I was getting seriously wound up yesterday (I know. It’s so not like me) I’m going to be speaking in Madison this weekend and that’s like… in three days. I immediately had a complete meltdown, and then realized that the timing on this one is perfect. Totally perfect.
The top ten reasons why it is a good idea to leave town.
1. The dirty bit on the shawl came out, but it vexes me anyway. I think that it and I should have a time out, and it’s not a good travel project anyway. Too white, too fragile, too many charts. It’s a chesterfield project, and that’s where I’m keeping it. I hope it misses me.
2. I will not have to wage war with an appliance of any kind for 48 hours. This is good because I’m really starting to believe that the dishwasher is toying with me. One day it drains, the next it refuses. This seems to be related to how many dishes are in it, and how much I don’t want to wash them. I feel that this is personal, and yesterday when it refused to void its steamy dish slag, the urge to mangle its racks was overwhelming. Time to go.
3. I’ll be able to get some knitting time on the plane. (Hold up there! Wait! You… the one in the back.. I see you. You’re about to send me an email or type a comment asking me if I can really knit on the plane, or am I sure I will be able to knit on the plane, or maybe I should check and see if I can knit on the plane, or ask me if I am really, really going to knit on the plane, or maybe even ask me how it is that I can knit on the plane, or enquire about how I arrange being able to knit on the plane, or ask me what sort of needles I fly with because you are flying and you want to knit on the plane but you don’t think that you’ll be allowed and am I really allowed to fly on the plane?
Stop.
– I am going to knit on the plane.
-I am going to take whatever needles I want.
-Nobody has ever, ever said anything to me at security, even when my bag is being hand searched and I say “Whoops there, mind the bag full of a multitude of metal needles, don’t want to poke yourself”. The only thing that has ever been said to me by security is ” Are those socks?” “That’s pretty” or “My sister knits too”.
-I have never phoned ahead to see if I will be allowed. (I admit, this is because I think that if you ask them to think about it, they get worried that maybe you’re asking because you think they might say no (which is true) and that then they say no, because they figure that if someone thinks they might say no then they should, just to be sure.
– For the record, I fly more than a carrier pigeon.
4. No internet connection while I’m on the plane. That means that for at least a few hours on Friday and Sunday, I have an excellent excuse for why I can’t deal with my inbox.
5. The last time I went to Wisconsin, I spoke at an event at Yellow Dog Knitting, and I had a really good time. Really good, actually. This time I’m with the Madison Guild, and I’m expecting a fair bit of overlap. I know I’ll see Joyce Williams again, and I’ll get to meet Meg Swansen, which is really neat because we’ve only ever spoken on the phone. (I am nervous about that a bit.) The best part last time was the knitters though, some I think it’s really fun to see every few years, and I can’t wait. (I’m hoping for Dale-Harriet, Shelly, Vicki (when my blog pictures grow up, they want to be Vicki’s blog pictures) Beadslut, Chris, Cursing mama… I know some of them have lives that don’t include me… but I’m still pretty excited.
5a. Holy cow. I missed a trip to Madison. I was there last April. (How could I not remember that? I plead book tour. There’s no way you can expect a writer to know where they are and what they’re doing under those circumstances. To be fair, I remember that day beautifully. I just didn’t know I was in Madison.
6. The weather in Wisconsin will not be a shock to my system. Unlike many Canadians who are going to go to Mexico, or Cuba or the Bahamas for March Break (we do not call it “spring break”, because it’s just not accurate) I am not going to put myself through the emotional rollercoaster of actually seeing the sun and feeling it’s warmth on my skin, only to have all of that hope dashed into a million dark shards on my return. Wisconsin is a much healthier choice, emotionally speaking.
7. It has been a long time since people have held my socks. I miss it. (I’m not worried that’s weird either.)
8. Chris Farley is from there. (I’m not sure why that’s relevant.)
9. I forget what 9 was. I’m out of coffee.
10. The Madison Knitting guild is wicked, and I’m pretty sure that none of the teenagers there are my problem.
See you there. Saturday. We’ll have squeaky cheese.
squeaky cheese is delish…. have fun Steph! take a chill pill : )
I for one was anxious to see what you would type up about your shawl. Now I see it is on ‘timeout’
Ok -great to know about the needles and planes – I am leaving for FL on Sunday for a week. Yes, warm weather.
You enjoy your time and class. Knit away!
And the temps here in Toronto are going to plummet by dinner!!
Have fun! I wonder if I can convince Chris to do the 15 hour drive with me.
have fun in Wisconsin, I know I always do.
Good luck on your trip! You need to come up to Bellingham, Washington sometime. I’ve yet to hear you speak!
I’ll be there in spirit and will have to rely on my Kenosha knitting friends for details. It is supposed to be sunny ’round here this weekend. Not warm, but sunny and that counts for something.
Madison is lovely. A friend even wrote a song about it http://www.darrenkeith.net or http://www.itunes.com/darrenkeith
Hope you have a wonderful time.
Not squeaky cheese, my dear, FRIED cheese. No place on earth does it better than my lovely, lovely hometown of Madison, WI.
Must go pet yarn. Getting nostalgic…
I will not laugh when the next post is titled: “How to have your DPNS snatched at the airport”
Dude, you are ASKING for it. Do yourself a favor- put the signatures in your bag… you don’t want to lose them, they are amazing. Knit on the plane with other ones.. it will assure their safety.
