What I learned from my sister on The Trip

Always visit the loo in any tourist destination you can; you never know what gem you may find.

taken by 'Ness in the WC of Lettuce Knit, Toronto, ON

Sol-sol-la-sol-do-ti

(... and it rhymes with Stephanie.)

Happy 40th to our favorite Harlot!

Calorie-free vegan cake - what's not to love?

World Wide Knit In Public Day is upon us, people - get thee out there and make knitters of nations! And when you do, come back and post a message to tell us where you were and with how many other knitters.

ADDENDUM: As I rule this roost, my WWKIPDay story goes on the front page:

Kidlet and I had a beautiful Saturday to do with as we wished, so it was off to the park with lunch (and plenty of sunscreen ‘cuz we needed it!). Much playing on the stuff.We then spied some uniformed men getting ready to start a baseball game in yon adjacent ballpark, so we sauntered over and found a seat to take in a few innings. Methinks this was Kidlet’s first real game as “part of the audience,” according to her. Love it.So this was the site of my personal WWKIPDay observance, with about twenty other “audience” members. And however many people were on each team. And the umps. Coolest moment? Noticing the dedication of the field as we were leaving. You go, girl.

Were I the Harlot

June 14 is The Yarn Harlot's birthday.

It's her 40th birthday.

It's also World Wide Knit in Public Day.

Can you just imagine it - being her, being that day? It's almost too much to bear.

Read here to see what a Harlot does when the planets align for the anniversary of her natal day. I might do the same, when it's my turn to be Stephanie.

Oh, to be in Toronto in June...

Papa knows best

Some background information is needed here to understand the culture that is my parents' marriage. My mom has been a knitter/crocheter for over 40 years, in addition to forays into many other creatively expressive outlets: oil painting, sewing, latch hook, needlepoint, cross stitch, macrame - you get the idea.

Dad is creative in his own right, but is not one with "crafty" stuff. He gets the knitting thing, though, and surprises me regularly with the knowledge he has acquired:

1. He accompanied my mom to The Yarn Harlot event in April and had a genuine appreciation for what she had to say - and did not think an auditorium full of (mostly) women knitting was strange in the slightest.

2. He appreciates knit-geeky things, like how Mom can knit socks with more control (and in a better mood) by using sharper needles, how wood needles grip better for her, and the cool concept factor of Flat Feet sock yarn.

3. This one's the corker. Last night I was at their house; all three of us were seated on the couch, my mom working a pair of socks with Maizy, me knitting the sleeve of Kidlet's bolero. Dad leans over to see my knitting and says, "What are those you're using, about a size 6?" Wha? Um, yeah they were. Exactly.

Scott and Eric, I may have another member for Men's Knit Night by the end of the year...

Word travels fast

I'm amazed (and a bit weirded out) how the Harlot songs have been making the rounds in the knitting sphere. I wrote them just to serve as a funny little thang before Stephanie Pearl-McPhee took the stage last week in St. Paul. Now the video clips have had thousands of hits on YouTube, kind words are flying about, and we were even mentioned on Lime & Violet's Daily Chum. (If you don't know these two ladies, check out their podcast here - I think they're hilarious. The DC is their daily blog of knitting tidbits.) Dang.

In knitting news, I just frogged my Chevron Scarf morsel. Ah, sweet freedom! I wasn't happy with the appearance of the scarf (not a fan of scarves that have a distinct wrong side), and the color combination I chose wasn't knitting up with the contrast I was hoping to see. Sometimes it's a relief to put an unsatisfactory project out of its misery and liberate the yarn for another project. Maybe a pair of socks with the Claudia Hand Painted? We shall see...

Knit on!

Harlot tunes

Music is fun. Knitting is fun. Music about knitting is downright goofy.

How Do You Host a Knitter Like the Harlot, part 1

How Do You Host a Knitter Like the Harlot, part 2

Our Favorite Things

Stephanie

(footage by The Heathen Housewife - thanks, Shelly!)

Represent!

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, a.k.a. The Yarn Harlot, rocked Saint Paul tonight. Get ready for many a photo...

The Harlot photographs hundreds of knitters with her sock. My parents even came (mid-picture, in the black shirts).Future knitter... and current Men's Knit Night-er Bob.

The Rainey Sisters and The Heathen Housewife.

Beautiful new felted birds by Marie Mayhew (pattern available later this month).

Divas of The Yarnery.

Partners in crime Eric, Scott, and Jess.

The Harlot with my mom, then me and Kidlet's Log Cabin.

Talent abounds in Minnesota - look at the projects!

A sock yarn door prize finds a new home... and balcony knitters.

Knitters are the most patient people. Look at all the books!

Hopefully I'll have some music for you tomorrow. Good night!