And those pinks are SOO the color for our Feral Leader!

Thanks for the info!! You ROCK!!

hmm... any more room on the side?? I don't design the patterns, I just work them up!

Beth, join me in my peanut gallery!

mctwin, Soba is delightfully dictatorish in pink ;)

Thanks for the tip. I just love flooding magazines and companies with wonky designs. Now, must go cast on for that purse idea I had.

I wish I could pose mine little furballs with yarn. One would demolish it and the other would eat it. Throw it up, then go eat some more. Bet he and Bob would get along famously. Especially since he loves flowers too.

I am, alas, designless, but I do believe that is the guiltiest looking cat I have ever seen.

She had probably bitten one of the kittens prior to the picture taking. In fact, I believe Frankie was admiring the yarn and Soba attacked her, and then sat by the yarn.

She is not so fond of Frankie. Or of cats in general.

What about your bracelet bag pattern? Room in the gallery for me? I'll bring my cathair.

Do you think there is a secret yarn inspection program for the furtive feline investigator? I am also sure there is an advanced course in cat induced catastrophes for all thing yarn.

I know my two cats frame the puppy by knocking yarn and bamboo needles out of the knitting basket and meowing encouragement for her to chew the needles and destroy the skein. I feel certain they also enrolled in some kind of canine berlitz program so they could expand their reach. I also feel certain they must have a knitty kitty cabal website where they post devious tactics and accomplishments.

Is Sobakowa the California cell leader? I have my suspicions. I think my two are sending me subliminal meow messages - 'log on to CAP, log on to CAP..."

That's really cool! Finally, another reason to put off my multiple w.i.p.(s) to find myself tangled in a pile of yarn and dreams...

When it's published, can I please request that everyone who comments here and has had their patterns included - let us know? I would love to be able to match a commenter with their pattern!

Or maybe Soba is pledging her allegiance with the fun fur instead of the other cat fur in the house?

You know, your post made me wonder this.... Who are all these people that are selling yarn that comes from a pet free home - as it ALWAYS says? Because, I could lie and tell people my yarn comes from a pet-free home, but I'm pretty sure the 4" Sheltie hairs in each bag... or at least stuck to the tape would give it away.

Any tips for wrapping stuff without getting pet hair on the tape?

The only things that I've ever designed were crocheted Beanie Babies clothes for my kids! That was many, many moons ago when they were 6 and 8 years old and still liked me!

Hey ya'll from down south! I would love to see your patterns for the calendar--especially the crochet Beanie Babies clothes! Those sound really cute. Thank you Crazy Aunt Purl for including our information in your blog. We really appreciate it--now everyone, get those designs sent it! We really need to make the calendar the BEST its ever been and only YOU can help us! (Don't forget about getting a free calendar out of it too!--Great Christmas gifts!)

Hey, this could be fun! I have 1,001 ideas for many things but whenever I think up something I want to knit, I must immediately go consult what others have done. At the least I'll have another knitting item to purchase to then consult obsessively.

:-)

ALL HAIL THE SOBA!!!!

We are not worthy.

Unless the bar really is fully-stocked, and then I'll be in the peanut gallery alongside you.

Darn, I don't knit!

Thanks for sharing, CAP! Are you submitting anything?

I *might* think about attempting to submit something...problem is, for anything I've ever worked up without a pattern, I have never written down instructions. Not sure how to go about doing that...

Cool! :D I just designed an Intarsia Bag and I'm finishing up a Double Knit Kitty Blankey of my own design, as well as few other original designs on the horizon. *L*

I'll save that link and see if I can write up the patterns so that other people can read and understand them. *L*

In the meantime a few drinks sounds like a pretty good idea. ;^)

Just tell us what you made with those lovely fluffy pink Patons yarns. (Assuming Soba ever gave them back to you.) :)

Thanks for the info, Laurie...you should submit your Bracelet Bag! Did I tell you I made your Bracelet Bag? Allow me to serve as Cautionary Tale Girl for a moment: I made mine in bright blue, and it looks just like Cookie Monster. Only scarier. (CM is a pretty friendly, harmless-looking dude. This bag...is not.) I have not taken it out in public yet. I have not taken it out of my closet in months. I may have to dismantle it and rescue the two bracelets I used, which are from my teenage years and have sentimental value, despite being worth about three cents apiece. Message to all: DO NOT make the Bracelet Bag in bright blue! Use any other color! But not bright blue! So, so frightening, it is.

Have a cookie Julie. It will all be okay...

yarnifigance,hehe

I agree... submit the Bracelet Bag!!
I haven't tried it yet, but I think the Brangelina hat might be my first hat!

