photo Jane Richmond_zpsux4wawxl.png

Thursday, November 22, 2012

November Knits Blog Tour and Giveaway!


I am very excited to be the last stop on the November Knits blog tour! The number of talented designers on this project is extraordinary, Kate and Courtney have such an amazing sense of style and I am so honoured to be among such accomplished knitwear designers. 

This project was the first real top secret knitting I ever did. Over two years ago I received a Ravelry message from Kate Gagnon Osborn inviting me to submit to a book project her and Courtney Kelley were putting together. At the time I had been designing for under 2 years, was entirely self published, and was completely floored that such talented and well known ladies even knew who I was! 

The book was to be divided into three catagories; Farm Hands, Ivy League, and Southern Comfort, all of which were equally appealing. In the end I decided to go with a sketch for Southern Comfort. I envisioned a light cardigan knit in a luxurious yarn, something with a bit of a halo. I wanted the garment to look classic and a little vintage, my drawing featured a bib style front by working garter stitch on the yoke to mirror the neckline. Bordering the garter stitch bib is a simple crochet scalloped edge that really polishes the look and adds the feminine touch I was going for. 

Knowing so precisely what I wanted made the yarn mission a little more difficult but thankfully Anna and Mike at Button & Needlework Boutique were incredibly helpful and enthusiastic! I know I wouldn't have found the perfect yarn without them. We finally decided on Fresco by Classic Elite Yarns, made up of 60% wool, 30% baby alpaca, and 10% angora, and let me tell you, this was the most luxurious yarn to work with, it's buttery soft and just the right amount of fuzz! 


{ a few of my swatches with the original yarn }

I had done a proper photo shoot before sending off the final sample for my own project page but sadly, the external hard drive that housed most of my photos is now deceased - it was a very sad day (I also lost all of my photos of Elsie from 0-2 years). After major file recovery attempts and a technician friend performing open heart surgery on the thing (thank you Jason - you did all you could do), I managed to recover these two random photos...



Once the cardigan was shipped off I learned that the book would be available Fall 2012, having never contributed to a book before I was amazed by the lead time on the design work. It was such a great project to be a part of and I feel so priveledged to have had the opportunity to grace the pages with the likes of some of my all time favorite designers.

Here is my design, the Savannah Cardigan, from the book November Knits...







Would you like to win your very own copy of November Knits? Interweave has kindly sent me an extra copy of the book to give away! Leave a comment below to enter and be sure to leave your contact info (email or Ravelry ID) so that I can contact you if you've won. I'll leave the contest open until Wednesday the 28th. 


To read about the other projects in this book I encourage you to visit these past stops from the blog tour:

Courtney + Kate | Hilton Field Cowl, Morris Cove Hat + Mittens,
 Spanish Moss Legwarmers + Tallulah Shrug
The Green Mountain Spinnery | Market Jacket & Thayer Street
Veera Välimäki | Cobblestone Trenchcoat
Laura Nelkin | Bluebonnet Scarf
Melissa Wehrle | Thayer Street Cardigan
Tanis Gray | Market Jacket
Gudrun Johnston | Trefoil Cardigan
Mountain Colors | Burdock Cardigan
Melissa Labarre | Thistle Leg Warmers 
Lorna’s Laces | Walden Pond Socks
Cirilia Rose | Bozeman Jacket
Carrie Bostick Hoge | Abilene Cardigan

...and to all of my American readers, Happy Thanksgiving!!!


*** Comments for the November Knits Giveaway are now closed, congratulations Jody LeBlanc!


112 comments:

  1. Love, love, love it!!! Please pick me :).
    RavelryID: lilpixie124

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  2. Thank you, I would love to win a copy. The designs are great!

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  3. This book looks awesome. Thanks for the chance at this giveaway.

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  4. Oh please please please! I want one!

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  5. What a great looking book! Congrats on the lovely cardigan too!

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  6. Great book - would love to win it!!
    Rav ID - judigo

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  7. I too would love to win a copy! Thanks for such a kind giveaway.

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  8. Jane: I love your design and I would love to win the book. My rav name is janineny2001.

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  9. I would love to win the book. I have had my eye on it since I first read about it. Thanks for the change. My email is tigerwhispers@gmail.com & my rav name is hev

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  10. Love the cardigan! my Ravelry name is hpom

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  11. Your cardigan is lovely! And thank you for the chance of winning! My Rav name is ozzyblackbeard.

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  12. I would love to win this book! I love so many of the projects within.

    Thanks for the chance to win.

    Jacflash

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  13. Congratulations! Such a lovely cardigan you designed. Would love to be lucky enough to win a copy.
    Kim Buergel
    Kbuergel@yahoo.com

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  14. I love your cardigan design. The crochet detailing is the perfect femimin touch of pretty. Congrats!

