A January blues-busting giveaway

I don't know about you, but even though I'm excited about the stitching year ahead of me, I still can't help feeling a touch of the January blues. The Christmas holidays are well and truly over, a few unwanted pounds have attached themselves to my body and payday seems like forever away!

So if you're feeling a little low too, I'm going to try to cheer you up a bit with a special blues-busting giveaway. Yay! It's also a great opportunity to celebrate my new readers. Somehow I've managed to attract a whole 259 of you, so thank you all and welcome to my blog newcomers!

Without further ado, for the sewers amongst you I have two vintage patterns up for grabs.


Vogue 7648 is from 1952 and in a size Medium (Bust 32-34). I adore the elegant lines of this pattern, but after a half-hearted attempt at it, I realised it really doesn't suit my body type. It definitely deserves a better home. 

McCall's 6724 is from 1963 and is a size 14 (Bust 34, Waist 26, Hip 36). Just look at that smocked yoke!

Although both patterns are fairly small for modern day women, they should both be pretty easy to scale up if needed.

Moving on, I also have something for the knitters out there, because knitting 
is my new-found passion!


This is Sirdar click yarn, which is 70% acrylic and 30% wool. Each 50g/100m ball is knitted up with 5mm needles, which I've thrown in for good measure too. I haven't quite captured the unusual colour of this yarn, but it's very pretty!

Anyway, this giveaway will close on Friday 20 January at midnight (GMT) and I will announce two randomly-chosen winners on Saturday 21 January. The rules are simple:
  • The giveaway is open to anyone in the whole wide world, as long as you're a follower of my little blog.
  • Let me know if you're entering for the sewing or the knitting goods and don't forget to leave your email address too.
  • If you feel like it, do share any blues-busting tips. 

Good luck everyone and thanks again for your ongoing support!

    23 comments:

    1. Ooh nice patterns Marie. I'd like to enter for the sewing goodies if I may? January blues-busting tips... hmmm. A holiday in the sun?! If not possible, then lots of long brisk winter walks followed by a roast dinner and a pint of Guinness :)

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    2. I'd love the McCalls 6724 with the smocked yoke, it's a really nice feature. I think my best blues-busting tip would be to get outside as much as possible and enjoy the fresh air. Or eat lots of cake!
      Thanks for the giveaway - I am holding a giveaway on my own blog too. Maybe that's a good way to bust the blues too :)

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    3. I'd love the yarn. It's a beautiful color and my daughter would love it. She's a new knitter.

      Tia

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    4. Please count me in for the knitting giveaway Marie, that wool looks awesome :)

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    5. Ooh, what a lovely giveaway! Both patterns are lovely, and I've heard good things about the yarn :) Also, those needles look amazing! So I would love to be entered for both please :)
      Also, I had a nosy on your Ravelry, as I wanted to see what you were swatching for (sorry about my rubbish answer by the way, I realised when I went back to see if you mentioned what you were knitting that I had gotten the wrong end of the stick! lol) and I love the pattern you've chosen! So pretty :)
      Ashley x

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    6. I battle with the winter blues a lot. Recently I bought a daylight bulb (amazon.co.uk carries them) and the room feels so much more brighter and as a result you feel a bit better too. Give it a try.

      And last but not least, I'd love that yarn!

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    7. I'd love to be entered for the sewing patterns. Thank you.

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    8. Oooh, throw me in the ring for the yarn. It looks so soft & snuggly & I think it would complement my new coat :)

      My blues-busting tip is going to make everyone groan, but it's really the absolute best thing you can do for yourself - exercise! I know, I know... I hate exercising (unless it's on my bicycle), but winter is really when you need it most. It gives me more energy throughout the day, elevates my mood like WHOA, and I sleep like a freakin' rock at night. I only exercise for 20 minutes or so, and half the time it's something low-key like pilates. But it works! It really does make me feel a zillion times better.

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    9. I'd enjoy trying my hand at the sewing patterns, thank you.
      I have a tip, as well. I bundle up two nights a week, get some podcasts going and take a l-o-n-g walk. Like an hour and a half long. By the time I get home again, nothing seems so big or baffling anymore.

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    10. following..i love the knitting giveaway..i felt a little blue this week..having finally thrown away my christmas tree..when im feeling low i just dance to my favorite song :) seems to work everytime! ..raineoc@yahoo.com

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    11. I love them both, but I think I love the McCalls one a little more.
      My blues busting tip (besides sewing?), EXERCISE! I'm doing P90X2 with my husband right now, and it's just the thing that's keeping me going!

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    12. Oo lovely giveaway! Thanks for the prospect of cheering us all up! I'm unable to choose so please could you enter me for both too as well Marie?
      My blues busting tip? Well, find someone with a January birthday and put loads of thought into how you can make them feel special when everyone around is moaning and has no money ! Kind of helps keep the fun going. ( and no it's not my birthday, but my partner's :-) )
      Another great trick is to go away, weekends, or whole weeks, in January. Something to look forward to and the envy of work colleagues!!

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    13. Ooh lovely, thanks Marie, I'd love to enter for the sewing patterns please. Go for lunch with a girl friend - that's what I did today and it definitely lifted my January blurgh mood! x

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    14. Oh! I would love to be entered for the sewing patterns! I'm just a recent follower, but I hope I can be included... Thanks!

      ammullins AT hotmail DOT com

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    15. What a lovely giveaway, and a great blues-busting idea! :-) I'd love to be in the draw for those sewing patterns, thanks!

      Hard though it is, I find the best way to beat blues is to go for a walk or do some sort of exercise. Have to force myself to do it when feeling in the blues, but that rush of endorphins makes such a huge change to attitude, and also kick-starts motivation for doing other things (like sewing!) too. All good. :-)

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    16. Thanks for the giveaway, Marie! I'd love those sewing patterns :)
      My suggestion is banal but it works every time for me: take a walk! The fresh air and the distraction clear my mind and if I'm lucky, I also find a source of inspiration that motivates me to make something with my hands. Also, walking burns calories :D

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    17. Can you please include me in your sewing giveaway? I think the things that work for me are chocolate (short term) and exercise (works longer term, and I don't WANT to do it but love the endorphins afterwards). Hope you are feeling more cheery soon!

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    18. Please can I enter the knitting giveaway?

      mzbhaving at hotmail dot com

      Thank you!

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    19. Would be greedy to be asked to entered both?..sewing ... Then it's chosen

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    20. How generous of you. I'd love to enter the knitting one please!!

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    21. IHi Marie, Awesome giveaway! I would love to enter for the sewing patterns. My beating blues tip is gardening. When I'm feeling stressed out a few hours pottering in my garden is the best medicine. Sam xox

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