Comments: I wonder where the whales are now

Glad to hear you had such a good time, Steph. Orcas Island and the rest of the San Juans are beautiful places to be.

Posted by Emma in Seattle at April 14, 2007 6:12 PM

Are you sure you didn't scare off the whales with all that giggling?

I thought I saw the traveling sock tremble a little at the sea lions as well.

Glad a good time was had by all, and safe travels!

(Gosh Emma was quick, there were no messages when I hit comment and she was in by the time I got to the posting page!)

Posted by Ann (yet another) at April 14, 2007 6:15 PM

Looks like a fabulous time!

Posted by Megan at April 14, 2007 6:16 PM

Have I just missed it, or haven't there been any pictures of the completed Bohus?

Posted by TimWarp at April 14, 2007 6:18 PM

Well thanks for settling the speed question between DPNs and circulars. I've often wondered which is faster, because I like both methods. But with two little kids who like to run and throw themselves against me, I think for now I'll stick with the "less pointy ends" method, i.e. one long circular.

The blanket knitting with four balls is really cool! So you're knitting a tube, right? Does that get cut open at the end? A great method for a multiknitter project, anyway!

Posted by Lotta at April 14, 2007 6:19 PM

hmmmmmm - how to get a week off from school AFTER spring break next year......I have a little bit of time to figure this one out. Sock camp looks like a blast!

Posted by Anita May at April 14, 2007 6:26 PM

Man that sounds like so much fun...(everything)I so am jealous. Maybe next time.
So, what is a sinking flamingo?
I love the islands. I've seen the gazelles too. And something called a Kudzu I think...really big striped deer thing with huge pointed horns/antlers. It is trippy.

Posted by Sherry at April 14, 2007 6:29 PM

I am still so jealous. You are staying where we stayed when we went there. Thanks for taking me back there in spirit. Safe travels home! --J

Posted by Jen in CT at April 14, 2007 6:33 PM

I totally fell for the blank photo, trying to figure out why it wouldn't come up!! DUH! I never would have allowed a picture of me in bathing suit on the internet( or anywhere else)!!!!! Sounds like sock camp was wonderful.
And I am glad to hear that the DPNs won.

Posted by Kim at April 14, 2007 6:35 PM

Looks great! I too fell for the blank picture--of course, I was expecting only needles and yarn to be in the photo! I was last photographed in a bathing suit at age 17--no one has photographic proof that I look ANY different in a suit now! Enjoy your well deserved time at home (until you hit the road next week). Loved the new book--they just go by too fast (much like Harry Potter books!)

Posted by Sheryl at April 14, 2007 6:40 PM

What a fun time!! I'm going to borrow some of those ideas for our guild knitting day in June.
If you want to see whales, you have to take me along. Seriously. Everywhere I went on the west coast, whales showed up. And I wasn't even trying. We stopped for gas at Ragged Point on the Pacific Coast Highway, and I ran to the edge of the cliff to see the view, and saw---whales!! We stopped at a lighthouse cum hostel south of San Francisco. In the morning I went to check out the oceanview before leaving, and there were---whales!! Our friends spent hundreds (and hundreds) of $$ (US!!) on whale sighting tours, and saw not one whale, but, not a surprise, since they didn't take me along.
Love the description of your trip/tour. But know the feeling of getting home and sleeping in your own bed. Delicious.
Marlyce in Windsor, Ontario

Posted by Marlyce at April 14, 2007 6:40 PM

You caught Cece in her marmalade in the wild! Gawd it's gorgeous--thanks for the snap; might make me forget all the blood sweat and tears it took her to knit it and make me start my own...maybe.

Sounds like a grand time. Jealous here, as ever.

Posted by mamacate at April 14, 2007 6:40 PM

Two knitters, one on the left and one on the right needles, sounds hilarious. I'll bet you and Cat lost because you were laughing so hard.

Posted by Nita at April 14, 2007 6:46 PM

Glad to read that you had fun, and really glad to read that you won the contest. Next time race Lily Chin and her little hook. I'd really like to see that.

Posted by Jenn at April 14, 2007 6:58 PM

Oh I am from washington and your trip sounds like so much fun!!!!!!!!!!

thanks for the photos and a trip down memory lane.

