[GIVEAWAY] John Arbon Goodies CLOSED

If you’ve been following the blog for any amount of time, you’ll know that I love John Arbon Textiles. I did a nice big feature on them on the blog in January, I knitted the Icon Dress in Knit by Numbers yarn, and I have made a point of heading over to see them at as many of the festivals as I’ve been to in recent years. I’ve got to know John and his lovely wife Juliet as people to have a chat with and say hi to when we cross paths, and I’m so excited to be able to continue this association in the future!

John Arbon Goodies

I won’t talk too much more about the company, but I do urge you to find out a little about them – either through my blog or their website. I will mention that there is a Mill Open Weekend on the 16th and 17th of May. I intend to head down and spend some time getting to know the mill and the John Arbon family a little better, and would love to know if you are going too so I can meet up with you and have a chat!

I have just watched John Arbon Textiles: The Movie again, and I cannot explain how excited I am about all of this!

So, on to the goodies. I asked on the off-chance that there was a spare skein of something kicking around, and was thoroughly spoiled by the package that Juliet sent me. With four skeins of yarn and two pairs of socks, there is some truly amazing wooly goodness to get your hands on!

A full selection of goodies from the wonderful John and Juliet.
A full selection of goodies from the wonderful John and Juliet.

Exmoor sock yarn

A skein of delicious 85% Exmoor Blueface / 15% Nylon in the smoke colourway is on offer. This is a light 4 ply yarn, and with 400 metres to the skein, you’ll get a good pair of socks out of this. In case the colours are different on your screen to mine, it’s a purple-brown-grey colour, and would make a sturdy pair of comfortable walking socks! The yarn is on the John Arbon Textiles website here.

Exmoor Sock Yarn in gorgeous smoke colourway.
Exmoor Sock Yarn in gorgeous smoke colourway.

Organically Farmed Merino Laceweight

This is a skein of 100% merino wool. With 650 m of gorgeous lace-weight yarn to get the most out of, this is in the “Dove Grey” shade. It would make a beautiful delicate lace item, and I’ve found it quite hard to accept that I have to part with this! More info on the yarn specifics here.

Organically Farmed Merino Laceweight in Dove Grey.
Organically Farmed Merino Laceweight in Dove Grey.

Viola

Another 100% merino wool, this is a relatively new range of yarns which are dyed by Emily Foden, using a dry-dyeing technique to create the most incredible depth of colour in the spun yarn. I have one skein of a limited edition colourway, Ginger Nut, available for you. This is the most stunning skein with tones of browns, reds, greens and greys to get lost in. You can’t get this on the John Arbon website…just saying! There is 250 metres of double knit yarn in a 100 g skein – perfect for a cosy hat.

viola in Ginger Nut - a limited edition colourway.
viola in Ginger Nut – a limited edition colourway.

Knit by Numbers

As I am the world’s biggest fan of this yarn, it would be a travesty if I didn’t have any to offer to you. With over 85 shades available (let me refer you back to the photo of their display at Unravel, which just makes my heart sing), I have one skein in shade KBN 22. I would describe it as a candy pink, almost. You can see the range of colours here – there are no colour names because the range is so enormous, hence the name “Knit by Numbers”. This is also pure merino, and you get 250 metres in your 100 g skein – I have made a hat from one of these skeins, and it is super comfy.

The Knit by Numbers display on the John Arbon stall at Unravel 2015.
The Knit by Numbers display on the John Arbon stall at Unravel 2015.
Beautiful Knit by Numbers in KBN 22.
Beautiful Knit by Numbers in KBN 22.

Socks

John Arbon Textiles are also well-known for their socks; I have two pairs of “The Exmoor Stroller” for you, in 75% Exmoor Blueface and 25% Nylon. The blue pair is a medium, or UK size 8 to 10, while the green pair is for small feet, at UK size 4 to 7. Find out more about the socks here.

The Exmoor Stroller socks in Small.
The Exmoor Stroller socks in Small.
The Exmoor Stroller socks in Medium.
The Exmoor Stroller socks in Medium.

