have to look very far.  

It's in my sister's visit.  The way she lights up a room.  It's in a Friday evening and the way we choose to celebrate life. 
It's in a fancy cocktail and how it matches a sweater.   It's in the joy in our voices.  
It's in the way I knit sweaters.  One after the other.  
It's in the air in September and the smell of basil.

The winners of the two Hanne Falkenberg kits were finally chosen!  (Giveaway was on Episode 15 of AFTKW podcast.)
Episode 16  of AFTKW podcast is up where I told you all about how I entered the winners and my husband was there to actually do the drawing.  Plus there is a little behind the scenes if you would like to take a look!  
 Congrats to Susan and Carole!  

My heart is never happier than when I have my three children around me.

If you wear readers, do you remember how you felt when you first wore them?
Well,  I was actually so excited to wear them.   I even wrote a blog post about it all of those years ago!  It's been almost 12 years. I really can't believe it!
Through the years, I have gone through many pairs and many styles of readers.  MANY pairs I tell you.  I always have a handful in rotation floating around the house.  All usually ending up next to my bed.  I try to save one favorite pair for special times.  And, I usually have one stronger pair designated to nights out for dinner.  Cause if you wear readers, I know you are with me on this!  Those dark restaurants always make me think that my eyes are worse than I thought! :)
The company I always lean towards is Readers.com.  I have found that for the price they can't be beat.  So many styles to choose from that you can have a handful of styles to choose from to match your mood (or your outfit!).   It's true what they say... happy eyes, happy wallet!
Well, guess what?  Those nice peeps at Readers.com are giving away a pair to 3 of MY readers.  You get to choose the style and the strength.  So, if interested, (for you or a friend!), please leave a comment here before Tuesday the 12th, 5pm EST.  I'll have the random number generator choose 3 names.

Oh Boy.  THIS BOOK!  If there is one book to have in your knitting library, I suggest this one.  It's truly a gem of a book.  Absolutely everything a knitter needs to know is in here.  I mean everything!
It was first published in 1989, updated in 2002 and the past fifteen years have seen many advances in knitting which made it time for another update.  Sure, there is always the internet to look techniques up.  However, there is nothing like holding the information in your hand.  This book is easy to navigate with thorough indexing and footnote cross-referencing.
The updated Vogue Knitting contains:
•Expanded library of cast-ons, increases, decreases and bind-offs.
•In depth sections on brioche, enteric, double knitting and mosaic knitting.
•New design and construction chapters for accessories with dozens of options for hats, mittens, socks, gloves and more than 25 shawl shapes.
•Comprehensive chapters on lace and cables detailing all knitters need to know when increasing, decreasing, reading charts, working borders and much more.
•Revised and expanded information on tools, correcting errors, finishing, embellishing, and garment care to instill a masterly understanding of knitters at every stage.

My mother gave me the edition first published in 1989.  It has been my constant by my side.  I reference quite a few things out of this book.  From the most simple techniques to those used to design sweaters, helping me design the libby sweater back in 2009.  Truly a knitters bible.

Happy knitting, friends!

Okay, friends. This may be the cutest book of baby blanket patterns I have ever seen!
I flipped through the book marking my favorites with post it notes.  I think I put a post it note on every single pattern.  I'm not kidding.  This is honestly, the most spectacular selection of baby blanket patterns I have ever seen.
Honeycomb anything.  Swoon.
Are you kidding me?  Both of my boys would have been swaddled in this number.
These three farm animals tucked into bed.  Adorable.
There are so many more.  There is a mermaid Tail, heart motif, sailboats.  You name it.  It's in there.

And guess what?  The sweet peeps over at Sterling would like to give a copy to one of my readers.  If interested, please leave a comment here before Monday, December 18, 5pm EST, and I will have the random number generator choose a number.

Happy Friday!

In this book Seed Stitch, Beyond knit 1, purl 1, Rosemary Drysdale uses seed stitch and incorporates it into color work, cabling, geometric patterns and more.    It's pretty amazing to think of all the combinations that can be made from using the two stitches we all know;  knit and purl.
There are over 60 swatches of show you what combining different textures and patterns can do for a project.
Drysdale has an introduction in the book that explains the beginning of our beloved passion.  I'm shocked I have never taken time to learn more about the history of my love!  I learned that until the early sixteenth century, the knit stitch was the only stitch used.  Working in the round with every round knitted produced the "stockinette stitch" pattern.  Purl stitches first appeared in the mid-sixteenth century and earned its name because their stitches represented beads, or "pearls".
Combining stitches Drysdale designed twenty-five gorgeous projects ranging from pillow and bags to cowls and sweaters.  I'm really thinking I want to add some knit pillows to our family room this winter!

The nice peeps over at Sterling would like to giveaway a copy to one of my readers.  If interested, please leave a comment here before Monday, October 2nd at 5pm EST, and I'll have the random number generator choose a number.

You know how much I love these kits and their yarn.  E V E R Y T H I N G included in one package.  It truly makes for an easy, enjoyable project.

