In the Garden City

I’m home (the flight from Alaska is seriously long.) but still catching up on where I’ve been and what I’ve done. The Garden City is Victoria’s nickname, and it’s entirely apt. Victoria sits on the southernmost tip of Vancouver Island, and it’s British Columbia’s capital. (People often think it’s Vancouver, but that city just gets a lot of press.) It has the mildest climate of Canada, and I’ve often said that I would live here in a second, but for the rain and banana slugs. (The banana slugs are just plain creepy, growing up to 25cm that’s 9 inches. Someone just told me that if you lick them your tongue goes numb. I am absolutely gripped by wondering how the heck someone figured that out. Not wanting to be burdened with a horrible mental picture, I didn’t ask.) Victoria is also home to the oldest yarn shop I know of, Beehive.

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101 years old this year. (I bet the back room is a sight to behold. I wonder what you could rustle up in there.) The sock saw the gate to Chinatown

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and Marilyn’s house.

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She’s the organizer of the knit-out, and lives on a boat. (She keeps her stash in a room of a building off the boat. I asked. I knew there was no way her stash was fitting on a boat.) The sock was happy to play to a Canadian crowd, and I was relieved that (since much of my family hails from the west coast) there was nobody I was related to in the auditorium. (Public speaking is weird enough without surprises to make it weirder.)

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When it was over, the parade of 1st socks began. (I am so dim. It only occurred to me the other evening that this many 1st socks in one place can’t be an accident. Wily Canadians. You wait and see, I’m going to switch it to shawls or something.)

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Click to make the knitters bigger.

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Colleen heard me when I said “That’s it. I’m not doing 1st sock anymore. I’m going to do First Shawl!” and she whipped this out.

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Yup. First Shawl.

Alyson (who just got married) used the same yarn as I used for my big pink thing (Blue Moon STR Pink Quartz) to knit her own big pink things.

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Seriously fabulous.

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Maybe you can only use this yarn for big pink things? Has anyone used it to make a small pink thing? Is it possible?

McKenna was there.

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McKenna is the architect of the very clever and beautiful stash weasels,

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and because part of the money is going for her education, and part of the money is going for Knitters without borders, I can tell you that should you wish to have your very own one of a kind Stashweasel (complete with birth certificate) that I’d be happy to put you in touch with the young artist in question.

Check this out. Val started with the baby sweaters and you know what?

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She can’t stop! It’s not just me! The things are addictive. What an enormous relief to see her standing there with them.

I was honoured that Rabbitch was my hat lady…

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Don’t let the smile fool you. We all know just what we’re dealing with here. (Note that she is not covered in dye. I take this as a personal compliment.) This was the only time she looked pleased, right up until we got her some beer. (That improved my mood as well.) After the talk and all the first socks, the Knitters invaded the patio of The Canoe Club (Canadian knitters are apparently a pub invading force to be reckoned with)

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where over the course of an hour or so, we managed to claim all seats (a great cheer would go up when knitters procured another table)…except three. In these three seats remained three handsome young chefs…who were given a choice. Knit…or go.

I used my special knitting lesson for young straight men to teach them. It is not fit for repeating here, lest I lose my reputation for tasteful vagueness. For the curious, I will simply disclose that an analogy was drawn between the insertion of a knitting needle into a stitch and…well. Other forms of ins…..never mind. I’m sure you see where I’m going. Carry on. I’m sure that someone will post a link to pictures of this in the comments. One of the gentlemen said to me “knitting is sort of hard!” and I assured him that as with other things he was having difficulty with at present, like walking, speaking and forming an intelligent string of reason….knitting was easier when sober.

The next morning I made my way to the Knit out at Saxe Point Park,

and I met many wonderful knitters, including Barb

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(Don’t you just love the hat?)

and Paul.

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If you look closely at Paul’s knitting, you’ll see that he’s holding two really interesting knitted objects. In recent years, Paul’s had two surgeries. Open heart surgery resulted in the anatomically correct heart he is holding on the left (The inside of the heart is correct as well, right down to the valves and chambers) and then more recently, he had a hip replaced….and he knit one of those too.

Lest yee think that Paul specializes in body parts…

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this is just one of 84 blankets he’s made. Incredible.

The sock and I checked out the view over the Juan de Fuca Strait, and we looked for whales…

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but a found another sock photographer in the wild.

(I am so not alone in this.)

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On that note, I made for the airport and Alaska and knit the whole way. I’ve been knitting tons actually, Alaska is far, and the trip there and back is seriously good knitting time. I’ve been working on the Kauni Cardigan.

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I think it couldn’t possibly be more lovely. (I know, you’re all asking. the free pattern is here at Ruth’s, (click on the little Union Jack to download a pdf in English) but the yarn is a little more complex. There’s a rumour that it can be had at Knitty City in NYC, but I suspect it’s all gone from there. I don’t know of any other US/Canadian source, all the places I found were European. I ordered my yarn from here, and though my Danish is non-existent, when I emailed her in English she responded quickly (in English) and the transaction was swift and easy. The yarn was in my hot little hands very quickly…though shipping is a little dear. I suggest finding some other knitting friends who want the yarn too, and doing the shipping equivalent of a carpool to save money.

Happy Hunting.

I’ll write about Alaska in a few days. Tomorrow is my birthday, and I don’t do squat on my birthday that I don’t want to- and that might mean I don’t blog. No way to know. Today though, is the birthday of my esteemed mother, the person in the world I have the most respect for. Funny, articulate, sensible..If I am anything good, I learned it from my Mum. (Except knitting. She does not knit, but is perfect somehow anyway.)

Happy Birthday Mum!

(PS. Since tonight is the Knit Night at Lettuce Knit closest to my Birthday, and since I think the best place to have your birthday party is a yarn shop, I shall be there celebrating …and you should feel free to join me.)

379 thoughts on “In the Garden City

  1. Loved seeing you in Victoria! My first trip there was awesome…can’t wait to see you on the west coast again.
    ERICA

  2. Happy Birthday!
    I would love to acquire a stash weasel and support a hardworking young artist. How may I get in touch with the talented McKenna?

  3. Happy birthday, Stephanie’s mum!
    Happy Birthday, Stephanie!
    Enjoy your party.
    That cardigan is seriously gorgeous. Luckily for me, I’m not nearly a good enough knitter to be tempted.

  4. Happy birthday to you and your mom. And wishing you both many more.
    Having fallen off my yarn diet really badly last weekend, I definitely need a stash weasel.

  5. A big Happy Birthday to your Mum and just as big a one to you! It sounds like your Alaska and Victoria trips were fantastic! I fell in love with the stash weasels and would love to adopt one. Could you send me her information, please?

  6. Happy birthday to you and your mom. And wishing you both many more.
    Having fallen off my yarn diet really badly last weekend, I definitely need a stash weasel.

  7. A big Happy Birthday to your Mum and just as big a one to you! It sounds like your Alaska and Victoria trips were fantastic! I fell in love with the stash weasels and would love to adopt one. Could you send me her information, please?

  8. Happy early birthday! Enjoy your day, and what a wonderful place to have your celebration. I wish I were closer so I could pop in and wish you all the best in person.

  9. When I read the blog it indicated “o” comments! thinking I was first for the first time, I clicked on comments only to find 10 others ahead of me…expect this is due to time zones and my pokey dial-up connection. Oh well…In the meantime, I salute your mother and a big Happy Birthday Wish to you 🙂

  10. HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARLOT’S MOM! HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARLOT!! yes I am shouting and yes, I am happy for the both of you! I hope you have equally lovely days. Enjoy knit night tonight!!

  11. Errr… I used your “straight men” knitting lesson as the title of my post. Classy, I know… 😉
    I had loads of fun over the weekend! Thanks so much for coming! And don’t worry about the banana slugs, they’re not really in the city. I’ve only seen one in the many MANY times I’ve done hikes in the area – and I hate slugs. (It’s the only time I ever do a girl’ish scream – there were many bathroom/slug occassions growing up that has led me to this fear… but I digress…)
    I’m glad you had fun at the pub, I was worried we wouldn’t get any seats (we only started out with one table – first come first served and then look what happened!!!)
    Loads of pictures over on my journal. 🙂
    Happy birthday tomorrow!

  12. May your Mum and you have an excellent birthday celebration with the people and things you like best!

  13. wow! a bar full of knitters! What a scene! so were the boys knitters [as far as you know] when it was all over?
    the weasels are so cute.
    My love of colour is causing my to lust that yarn and sweater.

  14. Hey! I knew there was something I liked about you and your “people”, LOL – oh, besides the knitting and the witty writing and the kindness, etc – a fellow Gemini (and your mum and I share a birthday!!). Today is my birthday, too, and I only ask that you raise an extra pint tonight and say “Happy Birthday, Cathy”.
    Happy Birthday, Steph! I promise to do the same here in Cleveland 🙂 Now I am off to the beach!

  15. So good to see you and your sock survived your long trek to Alaska and BC. Yes, yes! Please help me get ahold of a stash weasel (or at least an honestly starving student/artist). I know a few folks who need something to protect their stash. And for one of them, if the stash weasel is cute enough, it might be sacrificed to little hands instead of some pricey crack, um, yarn. Happy birthday, in case your birthday choices don’t involve reading tomorrow either! And best wishes to your mum.

  16. Happyhappyhappy birthday, and ohmygod I love that sweater, it’s glorious, and if *you* admit the shipping is a little much, I am afraid to look. Let alone at the pattern, which scares me a little too. Isn’t it funny, the range of garments included under the word “sweater”? The baby ones I made for the twins are hardly in the same league.
    But yours is gorgeous almost beyond words, and thank you for making it so that I can at least look at it. Have a great birthday even if it doesn’t include blogging!

  17. Happy Birthday!!!
    I, too, must have a stash weasel of my very own. Though at this rate maybe she wouldn’t mind if you just posted her info…?
    I was supposed to be up in Victoria for your visit, I just couldn’t squeeze it in, darn it! (hopefully you will come back to Seattle for a non-retreat thingy?)

