Airport blogging.

Since you saw me last…

Meganlkyc

A birthday cake for Megan, owner of Lettuce Knit. (Denny spun it herself. Isn’t that the perfect knitters cake?)

Newtsst2

A new sock. I finished the old pair of travelling socks last night. (It was sort of hard somehow.) New book, new tour. New Socks. Meet my charming fleece artist companion, debuting in a photo atop the Yarn Harlot Remote Blogging System, in Pearson International Airport. (The lady in the background looked so bored for so long that I almost tried to teach her to knit.)

Winwoldsch

An old project, rammed in my purse for airplane knitting. I’m travelling with three projects. This shawl, which is “Summer in Kansas”, the sock, and…well. We’ll see if I even get the third one out of the suitcase.

Skyoverny0406

A sky (over NY) for Sandy. I can’t tell you how odd it was to fly into and out of NYC and know that Amanda was there somewhere. (I looked for her, but I couldn’t see her.) It’s unspeakably weird to be somewhere travelling, and know that your child is there travelling, and have nothing to do with each other. T- 5 hours to Creekside Books. I’m a little nervous. A little nervous the way that The Shining was a little creepy. Like that.

97 thoughts on “Airport blogging.

  1. It is odd to be traveling simultaneously with your child. You should be able to “feel” her, somehow.

  2. Woo hoo! I am going to be at Creekside tonight. Prolly the one coming in late! You realize there are 2 yarn stores with in stumbling distance of this bookstore don’t you! One is really close by. You could spit and hit the place! She is a crusty old broad but has some great stuff. I am excited! I checked and my seat is still safe!
    Smell ya later.

  3. I really don’t know why you get nervous about these events – you know everyone loves you like wool. Silly girl. All will be well.

  4. Dude. Take deep breaths, and remember that whenever you are among knitters, you are among friends whether you’ve met them before or not.
    Seeing the yarn cake again makes me happy.

  5. I’ve never understood people who willingly go places like airports or doctors’ offices where they KNOW they will be spending time just stiting, without brigning soemthing along to keep them busy…not even a book or magazine. Even my kids always have a book in their purse or car to pass the time.

  6. What a cool cake, and no one had to be in the kitchen! Have a safe and enjoyable trip. Thanks for still blogging when you travel.

  7. Don’t worry, the kids can manage. Well, the mothers worry. My mom calls me every day to check whether I’ve eaten and dressed warm, to the great laugh of my Finnish flatmate who needed quite a time to understand that mom does that not because i’m totally useless but because she is the one who feels lonely… Finnish mothers are different, maybe….
    And I usually knit on train. Maybe it’s because I have nowhere to fly to:-)

  8. Oh, I’m so happy you’re still blogging! Makes it seem ridiculous that I have trouble finding time to blog! Love the yarn cake!

  9. Would you give us the source for the Gardi Vine Cardi pattern? I searched the web to no avail.
    Have a great trip! It amazes me that you get nervous – you are so great! I saw you in Portland (OR) and you are a natural! Have fun!

  10. Go you! That is absolutely the best kind of cake for a knitter, though I gotta tell you – I’d be nervous about open flames anywhere near handspun. The Fleece Artist is gorgeous, and is inspiring much envy in me this morning. I need to knit up some of sock yarn stash before I dive into the wonder that is FA.
    And rather than saying break a leg, maybe you could sacrifice a birch DPN for luck?

  11. My computer died last night before I could add to the humungus list of commenters.
    Getting “fancy stuff” to hem trousers (Stitch-Witch? Or something like that.) is a waste. Use adhesive tape. (Ask me how I know.)
    Or leave them un-hemmed, as was mentioned by a few. It’s like knitting – would the raw edges be noticed by someone on a galloping horse?

