Ilga Leja Bermuda Kit Giveaway

Thank you for entering this giveaway, it was fun reading everyone comments, especially the ones explaining why they should be the winner! But I use a Random Number Generator to select the winner so I'm not swayed!

And the winner of the Ilga Leja Bermud Kit is Knitmish!

Please email me at Sandrasingh@sandrasingh.com with your shipping address.

Thank you!

To kick off June my first blog giveaway is bright and colorful and features the design work of the Canadian knitwear artist Ilga Leja in the yarn Kauni Effektgarn 8/2. Ilga's "Kauni Collection" celebrates Effektgarn's long, subtle, graduated color changes and she uses these characteristics to showcase each design in this collection.

This giveaway is for Ilga's Bermuda pattern and 2 balls of Effektgarn 8/2 in the EQ colorway.

Ilga Leja wearing her very own In The Piazza from her "City Collection."

Ilga is a brilliant knitwear artist who specializes in timeless knitwear designs. Each season she introduces a new pattern collection inspired by a specific theme which features garments and accessories with lace knitting, intriguing stitch patterns and unique construction all with the end wearer's comfort and style in mind. She's taken a moment from her busy schedule to share her thoughts with us, I hope you enjoy getting to know her as much as I have over these past few years.

BermudaKauni Effektgarn 8/2 in EQ

Meet Ilga Leja: Knitting has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. When I was about 5 years old, I learned to knit from a neighbour friend. My mother, seeing me struggle with thick yarns and needles far too thin and the English style of knitting, took pity on me, gave me better tools, and showed me the Continental style. I have worked with both styles of knitting ever since and use them interchangeably.

I have had a busy life, balancing career and family. Yet knitting has been the continuing thread through every phase. It has given me solace during troubled times, pleasure in quiet times and joy in happy times. It inspires and challenges me with new ideas for creativity at every turn.

One of my other passions has been photography. I have been taking pictures since I was a child with a Brownie camera. I see photo subjects everywhere I go and these often translate into knitting designs later. By beginning to publish my designs, I have been able to bring these two loves together.

As you can see from my designs, I love to work with pattern and colour. My designs reflect my current interests, whether it is handpainted yarns, working with lace, or experimenting with textures. Yet always I am looking to create timeless designs, ones that will give pleasure for many years to come.

Ilga has also taken the time to answer a few interview questions for us...

1. Please tell us about yourself and what got you interested in knitting and designing knitwear.

I have always loved to knit, from the very first time I took up the needles and learned. That was in childhood and I can still remember vividly my excitement in learning how to knit from the teenager next door. The fact that it was a teenager (and not a family relative) who taught me may have contributed to my excitement at the time.

2. What is your design philosophy?

I don’t think of having a “philosophy” as such. I do what I love. When I am swatching up a design idea and I don’t like it, or it isn’t pleasant to do, then I abandon it. I believe that if I am not enjoying knitting a piece, then I assume others wouldn’t enjoy it either. In the end, it is all about following the heart.

3. Who or what inspires you the most in your design process?

Although there is much that inspires me, it is the beauty of nature that captures me the most. It is what makes me stop and look in awe.

4. What direction do you see yourself heading in as a designer?

I have started experimenting with making tapestries, essentially knitting pictures. This uses all my skills and I get to play with lots and lots of colours and different yarns. It would be a move away from designing patterns—which is how I make my living now. But it is a direction that fascinates and challenges me.

5. How have the advances in technology and the internet helped you (or hindered) you as a knitwear designer?

The Internet has helped me enormously. In fact, I would not have been able to build my business without it. It continues to offer up more opportunities with social networking, different delivery methods, etc. So I just see the technology as enhancing our industry, giving us many different approaches in how we can share all things related to knitting.

Thank you Ilga for speaking with us.

Visit all of Ilga Leja's collections, her patterns are sold as PDFs with no shipping fees.

International Year of the Scarf Collection

Morocco

Far North Collection

Northern Lights

Among the Birches

Kauni Collection

Messenger Bag

Earth Maiden

Linen Collection

Straw Into Gold

Blush

Landscape Collection

Moorland

Seascape Collection

Open Waters

Queen of the Waves

City Collection
In the Courtyard

Antique Lace

Opera Season Collection

Marschillan

Violetta

Mythic Forest Collection

Balsam

Ancient Bark Moebius

Beach Collection

Waves of Lace

Sea Urchin

There will be one winner for this giveaway, prize includes the Bermuda pdf pattern and 2 skeins of Kauni Effektgarn 8/2 in EQ, no purchase necessary to enter and the winner will be announced on June 12.

Enter this Giveaway: The more ways you enter, the more chances you have to win and make sure to leave a comment telling what you did to enter. And please make sure to leave your contact information.
1. Tell us why you should win the Bermuda Kit.
2. Tell us which Ilga Leja pattern is your favorite and why.
3. Tell us which colorway of Kauni Effektgarn 8/2 is your favorite and why.
4. Blog about this giveaway on your blog and link it, leave a comment under this blogpost with the link back to your blogpost.
5. Join my Ravelry group, Sandrasingh.com and introduce yourself in the "Welcome tell us about yourself..." thread.
6. Announce this giveaway in your Ravelry group, or in a Ravelry group that allows you to announce Blog giveaways.
7. Friend me a Facebook: Sandra Singh and leave a comment under my post about this Giveaway
8. Announce this giveaway, with a link on Facebook
9. Visit my Facebook Page: www.Sandrasingh.com and hit "Like"
10. Follow me on Twitter: Sandrasingh
11. Announce this giveaway with a link on Twitter
12. Friend or Fan me on Plurk: Sandrasinghcom
13. Announce this giveaway with a link on Plurk
14. Sign up for my Newsletter on my Home Page
15. Sign up to "Follow My Blog"
16. Tell your fellow knitters in your knitting circle about this giveaway.
17. No Purchase Necessary to Enter, but are you a Sandrasingh.com customer? Leave a comment about your experience and purchase.