Intrigue! Espionage! Drama!

Last fall, I was blessed and lucky enough to be invited to design an exclusive pattern and class for the Madrona Winter Retreat.  It was one of those hurry-up-in-time-for-registration projects, so I had to bang out a representative sample for the design in time to post in the Madrona Catalog.  You might remember seeing it:

It's a sweet little mitten, with the promise of a matching beret (which I made later, when the time presented itself).  The mitten photo was posted on my blog, and in the Madrona catalog, with the hopes that potential students would say to themselves "Yes! I would like to make that little mitten, and the beret (which I cannot yet see!) to match!"

And all was well throughout the land.  I made the matching beret (twice, actually, if you want to know, because the first one just wasn't good enough).  Then last week, on the very day that I was going to photograph it for the Madrona catalog, guess what happened?

Sorting through the mail, I absent-mindedly flipped through the pages of a national yarn and knitting catalog I receive, and there it was:  A pattern for entrelac gauntlet mittens, with a matching beret!  Right there, in that catalog, whose circulation is about a billion knitters.  Would you believe it?  That Major Yarn Company and I had the exact same idea for a matching set of entrelac accessories!  Apparently on the exact same day!  That has to be the explanation, because I know that company well, and they have been very supportive of me and my work.  They are good people, some of whom even read my blog.  They would never, even by accident, filch a design from me, because that would be despicable.  Nope.  Coincidence, it is.

Well, what could I do?  It was obvious that I should go ahead and post my beret photos.  The Madrona catalog promised a beret.  I had created a beret.  And that had been my plan all along.

But I didn't.  I did something else instead.  Because I am an agile, creative, one-woman show, the Mary Scott Huff Hand Knitter machine kicked into overdrive and outsmarted the Big Fat Yarn Company.  I turned on a dime, and then changed gears, from Beret to Cloche:  

This looks great on everyone who tried it on at Knit Nite.  Four people asked me about it while I was out shopping.  You're gonna love it - I know, because I do.  The flower is actually a pin that you can wear on the hat, move to your coat lapel, or give to a friend.  Big Fun, Gentle Readers.

You can buy the kit for this (hat, mittens and pin set) two ways:

1.  Sign up for my class HERE and learn to make it (still some seats left)!
2.  Pick one up at the Abstract Fiber booth at the Madrona Retreat

Remember, it's an exclusive, so those are the only ways to get it for now.

I'm really happy I shifted gears.  I bet you will be, too.

Surprise Package

Yesterday's Post contained an unassuming brown paper envelope, addressed to me.  I tried to remember what I had ordered, and for whose Christmas delight, from New York, NY. 

Surprise!  The delight was my own:

One of my first projects for 2011 was this little cap:
 

How fitting that it's published in time to close this year, and greet the new one.  It uses one skein of the delightful Cascade 220 Sport.  It's the sort of hat that won't totally crush your coif, and the yarnovers provide just enough ventilation so you won't have to take it off to avoid overheating.

I hope I never get over the thrill of seeing something I made in print.  It really is surreal.  One minute it's just my knitting, there in my lap like always.  And the next, it's all sexy and posed like a fashion model in this glossy book.  Isn't yarn grand?

Take a minute to look at the knitting in your lap today (okay, first take a minute to PUT some knitting in your lap today - you deserve it).  Be grateful for all those minutes you had it in line at the post office, and it kept you from running mad.  Be happy for every single stitch in it, how ever many there may be: each one is another time you did something perfectly.  Squeeze its bouncy softness.  Pet its fluffy halo.  Appreciate each gorgeous decrease, or clever yarnover.  Every part of it brought you comfort to make, and satisfaction to hold.  What else in life besides our knitting gives so much, while taking so little from us?

Comfort and Joy, every day of the year.  Thanks for sharing it with me.
 

Coming Attractions

I'd like to extend my sincere thanks to all of you, Gentle Readers, for your patience with me this summer.  21 finished garments and 128 swatches later, you haven't seen anything I've knitted since last February, which has GOT to make for some dull blog reading.  For those who have stuck with me, please accept my humble gratitude. For those who drifted away, I'll never blame you.  If you were wondering when things might get more visual here at the blog, let me assure you:  It's coming.  Tell your friends. 

First, here are some sneak peeks.  Some you have seen before, and accepted my promises that there would one day be patterns available.  Others are making their public debut:

There are five designs in all; Three for adults, and two for children.  I'll be self-publishing them all, and offering them on line only.  And here is where your expertise is required, dear friends:  How would you like to see them offered?  As a collection, in an e-book?  Pattern of the Month club?  Mystery Knitalong?  Individual patterns?  As well-versed knitting consumers, you know best what pattern delivery systems are fun, economical, and inspirational.  I'm asking you to share with me what you have done before that you liked (or didn't).  How exclusive do you like your patterns to be?  Would you rather buy them in a group, at a discount, or pick and choose individual designs? Thank you in advance for your input - you never steer me wrong.