  12. I have John Denver’s Leaving on a Jet Plane in my head…it’ll be there all day.
    I have no doubt that you will rock the house…and I really hope that your tour comes to Ottawa sometime too!
    Cause Im leavin on a jet plane
    Dont know when Ill be back again
    Oh babe, I hate to go…(do you hear the dogs howling???)

  13. A few weeks after we left my daughter at college (500 miles from home), I visited a city that was an hour from her school.
    We had talked about it beforehand; she would probably just want to spend time with her friends at that point, rather than with me, so I did not go see her.
    It felt very strange to be that close, so far from home, but not SEE her………….

  14. Oh, I totally just got the email from Mind’s Eye Yarns that you’re coming to Cambridge in a few weeks! Happy! That bookstore is ten minutes from me, so I’m all a-twitter!

  15. I love the birthday “cake” but would be so nervous about the open flame near the yarn, not to mention wax dripping onto it!
    You will be fine on your tour- you always are!

  16. Nervous, seriously? I’m going all by myself (everyone else I knew that was going, has had to cancel for some reason or another) so I’ll share your nervousness. Actually I’m more nervous about the drive. We just moved here and this is a new driving route to Skaneateles for me!

  17. Finally somebody has figured out how to make the perfect cake without a single calorie!
    Everybody needs one like that.
    Travel fun and safe.

  18. I’m nervous about Friday in Pittsburgh. The friend I invited hasn’t emailed back and (most seriously) I have no knitting project at the moment, so I’ll be the one knitting her fingers together and trying not to look out of place.

  19. Why nervous? You’ll be fantastic. And hey, you should’ve tackled the poor woman about knitting. I’ve converted more friends and co-workers to the wonderknitworld via airplane flights than anything else . . .
    Question about the cake — how do you serve the slices/divide it among the knitting attendees? *ducks and runs for cover from all the knitting needles thrown in her direction*
    And thank you Lisa. Now I’m hearing that song too. Actually, I’m hearing it sung a la the stars of Armageddon . . .

  20. I think I’d be nervous about the candles dripping wax onto the yarn…SAVE THE YARN!!!!
    I got your new book last night and I’m 50 pages into it – love it!!!!

  21. Love the yarn cake. New rule at our house – husband and son can have ice cream cakes, Mom gets a yarn cake.
    Fleece Artist is always a favourite as is Zephyr – only three projects? you can’t be going for very long, then!
    Safe travels to you and Amanda.

  22. Isn’t it funny that there are some things that, no matter how many times you do them with grace, verve and stellar success, still make you nervous? I won’t tell you not to be nervous. I’ll just tell you we love you like raspberries, and chocolate, and sunrise over Rangeley Lake, all wrapped up in purple wool. Safe and happy trails, can’t wait for Grafton.

  23. I will tell you creepy – my father and brother were both traveling for different companies to different destinations unknown to the other and ended up seated next to each other on the plane. My father was flying to DC and my brother was making a connection flight. Love the yarn cake and see you in Cambridge.

  24. It will go swimmingly! You’ll do wonderfully!
    You did rememebr to rinse the shampoo out of you hair, didn’t you? 😉

  25. I could tell you not to be nervous but it won’t do any good. Just be yourself – you’ll wow ’em, you always do. hugs.

  26. Love the B’day cake! I’m jealous! Wish someone would hand-spin a birthday cake for me!. Also love the blue cake for socks, as well as the Kansas lace-weight shawl. I clicked on the links and would certainly have bought the pattern and the lace weight yarn had I not spent every last dime online yesterday…feeling major Knuilt (my word for guilt based on buying knitting related items). Also major excitement, joy and anticipation; love getting goodies in the mail. Sorry, you don’t care about that. Hope your trip is enjoyable. Good knitting to you.

  27. That’s why you’re so likable. You’re still humble when the truth is you’re loved by a lot of knitters.

  28. Hope things get less creepy! How are the pants? Pants can also be hemmed with a stapler. My daughter is traveling (by bus from Connecticut to Chicago with her high school choir) and I’m developing a split personality. One side is worrying about multiple natural disasters, and the other is saying she’ll be fine. I imagine you’re thinking the same things, only worse (the NYC factor).
    Happy traveling!

