Power Meeting

Back when I worked for "The Man", meetings were a big, fat, hairy part of every day.  My performance was actually graded on how many meetings I attended.  There were meetings to follow up on prior meetings, meetings based on what day of the week it was, and meetings for the alleged planning of future meetings.  And they never let me knit in any of them.  No wonder I always wanted to chew through my own arm to get away.

Meetings in my Brave New Yarn-Fueled World work a lot differently.  Today I visited the geniuses at Abstract Fiber to discuss the kit for our Flight Path KAL.  We started, in an extremely civilized fashion, with a home-cooked breakfast:

Fiberista Karen starts the day properly.  Note daily fiber intake in foreground.

After discussing the hard frost outside, the antics of our various dogs (3 of whom attended the meeting, and were hoping for breakfast leftovers), and the future yarn club Abstract has planned, we adjourned to the Secret Laboratory:
 

One of the dye stations in the secret Abstract Fiber colormaking lair

I chose a really gorgeous yarn base for the Mystery KAL sample project.  It's 100% BFL with gobs of "sproing" and super softness.  Behold its pearly surface sheen; and that's before it's even got color!

This is where all the magic happens, Gentle Readers: Creative creatures inspiring one another to make beautiful things for knitting.  Oh, and here's what I love most:  I didn't tell anybody making the yarn for the KAL what the project or the design is!  They are almost as much in the dark of my web of Mystery as you are!  Bwaahh ha ha hahaaaaa!  That's right: I challenged the geniuses of color to make me a combo of surpassing perfection and beauty, without any idea what it's for...I'm Eeee-vil, I tell you, Pure Evil.

Some of the pretty wares in the secret Abstract Fiber laboratory

I'm not one bit worried, either.  You can't swing a knitting needle in that place without hitting some extrordinarily beautiful pile of floof or string.  I promise, Friends, you will LOVE what they make for us.
 

Actual Yarn Label

Here's a clue, for the sleuth-y among you.  And no, it's not the color in this skein.  This is the yarn that will be in our kit.  The yarn I'm making the sample from will be freshly prepared next week.  As soon as it's dry, I'll knit the prototype, thus finding out exactly what yardage is required.  Once that is known, I'll be able to tell you the price of each kit, and when they will be available.  Until then, dear friends, stay patient.  And be glad those cats at Abstract Fiber were willing to take a meeting.
 

Knit-along, Little Dogies!

After the holidays (around the time we all are good and tired of winter), you and I, Gentle Readers, are gonna have a little Hoot.  It's the First-Ever Mary Scott Huff Mystery Knit-Along!  There will be clues, surprises, a race to the finish line, and fabulous prizes.  Click the picture below for more details (or the "Flight Pattern" button on the left sidebar):

I'll be sending out clues at the rate of one per week, beginning on January 30th.

Some knitters in Lakewood, WA, and in Gresham, OR have already planned to join in.  Will you come along too?  Are you brave enough to take my hand as I lead you on a Mysterious Knitting Adventure?  Come, on - you know you want to...All the cool kids are doing it.  And let's face it, If I keep talking about it here on the blog for the whole 30 days, you are going to feel good and sorry for yourself for missing out.  Why not ask Santa for $4.00 in your stocking so you can come and play with us!

And if those aren't good enough reasons, how about this?  When you sign up, the Knit-along version of the pattern is only $4.00.  I'll be offering the design as a complete pattern for sale after the KAL ends, but at a full price of $6.00.  Even if you aren't sure whether you'll actually participate , you'll still be getting a bargain on the pattern!

The first big surprise is here right now: Those clever colormakers at Abstract Fiber will be offering kits to match the sample.  If you really trust me (and it won't be hard when you see the yarn!) you can just grab the kit, cross your fingers, and come along with me for the ride...

Sign up today for all the preliminary information.  I'll let you know as soon as the kits are available.  Big. Big. Fun.

 

I Made the English Teacher Choose

Okay, I'll admit it:  I'm totally overwhelmed.  Your contest entries were touching, profound, hilarious and heartbreaking.  They knocked my (handknit) socks off.  I laughed, I cried, I marveled at your genius.  I am totally unqualified to pick a winner from the 85 perfect slices of knitting pie that you posted. 

And thank goodness, I don't have to.

See, at my house, when there is a job that I just CAN'T do (pickle jar opening, toxic chemical management, disposal of anything the cat has dismembered) I call in the benchwarmer:  Rough, Tough, Mr. Huff.  And this time, he's actually more qualified for the job than I, having been licensed by the state we live in to teach writing to people.  Well, to teenagers, who I'm told are similar to people.  So without further ado, I'm handing the mike over to Phillip, the blog's reluctant hero:

"Hello...is this thing on? Testing one, two, three."

Let me first thank you all for your submissions. They truly are a joy to read, and provide a welcome respite from 180 "The Lottery" essays I've been reading (If I cause any Middle/High School flashbacks by mentioning Shirley Jackson's creepy "The Lottery", well, it's just one more service this English teacher provides).

My main criteria for determining the winner was a vivid story.  As you all now know, compressing the beginning, middle and end into six words is no mean feat, and everybody did a fantastic job.  I worked my way down to ten, and then re-read.  Drank whiskey.  Re-read some more.  Then I made my choice.

If it were up to me, I'd give all of you prizes, but The Mrs. says there is only one prize to award, no matter how many times I ask her (See how I put it all back on her?  It's a skill).

This memoir tells the most vivid story:  "Pattern chewed to poop. Dog lived." By Chris.

The image of that bad dog and his plight really resonated with me, which may or may not have been influenced by a certain husband who accidentally threw out some wool fleece a little while back.

I really enjoyed this opportunity to share all of your knitting memoirs.  And in the spirit of the contest, here's mine:

Six words speak volumes.  Thank you.

From Mary:  Congratulations to Chris, and to all of you who took the time to distill and share your pivotal experiences.  Gentle Readers, as ever, I am humble in your company.