4 out of 5 Knitters Agree

Swag Bag Courtesy of the Yarnery

For the record, the Socking (stalking with a sock) has subsided somewhat. Fortunatley it’s the weird famous knitter stalking part that has calmed, not the sock knitting part.

When I arrived at the restaurant meet-up on Wednesday I had a nice little cuff, a pretty well executed heel flap, and a FANTASTIC heel turn (no really I did it right and I did the math all by myself) completed. The next obvious step is of course picking up the stitches for the gusset and knitting on my merry way while decreasing at a reasonable rate. All things I’ve done numerous times on bags and hats. No Problem. (that would be foreshadowing - I've a degree in Communications no doubt)

After finishing my Chicken Sate` (here’s a bonus link for a fab chicken sate’ recipe) I picked up my stitches and began the decreasing. I knit while Stephanie talked and I knit while I waited in line to say hello and get the ever important book signed for Princess. (She still doesn’t know but it is a hard thing to keep to myself can I make it a few more days? Should I put duct tape over my mouth? Would that be a give-away?)

At this point I wasn’t sure if I was on the right track. I worried about my decreases, I worried about the fit, I worried that it didn’t look exactly “right”. But, not only am I a worrier I am also delusional so I kept right on going not saying anything and definitely not entertaining the possibility that I might’ve mucked the whole damn thing up.

When it was my turn to get my picture taken, Stephanie asked where my sock was. I pulled it out of my bag with a bit of trepidation; and, when handing it to her to hold while I held hers for the photo op, I said

“I think it has some problems”

Stephanie gave it a closer look and concurred

“It does look suspicious”

Translation: “You’ve mucked the whole damn thing up”

I spent the next 18 hours mulling the sock about in my head. Looking at it. Thinking about it. Worrying about it. Worrying that I was worrying too much about the sock.

On the surface it looks pretty good. Not great (don’t forget the craptacular skill set) but certainly not like something that was constructed with dull pencils & macramé twine. It’s when you look a little closer that you maybe notice an issue or two I like to call

Gaping holes in the knitting that will not keep the feet warm

Also, it is too small. Clearly she grew overnight.

I broke the news to The Princess yesterday afternoon on our way home. 4 out of 5 knitters agree* I need to start over.

If there is a shining moment in any of this it is that I am not defeated. This I know because if you peek into my fancy new knitting bag somehow a little something extra we like to call sock yarn found its way home with us last night.

Heh.

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*The 5^th non-concurring knitter is The Princess. She would like her damn socks already thankyouverymuch. The delusional part of me is thinking it would be awesome if I could just get my arse in gear and knit up the anklets (there isn’t even much of a cuff for craps sake) to go with the book in her Easter basket. Fortunately the rational part of me that worries (how is the worrier not the delusional one?) is worried that I’ll fall flat on my face with this and will be found on Easter morning sound asleep with a ½ knit sock and a ½ eaten chocolate bunny next to her basket. So the worrier is looking for plan B to go with the book…..

Cross-posted for posterities sake ;)

A Harlot By Any Other Name

Yesterday afternoon I left the office a tad bit early, dressed in jeans & a sweatshirt with an adventure on my mind. Let it be known that I didn’t really leave the house without a wingman, my wingman just happened to be a flat woman. (all pictures suck butt. it is what it is when the camera has seen better days. if i win the lottery i will buy a bigger better camera)

So, tucked away in my bag along with the sock (which we shall discuss at length tomorrow) was Flat Vicki Knitorious – and we headed off to Pad Thai Grand Café to meet up with Beadslut, Chaos Chris, Jess Mikknit, Amy KnitThink, Stephania MoraieKnitting, Connie Scrapovers, & blogless (?)Cynthia. Vicki checked out all of our socks, and had a beer while the rest of us ate.

Then we headed over to the college to get some good seats. I made sure Vicki had a good view and we prepared for all things Harloty.

Let it be said that the staff at the Yarnery knew what they were doing. This was VERY well organized AND we got Swag. Anyone that hands me a nice tote bag is one of my very best friends ever in the whole wide world.

To welcome Stephanie we sang the Canadian Anthem. Knowing my own voice prowess I let Vicki have the lyrics and I mouthed the words.

Stephanie was absolutely fantastically funny and there wasn’t a hint of how little sleep she’d had over the course of the last few days. Beadslut, Vicki, & I waited in line to have our books signed, to say hello to Stephanie, and to get the necessary photos. Along the way the Yarnery had a table set up with things to buy. I managed to refrain, but only because I spent so much time trying to keep Vicki under control. It might’ve been that beer she had with dinner.

Vicki rolls in yarn

A basket of HOT CHICKS! – Vicki & the felted ones

Vicki had her photo taken with Stephanie & the sock.

I had my photo taken with Stephanie, the sock, and my ummm- I guess you can call it a sock

Beadslut had her photo taken with Stephanie & the sock.

And then it was time to go home. Even though I didn’t get home until after 11:00 next time I will consider more seriously bringing the Princess. Even if it means revealing my on-line persona to more family members than Mr. Motorcycle. Princess will be thrilled when she finds her own personalized & autographed copy of Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off! In her Easter basket on Sunday.

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Let it be said that once again Mr. Motorcycle pinched in to make sure I got my share of fibery goodness. Honestly he would’ve liked to attend this gathering of knitters – he gets us- but that would’ve meant I couldn’t have done dinner based on logistics. So he sacrificed for the good of knitting everywhere (and to get a little work done in the basement too).

While I was off cavorting with knitters he was questioned by Gameboy regarding my whereabouts. Not only did he have to answer the question as to what the hell knitting humor was he was also asked what in the hell a harlot is. Mr. Motorcycle said “Queen”. (I told you he gets it)

When I snuck into Gameboys room to wish him sweet dreams he murmured “you smell like yarn”. I slipped and said “that’s what happens when you’re hanging out with a yarn whore. I mean harlot.” He totally busted me and questioned me – I told him to look it up in the dictionary. Hopefully at this point someone isn’t busy getting his masters degree in googeling harlot.

Cross posted at the other place ;)