  29. Now there’s the perfect birthday cake. Lovely, with no calories.
    You know you always have us laughing in our chairs until the tears run down our faces, so don’t be nervous. All they’ll remember is how much they laughed. They won’t even notice the unhemmed pants. And duct tape works wonders for that.

  30. You will be fine!!! They are all coming because they adore you . . . go with the flow. Just be Steph and you will be fine. I loved the yarn cake. What a lovely gift to receive.

  31. Hi Stephaine,
    I am sure you will have a great warm welcome tonight in Skaneateles. This is UPSTATE NY where so many of us are just overjoyed to be able to hear you speak and get you to sign your newest book. I am bummed that work commitments are not allowing me to get up there tonight. I just do not think I can drive 45 miles in 15 minutes no matter what route I take. I will definitely make your next appearance up here in central NY.
    Oh and I vote for the black zipper for the undefined, not ‘regular’ colored cardigan. hugs and misses, Susan

  32. Go you! You are just on a finishing spree.
    I am so proud.
    You have no reason to be nervous. The knitterly world loves you, adores you, and secretly wants to knit you socks.
    …maybe that last bit is just me…

  33. Excellent cake… and my two oldest are in Hawaii/w their grandparents right now… I keep expecting them to come in the door at 3:00… it’s very weird when they don’t…you’re right… there’s just something wrong about not having the child at home. (You’ll be awesome tonight… I have no doubts:-)

  34. Excellent cake… and my two oldest are in Hawaii w/their grandparents right now… I keep expecting them to come in the door at 3:00… it’s very odd when they don’t…you’re right… there’s just something wrong about not having the child at home. (You’ll be awesome tonight… I have no doubts:-)

  35. Like Jess said, the knitterly world absolutely adores you. That said, I would be scared stiff to make you a sock, but I would happily sit next to you while you made one so i could absorb some of that great sock juju you have. is that horribly selfish? i apologize if it is. Tonight will be great fun for all , i suspect, so enjoy!
    As to your weird travel synergy with your daughter, it has to be really strange for you, but somehow reassuring for her, don’t you think?

  36. I have just started ‘Knitting Rules’ and have been reading it out loud to my husband. Too much fun. Have a great trip.

  37. Looks like you’re planning to buy more wool while you’re away – only 3 projects?!! LOVE the wool cake. At my recent birthday party – ALL the gifts were wool – but I never thought to ask for a wool cake too. No calories. Next year….

  38. You can bring knitting needles on airplanes? I thought you couldn’t do that. (Or is that you can bring them on a plane if you are in Canada…just can’t do that in the U.S.?)

  39. I have had an unreasonable liking for the Summer in Kansas shawl for many years. Unreasonable only because I would never wear yet another triangle shawl.

  40. I’m *so* psyched to be seeing you tonight in person….I’ll be the blithering idiot with the pasted on smile that shoves a book at you…. 🙂 I’m bringing along my sock in progress so it can meet another travelling sock. Oh, and my husband is joining me as my girlfriend can’t make it….the shock value should be hilarious!!!! To quote him, “String…you can’t trust it…” (He had an unfortunate incident last year moving a Space Bag full of my yarn which suddenly split down the middle…….) Dancing in my seat until 6!

  41. I wish that I got cakes like that… then I would enjoy getting older even more… hehehe…
    Safe trip!

  42. You’ll be close to my area at the end of the month – I’m 3 hours from St. Louis, and 2 from Lexington. I wonder if I can talk my husband into a road trip. Mmmm, road trip.

  43. This is the third book…you have to come to Denver! There are many knitters here who want to meet you! Please, oh please, oh…okay, I won’t beg…but just think, you could visit the TSF/KWB mittens that now live in Colorado! Hope to see you soon:)

  44. Shine on you precious diamond… I think that’s Pink Floyd.
    And, I’m asking for a cake like that for my next birthday (almost feel bad it’s 9+ months away).

