Cat’s Corner: Christmas Gifts Already??!!
Click here to enter for a chance to win this great box filled with goodies from Regia! Keep reading below to learn more about what’s in this fun box!
Try as I may, it is impossible for me to be a Scrooge. Every year I roll my eyes at the first few holiday commercials, and then sometime during the second week of November I’m ready to put up the tree, string the lights and put Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole on repeat. This is also when I begin to realize that there is not nearly enough time left before Christmas Day to finish all of the projects I had planned on crocheting for friends and family. Why didn’t I start in July, like I said that I would last year? Well, if you’re like me and didn’t plan ahead I have the perfect solution for you.
Last June at Yarn Market (TNNA’s trade show for yarn companies and yarn buyers), Norm Bagley, my fantastic rep at Westminster Fibers introduced me to a line of yarn called Regia made by a German company called Schachenmayr SMC. I had never heard of SMC, but I was intrigued when he explained that they have been making yarn in the same place since 1811. They are located in a city called Salach in southern Germany. This part of Germany is what you think of when you think about fairy tales and The Black Forest and Peter and The Wolf. Basically, it’s where the magic happens. Leonhardt Schachenmayr joined the company in 1824 and was responsible for many high-tech innovations and setting yarn industry standards in Europe throughout the late 1800s. To me this translates to magical, high-tech, German yarn. Who doesn’t want magical, high-tech, German yarn? (keep in mind- most European yarns are milled in Italy. Not many countries have their own mills these days…)
Regia came along a little bit later in the companies history- in 1949. Regia sock yarns are one of the most popular, high-quality sock yarns in Germany and Europe. They are quite well known for their colors and color effects and are constantly striving to inspire sock-knitters all over the world. Don’t let the stark, semi-industrial label fool you. This yarn is nothing if not soft, colorful and fun to work with. As most of you know, I am not a knitter (crochet is my craft of choice), but I took one look at the Regia Christmas Calendar filled with 24 super-cute holiday-inspired patterns and wished that I had the time to learn to knit so I could make every one of them! There are ornaments, headware, neckware, socks, homewares, toys and more! If anyone wants to knit me up one of the Egg Warmers, be my guest. *wink wink*
I’m so excited about this, in fact, that I’m going to give one of our lucky Facebook readers a Calendar and box of yarn containing one skein each of Regia Lace, Regia Highland Tweed, 1 skein each of Regia Angora Merino in Ecru, Aqua, Sand and Flieder, and 1 skein each of Regia 4-Fadig in Rot Merliert and Natur (a total value of over $100). There is plenty of yarn in this box to get you started on several of the patterns. Click here to enter for a chance to win this great box! This is my non-Scrooge gift to you, Constant Reader.
Enjoy!
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Thanksgiving Countdown: Project Spotlight
88 Comments
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Great giveaway! It’s so helpful to have a little history about fibers and tools. Especially when many of them are a bit costly.
Sheila
Hi Sheila!
I’m glad you enjoyed the post. I love learning about history of all kinds. Good luck on the giveaway!
Thanks for reading.
This is such a clever give a way,,,
Thanks, Cheryl! Good luck to you!
What a great giveaway, just as I’ve decided to get back into a bit of knitting!!!
Hi Teri-
I’m glad to hear that you’ve taken a renewed interest in your craft. Good luck with the giveaway! Thanks for commenting.
This is an amazing giveaway. These would be great to make holiday presents for friends and family! Knitting is something that really helps me keep my stress level down.
Hello Robyn!
Good luck with the giveaway! There are some super-cute projects in the calendar.
Crochet helps me keep my stress level down, too. Especially this time of year.
Have fun with all of your holiday projects. Thanks for reading.
This is an awesome give-away!! I, too, am a crocheter (I dabble in knitting) and need to get back into the crafting mode (I have 7 Pay-it-forward projects to get done by the end of the year) and this would be a great inspiration.
Hi Lisa,
Good luck with your Pay-It-Forward gifts. I’ve often thought about doing them, but I already have so many half-completed projects. The pressure is too much for me.
I’ve been inspired by some of the projects in the Regia Christmas Calendar. I want to make a bunch of crocheted ornaments for my tree this year. We’ll see if that actually happens.
Thanks for reading! Happy crocheting.
I love giveaways! I too have so many works in progress(WIP) I always get a few done but never all I plan! If only my hands could knit Faster
Hi Jeani!
