Note: I usually link to specific items, but for purposes of this review/giveaway, the sponsor has requested that I use one specific link. Please click that link to navigate to any kits or other items you wish to view on their site. Thank you!
Hello, my dear readers! How have you been? Yes, once again I'm apologizing for the length of time in between posts but as most of you are aware, I have been fighting a very long and debilitating health battle that has altered my life and my ability to function greatly.
Between dozens of week-long hospitalizations, surgeries, doctor's appointments, medications that sometimes cause more problems than they help, and a host of symptoms affecting my entire body, these past few years have been some of the most difficult in my entire life.
So when I'm able to get through the brain fog and get out of bed, I usually have to see doctors, run errands (I'm unable to drive so my husband drives for me), see friends and family, etc. That has left very little time for me to get on the computer and think clearly enough to bring you the quality of posts that you deserve. But I'm pretty sure my fellow knitters, crocheters and yarn addicts will agree that this post is well worth the wait! ;)
But enough about boring and depressing health stuff! That's not what you all have been waiting to read! This post isn't about doom and gloom and misery! It's a celebration of something I love dearly and a reward to one lucky reader from an amazing giveaway I'm offering with a highly popular company among fabric artists!
More about the giveaway later on in the post. First, you must know what an exceptional giveaway this is because this is a very exceptional yarn!
Years ago, I developed a curiosity about the art of crocheting. This was before YouTube, so my Learn to Crochet kit came with a booklet and CD-ROM for the computer. It took several tries but I finally got the hang of it. And after about a year, I began to master the art.
Little did I know how important teaching myself to crochet would end up being later in my life. Because of my health battles (sorry, but this is relevant...bear with me for a moment), working outside of the home has been impossible, nor have I been able to continue my freelance writing career due to medications and brain fog from my illnesses.
So, as I brainstormed for other ways to help provide for my family, I remembered my long-lost love of crochet. I still loved the art, but I hadn't picked up a crochet hook in some time. I decided to follow the infamous advice of "do what you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life," and started my own online crochet store, Luna Grace Boutique.
I wasn't sure how it would go, but thankfully God has blessed my business abundantly. I have all the work that I can handle by myself right now and plan to eventually branch out to retail stores and hire other master crocheters to help fill orders, with a goal of hiring those who are also debilitated by chronic illness so that I can share the love and opportunity to earn an income while disabled.
As a professional crocheter, I have become very familiar with the massive array of yarns available on the market, from 100% cotton, to wool, to acrylic and acrylic blends. I have used yarns made out of alpaca, silk, cashmere, and more. I have a few favorite craft store brands, as well as brands from my local yarn shop (LYS in crochet lingo).
Craft store brands are more affordable, and I know which brands have the softest acrylic that doesn't look or feel like acrylic, as well as which brand has the best cotton yarn, the best wool, and more. LYS yarn is one step up from craft store brands in price and quality. I fell in love with a few brands in my LYS (which just so happens to be right behind our home...dangerous for a crochet addict!)
But there is one brand of yarn that always makes my jaw drop. It is used by the best crochet bloggers and designers and I have been coveting it for quite awhile now. There isn't an ounce of acrylic in any of their yarns...they are all made with natural fibers, which speaks to their commitment to the environment.
This brand is what I call the "Chanel of Yarn."
Just which brand is it that makes my heart flutter every time I see their gorgeous yarn and has me wishing I could make every single crochet kit they have to offer? Don't let the name fool you! It's We Are Knitters (WAK) and let me tell you, there aren't any finer yarns or more stylish patterns anywhere, IMHO. And despite the name, they cater to crocheters as well. Yay!
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| Samasana Blanket |
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| Samasana Blanket |
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| Samasana Blanket |
We Are Knitters has been featured in prestigious media such as Cosmopolitan, Elle, Glamour, Refinery 29, Vanity Fair, Vogue. And for good reason! Read on to find out why!
I reached out to WAK and they were gracious enough to send me their gorgeous Samasana Blanket Crochet Kit (see "Crochet Kits" to navigate to the Samasana Blanket Kit) for review. While you can purchase their yarn individually and use your own patterns, their slogan "All the Happiness in a Kit" is completely true! My husband placed the box in front of me while I was napping because he knew I wouldn't be able to resist waking up and digging in right away!
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| Samasana Blanket Crochet Kit |
And dig away I did! Check out just what's inside a WAK kit that makes them so magical:
Click on "The Best Kits" here to see all of the glorious kits they have to offer, both knit and crochet (you can click on "Knit Kits" or "Crochet Kits" at the bottom right of their page to narrow down the kits). You might want to find your favorite for a very special reason, hint, hint! Keep reading to find out why!
Not only are the kits stylish and modern, but they include much more than most kits do! Here's all of the gorgeous goodies that were inside of my bags as shown in my unbagging video:
- The Wool yarn- 100% Peruvian Highland Wool I seriously wish you could feel this yarn! It is not a typical scratchy wool. It is a super soft, squishy and thick/chunky yarn that feels like a cloud! There are no artificial fibers in any of WAK's yarns. 4 balls of Salmon and 4 balls of Natural, or two other colors of your choice.