  45. Ditch the adhesive tape and go with safety pins for hemming. You can throw them in the wash that way…
    Here’s to laziness.
    Kari- Knitting Needles are allowed now, within reasonable discretion of the agent. The TSA (the official flight security people) even issued an update saying so. Just don’t bring scissors that have a sharp point unless you feel like gifting them to the TSA Agent. Basically, they should be allowed but if the screener is paranoid or takes a disliking to you, you’ll have more than your needles to worry about anyhow… like making your flight.

  46. That yarn cake is going in as my cake choice this year for my birthday! Mmm. Fiber-ey! (Doctors always stress the importance of fiber, you know!) I love the colors of the new sock!
    Safe travels and cheers to to the Yarn Harlot Remote Blogging System! Come to Eugene soon!

  47. That yarn cake is going in as my cake choice this year for my birthday! Mmm. Fiber-ey! (Doctors always stress the importance of fiber, you know!) I love the colors of the new sock!
    Safe travels and cheers to to the Yarn Harlot Remote Blogging System! Come to Eugene soon!

  48. “Summer in Kansas” is beautiful. Maybe I am biased living in Kansas but what a beautiful shawl. Wishing you and Amanda wonderful trips
    Teresa

  49. I’m sure you’ll be fine tonight and the only way anyone will notice your pants (and the hems) is if they’re hand knit! I finally got your book at my LYS Tuesday night but it’s banished to my suitcase for 2 weeks. That’s the only way I can save it for my trip when I can really enjoy it. I’m still watching to see if you get close to central Indiana – hope to see you sometime!

  50. Grat cake!
    I’m surprised there’s no one freaking out about the red candle drippies. Speaking from experience, red wax stains are not fun to get out.
    Cadi

  51. I like the cake. I may ask for one for my birthday this year. As for The Shining, Steven himself helped make a TV version that is longer and more intense. See you at Knit One tomorrow!
    Lin 🙂

  52. OH Wonderful —All new things for a new season hurahhh spring is here . The yarn in the cake LOOKS good enough to eat .Did anyone try it ?haha.Does that mean that Meagan is going to knit something BIG ? Take good care of the sock as its new to all this travelling and crowds but I’m sure it will fit right in with all the other needles and yarn that will be going to see it tonight.As you are not in my neck of the woods I won’t get to see you but wish you FUN LAUGHTER and ejoyment on meeting all of your fellow knitters. My girlfriend used ot get SO nervous about meeting a group of new people she would literlly be sick.This stopped once she said to herself “”Here I come you lucky people”” This certainly applies to you and all those lucky people that get to see you on this tour. Envious ???NOT ME sniff sniff sniff ENJOY every moment

  53. Oh, that was YOUR plane flying over my house???
    I waved, didja see me?
    (I get the prize for the most dorky post)

  54. So funny that you still get nervous. I know I would be, but I don’t know why you are. We always laugh. And with you, which is the important thing.

  55. The Summer in Kansas Shawl is beautiful — but all I want to wear in the summer in Kansas is ice cubes!

  56. Ooh, happy and safe flying, and happy knitting!
    So sorry I wasn’t able to see you in Tampa. Maybe you’ll come around Orlando sometime. 🙂

  57. How weird that I just read two knitblogs, back to back, with a reference to The Shining. You and Stitchy McYarnpants. Is it some kind of weird sign? I hope not. That book (and movie) really freak me out.

  58. Any chance of arranging a Beijing stop on your book tour? I am so sorry I cannot make any of your talks…I am not sure what I would do if I saw another English speaking knitter! There seem to be only 2 of us in all of Beijing.

  59. You were GREAT tonight at Creekside! Very human and personable and JUST like I thought you would be. Great job, Stephanie — thanks a lot for coming all the way to Skaneateles!

