Wool and the Gang // giveaway

by Ashley Weeks Cart

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Last spring, after I had tucked away my knitting needles for the season, Kaki’s FGM gifted me this insane Wool and the Gang kit: The Cross Country Coat. I’ve posted about Wool and the Gang before, and was thrilled by the opportunity to make another chunky-knit, oversized garment from their collection. It was the first project I started this fall when the temperatures had dropped just enough to motivate me to pick up the needles once again.

I just can’t knit in the middle of 90 degree weather. No sir. Mounds of wool and sweat do not mix.

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What I love so dearly about Wool and the Gang is that their projects are easy and straight forward (and move quickly thanks to the chunky yarn and monster-sized needles), and yet yield jaw-dropping, head turning results. People have been oggling this coat wherever I go, and I have to laugh since it’s just a series of knit rectangles sewn together in a fun way. When I say that it was easy and a great beginner project, I mean it! The only reason I didn’t complete it sooner is because some smaller knitting projects got interspersed into the mix for gifts, the holidays, etc.

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I had some left over yarn from the project, so decided to knit two pockets to attach to either side of the coat. They were rectangles 10 stitches across, knit for 10 rows in a moss stitch. And I also made up a simple pattern for a cozy headband to complete the look.Woolandthegang-blogalacart-4

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The Knotted Headband Pattern is as follows: I used this yarn and 15mm needles
Cast on 10 stitches
Work a knit, purl rib stitch until headband is long enough to fit around your head without any stretching or pulling
Tie a knot in the center of the headband, pulling tightly
Sew together ends to turn headband into a seamless circle

Stretch, wear, enjoy!

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My favorite way to wear this coat is with these circle cooper pins by Raissa Bump. Whether I pin it together with just one or two pins, or do a full line up of all eight in my collection down the middle, it’s a subtle, useful way to hold the coat in place when I’m out and about.

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And for both seasoned and aspiring knitters, Wool and the Gang is offering one very generous giveaway to Blog a la Cart readers. One lucky reader will win his/her choice of one of the Wool and the Gang kits pictured below: Lion Zion ($85), Snood Dog ($95) or Lula Hoop ($95). They are perfect beginner projects – so here’s a chance to learn your way around a pair of knitting needles. You won’t regret it!

To enter:

• ‘like’ Wool and the Gang and Blog a la Cart, then come back here and tell us you like us, you really like us! in the comments.

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Make sure you enter a valid email address in the email section of the comment box so I can contact you if you win! The winner will be chosen next Wednesday, December 26 at 5pm EST. Open worldwide. Total Value: $95