KNITSTER

In my constant endeavors to learn more and appreciate knitting, I was online last night, and decided to look up information about one of the authors of this book, which I recently purchased on Amazon at a super-bargain price.  

Knit 2 Together, by Tracey Ullman and Mel Clark is full of a lot of great patterns that someone like me would love. Something somewhat traditional but with enough funky twists, but nothing too funky either. I mentioned in another post that I had started on the Doctor Bag in the book, which I think once it’s finished, is going to be a really cool bag for me.

Anyway, when I looked up more information about the store that Mel Clark, the designer and co-writer of the book, owned, I saw that she had sold it back in February so that she could return to her native New Zealand. (Man, if I had the opportunity to buy a knitting business like that, I would’ve jumped at it! But alas, she was in CA at the time, and me in NJ. Oh well.) Anyway, there was a link to her in NZ, where it mentioned that she is working on another book, and is going to have a new website called South Seas Knitting , and if you wanted to sign up for her email list, to click in the site, and you could sign up. Well, of course I’d want to sign up for that, and so I did. Little did I know that the email would go directly to Mel herself! So imagine my surprise when I got an email back shortly afterwards that said,
Thanks for contacting me. I will add you to my list. I looked at your knitster site (cute name and fun blog) and saw that you’re knitting a Doctor’s Bag. Have you figured out the herringbone pattern? Mel

OHMYGOSH! I was in heaven! Here was an ACTUAL KNITTING DESIGNER checking out our site, and asking about my progress on HER pattern! Well, I’m thinking that she’s kind enough to ask, and since I wasn’t sure that I was understanding that herringbone stitch correctly, I might as well ask her directly how to do it, as I wasn’t sure if my interpretation was correct.

Now, this happened at midnight last night, so I went to bed, knowing she was on the other side of the world, and could’ve been just asking to be polite and all. So imagine my excitement when I woke up and found another note in my email inbox with her response! Turns out I was interpreting the stitch directions correctly, but she was nice enough to explain what it should look like, as well as give more detailed directions on how to do this one part I was confused about.  She also suggested and sent a photo of pockets for the bag, since I explained that it’s going to be my all-purpose bag when it’s done.  How sweet of her!

So as a result, I encourage you to go sign up for South Seas Knitting, so you can get on the list for new and exciting stuff from Mel Clark, who is evidentally a really cool and very nice person, on top of being a top notch designer! If you are reading this, Mel, thanks and you are the best, and now an honorary Knitster!

Posted on July 16th, 2007 by Dani
Filed under: Community, General, Patterns, Projects, Shopping