Oh, and I'm in the peanut M&M gallery if anyone wants to join me!

I think today I heart Soba.

I have a small problem with this design submission idea - I happen to think that designers should get PAID for their work. I bet they pay the photographer, the printer, and everyone else in the publishing process (and not with free calendars).

hmm i have an ankle sock pattern maybe that would work

Love your blog, think you're cool, found a website that made me think of you (is it weird to have strangers thinking of you? not really? ok.)
YOU MUCH CHECK OUT http://www.snakesonablog.com/
I'm not good at html, so you'll have to copy/paste it, but it's so cheesy it's cool.
Also, Kristi at Knitter's Anonymous (http://www.knitanon.com/blog/) is having a Snakes on a Plane related contest. You might want to have a look.
Just saying. :)

Thanks for the heads up :-) I will have to look in my design book and see if I have anything they would be interested in.

Peanut gallery for me! I'll bring some great snacks and more booze.

i have that rug! it's from ikea!

Someone gave me that calendar last Christmas, and it had the submission info in it. I thought about it seriously. Have I actually done anything about it? Surely you jest.

I think Soba is related to Callie, who enjoys carrying yarn around the house and also lying down on my knitting projects as I am about to photograph them for blogging posterity. At one point she ate some stretchy cotton yarn, which in due time came out the other end. It was rather painful for both of us, and I was kinda worried about the effect on her innards, so what does she do? She finds the one piece I had neglected to sequester and munches it right up. Luckily that one came out the way it went in. Fun with cats.

My cats haven't tried to eat my yarn, but sometimes they'll stalk it and try to pounce as I'm knitting. Other times they ignore it with great disdain. But, when I was photographing a WIP for my new blog (Laurie, you inspired me!), they were both there and had to be removed as soon as the "photo shoot" was done. And Pan was Not Happy to be relocated!

But how can one beat the flip flop coaster idea? The sight of it has given me a mental block for good.

I think I'm already a paid up member of the peanut gallery!

Soba in pink. Yeah, I can see it! Kind of the Iron Paw in the Fluffy Pink Glove kind of thing.

Maybe I could design something basic. REALLY basic.

Thanks for the compliment on my blog; slap some makeup on me and I clean up rather nicely. Or so "they" say.....;-D

does an artfully swirled and piled mass of yarn remnants count as a creation? and how would one write a pattern for it?

Laurie, want to come to Indiana and help me pack and move to a new house?

yeah well I didn't think so but I had to try

I, too, feel that if you design something, you should be compensated.

However, they seem to be looking for projects that you could actually make in a day, i.e., small ones. It could be worth it, if they'll put my URL in the calendar along with my name.

Although I've designed a lot of things, no tiny projects spring to mind, except a sachet bag. Hmmm, there's a thought.

So, what goes with the peanut gallery? Do we need to submit to you as well as the calendar printers?

Soba the Dictator looks "P-Oed"!

Since they seem to be looking for quick projects, as Joann pointed out, that kinda counts me out! My latest sweater takes a wee bit longer than that.

Brianne - I *love* the fact that your post said "when" one of CAP's fans get a design on the calendar and not "if"! My (knit) hat is off to you!

Hmm...I have the current crochet-a-day pattern, and some of the projects in it look like they might take a while. (Not that I've actually tried any of them yet...) So, my guess is to submit whatever you've created and let them make the call. There are a lot of submissions from the same people too, so don't think you are limited to one item.

Does it really take you a week to read your emails?

Neil, if it's someone I have corresponded with before (like you, or Jen obviously or my folks) I filter those emails all into one folder based on email address. But it's a manual process to set up, so I am of course lazy and sometimes I forget. The bulk of my emails go into the inbox and those can take a loooong time to get to. Thanks, spaminators.

We should eat SPAM in the gallery. Does it go with peanuts or beer or wine?

I have last years callender, and some of the projects are def. NOT make in a day small type things. So if you have something bigger, go ahead and send it in. The worst that will happen is they will say no. The peanut's will cheer you on either way!

Okay, I done went and took your advice, Purl. I got me a blog!

I think the bracelet purse you designed would qualify!

will the knitting calendar give us the opportunity to see the completed mystery cat thing-a-ma-jig ??

Another opportunity to publish before sending that pattern off to the Island of Misfit Patterns (yes, it IS a real website!).

I am definitely in the camp of thinking that designers shouldn't be expected to give away their work. Your creations are worth more than that, people!

I don't know how to knit, but my first thought also was they should get something more than a calendar for their designs.

