Stana's Critters Etc.: Deadlines and Knitting Patterns for Stripy Hat and Little Lamb Hat

WIP

When working for a third party, creating a knitting pattern comes with deadlines. The whole process of creating a knitting pattern from an idea to a final product takes months. It does not mean that I personally have months to work on the knitting project, but rather that the entire process from sending a submission, being accepted, receiving the yarn, creating a prototype sample, writing the pattern, working closely with the sample knitter, and technical editor, reviewing the edited pattern, then reviewing the final pattern, and finally seeing the pattern published in a book or in a magazine takes months.

Last week two of my patterns were published in a book collection by Knitpicks:

Playdate: A Baby Knit Collection

I received an email about my patterns being accepted to this collection when I was waiting at the airport to board the plane to visit my family and friends in Europe. As always having a pattern submission accepted is a wonderful news, but this time it created an interesting element. The yarn I was going to work out the patterns was shipped to my home, while I was away. The deadline for my patterns to send back to Knitpicks was few days after my return from my trip. I had a knitting project that I took with me for the trip, but nothing else. It was a second sample of the Winter Pillow. Which was also a pattern I have created for Knitpicks: Winter Pillow Pattern

Winter Pillow WIP

Luckily I have a box of yarn that belonged to my grandmother at my mom's home. In a way it is a treasure box as it does contain more than remnants of odd yarns my grandmother used, it also brings out the memories of my time I spent with her.
When I arrived to my mom's place I opened the box of yarn and looked through. I picked some yarn and started to work on the patterns. After I finished the hats, I kept the notes but gave away the hats to my nephews and my friends' children.