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Wednesday, March 13, 2013

BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY || BOTANICAL KNITS

eye candy alert! eye candy alert!  it's been a while since i did a book review and boy am i happy to have the awesomely talented alana dakos's new book "botanical knits" on the blog today!  i'm a big fan of alana's work and her podcast (never not knitting) and her new publication botanical knits does not disappoint!  filled with stunning photography, gorgeous illustrations & fresh graphic design this book just makes you want to curl up at home and knit till you can't knit anymore.


botanical knits is inspired by alana's love of leaves and she has incorporated it into a stunning collection of hand knits that fits so perfectly with her beautiful aesthetic.  true to her style and signature look botanical knits is filled with 12 patterns ranging from sweaters & cardigans, to shawls, socks and mitts.  and let's not forget the hats! some of my fave projects alana designs are her hats.  this collection features 3 hat patterns all of which are awesome!  i have already cast on for my fave - forest floor and i'm loving it!


alana's patterns are well written, clear and easy to follow and the layout of the book is truly inspiring.  i really enjoyed the special touches that graphic designer Mary Joy Gumayagay added to the book.  in particular her table of contents and yarn pages just made me clap with excitement. they are fresh, unique and fit the vibe of the book perfectly.  i also enjoyed how she tied in the "botanical" aspect of the theme and really reflected the vibe of specimens.  i thoroughly enjoyed it!  alongside Neesha Hudson's soft and endearing illustrations and the breathtaking photography by Carlee Tatum this book is sure to be a new fave for anyone's collection.  i can't wait to make more of the projects!


what do you think? are you ready to go on a wee walk through the woods?  let's go get inspired by the leaves shall we?  and maybe at the end of it you might win a copy of botanical knits of your own??? hehehe....

 

i just couldn't resist showing off alana's beautiful projects! i hope you enjoyed the pics!  you can find all of the projects from botanical knits on the website - www.botanicalknits.com or on ravelry here.


the printed version of botanical knits will be available in mid may but you can purchase it now for $22 + shipping.  as a special thank you for those preordering the printed copy alana is offering the e-book for free immediately after purchase of the print copy so they can start on their projects!  you will also receive an exclusive botanically inspired garment pattern with the copy of their printed book as a thank from alana for preordering.

you can also just order the e-book by itself for $18.  note the pre-order ends in may and then the book will only be available EITHER in print for $22 or ebook for $18.  The digital and print bundle will not be available after the print book is released in may.  you can find more info and purchase on www.botanicalknits.com.

||  THE PRIZE  ||
- one lucky winner will receive an e-copy of botanical knits by alana dakos. yay!

||  HOW TO ENTER  ||
- pop on over to www.botanicalknits.com and check out the lovely patterns then come back and leave me a comment letting me know which one is your fave!

||  THE RULES  ||
- you must leave a valid email address to qualify to win.  giveaway is open until march 19th, 12:00am PST.

good luck everyone and a huge thank you to alana for such a wonderful and inspiring book! happy knitting!

141 comments:

  1. You would make me pick just one eh?
    :)
    Well I will say Autumn's End.
    All of them are fantastic!
    cin_moose@yahoo.ca

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  2. All so pretty - but Autumn's End is my favorite.
    wendymc@gmail.com

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  3. Slightly obsessed with oak trail. Just beautiful. Email is jessicaburkholder@gmail.com.

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  4. i have been obsessing over autumn's end since i saw it! it's just gorgeous! such a stunning collection! i honestly can't wait to knit them all! xoxo gunderson.rj@gmail.com

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    1. I don't know if I could keep up at all but maybe we could do a knit night KAL from this book???