  18. Happy Birthday to Stephanie! You have a LOT of June birthdays in your family.
    I was in Petaluma with the 275 other knitters (a record for Copperfields). Thank you for making my sister’s birthday fabulous. She actually started her own baby blog in the last few days, and has not hesitated to tell one and all to check out her picture on your post!
    Have fun tomorrow.

  19. Man, you McPhees like to cram all the birthdays together, don’t you? (I know what it’s like – we have the September Birthdays and the November Birthdays – at least 5 in each month for the family). Happy birthday to all the McPhees!
    That Kauni sweater is delicious, and while I have the pattern, I don’t think subsituting yarn will work. Must get yarn…

  20. Happy Birthday to you and your Mom! Enjoy your day tomorrow 🙂
    I’m about to start my first shawl– maybe this is good timing 🙂

  21. A lot of pictures didn’t load for me, so I’ll be back later.
    However, I STILL want that yarn. Just to pet and cuddle and whisper sweet nothings into its ear. (Does yarn have ears? It must.)

  22. I need a stash weasel… Several. One for the yarn bag. One for the car. Some for my stash drawers. Does she take color requests? Where can I get one??? Please. 🙂
    Happy Birthday!

  23. I need a stash weasel… Several. One for the yarn bag. One for the car. Some for my stash drawers. Does she take color requests? Where can I get one??? Please. 🙂
    Happy Birthday!

  24. First Happy Birthday! To you and Mum!
    Second- you gotta LOVE banana Slugs! Down here in the Bay Area, there are a LOT of them in the red woods. It was a Girl Scout rite of passage to hug a tree and kiss a banana slug!
    Heck- UC Santa Cruz’s mascot IS the Fighting Banana Slugs (I am not making that up!)
    I find the banana slug down right sweet! There is nothing quite like them! You just GOTTA love them!

  25. I need a stash weasel… Several. One for the yarn bag. One for the car. Some for my stash drawers. Does she take color requests? Where can I get one??? Please. 🙂
    Happy Birthday!

  26. Well, I hope your birthday is as wonderful as you deserve (and that would be very wonderful indeed).
    I need a stash weasel and I need one bad.

  27. Happy Birthday…….
    Another Gemini….
    You and your mother are one day apart (probably many years apart) and I and my brother are one day apart, ten years later…June 1st and June 2nd. Gotta love Gemini.
    Could n’t find the union jack in Ruth’s site…any hints??

  28. Was awesome to meet you in Victoria! Have you ever progressed on the sweater, can’t wait to see it all done.
    And Happy birthday, I agree that it is wrong to do anything one doesn’t want to do on their birthday.
    Happy Birthday to your Mom too, busy birthday week for your family!

  29. Happy Birthday to Yooooouuuu! and Your Mum!
    The Big Pink Thing(s) are Lovely, so is the Kauni, and Stash Weasle? Yes, Please!

  30. The sweater is looking gorgeous!
    Happy Birthday to the McPhee ladies! Hmmm…you’r brother just had his birthday too…is your parent’s anniversary in September by any chance? My parents anniversary is July 4 and my b-day is April 4th.
    I’m just sayin’…

  31. Happy Birthday! Speaking for myself, I know that I’m glad that you made it onto this earth, and hope you stick around for a while.
    Great sweater!

  32. Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Stephanie-and-Stephanie’s-Mom-and-belatedly-to-Stephanie’s-brother … happy birthday to yooooooouuuuuuu!!!
    I found out about your “teaching knitting to straight men” method on another blog, and I love it. There was a couple from Alaska at your Denver appearance–I wonder if they were at your Alaska one as well. I am pretty sure they planned to be!
    Oh, and may I please have the stash weasel contact info, too? Please? If I promise not to sing anymore?

  33. Happy Birthday, Mother-of-the-most-respected-Harlot-ever.
    Happy Birthday, Harlot. I would so be there to knit in celebration with you, except for that whole 2500 miles between there and here.

  34. Happy Birthday to your mum and you…may you both have many more and may they all be happy. And yes, even though I’m not quite sure what a stash weasel is, being the owner of yarn stash all over the house, I think I need one, too.

  35. Happy Birthday, Mother-of-the-most-respected-Harlot-ever.
    Happy Birthday, Harlot. I would so be there to knit in celebration with you, except for that whole 2500 miles between there and here.

  36. Happy birthday Stephanie’s mum and you too, Stephanie, tomorrow. Loved the pictures, laughed at the sock knitter in the wild, went oh wow at Paul’s afghan–the man has heart, definitely. Thank you for all you give!

  37. Well dear, happy early birthday to you! I hope you have a wonderful day and spend it doing what you want to do!
    Marly aka Yarn Thing
    knitthing.blogspot.com
    summerkalcal.blogspot.com

  38. I’m assuming that comment’s going to play blue shirt and show up in the closet after all, so I’ll just add this: I seriously love that sweater. If I get dragged away from the laceknitting for awhile, you’ll know why–I seriously love that sweater!

  39. Well, Danish wouldn’t have helped you much as it’s a german site. 😉
    Do you like the Kauni? I’ve been drooling over the pictures a while now and though I don’t want to knit a sweater I would knit a shawl from it.
    Also, happy happy birthdays to your mother and you!

  40. Hey! Banana Slugs are COOL (yes, I’m a UC Santa Cruz graduate). You can hear them munch as they eat if you listen closely. I have a photo somewhere of them crawling through the eyes of a jack-o-lantern a few days after Halloween. If you hold one the slime (and there is a lot of slime) will burn your hands after a few moments. The slime is supposed to make any moist surface go numb but I never experiened that. I’ve also never licked on – ewww! Actually they look like little yellow male “members”, circumcised, of course. Up around Mount Rainier they are black, green and other dark colors.
    After posting about banana slugs someone is sure to knit you one!

  41. <smartass> Well, Danish wouldn’t have helped you much as it’s a german site. </smartass>
    😉
    Do you like the Kauni? I’ve been drooling over the pictures a while now and though I don’t want to knit a sweater I would knit a shawl from it.
    Also, happy happy birthdays to your mother and you!

  42. Happy birthday, Stephanie! I am so thankful that you were brought into this world (thanks, Steph’s mom–and happy bday to you, too!) You are really someone special to knitters everywhere.

  43. Hey! Banana Slugs are COOL (yes, I’m a UC Santa Cruz graduate). You can hear them munch as they eat if you listen closely. I have a photo somewhere of them crawling through the eyes of a jack-o-lantern a few days after Halloween. If you hold one the slime (and there is a lot of slime) will burn your hands after a few moments. The slime is supposed to make any moist surface go numb but I never experiened that. I’ve also never licked on – ewww! Actually they look like little yellow male “members”, circumcised, of course. Up around Mount Rainier they are black, green and other dark colors.
    After posting about banana slugs someone is sure to knit you one!

  44. Hippo birdie two ewes. I wish you a stash without end and an infinite place to keep it in.

  45. Happy birthday to you and your mom! It’s probably something to do with my being 6+ months pregnant at the moment, but I have this image of your mom sitting there on her birthday umphtymumble years ago, pregnant out to here, and thinking to herself, “getting this kid out today would be the best gift I could receive” … only to have you wait an extra 24 hours just to show her that you like to do things your way, thankyouverymuch.
    On second thought, that thought was probably born of the fact that I’m 6+ months pregnant AND parenting a teenager. Nevermind.

  46. This was a completely new experience for me. I usually read about all the lovely yarn you can get in Canada or USA, but which I cannot get my hands on here in Denmark and suddenly it is the other way around 😉
    Happy birthday.
    Best wishes
    Mette in Denmark

  47. Happy birthday Stephanie. May your live be as your knitting, colourfull and perfect.
    Btw speaking Danish would not have helped a lot. The site is from Germany, so you should have spoken German.
    Never mind, the yarn is wonderful as is the pattern.
    Please tell us where to order the weasels. They are perfect gifts (if i can let go of them).

  48. Happy Birthday to The Yarn Harlot’s Mom! Ironically, it is MY Mom’s Birthday as well. And Happy Birthday tomorrow to The Yarn Harlot herself! On another ironic note, tomorrow is my grandmother’s birthday as well (although sadly she is no longer around to celebrate it). Celebrate for her, would you?
    And I too would love a stash weasel. As someone also struggling with school and the cost of it, I can understand her need to supplement her income!
    Have a Great Birthday Bash!

  49. Happy Birthday! My poor computer is having trouble loading all the pictures for some reason, but I totally enjoyed your post anyway. After all your fun, though, it must be wonderful to be home again. Too bad you don’t have some ruby slippers to save you all those hours on the plane!

  50. ohMYgod- look all the the pretty colors…I am in LOVE with that rainbow yarn!! If only I could read Danish.
    Happy Birthday Stephanie! Hope you have an amazing day.

  51. I am personally fond of BC. I remember going there when I was a kid, and all of the power poles had neckties. I would love a stash weasel, and the money is going to a great place. I should of thought of that 8 years ago. Could you please send me contact information?
    And…happy birthday! I can’t think of anything better than a birthday party in a great yarnstore. Enjoy!

  52. Happy Birthday!
    I’d love to come to knit night but hubbo is away and you probably don’t need an almost one-year-old tangling yarn and a two-and-a-half year old “knitting”.

  53. I am personally fond of BC. I remember going there when I was a kid, and all of the power poles had neckties. I would love a stash weasel, and the money is going to a great place. I should of thought of that 8 years ago. Could you please send me contact information?
    And…happy birthday! I can’t think of anything better than a birthday party in a great yarnstore. Enjoy!

  54. Hey Missus! Happy Birthday! And Happy Birthday to your Mum too.
    I want some of those baby sweater kits. Everyone I know is spawning.
    I would also like to get a stash weasel please.

  55. Oh you just made me soooo homesick! I just moved to SK after having lived in Victoria for 10 years. All I do is complain about missing the beehive and the ocean! I was just telling my partner how sad it was that I was missing knit out this year! sigh. I’m glad you got to go and enjoy three of my favourite things.

  56. Happy birthday to you and your mom! I’d love to know how I could get those baby sweater kits! I’m a sucker for a kit and it seems like everyone around me is popping out babies….For the record, I’m not drinking the water around here, just in case!

