Handwerks Yarn Giveaway!

A special Yarn Crawl today spotlights  independent dyer Laura, creator of Handwerks Textiles.  She shares her yarny history and new ideas and has generously offered not one, but two skeins of gorgeous yarn for our readers.

Handwerks' luxury yarn lines include Classic Sock, Necessary sock, Silky Sock, So-Soft Sock,and Classic Dk. We're going to get to give away a skein each of  the last two, her new lines!

Our designers get to play with the other two, so watch for her yummy Superwash Merino and luxury blend colorways in featured patterns for the Fall and Winter issues.

Not just for many-hued fibers, the Handwerks site offers information and classes on Circular Sock Machines and a nice array of for-purchase and free patterns, such as the Lacey Scarf shown below as well as a Sock Club (current one's closed, but I'm sure there'll be more in the future).

Now, without further ado, let's settle in and hear from Laura.

Tell us a little about your yarns, especially the ones we get to give away, please!

 So-Soft-Sock is my repeatable line of sock yarn in a soft-yet-strong blend of superwash merino and cashmere. It also has a touch of nylon for extra strength. When I first started carrying this yarn I thought of it as a luxury blend but it is now becoming my favorite all purpose blend. I’m currently knitting a cardigan for myself out of it holding two strands of yarn together. It’s wonderful and I love the way knitting with two strands blends the colors. It is, of course, also perfect for socks! All of the colorways can be reordered.

Classic DK is a new weight of yarn for Handwerks.  I decided to offer DK yarn for those people that want a heavier weight yarn for socks as well as mitts, scarves, sweaters, and baby items. DK is such a versatile weight;  I’m enjoying dyeing this yarn in small batches and not taking extra time to make notes on my dye process. This allows me to dye in a more serendipitous manner and I can pass on some savings to my customers.  I don’t plan to repeat dyelots of this yarn exactly, so what is on my website is what's available.

 

How'd you get started with your fiber business?

My Girl Scout leader taught me to knit a headband on a circular needle when I was nine.  I grew up in Madison, WI so after the headband I went on to knit mittens and hats.  My grandmother also helped me along the way; I just never quit knitting.  In college in Minnesota I started designing my own patterns, combining stitches for scarves, mittens and sweaters.  Later, when I lived in Washington DC, I started teaching knitting at a LYS and I started a small business, Wee Woolens, designing and machine knitting children’s sweaters.  A few years later when we moved to California and I started spinning, weaving and dyeing yarns. I’ve since dabbled with weaving baskets, raising angora rabbits and knitting on antique circular sock machines.  After my kids went off to college I decided it was time to start another small business.

Handwerks started in 2007. I chose the name Handwerks to allow me to pursue all kinds of textiles made by hand.  I also teach out of my home studio and judge spinning at local fairs. Besides selling hand dyed yarns I sell hand cranked socks and handwoven textiles.  Handwerks brings together my past business experience, training in the sciences, teaching skills and lifelong interest and talents in fiber arts.

Tell us about your approach to color and what inspires your color choices.

My colorways are inspired by my surrounding. I like to mix and combine colors that I see as well as play on themes.  Handwerks yarns always have several colors in one yarn. I find layers of color with shades and variations more interesting than solids. I start with primaries and keep mixing until I am satisfied with the results. I also try to strive for yarns that have a handcrafted appeal. My goal always is to dye something beautiful and unique and I try to dye a range to appeal to a varied audience.  I always wanted to have the biggest crayon box I could when I was little and I like to offer that kind of choice to my customers for their knitting pleasure.

 What's next for you and Handwerks?

I always have something new in the works. Lately I’ve been writing more patterns for my sock yarn club and also working with a local designer on her patterns. I’m also expanding my yarn lines and playing with new colorways and dye techniques.  I don’t know where all this will lead but I’m enjoying the process and looking forward to the next opportunity and adventure.

Now, because of Laura's generosity, Knitcircus readers will win two of the four skeins you've seen pictured on the post; one each of Classic DK and So-Soft Sock. And here's a bonus; if you're the winner, you get to pick your colorway!

For Classic DK, you'll find Sumac (top) and Riverbank:

 

And with So-Soft Sock, you can choose Monterey Cypress (top) or Peach Blush.

 

To enter, just leave a comment telling me either your favorite sock pattern from the current issue or one thing you're planning on knitting as a holiday gift this year.Since this is such a great giveaway, I'll give you plenty of time and will let the Random Number Generator of Yarny Love pick a winner this Friday. Three lucky runners-up will receive a free Knitcircus Summer 2010 Pattern Collection download. Please leave your Ravelry name or email in your comment so I can contact you if you win!

This is a big week; if you'd like more free goodness from Knitcircus, the online newsletter's coming out Wednesday; look for a fun book review and a new recipe! You can sign up for the newsletter mailing list here or at the top right on the blog.