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  5. Oh Shannon! Your book review has made me wish I could quit my day job and just spend ALL DAY KNITTING!!! sigh. I really want to knit Wrapped In Leaves. SO GORGEOUS!

    gracelovescoffee @ gmail . com

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  6. Lovely! samantha dot laporte at gmail

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  7. Ooh. That looks like a must have pattern book! I love the entangled vines sweater. :) *chuckling* Though that color of yarn is delicious - I couldn't tell you if I like the pattern more or the yarn more. :) But then the hat patterns are so fun yet classic. (lckent at gmail dot com)

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  8. I love the Entangled Vines sweater, I also love the Oak Trail hat. So hard to choose just one:-)

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  9. The collection is so lovely! I think for me it's a tie between Oak Trail and Autumn's End. Email: sdurank@gmail.com

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  10. I love so many- but Autumn's End sticks out right now as my fave! kpbailey4 at gmail

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  11. I love the hats, especially Forest Floor.

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  12. So hard to choose! Oak Trail would probably be the first knit, but pretty much every other pattern would follow! I just cast off her Sand and Sea shawlette (from Coastal Knits) last night. Now it's blocked and beautiful and waiting for it's photo shoot at Rathtrevor this weekend. I love Alana's patterns!

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  13. Entangled vines is so so pretty! It makes me re-think my lack of desire to knit myself a sweater...
    Now I am going to go and creep all of those patterns on ravelry :)

    Laura

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  14. Oh easy. Buds and Blooms. Love that collar! How great would that little cardi look over a wool felt pleated mini in the fall!?

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  15. They are all so beautiful. I love the buds and blooms sweater. littleellalu@gmail.com

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  16. I would Autumns End and Entangled Vines! Love the colors and patterns. Thanks for the chance to win this lovely book!

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  17. Twigs and willow, but the patternes all look great

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  18. I love the side seam on Autumn's End!
    josiekressner at gmail dot com

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  19. I love Twigs and Willows, but this whole collection is stunning.

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  20. The Ivy Trellis socks are delightful and keep me hoping toward Spring! But, the whole collection is stunning and inspiring! Ravelry search begins now....lol.

    brighteyes_06@hotmail.com

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  21. Autumns End is my favorite but they are all beautiful.

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  22. Love the Ivy Trellis Socks. Perfect for a cozy reading day under a tree!

    [caroline.niziol@gmail.com]

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  23. The Oak Trails cloche is so cute. Not sure I could pull that look off, but still a very sweet pattern!

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  24. I really want to try Oak Trail. theharts at windstream dot net

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  25. Autumn's End is my fave! I know a gal I would love to knit it for (she is less fluffy than I am...it would look stunning on her)! Who am I kidding? I will end up buying this book eventually...love, love, love Alana's patterns!

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  26. Oh my gosh! I love entangled vines. Plus the table of contents and the yarn pages are just ingeniously lovely. I once knit her autumn vines beret and the pattern was a breeze to follow. It turned out perfectly.

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  27. I love them all, but Autumn's End would be my top choice. Would love to knit it!

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  28. Oak trail! Hope to win!
    hannahkzun@gmail.com

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  29. twin leaf loop!
    mamacurdy.at.gmail.com

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  30. My fav is the Spring Foilage Mitts. Thanks!

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  31. It was actually on my list to buy this book today! Maybe I'll hold off a couple of days and see if I win :) I know I will knit several of these patterns, but for sure I'd like to tackle the Autumn's End. I have the perfect yarn to do it, so now I need this pattern! I swore I'd never attempt a sweater, but looks like Botanical Knits has changed my mind.
    tmbinette.at.gmail. com

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  32. I love autum's end and entangled vines! Oh yes, and all the hats too ...

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  33. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Autumns End but feel that this ever expanding body is far more suited to Entangled Vines right now, and yes, I've already checked, I have enough stash yarn for this beauty already! :)

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  34. I love all knits in this book, but if I have to choose only one it'll be Forest floor. :-) (monita_s81(at)yahoo.se)

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  35. I am horrible at picking favourites...Entangled leaves is gorgeous and Oak Trail is stunning - so it's a toss-up.

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  36. Love twigs and willow1 a(dot)haun(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

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  37. Ah, how to choose? I'll go with Autumn's End. I think it fits with my aesthetic the best, but they're all great!

