29 August 2013

the cat's out of the bag ~ posted by Melissa

 
 
 
The book may or may not ever get published (I'm still rooting for you, Rachel!) but my design was very kindly returned to me last night, along with some gentle encouragement in hopes that I would publish it myself.
 
I'm still not sure what I'm going to do with it at the moment.
 
Other than finally share it with you all! 
 

 
 
 
Just a teaser til I figure out exactly what to do.
 
It's exciting and daunting all at once.  I'm not sure I have it in me to be a designer so this may be the first as well as the last thing I ever create.  It's hard to put yourself out there (Will ~ now I know exactly what you were talking about with BRRH!!).  Is it worthy??
 
I have dozens of pictures of the ten samples that I knit and gave away as Christmas gifts last year, but for now, these are the only two I'm going to share.  (If you're wondering, this place is my destination on those daily walks, and I felt like Jared Flood the day I took the photos.  The weather was not the best, it was December and I thought the beach would be deserted but I was wrong.  I had so many people stop and ask me what I was up to...and where they could buy my knitting...I was embarrased and proud all mixed in together!)
 
So, what do you think?  I'm relying on some honesty from my favorite knitting peeps about whether to put it up on Ravelry or tuck it away and stay in the warm safety of total anonymity (which is completely my comfort zone!).  Should the cat stay out or shall I stuff the poor thing back in the bag and just let it be?
 
That's it for now ~ got some thinking to do...
ponder ponder ponder :)
~Melissa
 
edited to add: while I was writing this, it was raining so hard you couldn't see outside...and just when I posted, the house across the street's drain pipe to our shared creek plugged up, the creek overran and we had about 8" deep and at least 20 feet wide of incredibly fast river run across the road right into our driveway.  Our garage and shed and backyard...completely flooded.  Oy.  Life has it's ups and downs, doesn't it.  Glass half full, glass half full, Melissa ~ ok, the boat just barely didn't get knocked off it's stand & I was able to prop it back up til Jason gets home from the Seahawks game, Dozer didn't get swept away, I met our next door neighbor (finally) after 14 years (and she's nice) and I only got completely drenched from head to toe one time by a car that didn't bother to slow down thru the rapids that I was trying to take pics of for insurance (the man was nice enough to show me one of his fingers when I soaking wet hollered for him to slow down!!) :)


55 comments:

  1. Go for it - put it up on Ravelry - put your big toe into the fun world of designing - it looks gorgeous, the photos are gorgeous - write a great pattern and put it up and GO FOR IT - Paula in Canada - www.KelmscottDesigns.com

    ReplyDelete
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    1. well, howdy Paula in Canada! thanks for the input ~ I loved the planning and the process, and the pattern is written...it's the next step that is a bit of a struggle for me to decide on (all I have to do is upload it and that completely freaks me out!)

      I appreciate your comment, though...thank you very much!

      and now I'm off to ogle your website while I wait for the city to come and look at the flood's aftermath...I'm thinking they're not going to show

      Delete
  2. Step out of your comfort zone, post it on Ravelry and let us knit your beautiful design. You ARE a designer, the wrap looks just amazing and I know I, along with many others, would take great joy in knitting your pattern.

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    1. oh, Tracey ~ you're commment means so much

      our tastes are so similar so I'm really happy that you like it :)

      thank you, my friend!

      Delete
  3. When it rains it pours! Put it up on Raverly. It looks beautiful. I have written patterns, but I haven't published them because I'm not ready to deal with any follow up questions. But at some point I'll need to start selling patterns to keep my fiber habit funded!

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    1. that's the part I'm spooked about too, Andee ~ pattern support and not having time for it and upsetting people if there's a mistake, blah blah blah...I'm sure you know what I mean ~ I see the positive and the negative all the time on Rav and I think there's always negative no matter how hard you try to do your best and I don't know that I would take that side too well since I'm already too hard on myself as it is alot of the time

      I'm afraid what comes next might be that part I don't enjoy but I guess you never know til you give it a go?

      Delete
    2. I'll knit it and test it out. I am sure it is perfect (seriously you made 10 samples). I'll be your body guard incase you have any haters. I'll put them in their place :) You have my support so get it posted!

      Delete
    3. it's been test knit 3 times already (aside from all the ones I made!)and tech edited by the editor of the TKGA magazine 'Cast On' (if I remember that exactly right?) ~ it really has been completely through the entire process other than releasing it

      I could sure use a bodyguard, though ~ awesome!!!! haters can hate but you've got my back

      I'm a lucky girl :)

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  4. oh my gosh melissa how awesome! yes times one hundred! you should put it out there. go to raverly now don't think about it anymore. i'm sure everyone will love it, i definetly do!

    congratulations honey, on beautiful pattern writing and always your knitting!!
    (and i hope that book does happen!)

