Melissa Matthay: Basically Brilliant Knits October 2003 Monthly Meeting: Melissa Matthay, owner of the Knitting Tree (the vendor for the evening), and Sheryl Thies, showed the beautiful sweaters from their recent book and described the process of being published. Melissa described the designs as basic—good projects for knitters of all abilities. While Melissa designed all of the sweaters, Sheryl contacted the publisher, did charts for the designs, and worked with a technical editor to be sure that the patterns are correct. One frustration which Melissa described is that yarns used in designing and knitting some of the original sweaters are no longer available. Future projects are "A Little Box of Scarves", and "A Little Box of Sweaters" which are being produced with twenty projects each. Melissa and Sheryl have also pitched another book project. Melissa also described a design service that she provides—you bring in your favorite skirt, dress, or whatever, and she will design a top to go with it.