My SO works as a graphic designer and companies are always advertising on craigslist with contests looking for free talent. Sorry to be a downer but I think it's a little insulting to the designer.

P.S. It's not like the publishing company isn't making a profit on this calendar. They are. They just want your ideas for free.

I think that this is an opportunity for unknown designers to get their foot in the door. I think it is a great opportunity. If you think your work is good enough to get paid for it, well okay, go for it. But the reality of life is that sometimes you have to give away the first one (or more!) free to get things started.

>But the reality of life is that sometimes you have to give away the first one (or more!) free to get things started.<

Sounds like some trashy-fun dating rules to me!

Really, I agree, but WHO do you give the ideas TO is the big question. In this case, the calendar makers might or might not be any who's who of the yarn arts world, but someone who sees your design might be, so I'd say, go for it. It sure beats putting all your best patterns on your blog for free - just make sure they put your big ole' name on it if you win.

shit girl are you listening???? little bag with round handle things,we all seem to want to see it on one of those days between xmas and new years( so we can finnsh it fast for party)

go girl. you do it BAGBAGBAG

Becky, Glad you can apply my philosophy to other areas of your life! ;-)

Seriously tho, as a graphic designer/webmaster/desktop publisher, I know that sometimes "the first one's free" can really take you places. Even my friend who is a journalist got her first job by offering to cover (for FREE) stories no one else wanted. Worked like a charm.

Well, hey ya'll! Sorry if I offended anyone by posting that you could send in a pattern, I do see now how folks might want to get compensated. I just honestly hadn't thought of it that way, since I suppose I think of knitting not as a moneymaker but as a great fun relaxation device. (Except during fuzzyfeeting LOL, that so does not relax me ;) )

Anyway, I just thought it was good to get the word out for folks who wanted to submit something and get published. I suppose I do think of it more as a writer does, lots of times I've written movie reviews and book reviews and stories and stuff for the sheer fun of it, and publication was its own reward (in other words, I was not paid). But I definitely see the other side of the coin. Or knit, as it may be.

Oh, and the bag and cat thingamajig won't be submitted, I'm submitting them for a different thing. Thanks so much for all the nice thing you've said about the bracelet bag!

I said "suppose" twice. Good Lord I need coffee.

I've done TONS of writing for free just to get my name out there. But those reviews and articles were for publications that don't make profit from my work.

If people want to send in their patterns, they should! I just think the company seems a little skeezy.

Ok completley unrelated but you can go to snakesonaplane.com and get a wake up call from Samuel L Jackson.. tell me that will not make your day...lol
Its too funny

Hey Annika :)
I don't know anything about the company so I'm really grateful to the folks who have placed some lightly tempered warnings here in the comments. I tell you, the best thing about writing online these days is you get feedback, and I tend to be one of those gullible souls who think everyone is just nice as pie (until the cross me, heh) and so it's good to hear others' opinions.

Also, hope to see you soon!!

Hi Laurie! I have been playing catch-up here, I just wanted to say I enjoyed your video montage from Drew’s visit.

Also re: “Begin a mass migration to some new city where we take over an entire neighborhood and/or city block and start a compound of knitters, crocheters and crazy people and we could have a yarn co-op and rotate cat-sitting for each other and generally drink and carrouse and carry on in the kinship of friends. In a city we take over by sheer force of will. Who's on board?”

Can we all move to Madison, WI? Because 1) It is cold there and there is great need for warm knitted things 2) People there are very liberal and co-op friendly 3) Great yarn stores! 4) There is already an established Madison SnB group 5) It’s the drinking capital of the Midwest 6) I am a little obsessed with the idea of moving back there these days. Just a thought.

I think sometimes it is worth it to get your stuff out there for free where people can see it, although I can also see how people might not like the idea of others making a profit on donated “intellectual property”. In any case, I have nothing to contribute. I think I might stop by the WeHo SnB next Thurs, an acquaintance of mine just had a little girl and I need some help with a baby blanky. Maybe I’ll see you there

Peace, love and yarn.

(I know, I know - this comment is comletely off topic from your post. Sorry.)

Laurie, I have a renewed compassion for your recent trials with the ailing kitties. Sally, my little dog broke her back this week. Who knew I had such a stockpile of tears for that dog!!

I know how back-logged you are on your emails so I just thought I'd leave this note here. If you are bored, stop by my blog and you can see her picture. :)

Kristy! OMG, I am so so sorry to hear that. Yes, I will stop by your blog post haste! Hope she is feeling better soon.

Um, have you seen the knitting and crochet pattern a day calendars? A lot of the patterns belong on You Knit What?.