Monday, January 9, 2012

101 Followers Giveaway!

UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed! I will announce the winners on Saturday!

Oh wow oh wow oh wow. I woke up this morning and my Blogger Dashboard told me I had 101 followers all of a sudden. Oh my oh my oh my.

This is Walnut's surprised face. Look how big his eyes are!

When I started blogging my haphazard projects last May, I never thought I'd have people around the world reading my rambles about geekery and sewing and the wonders of thrifted sheets. My dear readers, thank you so much for caring enough to follow my blog, despite all the cobbled together fake-torials and sentences with too many parenthetical insertions. Thank you for your kindness and encouragement as I strive to learn and grow in my creativity. Thank you for all the helpful advice you've given about my fit issues. Thank you for bearing with all the pictures of Walnut, because he really is the most darling cat.

I am so grateful for the online sewing (and other creative pursuits) community. Having moved away from my IRL community twice in the last five years (first from the Bay Area to SD, then from SD to LA), it's been such a blessing to have people I've never met extend such friendliness and welcome. As a gesture of thanks (and also because this seems to be the done thing), I am holding a 101 Dalmatians  followers giveaway. Here's your chance to win a vintage pattern and whatever random crap I feel like throwing in possibly some other goodies!

I'll be giving away these two patterns:
Simplicity 3932 A, 1960s, a culotte "dress" pattern in size 20.5, bust 41; Butterick 8509, 1960, a "quick 'n easy" dress in size 12, bust 32.
Envelope backs.
 I've checked both patterns over; the envelopes are a little torn up, but the pattern pieces and instructions are all there! The Simplicity one is almost entirely uncut, except for the two "skirt"pieces. The Butterick one is still in its factory folds and definitely unused! Here are the close-ups of the yardage requirements and sizing:

Simplicity 3932
Butterick 8509


Rules:
  1. Leave a comment saying which pattern you'd like. 
  2. Just to stroke my ego (but I'll stroke Walnut too, so really you're stroking the softest cat in the world by proxy), tell me which of my projects (sewing or otherwise) is your favorite.
  3. It doesn't matter if you live outside of the US, you can enter! If you live on Chiron Beta Prime, though, you're out of luck. The robot overlords would never let the package through if you won.
  4. It goes without saying, but you really should be a follower of my blog. Given that I have no idea who is subscribing through an RSS feed (I can only see my followers on Google Friend Connect), I guess this will be by the honor system. I'll assume that you're a follower if you leave a comment. Also goes without saying, but I hope you really intend to sew up the pattern! Please don't win it just so you can turn around and sell it on Etsy or use it as kindling or make a craft project (does anyone else feel slightly horrified by this?). 

I'll close the giveaway on Friday, January 13, 2012, at noon PST. The two winners will be chosen by Walnut random.org, despite what Handmade Ryan Gosling may have to say about it.

From the awesomest tumblr ever.

Thank you again, dear readers. Thank you.

31 comments:

  1. First post! (though, I hardly think that the 1st post ever gets chosen for these sorts of random drawings).

    I liked the cloud dress post, and any other post where you seem to make Anthropologie dresses.

    I like the "quick and easy" 2nd pattern.

    And! if i win, I will even share my pattern with anna (who is a big fan of yours too).

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  2. Yes, I am also slightly horrified by the using of vintage patterns to make coasters.
    I'd love the quick and easy Butterick.
    My favorite project of yours is "A New Hope", because I'm a sci-fi/ fantasy fan, and the dress is awesome. If it were a Star TREK dress, I'd want to marry you.
    -Sandra

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  3. I like them both but the Simplicity is more "me" I think.

    I looooove your Simon's Cat embroidery project (andthe link to Sublime Stitching).

    I'm one of your RSS followers, btw. I couldn't read nearly as much of the internet without Google Reader!

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  4. I first found and followed your blog because you re-created the backswept dress so beautifully! I thought, "I might own the dress, but I would love to take some of my liberty of london fabric and create the shape of that dress with that fabric." You inspired me. As I am really pregnant now, all sewing is off the front burner, but you amaze me with your interpretations!

    I guess I would have to get the Simplicity simply (haha) so I could use it for me, the butterick looks like it would be too small for my frame, but really, I have both a mother-in-law and stepmom who could help adjust the pattern to make either pattern work with my frame. :)

    Great giveaway!

    dinagideon AT aim DOT com

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  5. Your "i carry your heart with me" dress is definitely my favourite (so much so I plan to make something similar) I love the skirt and the text along the edge!!!
    Simplicity is the one that does it form me. A Vintage pattern that only requires a 1" FBA, that would be a first!

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  6. Congrats on all the puppies, I mean, followers! I am (slightly) embarrassed to admit that the way I follow you is that I have your blog bookmarked and I pop in every couple days to check for new posts... yes, I live in 2004. Your blog is one of my favorites, and all your creations are amazing, but I think my I-want-one-just-like-it favorite dress has got to be the hippos.
    As for the patterns, I'm more drawn to the Butterick, mainly because grading up one size seems easier than grading down several, and also I'm as sucker for a full skirt too!

