Mood:  happy

I'm a beginner at submitting knitting designs, just starting to submit my designs last fall.  I was amazed when Knitscene contacted me and had lots of fun knitting the hat and sending it off to them. 

Prior to submitting the hat I had knit this version in a Cascade 220 I had handdyed with Sabrasett dye.   After blocking the yarn I thought the cable wasn't predominant enough, so when I submitted my swatch to Knitscene I decreased the number of purl background stitches. Meanwhile I started wearing this version, but almost immediately lost it.  Perhaps it will come up in some obscure sack of knitting or fiber sometime, but I think it is gone. 

While the submission was off, I knit two versions of the hat and had it tested by two friends Shirley and Irene with the idea I would still self-publish the pattern myself if it was not accepted.  For my first version, I handdyed a skein of 220 with left over black tea bags from morning brew. 

On my self-published patterns, I always include  versions in several different yarn weights. 

I went to Wild Purls and picked out a wool/bamboo blend Classic Elite Yarns Wool Bam Boo.  Then I knit up the next version.  I like both of the hats.  Then I heard from Lisa Shroyer, editor of Knitscene, and I was so excited.  She had Cascade yarns send me the yarn to knit up the version for Knitscene.  This is the only time in my life that I willingly knit 4 versions of the same thing.  What great fun I had. 

Today I received a copy of the actual magazine from Knitscene and the check.  It is official.  I showed it to my Dad and step-mom and my dh.  Earlier this week, I had shown the on-line pictures to my 23 year old son who was quite impressed if I say so myself.  My dh takes wonderful pictures for me, but there is nothing like professional photography and models.  Today I linked to the Knitscene on Ravelry.  All in all a great time.