I spent my childhood in alaska and then later lived in washington and I have NEVER SEEN A WHALE. Never.

My sister is going to go and see you in Anchorage!

Jan in Nagasaki

Posted by jan in nagasaki at April 14, 2007 6:58 PM

I just love that you have a picture of the sea lions with the sock in the foreground (or of the sock with sea lions in the background). Just love it. :)

What a wonderful time you must have had. If the Blue Moon crew are up to doing it again next year, I'm Theresville, baby.

Posted by Bakerina at April 14, 2007 7:01 PM

Sounds like you had a wonderful time.

We were on the east coast (Maryland, USA, looking for seals. Now we know where they were!

Posted by ann at April 14, 2007 7:05 PM

It sounds like a great time and it definitely looks like you couldn't be bored for a minute.

With all the travelling you've been doing, I'm not surprised you can't wait to get home and just sit for a bit. I know I would be feeling that way too.

Posted by Dorothy B at April 14, 2007 7:08 PM

haha.. Love Nathania's pose. The pics of her are always amusing, and at the same time, flattering. ;)

Posted by frecklegirl jess at April 14, 2007 7:11 PM

Ha ha ha... I've always wondered what camp for knitters would be like. Daughter Mayhem thinks I'm a freak when yarn comes in the mail. If she only knew how much worse (better!!) it could be!

East or West, home is best. Enjoy. :-)

Posted by Karen in Toledo at April 14, 2007 7:14 PM

I'm disappointed about the underwater picture but I'll survive.

Nothing like your own family/bed/home no matter how much fun you're having.

Posted by elan at April 14, 2007 7:16 PM

Camp for grown-ups - what an awesome concept. No reason the younger ones should have all the fun.

And by the way, I loved the whole chicken thing. Thanks for sharing your (and Cat's) saga as well as the photos of many of your fellow chickens.

I am off for a week to - dare I say it - Cleveland (any good yarn shops or SnB meetings I need to know about?). My youngest sister is getting married (hopefully in a completed Lily of the Valley shawl!). Who knows, it could get warm enough that she won't need the shawl - but if I don't finish it my knitting buddies will kill me! Good thing I have a nice long car ride to knit the last 7 pattern repeats (unless I decide to add a few!).

Posted by Karen Lauterwasser at April 14, 2007 7:19 PM

oh, Yarn Harlot.

I love your posts so much.

Looked like a lot of fun.. I'm so jealous!

Posted by Wenchlette at April 14, 2007 7:26 PM

It all looks so neat! Is underwater knitting like underwater basket weaving?

Posted by Beth K at April 14, 2007 7:28 PM

So let me get this straight - you took on Cat (THE Cat, the Cat who wrote the book??? Why do I suddenly feel like Dr. Seuss!) on the issue of which is faster, and DPNs won??? How did Cat take this?? I've long wondered if DPNs wouldn't be faster, since I spend so much time sliding stitches back and forth on 2 circs - now I'm really determined to give DPNs another try. (Tried once before but I let the knitting-with-bag-pipes feeling drive me away.)

Posted by Sue at April 14, 2007 7:28 PM

Dude. So. Much. Fun. I love the sound of those contests! What's your centre sock yarn? I recognize the other two. If you want to see whales, try the St. Lawrence in summer. Seriously. I've never managed to see them on any coasts, but tons of 'em (no pun intended) come right in for a taste of Quebecois culture.

Posted by miss ewe at April 14, 2007 7:31 PM

Looks like you all are having a fabulous time! Always nice to get home though...especially after the whirlwind couple of weeks you've had.

Posted by ck at April 14, 2007 7:31 PM

sounds like a great time! I'm sure you're soooo sorry you missed the snow while you were gone *grumble grumble*

Posted by Kelly at April 14, 2007 7:31 PM

Photographic evidence of you voluntarily knitting on a circular needle?

Priceless.

Posted by rams at April 14, 2007 7:32 PM

mmmmm.....home......

Posted by Presbytera at April 14, 2007 7:33 PM

SO. MUCH. FUN.

Glad you had it.

I started to say, "DUDE you need a wetsuit not a bathing suit for that water ..." and then I saw you meant POOL. At the hotel.

The Pacific Northwest is one of the most gorgeous places on earth. Except maybe Ireland.

But it is definitely the most gorgeous place I have ever actually been to myself.

