Radiant Raffia Giveaway

Radiant Raffia Giveaway

Thank you, Bloomsbury!

I was so excited the other day to open my email and find a lovely inquiry from Emily at Bloomsbury Publishers (@Bloomsburybooksus) asking if I would like an advanced copy of Radiant Raffia by Olga Panagopoulou. Of course, I jumped at the chance, but not before getting a special treat for YOU as well! But more on that in a second.

This beautifully photographed book includes 20 Inspiring crochet projects made with natural yarn. Wait, crochet? Not knitting? Yep! Crochet! My original fiber art. When I was about 5 years old, my grandmother taught me crochet. She was an avid crocheter. Though she never wrote her own patterns, she could take any doily she found and recreate it without a pattern. She taught my mom, who made all the blankets we had in our house and many I now have in mine. Then, my grandmother taught me. As my grandmother was one of my all time favorite people, her favorite hobby, crocheting, is very dear to my heart and reminds me of her. I can still feel the Louisiana summer heat as I am sitting in the back of her metallic olive green Mercury with crochet cotton and a tiny metal hook, my small fingers trying to create my own version of the numerous doilies that lay on each table in her home. Crocheting being our go to traveling activity while my Pop drove. You can read more about how my grandmother influenced my love of crochet here, and about my current favorite crochet project I have ever done that still sits on my table by my chair.

But enough about me - you are here to find out about this book. What is in it and should you buy it?

As the subtitle indicates, this book contains 20 crochet projects for you and your home, all made with natural fibers. The two pictured on the front cover are a cute hat and drawstring bag, each I would love to begin immediately! The book is broken up into three sections, accessories such as the hat and belts, housewares such baskets and a tablecloth, and then a section on special stitches to help you with the included patterns. The author lives "on the dreamy Cycladic island of Syros," (p.6) a Greek island in the Aegean Sea south-east of Athens. This region and the dreamy seaside setting are reflected in the beachy vibes of the patterns and the photography. Flipping through the book makes you want to pack one of these beach bags from the book with a towel, sunscreen and raffia yarn and find a chair under an umbrella to crochet the day away. Which was exacting the author's dream life, and why she wrote the book! I would say mission accomplished! Buy this fabulous book as soon as it comes out on May 21st, 2024.

Can't wait until May 21? I got you! The lovely Emily at Bloomsbury has offered my readers a copy as well! All you have to do to enter the giveaway is one (or all!) of the following:

  • If you comment on this blog post with why you would love to crochet one of these projects, your will be given one entry.
  • If you share this blog post to your social media, you can win TWO entries.
  • If you sign up for my newsletter at https://girlfriendsknitting.com/newsletter, you will be given FIVE entries.
That's it! I will put all the entries in a hat and randomly select one on April 25, 2024. I will notify the winner and Bloomsbury will send you an advanced copy! You will love it!

Your crocheting girlfriend,
Carolyn

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