Sunset Ruana Revealed

OK, I didn't post a "sneak peek" but if I had, it would have looked like this...



And you may have seen this on Ravelry already, but I'm officially talking about it here now. The Sunset Ruana (Ravelry link for queuing purposes ;D)...



It's a really big comfy ruana using Tunisian Entrelac. That's right, it's CROCHETED!!!!! Why should knitters have all the fun? LOL I've always loved the look of knitted entrelac, but haven't quite figured that out yet, so I wanted to do something in crochet. Most of the patterns I found using Tunisian Entrelac were for pillows, afghans or bags. But I wanted to do something more like the knitted projects I'd been drooling over on Ravelry since joining.

I submitted the original idea to Interweave Crochet way back in February and waited with baited breath to find out if my first attempt at submitting to a major publication (and only second ever piece submitted anywhere!) would be accepted. I was elated and lost my voice from screaming with joy when I got the e-mail that it had been accepted...with a few little changes (more about that later). Of course, I had no problems with the change and was excited at the possibilities. It was so hard not to talk about it though!

Then Christmas came early, in the form of a box of super soft Limerick yarn from Wisdom Yarns (distributed by Universal Yarns). I hadn't known what color they would send for the sample piece. The colorway reminded me of fall leaves and I was so excited to get started! It took me about a week to work out some of the immediate changes that we made to the design before I could really get started working on the piece. I then spent the entire month of July working on the piece or the pattern every single chance I could. I had stupid injuries that occurred during that time as well that took some time away and I was down to the wire in getting the finished sample to them in time. But it was well worth it!

I was so excited just to be in the magazine. I mean, a pattern of mine, published in a magazine with all those other amazing designers that I admire so much (like Doris Chan, Danielle Kassner, Julia Vaconsin, Marlaina Bird, Ellen Gormley and Kim Guzman...just to name a few)! WOW! You couldn't wipe the smile off my face all summer long!

Then I got the most amazing, very best birthday present EVER!...albeit a day late. ;) Someone on Ravelry posted a link to the pre-order website for the Winter issue. Imagine the shock and amount of screaming and jumping that occurred when the link pulled up a picture of the cover with my piece on it! The kids were convinced I'd absolutely lost my mind and I couldn't calm down long enough to tell them. Jitterfrog (my 8yo son) came over to look at the screen to find out what was going on. And finally I screamed, "I'm on the cover!!!!" HOLY COW!!!!! And yes, I lost my voice again. LOL

I don't even know what to say! Never in my wildest dreams (well, OK, maybe my wildest dreams) would I have thought that would happen! It is unreal!

Now I guess I'd better get off my butt and go design some more! LOL In the meantime, go get a copy of the Winter 2009 Interweave Crochet...order on-line or find it on stands December 29th!!!!

Happy Crafting! :D