Entering the Giveaway

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

So, how do you enter!? Please head over to the John Arbon website and let me know what your favourite product of theirs is – whether it’s a specific colour and blend of roving, or a darning mushroom. Do this by commenting on this blog post – each of the six items constitutes ONE prize, and if you have any preference for what you would like, make sure you say what you would like if you win (ensure you include sock sizes if you go for those). Prizes are drawn randomly and I cannot guarantee that you will get what you would like, but I will correspond with the winners at the relevant time.

For an additional entry, watch the below video and let me know what your favourite part of it is via a comment on my blog (and not on YouTube as I have no way of getting notifications for that).

I’ll give you a hand – at 0:52, brown and white roving is squished down into a barrel, and if I were given half the chance, I would love to do something like that. It looks like the most incredible, tactile experience – and I adore the way the colours blend together too, they look like icing on a cake or something.

For up to three additional entries, you can share this post on three different social media platforms of your preference and let me know about it, making sure to link to the shared item. So that’s five possible entries for six possible prizes.

Anyone can enter, and the giveaway will close on the 15th of April 2015. Good luck!

Much love,

Corrie xx

« Previous
 
Next »
This entry was posted in Blog and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

73 Responses to [GIVEAWAY] John Arbon Goodies CLOSED

  1. Maccath says:

    I love the knit by numbers range too. :D They have such a wide variety of colours and it’s so soft to, totally versatile.

    I like the part at 1:08 in the video where the wool looks like Mr Whippy ice cream. :P

    I’d love to try the socks, though. :)

  2. Helen Barlow says:

    I love, love LOVE knit by numbers!! I have the colour swatches and would like to use every single one of them!! Maybe a rainbow blanket…hmmm…

  3. The Exmoor country hose are my favourite product! They look so cosy and snug.

    I have never bought from John Arbon before, but have only heard good things. My favourite part of the video is when the yarn gets wound onto the giant swift around 2:20. That looks fun!

    Should I win, I’d prefer socks (small), but I’m not fussy.

  4. perclexed says:

    I think the Exmoor sock yarn sounds intriguing. The smoke shade looks very interesting on my screen. Grey-ish, but plummy at the same time?

    And my favorite part of the video is that they’re all wandering around with what looks like cups of tea in their hands. It’s just such an ordinary touch (and a very British one at that) in the midst of MAGIC for any knitter or spinner.

  5. Tagati says:

    Love John Arbor, but don’t have any in my stash yet. Thinking of the Knit by Numbers as it’s the one I’ve most often seen mentioned.

    Now, what pattern to use????

  6. Vix says:

    I’m an enormous fan of their alpaca 2-3 ply, it was the first ‘luxury’ yarn I ever bought for myself and I still regularly go back for more!

    My favourite bit in the video is the noise made by the carding machine at 0:18…

  7. Tagati says:

    Twisting the skeins at 2:57 looked like my cup of tea. Not only do you get to see all the lovely colours, you get to smoosh it too!

  8. Tracy says:

    I love all the zwartbles, I just wish I
    knew how to pronounce it,

  9. Therese says:

    I am loving that Viola yarn! I think they are my favourite, so naturally I would also love to win it :)

  10. spinnygonzalez says:

    My favourite yarn from John Arbon (that I’ve knitted and items worn my my children many many times) is the undyed organically farmed fingering merino. But I also love the more rustic yarns, like the exmoor.

    The video is fantastic. Thanks for sharing. I love the general happiness, and the old machines, and the delicate wool. I thought my favourite part was the multi-swift (or however they call that cool thingy that makes many skeins at once), but my favourite part is to see how hands-on the whole process is, and how much ‘savoir-faire’ goes into it.

    Should I be lucky enough to win? Any of the yarn (preference for the laceweight, exmoor, or brown viola) would be awesome… but if socks, then the medium please.

    PS: meant to send you a message, but I’m very much behind on everything since EYF. It was lovely to meet you in the Podcaster lounge (I was the exhausted one with the grumpy baby tied in a green sling). Thanks for sharing the fluffy squishy yarns from Knit British to have a smoosh :)

  11. Kristi Zemas says:

    Hi, Enjoying your page, not sure if I qualify being in the US but that Dove Grey Laceweight Merino speaks to me in soft lacey wings of a shawl. Love the socks I have big feet so those are probably out but look so wonderfully warm.
    For the video it would be at 2:57 when the ladies are twisting the beautiful hanks of yarn, that is and awesome machine, would love to learn it all.