Just sayin.. when ever you ask for it like this– YOU GET it…be forewarned:P
And you’ll be fine- they will love you in Madison. They already do.
Enjoy. Don’t forget. . . you’ve stil got three living dishwashers sharing your house with you. Didn’t Joe make a bet about a guitar and dishwashing last summer? That should mean that he considers the dishes part of his responsibilities. Don’t deprive him of that pleasure.
Thanks so much for making me smile with your observations.
Ah, but you have been in Wisconsin since 2006. Last year in April you were at the Borders in Madison for the book tour. I was there, but, unfortunately, I can’t be there on Saturday because of less fun commitments.
I was in Madison last week Friday and it was beautiful, temps. in the 50’s and the snow is all gone down there (I’m farther north, in Oshkosh–where we still have snow). But, today the whole state is suffering through high winds (50mph gusts) and negative below zero no matter how you measure it wind chills. But, don’t worry, it’s supposed to warm up by the weekend!
Indeed, our happy WISCONSIN cows have been working hard to produce milk for some heavenly squeaky cheese for you. Have some Spotted Cow or Fat Squirrel beer for me!
Please, please make sure that the dishwasher does not have wifi and is reading this. Maybe you should conceal your flight needles just to be sure.
There is nothing wrong with wanting people to hold your socks. To me it s a sign of appreciation. Hey i it was horribly wrong I don’t think they would want to see it.
Yay! I’ll see you Saturday! Me, most of your books to sign, and at least three knitting projects.
Hope you left your family a big bottle of dish washing liquid – just in case.
You use the time away to train your husband.
Husband = human dishwasher.
Have fun, play nice.
Have a great trip. And enjoy your time knitting on the plane~it is great knitting time!
Thank cheese you didn’t forget what 8 was for, or I’d have a Violent Femmes song stuck in my head all day. . .wait, too late, just earwormed myself. It’s ok, at least I like that song.
Further backup for #3 (in the US at least)…knitting needles are on the list of the Transportation Security Administration’s list of permitted items in carry-on bags. For some reason, I can’t seem to find it on the TSA website, but I swear it was there a couple of months ago. But for anyone who doubts, you can see a copy of it here: http://www.seatguru.com/articles/tsa_prohibited_items.php#personal
Hey Stephanie! I am sure you’ll have a great time on your trip… my fav. part of traveling is the traveling *also* – knitting in airports… on planes… it’s fun – and productive (usually!) –
I wanted to ask you also if you could mention on a blog post about the Knitting: Men in America project I’m working on – there’s a survey that can be found at http://www.knittingmeninamerica.com/survey.html – the main website is http://www.knittingmeninamerica.com
the goal is to get as many knitters FROM THE UNITED STATES to respond to the survey with their statistical data as well as their thoughts about guys who happen to be knitters – I am hoping to reach 1000 responses and need your help to get there!
Thanks for any help you can offer – any questions? Please feel free to email me! the survey will go for another few weeks.
🙂
Kyle
On a recent flight, Seatmate said to my friend, “You may not knit because I am allergic to wool.” Fortunately for Seatmate, my friend is nicer than I am. I would have pulled out the needles and knitted until I observed symptoms.
And I believe while in Wisconsin you will see wonderful Dianne from Creatively Dyed. Can’t find anyone more upbeat and ready to hold a sock than her!
Oh, Wisconsin is so much fun! So are Cheeseheads. have a good time, and say hi to everyone for me. Even though I don’t know them, but they’re probably really friendly!
You guys are so enlightened over there. We still have the big signs at check-in with a picture of knitting needles right next to a syringe and a big knife. Next time I’m going to take chunky dpns and tell anyone who asks “no, no, really it’s crochet”.
sigh… wish i could come.
Madison is one of my favorite cities. Lots of “leftist liberal wacko” types there. Now that I’m thisclose to getting the PhD I’m trying to figure out how to get a job at U of W. Anyway, I hope you have a fabulous time! Say hello to the lakes for me.
Could it possibly be a pump in the dishwasher that isn’t working properly? I don’t know anything about dishwashers, do they even have a pump?
I have to drive across Canada again from NL to AB. I just did the drive less than a month ago. I understand your pain. You fly more than a pigeon, I seem to drive more than a long haul trucker. At least you get to knit 🙂
I understand how you feel. Sometimes you just have to get away from everything, push your mental reset button, and come back with a new perspective on things. I hope that you and the shawl (and also the dishwasher) can have a happy reunion after your trip.
Now that I think about it, I wonder if the shawl and the dishwasher have been conspiring to push your buttons all along. Dirty dishwater, soiled laceweight… Connected? Hmm, maybe you should keep them away from each other so they don’t get any ideas while you’re away.
Anyway, have a safe trip!
I know knitting needles are allowed by TSA but I did have two pairs confiscated by a ruthlessly efficient security person in Vienna. She did allow me to keep the needles with knitting on them–which I don’t think she saw–but took the two that were not currently in use. As long as no one takes a WIP away from me I’m ok.
You’ve spoken to Meg Swansen on the phone? That means you’ve exchanged personal information, and may possibly be cooler than meeting in person. Maybe.
If it comes up, feel free to let Meg know she can call me anytime.