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  38. Ooh, if it's just one that I have to pick it will be Oak Trail for sure, such a beautiful and classy hat. I am partial to items that knit up quickly but I love a good sweater, I would cast on for Autumn's End next! And I will, can't wait! meagan(dot)radford(at)gmail(dot)com.

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  39. I love the pressed leaves hat, but they are all beautiful, and knit in such beautiful colors!

    lisejackson000 at gmail dot com

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  40. This book is so gorgeous-- I've had it bookmarked in Ravelry for a while, so this giveaway is super exciting!
    My fave are the ivy trellis mitts and socks, but it's soo hard to choose!
    ~amd2196 @ columbia . edu

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  41. I think entangled vines is my favorite - so pretty! Thanks for the opportunity!

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  42. The Twin Leaf Loop!! Thanks for the giveaway! Amy @ gasudimack(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

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  43. Twigs and Willow is lovely! It's been on my Ravelry wish list for awhile now!
    fionacsmith@gmail.com

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  44. Love them all but choose Autumn's End :)

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  45. It's Buds and Blooms for me....Something about that Peter Pan collar just makes me swoon!

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  46. Buds and Blooms - the perfect lightweight sweater!
    Hard to pick one.

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  47. It's very hard to choose one favorite, but I would pick Twigs and Willows if I could only have one.

    greyowl60(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  48. One word -- WOW! Want to knit it all! And the yarn ... oh my. Would have to pick oak trail as an immediate cast-on though ;)

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  49. I love the forest floor hat. Thanks for the chance to win!
    Nicoleu0206@gmail.com

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  50. I would cast-on to make Entangled Vines right away! I love this collection!
    katrosie71@yahoo.com

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  51. So hard to choose! I would knit either Entangled vines or Oak trail first, soon followed by twin leaf loop and autumn's end :)
    knursekettle on ravelry

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  52. I love Oak Trail, really want to knit it.

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  53. Twigs and WIllows or Entangled Vines...it's a toss-up!

    brookeali(at)hotmail.com

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  54. Oak trail, hands down! Love that hat!

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  55. Pressed Leaves, it is definitely autumn here now and I think I need one for winter.
    twolittlebanshees (at) hotmail (dot) com

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  56. Twigs and Willows... Twigs and Willows... Someday I hope to knit that beautiful pattern. Thank you for such a lovely giveaway.

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  57. Oak trail, definitely! I'm a sucker for a cloche style hat
    Itsapiranha at comcast dot net

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  58. The pressed leaves hat is my fave....but so hard to pick! Thanks!
    Heather dot Luchkow at gmail dot com

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  59. Engangled vines is my favorite!

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  60. Autumn's End...I'm definitely a sweater gal!

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  61. Autumn's End and the Ivy Trellis Mittens are neck-in-neck for me. Heck! I'll cast both of them on at the same time!

    Rav ID: kellknit

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  62. My favorite is the autumn's end sweater.

    larissaesq at gmail dot com

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  63. I have no idea how to knit but I would love to learn! My favorite pattern is the spring foliage. It reminds me of my mom. She loves fingerless gloves, and the color of green is perfect. I could see her wearing these on her trips to Ireland. Thanks for the chance to win! The book looks gorgeous!
    mrs(dot)hbraun(at)gmail(dot)com

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  64. I love the Autumn's End sweater! Gorgeous, but everything else is too..... and you made me pick only one.... :(
    lynne.tilley@gmail.com or tilleybl@aol.com

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  65. Oh I don't know if I could pick just ONE pattern that is my favorite. Honestly, when I first saw all the designs I wondered if I've ever found a pattern book that I love every.single.pattern. Though I think the first project I would make would be the Ivy Trellis Mittens or perhaps the Oak Trail cloche. First sweater would be Twiggs & Willow hands down!

    joshuasprincess at gmail dot com :)

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  66. I love entangled vines! I have only knit 1 sweater so far, but I would love to give this cardigan a go!


    ajpettey at yahoo dot com

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  67. All these patterns are so beautiful. If I had to choose only one, I would say "Entangled vines".
    Thank you for this opportunity of giveaway!
    My ravelry Id : lounatine

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  68. They're all beautiful! Autumn's End has a beautiful shape but I also adore those socks!