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  15. beautiful! totally agree with you about fresco - it's one of my favourites :)

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  16. oh my goodness!!! hurrah and CONGRATS yet again! i would LOVE to win a copy ;) of course. what a beautiful cardi! xoxoxoxo

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  17. how lovely the cardigan is!! congratulations :)

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  18. Congrats Jane, this is amazing! I'd love to win a copy of this publication.
    claireadamczyk@gmail.com

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  19. Beautiful work, as always. I'd love to win a copy of this book.

    It's heart-rending to lose your files. I know, it's happened to me before too. I had great success using a program named recover my files, or something like that. The files didn't have my assigned names anymore, nor were they organized in any sort of way, so it was a lot of work going through everything, but it was worth it in the end.

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    1. Yes, I too used file recovery software and because I do so much work on the computer all of the files had already been rewritten by the time I did the scan :(

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  20. Jane, the cardigan is lovely. I'd love to win a copy of November Knits. Ravelry id: beige

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  21. Please pick me, would love to have a copy of this book! Ravelry name: heathyde

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  22. Very pretty design! Simple and elegant in that pale smoke color.

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  23. Lovely design, so simple and pretty. I'd love a chance to win a copy of the book! My ravelry id is shiver.

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  24. What a lovely piece, as always.

    Janna (rav:jannamaria)

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  25. Very nice,good job!:-)
    I really love the book and would really like to have it!

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  26. That cardigan is very pretty and delicate!

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  27. oh jane! i'm so sorry about losing your hard drive and all those photos!

    love that photo of you in the cardigan. it's such a lovely classic - harkening to a different time and timeless all at once.

    fingers crossed for a copy of the book. (rav: gourmetfaerie)

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  28. The book looks gorgeous, and your Savannah Cardigan is one of my favourite designs in there! :) (SarahVV on Rav)

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  29. Great book, just in time for sweater knitting!

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  30. Oooh, I love me a good knitting book! I've had my eye on this one. Hope my chances are good. Thanks!

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  31. Congratulations. A beautiful and dainty (but not too much) design and I think it actually looks better on you... Definitely one of my favourites in this book.

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  32. Crossing my fingers for a win! I heart that cardigan! So purdy!

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  33. I have fallen in love with other designs in the book but hadn't seen yours yet, and I LOVE it! Congratulations! Hannah (hannahr on Ravelry)

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  34. Jane! You secretive thing!! Glorious! Please put my name in the hat too! Hugs, Zoe

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  35. Love! Love it Jane. I'm so excited for you.
    Chaline (Chaline on Ravelry) :)

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  36. My heart dropped to hear you lost all the photos of Elsie :(

    I'd love the book.

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  37. I love a good cardigan!

    Miranda8rose on Rav

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  38. Pretty cardigan, and a great honour! Would love a copy.

    Melanie
    qtpieknitter on rav

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  39. lovely design! thanks for the chance!

    rav id: flowerpot2

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  40. Such a beautiful cardi...I love all your designs! And, I'd love to win a copy of the book :)
    rachelrobot@gmail.com
    rav id: rachelrobot

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  41. Would I EVER like to win a copy! I am a huge fan of your designs Jane!!

    Christina
    c_mcmullan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  42. Lovely little classic cardi! Thank you for the chance to win - fingers crossed!

    rav id: hotchailatte

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  43. I would love to win this book!

    email address remnantsfiberculture at gmail dot com.

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  44. I love this book I'd love to win it!

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  45. It's so great that you got to design for this book! Congrats! Winnifred17 on Ravelry.

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  46. This is such a lovely book with wonderful, classic patterns. Great work!

    Kimberly RavID 4throse

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  47. What a lovely cardigan, I love the lines of your designs! I would love to win this book. And I feel for you in regards o th hard-drive, I wold be devastated! My ravelry name is schaetzchen

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  48. Looks great! Ursa, aka ThePaganKnitter on Ravelry

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  49. Such a beautiful project you designed as always.

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  50. this is a beautiful book, and your lovely cardigan is a wonderful addition to it.

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  51. Would love to win such a fab book, count me in!

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  52. Another lovely Jane Richmond pattern! Love it!

    ravID: FlannelJammies

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  53. It makes me want to drink mint juleps and sweet tea :)

    RavID:Wittknitter2011

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  54. Did you manage to recover your photos of Elsie?

    RavID:Agador

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  55. Your cardigans designs are always so classic and lovely!

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  56. What a lovely cardigan!

    RavID:tansy

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  57. What a lovely book. I would love to win a copy. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Pam
    phopkin1@rochester.rr.com

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  58. This book looks super- thanks for the giveaway!

    ellabobella on rav

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  59. This looks great! My rav ID is lilynewton

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  60. Love the "ruffle" detail on the yoke...so pretty!

    Margie
    (amalya on Rav)

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  61. Oh! I love it so. :)

    Genevieve
    jenny(at)ykwc(dot)net

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  62. Love the elegant yet simple detail! Thanks for the give-away.

    Alex

    RavID apatterson101

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  63. Love the book. Hope I win!
    theshabbypear @ gmail dot com

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  64. The shaping is beautiful! Great job!