Now I want squeaky cheese too…
I fly with my knitting several times a year and also have never had a problem ever. I believe that knitting while waiting in the security line helps. They know you’re not lying about being a knitter that way.
Saw you last year at Borders in Madison. Haven’t laughed as much since! Thanks for the good time! You’ll enjoy the weather-today is about 10 and windy, turned all the rain we had into ice. I’m sure you’ll appreciate it all (we wouldn’t want to mess with your internal thermostat)! Knit on!
Meg will be tickled to hold your sock for a picture, I’m sure. And Amy and Joyce and and and….
You’re excited about Chris Farley because he’s one of three English-language comedians who isn’t Canadian — your taste for the exotic is showing.
Ooh – enjoy the squeaky cheese curds. Meg & Joyce – have fun!
Sadly I will not be making the trip to Madison. I know, you are as heart broken as I. I even have a whole new sock started to show you. Alas, this is the first weekend since before Christmas that I have no child related activities on the calendar and it is high time someone cleaned the house; hopefully all I have to do is supervise.
Enjoy the cheese – and REALLY enjoy the beer. Hopefully it’ll be warmer by Saturday. (you have heard of the stupid blizzard by now I assume)
Man, I miss Chris Farley. His little dance to Maniac in Tommy Boy cracks me up every time.
Have fun!
Thank you for #3!!!!!! I have this conversation with people every time I’m preparing to fly with needles (have never flown without)and way too often when trying to convince others that they too can fly with needles! I’m going to print it out, cover it with plastic, and save my breath next time. Happy trails!
I’ve had needles (metal and bamboo double-points) taken from me in Germany, and my boss (also a knitter) had some addi turbo circulars confiscated in Italy. In her case, I think the security agent just wanted the addis for herself.
I also have never had a problem with bringing my knitting on vacation. My fiance thought I might have problems getting that kind of stuff on a ship for some odd reason that I don’t really want him to explain, and nobody said a word. Same with airports, nobody has ever even commented on the contents of my purse (full of socks in progress) or my backpack (usually full of other types of projects). To take it one step further, I always knit during take off and landing and no one has ever said anything to me about that either. Maybe they realize that taking my ipod away for a good hour of my trip is bad enough, taking my knitting away is just plain cruel.
Alas, I won’t be in Madison this weekend – I’ll be cuddling an extremely mellow and happy two week old baby (not mine!) instead. I know you’ll understand. 🙂
I have to take a four hour car trip tomorrow. I am heartily wishing for a chauffeur so I can knit, but the only chauffeur I will probably find is one who drives a bus.
OMG. The whole knitting needles on a plane thing is SO DONE.
I don’t fly quite so much as you, but join you in never, ever, ever, having heard a peep from a security person about my needles, ever.
As much as I loathe flying, I love love love the forced unplugged time where I have no connection to anything and have no reason to not just sit and knit or read.
Have a great time in Madison!
I also always knit on the plane. And I’m REALLY glad the schmutz washed out of your shawl! Still, it deserves a time-out.
Everyone needs a break now and then. Make a nice plain vanilla sock. Easy and mindless – a perfect antidote to lace.
Good luck! Have a great time.
I’m from Central Wisconsin and I’m sorry that I won’t be able to see you in person. What fun that would be! Have some cheese curds for me! Oh wait – I can get them at the grocery store…
Plane knitting ftw! I’ve had no trouble with the minor exception of a flight attendant on the flying cigar who insisted that I put my work away during a spate of turbulance.
If I were Kathy, seated next to the individual whom wool dislikes, I’d have to be reseated. Trust the wool, eh?
Sadly, I have to work.
So I can’t drive 2+ hours to see you; instead, I will be taking the train halfway across this big country to see you in two weeks. Ah well, up with it I will put!
(One could always work on one’s camp homework on the plane…since I have it on good authority that teachers are not exempt and that the chicken will not get you by this year. But the tradition of the homework is doing it at the last minute, eh? If it weren’t for the last minute, nothing would get done around here, for sure. I have great plans, but nothing on the needles as far as homework.)
At least one if not more of my knitting friends will be there to see you in Madison: Tina (PhireAngel). About whom there’s a funny story, which I already told Tina Newton when I talked to her. When I was in Madrona, my husband called me, and mentioned “I have a message from Tina about the Yarn Harlot.” And I said, “Tina?” (Having just come back to my room after talking to Tina.) “Tina Newton?” Well, apparently he misheard me (the connection wasn’t so good), agreed, and went on to say that “Tina said to tell you that the Yarn Harlot was going to be in Madison in March – and you can get details at the Madison Knitters or something.” I said, “Yeah, the Madison Knitters’ Guild, I’m sure, but TINA told you to tell me that the Yarn Harlot was going to be in Madison?? She called the house??” (all the time thinking, I’m AT Madrona with Tina Newton and the Yarn Harlot, why would she call my house? Tina happens to have my phone # somewhere but wouldn’t have it with her and would have NO reason to call!) At which point, he says, “No, I ran into her at Deaf Ear (local record store)”, or whatever, and the mystery was solved. It was rather amusing, but temporarily I was extremely confused.
So if Tina PhireAngel from La Crosse identifies herself, that’s her!
ENJOY THE CHEESE!
I seem to recall a flight of yours where your seatmate or someone close by freaked out because you had sharp pointy things and looked like you knew how to use them! I hope that never happens again — to anyone!