  57. Welcome home, Stephanie. I’ve always wanted to see that part of the world. Feeling a little bit closer today.
    The rose quartz stockings are indeed fabulous. Wow. And the gentleman knitter with his anotomically correct knitted heart and hip joint. What can one possibly say other than how incredibly weird and wonderful? Aren’t humans great? Speaking of weird and wonderful, I would definitely appreciate a lead on the Stashweasel. Now that I’ve seen it, I don’t think my life would be complete without one. Brilliant.
    Happy birthday to your sweet Mum to whom we all owe a debt of gratitude, and happy birthday to YOU, dearest Harlot! Hope the day is filled with all the comforts of home. Sometimes it’s the little things 🙂

  58. Oh you just made me soooo homesick! I just moved to SK after having lived in Victoria for 10 years. All I do is complain about missing the beehive and the ocean! I was just telling my partner how sad it was that I was missing knit out this year! sigh. I’m glad you got to go and enjoy three of my favourite things.

  59. I live on a boat, too, and my stash is also on the boat. It has actually *taken over* our guest room. I have been knitting and spinning exclusively from the stash since the beginning of the year, and sadly, there seems to be no noticeably dent…

  60. Happy early birthday! What a gorgeous sweater! And what a beautiful place for so many awesome knitters to congregate.
    I so need a stashweasel, and would be grateful for contact info. Thanks!

  61. Happy early birthday, I agree that birthdays should always involve yarn/ yarnshops/ and knitting of course 😛
    I really enjoyed getting to hear you talk this past weekend, and also the pub knitting! I have to say I think that was possibly the largest pubknit victoria has seen to date. At the end we told the “cowboy” that he was going to be famous, and his picture was going to be all over blogland. He was just glad he was going to be known for “doing something good for a change”, to which we reminded him that knitters aren’t all good girls & boys 😛
    Oh & I tried your Canadian test on 2 people so far this week, my hubby passed, but my mom failed! Her claim was that she hasn’t had smarties in ages. I think she might be an impostor.
    Thanks for visiting Victoria!
    ps. banana slugs are pretty freaky eh? the slug licking thing is probably akin to the frozen pole licking thing in colder parts of the country. It never gets much below freezing here, so we had to think up something different. Slugs it is 😛

  62. Happy early birthday, I agree that birthdays should always involve yarn/ yarnshops/ and knitting of course 😛
    I really enjoyed getting to hear you talk this past weekend, and also the pub knitting! I have to say I think that was possibly the largest pubknit victoria has seen to date. At the end we told the “cowboy” that he was going to be famous, and his picture was going to be all over blogland. He was just glad he was going to be known for “doing something good for a change”, to which we reminded him that knitters aren’t all good girls & boys 😛
    Oh & I tried your Canadian test on 2 people so far this week, my hubby passed, but my mom failed! Her claim was that she hasn’t had smarties in ages. I think she might be an impostor.
    Thanks for visiting Victoria!
    ps. banana slugs are pretty freaky eh? the slug licking thing is probably akin to the frozen pole licking thing in colder parts of the country. It never gets much below freezing here, so we had to think up something different. Slugs it is 😛

  63. Happy Birthday to all!!
    One thing I have said since I was old enough to understand what it meant: I will *always* live somewhere with a winter kill. I don’t care if it means it is cold 4-6 months of the year, at least the bugs don’t get big enough to challenge the pets for their food. 🙂 As for slugs of any kind… ewww! I’m sure they have a purpose in this world, I just don’t want them to be around me thankyouverymuch.

  64. Happy Birthday Stephanie and Stepanie’s mum!
    Victoria is such a lovely place. I was born in Vancouver, but “transplanted out” as a baby. I do still feel an affinity with Vancouver and Victoria, though, even though I live in Oregon now. 🙂
    That sweater is looking gorgeous!

  65. That tour of Victoria can’t be beat! But then the cardigan is looking soooo lovely too! Geez. Hope to catch the party (I’m sure) tonight at Lettuce!

  66. Yeah, so I checked out marydotmusic’s blog entry, and I AM DYING! So funny! But what about the straight men who are not familiar with the aforementioned act? (Never mind…I think any man’s imagination is more than capable of grasping such an analogy.)
    Oh, and Happy Birthday to your Mom, and Happy (early) Birthday to you Steph! How old will you be? 35? 😉

  67. Happy Birthday, Bonnie! Happy Birthday to you, Stephanie! I would love to come help celebrate…but so very far away…
    Yes, please let me know how to get a stash weasel, I fell hard for the SW when you got yours last year.
    Kauni is stunning…mmmmm!

  68. OMG! I must have a stash weasel! They are so cute! Can you get me the information?
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEPHANIE’S MUM and HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY STEPHANIE! Your birthday is exactly one month before mine. I wish I could celebrate mine in a yarn shop. Even cooler would be in a yarn shop in Ottawa listening to the yarn harlot (hint hint).

  69. Happy Birthday!
    I would love to get a stash weasel (or a few, I know some knitters who would love them as Christmas presents!). How do I get in touch with the artist?

  70. I loved Paul and his knitted organs. So funny. Oh, and the big pink things! Not the most flattering way to refer to a pair of legs, but Wowza! Those were some nice legs. Staight guy knitting lesson, Amber suggested we get that on the class list at Madrona next year. I second it!

  71. Yay, I’m here three times! (That’s me with the sock photographing too!) That makes me feel much better about stalking you with a camera for two days.
    Happy birthday Harlot Mom, and Happy Pre-Birthday Harlot!
    (Oh, and you should know that your Straight-Man-To-Knitter-Man conversion juujuu is VERY strong. The new hubby tried knitting about a year ago, but he didn’t get too much accomplished. Yet, after merely encountering you on the street in front of Beehive, Travis announced that he wanted wool – he finished his first complete knitted object, a hat to give to the hat lady, by that night. The next day, he started another hat for himself. And as soon as that was off the needles, he started his first sock. Your Force is definitely strong!!)

  72. Have to admit here that I am a NON-knitter who reads this blog very often! and this is my first comment post but I just had to share….
    As I was catching up on the blog today, a woman named Mary came in to my shop in ABQ…we got to talking about textiles (thats what we sell as well as oriental rugs) and then started talking about knitting and I mentioned that I have always wanted to learn and would she teach me. I offered her a trade of bellydance classes that I teach…YES she said! So we will be trading lessons: knitting for bellydancing!!! Woot! How cool is that.
    PS HAPPY BIRTHDAY YARN HARLOT!

  73. Happy birthday to both of you!
    the sweater looks great!
    PS was that the right link for the yarn? It was a german webpage, not danish….

  74. Happy Birthday Steph’s mum!
    And Happy Un-Birthday Stephanie!
    ~
    And as for the stash weasels, awesome. How does one go about getting one?
    🙂

  75. Happy birthday, all. I have always believed the do-only-what-you-want-to birthday day to be the best present.
    Did your family have one big celebration when you were young or several in a row?
    By the way, every few years there is a move here to make the banana slug the state mollusk of Washington, but it has yet to pass. I don’t think they have very good lobbyists — or they have trouble with the hand count votes.

  76. Happy Birthday All! Both of my parents’ birthdays are next month, but then I get a break until February.
    Loved seeing you in Victoria. I was the one working on the STR in the Stormy Weather colorway. I would have applauded much more, except, you know, those heel gusset decreases sometimes take all of my attention. I was applauding in spirit all the way through though.
    I found thrummed sock kits by Fleece Artist at one of the yarn shops in Sidney in the crawl. Have you seen these? My friends are going to be so jealous of me this winter, and it doesn’t even get that cold here in Seattle. It almost made that little incident of locking my keys in the car in Sidney worth it. Well, that and the ketchup-flavored potato chips. Why don’t they sell those in the States?
    Oh, and the four Canadian knitters staying at the B&B with me explained the Canadian test, so I’ll be able to fool you next time!
    And I want a Stash Weasel!

  77. Steph, I am totally in love with those baby sweaters and just had to cave in and contact Lettuce Knit. I also absolutely need the stash weasel. Sigh. I love you and your enableness.

  78. Well, as someone who lives in BC (but had to work while you were here, and thus did not get to go to Victoria 🙁 ), I can tell you this:
    While teaching science classes to kids, we go on nature walks, where we either have a kid lick a slug, or we do.

  79. I heartily recommend wollsucht.de
    You would need german, not danish though 🙂 She lives in the next town over from me, and she is very german, AND very polite and sweet in her fabulous brick-and-mortar store.
    I used her Kauni EQ (The rainbow one) for this shawl: http://keepknitting.blogger.de/stories/417915/
    All the other colours are fabulous too – I also heartily recommend her Evilla yarn, it is the same as kauni, but in more colours and more weights!
    /Lene

  80. Ooooh! Gotta, gotta, gotta have a stash weasel. Mr. Puddnik has been known as “Weasel” for the past four decades (only two of them with me, but I digress!)
    Happy belated/be-early birthday Steph! Chocolate cake and beer go well together, honest!

  81. I totally need a stash weasel too. Please do let me know how to contact the artist. Thanks!
    I love the pictures of Victoria. I think I could maybe even put up with the banana slugs. Did you know that the banana slug is the mascot of the University of California at Santa Cruz? (http://www.ucsc.edu/about/campus_mascot.asp) I think it’s even better than the “Fighting Ducks” (University of Oregon) myself.
    I love living on the West Coast.

  82. Happy, healthy, wonderful year to you and to your mom! You’ve captured Victoria perfectly–Beehive was one of my first stops when I vacationed there. Hugs from Kentucky on your special day tomorrow. 🙂

  83. Happy birthday and have fun at the knitting group. It will be interesting to see what happens this year.

  84. Happy birthday to a fellow Gemini! When we rule the world, no one will question our ability to switch from one project to the next without blinking an eyelash or feeling at all guilty. They will understand — that is just the way it is.
    Thank you for inspiring me to be a more adventurous knitter and enjoy your happy day!

