Cowl Girls Review and Yarn Giveaway!

UPDATE: Our friends at Soho Publishing caught wind of our giveaway and have offered 10 copies of Cowl Girls to give away! That means one First Prize winner will receive the book AND the yarn required to make one of four Classic Elite cowls; and 10 Second Prize winners will each receive a copy of Cowl Girls! Thank you Soho Publishing!!

In our examination of all things giftable and fast, a review of the fabulous Cowl Girls by Cathy Carron seems appropriate (and aren't you lucky you can win a copy in the Winter 2010 issue of Knit Simple!). This is a must-have book for knitters who love portable, fast projects. This richly photographed book of cowls, gaiters, snoods, balaclavas and all things neck-hugging (don't worry, a glossary is included!) is a wealth of patterns in a variety of shapes, sizes, fibers and skill levels. And its chock-full of Classic Elite yarns! I think we have an abundance of rich, soft fibers that translate perfectly to sophisticated accessories, and clearly, Cathy Carron agrees.

And now for the cherry on the sundae, we are holding a giveaway! One lucky commenter will receive the yarn required to make one of these cowls. Just let us know what you're crafting for the holidays by next Tuesday, December 14th, and you can choose between either of the Ariosa cowls, the adorable Sprout striped cowl, or the La Gran stackable cowl. Unfortunately, winners are limited to the United States and Canada. Comment here to win the yarn then head over to Knit Simple to enter to win the book! Don't forget to leave a Ravelry name or other identifier in your comment.

This fun checkerboard print is for the colorwork lover. Knit in 8 different colors of Ariosa, I wonder if it would make a good stash-buster too?

These stackable cowls take 4 hanks of La Gran and are knit in Trinity Stitch, a pattern you would be likely to see in an Aran sweater, translated into soft, lofty mohair.

This striped cowl in Sprout adds tassels for fun, and is an easy beginning colorwork project! The color effect is achieved by knitting stripes in a pattern--the effect reminds me of Charlie Brown's sweater, zigzag stripes!

This striped little gaiter is knit in 2 skeins of each color (in this case, navy and white) of Ariosa. I would love to see it in a crazy combination like navy and red, or pink and green. Why not? With accessories, you can take much bigger risks than you can with a sweater...

Twinkle Soft Chunky is all over the place! Talk about fast, this could probably be knit in an evening, and the super soft roving-style yarn comes in a spectrum of colors from bright to sophisticated. I love how it tucks into your coat!

This sumptuous cowl is knit in Posh, our cashmere and wool blend, with an optional beaded embellishment. For your most disciminating (or sensitive-skinned) friend.

This cowl in Inca Alpaca might take a bit longer to knit, but its worth it. These are three concentric rings cinched together with a ribbon for a flouncy, layered look.

This striped number is a balaclava AND a gaiter in MinnowMerino! A balaclava is a tight hood to keep the cold out, and a gaiter is a snug neck covering designed for the same purpose. The i-cord at the top lets out to cinch it around your neck or pulls in to tighten the top of the hood.

Comment away to win!