The Prizes

• My Job is Book Embroidery by Emily

  

  Is your job book? If so, you may need this cross-stitched decorative display made by Emily, whose job is also book. Emily, who does digital marketing for Simon Teen, designed and created this Barbie-inspired embroidery during 9 hours of watching Taylor Swift watch Travis Kelce play football. It was made in a home with a cat who diligently watched its creation in the hopes of stealing some yarn. This piece comes in its wooden display ring and measures 5.5" in diameter. Vintage books not included but you probably have enough of those at home already. Spot clean only. 

• Typist Quilted Tote and Pouch set by Elana

   
  

  

  Two beautiful items for the price of one! This quilted tote bag and pouch set has a canvas exterior featuring a pattern of typewriters. The fully-lined cotton interior of the tote bag has three side pockets (perfect for sliding in your phone, reading glasses, crafting supplies, or any other small items). The pouch has a zippered closure with a matching enamel typewriter charm. It is recommended that you first spot clean these items, but they can be machine-washed in cold water and put in the dryer on low. You can even iron them when you’re done. Tote bag measures 20” wide at the top and 12” tall (great for knitting supplies!). The pouch measures roughly 8.5” x 5.5” x 2.5”. Elana Roth Parker is a literary agent who started quilting during the pandemic and never stopped. Her quilty website is lowercasequilts.com or you can watch her make stuff on IG (handle: elanaroth).

  
  

• Amigurumi Cthulhu by Holly

  

  Who wants to scream into the adorable abyss this holiday season? We do! This amigurumi Cthulhu was crocheted using cotton yarn and stuffed with polyester fiber. Hat is removable. The eyes are plastic and thus, this item should not be given to very small children until they can safely avert the choking hazard. This unspeakable deity will also be happy guarding your shelf of Lovecraft books or other horror reads. Holly West is a Senior Editor at Macmillan Children's and lives with multiple cats. Spot clean. 

• Cowl's Moving Castle by Maggie

  

  
  Cowls are the perfect wintertime accessory for warmth and style. This Shift cowl (pattern by DreaReneeKnits, which comes highly recommended for knitters) was made by Maggie Lehrman. Maggie is an editorial director of fiction at Abrams Books. The background yarn is Madeline Tosh Merino Light (100% wool) held with Shibui Knits Tweed Silk Cloud (65% silk and 35% mohair). The colorful bits are all Spincycle Yarns Dyed in the Wool (100% wool). It should be hand washed and laid flat to dry.

• Beret by Jodi

  

  This merino alpaca beret was made with handspun yarn by Jodi in a lovely gradient of blues, greens, and purples. Handwash with cold water and a gentle detergent; lay as flat as you can to dry. Jodi Meadows is a New York Times bestselling author. She recently published the conclusion to her Nightrender duology and is a co-author of the Lady Janies series. She lives with her husband and cats in Virginia. Jodi says hello to your pets.

Amigurumi Seal of Approval by Holly








This adorable amigurumi seal and their scarf were crocheted using cotton yarn and stuffed with polyester fiber. Scarf is removable. The eyes are plastic and thus, this item should not be given to very small children until they can safely avert the choking hazard. More likely, this adorable seal will be your new desk buddy, whatever the season may be. Holly West is a Senior Editor at Macmillan Children's and lives with multiple cats. Spot clean. 

Knit Baby Sweater by Chelsey





It seems that someone is always having a baby, so whether there’s a due date coming up, a new baby on your holiday shopping list, or you’re just incredibly well-prepared and stockpiling gifts, a handknit baby sweater is always sure to delight as a gift for expectant parents or those who have recently grown their family. This gender-neutral knit baby sweater was made with soft merino wool and plastic buttons by Chelsey Emmelhainz, now an agent with Copps Literary Services after a decade as an editor of upmarket fiction and nonfiction at NYC publishing houses big and small. Made in a home with cats. Handwash with cold water and gentle detergent, then lay flat to dry.

Drop Everything and Read Embroidery by Kat



This stunning work of embroidery was made by Kat Brzozowski, a Senior Editor at Macmillan, based on a pattern by Sarah K. Benning. It features a reader curled up in an armchair and surrounded by books and plants. #goals. This embroidery was made with 100% cotton thread and comes in its own wooden embroidery hoop as a frame (8.25" diameter), ready for hanging on your wall to inspire your own cozy reading space. You can order embroidery from Kat directly at TheStitchingHourEmbroidery on Instagram! 

“I Read Banned Books” Framed Cross-stitch by Faith





This “I Read Banned Books” cross-stitch was crafted by Faith Black Ross who is Senior Editor at Crooked Lane Books / Alcove Press, a freelance editor with 20 years of experience, and CEO of Faith Black Ross Editorial. She knits, cross-stitches, quilts, and sews in New Jersey, where she lives with her family and two dogs. This cross-stitch project will ship in this glass frame. Spot clean only. 

Knit Shawlette by Alana




This shawlette was made with Hedgehog Fibres merino wool, a hand-dyed yarn made in Cork, Ireland, in the colorway of “Deep End.” This was crafted by Alana—a longtime book marketer and head of content at BookHighlight in Brooklyn, NY—over many hours while watching Bad Sisters. This could be a great gift for your (good or bad) sister or any friend, draped stylishly over your shoulders or wound around your neck for warmth while plotting and speaking in an Irish accent. Made in a home with a cat. Hand wash with cold water and a gentle detergent; lay flat to dry. 