Enjoy your trip.
I was in Australia, and they do not let you have needles on Domestic flights. I somehow missed the notice and was knitting away , when the attendant asked how I got the needles through. Honestly I didn’t try and hide them, they just went through the check points. He pold me he would be watching me. I explained I was more dangerous without the needles then with, he did not appreciate my humor.
I was in Australia, and they do not let you have needles on Domestic flights. I somehow missed the notice and was knitting away , when the attendant asked how I got the needles through. Honestly I didn’t try and hide them, they just went through the check points. He pold me he would be watching me. I explained I was more dangerous without the needles then with, he did not appreciate my humor.
Can’t wait to see you Saturday!
(It’s supposed to get up to 9°C on Saturday (which sounds like a pathetic thing to be warning someone about, when you’re used to Fahrenheit). Might wanna wear layers.)
Since I’m closer to the top, maybe you’ll see this possible solution for your dishwasher. If it is draining some of the time, but not at other times, it sounds like the valve that opens and closes to allow drainage is behaving erratically. As I said in an earlier post a few days ago, once we replaced the foot valve on our KitchenAid, it lasted another 10 years. Maybe you’ll have the same luck. Glad the cleansing worked on the shawl and happy you’re getting away for a weekend. Cheers.
Excellent reasons all of them. But squeaky cheese? What is that?
every flight is different b/c every TSA (or whatever it is in other countries) agent is different. i think it depends on what mood they’re in that day.
i’ve even had them take away blunt wooden needles. whatevs!
So I took a semester of Italian when I was doing my doctorate, and the TA told our class about a time she saw Christ Farley in the nude. She told the story in Italian and it was an entry level class…so I obviously missed some of the details, but it had something to do with her making a delivery at his parents’ house and he walked out of the bathroom wearing only a towel…maybe you had to be there 🙂
And Harpa J, squeaky cheese is fresh cheese curds, a Wisconsin classic. The fresh ones really do squeak in your mouth.
Did I say “Christ” Farley? Oh dear. Obviously, I meant CHRIS.
The Great Escape!
I can’t believe you made Wisconsin in March sound GOOD!
I can’t wait to read about your first meeting with Meg! There’s no way to prepare yourself… it’s going to be wonderful for you! Enjoy!
i just had to laugh about the knitting on the plane bit. thanks for a smile.
Hey there Stephanie! I just wanted to tell you some bad news. I recently had the same problem with my dishwasher and found out it was the motor and the price of replacing the motor was almost as much as a new dishwasher. My inlaws are angels and got us a new dishwasher as a Christmas gift instead of cash that they normally give. What a blessing it was. Good luck!
Your socks have missed being held. Wish I was in Wisconsin to see you!
Maybe I’m mistaken, but I could’ve sworn a year or so ago you had a situation where they made you put your knitting in your checked luggage and you couldn’t knit.
So I’m hoping your next post won’t be about a war with the coffee-maker in your hotel room. Though I suppose a coffee-maker isn’t “an appliance” so much as a deity.
Thanks for the link! Unfortunately, I won’t be able to make it to Madison. I have to (get to!) teach a class on Saturday at the Yarnery, so will be otherwise engaged. I would have loved to have some squeaky cheese with you, maybe next time…
I thought the line was “I forgot what 8 was for…” 😉
If Joe reads the comments….
Joe, it would be so lovely if you would replace the dishwasher while Stephanie is gone.
There. I gots your back.
My list isn’t 10, but here goes…
1. It is not “spring” break here in Alaska either… we still have about 2 feet of snow on the ground. However, it is supposed to get above freezing today.
2. I also have knit lots on the plane, and have never been questioned. However, I always make sure I carry on a project that has already been started, to establish myself as someone that truly knits, so no one thinks I am using it as an excuse to carry on sharp pointy objects. I also use wooden needles. Worried about TSA? Maybe more than I worry about terrorists, LOL.
3. My sympathies on your struggles with the dishwasher.
4. Glad your shawl came clean.
5. I practically do a happy dance when someone looks at my socks without a touch of impatience, much less holds them.
Could you please say hello (shyly) to Meg from me?? It’s the closest I think I’ll ever get to meeting her. 🙂 Have a great trip, knit lots,and eat plenty of squeaky cheese.
I love Madison and highly recommend The Great Dane for lovely beer to go with the cheese curds 🙂
Stop the presses. Did you say “out of coffee”? As in “no coffee in the house” out of coffee, or just “no coffee in my cup” out of coffee? Because if it’s the former, then that’s a reason to leave town right there. Otherwise, the dishwasher alone strikes me as an excellent reason to hit the road. Have fun! (Now *I* need another cup of coffee…)
I always operate on the “It’s beter to ask forgiveness than permission” principle.
Besides, if they ask what you’re going to do with those needles you could say you’re going to knit an Afghan.
Knitters would never use their tools to harm someone… blood does not wash out well, impaling someone with a dpn or straight would be messy, and garroting someone with a circ could break or bend the cable and then where would the knitter be?
I agree. Smile calmly, which you’ll be able to do after knitting for a bit waiting to get to the screening point and in the knowledge of all the knitting you’ll be able to do after the screening.
And why does TSA never threaten to take pens. Now there’s a potentially deadly implement!