And you're right. Nathania DOES look like the front of a ship.

Posted by dez at April 14, 2007 7:37 PM

I wanna go to sock camp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *jealous*

Posted by Jen at April 14, 2007 7:38 PM

P.S. -- DPNs RULE!!!!

Posted by dez at April 14, 2007 7:38 PM

All of those great pictures of knitters and friends having fun, and all I can think is...'that shawl is beautiful, I wonder what the pattern is....'

Ang

Posted by angelarae at April 14, 2007 7:39 PM

What a great post - thanks for sharing and I'm glad you're headed home.

Posted by Julie at April 14, 2007 7:46 PM

Sounds like you had a great time! All I can think about, though, is how totally unfair it is that you had Sock Camp in the San Juan Islands AFTER I moved away from Friday Harbor! I missed all that knitterly greatness gathered in one place!

Posted by Sue at April 14, 2007 7:47 PM

Sounds like an absolute blast! But it's always good to get home. I read somewhere that home is a place where you can sleep deep in the mattress, and while occasionally we may have more than one place like that, they are rare and to be treasured. But I have to ask, are you expecting a surprise when you get back, or is just being home the only reason you're excited? Is Joe into reciprocal surprises? Wouldn't that be fun! Too bad he doesn't have a blog too. :-) Safe travels!

Posted by E.W.E at April 14, 2007 7:47 PM

P.S. The thing on the front of a ship is a figurehead.

Posted by E.W.E at April 14, 2007 7:48 PM

OK, I need to find out about that striped sweater, info anyone?

Posted by chris in AZ at April 14, 2007 7:54 PM

Totally with you on the part where no one wanted to be photographed in swim suits. Me neither. But could NO ONE think to take a pic of Just The Jellyfish Yarn Being Knit?

Sigh.

It'll be nice to have you home my friend.

Posted by Rachel H at April 14, 2007 7:55 PM

Nathania is doing whatever crazy thing Nathania is always doing. Cuz, she's crazy like that. I'm glad she's one of my LYS owners. :)

Posted by Lynette at April 14, 2007 7:57 PM

I am sooo jealous. I want to go to sock camp too now - once I learn how to make socks with no holes in the toes, that is!

Sounds like you had a wonderful, relaxing time, and there is a way to get whales to show up, at least in New England. Don't cruise on a biggish boat. Go deep sea fishing on a tiny boat with friends -- and all these humongous bodies suddenly show up . . . dwarfing your tiny little boat. Swimming right up to you, looking you over - and then vanishing into the sea. I love whales. They put you in your proper place in the universe.

Posted by Shel at April 14, 2007 7:59 PM

The gray whales may still be down here in the Sea of Cortez, enjoying the warm water. If they get the Weather Channel they're probably putting off going North for a while.

Posted by Mary the Digital Knitter at April 14, 2007 8:19 PM

Seriously? No photographs of the underwater knitting? I'm so disappointed!

I think the whales are all down here. You see: we have enormous ocean-going mammals as well as fabulous coffee, divine chocolate, gorgeous beaches and short fat birds (that's the kiwis, not the women)

New Zealand: more than just sheep.

You should visit. Really.

Posted by Eclair at April 14, 2007 8:23 PM

I'm extremely curious to know what kind of songs you sing at sock camp... or any knitting even for that matter. Do you think you could enlighten us in your next post?

Posted by Abbey C. at April 14, 2007 8:24 PM

Hi Stephanie - how funny to see your blog title! I saw the whales today! Check my blog if you ever find time - I put a couple photos up. Too funny.

Posted by Barb at April 14, 2007 8:25 PM

Love. Love. Love. The San Juan Islands...it is impossible to be there and not make something beautiful, even if it's only a dream of what could be...

Looks like more fun than mortals should be allowed by law... but shh...if we tell the muggles, they'll make chicken knitting and knitting underwater illegal, and then we'll be left with crochet and acryllic yarn...

Posted by shanny mac at April 14, 2007 8:30 PM

Grown-up camp does rock! We have our 2nd annual fiber camp next weekend...spinning, knitting, felting, drinking, eating...all in random order. I can make sure there's room for you...having a surprise camper would be great fun.