  12. gracey says:

    Fun video…I actually worked in a textile factory..although our end product was cloth…I started as a weaver, but then moved to the spinning department…so it brought back memories seeing the spinning part of the video with the big bobbins…

  13. chickie brewer says:

    I like zwartbles local devon farmed top fiber. it is very interesting and pretty

  14. ikkinlala says:

    I would love to do something gradient with the Knit By Numbers range, but if I had to pick just one thing off their website it would be the Exmoor Sock Yarn in ‘Midnight.’

    If I won my first choice would be the Exmoor Sock Yarn.

  15. ikkinlala says:

    My favourite part of the video is efficiently they skein the yarn – I’ve never been able to do it so easily, even when I’m just putting one back together.

  16. Charlotte says:

    My favourite product would be the Exmoor sock yarn, so that it what I would like to win if I am lucky enough!

    My favourite aspect of the video is not a specific moment but the general atmosphere of a happy, tea-drinking team and a really hands-on process, it is nice to think about this when you are knitting with the yarn, rather than a big anonymous company.

    I also retweeted the link on Twitter (@Aviatrix79)

  17. Sarah Jones says:

    Of course it has to be yarn and the Exmoor sock yarn comes in gorgeous colours!

  18. nobutterfly says:

    I had only heard of John Arbon before visiting their booth at the Edinburgh Yarn Festival, I got two skeins of Viola and oh my god, this won’t be the last time.
    I have no preferences for the price, some yarn or socks (41) are always nice

  19. Ella says:

    I love the look of the Viola -especially in the English Mustard shade. I’ve also always wanted to try their socks -I love a good pair of socks! I’d love to win the viola or the medium socks (I’m a large-footed woman!)

  20. Margaret says:

    I love Viola as it is partly Canadian as am I. I have made the Toast and Jam gloves, a John Arbon pattern. I would love to win the Ginger Nut Viola and my favourite part of the movie was at 1:08 where the roving coils out like icing on a cupcake or fluffy whip cream.

  21. beccamade says:

    What a great contest — thanks for sharing the John Arbon goodness with us!

    If I had to pick one favorite thing on their website, it would probably be the Exmoor sock, exactly as shown — one salmon, one jade. :)

  22. beccamade says:

    And the video is fantastic! The fiber looks gorgeous, but I especially love seeing the people interacting with each other and with the wool. They seem to really enjoy each other and the work.

    (I also like that the video reminds me of some of my favorite film images from Frederick Wiseman’s documentaries.)

  23. Kristen says:

    I have never used their yarn but I sure want to now. What fun that video was I loved the whole thing. If I have to pick a specific point it would be 1:39 when the yarn was being twisted.
    I love the Alpaca 2-3 ply yarn in natural fawn, oh that color is lovely!

  24. knittingdancer on Ravelry says:

    The video was very interesting to watch. I like the part where it some of the ladies knitting.

  25. knittingdancer on Ravelry says:

    I love the bright colors in the Exmoor sock yarn especially Midnight. I would be happy with any of the prizes, my favorite would be the Knit by Number yarn. My sock size is the small.

  26. ~Julie says:

    Love! Love! Love, the Viola yarn colors especially Shepherds Warning, Fern, Cinnamon, Unpredictable – ok, really all of them. :) Thanks for holding the contest. I really hope I win because I would love to try this yarn.
    Strawberrykid on Ravelry

  27. I have to confess to being a lot in love with John arbon’s Hayward dk yarn in BlackBerry colourway. It is just Devine (I may have bought some of this at eyf!)if I won a fab prize I’m not fussed as to what because all John arbon goodies are amazing. My foot size is 5.
    Hope you are okay Sx

  28. ~Julie says:

    On the video at :32-33 the carded brown wool looks like fluffy ropes of chocolate. I half expect it to smell like chocolate too. :) Then at 3:32-3:33 I really like how the gal was knitting the final product (yarn) on her break time.

