meanwhile...

I've uploaded my Carson Throw pattern!

All of you who were subscribers to my 3rd year of 7 Small Shawls (Home is Where the Heart Is) will already have gotten it as an update to your eBook. It's a bonus!

It's warm and snuggly.

The slipped stitch pattern makes it extra thick.

My sample is knit with 5 colors of Ecological Wool from Cascade, and 1 shade of Eco+.

The Edging has an openwork lattice pattern.

The pattern has a formula for working with your own colors,

or you can follow the specific instructions to knit the sample as shown.

The finished product is a whopping 86 inches in diameter, big enough even for Mr. Romi! And the formula will allow you to make your own up to a 94 inch diameter. It's a big hit at our house!

thinking small

Way back before the book project with Interweave was an inkling in my mind (oh, wait, did I tell you about that? I think I only tweeted and Facebooked it!), I was planning another sort of fun. I'd been staring at this amazing box of yarny goodness that Kathy Elkins over in Yarn Paradise (er, I mean WEBS) sent me for petting and swatching.

I am always one to respect the fiber, especially wool! And that box sat there. Looking at me. Daring me to touch, play and knit. And finally I asked Kathy if she minded my embarking on a little challenge to myself with that box of yarn. And she was game! In fact, said she, it was perfect timing since this coming year is WEBS' 40th anniversary! So I knew it was meant to be.

And here is my challenge: create great small projects entirely from a stash of different weights, fibers and yardages. I only have one ball of each! And you can join me! It's going to be a subscription, and it's going to run over the coming year. This will be my fun time: my hobby while designing projects for the book, club and 7 Small Shawls subscription. This is going to be a crazy crazy year! But I'm already up for it. See? 

It's been my relaxation time in the evenings. And next week, I'll be releasing the subscription! So stand by. It will be discounted until this first project is up and ready. It won't be long now....

monday's musing

I was feeling kind of whiny today because I caught the kids' creeping crud. When I read this, it made me laugh out loud!

"Life is not fair; get used to it." - Charles J. Sykes (formerly misattributed to Bill Gates)

Still chuckling. And feeling better because of it. :)

Don't forget that there are still spots left in next year's Pins & Lace Club!

it's clubbing time again!

It's time again for the October Pins and Lace Club sign-ups! 2014 will be the fifth year of my club. So difficult to believe!

Like last year, 2014 includes a pattern only option, and, for those of you with too many shawl pins, it also includes a yarn and pattern only option. :) The second sign-up period (first was back in September) is opening Saturday October 26, 2013 at 2 pm (14:00 hours), Pacific Daylight Time (GMT -7). There will be 4 shipments of 50 shawl pins and 100 skeins of yarn available in this go-round (I added more because I wanted to make sure everyone gets a chance). Those include a pattern, as well, of course. :) After all of those are sold, I will open pattern only club sales on Ravelry. Because of the different options and the need to plan in advance in ordering yarn, club sign-ups will be for the full year only - no half year options will be available. If you have already bought one of the pin and/or yarn options, do not buy the pattern only option until you receive your coupon code for a free copy of the Ravelry club eBook. Financing (the payment plan) will be available through PayPal when you check out. The 2014 patterns will all be delivered via Ravelry as an eBook - much like my small shawl eBook subscriptions, and pattern only sales will remain open throughout the year. Clear as mud? Don't worry; if you don't quite get it ordered the way you want it, just write to me (romiATdesignsbyromiDOTcom and we'll get it all sorted out! The idea is to make you happy, so no stress!

Note that yarn weights will vary! It will not all be lace weight. For planning purposes, here are the options and prices! Please note that there will be a pattern fee of $20 added to your total in addition to the option price chosen below. The pattern only option will be priced at $36 for the year, and the single patterns will not be released to the public until 2014. (There will be a fun little extra too, btw!)

Romi's Choice: $340

Each shipment includes yarn from a different indie dyer, a shawl pin (copper, sterling and 2 nickel for the year) and an original pattern.