Good luck, and thanks so much to Laura and Handwerks!

ETA: the giveaway is now closed. Thanks to everyone who entered!

Comments

[Afewdanglingstrings.blogspot.com]

I knit so many things for Christmas last year, and it was so hectic doing so, that I'm doing my best not to commit to knitting for Christmas gifts this year. However, I am partway through the Knitpicks ornament kit and will probably try to continue on that so that I can give some of those to our guests at our tree-trimming party.

[Marianna Menkol]

Wristers or small shawls are on my to do list for christmas--easy to transport in the hot summer months!

[Niki Vogler]

Scatterling, definitely. I love the look, and love love love the name! Knitnik on Ravelry.

[A Fong]

i love scatterling as it is a great guy sock...can't find too many of those.

[Rebecca C.]

Scatterling. But I'm gonna make all of the socks, because they're all great, and probably give the Lily's Socks away for Hannukah. (rav name itgirl)

[Rosemary Morrison]

I just love Scatterling :-) It has personality :-)
Name on Ravelry is one2knit

[peachesforever]

I usually work on socks throughout the year for gifts. I'm doing some amigurumi this year for the first time and having fun with them...peachesforever on Ravelry

[Yellowbugink]

I really like the Lily socks for little girls. Right now I'm working on a vest and poncho.
Yellowbug on Raverlry

[Morrolesssocks.wordpress.com]

I haven't knit socks yet!!! I really want to learn though! Right now i working on my own pattern for a mobius. i knit lots as christmas presents but i wanted something lighter for the chilly summer start in Shetland. I was inspired by a woolywormhead beret
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/weekender-beret

oh my goodness that wool is just gorgeous!

:)
Leira (ravelry)

[Esther Shchory]

I love the Sugar Bay Socks in this issue. I would make them as a present for myself. So far this year I haven't knit anything for myself.

eshchory on Ravelry

[Tactlesswonder.blogspot.com]

I'm trying something new and crazy this year...knitting hats and cowls throughout the year to amass enough knitting gifts for xmas. I know! Crazy! But I've got 3 hats and one almost finished cowl so far. Of course now that I've said this... On the sock front? Well...I did mention the hats and the cowls? They've kinda sorta taken over recently...

[Paula Zimmerman]

Scatterling is my fave. I will knit some of my small shawl designs (old and new) to give away at the holidays... PJsKnitting on Ravelry.

[Elizabeth Ahlers]

I love the Tachimawari socks from the current issues. As for holiday knitting, I'm thinking of knitting my mom a Sunrise Circle jacket from IK for Christmas - need to get started on that soon.

[Erin Mahoney]

I love the Rosie Socks. They're totally different than anything I have tried with socks so far. I'm Lovelylark on Ravelry.

[Blue Gal]

I'm knitting sweaters for my children this summer, maybe as Christmas gifts or if I'm really productive, back to school! Love the colors in the DK line. Ravelry name is bluegal

[SarahJS]

I love Sugar Bay. Very lovely for summer!

And THIS year, after 2 years of Christmas-knitting-angst, I'm not going to be knitting gifts for anyone! I'm SarahJS on Ravelry.

[Alice Lemieux]

I, too, love the Scatterling pattern. Now I just need me some sock yarn ^_~.

My brother who lives in the Pacific Northwest rocks a mohawk some months and he just had a little boy - so I'm going to knit my new nephew his own mohak hat to be just like Daddy, but warmer.

~esmeraldasecho on Ravelry

[kitten-with-a-whiplash.blogspot.com]

Mom loves the Tweedy Topper hat from Fall 2006 Knitter's Magazine. I've made her two and she's hinting for another.

[Karin Lubbers]

I like the Tachimawari socks, but it could very well just be the colorway. Wow! I'm also loving the shading of these Handwerks yarns. Gorgeous. nitro9 on ravelry

[Sable]

I really like Tachimawari socks too, I like the continuous slip stitch flowing around the sock. I'm sewsable on Rav

[Julie]

I love the Rosie socks, so cute.
I'm sewknitful on Ravelry.

[Rachel]

I haven't decided on gifts for Christmas, yet, but our local knitting group is going to knit up a bunch of candy canes, and scatter them about locally for decoration on trees and bushes.

- ArgentFool on Ravelry

[Lindurand]

I love Hunter's Scatterling pattern in the latest issue. For Christmas, I'll be knitting a Christmas stocking for my niece.

lindurand on ravelry

[Jean Ashley]

I really liked the Sugar Bay and the Scatterling patterns from the latest issue. I can't think about Holiday knitting yet because I'm working on a Chinook Shawl for a July birthday!

[Kimberly Roy]

I am planning on a bunch of shawlettes and cowls for Christmas 2010. Hopefully I'll get everything finished in time this year.