  60. I think the fact that the shawl is named Summer in Kansas is unbelievably funny. I’ve lived in Kansas almost my whole life and believe me, you are often tempted to wear absolutely nothing in the summer here. HOT! I do get it though. That bottom pattern definitely looks like the stalks of wheat waving in the furnace-hot wind in the summertime. And the top part could be the waves of heat rising from the ground. LOL.
    Yes. That is definitely the perfect knitters cake. My birthday was last Saturday, and would have welcomed a cake like that for sure. Of course, I didn’t turn away the chocolate one my mom made me, and she didn’t turn down the lemon-drop one I made her. 😉
    Happy travels!

  61. Wouldn’t it be wierder if you actually *did* run into her??? I mean, 12 million people, give or take ….?
    (And fess up. Three projects? *Feh* I blow my nose at you. You have more than one set of sock yarn, nu?)

  62. Please, Please, please come to Wisconsin!!!!!! Get that super-agent of yours to make the arrangements, I know she can do it. We have fiber here, lots of fiber.

  63. If all else fails wave knitting. Show them the perfect heel turn. Remember to talk while you knit-these are your people chances are they will be knitting while listening to you too.
    (Ok am I the only one picturing Clark Kent running around in a shawl?)

  64. Mom and I had a great time last night in Skaneateles. Stephanie, you are as great a speaker as you are a writer (and we all know how fabulous a Knitter you are)!

  65. Oooo I want a yarn cake for my birthday!
    … although i have to wonder if any wax got on the yarn? o.0
    I hope your trip is going well!!
    *OtterHuggles*

  66. Yeah. I understand nervous. we all do nervous.
    that being said, I think it might help to know… I bought your new book… I’m reading it cover to cover.. It has grabbed me like a juicy novel – up to the socks part now. Just like when I read your last book, I am wishing that this book would never end…. it inspires me.
    thank you.

  67. Hi Stephanie: It’s me, Karen, from the Front Row in Skaneateles. (Apparently there were at least 2 Karen’s present!) Do you really read all of these comments? You were funny, witty, and yes, charming, last night in Skaneateles! I was so excited to see you in Real Life (could you tell?)! Good luck with the rest of your tour. It’s obvious that it will be a joy for those who get to come see you.

  68. I found your book in the wild! It was a featured book at barnes and noble and had its own little special place right next to the vogue stitch dictionary! Congratulations! Any plans for heading to the west coast anytime soon?

  69. Just three projects???? What ever happened to the “done” but not quite sewn up cardi? My son (almost 9 yrs old and learning to knit) and I can’t wait to meet you in Doylestown, PA. We live near Hershey and so are bringing you chocolate!! Safe travels to you.

  70. That would be the FIRST sky picture from an airplane window. Just so you know. And the first is always special!
    Thanks for that! Such beauty. As far as the eye could see! I feel like I was there. In thought and spirit. And that’s not as good as really being there. But it’s better than nothing.
    ~nod
    Happy traveling!
    Coming my way soon?

  71. I don’t mean for this to sound weird/stalkerish, but is she at a choir festival in New York? Particularly the Festival of Gold at Riverside church this last weekend? Because there were Canadian choirs there, and they were good (so I heard-I didn’t get to hear all 25 choirs). I just got back an hour or so ago from the competition myself.

  72. Hmmmn, you are blogging about airplane knitting. I didn’t know you were allowed to bring knitting needles on an airplane? Please please please tell me how you are knitting on the airplane. Thanks

  73. I’m with Melanie, I want to know about airplane knitting, do the needles have to be bamboo or plastic or will the regular ones be okay?

  74. just finished the Book “The Yarn Harlot” and your second one too, I haven’t smiled and laughed so much in along time,thank you btw I lent your books to my 11 year old daughter and she loves them too
    thanks again
    Kristy

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