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  7. Congratulations on making the big 1 0 0!!! And if you have a look it has already clicked over to 102.
    Love your site, how you present it and the great way you 'chat'. Have been a follower for some time now.
    Don't count me in on the patterns, though, as I am in a shirt and top mood at the moment. But they are lovely patterns never-the-less....

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  8. Congrats on the milestone! I "follow" your blog via Google Reader and it's really given me the itch to not only start sewing clothing again, but to start sewing (and wearing) dresses. I love your Star Wars dress (the placement of Darth Vader is perfect, as is the C3PO duo on the back). I pretty much love anything I've seen you make using vintage sheets. Sadly, I never come across them while thrifting!

    As for the patterns, I'm not quite small enough for the size 12 Quick N' Easy (although I'm getting closer every day, I don't think I'll ever be a bust size 32 again ;) Size-wise, I'd actually have better luck with the bottom from the dress pattern and the top from the culotte pattern!), so it'd have to be the Simplicity culotte dress. I wonder how hard it would be to convert it to an actual skirt? Although, it's been ages since I've worn one, and at the school I teach at, a culotte dress would probably be better for me to move around in. Kneeling on the floor to cut cardboard for earthquake proof house designs would be more challenging in a regular skirt!

    Thanks for sharing your designs and for being so honest about what works and what doesn't ;)

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  9. Oooh what a lovely giveaway and congratulations for hitting the 100 mark! I follow you though Google Reader. Actually that's a good point - you may have even more followers you don't even know about?
    Anyhoo! I'd like to put my hand up for the Butterick please - I adore view A and would love to make it up. My favourite dress that you've made is the Hooray for Hippos dress - I'm a sucker for anything animal-print related. And reaching out a virtual pet for Walnut. I have two cats who have similar long hair so I love seeing pics of him - he's a handsome fellow. And so is Ryan Gosling .

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  10. Your Superman dress is my favourite -- I laughed out loud when I saw the back cutout. So smart.

    I'd love the Simplicity pattern. I have a secret crush on culottes. Shhhhh.

    Conrats on 100!

    Laurie(at)shiny-objects(dot)com

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  11. I'm not going to enter the giveaway because I have so many vintage patterns and so little time that I should be charged with unfair pattern hoarding. I did have to comment and say that I loved the ninja cats dress you printed!

    And THIS Hey Girl actually made me spit my tea:
    http://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr.com/tumblr_lx5nuiRf161r7myemo1_1280.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJ6IHWSU3BX3X7X3Q&Expires=1326295572&Signature=qlhMx7qAt54eDNPnycQU8AoFIcI%3D

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  12. Butterick 8509, please! I've only recently started to follow your blog, so I don't know that I'm qualified to pick a favorite make of yours yet. I do love how you incorporate such fun geeky references in many of your pieces. It's going to be fun to follow your progress during 2012.

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  13. 3932 culottes is my choice. My favorite project you've made is the hippo dress. I think. You've made a lot of really good stuff!

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  14. The first dress I saw of yours was the pink and gray art nouveau dress, which I loved, but I have to say that my favorite so far has been your I carry your heart with me dress. I want all of your dresses in my closet (and in my size), but that one really stands out. I fully intend to copy the line of black writing along the hem of a white dress idea...someday. :)

    I'd love the Butterick pattern. That square neckline is so cute! And now that I look closely, it looks kind of similar to your art nouveau dress!

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  15. I just discovered you through a picture of your superman dress on pinterest. I would never have thought to use those fabrics for a dress and I love it! The Simplicity dress is closest to my size, so that's my favorite. You do such fun stuff, I'm a follower now!

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  16. Wooo Giveaway!!
    Oh maan! SUch a hard question!! I think my favourite has to be your superman dress - it is completely awesome and the super-man-logo-shaped-cut-out (slightly confusing when you right it!) Well, that was a stroke of genius!
    I prefer the butterick pattern .. I like the fact that its 'quick 'n' easy'!!
    I'd love for you to check out my blog if you get the chance,
    Rosanna x

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  17. I love the Butterick 8509. I would beg my soon to be sister in law to help me sew it. I sent her to your website because I thought it would inspire her on her sewing projects. Right now I am in a one bedroom with a husband, baby and cat. So we dont have room for me to sew right now. Hopefully this summer will move into a larger place and I will be able to sew my heart out.

    I am in MAD LOVE with your Batman dress. I sent the link to my sister in law suggesting a birthday gift like the dress would be very much loved. Also getting 'fabric' from thrift stores is brillant. Now I will always have my eyes open for such amazing finds!

    Keep up the amazing projects and I can not wait to see the Chinese New Year dress. Sounds very hard to make!