Posted by Diane at April 14, 2007 8:30 PM

I've so got to go to one of those things.
I hear crickets outside right now. They're really annoying. That's one thing I don't like about summer.
Great news! I have joined the leigons of connected knitters and now have a blog! knitwize.blogspot.com
If it wouldn't be too much trouble, I'd really appreciate it if you could drop by.

Posted by Jessica at April 14, 2007 8:32 PM

I'm suddenly picturing a sock made sans gauge swatch, big enough to go cover a sea lion's back half for its chilly trip home to Alaska.

Posted by AlisonH at April 14, 2007 8:43 PM

What a fabulous time! Thank you for teaching and entertaining all of us crazy Sock Club Campers. I still say that the hosting the Whale Watching Tour requires the delivery of drinks to one's guests. Next time a little Screech maybe?

Posted by Lisa K. at April 14, 2007 9:00 PM

The contest where two knitters knit one item reminds me of a thing my family did when I was a teen. We sat down to dinner and had someone tie each of our wrists to the wrist of the family member to our left and right, so that the four of us were joined in a circle. The length of the ties between the wrists was such that if you needed both your hands to cut your dinner, you had to get the person on both sides of you to temporarily surrender one of their hands. I'm not sure I'm describing this well enough, but the idea was to enhance family communication and support. The only way everyone would get to eat is if everyone occasionally sacrificed his/her own immediate needs to benefit the others. I guess it was pretty powerful, because I remember it fondly.

Congrats on the DPN win! I'm in on Sock Madness (though long since eliminated from competition) and I think the crew over there will be interested. BTW, have you heard the division named after you is consistently the fastest group?

Posted by Jean at April 14, 2007 9:05 PM

Good job on representin' for the dpns! :)

Posted by Emy at April 14, 2007 9:12 PM

So cool. I love all the pics. Sounds like a truly awesome time.

Posted by Yvonne at April 14, 2007 9:12 PM

I...am...*so*...green. And not because I say 'gribbit' a lot. Every time I thought about Camp and Orcas Island (so close, yet I've never been, and ferry trips to Victoria/Vancouver are just too short to count) - well, I had a small temper tantrum. Lessee, if they keep Camp going for oh, another 5 years or so, I might be able to save up the money...

And then there's Sue's (knittingintexas) comment about DPNs: "...the knitting-with-bag-pipes feeling..." ROFL, and precisely, Sue! Bagpipes that actively run away from you, too. ;) Oh well, I knit slowly anyway. And if it weren't for 2 circs, I wouldn't be knitting socks, trust me on that. Oh, the horror...

Looks like a wonderful time, glad everyone had fun!

Posted by MonicaPDX at April 14, 2007 9:15 PM

Never in my whole life have I laughed so hard at a white rectangle.

Posted by Lucia at April 14, 2007 9:21 PM

Oh it looks like so much fun! And the weather cooperated for you all, April in the NW can be iffy. Oh I am so saving up for the next camp!

Posted by Michele at April 14, 2007 9:56 PM

You sound happy, so I'm guessing you got some rest. Re-enter slowly. You've been living among the goddesses.

Posted by tree at April 14, 2007 10:05 PM

The bright citrus-y sweater in the second picture... I totally LOVE it! I don't even know why... those are so not colors I would ever normally choose, but somehow they look absolutely fabulous to me in that particular sweater.

It's a good thing you didn't post a link to the wearers' blog (assuming she has one), or I might end up stalking her to find out the yarns and pattern, go make one up myself in a yarn daze, and then end up wondering why I have this piece of clothing that doesn't go with anything I own, and I don't ever get to wear it. PHEW! Thanks. Dodged a bullet on that one.

Posted by Leisel at April 14, 2007 10:21 PM

Wow. It sounds like you're having an amazing time.

Posted by Riin at April 14, 2007 10:37 PM

That sounds like summer camp...for the seriously deranged. My kind of camp!

Posted by Kathy at April 14, 2007 10:48 PM

Perhaps if all of you banded together to knit the whale a sweater, he may have stopped by the boat to pick it up.

Posted by Messie at April 14, 2007 10:52 PM

No. dude. I. can't wait. Really. I need my friend to be home.

Posted by denny Mcmillan at April 14, 2007 10:55 PM

Sea lions are so amazing, and I can hardly imagine gazelle in the PNW. Of course, I've never *been* to the PNW, so that might explain a lot. :) Glad to hear you are having a lovely time.