Windowpane Pullover by Cristin





Cristin thought she was creating a completely original design while crocheting this windowpane pullover. Cristin's mom, however, recognized it as something she had owned and worn in the 80s that must have really imprinted hard on wee Cristin for her to subconsciously recreate it 30 years later. Whatever, it still slaps. Cristin is a Book Buyer at the Strand in New York City, and made this using HiKoo CoBaSi DK yarn (cotton, bamboo, silk, elastic) in a home with a cat. Estimated to be a women’s size medium. Hand wash and lay flat to dry.





“Invisible String” Pillow by Alana



Trying to remind your favorite Swiftie that you've got an invisible string tying them to you? This pillow features a knit front woven with cotton strips on which are written the lyrics from Taylor Swift and Aaron Dessner’s “Invisible String” off the folklore album. The front of this pillow (which measures roughly 18”x12”) was knit using yarn that is a wool, silk, and nylon/polyamide blend and the fabric strips and backing are 100% cotton. The interior pillow is stuffed with polyester fiber. This was crafted by Alana, a longtime book marketer and head of content at BookHighlight in Brooklyn, NY. Made in a home with a cat. Spot clean. 




Elf Hat Set by Mamie





Good news! You don’t have to travel through the seven levels of the Candy Cane forest, pass the sea of twirly-swirly gumdrops, or walk through the Lincoln Tunnel to get this Elf Hat Set, made by Mamie VanLangen Sanders. Mamie has worked in publishing for her entire career and is a digital marketing freelancer working largely with authors. She started crocheting after being inspired while manning a booth at the Sheep & Wool Festival for work and then added knitting to her repertoire several years ago. She made this Grownup + Child elf hat set for KnitWits while expecting her first child with her husband in New Jersey. 

“Lover” Pillow by Alana






The perfect gift for your lover or the Taylor Swift lover in your life. This pillow features a knit front woven with cotton strips on which are written the lyrics from Taylor Swift’s “Lover” off the album of the same name. The front of this pillow (which measures roughly 18”x12”) was knit using yarn that is a wool, silk, and nylon/polyamide blend and the fabric strips and backing are 100% cotton. The interior pillow is stuffed with polyester fiber. This was crafted by Alana, a longtime book marketer and head of content at BookHighlight in Brooklyn, NY. Made in a home with a cat. Spot clean. 

Long Tall Sally Top by Cristin



This hand crocheted pink top was made by Cristin Stickles, a Book Buyer at the Strand in New York City. She used a cotton-based yarn and this article of clothing is estimated to fit women's sizes Medium- Large. Cristin has been 5'10 since she was in the 5th grade and has the torso of a Stretch Armstrong doll so she makes all of her tops, including this one, long; on a typically-constructed human being, the hem will hit below the hip. Hand wash and lay flat to dry.




Nalu Mitts by Jodi




These fingerless mitts were handspun and knit by Jodi in a lovely seawater green colored merino/alpaca wool. Hand wash with cold water and a gentle detergent; lay flat to dry. Jodi Meadows is a New York Times bestselling author. She recently published the conclusion to her Nightrender duology and is a co-author of the Lady Janies series. She lives with her husband and cats in Virginia. Jodi says hello to your pets.

Purple Haze Hat by Maggie




Maggie, an Editorial Director of Fiction at Abrams Books, made the 2 Glasses of Pink Zin hat by BabyCocktails using Julie Asselin Leizu DK yarn. The yarn is 90% Merino/10% silk and should be hand washed and laid flat to dry. It's on the small side - great for a kid!

Twisting Rib Hat by Jodi





This merino alpaca beanie-style hat was made by Jodi in a beautiful merlot colored yarn. Hand wash with cold water and a gentle detergent; lay flat to dry. Jodi Meadows is a New York Times bestselling author. She recently published the conclusion to her Nightrender duology and is a co-author of the Lady Janies series. She lives with her husband and cats in Virginia. Jodi says hello to your pets.




Hat & Mittens Set by Elisabeth




This gorgeous winter set was created by Elisabeth Jewell, who goes by @does.it.have.a.dragon on Instagram and is the Events Coordinator for Gibson's Bookstore in Concord, NH. We checked this set thoroughly and can confirm that it does NOT have a dragon in it, so you'll have to provide your own should you win this prize. 

Bubble Hat Set by Elisabeth




Elisabeth Jewell of Gibson’s Bookstore created this bubble hat set, perfect for matching with your better half or being honest with yourself about the likelihood of you losing one of them the first time you wear it. It happens to the best of us, and this way you'll be prepared. 




Unique Custom Pillow by Alana





A 18”x12” pillow similar to those pictured here will be custom made for you, featuring text of your choice written on cotton strips and woven through a knit front pillow. The interior pillow is stuffed with polyester fiber. After winning this raffle, you will be contacted by the maker (Alana, a longtime book marketer and head of content at BookHighlight in Brooklyn, NY) to decide on the text for your custom pillow. This text can be original or it can come from a book passage or song. To achieve a similar effect to the featured pillows, your text of choice should be around 250-300 words. Pillow sizing cannot be customized to fit shorter or longer text, so please try to find text approximately of this length. This pillow will be made in a home with a cat. It cannot be washed, but can be spot cleaned. 


PLEASE NOTE: This item will not ship in time for a Christmas 2023 delivery! This is a custom piece and so work on this pillow will begin after the raffle is finalized. The estimated ship date is January or February 2024. 




See all the prizes