  85. Happy Birthday Ian, Mom and Steph!
    I find it totally cool that you all managed to have birthdays around the same time of the year!
    Although, it must suck for those who love you all but are strapped for birthday cash.
    Great stash weasels! Now if only I wasn’t strapped for cash at the moment…

  86. Can I just say how completely you rock, Stephanie? Because you do. I am still chuckling to myself after hearing you speak in Petaluma. And Shelli (from Knitterly) and I were discussing how *much* you totally rock, so I just had to come over here and say so again. You are so gracious and inclusive…and funny! Thank you for everything!

  87. Oh, and the happiest of birthdays to you! May this coming year be your best yet and may it be filled with love, fiber, chocolate and Peet’s coffee.

  88. Your time in Victoria sounds glorious. It is a favorite city of mine and I’ll be visiting again in May ’08. Warmest birthday wishes. Thanks for sharing your adventures with us!

  89. It was great to hear your talk at Petaluma, and I saw your yarn there. WOW–that kauni cardigan is really something else. Amazing dye job on the two yarns.

  90. Howdy.
    I would quite like a small Stash Weasel. 🙂 Please could you tell me how to contact the starving student who creates these cute fuzzies?

  91. Ah, happy birthday to you, your Mom and your brother! What a fabulous time to celebrate! Have a fantastic birthday, you deserve it!

  92. Happy Birthday Stephanie, hope you have a perfect day! I am flying to Seattle in 6 months, and already planning my knitting!

  93. Bonne fete Stephanie! Enjoy being home w/family & doing whatever you want! Thanks for the fab visit here in Anchorage – we look forward to your post.
    I too need a Stash Weasel – supporting students is always a good thing.
    Banana Slugs – yucko! I have several college friends from CA who attended summer camp in their youth & the custom was for them to lick the slug. Gross! So glad UC San Diego (c/o 1993) has a more reasonable mascot.
    Cheers to you!

  94. Bonne fete Stephanie! Enjoy being home w/family & doing whatever you want! Thanks for the fab visit here in Anchorage – we look forward to your post.
    I too need a Stash Weasel – supporting students is always a good thing.
    Banana Slugs – yucko! I have several college friends from CA who attended summer camp in their youth & the custom was for them to lick the slug. Gross! So glad UC San Diego (c/o 1993) has a more reasonable mascot.
    Cheers to you!

  95. I am still screaming about the banana slugs! Who knew there were such things? *Shudder* When I can’t sleep tonight, I’m blaming you!

  96. Bonne fête, ma cherie! Many many happy returns (and gifts of yarn in heaps – you need more kittens!) Sounds like September is when the dark and cold sets in in Toronto, if all the people in your family are June babies – good planning, so the wee ones first see the world in the light of the sun.
    I hope your day is filled with love and sweetness. Had I only known your natal anniversary was so close I would have added extra bars of soap and maybe even some of my prized chutney along with the jam.
    Many many good wishes – it was an honor to hold the sock in Petaluma, and I have now adopted your “straight man” teaching technique in hopes of getting my son on board with this whole yarn thing too.

  97. I wanted to mention, that Uta from Wollsucht is german, not danish, but Nicole and Lene have been quicker. I had to sooth my kids for bed before reading. Uta kind of started the Kauni Hype here in Germany I think, IIRC she was the first and only one who sells it. Nevertheless I have been to Denmark two weeks ago and saw more Kauni in the Yarnstores, not my kind of yarn but other really nice goodies have been there.
    So in Germany you say it brings bad luck to wish a Happy Birthday before the actual date, make sure you read my wishes on the right day 😉
    Happy Birthday to you and all of your beloved ones.
    Sibylle

  98. Tim Hortons and bars, the absolute best place to find Canadians.
    Happy Birthday to both you and your Mum! I hope it’s great and tonight is enormous fun.

  99. Happy Early Birthday! I gotta stand up for the banana slugs, I’m another UCSC grad. When I was there, if a first-year student licked a banana slug, they’d “get lucky”. Not sure how that fits in with the numb tongue thing…

  100. My stash wants at least one weasel. Their mission – should they choose to accept it-
    would be to repel all attempts at stash enhancement.
    How do I find Michelle?
    Happy Birthday, Stephanie.

  101. Happy Birthdays all around…
    I really enjoyed seeing you in Anchorage… it was very cool.
    I too am in need of a super cute stash weasel 🙂

  102. Happy Birthday! and most of all…thank you so much for sharing with all of us. To say I enjoy reading of your travels and the most beautiful knitting ever is an understatement. I look forward to each and every post here on the blog and your books as they come out.
    Stephanie…you are definitely gifted and I am all blessed in that you are willing to share it with me and the rest of the world.
    Carrie

  103. Well have a lovely birthday! I agree wholeheartedly about not doing jack on your natal day that isn’t pure selfish happy indulgence! Wallow my dear Harlot, wallow!
    thanks for the pics of Victoria, I absolutely loved it— and love the people too.

  104. Well have a lovely birthday! I agree wholeheartedly about not doing jack on your natal day that isn’t pure selfish happy indulgence! Wallow my dear Harlot, wallow!
    thanks for the pics of Victoria, I absolutely loved it— and love the people too.

  105. Lucky for me, that site’s not Danish — as others have pointed out. 😉 I don’t know any Danish but I do know some German, so that site’s pretty exciting!
    Happy early birthday!

  106. Ooooooh, PLEASE tell me where to get a stash weasel!!! So fabulous!
    And, have a wonderful, wonderful b-day. 🙂

  107. Victoria is possibly my all time favorite city EVER…it might tie with San Francisco, but, really, the city by the bay is pretty crowded, and Victoria is much less so, so SF might lose the vote…
    Barb and Paul look like my kind of people–the heart is perfect!!!
    Happy Birtday to you and your Mum…isn’t it funny how families do that? With us, it’s everybody in sept/oct…you get May/June, and that’s fun too:-)

  108. I am not surprised that everyone wants a Stash Weasel, as I want one (or two, or three) as well. They’re not actual yarn so it doesn’t count as me violating my yarn diet. Right?
    Many Happy Returns to both you and your mother. I hope you spend the day exactly as you want it.

  109. Happy Birthday, Stephanie’s mum! And Happy Birthday tomorrow to you, Stephanie! What a nice present for your mum! Thank you for your wonderful blog and books. I ditto Carrie.

  110. Happy Happy Birthday, Steph! Now, where can I lay my hands on one of those stash weasels? They are awesome. I also loved seeing the sock photographer in the wild and the knitted, anatomically correct heart–sweet. Have you seen the knitted GI tract?

  111. Happy Birthday, Mom of Stephanie, and thanks for bringing her into this world.
    Happy Birthday, Harlot, I’ll raise a pint in your honor!

  112. Happy Birthday, Mom of Stephanie, and thanks for bringing her into this world.
    Happy Birthday, Harlot, I’ll raise a pint in your honor!

  113. Happy Birthday, Mom of Stephanie, and thanks for bringing her into this world.
    Happy Birthday, Harlot, I’ll raise a pint in your honor!

  114. Happy Birthday to your mum today, and to you tomorrow! Tomorrow is my first wedding anniversary, too! Obviously, a wonderful date in history, and I am glad to share it with you. Toasts will be raised!
    And I’d adore a stash weasel of my vewy own.

  115. The Kauni sweater is molto delicioso, but how frustrating to have free access to the pattern and NO access to the yarn!!! I have this crazy idea that if one knew the length of the color changes one could duplicate the effect of this yarn by putting together measured lengths of a suitable yarn in a number of delicious colours. Like a kit. Couldn’t one? (Crazy making, maybe, with all those ends to weave in – though no worse than many fair isle patterns.) Just thinkin’ out loud…

  116. Happy Birthday! To your mom and you both!
    You said something about stash weasels? (which look seriously cute and I think I need to have one)

  117. A VERY happy and healthy birthday for your Mom. I’d bet my stash that she didn’t know she would have a daughter (after giving her a beautiful name ) called ” Yarn Halot” Have a GREAT day both of you, and a marvelous year ahead.

  118. You share your Birthday with my only brother … and tomorrow is also when we find out the sex of the twins his wife is carrying! I’ll have some Lemon Meringue Pie on your behalf. Happy Birthday! May the beer be cold, the knitting be painless, and the company be exceptional!

  119. This list of comments is starting to looking like a broken record…or some such interent equivilant. But I’ll add to it anyway. 🙂
    Happy Birthday!
    And Happy Birthday to Your Mom!
    And where oh where can I get one of those sweet little weasels?!

  120. Sorry I missed you in Petaluma. Please come back to the San Francisco Bay Area any time! But I should warn you, there are also banana slugs here–in fact, so many that the banana slug is my alma mater’s mascot (University of California at Santa Cruz). Also, I vividly remember being urged by camp counselors to “kiss” a banana slug back in grade-school science camp (also here in the SF Bay Area). Some of the other kids did it, but I wouldn’t, so I can’t vouch for any numbing powers the slug might have had. Strangely, after all these years, I’m still not tempted to find out.
    Anyway, hoping your tour finds you back in the Bay Area at some point. And hope you have a very happy birthday!

  121. Happy Birthday all! A yarn shop sounds like a fine place for birthday festivities – have fun, and do whatever you want!

  122. Hey Stephanie! It was so great to see you in Victoria. Your talk was really entertaining and humerous. I hope you have a fantastic birthday!

  123. Happy Birthday all around! Party in a yarn shop!
    Would love to help a young and talented artist out by adopting a stash weasel or two. Please let me know how to contact her. They are adorable! (poor girl’s gonna be swamped tho) 🙂

  124. I’ve been dreaming of owning a stash weasel for months and months and months, and now you’re telling me that my dreams can come true?! What a wonderful world….

  125. I’ve been dreaming of owning a stash weasel for months and months and months, and now you’re telling me that my dreams can come true?! What a wonderful world…. Please let me know how to contribute to The Swamping of McKenna.

  126. Happy Birthday! The sweater is beautiful. I already had to order the Tulip Baby Sweater, now I might need to get this one too!
    I too am in need of a stash weasel…and can think of several friends that need one too!

