At the start of every new year I like to think back on the year closing. 2011 was a big year for me. Here are some professional highlights:

• I finished the Crafty Detour CSI: Most Wanted collection of patterns
• I started a new job for The Alpaca Yarn Company
• I was published in Interweave Knits Fall 2011, Jane Austen Knits, Knit Magazine Issues 38 and 41, Universal Yarns’s Designer Collaboration Program, and the Woolgirl Sock Club
• I taught at the annual Knitters Day Out event
• I started wholesaling patterns to yarn shops
• I joined TNNA as a designer

This year I have some goals. I don’t like to say they are resolutions…because they aren’t. I don’t want to make promises to myself that I cannot keep. But somehow, having goals seems much more do-able.

• Self-publish a collection for fall
• Exercise more – We just ordered an elliptical for our home and I plan on using it at least 3 times a week
• Stop taking everything so personally
• Eat better – Both hubby and I are committed to trying to eat healthier meals this year

What are your goals for the new year?

I love this pattern so much I’ve decided to knit it again, for myself. People don’t realize that sometimes when I knit a pattern for a magazine, I make the size they want me to make and then I send it to them, never to see it again. Rhinebeck is coming soon, so I decided I must make a Dahlia for myself to wear to the festival this year.

Here is my progress so far.

Dahlia Cardigan

Are you making Dahlia? If you don’t have the pattern, you can pick it up in Fall 2011 Interweave Knits (on newsstands now). The wonderful folks at Interweave have also made a digital edition of the magazine available to purchase if you would rather save the trees. Please note, the pattern will not be available as a stand-alone-pattern for a year – I will let you know when that happens.

Angela's Patterns

A Tribute to Angela is a compilation of patterns designed by Angela Place. Angela worked as the Marketing Director at the Alpaca Yarn Company from 2008 until her death early in 2011.

During her time here, Angela instituted many creative projects and was always coming up with new design ideas. This group of patterns were some of the most popular ones she designed during her time here. There were many more ideas and we hope to bring them to paper in the future.

Angela left many friends, a loving husband and 3 wonderful sons. Her youngest is Autistic and Angela worked closely with the local Autism Awareness Organization. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of “A Tribute to Angela” will be donated to Autism Awareness.

Join us as we work through these patterns in a KAL/CAL. Feel free to share your memories, stories, and projects here or in the Ravelry group. During March we will be working on the Road Trip Beret.

Please spread the word so we can pay tribute to this wonderful woman.

Just use the coupon code HAPPYDAY at checkout!

This offer is good until midnight on Saturday March 12th.

Stephannie has released a new e-book called Mittens! and has published designs with Knitcircus Magazine, The Sanguine Gryphon, Knit Picks and of course on her own site. As part of the tour Stephannie has been kind enough to offer a coupon code to readers on the tour. The code is blogtour and is good for 20% off on all her patterns via Ravelry from February 2nd to the 8th.

Stop back on Friday for the interview!

What have I been working on?

If you follow my plurks/tweets/status updates you know I’ve been working on a lot of secret projects. All of which are still secret and unsharable at this time. I’ll be sure to share when I’m able.

As for an unsecret project, I’ve been designing a sweater! Check it out:

cables - yum!

It’s a top down raglan with crew neck and cables. Sorry  for the bad phone pic. I’m working it up in Cascade 220 and it’s so super squishable and soft.

• I don’t like to wear shawls with the point in front – I think worn as such they look like bibs or like cowboy bandana’s. Since I am not a baby nor a cowboy, I never wear mine in that fashion. Instead, I wear mine either in the traditional point in the back way, or askew with the point over one shoulder.
• I don’t like pointy hoods – I’m not a fan of the pixie look and most hoods are constructed with points. Even on my winter coat I looked for one specifically sans point.
• I don’t like bobbles – I think they look like growths. Something about the bobble just looks like a wart or a nipple or something…eww!
• I don’t like scarves that have an unattractive wrong side – I like my scarves to look good from both sides. This may or may not mean they are fully reversible. If the back side is attractive, then it’s ok, even better if they match.
• I don’t like cropped sweaters – unless it’s clearly a shrug. I think cropped sweaters look like they are just too small or perhaps the knitter ran out of yarn. Shrugs are different, and in my mind, should not attempt to look like sweaters.
• I don’t like wraps that fit snuggly over both shoulders – something about these make me think of straight jackets. While I appreciate the warmth, I also think that while being warmed I should be able to move freely. I can just imagine trying to answer the phone and my wrap popping up around my face because I moved my arm…not cool.
• I don’t like sweaters knit with super chunky yarn – I think they make the wearers look like marshmallow men wanna be’s. This has been a trend in the recent years and I just don’t get it. Even on emaciated models I think this fashion looks absurd. I’m sure they are super soft and super warm, but yeah, not for me. Save your chunky yarn for accessories.

What are some of your knitting pet peeves?

Maybe it has something to do with the lack of sunlight, or perhaps just being overwhelmed. There are gifts to buy, food to cook, cookies to bake, cards to send, and tax filing looming in the future. Part of it too could be the prospect of another year ahead, looking back at what the last year has brought.

My year has been a roller-coaster ride. A lot of good things have happened, but somehow all the good things feel far away and doubt is clouding my view of the future.

Please don’t let my post get you down. I know I will get out of this funky mood once the new year turns over and the holidays are behind us.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season, hope it brings you merriment and joy.

If you are interested in having me teach at your local yarn shop or event, please feel free to contact me at hzoppetti AT gmail DOT com

First we went to the Kinokuniya Bookstore. Check out their knitting books and pen aisle:

So many awesome books

Pens!

Next we went to the Empire State Building. First, when they say there is a 45 minute wait, they are lying. It was at least twice as long. Second, it doesn’t help that they have airport-like security set up. You know, the old kind: take your belts and jackets off, all possessions get put into a bin to be scanned, and you go through a metal detector. Really slowed the whole process down. Then the real waiting takes place. [Wait in line, move to another section of the building] repeat 5 times.

Along the way I cannot help but nerd out to the architecture.

Welcome to Rapture

Ok, yes, I’m a nerd, but really doesn’t it make you feel like maybe this is an underwater paradise? No? Ok, maybe I was just very bored.

Can you see it?

Change Begins Here

All the while they have you going past these huge electronic displays (ie. Multiple monitors all display the same movie clips) touting how they have made the Empire State Building a leader in sustainability. Couldn’t they have just printed some posters out? It seems counter productive to be running these elaborate displays. (Sorry no pictures of these.)

Finally we made it to the observation deck. (If you want to go up to the very top you have to pay an additional $15 per person at this time.)

View from the 86th floor

View from the 86th floor

View from the 86th floor

We walked past Macy’s and stepped inside:

The World's Largest Store

We had lunch at the Bread Factory. I did have other food besides cheesecake, but I couldn’t resist!

The desert case at The Bread Factory

Cake!

Walked down to the water. We didn’t have time to take a boat out to the Statue.

Boats

We took a taxi to Grand Central Station:

Grand Central Terminal

Inside Grand Central

Went to see the tree at Rockefeller Center:

Giant Tree

Other things we did: We tried to see the window displays outside of Macy’s but these were so crowded. What we could see looked kind of like the old clay-mation style animations. We went into several amazing bead stores and ate dinner at the Cosmic Diner.

Here’s the loot I came away with for the day:

Loot

Now my whole body aches from walking all day. But what a grand time! My friend Irina was also in the city, but we never met up. Maybe next time…we should plan a yarn crawl!

]]> http://digitalnabi.com/blog/2010/12/new-york-city/feed/ 0