  29. jessicac says:

    Loving the Merino Icelandic Wool socks.. so lovely! And having a hard time digesting how many colors of Knit by numbers… eeek!!!

  30. jessicac says:

    Love so much about this video. The old machines, that are still working, the smiling, coffee loving workers..the barrels full of roving! Really like the spinning skein maker. Thank you for sharing!

  31. Valerie says:

    this is so nice of you – thank you for this opportunity to get to know some yarn that’s new to me!

    And wow – so many great yarns they have!

    My favourite at first glance would probably have to be the Zwartbles dark. I’m Dutch…but I haven’t live in the Netherlands for a long time.. It would be great to incorporate something from ‘home’ into my knitting! I’m so curious after this yarn!

    My favourite thing about the video is that the roving looks like clouds – how awesome would it be to work with clouds!!

    Out of the give away, the dove grey merino lace weight looks scrumptious!

  32. Julia says:

    What a fabulous giveaway! I really like the Exmoor sock yarn. If I was lucky enough to win, this would be my choice of prize.

  33. fun says:

    i like the viola in nimbus cloud. I would prefer the yarn in laceweight dove grey, but all of the prizes are great.

  34. Liga says:

    The colors of Viola! Swoooooon! Especially English Mustard, Cinnamon, and Fern. LOVE. However, if forced to pick a favorite shade, I’d say Blackcurrant. :)

    If chosen to win, I’d love the skein of Viola in Ginger Nut–I would make a nice cowl for myself.

    Thanks for sharing the video and thanks for the opportunity to win such nice yarn/socks!

  35. Sarah says:

    Thanks for the chance to win! I always love sock yarn, and I really love the colour of the one you are giving away. That being said, all the prizes are fab. I went to their site and am really intrigued. I love the look of the mustard colourway in the alpaca sock yarn. Fingers crossed!

  36. Leslie says:

    I hadn’t heard of this company before, but their yarns are gorgeous. The Viola colors are all beautiful and I’d love to win either the Viola skein or the size small socks. The video was such fun to watch. Looks like a happy place to work! I especially liked the wide range of ages. Young people and also many my age, too!

  37. Lulu says:

    I like the alpaca 4 ply sock yarn, the colors are beautiful! My choice of prize would be the pink coral yarn or the lace weight Dove Grey.
    Thanks for the great giveaway!

  38. Lulu says:

    I love the part in the video from 2.40 to 3.00. The girls touch the wool and prepare the skein. How beautiful!

  39. Lise Mendel says:

    Everything on the website is lovely, but my favorite has to be Zwartbles – with a name like that, how could I possibly choose anything else?!

    As far as the prizes, I would be thrilled with any of them. Thank you for hosting this giveaway.

  40. Karen says:

    Listening to your latest podcast today (Mar. 31). Enjoying all your stories and projects. I look at the links to better picture the items you are describing.
    I would be pleased to have my name entered in your draw – any item will be a pleasure to receive.

  41. Elizabeth says:

    That video is awesome! I loved the blurred spinning of the wool at 2:20.

  42. Elizabeth says:

    Oh, and the alpaca country socks are beautiful. I’ve never worn alpaca in socks, I’ll bet it’s luscious.

  43. DeniseC says:

    I love the Viola colorways, especially North Sea.

  44. Kathlyne says:

    Oh, I took a look at all the socks on their website. I just love the Alpaca stripey socks. I’d be happy to win anything. Thanks for the chance.

  45. Patsy Coats says:

    Exmoor sock yarn in Blossom

  46. Kirsten Kaae says:

    My favourite is the Knit By Numbers yarn – so many shades – and my favourite bits of the video are where they take time to have a cup of tea or coffee.
    And if I am lucky my first choice is (of course) the Knit By Numbers wool.
    GREAT GIVEAWAY!!!

  47. Beth Jillette says:

    As I spent nearly an hour on John Arbor’s web site it is difficult to choose a favorite, I would have to choose the viola yarn loving the blended colors.

  48. Pingback: B is for… | the eye of the beholder

  49. Sheila says:

    My favorite is the Exmoor sock yarn in the heather color.