Romi's Choice, 2x yarn: $540

Each shipment includes double yarn from a different indie dyer, a shawl pin (copper, sterling and 2 nickel for the year) and an original pattern.

Pin and pattern only:

Romi's Choice of Metal: $160

Copper only: $140

Nickel only: $145

Sterling only: $210

Yarn and pattern only:

Romi's Choice - Yarn only: 4 shipments - $200

2x Yarn and pattern only:

Romi's Choice - double yarn only: 4 shipments - $400

Whichever option(s) you choose, please note that there will be a $20 pattern fee added to the total (this needed to be separated out to make the options possible; if you end up paying it twice for some reason, please let me know!). Regular shipping to the US is included in prices. International shipping (including Canada now, I'm afraid - prices have gone up to ship to you, our neighbors) and priority mail shipping will cost extra.

I do hope this all makes sense! If I am not making sense, please let me know! And remember: you have another chance in October. :)

Please see this blog post where I answered some of your questions!

monday's musing

“Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

What decision will you make today? This week? This month?

monday's musing, late edition

"Go out in the world and work like money doesn't matter, sing as if no one is listening, love as if you have never been hurt, and dance as if no one is watching." - unknown

Mr. Romi sent that to me and our eldest, and I so love this quote. Have a terrific week, everyone!

a brief history

I came back from Atlanta this past Monday evening. I had a wonderful time there, teaching for the AKG. Southern hospitality is truly amazing! :) The wonderful ladies from the AKG picked me up from the airport and took me to dinner, but I was a little out of it, and didn't get pictures that first night. The next day, Wendy picked me up and took me down to see Sugarfoot Yarns (don't you love that name?) where she works.

Marianne met us there and we were very silly.

Wendy showed me her Pulelehua. Isn't it lovely?

And I spotted a Caret in the store.

I wanted to find something local, and I made a little purchase. Isn't that sweet, the way the bag is done up?

From the bag: my Appalachian Baby Designs cotton. Super soft and lovely. And local-ish.

And a not-so-local zipper pouch that I couldn't resist!

We had a lunch of southern food (well, really I was the only one eating southern). Yum!

The next day, it was off to teach. I loved the fun sculpture in the room! 

We were all concentrating hard.

I taught 5 classes over 3 days, and I enjoyed it so much! I had terrific students. The last day, Nurse Ratched (um, I mean Marian) introduced me for Lace Surgery (if you look closely at her right hand, you'll see she has a giant hypodermic). Too much fun!

Diana showed me her fantastic socks. They are a traveling pair and were knit on by many different people. Love them!

The students gave me gifts: stitch markers and a needle threader (yes, there's a story behind that). So kind. :)

Eve gave me some of her gorgeous Fiber Charmer yarn in delicious green.

And a stunning red.

We had sushi and other delectable food. Atlanta has some amazing restaurants!

We visited Needle Nook, where I purchased some gorgeous Malabrigo. The colors are absolutely lovely.

On my last night, we had Thai food (that's Diana and Brenda

and Eve, and Marian and Wendy).

And Brenda gave me a ball of qiviut (I made her promise she really doesn't like green before I would take it). It has been petted quite a bit! (I think it likes its new home in Nevada.)

And I met a knitter at the Salt Lake City airport. 

And then I was home. And what had seemed like a long stay (before I went) was actually so short! But so much happened, and I had such a wonderful time. I will remember all of you Atlanta ladies always, and hope to see y'all again soon! Thank you so much, AKG! What a terrific time! I hope to see lots of you at Stitches West!

monday's musing, late edition

"Do what you feel in your heart to be right - for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't." - Eleanor Roosevelt

Have a great week!

bit of a loose end

I didn't post this before I took off to Atlanta, so before I fly back, here goes! Noliegirl on Ravelry has won my monthly give-away (at the end of September) for her gorgeous Meadowberry (my pattern Meadowgold). Isn't her version lovely?

I think the color is stunning!

Congrats to you! Just PM me and let me know what pattern you would like!