Sounds like your dishwasher’s pump may be failing. That should be a pretty inexpensive repair. Just do it.
Ooooh. I want to come! It’s only a 4 hr 40 min drive from my MN house but I’m having a hard time talking my husband into coming with me since we drove to WI last weekend for something. I have a few days still…he will crack.
so I have never had a problem with taking my knitting needles on any US flight. However, the evil bastards did confiscate my 1 inch long embroidery scissors that I brought in my purse.
Of course you fly more than carrier pigeons. They’re extinct.
Off to Oz for my sister’s wedding very shortly, so taking your “don’t ask don’t get told no” attitude to heart. I shall see sunshine, I shall feel warmth and I shall leave the frogging shawl behind. For peace and tranquillity am knitting bride and groom dolls … good karma.
Enjoy Wisconsin
Sending hugs
xxx
Regrets, I’m afraid. I have a previous commitment, but consider yourself hugged, beered, and besocked.
I have knit on planes for quite awhile and I’m pretty certain I started because I read on your blog that you were! Once a flight attendent asked me to put my circulars away as we got ready to land?????!!! how bizarre – I mean they will say anything to sound “security-minded” won’t they! I’m always ready with what I’ll say because I’m a paranoid. The best thing I’ve thought of is “If these are dangerous then so are pens and pencils – they are no larger or pointier” which will probably put me in the hoosegaw as a shit-disturber. I only take cirucular’s on board though – somehow they appear less threatening because they’re joined or really I don’t know why – it is all so terribly nonsensical. I could knit with pencils if they took anything away. And I would because it calms me down. I’m much less dangerous when I’m knitting than when I am sitting there thinking weird thoughts. And I travel alot.
Have fun dear woman! So glad you’re leaving that ornery shawl at home.
Happy travels! But you know, the Knitting Goddess has a sister called the Flying Goddess. Way to test her.
I too am taking my knitting on a flight this weekend – but I’m only taking circs with wooden points just in case. Its my first flight in over 17 years and I’d be a nervous wreck if I didn’t have my knitting to keep me occupied. I am going to have a shock to my system – flying from Northern Ohio (which has weather much like yours) to sunny South Florida. Only staying for 3 days but hope to bring some of the warm stuff back home with me.
I will also see you on Saturday and look forward to your presentation. (no pressure) I hope you do get lots of knitting done on the plane. The weather is going to warm up to mid 40’s just for you. I can’t wait to meet the blog queen!
I’m glad you have no problems getting your needles past security. I had some work in Hamilton at court one time, and naively thought I could knit while waiting. Ummm nope. The security people wouldn’t even let me through the front doors with it. They kindly offered to THROW OUT my project if I couldn’t return it to my car. Gee, thanks. Sure, I’ll just pass over this scarf that I’ve been working on for hours and let you junk it, all because I could stab someone with my needle. Which is larger than a pen, by the way…right.
Thanks for the explanation of #3 — I’m always worried about bringing knitting needles, but hearing that someone that flies all the time with them has never had a problem means I should never have a problem either.
There’s a law that states otherwise though isn’t there…
I had someone tell me recently that I couldn’t knit on a plane. A few weeks after I had just been on a plane, knitting. That ban was taken back a long time ago, LOL. Although, I did have a flight attendant grab my needles out of my hand and she said she ‘had to check them to make sure they weren’t pointy or sharp’ because apparently long pointy ones aren’t allowed, despite the TSA site saying that all needles are allowed. LOL.
#9 is that they will be serving coffee there (I assume) and not Nescafé or any such abomination.
The only time I’ve had to fly without knitting is *from Peru or Chile *to the US. No needles on flights out, but I’ve never had a problem flying into either country with knitting.
I have knit on many plane trips but when leaving Rome, I had my needles confiscated. the security lady kept saying, “In Rome it is different.” that’s for sure. In Peru, they also took my needles, which I detached from the cable and they thoughtfully saved them for me while I toured their beautiful country and I reclaimed them at the airport when leaving. You could have knocked me over with a feather when they actually produced the needles when i went to the security claim window on my return. By the way, I had other needles in my suitcase so i did not vacation without knitting. And they do such beautiful knitting in Peru…you’d think they’d know how knitters get without their needles and how peace loving we are. Whatever. Have fun in Wiconsin
I really wish I could come to Madison, it’s only 1.5 hours from my home and a pretty place to visit. However, it wouldn’t be cool to miss my 10-about-to-be-11-year old son’s birthday. So, I’ll have to take a pass and hope to see you at the next Madison trip.
I hope Madison’s good to you again… sadly, it doesn’t look like I’ll make it there this time around. No boob signage from me again! I also hope someone is nice enough to bring you more local beer. With the number of breweries in town, there’s bound to be something good in beer form to bring your way.
I had an unplanned/unexpected family emergency flight to Australia last year. SEVEN flights, round trip. I stayed calm knitting alpaca gloves on #1 steel dpns (inherited from my mum’s needle stash)all the way over and MOST of the way home, with little or no comment from anyone. It wasn’t until coming thru customs back into my own country and ready to board plane #6 that someone regretfully told me, “you really can’t take that on this plane.” I just stared at her in shock for a moment.