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    1. okay ~ with you all in my corner, who cares what the rest of the world thinks (hehe!!) ~ gosh, goosebumps come with every comment!

      you are sooo kind, Lori ~ I hope the book does happen also (it comes from deep in the gals heart that put it together and she's still working on getting it out there ~ it means alot to her)

      and thanks for such a nice (nice!!) review of my creativity :))) ~ that part was a joy! I'm a behind the scenes person ~ I love to do the work but would rather stay in the wings when the work is done...how do you do that as a designer...hmmm?

      Delete
  5. It is a superior design, Melissa. You are more than capable to create other things. Would it suck the life out of you, and spoil the fun of knitting?

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    1. when you put it that way, Penny, my concerns seem silly

      no, ma'am, it would not suck the life out of me :)

      and thank you very much for test knitting for me ~ you're awesome!

      Delete
  6. What's the worst that could happen? I say JUMP, girl!! I know you can do it. blessings ~ tanna

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    1. one more vote of confidence...thanks so much, Tanna!!

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  7. I looks like a beautiful design. And I love wraps so I could always use another pattern to knit. Jump! What is the worst that could happen?

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  8. Your shawl is fabulous and I for one would love to see it out there to duplicate for myself! I so wish I had the talent and knowledge to design as you do! Cheers! Dawn

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    1. thanks, Dawn! I guess it would be really cool to have people snugged up in something that I designed ~ warm fuzzies :)

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  9. This post is so timely! I was just thinking that I should email you and ask for the pattern, because I've loved the design since I first saw it. Also, I want to make something for my little neighbor lady for Christmas, and this would be perfect!

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    1. it's yours for the asking, even if it doesn't get out there, Kelly!
      you may find it a little dull ~ it's a beginners lace pattern so it might not be challenging enough for you??

      Delete
    2. I think it might be just perfect, especially after Sempervivum. I like a nice soothing knit after a technically difficult one!

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    3. oh, it's technically simple, I can assure you (especially after Semper!)

      Delete
    4. I got a little bogged down on Semper after all that ripping, but I'm back to the point I was at before I found my mistake. I thought it would take a week, but it ended up taking two. Now things are starting to move!!! So excited!

      Delete
    5. if I remember correctly what part you had to rip, the rest is a breeze and you'll be done in no time...don't put it down!!!

      Delete
    6. Yahoo! My wrists are telling me that I'm done for the day, but it's back to being my priority project ;)

      Delete
  10. It would make a fun personal knit a long~ ?

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    1. personnally, after knitting 10 I didn't think I'd ever knit another, but a year later...I do need to make one for myself still so I'm tempted :)

      Delete
  11. It was an honor. I am looking forward to showing it off on RAV.

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    1. I'm so tickled that mine was the first lace you ever attempted and that it turned out so well ~ you did an awesome job, Penny!!! I can't wait for you to share it! you should be really proud of it :)

      Delete
  12. Put it on Raverly for the rest to enjoy. Hope everything is drying out ok.. We would
    have come out to help you if you had given us a call. Anytime.

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    1. things are starting to dry out ~ I think we're done cleaning up for the day ~ we made a pretty good dent but there's still quite a bit left to take care of this weekend (we were on Channel 7 news last night ~ the neighbor videotaped our house and driveway and the river that was running thru it and they did a story on it last night...she told me this morning so I didn't see it but our house and my feet (the only part of me that was in the video) are famous!)

      tell Sam thanks for all the offers of help ~ Jas got 3 hours of sleep last night and took 1/2 the day off work today to start the clean up and now he's napping :) ~ he's exhausted!

      Delete
  13. Leap large, Melissa. It's a beautiful design and worthy of a world viewing.

    Well done!

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    1. eeek ~ world viewing ~ there's that daunting feeling again :)

      thanks so much for the nice comment, Dixie!!

      Delete
  14. I love your design, Melissa!! Go for it! I understand your concerns, but I think the joy you will get back by sharing will overshadow any annoying aspects. Can't wait to knit your design!!

