Our Knitwits Book

For a couple of years now, Janet and I have been talking about writing "Our Book". You all know "Our Book"...our New York Times Bestseller and know all, tell all, be all book of knitting and everything adorable or delicious. The book that is totally great and rolling around in our heads that just needs to be slapped down on paper. Our timeline was to have it slapped down by 010.

When one of our favorite customers mentioned that she was now working at F & W Publishing, we told her about our big book plans. She then told an editor at F &W about "Our Book". Yesterday, the editor e-mailed us with some interest in "Our Book". YIKES! Her e-mail mentioned things like areas of expertise, experience, percentage of patterns vs. content, etc. YIKES! Okay, "Our Book" that in rolling around in our heads may need just a little tweaking.

Experience? Sure, we have lots of that! We've read lots of books, we've bought lots of books, we've bought lots of books from F&W, I'm on a couple of book covers, I've edited a book, I have a Borders Rewards Card and a Barnes and Noble Corporate Discount Card. Janet is almost an audio book expert, and we think "Our Book" has vast audio book potential since it allows one to knit and read simultaneously...and last night a passenger told me that I have a great broadcasting voice-perfect for reading "Our Book". He said he could listen to me read the phonebook. (In retrospect, that's now kind of creepy).

Original Patterns? Sure, we have lots of them!

Knitwits Scarf Pattern

Go to Knitwits. Pick a yarn. Go up 2 or 3 needle sizes from the recommended needle size on the ball band. Pick a number between 10 and 20. Cast on that many stitches. Knit until almost out of yarn. Bind off loosely. Ta Da!

Knitwits Wrap Pattern

See Scarf Pattern but increase one stitch at beginning of each row. Change Ta Da to Voila!

See, we have the basics figured out and done....We just need to figure out the "Knitwits" part-the part that makes "Our Book" different from all of other knitting books. The part that describes what makes Knitwits more than just another LYS (Local Yarn Shop). The part that explains why Knitwits as our LYS of choice. The part that explains how we came to embrace knitting as a part of our everyday lives and Knitwits as part of our extended family.

I may have just answered my own questions. Perhaps the missing "Knitwits" part is the part that explains how being a Knitwit means inviting and welcoming all who have an interest in yarn to enjoy the many opportunities that open up when you associate with others who don't judge your skill level, budget, size/shape, abilities and disabilities, etc.

We all have our own stories about why Knitwits is our LYS of choice. For me, Knitwits is so much more than a LYS-it is the source of so many pleasures in my life. It is the place where I can give a little and receive so much more, a place where I can share my knowledge and learn so much more from others, and a place where laughter abounds and coffee flows. Knitwits is my idea of Eden.

Feel free to share your story with us. (We'll call it reseach and development.)