When I saw her glancing around for armed reinforcements I didn’t dither but quickly pulled the needles out of the WIP and handed them over (sob! sorry, Mum). Then it was HER turn to looked shocked, at the lovely soft down-to-the-last-finger glove I was clutching. I calmly reassured her, “it’ll be ok. I can pick up the stitches, but YOU CANNOT HAVE MY $26 BUCKS WORTH OF ALPACA!” (Grown just down the road from my house here in arctic northern Wyoming.)
These gloves are now a precious reminder of both my mum and my dear only brother, who left us much too soon, that October in Australia.
I am so excited to be seeing you Saturday. It’s supposed to be 45 degrees Sat. Have a great trip!!
1. i loved seeing “chesterfield” – I haven’t heard/seen that word in a gazillion years! i too, love knitting on the chesterfield – it’s the best place and my pugs love it too 🙂
2. i am a transplanted wisconsinite – so i am jealous that you get to go to Mad City!
3. chris farley & patrick swayze auditioning for chippendale’s was the best skit on SNL…
SOOO glad to hear the line came out of your yarn. I too, have knit on U.S. domestic flights. No problem. To ensure that they don’t nab your needles though, take a partially used bottle of water. They took that out of my purse, while totally ignoring a disc yarn cutter. Scirrors still seem to be a no-no. While in Wisconsin, find a Lienkoogle Berry Wies for me. Love the stuff. Made right there in Wisc. Enjoy. I loved the little bit about “Florentine” on Twitter! I think it is very funny too!.
Are you REALLY REALLY sure you can knit on the plane? I can ask, because I’m sitting in the front ;-p
Don’t worry about meeting Meg. She’s the sweetest person you’ll ever meet. Lovely, lovely lady…the definition of Gracious. And she’s amazingly good at remembering names.
Be excited to meet her, she’s the daughter of a Goddess, after all. But not scared.
Carrier pigeons are alive, well, and still carry messages. The last passenger pigeon died in 1914 at the Cincinnati Zoo.
OMG! You are right. Vicki’s blog pictures ARE incredible. My own miserable photographic skills yearn to grow up to be half as good as yours, but hers are fantastic! (I can’t seem to get a scarf to stay in focus from one end of it to the other. Might be time to invest in a new camera.)
Have a great trip. Please, when do you come next to Southern California? Don’t wait until it’s 98 degrees here! (At least it’s almost never humid…)
Say hello to Vicki for me if you get a chance. Someday I hope to meet her in person, too.
And, if it helps, you can fawn a bit on Meg in my name. Promise her I will sometime this year rip out my EPS and reknit with the same gauge on the body and the sleeves.
From the sounds of it, you are thoroughly sick of people commenting about knitting on planes…forgive me, but I think this is hilarious, so I’m going to share it.
I have also never had a problem bringing multitudes of knitting needles and paraphenalia on planes (a side note, I used to make chain mail, which involves wire cutters, coils of wire that look like screen door springs and pounds and pounds of metal, many a security person commented, but no one stopped me from taking the whole kit on the plane).
I mentioned to my Grandfather in law, who works for that branch of the US Government that is in charge of scaring the bejesus out of people when they think about airplanes and he said “WHAT? They let you take your knitting needles on the plane? Don’t you realize that there are about six ways you could kill someone with a knitting needle? If you jammed it up someone’s nose it would go straight to their brain.”
I am very glad that my Grandfather in law doesn’t knit.
I am also glad that the FSA has realized that knitters without their needles are much more dangerous than knitters happily occupied with their socks and scarves.
Steph, SHHHH! I’m using knitting-confiscation as my excuse not to take expensive trips involving lengthy air travel! “I can’t…they’d take away my knitting at security, and THEN where would we be?!”
Oooooooh, Madison… must check out “Fromagination” for some seriously good cheese. Not the squeaky or fried curd variety (both very good by the way), but the “beautifully compliments a glass of wine” variety.
You’re wise not to ask permission to knit on the plane. The only time I was told I was not allowed to crochet was after I’d asked for permission. Now I don’t ask. I have been asked by other passengers, though, “did they let you take that needle on the plane?” Still I haven’t tried my Addi circulars, not wanting to take the chance of having them confiscated!
I love that you will be in WI (my home and very favorite state) once again!
I weep that I will not be there to enjoy the festivities. Have a Spotted Cow, they are quite good.
Hee! I had never really been bothered about my knitting…before Monday. When I flew home from Asia, and had the nice ‘security’ people in Singapore confiscate my WIP sock.
Fortunately, they put it into an envelope and I got to claim it in baggage in San Francisco. But it meant I didn’t FINISH the sock in the 16 hours of flying I still had left.
At least they left the shawl and the other pair of socks. 😛
Hey, I’m from WISCONSIN!! I read you every day and I’ve never, ever, posted a comment 🙂 Anyway, love Madison, now I’m in Denver. BTW, the only time I was EVER turned away for carrying knitting needles was on a trip to Washington DC. I wanted to tour the Capitol and I was told NO KNITTING NEEDLES. I left..I wasn’t going to pull those socks off and start over!!
Oh man…you’re going to WI! Makes me wonder why I move from there to Italy! Make sure that squeaky cheese that you eat is deep fried.
YAY!! Can’t wait to see you… live and in person!!!
I AM allergic to wool and I would have put on my mask and taken out my knitting needles too. 😉
It might be possible…
Last I heard, it was going to be in the 40s on Saturday… you might even be able to leave your coat at home!
