The wonderful thing about blogging (specifically) and the internet (in general) is the ability to connect and share across the miles. For example, my mother lurks my blog regularly. We rarely talk about the knitting in my life. When she does mention a topic I’ve recently posted, it can take me by surprise. I forget that she reads it, yet I always proof my posts before publishing because she would never let me hear the end of a misspelled word or incorrect grammar.
I’ve also come to enjoy the support that comes from comments and emails generated by blogging. While the mentoring to publish my patterns came from a local source, the fortitude to pursue it came from all of you telling me to hang in there and go for it. People I have never met, believing in me and my dream. It is enough to make me a little teary. I’d go for full on teary but I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to adequately explain it to my husband. Then I’d spend the next half hour trying to convince him that he can’t fix it or make me stop.
Because of your support, I am able to let you know that my shawl is now available for sale here, here, and here (next week), as well as soon to be announced others*. I cannot believe how much effort goes into bringing design notes into a pattern that anyone can use. But it was worth every wrong turn, every dropped stitch, and every typo I had to find and correct.
I can’t wait to see what you do with it. Ailsa is already thinking it should be knit in fine lace weight. It has also been suggested by some that adding beads would be a nice touch. I whole heartedly agree. I am betting that you are going to make something wonderful with it.
*FAQ’s: Why not offer it as a download? The pattern doesn’t fit on 8.5 x 11 paper, atleast not without requiring several rolls of tape to piece the charts together. While that might make the invisible tape manufacturers really happy, I’ve never met a knitter that would agree.
Why not sell it direct? Believe me, I have paced back and forth thinking this over so much that husband now has easy access to the crawl space below our house. At the end of it, two reasons prevailed. First, and most logical, competing with your customers isn’t good business practice. Second, and most personal, this shawl wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for my LYS. The internet provides wonderful access to those without a LYS, but it doesn’t replace them. To have a place to look, learn, and laugh is a good thing.
15 responses so far ↓
Ailsa // Oct 15, 2007 at 2:32 am
Jae,
May I be the first to congratulate you on your amazing effort in getting the peacock to fly.
I love it, I loved knitting it, and I love looking at them online. I hope these two have plenty of company over the next few months.
And I agree, beads would look fabulous, I still think the painting of the finished piece (like Margaret Stove) would be wonderful, cobweb weight would be incredibly fine and wonderful also.
I too can’t wait to see what people do with it.
Congratulations again!
Ailsa
Redford Phyl // Oct 15, 2007 at 7:29 am
So happy that The Loopy Ewe will be carrying the pattern. A bunch of us plan on stalking the store, waiting for it to go up. Everyone who sees it goes wild.
Lorraine // Oct 15, 2007 at 9:08 am
Jae- Having seen it in person, and having met you- I only hope I can do it justice.
Can’t wait to see what you come up with next- and I truly wish you every success.
Leigh // Oct 15, 2007 at 9:48 am
Well done! May it be wildly popular. It deserves to be.
Marie // Oct 15, 2007 at 10:37 am
Congrats on this big accomplishment! Next time I’m in MI I’ll have to swing by one of those stores. And thank YOU for the support you’ve been leaving on my blog lately! The internets are a great thing, aren’t they? :)
Kim D. // Oct 15, 2007 at 11:54 am
Congratulations! I’m sure you will do a wonderful job with your new business venture.
So, what’s next on your designing mind? what will we see next from you?
Your Manager // Oct 15, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Sigh. You did it. And see. Support. Mwah.
Laura // Oct 15, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Good luck with your pattern! It’s gorgeous. I’m sure you’ll sell tons of them. :-)
Larjmarj // Oct 15, 2007 at 6:48 pm
YEAH!!!!
Fantastic news, it IS a gorgeous pattern and I’m sure you’ll do fantastic with it!
Marji // Oct 16, 2007 at 3:33 pm
clapping from the sidelines.
marti // Oct 16, 2007 at 5:47 pm
I proof my posts because my mom pesters the heck out of me if I goof on my spelling! Congrats on the publication, I definitely will be getting the pattern!
2paw // Oct 17, 2007 at 12:57 am
Congratulations!! How wonderful!! I can see it has wings already!!
Erika // Oct 17, 2007 at 1:01 pm
Congratulations! I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy. :D
Dyann // Oct 17, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Congratulations!!!!!!!! I can hardly wait to get a copy. Way to go!
Patty // Nov 6, 2007 at 6:28 pm
Oh Jae, that shawl is absolutely gorgeous. Congratulations!!
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