    OH also I found your blog from GeekMom.com
    http://www.geekmom.com/2012/01/girly-and-geeky-all-at-the-same-time/#comments

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  18. Congratulations on reaching 101 followers! By the way your projects aren't haphazard, they are amazing! I'm fairly new to your blog, but I have loved looking through all your amazing projects and getting inspiration from the. Both those patterns look amazing, but I think I will op for the Butterick one. I've enjoyed looking through a lot of your designs and I really couldn't decide between the Star Trek dress you recently made, I love the style and the sash. I also love the back of your Superman Dress. I love the Red Pillowcases Dress too, it looks very 20s. I think my favourite will have to be the green and orange Seamstress Rendering Dress. I've chosen it as my favourite because I think it is so different to all the other beautiful clothing that you have made and it is beautifully made and looks amazing on you! You have inspired me to get my arse in gear and start sewing more clothes which I'm desperate to do. If I win this, I will definitely be making it up and I will probably end up wearing it for the rest of my days! XxxX http://thesecondhandrose.blogspot.com/

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  19. I don't want to enter the giveaway because I can't sew garments well enough, but I had to say thank you for introducing me to Handmade Ryan Gosling. Really. You made my week with that. I am wiping tears from my eyes.

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  20. I just found you through the Vintage sheet blog and LOVE what you're doing! I also use bedsheets for clothing, but hadn't dared use the "novelty" ones. Seeing yours may make me change my mind though. I adore your Superman dress- it's so vibrant!

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  21. I found you threw Sew Weekly and my favorite thing has to be the green lace dress! My initial instinct was to say I liked the dress best, but the culottes are screaming my name!! I feel an unnatural pull toward them.

    Congrats on the followers!
    Amy W - amym710[at]gmail[dot]com

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  22. LOVE that "sorry you didn't win" haha New reader so you can skip me for the contest but just had to tell you how much I loved that lol.

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  23. I love making lists, so I'm going to respond in list format.

    1. Walnut is ah-dorable! I want to snuggle him.
    2. I like the Butterick pattern, but it's too small for me (booo!). So I'll choose the Simplicity pattern because it's different.
    3. I like the Red Pillowcase Dress but, being the geek I am, I LOOOOVE the Star Wars dress!


    Thanks for the giveaway!
    Tina
    retrorabbithole.blogspot.com

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  24. I'm new to following you. I mostly read blogs through the RSS feed, but I did the Google Friend Connect, too, just so you could have a higher follower count. :) I found your blog only a few days ago, I think from a write-up on GeekMoms about your Star Wars dress.

    I love many of your past projects, but did like the drape on the circle skirt. I also loved the color of the Red Pillowcase Dress. I have also made the New Year's resolution to improve my sewing, starting with simple quilts, but I'd like to work up to clothes that fit. I prefer the Butterick pattern (classic dress), but the sizing is too small. :(

    Good luck!

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  25. According to Google Reader, you have 215 followers (as of me checking) ;). Go you! I think my fave garment you've made is the red sweater dress. Well, and the ninja-cat dress, but I might be a tad biased about that one ;).

    Walnut is excessively adorable (not to mention photogenic.)

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  26. ack! And I would be totally stoked to get the Butterick pattern. Mmm, pretty.

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  27. I love your cloud dress and Butterick 8509. I hope this doesn't disqualify me, but I'm angry at cats in general since one peed in my suitcase recently and ruined a bunch of my stuff while I was visiting a friend. It'll pass.

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  28. Hi Cindy! My name is Sam K, you probably don't remember me, but I was in your small group at the CFC Winter Retreat 2007, I was a freshman at Crossroads. Anyway, I am an RSS feed lurker, and just wanted to say hello. Your blog is so inspiring! It totally makes me want to start sewing again, and your random nerdy references are awesome as well :)
    My favorite of your projects is a tie between the hippo dress (such a fun pattern. And a six-legged hippo!) and your Bellatrix costume (the level of detail was amazing, especially making the bird skull necklace). I would love the Butterick pattern, swishy skirts ftw!

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  29. Brand new follower me, having just discovered your blog through the comment you left on mine. I'm looking forward to delving back through your past makes so I can't yet tell you a favourite... But let me just say that I'm sickened by those blasphemous pattern paper "flowers", have plenty of kindling, am also a Handmade Ryan Gosling fan (but who isn't really?) and Friday 13th is my lucky day.

    Oh, and I'd love to win the Butterick pattern please!

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  30. Oh oh, this is such an awesome giveaway! I'd love that Butterick pattern - so pretty. :-)

    (Kinda wish I hadn't followed that link though - some of those buttons look suspiciously like they've been made from 1950's pattern envelopes. *sob!* How could anyone do such a thing?!)

    Favourite item - hard to say, but both your Superman dress and your pink hippos stick in my memory. Too cute. :-)

    macska at gmail dot com

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  31. I love the superman dress with the cut-out, and the blue cloud dress, and the hippo dress. Sensing a theme here?
    But my absolute favourite projects are the Hobbit map embroidery and the Rohan flag embroidery!
    I love the butterick pattern, but the culottes are more my size, so I'd go for the Simplicity one.

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