Berroco has long been one of my favorite yarn companies. I drool all over their yarns and they have been lovely in working with over my brief years as a designer. Recently, they sponsored a sock yarn contest to create any item, not only socks, with any of their sock yarns. I figured it was a ploy for them to sell more sock yarns, which I was totally okay with because the prize was to be published in one of their Spring 2010 booklets. And not just one winner but 8!! So I dutifully designed (it did turn out to be a sock) a project and mailed it on time (barely, by 30 minutes if I remember correctly). Sadly, my happy sock was not chosen and I hoped another contest was in the works.
They promised to mail the sock back to me, though I had not seen it yet. Then out of the blue I received a box (box? for one sock?) from UPS yesterday.
I stood at my kitchen counter stunned: my cute little sock was safely zipped in a pillow-type zipper bag with what looked like a Berroco book. How exciting is this!! A free book! I took everything out and this is what my eyes rested upon:
SEVEN! Count them, seven booklets -- all of the patterns from 2009/2010!! I could not believe it and still cannot truly comprehend all this lovely knitterliness. Also enclosed was a lovely letter from Norah Gaughan, Design Director, letting me down gently that they did not pick my design (still -- go figure) but were so impressed with all of the submissions. To say thank you for submitting, here are the new booklets.
I have looked through them numerous times already and my favorites (so far) are from #288 Blackstone Tweed, Nutmeg and Nog (fabulous hat and scarf), because it looks like I could knit them without hurting my brain too much. There were also many a lovely cardigan that had me wondering -- how much Ultra Alpaca is in my stash?
A lovely surprise was the #291 Comfort Book for Girls. I never (NEVER) want to knit kids items, and so many of these designs almost had me tracking down Kate.
I did send a proper thank you today via snail mail. But thanks again, Norah Gaughan and the team at Berroco. Truly amazing.
Wow....great generosity from Berroco. Also, it's encouraging to know that your creativity is supported.
Good for you!
Posted by: Suzanne | 11/12/2009 at 05:09 PM