The woman behind the yarn
I made it over to meet Debbie Bliss today. She is such a lovely lady! We talked for about a half and an hour if you can believe it. We stood in the middle of the mercerie at the Bon Marché while French women buzzed around us buying their buttons, yarn and ribbons. Most women were not aware that Debbie Bliss was there. Even one woman came and asked her if she'd write up a fiche de produit for her. I went over and introduced myself and she asked me to call her Debbie. I was a little star struck because I had been knitting with her yarns for so long that her name had become a household knitting term for me. At any rate, it was very cool to meet her in person. She asked me what kind of knitter I was? If I knit for other people or kept what I knit for myself? She cooed to Maximilien and noticed that he was wearing a sweater knit in her Cashmerino Aran. I asked her about her new books and she showed me her spring/summer book called Rialto. I did not know this yarn, it's a superwash merino with an amazingly cushy spring to it. She pulled out a sweater that she had knit with her Rialto and insisted that I try it on. I was in love. I bought the book and found that it had several other sweaters I instantly fell in love with. Isabella will be the next sweater I knit for myself.
I went on to try (upon her request) on some other sweaters she had brought with her. I was impressed. The construction was amazing and the fit was almost perfect. She had me try on sweaters she had knit in size 34 which isn't my size and they fit rather well. I jotted down notes to remember which size to knit as she autographed two books to me.
Before leaving, Debbie asked me to tell my regular knitting sales woman that the Bon Marché needs to bring her back every month to have a regular knitting session apparently she loves Paris and tries to come to visit as often as she can. She even said that she'd love to come to our knitting circle someday. Imagine that?
I'm so jealous. I love Debbie Bliss' yarns and patterns.
Posted by: Dagny | November 30, 2007 at 21:05
What? No pictures? I figured you would snap a shot of Debbie, maybe holding Max.
:) Ah-ppa
Posted by: SuBon | November 30, 2007 at 21:06
I am in the middle of knitting Sofia from that booklet. I love it. I haven't gotten to far in the sweater, sweaters take me forever to knit! LOL
It's a great book!
Posted by: Robyn | November 30, 2007 at 22:21
How exciting!
Yes, Rialto is an awesome yarn. It's like Aurora 8 or Zara, right? Mmm, merino :)
Posted by: Veronique | November 30, 2007 at 23:00
I don't know Aurora or Zara but it is very similar to Anny Blatt's Merinos. I can't wait to knit with Rialto.
Posted by: Aimee | November 30, 2007 at 23:14
Well that must have been very cool! I'm glad she was so nice. We knitters have high expectations, it's so cool that she was everything I thought/hoped she would be.
Posted by: Wanett | December 01, 2007 at 00:49
Isn't it funny how the people we think are so cool, create things we love, are so down to earth...real people! I am glad you had such a great time with someone so cool!
Mary Anne
Posted by: Mary Anne | December 01, 2007 at 20:50
SO cool! I love DB, what a great opprtunity!
Posted by: Meg | December 01, 2007 at 22:05
Sounds super fun. I'm glad you could have make it.
Posted by: julien | December 03, 2007 at 13:56