Blogiversary Giveaway

It is one year ago today since I started this blog! To celebrate this fact, and to say thank you to all of you who have read and commented on my ramblings, I have got together some MIXTAPE-THEMED GOODIES to share with you! Most excitingly, I have one skein of Old Maiden Aunt superwash merino 4ply in the colourway 'Seen the Ocean' (do check out the link: her photography is much better than mine), part of her 'I made you this mixtape' collection that I enthused about here. This is a beautiful, saturated blue, which I found so irresistible that I simply had to get another skein for myself! It would be perfect for a special pair of socks, or a shawlette such as Ishbel or Milkweed, or the undulating lace of Anne Hanson's Rivolo scarf. In fact, I think this yarn would make just about any pattern look ravishing.

When I mentioned that I planned to include the yarn in a giveaway, Lilith very generously threw in lots of little extras - yarnie keyrings, badges, Love Hearts, and an adorable pocket notebook printed with cassette tapes. Thank you so much, Lilith!

The final item in this MIXTAPE-THEMED GIVEAWAY is, inevitably, a mixtape, or rather cd. This will be housed in a sewn cd cover of my own design (the photo above is of a prototype, which may undergo tweaking). 

For the chance to win all of this MIXTAPE-THEMED BOUNTY, simply leave a comment on this post telling me about a song you'd like to put on a mixtape, and why (to make the recipient think you are cool or cultured? Because it reminds you of a particular event? Because you just can't stop listening to it at the moment?). Please don't be shy about commenting, whether you've only just come across this blog or have been lurking for a while, whether you live in the U.K. or in Outer Mongolia, whether you are new to knitting or an experienced needle-wielder - all are eligible, all are welcome. 

You have until NOON (GMT) ON MONDAY 1 MARCH to enter.

Shall I start things off? I would include the song 'Let's Get Lost' by Chet Baker, because of its effortless cool, its jazzy romance, and the warm, mahogany timbre of Chet's voice. Your turn!

A Confession...

I... I don't quite know how to say this. Maybe through the medium of macro...

No? OK, well... remember that stash pledge I made? Oh, do I have to spell it out?

I bought some yarn. Some really, really good yarn. This yarn, to be precise.

It is an absurdly luxurious laceweight from Old Maiden Aunt, consisting of baby alpaca, silk and cashmere, in the colourway Bitter Bug. Now, you know how I feel about Old Maiden Aunt yarns - I have made them into socks, shawls, and an ill-fated cardigan. Lilith (the dyer) just has an unparalleled sense of colour: this particular skein is a rhapsody in green, ranging from an inky, forest darkness to intoxicating dashes of absinthe. On top of that, there is a really cool concept behind this latest collection of hers:

All of these yarns are inspired by her favourite songs; in the case of my yarn, this Indigo Girls number. I long been a believer in the mixtape as a token of regard, and have given and received more than I could count. As Nick Hornby described in High Fidelity, making them is a craft in its own right, but I love the idea of honouring them through other crafts. As well as that yarn collection, check out Floresita's adorable mixtape card tutorial.

My little brother and I have a bit of a mixtape war going on, with the battle-ground as my mum's car. My inclusion of this Ethiopian jazz classic was taken by both mother and brother as conclusive proof that I had lost this war, which I suppose goes to show that gauging your audience is the key to mixtape success (I still love that song, though). I'd love to hear other people's mixtape stories - has anyone ever given you a really memorable one? Have you laboured over a playlist for someone you've set your cap at in the hope of getting them to return your affections?