more last-minute knitted gifts giveaway
If you're a fan of Purl Soho, or of it's owner, Joelle Hoverson, then you probably already know about Joelle's latest book: More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts. I first met Joelle when she was working at Martha Stewart as a stylist. A few years later I heard she was opening a yarn shop, called Purl, down on Sullivan Street in SoHo and I popped in to say hello. The store was tiny, but filled to the brim with the most beautiful yarn I had ever seen... it was like a little jewelbox of a store, all styled perfectly. One evening I remember walking past the storefront after closing. Joelle had started teaching classes in the evening and the store was literally packed with knitting students. There was this buzz, this feeling of excitement in the air. A man on the street next to me asked "What's going on? What is THIS?". And I knew that Joelle had started something special.
A few years later I wandered down Sullivan Street again. Joelle was sitting out front on that cute blue bench outside Purl and as I walked up she said "I was just thinking about you!". She was writing a new book about quilting and patchwork, and opening a second store up the street (a fabric store this time) and she needed some design help. I quickly volunteered. Joelle lived just a few blocks from my home in Brooklyn, and we would meet at night in my little office and work out the details of the book (which was later titled Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts) and design things for the new store (which was called Purl Patchwork). Joelle would hold my daughter Bee, who was just a baby then, while we picked out colors and played around with fonts.
I've been designing for Purl Soho ever since. And it's been my pleasure. When I moved to California three years ago, I was worried that Joelle (and her partners Page and Jen) might want a designer close by in New York.. but lucky for me, they've let me continue to work for them remotely. They are such lovely clients, full of amazing ideas and I'm proud of the things they've let me design like knitting patterns, and twill tape, and calendars, and new logos.
When Joelle told me she was starting a third book, I crossed my fingers she would let me design it. More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts hit the stores in the fall, and here are a few behind-the-scenes shots from the shoot (which was way back in May of 2009!). The photographer for the shoot was the lovely Anna Williams, who also shot Joelle's other two books. Anna is an old friend, who photographs regularly for Martha Stewart Living, where Page, Joelle and I all used to work, so working on these shoots is a bit of a reunion.The projects in this book are beautiful, and most can be knit in a weekend.
Joelle has a lovely home a few hours outside the city and we shot the majority of the book there. She also rented the house next door so we would all have a bed to sleep in and some pretty locations to shoot. One morning I woke up early, the fog had rolled in and the house looked so beautiful.
When I flip through this book, I see my friends. I see Joelle's gorgeous color combinations and Jen's lightning fast knitting and Page's pretty styling and Anna's beautiful light. It reminds me how lucky I am to be a small part of the beautiful things these girls create.
The nice folks at STC: Craft | Melanie Falick Books (an imprint of Stewart, Tabori & Chang) sent me a few extra copies of More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts and I am happy to give one away. Leave a comment below and my little helpers and I will pick a winner Saturday morning, March 19th. Comments will close at 9 AM PST. (Sorry to my international readers, but U.S. residents only...)
And a note about giveaways: I try very hard to keep inchmark non-commercial (which is becoming a rarity these days in the blog world). Please note that inchmark does not offer giveaways for products, books, etc. except in specific cases where I was involved in the creation of the product (i.e. a book I have designed).
Brooke
And the winner is #36, Margaret! Shoot me an email with your address and I will pop your book in the mail! Happy knitting!
Reader Comments (195)
I loved Joelle's book "Last Minute Patchwork+Quilted Gifts". It is a dream of mine to visit the Purl stores, hopefully one day soon. I'd love a copy of the new book. Thanks for the chance!
how awesome, i would be delighted to win!
As a big fan and proud owner of Joelle's other two books I would love to get my hands on this one too!
Thanks for sharing a bit of the background of your work on this book, and other Purl projects. I always like to hear about collaborations between people I admire. And I really love your foggy photos, especially the building with the bird houses.
take care
xo
Oh, great giveaway! I love love love everything that Joelle does. Thanks for the opportunity.
Love the behind-the-scenes photos, this book (which I've only paged through at the yarn shop), and your blog!
I've been meaning to pick this book up. I had my first visit to Purl Soho last month on a trip to NYC, the store is so lovely, I could have stayed all day.
I am forever grateful to Joelle's Last Minute Patchwork Gifts book for walking me through my first quilt. What a great discovery to know that you designed it! Would love to win a copy of this latest book.
This book looks great - I've been meaning to graduate from just making scarves! Thanks for the chance to win!
What a wonderful thing a gievaway. I have wanted this book for a while now I would love to own it.
Thank you
What a fun book! I always get so frustrated with my knitting projects and usually abandon them before they're finished because they take so long. I would love an easier/faster project. There's nothing like finishing up a hat and slipping it on your little one's head.
I loved the last-minute sewing book. I also wanted to say how much I appreciate your blog because you are not always sponsoring or giving something way. It is truly enjoyable and a nice break from all that.
I'm ALL thumbs but this would make an AMAZING gift for a dear friend (the sweet woman who takes care of my girlies one day a week). Throw my name in the hat pretty please!
This is a very wonderful giveaway- I have the first book and have been wanting the second! Thank you for the chance.
i love this book!!
Such lovely light in those pictures and the crafts are beautiful.
Absolutely gorgeous. I've been sewing more than knitting recently, but this inside peek has me itching for my needles!
very nice giveaway. would love to have some new knitting ideas!
olivia
i have joelle's first book, last minute patchwork and quilted gifts and i love it. would be awesome to win and add this book to my collection!
oh, how i've been eyeing this book! thank you for a great give away : ) and those fog photos are truly enchanting.
Thank you for offering a giveaway on the book. I've been looking forward to getting my hands on a copy. (Fingers crossed!)