    Kathryn(dot)lee79(at)gmail(dot)com

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  69. autumns end is GORGEOUS. so feminine yet simple too in a way. I love it

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  70. I love the entangled vines sweater, but so hard to choose. Really pretty things!
    Evin5 at aol dot com

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  71. Hard to pick just one! I think I'd cast on autumn's end or oak trail first, but they're all so lovely!

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  72. Oh I think that Autumn's End is just so lovely! So so lovely!
    edurocher at gmail dot com

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  73. Autumn's End is my absolute favorite!

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  74. It's so hard to pick one! I love Autumn's End - but Oak Trail is also just gorgeous. I call it a tie!
    alyssa.creasy at gmail dot com

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  75. Entangled vines would be my first one, but then I'd have a go at one of the shawls, and the socks, the socks are to die for!!!!! Great excuse/reason to buy some more yarn :)
    mjptranslator (at) googlemail (dot) com

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  76. I love Entangled Leaves!

    eliz_lind at yahoo dot ca

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  77. Oak Trail! It is gorgeous!

    we3fergs at ymail dot com

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  78. I love oak trail.

    keshaevans at outlook dot com

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  79. I love Forest floor and Autumn's End. But I would love to knit each and every pattern in this book!

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  80. My favorites are Oak Trail cloche and the Twigs and Willows cardi!

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  81. My favorite is Twigs and Willows. alcbrooks (at) windstream.net

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  82. Such a beautiful collection of patterns! I would love to make them all, but Entangled Vines would be my first choice - simply styled, and great for everyday! cllcraft@sbcglobal.net

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  83. I think this is a great book! I love all the patterns. My favorite right now is Entangled Vines. I can see myself wearing it! Thanks so much for the giveaway!

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  84. I really like the Twigs and Willows cardi! Thanks for the giveaway!
    hellion515@yahoo.com

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  85. Buds and blooms is so adorable! I love these patterns!
    sarah@knityorkcity.com

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  86. Autumn's End caught my eye first of all. It's beautiful and such a lovely russet. I'd love to make and wear the Ivy trellis socks, too.
    stellieg@telkomsa.net

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  87. The Oak Trail hat is the first thing I'd make... Love it!

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  88. Autumn's End... oh man, all of the patterns are so lovely! What a great collection!

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  89. I love them all but was entranced by Autumn's end when I saw Alana wearing it at Stitches west. So lovely and totally wearable.
    bsbatting@yahoo.com

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  90. Oak Trail. I love the way the pattern shapes the brim.

    wendyhatton(at)yahoo(dot)com(dot)au

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  91. I love oak trail! It is an amazing cloche! So pretty

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  92. I love Twigs and Willows.

    Nidhi
    nejohn@gmail.com

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  93. I love Autumns End and Entangled Vines.

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  94. Autumn's end is my favorite, though truly I like them all!

    slmiller588@gmail.com

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  95. I love the texture of the Ivy Trellis mitts :) janna@vancouveryarn.com

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  96. I really like forest floor.
    wenmink at gmail dot com

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  97. By far Entangled Vines is my favourite. Thanks for the give away.

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  98. My favorite is the Buds and Blooms cardigan. I love the collar....so cute!

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  99. These patterns are divine!! I would have to say I am a fan of the hats too! I love Oak Trail...it is amazing and I will need to make this one!
    dawkins.belinda at gmail dot com

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  100. Entangled Vines is my favourite. Fingers crossed! flierjudit at gmail dot com

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  101. It's a hard choice to know which one is my fav, but I think Pressed Leaves looks lovely. I just love the colour range used with these patterns.