    Hope you are dried out by now, and your clean up is not too daunting. What a summer of freaky weather!!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. we're about a 1/3 of the way cleaned up ~ this was just a little flood compared to what other parts of the country experience so I'm feeling much better about it today

      we just have a huge mess to deal with but so far no property damage that can't be fixed with just a little cosmetic repair

      I'm working on the pattern right now ~ it may be up by the end of the day :)))
      I'm feeling more excited than nervous now after everyone's encouragement ~ you guys rock!!!

      Delete
  15. Woot Woot! Not for the flood, but for the shawl! I love that your shawl seems like a nice little knit - not as daunting as some of the larger wraps out there, and different than the ones that keep turning up on Ravelry. KAL! KAL!

    I'm just sayin. We could be your first problem children, so to speak!

    I love that you have such friendly people in your neighborhood, waving hello and showing off their digits. Sounds idyllic!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. my neighborhood is awesome ~ it's the people that sometimes drive through it that aren't quite so nice :)

      I ordered yarn yesterday for my own shawl so maybe a kal would be fun? we'll see!

      thanks again (and again and again!) for all your help, Will!!

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  16. You go girl! If I can do a test knit without being puzzled or stumped. That's a good sign. It's clearly written, it's beautiful and it would be a great kal. You could get yours knitted too! I say goooo for it.

    I can say it rained soooo hard at our house we usually have the creek running through our yard. This year it didn't. Sorry for your mess!

    Annette

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    1. your shawl turned out great, Annette (I'm glad you'll finally be able to show it off!) ~ Jeff and Will are fancifying the pattern for me right now so it won't be too much longer :)

      as for the flood ~ the garage is mostly dried out from all the water (Jas took 1/2 the day off yesterday to work on it), I've got the driveway about a third cleaned up ~ the biggest mess is the mud (!) that's in the attached shed behind the garage (this weekend's project) ~ I guess my neighbor called KIRO7 news Thurs and sent them the video she took of our house and driveway and the rapids and they broadcast it Thurs night (I didn't see it but once they archive it I'll be able to look and maybe give the link ~ it was worse than I described!!!)

      Delete
  17. I say please, please publish it!! I would love to knit it up. In fact I have some Ultra Alpaca just waiting for it. Good luck!!

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    1. I made quite a few with the Ultra Alpaca and one of the testers did also ~ it's so velvety soft and blocked out really pretty

      I'm glad you love the wrap and the pattern should be up soon (for free!!)
      thanks for taking the time to comment ~ I really appreciate it :)

      Delete
  18. Publish on Ravelry and get income from it there! I love a new shawl pattern. I collect em. LOL.

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    1. do you just collect the patterns or do you knit them occasionally? :))

      thanks, Penny, for your comment ~ I am in the process of getting it ready to publish but I won't charge for it...I guess think of it as my way of giving back to Ravelry for all I've gotten out of it myself!!

      Delete
    2. Collect a lot, knit a few. What a wonderful gift to Ravelers! You are so generous.

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    3. I'm glad to hear you knit a few, Penny ~ hehe!

      as for the pattern, turns out I may charge for it (sorry!) after some urging from a few friends but it won't be much and I'm going to donate the money...when it gets released there will be a blurb about where the money will go

      I hope you still knit it, though :)

      Delete
  19. I'm late (as usual!) but am joining the chorus...you should publish :) Wait...just read comments...yay! so glad you are going to publish :)

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  20. Yes yes yes!! Publish it! I was also coming in here to chant"KAL" but now I am just adding to the crowd. :)

    And, you have designed a pattern...whether it's published or not that makes you a designer.

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    1. would you do a kal with us?! that would rock, Melissa :)

      so happy to get this comment ~ thank you!!

      Delete
  21. Lark says yes, publish please! I would buy it. Would love to connect sometime as I am new to Seattle area.

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    1. well, ok! it will be out soon, Lark :)

      you will love the Seattle area ~ it's a great place to be if you're a knitter (we're very lucky!!) ~ put Churchmouse Yarns & Teas at the top of your must visit shop if you haven't already (I promise you will love them!)

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  22. publish on ravelry! I've been away this weekend and that is why it took so long for me to be your cheerleader :)

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    1. turns out I have a huge cheerleading squad, Karen ~ all the comments blow me away!

      it will be published! Jeff & Will volunteered to gussy up my boring format & as soon as they send it back my way, it will be done!

      hope you had a great holiday weekend, Karen ~ you've always been my cheerleader :)
      Mel

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  23. I would knit this - in Madelinetosh MCN Worsted yarn, likely the Fragrant colorway. It's very worthy.

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    1. now this makes me happy :)))

      my pattern is 'worthy' of madtosh...I think I may have teared up (hehe!) ~ I'm glad you like it!

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