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)
Love the photographs. I would love to win this book. So many projects I would love to work on. Thanks for the giveaway.
I love your blog, and I love the Purl Bee. I recently started knitting, and i'm addicted. I would love to have this book. Thanks.
Gaaah! I want to make that pointy, pink hat... like, right *now*!
One of my students (an 11 year old) received the first book for her birthday and she brings it to school daily. She has inspired her friends, Bo and Lauryn, to knit hats. The book is wonderful! We all love it!
I love this background story and your beautiful photos! Thank you for this wonderful giveaway.
purl is a special and inspiring store and you've done such lovely work for them. i just realized that i discovered your blog thru the purlbee. would love a chance to win this book! thanks for the great give-away.
lovely story, I adore the store and it's aesthetic! the projects in the book seem lovely, I would love to own a copy. thanks for this wonderful giveaway!
I've checked this book out from my library once before. It's gorgeous! Count me in, please.
What a wonderful book. I just had the opportunity to browse through our local library's copy. I'd love to have my own personal copy. It was so beautifully done!
Such a nice story and so nice that you've all been able to work together over the years. And so lucky for us to have a chance win the book. Love the book.
We received those hats as Christmas gifts this year! I loved her book before this. This one looks gorgeous too! So exciting!
What a fabulous looking book!! Can't wait to get started!
oh, you should be so proud of this book. it is beautiful. count me in on the giveaway- my 12.5 daughter has been knitting non-stop for the past few months and I would love to surprise her with this lovely book!
I don't knit, but I often wish that I did. Maybe this book would be the jump-start I need.
Also, those photos taken at Joelle's house are so lovely!
It looks like such a fun book and "last minute" is about the only way I get anything done...
Thanks for the chance. Your blog is a favorite. I found it through Katie did (miss that one).
amazing. this book looks amazing. i am getting my needles out now for luck :)
would love to win. great giveaway....thanks! and was very excited to make my first trip to purl last fall. it was a beautiful place.
would LOVE this. have the 1st book and its great!
Thank you for offering the book giveaway. The book looks just delightful and it is so nice to hear a bit of its history too...
This book has been on my wish list ever since I first saw it. I love the style of the book and projects. Good job on a very fine book!