ISLAND Giveaway

To say I'm a fan of designer Jane Richmond would be a huge understatement.  Her designs are gorgeous and brilliant in their simplicity and if I had just a bit more time in the day I would have her entire collection hanging in my closet.  Needless to say, when Jane and partner-in-crime Shannon Cook (of Luvinthemommyhood.com) asked if I would be a part of the blog tour for Jane's new collection, ISLAND, I answered with a very enthusiastic YES!

The concept for ISLAND came about as a collaboration between friends - Jane and Shannon (if you haven't checked out her blog, you really should) - and focuses on their home, Vancouver Island, as inspiration. It contains five new original patterns by Jane, four of them accessories and one cardigan, all in her signature minimalist style. But to me, ISLAND is so much more than just a knitting book. In the introduction, Jane talks about how excited she was to venture into book-publishing because in this format, there is so much more space to express onesself than in a single digital pattern. She enjoyed being able to show pieces of her personality through things like layout and artwork. And Shannon writes of "the story" behind design being one of her favorite parts of the process.  And, let me tell you, all of this comes out stunningly when you look at the book as a whole.  There is indeed a story in these pages, and everything from the layout and graphic design (both also a collaboration between Jane and Shannon), breathtaking photography, styling, and the knits themselves tell it impeccably.  I think the book's description puts it perfectly here:

Filled with designs & fibers that are true to Jane's classic and modern aesthetic, ISLAND not only makes you want to knit, it also inspires you to lose yourself in an adventure of your own. Be inspired, get lost in the journey, set your imagination free, and ESCAPE to the ISLAND.

Truly, this is something I will look at time and again, to flip through for inspiration, and to escape in when I need a lift.  I don't know that I can say enough good things about it.  So let's take a look inside, shall we? (Ravelry links are included if you'd like to see more about each design.)

As I said before, the book contains five new patterns by Jane Richmond:

© Nicholas Kupiak

Renfrew, a slouchy beanie with a mock-cable stitch traveling up the side that comes with instructions for making it in varying degrees of slouchiness.

© Nicholas Kupiak 

Strathcona, a very pretty, multi-seasonal linen scarf with a pointed, shawlette-like center that I'm kind of in love with.

© Nicholas Kupiak

Grace, a timeless cardigan with a little lace on the front and back of the yoke (please do check out the additional photos on Ravelry -- I couldn't resist this great shot, but you really need to see the back and lace detail.)

© Nicholas Kupiak 

Arbutus, a cleverly-constructed cowl that only looks like a wrapped infinity scarf (I'll admit to being totally fooled until I actually read the pattern).

© Nicholas Kupiak  

and Rathtrevor, the simple mitts featured in the awesome photo on the book's cover.

And, because I just can't resist, here are two more lovelies that make me want to jump into the book's pages immediately.

© Nicholas Kupiak

 

© Nicholas Kupiak

In addition to the "story" pages, there are also detailed pattern photos as well as a nice, clean layout for the patterns themselves.  I'm really looking forward to knitting them...I'm thinking Strathcona first.
 

ISLAND can be purchased in hard copy on Amazon and on Ravelry, both as an e-book and individual patterns.

OR, if you'd like to win your very own signed copy of ISLAND (which includes a coupon code to download the digital version), just leave a comment here telling me which of the five designs you'd cast on first by Sunday night (February 3rd) at 11:59pm Pacific time. I'll draw and announce a winner the following day.

And if you'd like to follow along with the rest of ISLAND's blog tour, here's the upcoming schedule:

J A N U A R Y

 31st - Knitted Bliss

 

F E B R U A R Y

   5th - French Press Knits

   7th - Truly Myrtle

 12th - Noodlehead

 14th - Miso Crafty

 19th - SweetGeorgia

 21st - A Playful Day