I love give-aways, too! They are so fun. I wish everyone of my blog readers could win!
I wish I could crochet faster. Crochet is fast, but not fast enough that I’ll get everything accomplished this year.
Thank you for your comment.
Great giveaway. I’d sure like to win!!
Hi Elaine!
This is a good one for sure! Good luck! Thanks for reading.
My husband wears quite a few socks I’ve knitted for him using Regia. Love the durability! And, of course, more would always be welcome. Great giveaway!
Hi Jill,
The one reason I really want to learn to knit is so that I can make socks. They look like so much fun! Good luck on the giveaway. Thanks for reading!
love this…
Thanks, Melinda! Thank you for reading.
so wonderful and great giveaway !! I hope I win !!lol
Good luck, Daniela!
What a fun looking giveaway. The calendar will make a lovely addition to my calendar collection. The yarn would be so much fun to work with for the many gifts I make throughout the year.
Hi Tracee!
It’s a great calendar- even if you don’t win it, it’s 24 fantastic patterns for $6.95. You can’t beat that! Good luck! Thanks for your comment.
hoping!
Good luck, Jen! Thank you for reading!
Great treasure chest! Yummy yarns and inspiring patterns to work with. I would be a very happy girl with this.
Sherry,
It *is* like a little treasure chest! Tasty treasure! Good luck to you. Thanks for the comment!
I find these glimpses in to history fascinating! And this kind of information makes the yarn even more special.
Dear Johnnie,
I agree with you wholeheartedly. I look at so many different yarns every day. It can be overwhelming. The little details, like history or stories about the designers, is what really sell me. I’m glad you feel the same! Thank you for reading.
That looks like a very interesting box of goodies. I would be proud to win it. Thank for the chance.
Hi Paulette,
It’s a great little box! Good luck to you! Thank you so much for reading and commenting!
id love to win im teaching my self to knit and i crochet a little but love the challenge of being creative !!!!so plz let me win
Hi Olive,
Good luck with the knitting! The challenge of learning a new craft is both fun and rewarding. Thank you for reading.
What a fabulous box – I would love this since I have no LYS and am at the mercy of the big box stores who don’t carry the better yarns.
Good luck Amys! Be sure to check out our deal page! We have lots of great yarns for those of you who don’t have access to a LYS or even a “big box” store. We try to offer a variety of brands and price points. We don’t have *everything*, but we’ve got some good stuff, if I don’t say so myself.
Thank you for reading!
Regia is my go-to yarn – Great stuff!
Hi Kathy!
I like it, too. It’s quality yarn at a good price point. I especially like the Highland Tweed.
Thanks for reading.
i would love to win this
Hi Donna!
I would also.
I love surprises! Would love to win this,
Thanks for your comment, Joyce!
Surprises are fun- especially this time of year!
If I win will you please make me something out of these goodies?? ; )
Nice writings, you are a pro! : )
Hey you!
)!
I would love to make you something!!!!!! Just tell me what you want (not shorts
Thanks for reading, Beautiful!
Love you! xo
I always love Regia!!
Hi Becky!
I love it, too! Thanks for reading!
Thanks! I’m new to knitting, so I’m also very new to yarn! Thank you for making me that much more knowledgeable about it!
Hi TMGRAY!
I didn’t know much about yarn when I first began crocheting, either. It can be overwhelming- especially if you’re trying to find the *exact* yarn that goes with a pattern. That’s one of things that’s so nice about this giveaway. It’s altogether!
Good luck with your new-found craft! Thanks for reading.
great prize
Hi M Reid- Good luck on winning it! Thanks for reading!
I love to knit especially to relieve. I had severe damage to my house with the Hurricane and look forward to knitting away my stress.
Hello Kathy,
I’m so sorry to hear that you were effected by the hurricane. I hope you can get some relief through knitting. I know that’s the only thing that helps me. Good luck to you. I hope you’re able to repair the damage to your home without too much trouble. Thank you so much for reading and commenting. Our thoughts go out to everyone effected by Sandy.
The yarn looks amazing…but i’m confused why you’re touting it’s all German made and German spun…but the product information says everything but the 4-Fagid is made in Italy???
Hi Brittany-
I did mention above that most European yarns are milled in Italy. Few yarn companies have their own mills these days- even in the US. In fact, most of my favorite US companies mill their yarn in Peru or Italy. Sadly, it’s just not profitable for them to do it any other way. The good news is that Italy has some of the finest mills in the entire world, so you know it’s great yarn. Most companies work very closely with the mills to ensure that quality is high and the yarn is exactly what they want. Just because it’s not milled in their facilities, doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t “make” the yarn. I hope that makes sense to you.
