A couple of days ago I saw Neil Gaiman at a local theatre. He read from The Graveyard Book and managed to be very entertaining while answering questions. Afterward we managed by sheer luck to find ourselves near the front of the very, very long signing queue.
He signed my copy of The Graveyard Book, but that’s not what you can see here. Look!
He signed the Coraline pattern, and he actually remembered linking to it ages ago and seemed very pleased with the copy I gave him. Why two copies though? Well one for me and one for you. It was too perfect an opportunity for a contest to pass up.
So if you would like to win a copy of Coraline signed by Neil Gaiman and (if you want!) me leave a comment on this post telling me which character you think I should design something inspired by or named after and why. Your suggestion can be from anything, it doesn’t have to be from something by Gaiman. You have until midnight GMT on November the 6th to enter, just over a week. I’ll draw a random winner and will happily mail it to wherever they are.
I will ask one thing though – I’d really like this to go to someone who will love it so if you could care less about having something signed by him and just want to win a pattern please wait. I promise there will be a contest that’s just about my stuff soon!
p.s. This may be a sign that I’m finally getting somewhere with the wholesale patterns thing, maybe.
Thank you for entering the contest is now closed.
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I love Neil Gaiman! I love knitting!
I’d like to see a pattern named after Valentine from Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game — Ender’s loving, subversive, genius sister.
wow, lucky you – that’s amazing!!
i’ve just finished reading “miss pettigrew lives for a day” by winifred watson, & it’s officially my new favourite book. i’d love to see a miss pettigrew-inspired design – maybe a beautiful lace shawl or wrap to wear with her borrowed finery, something vibrant & transformative, to finish off her new look & make her feel even more wonderful.
Neil Gaimen is if nothing else a yarn spinner. I feel that is why so many knitters, including me, devour his work. His stories unfold, unravel and we as readers can only follow the thread to it’s beautiful, amusing and sometimes heartbreaking end. Reading Gaimens work, to me, is always a journey and on that journey you meet new friends and make enemies. Always wanting more Gaimen, searching for it has lead me here. I would love nothing more than a physical representation on two of my passions coming together, a beautiful knitting pattern inspired and signed by my favorite writer.
Growing up as a reader and a knitter I was always fascinated by the Sheep Woman from Through the Looking Glass, by Lewis Carroll. She sits knitting and everytime Alice looks to her work she has gained another needle. Knitting, until they become inumerable. The tangle of yarn mesmerizes Alice, as it always did me.
Perhaps a utilitarian coat with pockets and compartments sutable for keeping your extra needles and notions. With a slide of hand you have an extra dpn or a stitch counter. Filling all those who look on with wonderment.
Definitely Lirael from the book of the same name and Abhorsen by Garth Nix. Or if you want to do something for a boy/man Arthur from the Nix “Keys to the Kingdom” series. Can you tell I’m a Garth Nix fan?
Neil Gaiman is an absolute genius. I devour every single book he writes.
As far as the characters goes, I was thinking the Little Red Riding Hood, but in the end I think it’s too cliche and obvious. So I had to come up with someone little more interesting so my suggestions is either Lyra from Pullman’s trilogy, Matilda from Roald Dahl’s Matilda (I always associate book nerds and knitters for some reason) or maybe Cecilia Tallis from Ian McEwan’s Atonement (I remembered Keira Knightley’s green dress from that movie and thought it might serve as an inspiration from something elegant in the knitting world).
If I had to choose one it would probably be Cecilia Tallis.
Definitely something for Meggie from Cornelia Funke’s Inkheart series! Just imagine a lovely cosy cardie for a girl who loves books!
But if we’re going with a Neil Gaiman character then some awesome mad stripey or modular colourful creation for Delirium from the Sandman graphic novels :)
I’d love to see something based on a femme fatale from any of Raymond Chandler’s stories — maybe a neat, tailored asymmetrical sweater? Princess Cimorene and the witch Morwen from the Dealing With Dragons series are pretty great. And the Young Lady in Grey from Wheels of Chance by H. G. Wells is a current favorite, an independent, Victorian idealist.
I know it was suggested by others as well but the first thing I thought of was the fallen star, Yvaine, in Stardust. Lace and romance and a true inner strength… I have always loved the melancholy image of her at the end of the book, after her mortal love is gone, climbing high to the top of the tower and gazing skyward where she will never dance again…
that is so great that you got him to sign your pattern! I haven’t read Coraline but will have to seek it out – I loved Neverwhere. I love the naming of patterns after fairy tale figures too – perhaps Rapunzel would be a good name for you to use – something with narrow cables suggesting flowing lines and drapey tresses…
I’m probably getting this in late, but I’d love to enter the contest! I love your Coraline pattern–I’ll have to read her namesake now. As for future patterns… I’d love to see something modeled (or just named) after Lady Una, in Stardust.
You are so lucky! I am filled with envy. I didn’t get to actually meet Neil when I went to the reading of The Graveyard Book in Chicago.
I was really trying to think of a character from a non-Neil Gaiman book, but I am rather obsessed with him as a writer. So, how about The Lady on the Grey from his latest endeavor?
I’m so very jealous that you had the opportunity to meet Neil Gaiman. He’s so fantastically creative, and has such an amazing talent to bring power to words. I humbly suggest you create a sweater after Anansi, the trickster spider god. He’s just way too cool. Something unexpected :)
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