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  65. Your cardigan is stunning! Brava!

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  66. Beautiful sweater! Thanks for the chance to win the book.

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  67. What a beautiful sweater! I think this would be a great book to have! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  68. Having trouble posting a comment. Didn't want to post as Anonymous, but it was the only way that worked.

    A book with some of my absolute favorite designers? Too good to be true!

    Ravelry ID: sarahteg

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  69. I've been drooling over this book for a while now :) Thanks for the giveaway!!
    Rav ID: Circleinthesea

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  70. I love your design. Thanks for posting these picks - I like your styling, too.

    stipton@fastmail.fm

    stipton at ravelry

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  71. love all your designs :)

    rebekah(dot)mcclure(at)gmail(dot)com

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  72. Gorgeous! That is just a sweet design!

    brookeali(at)hotmail.com

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  73. Great pattern! So sorry to hear about you hard drive dying and losing all of your pictures.

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  74. What a lovely design! Would love a copy of this book--so many of the designers I admire have designs in here.

    Rav ID: kgmama

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  75. I love your pattern. This book seems amazing! Thank you for this giveaway!

    RavID: Birdsandbees

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  76. holy crap am i in love with that cardigan!
    RavID: prettyblueboxes

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  77. I love the neckline. I would love a copy of the book! Thank you for the giveaway.

    sarahmarie.thompson@gmail.com

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  78. Classic modern cardigan. I love it.

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  79. I am always interested in learning more when it comes to knitting and the patterns look marvelous. The sweater is a classic in my opinion
    msgb245 at gmail dot com

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  80. Pretty!!
    Pick me! Pick me!

    doulabonnie on Rav.

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  81. Such a pretty cardigan, it suits the chosen category spot-on! It would be a wonderful surprise to win this giveaway :)

    I'm Vilhelmine on Ravelry.

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  82. The entire collection is lovely! What a great giveaway. I'm KatRobbinsVT on Ravelry.

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  83. Love this book, each design is better than the last!

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  84. Hi Jane!!!! I'm not sure if my other comment appeared so I'll try again. I was flipping through this book (not knowing it was THIIS book) snd thought to myself "What lovely designs". The next page I flipped to just happened to be one of my favourite designers!!!! Cute cardi. emleeread@gmail.com

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  85. I just love cardigans and your Savannah cardigan is very pretty and feminine!

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  86. It's a lovely cardigan. Thanks for the giveaway:)

    nidhikansal on ravelry

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  87. precious detail........ a simple cardigan but not so simple......
    congratulation for your works
    Ravname: manumela

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  88. This is so beautiful! I can't wait to make one for myself.

    I am so sorry about the loss of your photos -- you have me rethinking all of my file back-up strategies.

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  89. Jane, its a beautiful cardigan! If I have learned anything from this situation that I now pass on to everyone is to back up the back up.

    Arika

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    1. Yes, back up the back up!!! It's very good advice.

      Thank Jason again for me :)

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  90. Such a beautiful cardigan. What an awesome book. I would be so happy to win it.

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  91. I love the cardigan! It's so pretty!! Such a really girly detail with the ruffle!

    ravelry id...boardbetty

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  92. Congrats on being part of the book. Rav ID: teahouseknits

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  93. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  94. Love the cardigan!

    Anna

    ksurty@aol.com

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  95. Love your design. Also love the green one on the cover. What a great give a way! Thanks so much.

    Karen at karenlambert@cox.net

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  96. Congratulations on the book! What a wonderful collection to be a part of.
    zzwhitejd on Rav

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  97. Such a beautiful and timeless cardigan. Congratulations... you've had an amazing year!! Thanks for the giveaway.
    WoollyMomma on Rav :)

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  98. Ohh, would love to win this book! And I'd love to knit your pattern! congrats on both!

    Debbie

    Debbie4 on rav

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  99. I would love love to win this book! Still new to knitting and need some practice :) I am rmmclinchey on rav! Pick me! Pick me!!
    Robyn

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  100. Your designs are SO pretty!!
    I'd love to win a copy of November Knits. Thanks for this giveaway!
    RavelryID: Dawnreads.

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  101. So many beautiful designs!
    SweetBasil on Ravelry

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  102. How fabulous! I adore your design!
    Laura at lrnbrown at gmail dot com or angelfire212 on Ravelry

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  103. gorgeous, so great to see a local designer getting some serious recognition. well done!

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  104. Congrats! That is so well deserved - your designs are amazing!
    Would love a chance at the book. Ravelry ID: JennyReese

    Thank you!
    Jenny

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  105. Congratulations on a beuatiful design!! it looks gorgeous. What a tragedy about your hard drive, I think I'll back up mine tonight now that you've scared me.

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  106. Oh good, I'm glad I've scared you :) I wish someone had told me "back up your back up!", lol.

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  107. HOpe I'm not too late! I would love to win! And big congratulations!

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