NAME THAT KNITTER

KR RETREAT

PICS FROM THE 2006 KNITTER'S REVIEW RETREAT
HOSTED BY THE LOVELY MISS CLARA, QUEEN BEE, EDITOR IN CHIEF, HER ROYAL SKEINESS OF THE WORLD RENOWNED KNITTER'S REVIEW

STITCHES

Oldest Daughter and I left for "Charm City" on Thursday afternoon so that we could be at the Baltimore Convention Center bright and early. It was a short brrrrisk walk from our hotel. I've been to Baltimore innumerable times in my life, but never to the convention center. It is enormous.
We were among the first 50 or so in line, through the doors into a zigzag roped area inside the market. Until the morning class let out, we felt like the we were the only ones there. Two hours was plenty of time to do and see everything that was of interest to us. I know that sounds like blasphemy. Honestly, the various yarn stores that set up at these things, all start to look alike. It would be different if most of them weren't available on the net.
Our first stop was Lisa Souza. I couldn't believe that she came all the way from California. She has wonderful stuff and she's a hoot. It was great to see all of her hand dyed yarns in person. She had some sinfully lush handspun cashmere in beautiful jewel colors. I also succumbed to some kid mohair and silk in a rich garnet color. After this we wandered leisurely through all of the aisles and bought a few other skeins of fun stuff with holiday gifts in mind. We stopped at Caps to the Capitol sponsored by Save the Children to drop off our baby caps. They had tables set up with yarn and needles so that people could take a knitting break and start or finish a cap. By the time we left, there were quite a few women knitting and chatting. What a great idea. If we were free to stay for the afternoon, I could have happily knit another cap.
So, two hours and out! I'm not much of a browser. I have limited shopping tolerance, so this was perfect. I do wish that I had registered early for a class, but I'm looking forward to my class experience at the KR retreat next weekend. It will be the first knitting class I've ever taken. I'm looking forward to the retreat, but I'm also a little nervous. I haven't roomed with a stranger since college.
Pics of my yarn goodies to follow.

MY PERSONAL GARDENER AND WEDDING IN CALCUTTA

Etc..... AND FLOPPED BUNNIES

ETC.


 

TOP DOWN RAGLAN FOR DULAAN AND MIXED CAPS TO THE CAPITOL

Top down raglan for Dulaan and mixed caps for Caps to the Capitol and Dulaan

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THANKS ANGELIKA

Looks much better, thanks to Angelika's advice. Here are some colorful and booooring knitting pics.

COMING RIGHT UP

I've taken lots of pictures of new finished projects and lots of Dulaan projects. I'm trying to find an appealing way to post them. I hate the way my posted pics look. I just need to take some time to learn about arranging the pics on the page. The blog is looking a little sad and tired. Any and all suggestions welcome as long they're constructive.

Rhinebeck

Ok, I know my opinions are not always those of the majority, but honestly, I hated Rhinebeck.
Blasphemy, you say? It may well be.
Why I hated Rhinebeck:
1. People with wheelie suitcases in jam packed aisles who swung them around behind them without caution or care.
2. Several shoppers who had no problem shoving or inserting their arm and ultimately their body between you and the yarn that you were looking at.
3. People who asked rude questions and didn't like the answers.
4. People who are oblivious to all but their own immediate needs (see #1)
5. Groups that travel in packs and will not be moved to walk less than 4 abreast, when there isn't room for even 2 way walking traffic.
6. The same groups, who shop as a team. Some will get in line, the rest will do the "full contact shopping" for those in line, as they shout rudely back and forth. "make sure you grab that skein if that woman puts it down"
7. All of those above who bray and crow about their "hard fought for" bounty.

I'm sure there were many well mannered lovely people who attended. There were just too many of the kind I described above. I made exactly two purchases. Both times, the booth owners had to intervene as I was being pushed and shoved. During one purchase, another shopper grabbed the yarn from my hand and then sneered at the price, dropping it accidentally back in the basket from which I had taken it. The shop owner politely but sternly told her to notice the scarf I was wearing and said that "of course this yarn is appealing to her". The woman then decided that she needed the stand owner's undivided attention to describe each yarn type and justify her prices. All I wanted to do was buy 2 lousy skeins of yarn. Luckily the stand holder wanted to sell them to me. This might be fun for some, but not for me. I never liked Filene's basement and I didn't like this mob scene either.

I had decided to go to Rhinebeck because my daughter and her boyfriend live in Brooklyn and his parents live in Poughkeepsie. It was a perfect fall weekend. Absolutely lovely drive up from PA. It was terrific to see my daughter and BF. They even tolerated the mobs until I yelled "uncle" after 1 1/2 hours. The 3 of us met his parents for dinner at this wonderful place in Germantown, north of Rhinebeck called RESTAURANT.
"So how did you like the play Mrs. Lincoln?" comes to mind. If I hadn't gone to the Sheep and Wool Festival, the weekend would have been perfect.

