Stitches in Play: i'm feeling very neighborly (and immensely grateful)

i'm feeling very neighborly (and immensely grateful)

Dearest Blog Readers,

For the first time ever I won a blog giveaway! Jennifer at JCasa Handmade offered up these gorgeous skeins of yarn to knit her new girls vest pattern, the Neighborly. The pattern is available for free here.

The crazy part is that I won this giveaway on Monday but failed to even realize it until last night (wed) when I went to Jennifer's blog to get some fabric ideas for her girls skirt pattern - field day. You see Jennifer is an extremely talented knitter, sewer and designer. What I love most about her work is that she is able to rework traditional patterns in novel and modern ways and to simplify complex patterns into easy basic steps. In the Field Day skirt pattern she was able to redesign the traditional cheerleader skirt into a simple and wearable pattern with an elastic waist (Abigail will so appreciate that)!

I'm also touched by Jennifer's sentiments behind the Neighborly pattern. She has made the pattern available for free to encourage... well, neighborliness... among bloggers and knitters and invites other knitters to do the same. This idea of crafters helping by sharing ideas with one another and giving to the community so rings true for me. I try to pass on any knowledge and ideas I may have to all of you and to donate much of what I make for the tutorials to our school auction. And I reap the rewards of anything I give tenfold when I visit your blogs and see that you've used my tutorial or sewing technique to create something all your own. Thank you for stopping by, for leaving comments, sending e-mails and inspiring me with all the amazing creations and ideas that you post on your blogs.

I am so grateful to be part of this community of ours - of women, moms, sewers, knitters, quilters, thinkers, designers of our families' lives. You all are the best (and most neighborly) and, for that, I thank you.

I have my pattern all printed out and needles ready. But I am not sitting idly waiting for my yarn to arrive. I have many exciting and beautiful projects to work on - and for that I am immensely grateful.

I just popped over to Jennifer's blog to get these links and read that her cable version of the Neighborly vest did not go as planned - and so I offer the above the photo of a block that didn't come together as planned. Oops. Probably because I was engrossed in this very good movie at the time. The plan for tonight includes sewing and seam ripping while watching the next episode of Project Runway.

I have to run to an assembly now where my children have assured me that I will witness them win awards for highest sol score, and most accelerated reader points - what kind of mother would be late for this?

Thank you so much for stopping by my little space here,

Larissa

Posted at 02:14 PM in Sewing, Thinking | Permalink

Comments

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I too am so grateful for all the "neighborliness" I've received from blog writers! THANKS for all you share with us!! Looking forward to seeing all your projects in progress.

Posted by: kristyn | October 08, 2009 at 06:49 PM

Congratulations on winning the yarn! Thank you for all you have shared too!
Warm wishes.

Posted by: Tonya | October 09, 2009 at 02:58 PM

What a great giveaway. Thanks for sharing the links, I've not been to Jennifer's blog before. You do share so much so I'm glad to see you were blessed back! Have a wonderful weekend with your family! oh and even your block that didn't turn out right...looks good to me!

Posted by: Lisa Q | October 10, 2009 at 08:08 AM

Congratulations on winning a giveaway. I'm still waiting for my turn to win something :). I just love the quilt that you are currently working on. Sorry for your error -- but you have such a great attitude. I'm really looking forward to seeing the finished top.

Joan

Posted by: wishes, true and kind | October 12, 2009 at 12:04 AM

Jennifer has really reminded me of all the ways that we can support one another, even through online blogging :). I hope that the quilt goes as you want.

Have a great start to your week :)

Posted by: Heather | October 13, 2009 at 12:46 AM