  127. Hey! Tomorrow is my birthday too! I’m hono(u)red to share a birthday with such a cool knitter! Happy birthday to both you and your mom!

  128. Stephanie,
    Happy Birthday. I saw you at Webs. What a great time. You are super.
    Have a great day and night.

  129. Stephanie,
    Happy Birthday. I saw you at Webs. What a great time. You are super.
    Have a great day and night.

  130. Happy birthday to your mom, and an early Happy Birthday to you! Hope your family gets you lots of yarn goodies…
    -Amber (The entrelac-bag-girl-from-WEBS)

  131. Yay!!!! I knew there was something special about you, my dear Harlot!!!! We share a birthday! I knew that knitterly quirkiness and adorable sense of humour had to be because you were born the same day as I was! Yay!!!! Geminis both of us. We’re practically twins and I didn’t even know it. :O) (doesn’t count that I’m way older, we’re still twins) I’m still chuckling about the Indigo Toronto group, and I thank you for that. samm near Niagara

  132. Thank heavens Paul didn’t have testicular cancer!
    I’m enamored with your lovely multi-coloured sweater.

  133. Happy birthday tomorrow! Do whatever makes it special for you. I used to live on Vancouver Island (Nanaimo) and I miss everything out there. I’m glad you enjoyed your trip. If I could share one memory–when my dh and I had only been living there a short while, we saw someone downtown one evening who seemed to be walking a strange looking pair of dogs. When we looked closer, we realized they were lambs. At that moment I fell in love with the place and I’ve loved it ever since.

  134. Happy Birthday! I will be celebrating with you on my 50th birthday tomorrow – June 14, 2007 (Flag Day here in the States). AND I just took my big pink thing off the needles for my friend dealing with her big C. Thanks for the great idea. Since my friend has breast CA I went with every pink fluffy, sparkly, chunky, lacey yarn in the aisle at Hobby Lobby. (Yes, in real life I’m a yarn snob but my friend will appreciate wash and dry) It looks like Barbie threw up but it is full of love and prayers.

  135. Happy Birthday to you both!
    I know you are still knee deep in the launch of this book but have you given any thought to the next one? (Hey, I could nag you about the gansey but I thought you could do with a change!) – it’s just that I was thinking that a book about your travels around the continent, the places and people that you have met, the things you have done and the yarn you have acquired, well, that would be an interesting read. There must be ever so much more than you have space and time to tell us about on the blog. I’d love to read a book like that.
    Just saying is all. You know, in case you needed something to fill in all that spare time of yours.

  136. Happy Birthday Stephanies Mom!
    Happy Birthday Stephanie!
    Fun pics, lovely cardigan.
    I need a stash weasel.

  137. I think my comment got eaten, but it’ll probably reappear as soon as I post this one, just to make me look silly. Just in case, however, happy birthday, Steph’s mum, from a silly commenter!

  138. Happy birthday to both you and your mother! My own mom was born the day after her mom’s birthday, too. That’s pretty special!

  139. Happy, happy birthday, dear Harlot. Don’t do anything you don’t wanna do. We’re knitters. We should be able to figure out how to entertain ourselves for one blinking day (all evidence in the form of 300 comments to each of your blog entries to the contrary). And happy birthday to Stephanie’s mum. We owe you big time! (The Harlot clan has lots of June birthdays, huh? Must be those cold Canadian winters and the detailed explanations to young straight Canadian men re how to knit.)
    *Loved* the stash weasels. I kept reading about them wondering what the heck a stash weasel was. Still don’t know what one is, excactly, but I know what they look like and I want one!
    Re Alyson. Jaw-droppingly amazing work. I will, however refrain from referring to your lovely thigh-high stockings as “big pink things.” I would advise your new husband to do the same.

  140. Happy Birthday!!
    Beehive is heaven on earth… I did not want to leave and seriously put a dent in my bank account with the handmaiden and fleece artist!

  141. You wouldn’t happen to have contact information for the wonderful Paul of the anatomically correct heart, would you? You see, I’ve been tasked with knitting one of these as a Winter Season gift for a cardiac hospital and, well, if I could find that pattern, rather than making it up I’d be just peachy.

  142. time is old but each day is new
    by me
    an early riseing to meet
    the day i go to the windows
    to gaze upon the pink clouds
    as the sun comes over the horizan
    and the trees start to colour
    for time is old and each day is new
    happy birth day

  143. Happy Happy Birthday to you and your Mum!!
    Me thinks you occasionally block out the hard cold fact that THOUSANDS of people read your blog daily. What if we all showed up tonight?! Where would we all sit?

  144. Happy Birthday to you and your mom, Stephanie. How great is it to be able to share such a great event ! Have a great day.

  145. It is the 14th here, so happy birthday! You are getting close to a big one aren’t you? I survived it 🙂
    Heh. I live in Victoria,the Garden State (which then was On the Move and now is the Place To Be, go figure). Not Victoria, the Garden City.

  146. I have to wonder if the creator of stash weasels knows she’s about to be deluged with knitters begging to buy the little darlings?
    I’d like a stash weasel please, too! Can you tell me how I can get one of my very own? 😀
    Hippo Birdies to you and your Mum!

  147. To Megan ISO heart pattern: There was one in the January issue of Knit 1 magazine, if you can track down a back issue. See picture here: http://www.knit1mag.com/blog/?p=163
    (Sorry to interrupt regularly scheduled programming everyone–her email wasn’t working!)

  148. Welcome home and hope you and your family enjoy all the birthdays being celebrated this month. Your tales of your tour have been great to read. Party on.

  149. Oh My Freakin God!!!! Do you know you are starting a giant Kauni obsession thing here in the States? Between that and the baby cardigans it’s gonna get quite colorful. Watch out!

  150. 1. The banana slugs? Ew!
    2. That cardigan induced drooling. Actual drooling. Crap, that’s gorgeous.
    3. As the resident Danish expert, I’d like to point out that the reason your Danish wasn’t working on the yarn site is… because it’s in German.
    4. Happy birthday Bonnie!!

  151. You forgot to indicate whether Paul (the man who knit an anatomically correct heart) is married or single. I think I’m in love with him. Your Kauni sweater is fabulous and thousands of North Americans will be importing yarn from Denmark. Happy birthday and have a wonderful day with your feet up and your hands knitting.

  152. Okay, I gotta have a stash weasal too. Sigh. And to think I thought I wasn’t “one of the herd”…that’ll teach me.
    Happy Birthday (tomorrow) Steph!

  153. Happy Birthday Stephanie! Roll around in some skeins why dontcha? :>)

  154. It’s good to see real life, recent photos of Victoria. I aspire to live on Vancouver Island someday . . . banana slugs or no. (I’m bigger than they are, so I’m not worried.) And there’s half as much rain once you get up to Nanaimo, so you should really consider moving. Still plenty of sweater weather, but for most of the year there’s no threat of losing appendages to the cold if you’re wearing as much as wool socks & a sweater. (Well, and jeans, of course. lol)
    You know, as I’ve gone through life, people with the 14th of June for a birthday keep popping up. (Well, I must admit that I was the first person I knew born on that day. ;o) The next was my best friend in high school, who I just found again after 13 years. The next is my midwife, who is also a good friend. And, finally, you. There must be something to astrology, or the principles behind it, to find myself drawn to those born on the same day as I was.
    I really appreciate you sharing your experiences through your blog. It’s a pleasure to read, and to see all of the knitterly goodness you run into. Happy Birthday tomorrow, Stephanie. I hope you have a wonderful, wonderful day!

  155. Happy Birthday!!!! Have lots of fun and fiber shopping ( all guild free because it’s your birthday yarn!).

  156. Happy Birthday!!!! Have lots of fun and fiber shopping ( all guilt free because it’s your birthday yarn!).

  157. 1. Happy birthday to Steph. Happy birthday to Steph. Happy birthday, dear Harlot. Happy birthday to you.
    2. Stash weasel, yes.
    3. Kauni sweater, yes. But Ruth’s and the yarn shop’s colorway looks more somber than yours. Does it look more like yours or like theirs? Sigh, I guess this is a browser screen issue.
    4. Danish I could do. German, not so much.

  158. 1. Happy birthday to Steph. Happy birthday to Steph. Happy birthday, dear Harlot. Happy birthday to you.
    2. Stash weasel, yes.
    3. Kauni sweater, yes. But Ruth’s and the yarn shop’s colorway looks more somber than yours. Does it look more like yours or like theirs? Sigh, I guess this is a browser screen issue.
    4. Danish I could do. German, not so much.

  159. Happy Birthday to your mother, Ian, and you! I hope you all have (or had) wonderful days.
    I find myself in great need of a stash weasel and would appreciate your facilitating its acquisition.

  160. Wow… If I had known about the reaction my weasels would cause… I may have to go hide now. (We’re still setting up weasel orders, so it may take a while to get all the bugs worked out. But don’t worry, if you order one, you’ll get it- soon, I hope!)

  161. Happy Birthday to your mum today, and to you tomorrow! I think first shawls should definitely be the new first socks- they take longer and there’s definitely a lot of blog fodder out there! (Then again, you’ll get those knitters whose first shawl was a perfect Orenburg- they just simply can’t count).

  162. Happy Birthday to mum! And to you (tomorrow)! Wow, mom, brother and you all with bdays so close…. what fun!
    *love* that blanket by Paul
    Hope you enjoy your party and your day of doing only what you want to do (does that include not cooking, and not doing laundry and other mom-duties?)

  163. Happy birthday to you and your Mom!
    Also, Banana Slugs are really a great critter since unlike most “creepie crawlies” there is no hiding, those suckers stand out at 50 yards, so they are way easy to avoid if you desire. If i remember correctly they have no natural predators, either, which is kinda cool. They do numb your tongue, (I think contributing to the no predator thing…) and at UCSC (my alma mater, could you guess 😉 ) there is a “slug club” you can belong to if you put a slug in your mouth. I blame this on the other things Santa Cruz is known for, but the slugs are really lovely in the forest on a grey rainy day, they are like little suns on the trees, lighting up the woods as you hike to class.
    Also, I wanna stashweassel!!!!