  50. Sheila says:

    I love the part around 2:40 minutes in when she sweeps the multiple skeins off the huge multiskein winder. All that lovely yarn!

    Forgot to say in my previous comment, if I win, my first choice would be the Smoke Exmoor sock yarn, second choice the Dove Grey Merino Laceweight, or any of the yarns really.

  51. Fi Morris says:

    I love KBN and have a great orange Peasy in that yarn. If I won, I’d love the chance to try the Viola but everything else looks great too except ironically the KBN. When I had my colours done I was told Autumns don’t wear pink and I’ve stuck to it :)

    In the video I love the shot of all the yellow bobbins. Partly because I love to say bobbin in a Blackadder kind of way lol. Also the dexterity of threading the machines.

  52. Charly says:

    I love the Alpaca Supreme Top, had my eye on spinning that for a while. I’ love to win the Merino Laceweight!

  53. Charly says:

    My favourite part of the video is 2 mins 55 secs when they swish the hanks of yarn along by hand!

  54. Charly says:

    shared on Twitter as @charlyfeathers

  55. Dana says:

    My favorite product on the John Arbor website is the Viola yarn in all colorways (I can’t possibly just choose one!! Okay I’ll choose Nimbus Cloud, but only if I have to.)
    My favorite part of the video was at roughly 1:08, when they were spinning the white roving around.
    If I win I‘d love to have the organic merino laceweight or the sock yarn, but I won’t be picky.

  56. Sherlock_knits says:

    I have heard so much about John Arbon and yet this is the first time I have actually got around to looking at their gorgeous website – thank you so much for nudging me to do it!
    It all looks gorgeous but I think the Alpaca Supreme 4ply would be the first to tempt me as I love the shades of grey.
    If I were lucky enough to win, I would love the KBN skein – such a gorgeous colour!

  57. Sherlock_knits says:

    I love ALL the video, but especially the bits where the fleece looks like Mr Softee ice-cream, and all the shots of the staff who seem to be having such a good time – skeining yarn (and then hair!), having a brew and knitting.

  58. Jules says:

    I love John Arbon Knit by Numbers bought a cardigans worth at EYF because I couldn’t resist it, I love the socks too about the only thing that lasts longer than 2mins on my husbands feet!

    I too love the video at 1:08 with the Mr Whippy White roving moment.

  59. Ellie says:

    What an absolutely fabulous video! I found myself totally fascinated at how those dirty machines make something so soft and squishy. I love their Zwartbles range and knit by numbers range. Any colour because I just adore their products. As for squishing that Brown yarn, what a perfect job.

  60. Ellie says:

    I loved the video! Takes me back to my days in the hosiery trade here in Leicester. I loved how the yarn looks like soft buttercream ready to be added to a delicious cupcake.

    As for the yarn I love their Zwartbles and knit by numbers range. Any colour. As for socks I’m a size 7 shoe so maybe that’s a medium?

    Thank you for organising such a fantastic giveaway. :)

  61. Diane F says:

    I like how they hand twist the skeins and at 3:00 she’s caught twisting her hair and smile, I love how they are smiling and enjoying their work.
    I would like the laceweight organic merino and I just found out they got a wonderful top:Merino D’arles

  62. Always wanted to try out Alpaca Supreme 4 Ply, I love the beige colours, such pretty yarn.

  63. Julia says:

    I’m on a sock knitting kick lately, so am drawn to their sock yarns. Alpaca socks sound delightful! I’d certainly love to win some sock yarn too :) Thanks!

  64. Julia says:

    My favourite part of the video is how efficient and comfortable everyone looks, with their great machines and milky tea. Definitely looks like a job worth doing. Thanks!

  65. Jo says:

    I love the Knit by Numbers range!

  66. Carol Evans says:

    I love the Knit By Numbers yarn, (the colours are amazing) and the whole of the video! They all look so happy!
    I would like a skein of lace weight organic merino if I am lucky enough to win. Thanks

  67. Carmen N says:

    I think it would be fun to make something with every-other (or every shade) in the six-shades of Knit by Numbers; such as KBN31 – 36.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.