Playing Catch Up

I’ve been spending lots of time at the computer, mostly related to my job, which makes me less interested in writing a blog entry when I get home, or get up. Last week, Franklin’s 1,0000 Knitters Project came to town for Yarnover, sponsored by the Yarnery, and I was, as described in the guidelines for scheduling a shoot

“One dedicated, assisting staff member. Public shoots can become crowded at times. A numbering system helps to keep things running smoothly. I’ll need at least one person to distribute model releases, give and call numbers, and explain the basics of the project to those who might inquire.”

What this doesn’t say was what a blast it would be. Franklin is charming and kind. I really enjoyed watching him put each knitter at ease as he photographed them. If you get the chance to participate, don’t be shy. It was easy.

The best part was that Franklin’s great sense of humor is not limited to his writing and drawing. We were in a high school classroom, which necessitated rearranging things. This reminded us both of Catholic School Days, when the CCD students who went to gasp, public school, would spend time in our classrooms learning the ropes of Holy Mother Church. It also meant that they, as children do, moved things, took things, and generally interfered with the classroom set up. Imagine the prissy whine on Monday mornings – “Sister, the public schoolers messed up my desk, the public schoolers broke my ruler, the public schoolers took one of my crayons. ” The infractions, real or imagined, seemed egregious. So this was our chance to wreak revenge, and we gleefully took things off the wall and moved desks. Heh-heh, I wish I had heard those Spanish I and II kids on Monday. “Senor, the knitters moved my desk, the knitters took my stuff and put it over here, the knitters didn’t get the flag back properly.” Take that you public schoolers. (We put everything back, really. And I didn’t break a single crayon.)

Franklin got the chance to photograph Lucy Neatby (I was going to say shoot, but that didn’t sound right) who invited us to come paw through her trunk of knitted wonders – and what wonders. I don’t generally care for intarsia but man this stuff was amazing. Fingering weight cotton knitted at about a zillion sts to the inch with extra quadruple zero needles. Only the rigid moral code instilled in us by Catholic school kept us from stealing something. Plus, Lucy was right there with her students. I wanted to go home, throw away all my needles and take up macrame. One of these days I will sign up early enough at something, somewhere, to get into one of Lucy’s classes.

MLE

Happy Earth Day

I’ve been whirling like a dervish lately. Trying to finish up projects both knitting and work. The office is launching a reusable bag campaign, and I’ve recently finished a felted market tote bag out of Malabrigo Chunky. The colors are random, but I love them. And it’s interesting that the stockinette stitch fabric when felted gives vertical ridges. Almost as if I’d planned something neat, but it’s just a happy accident.

It was 76 degrees here in Minnesota. The ice is finally melting from the lakes. Happy Earth Day! Bring your own bag next time when you go shopping.

Theresa

A Good Time Had By All

I am so late the party, as always. Others have covered this event in great detail, but here’s a brief take. Last Thursday evening at about this time, I was zooming along Summit Avenue in the snow, with the Yarn Harlot as my passenger. (The photo in her post was thru my windshield.) I was her designated driver, and acting as emcee for the Yarnery event, because I have been tagged the token extrovert. But no longer. Check out the video if you haven’t seen it already, of the serious Yarnery staff extroverts. The Yarnery family singers– Angie, Jess, Eric and Scott — all classically trained, opera-singing wild folk, were rocking the house. Last year, I had to entertain the masses waiting for Stephanie. And I do mean masses. (Photo by Incaknits.)

This year, all I had to do was introduce the warm up act. Very very funny. Do watch the video. Also, Angie has lots of footage and photos.

Stephanie’s speech/presentation was even better than last year. Her delivery is so dry and so funny. She rarely cracks a smile, while the audience is falling on the floor laughing. She touched on questions of neural plasticity, research being done on repetitive movements as a benefit to the brain, and theta waves. At one point she questioned her material, hoping she had got the science right. This was an audience of knitters, doncha know, so of course there was a neurologist there who confirmed that she was on the right track. There is something about knitters, is there not? Although I am not of a scientific bent, and dwell in , as my husband puts it, ‘math hell’, I am a regular reader of the NYTimes Science and Health sections on Tuesday. The brain fascinates me, and there is a lot of research going on these days, mercifully reported for the layperson. I have had Sandra Aamodt’s book Welcome to your Brain on hold at the library for while, and I’m next on the list. So what a treat to hear an erudite, hysterically funny discussion on the intersection of current brain research and knitting. Then, I got to give out door prizes those waiting for a signed book. Quite like Christmas, but better because I didn’t have to purchase the presents.

E for Errata

The wonderfully sharp eyed Susan sent me the errors she found in the Yarni – Lace Baby Sweater pattern.

I’ve tried to track down all who ordered one and send the corrected version. I’m posting the corrections on the errata page, and will put them on Ravelry, too. Susan was so kind to send them to me. I am always amazed at the skill of knitters who look at a pattern error and say, of course, this is what she really meant. The evidence is all of those adorable sweaters you can see on Ravelry. Really, these are nice projects, but I want too see some pictures with the baby in the sweater, those are waaay cuter. So if you have a photo you are willing to share of the happy recipient of your sweater, I’d love to see it. See Andrea’s Happy Recipient as an excellent example.

Tomorrow night is the Yarn Harlot book signing/speechifying/knitter hoe-down sponsored by the Yarnery. I’ll be there giving out door prizes and once again acting as emcee, so if you attend, please say hi.

Next on the knitting related agenda is Yarnover. I’m going to be assistant factotem for Franklin’s 1,000 Knitters photo shoot. This means I have to be to the other side of the metro area by 8 am on a Saturday morning to help set up, so I’ll be the sleepy looking assistant. Again, come say hi and get your 15 minutes of fame via Franklin’s Fabulous Fotoboth.

MLE