And, Ang, I'm with you looking at the picture wanting to talk about patterns and yarn.

Posted by Tanya at April 14, 2007 10:57 PM

Welcome home Stephanie. Home is so good when you have been on the go for so long eh ? The family will be glad to see you and have you to themselves for even a short time I bet. Try to get rested up for another run at it all and I hope you get to see whales on the west coast. Thanks for the post --knitting under water !!!! seems it got even more weird than chickens haha

Posted by Joan H at April 14, 2007 11:00 PM

I think the speed on particular needles will depend more on the knitter than the tools. I'm betting you'd beat me no matter what style of needle we used.

I hope for the two-knitters-one-hand-each event there was some thought given to pairing up by pickers or throwers. Though, it might have been even more interesting to mix the styles and see how people coped.

Steph, you got a nice selection of Northwest spring weather. I hope you enjoyed the 'sun breaks,' a particularly Northwest weather term.

Jessica, I'll make a point to check out your blog. I'm hoping to have mine up for my birthday on Monday.

Posted by KarenJoSeattle at April 14, 2007 11:11 PM

Hmm, two polar bears knitting with white wool on an iceberg? Yeah, I expected a picture there too. Don't know why.

Hope you enjoy going back to Makeover Bedroom. Wonder if Joe made any changes while YOU were out?

Posted by Beth in WI at April 14, 2007 11:21 PM

Damn that was fun! All of it. What a joy it was. So stoked by camp and you. Angus saw your picture asked what you were holding...he also wanted to know if there were roosters at camp. (Yes, honey, of course there were) And he is beside himself that you broke up with him.

Posted by KT at April 14, 2007 11:41 PM

I feel like a dork. I totally fell for the empty picture. I love the idea of all the crazy knitting exercises even though I'm a complete spaz and I'm sure that I'd totally screw it up like the uncoordinated dork that I am. I'm sure that I'd laugh really hard while I did it though.

Posted by Hillary at April 14, 2007 11:45 PM

I love your blog, I love your books. You're in my favorites, and I figured that I'd post the link to my knitting blog in case you were ever compelled to read it. I knit socks with the Magic Loop, but I'm going to learn DPN's hopefully soon... anyways, from one knitter to another, happy knitting and keep up the hilarious posts. You give me something to smile about when I read an exert from your blog or books after I realized I made a huge error 50 rows back on the sweater from hell I'm knitting my husband. That's really, really hard to do btw.

-Jessica

Posted by Jessica R at April 15, 2007 12:04 AM

Oh what fun...I'm so glad you had such a good time, and that you are headed home again. Now, unlike Leisel, I AM going to ask about the citrus-y colored sweater in the second photo. I am in love with it. If anyone knows what the pattern is, please email me!!! trishbloom@aol.com

Posted by Trish at April 15, 2007 12:06 AM

welcome back! although i anxiously look forward to hearing of your adventures on the road, i seriously wish you had more gigs going on home soil.... sigh.

Posted by christine m. east of t.o. at April 15, 2007 12:09 AM

That sounds like it was tons of fun. Yesterday I finally got my hands on a copy of your book. It seems that Winnipeg was totally lacking it until yesterday (I seriously don't know how many times I've walked into a book store looking in the last bit).

Posted by Jenna at April 15, 2007 12:22 AM

Camp does look like fun, and with all of those amazing people. I guess I would want to come home though after the month you have had.

Posted by Stephanie at April 15, 2007 12:46 AM

Oh yay!! I spy a German stocking!!

This all sounds like so much fun. AND I'm glad to hear your DPNs beat 2 circs!

Posted by Laurie at April 15, 2007 12:47 AM

Hi Sherry, a Kudu is the animal you are thinking of, it is a big gazelle/deer type creature with great huge trippy corkscrew horns.

Kudzu is a vine that grows in the South. It grows so fast you can watch it grow. Kudzu is enough to make Greenpeace buy Roundup.

Posted by dez at April 15, 2007 1:07 AM

I'm so glad Nathania is in my life; that chick is seriously awesome. Indeed, she does look like the front of a ship! Great picture. I'll be sure to put it as the wallpaper on all our computers at the shop!

