Circus Tonic Handmade ~ Review and Giveaway...

**This Giveaway is not close. Thank you for all who entered! **

Happy Sunday!

I have been having a lot of reviews and giveaways over the past couple of posts , this one sort of ties up the enabling posts in a nice neat polka-dotted bow...I am talking about Circus Tonic Handmade! What an absolute thrill to be able to tell you about my love for this yarn as well as giveaway a skein to one seriously lucky person.

I first met Hannah the owner and creator of Circus Tonic Handmade when she sent me a Ravelry message. She is the kindest and it felt like an instant friendship. The message led to her offering to send me some of her yarn.

Why is it every time I look at the photo of these three beauties in my head I think, "Something beautiful this way comes?" True story.

Before getting to my thoughts of this yarn I thought it would make for a nice treat to hear a little about the dyer and artist by asking her a couple questions.

Tell me about yourself~

I live in Sydney, Australia with my three kids and husband. After growing up in the Middle East I returned to Australia, trained as a molecular geneticist and worked sequencing genomes for the past several years. I loved my job but after my third baby found juggling work and family life too much. I decided to take a break and with sudden clarity figured out how I could make a business out of my ever growing love, addiction and admiration for yarn and knitting. Science was all I’d ever known and I’m a relatively new knitter so was exploring the world of artisanal hand dyed yarns and the incredible resources that is Ravelry and Instagram! It has all fallen into place with so much inspiration everywhere as indeed you can run a small business from what used to be the man cave in your home, in a far away pocket of the world and still easily connect with an avid knitter and yarn hoarder in Upsalla!

How did you get into yarn dyeing~

I began experimenting with colour and dyeing, trying to source local yarn and materials and be as frugal as possible with water use. I felt under confident with my colour theory and so did what comes naturally to me…… Hit the books! National Geographic, big old Botany and Fauna textbooks, bird watching manuals. All the beautiful, colourful and inspiring materials I had unwittingly collected for so many years ( many scientists do this to counteract the sterility of the work week) came in handy! Who knew my collection of antique books on gemstones, insects, butterflies, birds and flowering plants would become my main focus for my business! I felt that if I liked what I saw in the natural Australian environment, then I would still like it as knitwear around my neck!

What inspires your colors~

So I mix dye to echo natural beautiful things. This collection is all based on Australian native birds. It started with Mallard, Fairy Tern, Grey Hawk, Adelie Penguin, Spangled Drongo and White Browed Woodswallow. The collection has grown to include vivid green parrots, cockatoos and galahs, the very well recognized blue and purple fairy wrens and the ever present magpie.

Artist like Hannah, just leave me awe-struck. Alright what do I think of this yarn? The words butter, smooth, soft and luxurious are just a few that popped into my head when I was caking the yarn. Yep, just winding the yarn. Then within a few stitches I knew this was going be a lovely knitting experience and wouldn't you know it, I was right.

Have you ever knit with Australian Merino? If you have then you know, there is a feel to it. It is springy with much stitch definition. I can see some cables seriously popping with this yarn. It should come as no surprise that the next item I cast on with this yummy yarn is going to be a pair of socks and I am seriously already excited. The thought of being able to knit once again with this yarn makes me pumped.

Pattern~ Melodia Yarn ~ Revelry Sock Fingering Weight in the colorway Musk Lorikeet.

Upon deciding on a pattern for this yarn, I figured that I would try and choose one that let the yarn speak and not to choose one where the beauty got lost in the pattern. Truly, I think no matter which pattern I would have picked, this yarn would have stood out. You would almost swear that there was silk in it because of the shiny beauty of the dyeing.

Revelry Sock Fingering 4-ply 80% Australian Superwash Merino 20% Nylon. 409 yards in the colorway Sabine's Gull.

When Hannah sent me these yarns it was with the intentions of trying it out and she so generously thought of you all by asking if it would be okay if she sent one for a giveaway. Despite it being absolutely painful to choose which one to giveaway, I made that tough choice. This beautiful skein which is more of a steel-grey in real life, is going to the winner.

To enter this giveaway please visit Circus Tonic Handmade's shop and tell me your favorite color in the comments below. When prompted you have the options to leave your email address (privately), but if you chose not to please let me know your Ravelry ID# so that I have a way to get in touch should you win. This giveaway is open worldwide and will close Saturday March 26th at midnight (PST). The winner we be announced via a blog post on Sunday March 27th.

Before leaving you I need to let you know who won the Knitlandia book giveaway- the winner was...

#24 Leanne

My favorite is Rhinebeck. It gets better every year. And for my DREAM knitting travels, a trip to Shetland and Scotland with knitting friends, good food, wooly sweaters, wine and laughter.

Leanne, I will be in touch with your shortly.

Have the best day today!

XO,

Andi

243 Comments

Hi. It's hard to pick just one favorite. The ones I liked best were Sarus Crane and Adelie Penguin.
Thanks for hosting.

Posted by: Chris Y | 03/06/2016 at 06:09 AM

Andi - thank you for sharing Hannah's shop. All color ways are beautiful. I am drawn to Galah. It reminds me of cherry blossoms.

Posted by: Leisa | 03/06/2016 at 06:12 AM

Such lovely yarn! Thank you for introducing me to this wonderful indie dyer! I love the Magpie colorway and many others!

Happy Knitting!

Posted by: Angela | 03/06/2016 at 06:12 AM

I love the Spangled Drongo color. But oh my, they're all gorgeous!
Junglewife on Ravelry

Posted by: Junglewife | 03/06/2016 at 06:14 AM

Such beautiful yarn!! It's hard to decide! But I think I would pick the March Sandpiper.
Stacy-Rav ID: yellowbirdknits

Posted by: Stacy bridgman | 03/06/2016 at 06:18 AM

Oh, these colors are amazing! I have four favorites but since I must choose one, I think the Yarn Magpie is the best of the best. It's so beautiful!

Posted by: Peggy | 03/06/2016 at 06:22 AM

This yarn looks beautiful. My favorite was Cape Barren Goose. I loved the combination. Thanks for the chance to win!

Posted by: leanne welch | 03/06/2016 at 06:27 AM

It is hard to pick but I think my favorite is the Frilled Monarch.

Posted by: emcknits | 03/06/2016 at 06:27 AM

I love the paradise parrot, there are certainly no parrots in my part of the world (canada) but I would love to visit Australia someday to see these birds in person!
RavID: allupinmyyarn

Posted by: Rose | 03/06/2016 at 06:30 AM

I love the Adelie penguin.

Posted by: Tanya Smith | 03/06/2016 at 06:42 AM

My favorite is Magpie!

Posted by: Cathy | 03/06/2016 at 06:42 AM

Hi Andi. As you know I'm in love with Musk Lorikeet! I love your shawl too. Great plan to let the beauty of the yarn itself be the star! Yes butter! That's it!
Thank you to you and Hannah for the chance to try this beautiful yarn! Love the names Hannah chooses as well. Adorable.
Jeannine

Posted by: Jeannine | 03/06/2016 at 06:47 AM