Thanks for your comment!
Loved learning about some history of the yarns and where it came from. Keep up your great work with your blog. Thank you for the chance to win a GREAT surprise box.
Hi Jenny,
You’re so welcome. The pleasure is mine. I love to inform and to give stuff away. This is the perfect mix of both of those things!
Thanks for reading.
I am keeping my fingers crossed I win the prize!! That will be a great pre-Christmas present to one lucky person!
Hi Terry,
I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!
Thanks for reading!
What a great post and I love Regia, it’s wonderful to knit with. Thank you too for such a wonderful giveaway opportunity.
Hello Tina,
I’m glad to hear that so many people like the Regia yarns. It lets me know that I’m doing a good job in buying it for our Craftsy folks.
Thank you for your comment!
Cat,
thanks for letting the knitters and crocheters on the other side of the pond know what great yarn is manufactured here in Germany. On the down-side though, I feel, we are lacking some of that “handmade” feeling that all the lovely hand-dyed fibers in America create. Of course, there are a lot of people here, too, who dye their own yarn. But it is seldom done in the same spirit I seem to catch from dyers on your side. I vote for more yarn exchange in the future!
Happy Crafting!
Hello Laura!
I’m currently very excited about German yarns. There are several companies I’ve been working with to get more of it! Schachenmayr has such a rich history and it appeals to the part of me that loved studying German history and the German language in college. Germans make great cars, knives, beer and yarn! The quality and engineering of the yarns I’ve seen so far is excellent. Plus- all of their names are fun to say.
Be on the look out for more German yarns on our “shop” page. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Yahoo! Thanks!
Good luck, Jane!
Love free stuff! Hope Santa is good to everyone!
Yay for Santa!
Good luck and thanks for reading, Pam.
Nice giveway…thanks.
You’re most welcome, Phyllis! Good luck!
What a great treat! Regia yarn is GREAT to work with!
Hi Tiffany! I’m so glad that you like their yarns. I do, too. Good luck on the giveaway and thank you for reading!
Oh this is soo nice love the info on the yarns, I crochet and always have something in the works! Some have been in the works for a few years, but I get them done and I am happy!! Thanks for the giveaway!!
Me, too, Jan! I have several projects that have been neglected for a year or so. Maybe more. I get so excited when I see a new project I want to make. Everything else gets put aside! It’s tough to start and finish one project at a time.
Thanks for your comment! Good luck!
What a great giveaway. It makes me want to stop what I’m doing and go knit!
Hi, Jan!
Welcome to my world.
If only you could see all of the delicious yarn that is sitting on my desk right now. Sometimes it’s hard to stay focused and not drift off into daydreams about all of the lovely projects I could make.
Thanks for reading!
I would love to be entered into the drawing. Thanks
Sure thing, Carin! Just click on the link in the blog post and you’ll be directed to the sign-up page! Good luck! Thanks for reading.
I need to go to Germany…what a cool place and the history….not to mention the yarn of course:) Thank you
Hello Ann-
I would love to go, too. Pack me in your suitcase when you go! Thanks for the comment.
What a great Christmas present. I’m sure all of us would love to win it. Thank you for the chance.
Marj in Mexico
Hello Marj!
Thanks for reading! Good luck to you! I was in MDF for the holidays a few years ago. What a beautiful place! I’m not sure if that’s where you are, but I loved it so much. I hope to return again one day.
This is a great giveaway.
Thanks, Daphne! Good luck to you!
Love it, love it, love it!
Kathleen!
Thanks for the comment. Good luck!
I would LOVE to win this so I can get started on some Christmas gifts!
Good luck, Kathy! Thanks for reading!
What a wonderful giveaway. This looks amazing!
Thank you, Debra. I thought it would be a perfect way to start the holiday season. Good luck to you!
I love the photos so ctrieave! I don’t knit but I am stuck for Xmas gifts for my sister impossible to buy for! So I’ll enter on her behalf if that’s ok. I have to say my personal favourite is the Natural White Pure Romance photo but my sister would probably go for Kelp Bed Dreaming which suits her to a T the colours, the shells, even the name!btw the link for the Woolwench etsy isn’t working because both etsy adresses are in the hyperlink Loved looking at everything in both stores though