Posted by Chloe at April 15, 2007 1:37 AM

That sounds like such a fabulous time for all. Thanks for sharing. Aren't the San Juan's lovely? But the sea lions... around here they pile up and sink the fishing boats!

Posted by Peggy at April 15, 2007 1:49 AM

What a great time! I love the idea of tandem knitting - how interesting. And the knitting in a circle.
What a weekend of beautiful connections.
Have a great trip home!

Posted by Miss Scarlett at April 15, 2007 1:58 AM

Glad you had a good time. Too bad you didn't see whales. The stars have to be aligned just right for that. I have a volunteer gig that involves standing on a bluff, looking out to sea, right past where the whales migrate on their way to and from the birthing lagoons in Mexico. I've been doing this three days a month for the last two years. I never saw any whales until last month. The first day of my stint, I saw several dozen whales swim by. The next two days, nothing. I tell you, it's all in the stars.

Posted by Marina Stern at April 15, 2007 2:19 AM

OK, the 'citrus-y' sweater is the "Marmalade Blueberry Jam Sweater" from Kinver Beach Knit Designs, available on KnittingZone's website. (NAYY, I just deduced the name from another comment and googled -- AWESOME sweater!!)

Aside from that, it sounds like Sock Camp was an amazing time, thanks for sharing.

Posted by Debbie at April 15, 2007 3:58 AM

Still So jealous! But getting home after so many days on the road must be absolutely fantabulous! I hope Joe has held the girls in check and the dishes are in the dishwasher and Mr Washie hasn't expired from missing you....

Posted by lynne s of Oz at April 15, 2007 7:10 AM

Please help me find the owner of the yellow/orange/green cardi! I must knit one!

It is both garish, and vertically striped. I feel a strong compulsion...

Posted by Lara at April 15, 2007 8:15 AM

Seems like you were testing the program for the next Knitting Olympics, eh?

Well, whales have no hands, so don´t show them your knitting, it will make them sad....

Glad to hear you got a few relaxed days, though.

Posted by Juliane at April 15, 2007 10:18 AM

Looks like it was a fantastic time! Glad you had a few days to relax!

Posted by Jen at April 15, 2007 10:38 AM

Looks like a wonderful experience.
Where, Oh Where, can I find the pattern for the colourful "Jacket on the Boat"?
I hope it is not a one-of-a-kind-masterpiece.
I wanna knit one!

Posted by Judith - the Original at April 15, 2007 10:48 AM

Underwater...knitting?! That is significantly (greater than 5%) cooler than underwater basket weaving - and underwater basket weaving is strictly theoretical! ...I wonder if you could spin underwater...hmm, probably not. OOH! you could spin flax underwater and it would stay wet! Okay, maybe not, but one never does now about these things, does one?
So glad you had such a great time. Next time you do something of that coolness level, have a great time for me as well. I live for awesome vicarious experiences ;)

Posted by Jess, of the Bugs at April 15, 2007 11:03 AM

What I want to know about is the sweater being worn by the blonde in the second picture down, the yellow, pink and green one. Is it her design, did she use a pattern? Do you know who she is so I can hunt her down and ask her?

Posted by Sybil at April 15, 2007 11:11 AM

I have watched enough nature programs to know that Nathania (even though I live in the Bay Area, I only know her though your blog, how much of a crime is that?) must be giving a whale breaching demonstration. It sounds like a great, fabulous, wonderful time - must join sock club.

Posted by Sonya at April 15, 2007 11:16 AM

Waaah! I wanna see a picture of the Harlot knitting underwater!

Posted by Amy at April 15, 2007 11:26 AM

Sorry you didn't get to see whales. They were up here hanging out. We saw whales on and off this weekend here just off Quadra Island, BC. The camp sounds like it was a blast.

Posted by Shelley at April 15, 2007 11:51 AM

that sounds great; i've never treated myself to one of these trips, but now that i really DO have enough yarn, and seem to accumulate it without even BUYING any, maybe i should think about spending some dollars on a good retreat.

Posted by anne at April 15, 2007 12:25 PM

I so want to go to sock camp even though I have not knitted socks (ye). What island has the Gazelle's on it? I live in Edmonds and can get to a San Juan ferry pretty quick.

