WWKIP Day!!

The Yarn Lounge hosted World-Wide Knit In Public Day--and I actually got out of the house! Sis watched the crew (I had done the same for her in the morning) and I had a couple of hours to be a non-lonely, in person knitter!

First I saw Susan, who I knew from my petsitting days (hey Spike!) and now Ravelry. She was bravely knitting in the sun on the sidewalk. Brave move in the heat.

Then I walked in to see the Happy Stasher herself knitting furiously and deciding what to stash next. Green or blue? Organic cotton or Cotton Fleece? Lou is to yarn as Jesus is to The Little Children--she loves them all. "Come to Lou, little skeins! You all have a happy, safe home in my stash! I will protect you and love you--come to mama! "Lou is acually adding a stash room--an entire attic craft room--to her house. I have seen it in person and it is beautiful. It will have shelving and closets and workspaces for knitting and scrapbooking. When it is complete I have promised to help Lou organize and catalog it all--I want to enter the whole thing on Ravelry. She is going to need a Flickr Pro account.

Lou's stash is certainly a stash that would bring smaller collections (like my own) to its knees, begging for mercy! Truly the mega-stash. Monster Stash.

I had a discussion with a recent JMU grad (Becky?) about her HUGE yarn score of high quality wholesale yarn from the fiber studio at JMU. Fabulous!

I met Brandy, author of The Purl Parables, in real life. Tell me, what is the ettiquitte for meeting online friends in person without being a stalker? As in--love the blog, the shawl was amazing (so true! check it out!) I've commented a few times, how are you? In classic Me style, I said nothing. I am so rude. Its not intentional, I'm just so clueless.

At The Yarn Lounge I did some browsing; I had brought in enough food to qualify for a discount (bring in 5 things for the food bank and get a 10% discount! good idea). I am really trying to knit creatively from the stash right now....and I have been struggling with what to knit next. My RavQ is full but nothing is dying to be made. Maybe all of my serial knitting (socks, BSJ) has killed my creative spirit. I am still making the same patterns over and over.

I have swatched for a top down cardigan; I've never knitted my own design before. I like the same styles over and over, and my body shape does not change so I know what suits me (and what doesn't). I am hoping a top down in SOCK YARN will work, set in sleeves, knitted on larger needles to make 4-5 stitches/inch, like Tempest. The Ellen's Half-Pint looks really good in the swatch....

The Lone Knitter

I noticed today that I have knitted alone (but rarely lonely!) for more than a month now. Maryland was my last outing with the sticks...but what an outing it was. I work in the library of a local community college and my shifts include two weeknights and some weekends; these erases some nights of knitting in public for me as well. But I continue to knit, me, the TiVO and Doctor Who.

I finished a pair of socks for FaveSpouse and I am now at the end of the Noni Green Earth Grocery Bag with just a part of the handles to complete. A flower washcloth is in the works for BoyWonder's teacher; my Charlotte Shawl is stalled.

BUT I have also been doing a bit of sewing. Sewing is kinda fun when it goes well--and I love using my vintage machine (my mom made her maternity clothes on it when she was pregnant with me!) but my skill is pitiful and I often get frustrated. Still, you can make an item in a few hours, or an afternoon....try that instant gratification with knitting! In an afternoon all you can make is a dishcloth, or a flower pin.

Sunday I made myself a pair of pajama pants--I love them! They are short--like capris-- and very light, perfect for summer (and for impending Cub Scout Camp) and I hope to make more of this pattern. I always need pajamas--as do my family! and the pattern is multisized, from teens to adults. I have been to both of the Local Quilting Shops (that I can find) and the one I gave a chunk of money to was Quilting Adventures. I bought the patterns, notions and fabric for the pants, one little girl dress and a baby quilt. Whoa! They have a blog and a website, and have been very helpful. My dad's girlfriend (a quilter) suggested them.

BUT I am not yet going to the dark side....!