Having worked full-time for almost 6 years, it only just occurred to me this year that the UK does not really celebrate Labour Day on May 1st, and by "celebrate", I of course mean "the employers are kind enough to give us all an extra day off". As I admired all the out-off-office messages from my overseas colleagues, and hearing about the family get-together from my parents on everyone's day off in China, I decided that it was time to figure out, once and for all, why we didn't get a public holiday in the UK today. (In fairness, though, we do get a day off next Monday, as a "Spring Bank Holiday", but why don't we just join the rest of the world and celebrate all the hard-working people on 1st day of May instead?)
Naturally, Wikipedia is where I went. And this is what I learned:
Europe
The 1st of May is a social celebration for the rights of workers in Europe.
Except in UK, where only the Queen is celebrated.
Um... what?!?!
Never mind. In the spirit of Labour Day, and to cheer up all of us in the UK, I thought I'd host a little giveaway for my followers. So here it is:
... a great jacket pattern - Butterick 4610, so you can make up your version for spring!
It's brand new, factory folded, and in size AA(6-12). If you need any more convincing, then check out this wonderful version here.
Why am I giving such a great new pattern away, I hear you ask?
Well... let me just ask you this - have you ever liked the look of something so much that you accidentally bought it twice?
Yep, that was what happened. I kid you not. I was doing some "research" on jacket patterns about a year ago, and fell in love with this pattern, so I bought it from my local Fabricland. Then summer came, and I never got round to making the jacket. Autumn followed, and I started looking for a jacket pattern again, and was, once again, thrilled to find this little gem, having forgotten all about my previous transaction only a few months before, so bought it online. It was not until when I was trying to put my new purchase in my pattern drawer, and neatly in the jacket & coat pile, when I was very confused to find that I have got it already!!
Anyway - my daftness is your gain!
To enter, you need to be a follower of this blog, either on Google Friends Connect, Google Reader (if you have not done it already, you will need to switch to an alternative soon), on Bloglovin, or by email (or any other means, just say). Simply leave a comment (confirming how you follow Moonbeam) by midnight of Saturday 11th May 2013 (British Summer Time) and you will be entered into the "hat"! Winner will be picked at random.
Yes, it is that simple. I will happily post the pattern to anywhere in the world, to find the pattern a good home.
Best of luck! Happy commenting :)
Hello!
ReplyDeleteI was following from my blogger dashboard, but have now switched to bloglovin. I'm living in Canada but from England originally so if I'm lucky enough to win you can just mail it to my parents' house in England! Happy Labour day and thanks for the giveaway :)
Suzie
Thank you Suzie! Best of luck!
DeleteOooo lovely! I've been considering buying myself a lovely coloured jacket for spring ( maybe mint?) but I'd much prefer to make myself one!
ReplyDeleteI follow your blog on bloglovin'
Thanks!
Mint jacket sounds very spring-like indeed! what a great idea. Good luck :)
DeleteFunny enough I have this saved in my favourites, and thought once I have the experience this would be the jacket for me. Love the silhouette. Am a UK-er.
ReplyDeleteThank you for entering! It's a great pattern, isn't it? Although I am still yet to attempt either of my copies of the pattern!
DeleteWe do get a bank holiay on Monday though, and again at the end of the month. So it's not too upsetting that we don't celebrate Labour Day. 3 day weekend!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I was meaning to say that! Somehow after reading the wikepedia entry I forgot to actually mention the fact that our day off is slightly delayed!
DeletePlus, I thought Labour Day Giveaway rhymed nicely ;)
DeleteI just recently found your blog because of your covered-cord tutorial, which I am using in my own wedding dress. It was such a huge help! You are the first result on google for "make covered cord" and the only one on the page that is an actual tutorial for fabric cording. Now I'm hooked!
ReplyDeleteHi Sabrina, welcome to Moonbeam! Oh yes, the covered-cord business - it was such a headache until it worked so I wanted to share it with the world :)Really glad that you found it helpful. Best of luck with the wedding dress!
DeleteOur Labour day is the 2nd Monday in March every year in Melbourne.
ReplyDeleteI have been following your blog on Bloglovin, which is quite new to me. It would be exciting to receive this pattern from the other side of the world.
Ah don't you just miss the long labour day holiday that we got in China? It used to be 7 days including the weekends around the holiday (though I did not enjoy going to school for 8 days no stop! and a general lack of annual leave but still!).
DeleteThank you for following Moonbeam and good luck! x
Hi, Alice.. this pattern is so so so the one I needed.. anyway, probably I would not the winner,as I don`t think I ever got anything for free..it is so nice to see your blog, your project in this very beautiful summer day. I will for sure follow you all the time around here.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by! Good luck! You never know, this may just be your time...
DeleteThe workers Down Under in Brisbane went on a protest march just yesterday, as our Labour Day long weekend has been moved to October!!!! Apparently we have enough public holidays at the start of the year and not enough towards the end, so the Gov. saw fit to change the date.
ReplyDeleteGreat pattern, and would love to give it a go...J
Haha! How funny - it's not even that they're losing a day... it's merely being moved... Understandable though if you were expecting it, but suddenly can't get the day off for another few months.
DeleteGood luck!
Phew,I'm not too late to enter. I follow you on Bloglovin and have you linked from my blog roll too.
ReplyDeleteGood luck everyone.
Thank you and good luck!
Delete