Remember way back in May when I went to TNNA? I know, it seems like forever ago … but it has been fresh in my mind. Immersing myself in the world of knitting and yarn was a fantastic if exhausting experience. My primary goal for the trip was simply networking. I figured that I had (and have) a whole industry to learn and my best bet was going to be doing more listening than talking and trying to learn as much as possible. All in all the trip was an overwhelming success for me.
But, I also had a secondary, you know – just in case it happens – goal. I wanted to investigate the idea of getting my patterns out there into local yarn stores in hard copy. Why you might ask? Well, believe it or not, there are knitters who are not on Ravelry. Heck, there are knitters who aren’t even on-line (much). And while I personally prefer the more direct contact I get with knitters that direct digital sales provides, I would like to reach those knitters that prefer to have a printed copy of the pattern in their hands.
I understand, I don’t like reading books on an e-device and I am sure it is a similar thing.
As is happens, the stars aligned, one thing led to another and I ended up talking with the amazingly talented Heather Zoppetti who is the one woman force of nature behind Stitch Sprouts. The impetus behind writing this post was a new blog post on the Stitch Sprouts blog announcing the New Designers. I am totally excited, and frankly slightly stunned to be included among all of the talented designers at Stitch Sprouts. Many of them I met and got to know at TNNA (hurrah for the break down team!) and I wish I could have them all living around me so that we could plot and scheme constantly. But alas, designing is a relatively solitary pursuit.
I now have my very own page on the Stitch Sprouts site – here is a screen grab for proof:
A snap shot of the website.
The upshot of all of this is that your local yarn store can now carry my patterns! All they have to do is go on the Stitch Sprouts site and sign up for the upcoming catalog. And really, I think it will be well worth it. There is such a great variety of patterns in both knit and crochet that, even if they don’t like my stuff, they are sure to find something that will be a hit in their store.
Along with the patterns, Heather also carries some absolutely lovely yarns and some really fun stitch markers. My favorite of the stitch markers are these:
The weigh pretty much nothing
Do you know what these are made out of? Paper! And where did the paper come from? Old Stitch Sprouts catalogs! Isn’t that brilliant? They take the old catalogs and instead of chucking them in a landfill they get torn into wee strips and turned into beads. Heather then turns the paper beads into snag-less stitch markers et voila! Upcycled. Totally one of those “why didn’t I think of that” moments when I found out.
Big news to round out the Summer, eh? If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask. And if you think that your LYS would like to carry my patterns, please pass the info along. Thanks!
Tumped Duck 