OH I am too excited........................

Okay- I am really excited over this one. As some of you know, I have tried my hand at designing sweaters and such, and the last design (that I got paid for) was in the "No Sheep For You" book (by Amy Singer). I did a silk bathrobe in that one. I initially specified a silk and cotton blend, thinking that no one would even pay for a blend for a housecoat. But Amy was adamant that it had to be this absolutely decadent 100% shiny silk-and so, that was the end result. I loved it, but wondered who would ever make it. I got an email from Ann Budd (major player in Interweave) saying that she really liked it, and so I felt I had "arrived". Anyhow, today, I got my copy of Spring/Summer Vogue Knitting. In the Books section, right there on page 26, was a write up of the "No Sheep For You" book (and a very nice one, at that). I read along, happy that "the people in the know" liked the book. Then I got to the last couple of sentences-and there it was- in black and white........"You'll also be treated to a batch of modern designs for shimmering silks-you'll want to wear Deb White's silk bathrobe to the opera-...." The Vogue people mentioned me BY NAME! And they didn't talk about any other design! Oh my. I am so pleased.
By the way- I wore Big Blue today- got lots of compliments on it. I will try to get a picture-later.

Edited later..................
This is Big Blue laid out on the bed.

I also decided against buttons, so I used a lovely pewter and wood shawl pin (by Perl Grey) I got the pin at Grand River Yarns (see sidebar for link)


Gratuitous shot of Bear...."This is me, Bear, with all of my toys. I need someone to play with me. Anyone? Please? You can even pick first."

My next project(s)

Yup-projectSSSSSSSSSS. I can't seem to commit to one thing lately. I want to work on the sweater from the Knitty surprise. It is stunning. AND I have reworked the pattern to incorporate a light worsted weight gauge instead of the fingering weight (mind you, it would be tres stunning in a fingering weight). And I also have the Fleece Artist vest on the needles (see Dec. 28 post). The yarn is Scotia Silk (half silk, half merino) and is very yummy. The knitting part is side to side-you knit one row, slide the stitches back to your starting point on the circular (or swing needles, should you have sprung for them), pick up the second ball of yarn, knit for awhile with that, eventually turn the piece and knit with the first yarn again. Makes for a great way to cut up the variegation so as to avoid pooling and weird jags.

AAAAAAAnd- do you recall Big Blue? She's back out from the marination chamber. I was going to go with no sleeves and make it a vest. Then sleeves. Then no sleeves. Now we are back to sleeves. So I am knitting away on the final sleeve (one is attached, ready to go). By the way. I attached the sleeve into the armhole by picking up exactly the same number of stitches (as the top of sleeve) around the shoulder socket. Then I lined it all up and do a three needle bind off on the inside of the sleeve. Now, I suppose I could do the three needle bind off on the outside- and I would get a much different look-sort of a designer ridge. But when you do it on the inside, you get a tailored, nicely finished edge, and no puckering or silly pinning on the sleeve.

What to do first? Hmmmmmmmmm.

Edited later.........

What do you get when you take a major snowy day, such as this

and add a big goofy four footer?

You get THIS ! (Doesn't Bear have a great smile?)

Click for BIG