  164. Oh, is that why I like knitting? Because it’s like…oh, hi!
    The stash weasels are adorable. I think I would like one to follow me home so I could pet it. Yes? Here weasel weasel…
    The cardigan totally rocks!
    Happy birthday to you and to your mum and Ian! I hope you have a wonderful birthday, and a wonderful year, with all the coolness you deserve!

  165. Happy Birthday. I have a general question for you (I know you get like a million comments) but…when you travel, because I see you travel a lot, have you had a problem with any knitting in your carry-on? You seem to be the most well traveled knitter. Thanks and I love your pictures of all the knitters!!:)

  166. Happy Birthday, Stephanie! Love the new sweater — beautiful colors. And welcome home.

  167. argggggggghhhhhhh! whimper! i just went to check out the free pattern for that beautiful kauni sweater and i see that it is one of those things you lovingly knit and then CUT IN TO!!!! i can’t i can’t i just can’t cut my knitting! is there a support group for this affliction?

  168. Happy Birthday to both of you! Yep, birthdays are definitely when you should only do what you durned well please, and let’s hear it for yarn shops and beer and friends and knitting. And cake. 😉 Hope you and your mum have great ones!
    The Kauni is unbelievably gorgeous; so are those stockings; is Rabbitch trying to look saintly again?; fell over laughing at the knitting lesson; and the KnitOut looks fantastic! Now I’m homesick for Victoria, and I’m not even from there. Ok, I’m homesick for Vancouver, too, and I’m not from there either. But Victoria was the first city I ever visited in another country, and both it and Vancouver are enough like Portland that they seem like home, with the extra goodness of being on the ocean, plus the coolness of knowing you’re in another country. Then there are crumpets. So, you know.
    And now stash weasels. Must. Get. Stash. Weasel. Poor McKenna is going to go mad, but happily so, I hope. 😉

  169. Can I join the Stash Weasel parade? Such a cute idea – and I like supporting young artists.
    Happy birthday to you and your mom. Today is my (non-knitting) daughter’s b-day also. I love when it falls on a Friday; I always tell her it’s her best luck day.

  170. Happy birthday, and enjoy some down time now that you’re back home. I’m still enjoying the night you were in Petaluma! Your Kauni cardi looks great! Mine is stalled because right now I’ve been hyjacked by Sidewinders. One obsession taken over by another one! Oh well, it’s technically too hot to knit a wool sweater right now here in northern California. Socks are more like it. Thanks again for the great tour!

  171. A birthday at home after many harrowing days of travel? It may have a price, but I couldn’t name it. *virtual toast* Enjoy!
    For Bonnie — happy birthday, of course, and — did you ever think you’d be proud to hear so many people call your daughter a harlot?

  172. Banana slugs are awesome…except when they’ve been squashed. I spent my whole four years at UC Santa Cruz walking with my head down to avoid stepping on one.
    Someone suggested knitting one. That might be kinda fun. Not a squashed one, though.

  173. Cheers and here’s to Happy Birthdays!!
    All those lovely picts of Victoria do make me miss it so. I can almost make out the Empress hotel in the background.
    As an official member of the Banana Slug Club, I just wanted to say that I have initiated many a young child here in the Bay Area to kiss or even manhandle one of the little buggers. I admit though I have never really had the numbing sensation that was mentioned. Nor have I officially tongued a banana slug (just in case you thought it was a pre-requisite for club members).
    Tomorrow I will have a pint with you in mind, as it is our weekly Bonnie Beer Bitch meetup down at the Bst Bistro. That means oodles of high alcohol content(ed) beers.
    Again cheers and Happy Birfdays.

  174. Glad to hear you’re home again, although it was great to see you in California.
    Do you know if Paul has a pattern for that anatomically correct heart? I have been searching with no success for something exactly like that, to make one for my dad (who had a six-way bypass recently).

  175. Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Yarn Harlot, Happy Birthday to you! (Picture your most favorite vocalist singing this….you certainly don’t want to hear my paltry pipes!)
    I knew you were a Gemini – me too! My B-day was the 3rd….
    Have a great day of doing nothing!!
    Tracy (no longer blogless!)
    PS. Puh-lease, can you some to Southern Illinois…or at least St. Louis! (Can you see me on my knees begging?!)

  176. Stash weasel? *swoon*! OH do, please, let us make her rich and smart. After your birthday. Champagne and cake all around and many happy returns of the day!

  177. Jenipurr:
    Heart pattern is in Knit1 Magazine, Valentine’s Day issue, can’t remember if it’s 06 or 07. If you can’t find it, email me. For some reason I can’t get an email through from your web site. (Sorry, Stephanie, for using your living room for this communication.)

  178. Happy Birthday Steph!
    For your birthday why don’t you treat yourself to a spinning workshop with Judith in Rossland, BC on the last weekend in Sept.’07.
    Contact trasku@gmail.com
    Only 15 spots and a fabulous vegetarian lunch each day. You know you want to come! Book now or forever hold your fleece. (Make mine alapaca!)

  179. Happy Birthday Ian, Happy Birthday Steph’s Mom (Thank you for giving us the Yarn Harlot) and last but not least: HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEPH. We love you!

  180. Yay Canucks! I didn’t make it to the knit-out on Sunday, but the talk on Saturday was absolutely fabulous…So glad I made it over to the Island! Also, on my blog I have pictures (and no compunctions about vagueness!) of the Canoe Club chef’s first knitting lesson…if anyone’s curious!

  181. (Doh! I hit post before I could wish you & your mom the most festive and celebratory of natal anniversaries…Happy Birthdays!)

  182. Oh such beautiful pictures of a place I’ve never visited. The cardigan is beautiful, and I so loved the quick story on the gentlemen with the anatomically correct heart and hip.
    Happy Birthday to your Mum and to you!

  183. Happy Birthday! I ordered my Kauni from Astrid’s Dutch Obsessions (http://www.astridsdutchobsessions.com). Her site’s in English and she was very helpful. I thought her prices for yarn and shipping were reasonable. I think the bright colorway is on backorder but she has other colorways. I’m going to try Ruth’s sweater in deep blues and purples and see if that works.

  184. Of course as soon as I saw the stash weasels I wanted one immediately! Please let us all know how to get in touch with their wonderful creator.
    I also think your pictures are absolutely beautiful. And don’t worry about the 1st sock bit. Everyone has a 1st for everything. So no matter what 1st you do, there will be hundreds(if not thousands) of people coming out of the woodworks. Besides, there is only one 1st time. Then you are no longer a (sock/shawl/etc.) virgin. LOL!

  185. well, happy birthday. my mom is visiting and she says happy birthday too.
    I love the kauni. Not enough greens for me, but for you? terrific.

  186. omg! that sweater is gorgeous. and i’m sure the yarn is nowhere to be had at this point. i wonder if it would be possible to figure out the necessary repeate and paint some, although i think those gorgeous colors just can’t be repeated. oh, it’s lovely.
    and yes, please let us know about stash weasels.

  187. Great photo’s!
    I would love a Stashweasel – they are brilliant – I saw her making one during your speech, but couldn’t find her afterwards.
    Happy Birthday! Have a great time out with your knit friends tonight.
    I was thinking of using your analogy with my brother – now that his fiancee is taking knitting lessons at the BeeHive I think it is his turn, don’t you? Of course it is going to take them longer to save for the wedding now!

  188. I came out of lurking, because I desperately need a herd of stash weasels….no one could settle for just one, could they?

  189. Happy Birthday! Tomorrow is my birthday too! Maybe all those born on June 14th can achieve knitting greatness as you have done!
    ps…I want a stashweasel

  190. To Stephanie’s mother: Happy Birthday to you!
    To Stephanie (on the 14th): Happy Birthday. May you have all your birthday wishes fulfilled.
    I would be pleased if McKenna contacted me regarding my purchase of a stash weasel.

  191. I’m vicariously traveling the world through you! And I’m not minding the airports a bit 😉 I’d love to get a Stash Weasle if McKenna has not been relieved of them (bet she has a wait list already)!
    Fiber birthday to you
    Fiber birthday to you
    May there be miles of knitting…
    Fiber birthday to you!
    Thay say it’s you birthday! Happy Birthday To You!

  192. Oh, YES!! I knew — just KNEW– there was a reason I understood you completely! You and I are almost twins — only a few hours apart! How cool! Geminians are the nicest and most exciting people anyone can ever meet! All the best wishes to you!
    But Steph — I can’t find that Union Jack on Ruth’s site either. Can’t even find the cardigan pattern! Or can’t I see it? Or it’s gone? Am I in the right place?

  193. Oh, YES!! I knew — just KNEW– there was a reason I understood you completely! You and I are almost twins — only a few hours apart! How cool! Geminians are the nicest and most exciting people anyone can ever meet! All the best wishes to you!
    But Steph — I can’t find that Union Jack on Ruth’s site either. Can’t even find the cardigan pattern! Or can’t I see it? Or it’s gone? Am I in the right place?

  194. Happy Birthday!
    Had a blast seeing you at the WEBS event. Darn long line, though….
    I know several knitters who need stash weasels for their birthday or Christmas. When it’s not your birthday anymore, could you send me the info on the stash weasel adoption center?
    Thanks.

  195. I’m vicariously traveling the world through you! And I’m not minding the airports a bit 😉 I’d love to get a Stash Weasel if McKenna has not been relieved of them (bet she has a wait list already)!
    Fiber birthday to you
    Fiber birthday to you
    May there be miles of knitting…
    Fiber birthday to you!
    Thay say it’s you birthday! Happy Birthday To You!

  196. I had brown dye on my left hand and yellow on my right; clearly you were hosed.
    Good to see you again and that sweater is kicking ass. I’m so tempted. Maybe for my Christmas present to myself.

  197. Happy Birthday to you and your mum. So many birthdays in a short span!
    Your “Young Straight Men’s Knitting Lesson” left me in a fit of giggles. My active imagination (combined with your “tasteful vagueness”) ran wild with possibilities! *snicker*

  198. Banana slugs are your friends! My kids and I love to find them on hikes. But we haven’t tried licking them…
    I’m going to Denmark next month – hope to find some of that yarn!