Glad to know you will knit on the plane. I always take needles I’m willing to lose, just in case. It’s never been a problem though.
@tracyinmichigan – tx for bringing me to my senses!! the knitting will go in the checked bag. I don’t want to drive my husband crazy in Florida, searching for 2.5mmdpn’s!!!!
I LOVE squeaky cheese – I live in Washington state and every summer we make a trip down to Oregon and get as much as we can stand – love it!! And who knows, it might just be sunny in Wisconsin over the weekend – soak it up.
Kringle!!! Make sure to eat some Kringle in Wisconsin!
Alas, I have experienced 2 very long trips to Australia.
Oh yes, you know you’re in Wisconsin when you have squeaky cheese. Speaking of inventing things, I’m pretty sure my youngest sister invented the term “squeaky cheese.”
😉
(At least she called it that before we ever heard anyone else call it by that name.)
Have fun in Madison. I wish I could go. I’m only about 2-1/2 hours away from Madison. However it’s the music festival day at my daughter’s high school, so we don’t have time. Sob. She’d like to see you, too. I need to get some squeaky cheese. We haven’t had cheese curds in a long time.
ooh, I am so jealous about the squeaky cheese! it’s one of the main things I miss about Wisconsin.. you know, aside from my grandparents and an aunt & uncle or two. lol
This is not about kinnearing (which, by the way I think is brilliant and funny). This is about the March 9 post involving a stain in a row of your lace. I’ve glanced at the comments and did not see one that suggested a solution other than ripping out. Since I have such a solution, I’ll give it a go.
Thread a longish piece of your yarn on a tapestry needle and duplicate stitch with this yarn along the full length of the stain. Leave tails at each end. Carefully cut the stained yarn somewhere in the middle and pull theoe stitches out. The duplicate stitches stay in place. When the stained yarn is out, the new duplicate stitches will remain, doing exactly what the stained stitches used to do. Run in ends of both yarns and continue. Enjoy!
We have had a similar problem with our dishwasher-sometimes it drains sometimes not-however for some strange reason it seems it doesnt drain thoroughly when the washing machine is on-my husband and i are always pumping it out on weird occasions- go figure!
Does your March break not occur after Spring has come in? Ours does (in most states in the US – not all, but most), hence the “spring” part of the break. Now whether or not it FEELS like Spring is a whole different story! So we take off for warmer climates as well!
:O)
I so wanted to come see you speak, but could not afford to fork over $40.00 for the pleasure. Please come to Milwaukee before the end of June!!!
I love Madison. I lived there for 2 years and should have stayed longer.
TSA has a whole page on its website devoted to knitting paraphernalia; you can find it here: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1252.shtm. Which I find hilarious, because I routinely take razor-sharp pointed embroidery scissors and pointy DP needles aboard with nary a difficulty (although I do use wood needles just in case). The trick is to bury the scissors in a bag so full of other tools of the trade that the scissors disappear in the cloud of stitch markers, yarn needles, etc. when going through the x-ray machine. Also, it helps have a work in progress on your DP needles; then they realize that you’re not just planning to use them to poke your seatmate’s eyes out when they drive you insane with their stupid questions. “Are those things really allowed? They look really dangerous!” I’ve been flying with my needles multiple times every year since the TSA started allowing knitting on planes again, and have never heard a single word about it. Except for people admiring my knitting, that is.
But airplane knitting is the best ever. I knitted a whole pair of alpaca socks flying from Baltimore to Seattle last month. I’m still trying to decide what to knit on the return trip home (if my mother ever gets well enough for me to GO home again — a ten-day trip has turned into a month-long trip with no end in sight!)
Eat some squeaky cheese for me, please! Mmm….squeaky cheese….
It’s been a long time since I couldn’t knit on the plane. Only right after 9/11, for a couple of months. And on a trip back from NZ three years ago–the Aussies are just uptight on their airline. I did have one male flight attendant somewhere along the line tell me I couldn’t knit until we reached 10,000 ft because it is dangerous. Just like iPods.
I’m looking forward to seeing you on Saturday! I second whoever it was who commented above that FRIED cheese curds are far superior to the squeaky kind. The Old Fashioned, on the Capitol Square, has tasty ones.
I hope you get to see everyone; I’d kind of like to see them too. I wish I could be there again, but I left for Oregon, where I’ve seen you once. I will probably not see you at Sock Summit; though if I do I will be quite large with child…
OMG…..Vicki….knitorious…..blog pictures….I am seriously drooling on my computer.
Thanks Stephanie. Another blog to read everyday. 🙂
Recently I was on a 17 hour non-stop flight from New York to Bangkok and was knitting a pair of socks on circular metal needles. I overnighted in Bangkok and when I went thru security the next day to fly to Katmandu, Nepal they cut the cable on my needles, kept the metal points and kept my round, kid scissors which they used to cut off the points. I also was not allowed to bring my needles onto an 11 hour Air New Zealand flight from Auckland to LA.
In reply to both you & Barb at 9.42am just above me – while I could fly INTO Australia with all my knitting bits and pieces I could not fly OUT of Australia with all my knitting bits and pieces. Or within Australia itself. And it was only sheer fluke that I asked when I checked my luggage (because, heaven knows, I had knitted all the way from LA to Sydney!) or mine would have been confiscated as well. Instead I was able to shove it my checked luggage, and then had to spend twenty plus dollars on a stupid hardcover book that only took up about 3 hours of my 14 hour flight…
What, please, is squeaky cheese?!