I started the Byron Bay Cardigan a few Sundays ago.  I am not one who needs to only work with lighter yarns in the summer, (wool is always welcome) however, this cotton is dreamy.  Feels like a cloud on my legs.  And I'm loving the simplicity of the pattern.

Well, the sweet peeps over at We Are Knitters are giving away a kit to one of my readers.  (Up to $90.00 value.)  To enter, leave a comment here with your choice of kit (you can always change your mind if you win) and leave your email as a contest participant here.  That's it!  I'll choose a winner on Tuesday the 4th of JULY!

Happy weekend friends.

Or these fabulous gloves.  Oh ya.
I absolutely love the stripes and drape of this wrap.
I just love how some of the patterns are constructed.  This art deco wrap is knit by starting a small rectangle and picking up stitches along an edge to add to the size.  Repeating that concept as you build onto the size of the wrap.  (Or a blanket!)
This truly might be the garment that really caught for my eye.  It's knit in strips making it visually not only a garment but a true piece of art.

The sweet peeps over at Sixth and Spring would like to give away a copy of Knit Noro Accessories 2 to one of my readers.  Please leave a comment here before Monday, the 20th at 5pm EST, and I'll have the random number generator choose a name.

Happy St. Patty's Day!  I hope you are wearing a green knit.  xx

60 Quick Knitted Toys stirred memories of when my children were younger.  And, oh, how I wish I would have knit half of the toys in this book! It's like a toy chest bursting with lovable patterns to knit!
Hippos, owls, foxes, monkeys.
Musical instruments, giant tic-tac-toe board and penguin bowling.
Honestly.  I think they are the perfect gifts to be treasured.

The sweet peeps at Sterling would like to give away a copy to one of my readers.  If interested, please leave a comment here before Monday, March 6th, 5pm EST,  and I will have the random generator choose a name.

Happy weekend!

Hey Friends!

For those interested, giving away 3 sets (4/set) Chalk Lots over on Chalk Lots Instagram Account.
Head on over if you want to enter!

xx, leslie

These quick knit books are my favorite.  And, I think you can probably tell this is my favorite of all three giveaways. Oh my gosh!
My favorite thing to knit are items for my kids.  It just seems, as if, that window of opportunity for me, was smaller than I would have wanted it to be.  Once they hit middle school, there was very little knitting for the boys.  And, just a little more for Libby.
Thankfully hats and gloves have always been a nice constant.
This would have been great for my Andrew who didn't like coats.  I could have just thrown this over his head and off we would go.
Boy and girl sweaters.  Pull overs and Cardigans.  Ponchos and capes.  Bow ties and dresses.
This truly is one of the cutest kids books I have seen in a while!

If interested in 60 quick knits for little kids, please leave a comment here.  I'll be back after the 27th to announce who the random number generator chooses of all three giveaways.

Have a wonderful weekend, friends!

Okay. I have knit a monkey and a snake before, but I can honestly say that I wish this book was around when I did!
Wait, you can knit a square and turn it into a cute penguin?!
Or a turtle?!
Or a panda?
Or a pig?
Or a frog?!

There are 35 critters in all.  All constructed from a single square.  Seriously?!  And, I SO wish I would have taken a photo of the elephant.  Oh my cuteness!

If interested in Nicky Epsteins Knit a Square, Create a Cuddly Creature, please leave a comment here.   I'll announce the winner next weekend.

Sorry to keep you waiting on the KnitCrate discount code. I've received word that it's working now. SO sorry about that! (Two posts ago.  Down there. )
I haven't done a book giveaway in quite a while.  And this week I have three to giveaway!
I'll post each one on a separate day, that way you can enter each one or only the one you want.  All three might interest you, but maybe not, so I thought it would be confused having them all in one post.
I'm headed out of town until the 27th, so I'll just keep them all open and announce the winners when I return.

Remember the book Cowl Girls?  Well, Cathy Carron has now added 35 new designs to the list of cowls and came out with Cowl Girls 2.   With a large range of styles and knitting technique, there is something to fit everyones love of cowls.   Color work, beading, cables, textures, embellishments, zippers, ruffles, hoods, bobbles.  You name it.  It's in there.

If interested in Cowl Girls 2,  please leave a comment here and I'll announce the winner next weekend.

If you have been coming to my blog for a while, you know that I am a big fan of Classic Elite yarn. It has been a true constant in my knitting life. To me, their yarn is always reliable. Always yummy.
Arietta is Classic Elite's latest fall yarn and is knit on US size 5-6 needles with a gauge of 5-51/2 stitches to the inch.
The book includes a couple of sweater patterns, hats, scarves, and my personal favorite above, Avera.   I honestly LOVE that thing.  Avera is a scarf, and a wrap, and a sweater all in one.  Super cool!

If interested, please leave a comment here before Sunday, October 2, 5pm EST.  I'll have the random generator choose a name.  And as always, thanks for visiting!  xx