  199. you know what else is good to have at a yarn store? a bridal shower! my matron of honor had my bridal shower at the yarnstore, and we did a yarn swap, where i got first pick, then distributed the rest accordingly!

  200. It seems that everyone would like a stash weasel, but I wonder if she (McKenna) is going to be able to handle the predicted sudden rise in demand.

  201. Stephanie, I’ve noticed that many in your family have birthdays this time of year — you, your brother, your mom, and recently your daughter. Is this the result of it getting cold in Canada in September?

  202. This just goes to prove that I am right and all the BEST people are Gemini — my bd was 5/28 and hubster was 6/10
    Happy Bday to you and your MOM!!
    BTW I am getting expert at continuing bd celebrations for over a week now – with the idea that every year I celebrate longer (I figure that if I can get almost a week and a half at 54 I will be doing a year by my mid 90’s)

  203. Happy birthday to you and Mum. Enjoy reading your blog and seeing all of your photos.

  204. Happy birthday to your mum…and I had forgotten that you and I are almost birthday twins (mine’s Friday)! No wonder you kick so much arse.
    (Special non-U.S. spellings for your birthday, courtesy of U.S. me. Bonne anniversaire!)

  205. Happy Birthday gal!! Lots of Gemini’s in your family!! My birthday was just a couple of weeks ago too! Hope you have a happy day!!

  206. Beehive! Every chance she gets, my grandmother (who immigrated to the US from Canada) tells me about how she used to knit with Beehive wool. I wonder if I could order some from them for her, for old time’s sake.

  207. Somehow I let myself forget you were part of the onslaught. See, when you’re a Ge-Mee-Ni, birthday is more like a season, rather than just a day. We have enough celebrations at this time of year that we save for June like most people save for Christmas. Best of the season to you and your mum.
    You’re part musician (in roughly the same amount that Joe is part knitter), so you’ll appreciate that I passed up on any chance of Lettuce birthdaying in favour of what turned out to be one of the best shows I’ve been to in a long while. Danny Michel, Rob Szabo and Shannon Lyon all playing together in an intimate arrangement at the Centre in the Square. Parts of me are still hard. These guys have all grown up in this area, knew each other since back in the day (with the Rhinos, Groove Daddys and Strange Days respectively) and this is the first time they’ve all played together solo. If you’re Canadian, you’ve likely been blessed to hear them, even if you didn’t know their names. And if your not, and this gives you an impulse to go check them out, all the better. I felt like I just watched the Three Tenors of Canadian songwriting. Hope your night was just as amazing.

  208. Happy Birthday to Mom! Happy Birthday to Stephanie! May there be many more to celebrate. I have two friends celebrating wedding anniversaries that day.
    I would LOVE to have a stash weasel! Please tell me how to order one (or two or . . . )
    I have never seen a banana slug, but the Girl Scouts in Ohio have a song called “Banana Slug” if you should ever need to sing a song about them. (I wonder if the song originated at UCSC? What an interesting mascot!)
    My 13 year old son is leaving for Australia Thursday, and ala the Harlot Sock, he is going to take a small stuffed penguin to “pose” in some of his pictures.
    Again, Happy, happy birthday!

  209. Happy Birthday! If Lettuce Knit was not hours and hours away I would be there! 🙂 P.S. I got hired at WEBS, so next time you’re there say hi please! 🙂

  210. Happy Birthday Stephanie, and to your mother, and Ian, too! My son’s birthday is also Thursday – a good day to be born! (and Flag day here in the U.S.)
    Please include me on the list of people who would like to contact McKenna for a stash weasel – I can imagine that there will be a bit of a wait!

  211. Oh, Stephanie… have the most perfect birthday ever. May you not lift a finger except to knit, may you have perfect dreams, wonderful food, incredible weather and the company of those you love. And of course, many many more in years to come.
    Oh… and I laughed out loud about the slug. I dare not imagine the mind of one who could discover such things…
    Hugs, Lynnie

  212. oh i forgot to also tell you that university of california santa cruz has adopted the banana slug as their mascot
    http://www.ucsc.edu/about/campus_mascot.asp
    your kauni cardigan is gorgeous!! you are right, the cost to post yarn from europe is pricey and that yarn is very difficult to find this side of the atlantic (especially after you announce it in your blog *smile* ).
    i am impressed that paul knit 84 blankets. i want him on my team!

  213. Ok, people covered in dye need to know this: what’s the length of the colour repest in the magic rainbow yarn? I really really really need to know this. Really.(Notice how I spelled colour all Canadian like to lull you into thinking I deserve to know?) BTW- the baby shirt on the same site is a new possible addiction, complete with a charming back story and scope for darling little buttons. And no sleeves. The no sleeves are key, here. Hippo Birdy Two Ewe!

  214. Happy Birthday. It was great to meet you in Victoria and having Brenda do a U-turn in the middle of downtown Victoria traffic late at night. The Kauni sweater is looking awesome.

  215. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! (Mine’s Saturday!) I wonder what Sean will get me for my birthday. Probably a wet with slobber Habs bib, since he’s teething like mad! My first birthday as a mommy!

  216. Happy B-Day, Harlot! We enjoy your adventures in yarn and socks! Knit On, Lady!!!!

  217. HAha. Happy b-day ma’am. How can I get a stash weasel? My friend’s birthday is coming up and I should get her something knitting related, as we knit and complain about boys together.

  218. Happy Birthday!! I tried for YEARS to get someone to lick a banana slug with no luck, but finally my son 🙂 tried it for me when he was around 8. It did, indeed turn his tongue numb. A budding scientist.

  219. Here’s a question:
    Why are the color runs on that amazing sweater the same lengths on the sleeves? I would think the sleeve stripes would be wider, since there are fewer stitches cast on. Have you gotten that far enough yet to unravel that mystery?
    Would I be crazy to blow off all the steeking and just make a drop-shoulder cardigan?
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Heard you rocked the house in Portland.

  220. I see Paul! I know Paul! Paul of the large and/or unusual objects! Hi, Paul (waving urgently like Kenny on Southpark)!
    Wah! I wish I could live on a boat.
    Happy Birthday to Harlot!
    Happy Birthday to Mother of Harlot!
    Want. A. Stash. Weasel. Now!
    P.S. — you’re gonna steek those armholes, aren’t you, Brave Sir Robin?

  221. Happy B-day!
    The Wollsucht is a German, so they wouldn’t have understood Danish either 😉
    Hi from a Dane

  222. Ah – happy memories – we visited Victoria on our honeymoon 7 years ago…
    Happy birthday!

  223. Happy Birthday Stephanie! Your new project is an inspiration. I am trying to see if my LYS can order some. Have a great day!

  224. A stash weasel is a must.
    Banana slugs are not. There are MANY strange songs/cheers/posters about them at UC Santa Cruz. Those folks did LOTS of dope in the (good) old days. (Probably dropped more than a few stitches, too.)

  225. Wow, lots of birthdays in a row! Happy Birthday.
    And Happy Birthday Harlot Mom and brother. Harlot Mom, thanks for letting her be who she is, she is very special, and talented.

  226. Happy Birthday Stephanie and Stephanie’s mom! May the coming year be one of the best ever for you both. I’m so envious of your buds who can attend your party! That sweater is quite the thing. The mojo worked from my plain brown sock meeting yours in Portland – no mistakes so far, and I’m starting on number 2!

  227. Happy Birthday Stephanie and Stephanie’s mom! May the coming year be one of the best ever for you both. I’m so envious of your buds who can attend your party! That sweater is quite the thing. The mojo worked from my plain brown sock meeting yours in Portland – no mistakes so far, and I’m starting on number 2! Thanks for making us laugh so much – it was worth it, even if I did have to take my asthma meds!

  228. oh i am sorry, the yarn purchase you made was from germany…. so don’t worry about your danish… but the sweater looks great indeed. and so does all the lovely knitters you have met. i like the issue of knitting and drinking.

  229. Happy birthday 🙂
    And I just have to say, knowing Danish wouldn’t help you much at Wollsucht (Cool name, wool hunt/search) since the site is in German 😉

  230. I would like to recommend this online store: http://www.garnkorgen.se/index.php.
    They carry the kauni yarn but also two other yarns that are practically the same as kauni – oldmill and evilla.
    The site is in swedish but you can contact them by clicking where it says “kontakta oss” (far down left) and then leave your name (för- och efternamn), email address (e-postadress) and message (meddelande).

  231. Happy Birthday, Stephanie, May your day be filled with laughter and plenty of presents.

  232. Happy Birthday, Stephanie, May your day be filled with laughter and plenty of presents.

  233. I just looked up in Oxford’s dictionary to find out what harlot really means….ahheeem…but with “yarn” in front it seems highly appropiate-LOL!
    Have a Happy birthday- in Norwegian:
    GRATULERER MED DAGEN!!!

  234. Happy, happy birthday to both you and your mum!!! We are so thankful that both of you made it into the world!!! Your sweater is, yet again, breathtaking!!!! I’ll bet you can’t wait to get it finished. I love the bright colors! Kind of like baby sweaters, huh?!?
    I think I seriously NEED a yarn weasel, also!!!
    Take the day off tomorrow and party ON!!!

  235. Happy Birthday to you, Stephanie. Enjoy your special day doing whatever you please.
    Is Paul of the anatomically correct heart knitting blankets for the Warm Up project? 84!!! Quite impressive!!! I’m on my first, but call it an afghan for some reason—maybe doesn’t sound so big.
    Rachel Life must be careful. Knitting down a stash can be like making something big that you knit on for days with no apparent progress, then, suddenly, it’s finished. She could end up with, omigod, NO YARN. Recommend that she shop immediately for yarn (just to be on the safe side).
    Want a yarn weasel to protect and increase my stash…but only if McKenna won’t become a college dropout while filling all the orders she is sure to receive. I have a grand-ferret named Scarlet and it is much fun (and very instructive) to watch her set up food stashes around the house. Now, can I find someone to keep filling my yarn bowl while I stash?
    Again, enjoy your special day while I try to restrain myself form ordering Kauni.

