Back from Hibernation

I'm really quite embarrassed that it has been over a year since I last blogged!  I don't really know how to explain my falling off the planet; I was starting to get burnt out on knitblogging, I was totally stressed out because the place where I work was threatening to not exist anymore (it's still sort of a cross-your-fingers-and-see sort of situation), then mix in the fact that Ravelry (wonderful though it is) became a surrogate blog-substitute, and well, poof!

Many apologies to those who wondered what became of me, and I will try to slowly get back into blog reading and posting once in a while...

What got me interested in coming back was a combination of knit/crochet designing and opening my own Etsy store (doremiknits.etsy.com).  The knitwear store was in response to the many requests I'd get from people asking me to make things for them.  Since I obviously can't sell stuff from other peoples' patterns, I had to come up with some designs of my own.  Then, a curious thing happened: I started getting messages from knitters and crocheters wanting to buy my patterns.  

Swirls Cap

available on Ravelry

(and soon at my Etsy store) 

Now, the other reason I wanted to blog again, unfortunately, is a vent:  I had some unpleasant experiences with this whole designing thing.  This cap was originally a free pattern.  Then some people decided to ignore my copyright and terms of usage and sold hats made from my patterns.  Although I was able to work things out with these people, I must say it's not a fun experience and I don't wish it on anyone!  I spent many hours on my patterns so people would enjoy making them for their own personal enjoyment.  I assumed people realized copyright laws prohibit things like people using your patterns to make things for sale, or that changing one or two things in a pattern does not give you the right to call it yours.  Most people do understand these things, but I was really surprised that there were people who didn't...  So... those of you who are excited about sharing your patterns with the world - be prepared for the occasional headache ;)

Nevertheless, I won't give up on designing so easily!  This is a sneak peek of a pattern I still have to write up (I don't use charts but feel other knitters might like to use them?)  Once I figure out how to do that this puppy should be up on my Ravelry store:

Climbing Leaves

Hat

(shown on left in Dream in Color Classy, and on the right in Karabella Aurora 8)

Well, I'm off to play an opera, so I must go and dig out some black clothes... and bring candy for intermission!