Yay Madison! Wish I could be there to see you. Mr. Playing-Hard-To-Get who would not smile for you last April is now a goofy toddler who is running around the living room stark nekkid with a big grin…
Squeaky cheese! Oh how I love it…
Thank you for reminding the world of your experiences flying with needles. I have cited you on several occasions to knitters on the urge of hyperventilating about having their project taken away. I distrust the TSA as much as anyone–and I know people who’ve had trouble when flying outside the US and Canada–but as long as you’re not trying to smuggle plastique along with your needles, you are fine in this part of the world.
What is the dishwasher equivalent of a high colonic?
I think we need to do a little more PR work in the world as “knitters”. Honestly? I doubt a single one of us is capable of spearing a pilot with a knitting needle especially if it could potentially damage a WIP.
What do they think we are – rouge knitting terrorists? Is terrorist and knitter even allowed to define the same person in the real world? I think not.
1. I have many projects about which I feel that way, some of which involve no charts at all.
2. It is obviously toying with you, but I was really happy until I got to…
6. You are obviously toying with me.
(I’ve never had knitting needles of any sort taken away from me by security either, although I was asked to refrain from using them in a psych ward once, even the nice wood ones that are entirely indistinguishable from pencils, which I was also using at the time, because the needles were “sharps,” but somehow the pencils were not. Maybe they were trying to drum up business.)
Congradulations to Meg! Yeah!!
Oh my GOODNESS I am **absolutely** going to be there, wouldn’t miss it even to collect a huge lottery winning or to see Gil Grisom or anything! (You’re way cooler than any of those Hollywood types anyway and I don’t know that any of those guys knit, either -pfshaw). And even guess what? I’m working on a toque again! Now I have to go start deciding which basket, which projects, what to wear, where’s the camera and all tha other stuff. I’m coming for lunch – the Yarn Harlot AND lunch? whoooah!
Popping in again to say that #6 above is quite possibly one of the nicest things anyone has said about March in Wisconsin.
Watch out, though; after a quite nippy couple days, a nice warm-up is forecast just in time for your visit: Saturday in Madison is supposed to get up to a balmy 9 degrees C (48 F), sunny, with the low only -5 C! I live two+ hours’ drive west, on the Mississippi, and our weather will be similar — looking forward to it even though I work. I hope it doesn’t fool all of us into thinking it’s really spring (we should know better).
I’m almost positive that your number 9 must be the beer.
Lucky you, getting knitting needles onto a plane. I have even had 2 pencils confiscated because I started knitting with them and they told me that they were therefore knitting needles and I couldn’t do that in flight. Meanwhile my hair clasp had a 3″ metal pin and my necklace would have made a perfect garotte. Go figure.
Do you think maybe the dishwasher is jealous of all the attention and blog time that was lavished on the washer and wants equal time?
I think that Greg K. owes you a dishwasher. It’s the least he can do for you. I’ll bet he was paid rather handsomely to appear on the show and get all that airtime on your dime.
Don’t try to fly out of Dublin on Aer Lingus–they will not let you pass the security check with knitting needles in hand (or bag or anywhere on your person). I was fortunate that I could unscrew the tips and leave them behind instead of looking for something else on which to put 200+ stitiches. Luckily they had sudoku on the plane, which distracted me enough while flying back across the Atlantic. (Oddly, knitting from Chicago TO Ireland on Aer Lingus was not felt to be a threat to international security!)
I knit, literally, all around the world – on a plane. Many different planes actually – only the Norwegians ever gave me trouble … which was always odd to me … being a knitting culture more than good ol’ Tejas… anyway. The TSA (or whatever they’re called now) *specifically allows* knitting needles and crochet hooks on planes. No special permission needed. Enjoy the peace and quiet.
Steph, it’s “I forget what 8 was for but 9, 9, 9 for a lost god”
Love, godless heathen
I’ve been following yourdishwasher saga with interest. My dishwasher went suspiciously “on the fritz” last week immediately after my son was cooking. He warned me not to blame it on him, cause he didn’t break it. (I wouldn’t dare…) Fortunately, we bought the extended warranty–and as it turns out, the repairwoman, yes woman, says it wasn’t working cause someone (hmmm? I wonder who?) had pushed the “hi-temp wash” button and since it wasn’t reaching the required temp,it just kept running the wash cycle and refused to empty.
Now, I’m not suggesting you accuse anyone, but seeing as you do have a teenager in your house, anything, and I do mean, anything, is possible.
The sad thing is, it could have just as easily been me.
I love that they sent me a repair woman.
Like you I spend an insane amount of time in the air, and I choose not to think about what it was like before I could knit on the plane/at the gate/in the shuttle bus/on the train….
You get my drift
Stephanie –
I hope your trip to Wisconsin was delish… both in cheese and knitting. I’ll be in Milwaukee next week for business… any great yarnstores or knitters I should include on a work hiatus?
Also – we’ll be in Florence, italy… given their fabrics, would think the opportunity for yarning is quite high… thoughts?
And yes, knitting on the plane is one of the true joys of life. Unless as one commenter noted, your seatmate is noisy about a wool allergy. I’d think THAT results in re-seating…