That's why I've decided to go to Stitches East in two weeks!!!!!

Why Do We Give?

I read a review of a book about charity knitting today. Reading this well balanced review and some of the comments that followed has emboldened me to openly state my opinions about the "let's knit some shawls for the Amish" group. I know these people mean well, but they have gotten caught up in a wave of sympathy without doing their homework.
First of all the Amish eschew charity. They are indeed accepting the fact that people want to help and they have designated specific agencies to accept monetary donations for medical bills. How many times do these people have to ask outsiders to go away?
These families are Old Order Amish. Their clothing does not even have buttons because that is too fancy. The outerwear is woven, not knitted or crocheted.
I attempted to contact the woman in New England who is organizing this and asked her nicely to contact the appropriate people and agencies before continuing. Because I got no response, I posted the contact info in a comment on her blog. They have narrowed it down to one shawl pattern that she has deemed plain enough and black yarn "because the mother's will be in mourning for a year". If she had done her homework, she would know that these women wear ONLY BLACK, no matter what the circumstances.
Don't get me wrong, I know they mean well, but what is the real motive behind this. Does she really want to comfort these people who don't want her comfort? There are plenty of deserving charities who are in need of knitted items. Guess none of those is quite so "au courant" as the Amish.
I think this bothers me so much, because I have lived among these people for over 30 years. What few realize, is that every sect and church within these sects have different rules. Please don't ask an Amish person in Ohio about the rules for the church in Lancaster County. They may not know anyone from that church or sect. One thing I'm sure they would tell you if you asked, is that they want to be left alone by the "English" at a time like this. They have endured as much intrusion as they can bear.
I guess I see this movement of "shawls for the Amish" as pure arrogance. They claim to have the input they need, including that of a part time Episcopal minister, to know what they're doing. I seriously doubt it. Perhaps the shawls will be auctioned off by the Mennonite Committe to raise money for medical bills, or for the education fund for the murderer's children.
Sorry, but sometimes fiber is not the answer.

YARN DONATIONS

Susan Manning on Knitlist has offered to send some of her excess stash to knitters in need of a little extra. I left a message on her live journal offering to augment her generosity. Just leave your email address with your comment. No need to justify your need. I'll contact you for yarn destination. Thanks Susan for setting such a wonderful example.

IRISH FOR THE IRISH

Nothing like seeing the finished sweater on the person for whom it was meant. I'm extremely pleased and so it appears is Keith.
We had a too short long weekend visit with him and my sister. Good food, good wine, good gin, and good laughs.

Discipline

This is the result of discipline. This sweater has been hanging around since the fall of 2005. I just wasn't able to get the pattern programmed into my brain. I stashed it away for months at a time and discovered lace knitting during that time. A close friend started her second Aran sweater a couple of weeks ago. I decided to pull this guilt whispering project out of it's bag. The most amazing thing happened. I no longer needed the pattern! My lace knitting had not only disciplined my brain but it actually sharpened my ability to "read" my knitting. I also kept myself from touching, starting, or looking at any of my lace knitting. Sometimes my hands ached. I'm not sure whether this was psychosymatic or physical. THE ARAN IS OFF MY BACK! My sister and brother-in-law are coming this weekend and this big bad boy is going home with them.
From now on, if I get the desire to knit for someone, I'm NOT going to TELL. I hate deadlines of any kind, but especially knitting deadlines. This beauty took me a year of guilt and exactly ten days of actual knitting. I will always remember it fondly because of what it taught me.
 

MORE LACE

Icarus/Blue Sky Alpaca
Icarus/Silk City Bamboo
Sea Silk/Storm Shawl

Mystery Stole #2

LION & LAMB TURTLENECK

Eldest Daughter and I couldn't find a pattern that had everything, so we created our own with the help of the very handy Sweater Wizard. Lion and Lamb is absolutely a delight to work with and the color is a rich chocolate brown with hand dyed variations. Delicious!
 

KIRI

Guess I'm hooked. I love knitting lace. This is the Kiri. I found a wonderful local shop that buys fleece from local kids who raise sheep. She then spins it and dyes it. This gorgeous red is similar to Koigu, but much more special.
This lovely shawl is for my sweet auntie El. Mom will surprise her with it when she returns home in 10 days.
Now I'm on to fashion something lacey and wonderful for me with the new SeaSilk from Fleece Artist Handmaiden. It is gorgeous stuff.