- 15 mm, size Q wooden crochet hook (this alone is amazing to have included in the kit! I use it on my other crochet projects as well!)
- The pattern- I love that it's printed on quality, thick pamphlet paper that won't squish up and crinkle like my patterns that are printed on regular paper do.
- Yarn needle- For sewing in those dreaded ends!
- WAK tag- An adorable tag to sew into your creation!
- 2 eco-friendly bags that you can use to store your blanket or any other items, such as yarn, patterns, books, etc.
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| Samasana Blanket Crochet Kit Contents |
The Wool yarn is just too amazing for words. I fell in love with it when I saw it online, but seeing and feeling it in person? Just astounding! Each ball of yarn is much larger than it looked to be online: 200 grams/87 yards to be exact. My guess is that it's roughly a 6 weight based on its thickness, perfect weight for a Q hook!
What can you make with just one skein? Here are a few ideas straight from WAK:
- TWO beanies
- A pair of gloves
- A snood (large cowl)
- And more!
This is the type of yarn that not only will stand out when you wear your creations or have them on display in your home, but that will be a long-lasting heirloom piece that can be passed down from generation to generation, especially the blankets.
This quick video will give you a peek at the glory of The Wool yarn:
Isn't that a gorgeous aqua blue? There are over 30 colors to choose from in The Wool! I am currently making an afghan for one of my customers using The Wool in Navy. Navy is a brilliant shade of dark blue that almost looks like purple in certain lighting and has a beautiful yet subtle sheen to it.
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| The Wool yarn in Navy |
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| The Wool yarn in Navy |
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| The Wool Yarn in Navy |
At $24 a skein, you might have sticker shock at first, but it is worth every penny to have such high-quality, designer yarn that is eco-friendly, all-natural and made with 100% Peruvian Wool with no artificial fibers such as acrylic! If you've ever splurged on a handbag because you know it will last longer, is made of higher-quality materials than other handbags, and will stand out in a crowd, then you definitely should give WAK yarns a try! It's totally the same concept, only in terms of yarn instead of handbags...obviously, lol!
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| We Are Knitters' Collection of Yarns |
It's an investment in yourself and your work that says, "You are worth it" when you gift it, or, if it's for yourself, then YOU are worth it!
PLUS, I have several tips for saving money on all WAK yarns (The Wool is the most expensive with 100% Merino Superwash Wool right behind it at $20, and just $12 for 100% Baby Alpaca and 100% Pima Cotton. Click on "The Best Wool," here to see their full range of yarns.)
- Subscribe to WAK's newsletter here to receive $12 off your first order as well as a free pattern!
- Click on "The Best Wool" here, then select "Kits of Yarn Balls," to receive a bulk discount on 5 or 10 balls of yarn!
- WAK was kind enough to extend a discount to The Blonde Blogger readers of 15%! Just enter WAKxBB15 upon checkout to receive your discount. Good through December 30, 2016.
I will be sharing my progress on my various social media channels, so be sure to follow me on Twitter, Instagram (including Instagram Stories), SnapChat (@blonde_blogger), Pinterest, and Facebook (maybe even Facebook live) for sneak peeks along the way. You can also see the many gorgeous creations made with WAK yarn if you search the hashtag #WeAreKnitters on any social media platform. Also follow We Are Knitters' social media pages by following the links at the bottom right of this page.
Now for the best part! Ready to find out what one lucky reader will win? I was going to wait until I finished the blanket and posted my results to do the giveaway, but who likes having to wait? Not me!
So even though this post is already long and filled with lots of great info and pics about this fabulous yarn company, I'm not going to make you all wait any longer for the best part! You all have already been patient enough just waiting for me to post!
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| Waffle Sweater Knit Kit |
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| Waffle Sweater Knit Kit |
So without further ado, I present the AMAZING prize that We Are Knitters is offering to one lucky reader of The Blonde Blogger! Remember all of the fabulous crochet and knit kits you checked out on WAK's site? And remember how I told you to choose your favorite one?
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| Buttercream Sweater Knit Kit |
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| Buttercream Sweater Knit Kit |
That's because We Are Knitters has generously offered to give one lucky reader of The Blonde Blogger the choice of their favorite kit for FREE (up to a value of $100 and within the contiguous United States only. At this time, We are Knitters does not ship to Alaska or Hawaii, so those states are ineligible. So very sorry!)
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| Kari Blanket Crochet Kit |
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| Kari Blanket Crochet Kit |
Who's ready to get their crochet or knitting on?! And who's ready to do it with the premium Chanel of Yarns, We Are Knitters?! FOR FREE!
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| Plow Cushion Crochet Kit |
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| Plow Cushion Kit |
Get going and enter via the Rafflecopter widget below! The giveaway will run until Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at 12:00 am, EST. Winner will be notified via email and on The Blonde Blogger on the Rafflecopter widget. Winner has 2 weeks to respond to winning notification, or else they forfeit their prize and another winner will be selected.
By entering, you automatically agree to all of the rules and disclaimers listed here. Please also see my disclosure policy here. Good luck!