  236. Ohhhhh lovely sweater….Ohhhh YUMMY yarn!!!! Happy Birthday to you Steph and Steph’s Mom!!! I hope you both spend your respective days doing your bliss and joy.

  237. KNITTERS! GO IMMEDIATeLY to ITUNES. Search for Knit. Look at books. buy it now.
    That is all.
    waiting for my download. My ipod will be so knitterly happy!
    Harlot- If you weren’t wanting us to know yet…. well…….I didn’t actually SAY what is there…..;)

  238. Happy Birthday Mz. Harlot! Was awesome to meet you (though I was a little intimidated, being new to this and all…) and happy to see you had a great time on the Island. Thanks for being a big part of my coming out weekend (knitting in public that is…)

  239. Happy Birthday Mz. Harlot! Was awesome to meet you (though I was a little intimidated, being new to this and all…) and happy to see you had a great time on the Island. Thanks for being a big part of my coming out weekend (knitting in public that is…)

  240. I am still curious as to what a stash weasel actually is, but I assume it is absolutely adorable and will want one as soon as I find out!
    And I hope you have a great birthday!

  241. Happy Birthday Stephanie and happy birthday to you and to your mom. I hope you both have the best year yet to come.

  242. Happy Birthday ladies!
    From one gemini to four others…. er two?… you know what I mean. (my friend refers to my twin as the “evil”, you know what I’m talking about)

  243. Happy Birthday to both of you.
    I’m heartbroken I didn’t fly out to Victoria, oh well, I’ll hope for a closer location.

  244. Those are the big pink things I saw and said “Hey, isn’t that the same yarn Stephanie used for the Big Pink Thing?”!!
    Have a wonderful birthday!!

  245. Happy Birthday! I seriously could have done without ever knowing there were banana slugs in the world. They have creeped me out and made me not want to go to British Columbia! Ick!!!

  246. Happy Birthday Stephanie and Mum!! Enjoy your day. Take the day off, but put someone in charge of the camera. I look forward to pictures of your party (especially at Lettice Knit)!

  247. Love the sweater! but must have stash weasels. for me. for my knitting friends. for my mom. please send info (when you’re done celebrating your b-day, of course!)

  248. Happy Birthday to the Both of You. I hope you both have a great day. I just want to thank you for always making my day by reading your blog. You are a terrific person to say the least.
    I really would love to be able to purchase some of the stash weasels for myself and knitting friends. Please send the info when you have the time.

  249. Happy Birthday!
    I would love to acquire a stash weasel and support a hardworking young artist. How may I get in touch with the talented McKenna?

  250. Happy birthday to you, lady! And belated happy birthday to your mom! (She spent her birthday in labor? That’s not fair.)

  251. My stash is now at a point where a weasel is necessary — please let me know how to get in touch with the weasel lady — thanks.

  252. Happy Birthday Steph!
    All in favor of making Stephanie’s birthday “National Sock Kniting Day”… raise your hand. (I knit socks in her honor today)

  253. Happy Birthday, Stephanie… And I too would like a stash weasel. Please let me know how to get one. Thanks and have a great day…

  254. Happy Birthday(s) to the birthday ladies! Hope your days are wonderful with much of who and what you love!
    The Kauni is gorgeous – way past my budget right now, but I printed the pattern and will drool over it for some time.
    I’ve contacted McKenna – am working out a deal for weasels! (Somehow that sounds like something not so good.)
    Chris S

  255. Happy, happy Birthday. I love that beautiful sweater but I think I love the weasels more. Please let me know how to support the student (because I certainly would not buy one for my own selfish reasons) 😉

  256. Happy Birthday(s) to the birthday ladies! Hope your days are wonderful with much of who and what you love!
    The Kauni is gorgeous – way past my budget right now, but I printed the pattern and will drool over it for some time.
    I’ve contacted McKenna – am working out a deal for weasels! (Somehow that sounds like something not so good.)
    Chris S

  257. Re: Banana Slugs
    It’s actually extremely useful that one’s tongue goes numb from licking a banana slug–I don’t know about the Pacific Northwest, but down here in the San Francisco Bay Area the local First Nations folks used to use them as topical anaesthetics.
    Then eat them, as they were also considered a delicacy–although the more different cuisines I try, the more I realize that “delicacy” is a delicate way to say “weird food that freaks out tourists”.
    Re: Stashweasels!
    I WANT A STASHWEASEL! I don’t even know if they /do/ anything, dangit I wanna stashweasel.
    — Lorrie

  258. Re: Banana Slugs
    It’s actually extremely useful that one’s tongue goes numb from licking a banana slug–I don’t know about the Pacific Northwest, but down here in the San Francisco Bay Area the local First Nations folks used to use them as topical anaesthetics.
    Then eat them, as they were also considered a delicacy–although the more different cuisines I try, the more I realize that “delicacy” is a delicate way to say “weird food that freaks out tourists”.
    Re: Stashweasels!
    I WANT A STASHWEASEL! I don’t even know if they /do/ anything, dangit I wanna stashweasel.
    — Lorrie

  259. my life wouldn’t be complete without a stash weasel. let’s put this girl through school!

  260. I must have a stash weasel! Please let me know how to contact McKenna…I definitely need to have some of these.
    Happy Birthday!

  261. The nice ladies at Lettuce Knit might like to set up a webcam so that we can celebrate along with you from the USA! Happiest of Birthdays Dear Harlot!

  262. It looks like the waiting list is ever-growing, but: I must have a stash weasel. A stash weasel….I must have one.

  263. Happy birthday to you and yours!
    I, too, must have a stash weasel. We may get that girl all the way through a PhD! 🙂

  264. Happy Birthday!!! To you and your mom!
    My sad little studio apartment needs a pet, especially one that may be charged with guarding my stash…I know the list of requests is long but please let me know where I might adopt a weasel. Cute little things. Much cuter than the banana slugs. Hope your day is wonderful, and your knitting time blissfully uninterrupted!

  265. Stash weasel please! Stash weasel please!
    Happy happy birthday! May your knitting go perfectly, your coffee never go cold, and may your stash continue to grow 🙂

  266. Stash weasel please! Stash weasel please!
    Happy happy birthday! May your knitting go perfectly, your coffee never go cold, and may your stash continue to grow 🙂

  267. Yes – we want the information on the creator of the delightful “stash weasels” please…..

  268. You get so many posts! I’ve always wondered if you respond to them. If so, is there a pattern for that wonderful heart? I too had open heart surgery and would love to take on a project like his. Thanks!

  269. Hello,
    I was wondering if I could be put into contact with the creator of the stashweasles? I’ve been coveting yours for ages, and would love one of my own.

  270. Happy Birthday. You’re a day younger than me.
    Apart from the years.
    (Oops, didn’t mean to type that part.)

  271. I live in Bellingham which is very close to the BC boarder, so I see bananna slugs all the time. People here say if your hiking and you cut yourself you should find a slug and rest it on the wound, because they have antiseptic/anastalgic qualities. I haven’t ever tested it out. My slug experience has been limited to trying not to step on the poor things.
    xo,
    Emily

  272. I too just have to get a stash weasel, not that it will pacify the yarn police.
    Starting a first(for real) lace shawl can be hazardous to your health. Somehow I managed to ignore the hints that this was not for beginning lace knitters, and almost three years later it is almost finished.

  273. I want a stitch weasel or two. Please send me info.
    Hope the birthday was fantastic.

  274. So sorry to hear about the lost year!! Happy birthday, none the less…about the stash weasel – it seems everyone wants one. We will overwhelm the poor girl. However, it will probably pay her whole tuition. Count me in as an admirer of the weasel and desirous of owning one for myself!

  275. Hi Stephanie,
    A belated Happy B-day to you. Hope you are still celebrating.
    I am interested in how to get in touch with McKenna to get some stash weasels.
    Thank you,
    Donna

  276. Happy belated Birfday! I would like to join the weaselwagon as well.
    Please please pleasel I needs me a weasel.

  277. Yet again, I am amazed by your ability to capture amazing knitters all over the continent…As I read this post, I was all ready to exclaim with glee over Alyson’s cool Big Pink Stockings…Then I decided that I would comment on Paul’s Way Cool Heart and Hip Replacement knitting (how neat is that???) but then the Kauni Cardigan took my breath away…
    One of these days, I will graduate from my Noob Knitter status and be able to create something like you all have done…In the meantime, I can drool over the pics…Maybe a Stash Weasel would help? *grin*

  278. I was surprised to see that pick of Marilyn-who-lives-on-a-boat in Victoria. She won’t remember this but she taught me how to knit! I lived in Victoria for a scant 9 months but one day I went to a knitting meet-up at the Solstice café (am I remembering the name right) and was wanting to learn to knit.
    She showed me the garter stitch and also how to hold my needles and I haven’t looked back!
    Thank you, Marilyn!!
    Kim

  279. Happy (terribly belated) birthday to both you and your Mom. And I don’t know what all of the blog-nastiness was, because I am perpetually out of the loop, but thanks for playing nice and encouraging other people to do the same.

  280. I love reading your blog, especially the pics. I love the idea of your knitting in your pics. Thats just too much fun, maybe I’ll remember to do that when I’m out traveling.
    Btw, thx for all you do for this community ~ I absolutely love “Knitting Rules” and your recent post. Have an awesome day!

  281. Hi Stephanie and all. If anyone would like to have a larger photo of my knitted heart or hip, just e-mail me and you will have it. The directions for knitting the heart are also yours if you want. While not as popular as the beautiful stash weasels, I am surprised at the interest. W7MYA@aol.com

  282. Happy belated birthday! Ah, the Strait of Juan de Fuca – below it is my favorite plate of the same name. Is it weird to have a favorite plate for plate tectonics discussions?!

  283. I love, love, love, the knitted heart and hip. How cool is that? I’m behind in blog-reading, so you may have already addressed this, but I would really like one of those stash weasels. Please let me know how to reach McKenna when you get the chance.

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