Black Dog

like one of those statues from my childhood…….the little guy standing with his arms WIDE apart…..THIS MUCH! Yes, that’s how much I love what I do. And then some.

Today (well, Thursday) was a l-o-n-g day. I got up without an alarm around 7:30 a.m., putzed around my room for about 30 minutes and came out to use the communal Mac around 8. Did some minor business stuff, a little Facebook (including chatting with Taiu Landra, of Koigu fame), and then got down to brass tacks on getting the newsletter finished so it would go out today (didn’t happen–it’s going out EARLY on Friday).

I had a 9:30 a.m. appointment with a sales rep (hard to believe that it’s still October and they’re out on the road, schlepping Spring/Summer 2010 merchandise, but that’s how this industry works). We had a good visit (she’s also a very good friend, and not just someone who sells me stuff) and Sabrina and I made some really good decisions for the upcoming season with respect to the companies represented today. This is my first real, full buying season without having Matt around as a sounding board (he was absent for several vendors last spring, as we had another one of our patented BIG ARGUMENTS in April, just before fall/winter buying season and he opted out of several meetings at that time). I feel good about what I’m doing, moving into 2010–both with me and with the shop. And that’s important, as attitude/perception is a BIG part of what comes through in how the shop is managed/run.

I did spend some time swatching on Tuesday evening, sitting in my room with candles burning and listening to some great music

That’s the full monty–the entire piece I knitted to not just test gauge but also to audition the two options for the contrasting color (the white tweed was immediately nixed by me–too stark). Let’s check out the two, separately

That’s the green/blue/purple as the main color, or what the vast majority of the garment will be knitted in. And in the middle, you’ll notice two rows of a more vibrant pinkie/fuchsia shade (it has black and teal color neps). That’s the solid fuchsia tweeded yarn used as it would be in the garment–just two rows for accent. And here’s the other option

the black tweeded yarn (with fuchsia and teal neps) as contrasting shade. So which would you go with?

I like the fuchsia option, but I’m afraid it’s too similar to the pink/plum tones already in the main colourway, so it doesn’t read as CONTRAST to me, but more matchy-matchy. The black, however, makes a pretty strong statement and definitely BREAKS the color. So black it is!

I did get to knit a little bit while looking over yarns and patterns and accessories and needles and more. I cast on and worked the first three inches of ribbing and a few rows of the stockinette (body) of the garment. I kept holding it up and feeling like it was HUGE-NORMOUS (I typically make nothing but shop models, and they’re usually 38″ to 42″ finished bust, and I’m making this to fit….ME; I’m no tiny person, mind you). So, I re-thought the garment and decided to drop down one size, to a 52″ finished chest (instead of the 56″). Even after intended weight loss, that should prove to be a comfy, albeit slightly oversized, garment that will be great to wear around. I really should knit more for myself, but the garments are always so HUGE and there’s always something needed at the shop, to help move more product.

I reknit the ribbing tonight, while watching Project Runway. Matt offered to make dinner for me, which ended up being a Thai dish with basil and lots of chilis. He apologized for it being too spicy, but I never noticed–it was quite tasty and I liked it a good bit. We sat and watched TV while eating, and afterwards there was basically no conversation and not much interacting. Granted, both of us were tired from our respective days (tho I’m not sure what he did all day, I know he painted a window for a friend of ours, and I’m sure he continued to work on his business plan to open a yarn shop). It might have been nice to visit and talk and interact a little, but it appears to have not been in the cards. But here’s the take-away from this paragraph—-I have a progress shot to share with you tomorrow (Friday), as there’s not just ribbing but a few rows of the body completed as well!

After a little bit of lunch this afternoon (yes, I’m jumping back in time), I had to hit it hard and get the newsletter finished. There were lots of other small distractions during the day (making stickers, visiting with custo-friends that came by today, running to the bank, and more), so it was slow going and didn’t get completed until late tonight; it will go out early on Friday morning.

Then there was dinner, Project Runway, and now here I am, upstairs MUCH TOO LATE, blogging. But here’s yet another reason why I love what I do so very much. I logged onto Facebook when I first sat down and I saw Trisha Malcolm was on line (she’s the editor of Vogue Knitting, a fellow scorpio, and just an all-around GREAT person who’s terribly witty, wonderfully understanding, and a great sounding board about things). Trisha and I had about a 30-minute chat conversation on everything from the Phillies to my life to the yarn business and more. I’m just flabbergasted that I have that kind of access to such amazing people (and it’s across the board in this industry–I have cell phone numbers for MANY owners of yarn distributorships/companies, consider many of the “movers and shakers” to be close friends, and get asked my opinion and more by wonderful and interesting people all the time). I lead a very charmed existence, and I’m thankful for it and am working harder and harder all the time to hold up my end of the equation–I’ve not been the best, most reliable business person in years past and I’m working HARD to rectify that now and into the future. And that, more than anything else, feels really really good!

Oh, and that holiday sock I showed you on Tuesday–in embryonic stage? It was completed yesterday evening, and it’s 90% dry from a good wet blocking to even everything out. See

It’s funny–we’ve had this yarn on the shelves for over two months, and not a single skein had sold. I decided it was close enough to the holidays to have one finished, so I started it on Tuesday afternoon and by mid-day Wednesday it was all sold out (with TONS more on order, to be delivered in about ten days to two weeks, as even the distributor is out right now). The yarn is Raggi, an aran-weight blend of 70% merino superwash and 30% nylon in 165-yard skeins for around $9 (two will make a pair of socks for most adults). There’s a darker (almost inverse) holiday version that wasn’t selling until this week, and only four skeins of it remain as of this writing (with more coming in two weeks, also). Ah, the power of a good model garment!

In closing, here’s a shout out to a friend who’s got a rough go of it right now out east. Buddy, you’re in my thoughts, as I can somewhat empathize with you on what you’re going through, personally and professionally. Just know that I’m here for you, whenever you need me……by phone, in person, as an oasis should you need to get outta town–whatever. As I told you earlier today, via text message……..friends are here to lift us up when we’re feeling down and the world is kicking our ass.

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