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  102. I've been drooling over the patterns in this book since they first popped up on ravelry. My favorite is Autumn's End, though I think I'd have to knit them all.

    sara.wesolowski@gmail.com

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  103. How can I choice only a favorite? I love all patterns, bacause I love leaves and knitting them.
    Fingers crossed and thanks your this chance!

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  104. Autumn's End is my favorite. All of them are gorgeous!
    kellyyoungseidel at yahoo dot com

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  105. Entangled Vines is my fav but I love the leaf motif.

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  106. Oak Trail is my absolute favorite... right now... in five minutes, I'll tell you something else because it took me twenty minutes to decide!

    ASSessions [!at] hotmail.com

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  107. I love Autumn's end. It's definitively on my "to-knit" list for next fall!
    cecileberneatyahoodotcom

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  108. I love all of them, but Autumn's End is very beautiful. Never knit an adult sweater so this might be the first. Love it! Stephaniebenkoatyahoodotcom

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  109. Autumn's ens is definitely my favourite!
    bgenevieve@hotmail.com

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  110. Love the Forest Floor and Pressed Leaves hats. What a fabulous book!

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  111. My fav is the Pressed Leaves hat. Looks so lovely!!!

    fabmint@hotmail.com

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  112. Oak Trail is calling my name! The classic fitted hat with the leaf detail, I totally love it.

    wilckepedia@gmail.com

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  113. I adore the Twigs and Willows cardigan. Such a gorgeous collection! Thanks for the giveaway!

    Taralynchard at hotmail dot com

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  114. tracypatterson72@yahoo.com

    I love the Twigs and Willows but I would knit it all!

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  115. So many beautiful patterns. I love the twin leaf loop!

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  116. I would love to knit the oak trail hat, so so lovely!

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  117. Oh wow, I love them all! I am particularly drawn to Buds and Blooms, I love that collar and pockets!! margoburton AT gmail DOT com

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  118. I like Buds and Blooms

    Anna

    ksurty@aol.com

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  119. Forest floor looks so flattering! The book looks so great. Thanks for the giveaway!
    Sr_gillies (at) hotmail (dot) com

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  120. Very pretty - thank You for the giveaway. I would like to make the "wrapped in leaves".
    ametlik (at) xmsnet (dot) nl

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  121. Amazing! I will have to make ALL those sweaters starting with Entangled Vines, and then definitely the Oak Trail hat to go with!
    Kmabdo@aol.com
    yoTX on Ravelry

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  122. So many beautiful patterns! Autumn's Leaves is a great place to start.....

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  123. I love the Spring Foliage mitts.

    ikkinlala AT yahoo DOT ca

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  124. Love autumn twig and everything else too! Thanks
    Email. Lakoscher@hotmail.com
    Rav. Id. LAKCHI

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  125. What yummy photos! I was drooling over every photo.

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  126. Ooh these are so beautiful! Autumn's end is definitely my favorite! <3

    wbkpd1@gmail.com

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  127. The Buds and Bloom sweater and the lovely socks! Actually, I love them all!

    do_bilodeau(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  128. I am tickled by Autumn's End.

    rav id: karitive

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  129. My absolute favourite is Entangled vines!
    My Rav ID is tini.

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  130. Autumns end is my fave

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  131. It's hard to pick a favorite, but I think Autumn's End is the piece I would make first.
    Rav: somesylvie

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  132. All the patterns in this book are amazing and I will probably end up knitting them all! But the first thing I will make is the Twigs and Willows. I just love that style. romykins@gmail.com. Rav: romykins

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  133. I love everything! My eye keeps going to Forest Floor, though. I love those cables!

    vespin1[at]juno[dot]com

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  134. Pick One! Really! OK...if I must...Spring Foliage.....

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  135. I love many of then, but would start with the Pressed Leaves beret... Peace

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  136. I love Autumn's end...... well, I love them all, but you made me pick one.

    [slphiggins@gmail.com]

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