Also, you have to check out The Village Yarn and Tea Shop in Shoreline if you are still in the greater Seattle area. It's near Edmonds.

Posted by Karen at April 15, 2007 12:28 PM

Its looks beautiful there. Someday!!!!(Got my fingers crossed)!!!!!

Posted by Caitlin Al-Ansari at April 15, 2007 12:29 PM

That trip looks like a ton of fun! Too bad the whales didn't stop by to say hi, but while many people can say they've seen a whale, few can say they've seen an underwater knitting contest!

Posted by Sarah at April 15, 2007 12:30 PM

Would the woman in the fabulous pink, green, and marigold sweater in Saturday's post-photo please, please contact me... we need to talk... bribes will be offered, groveling will occur. Please just e-mail me. Cami

Posted by Camilla at April 15, 2007 12:34 PM

So, how did Cat take her defeat? And were you doing the victory dance or did you show restraint and good breeding? (I would have been of the "in your FACE" school of contest winning, but I'm just a nasty girl.)

Posted by inky at April 15, 2007 12:34 PM

Debbie, bless you for figuring out the name of that wonderful sweater. You're a True Knitting Friend. I posted the name on a message board, and someone else immediately thanked me, because she was looking for it, too.

Blueberry jam, I think. Blues and purples. . .

Posted by Nancy at April 15, 2007 2:53 PM

Man . . .I kept waiting, and waiting, and waiting . . . for the knitting underwater picture to load. I even scanned down to the bottom of the page and came back up, before I got what you meant by what you said AFTER the picture block. :)

Posted by Beth at April 15, 2007 3:44 PM

I am excited to know that you knit faster on dpn's than Cat. However, do you normally knit faster than her on say basic stockinette stitch on straight needles. I won't feel better until I know the answer to that question.

Posted by Lorri at April 15, 2007 5:09 PM

Most times when I read your posts, I am content to be me, and content for you to be you. But on this one, I wanted to be you. What a fantastic experience. With the sea lions, I think the 2000 pounders are the bulls, and the cows are only about 800 pounds.

Posted by Suzanne at April 15, 2007 5:23 PM

Wow. It sounds like an amazing time. Next year I will not schedule a board meeting for that week!

Posted by Angela at April 15, 2007 5:33 PM

convite: www.noivas-arte.blogspot.com

Posted by Edu at April 15, 2007 6:05 PM

Jealous!

The two-person knitting sounds interesting. What happens if one is an english knitter and one is continental? I have juggled with people that way (one person is the left hand, one is the right) and it's challenging, but for some reason knitting that way seems much more daunting to me!

Posted by Sunidesus at April 15, 2007 7:52 PM

We have knitting cruises every Tuesday here in Long Beach. If you come down here it's totally my treat!

Posted by Becka at April 15, 2007 9:43 PM

Perhaps the difference between hard core knitters and so-so knitters is those that can knit on a boat. I felt sick just seeing people with yarn and needles on a boat I am certain was bobbing on the water. Bleh.

Glad you get to head home now to the fam. :)

Posted by Holly Jo at April 15, 2007 9:58 PM

Glad to hear you are having such a great time but i have one burning questions - when is the fabulous yarn harlot (or yarn harlots book tour) coming downunder?

I am sure we can manage to scare many muggles, have some great yarn crawls and beat the record for longest distance travelled to see said yarn harlot.

If we cannot manage a visit from the wonderful harlot in person - when will the book be arriving?

Posted by Helena at April 15, 2007 11:23 PM

I was noun-deficient early today and it bugged me all day long, but apparently I had not had enough coffee this morning.

Bosomy ladies on the prow of a ship are called "figureheads."

The prow is the underside of the foredeck of a ship.

Posted by dez at April 15, 2007 11:42 PM

Sigh! It's so sad to think that you're so close and yet so far away. On the plus side, I get to live with this beauty all the time and occasionally run into Cat at my LYS - I live on Whidbey Island.

Posted by Dorothy at April 16, 2007 12:41 AM

The DPN/2 circ debate is still alive. Cat didn't have the same # of stitches to work as Steph so a further match-up is in the works. Maybe next year?
Had such a great time at camp and can't believe I made the blog! Cece's marmalade is a thing of beauty and what everyone here doesn't know is that we got to see the "wedding shawl" in the wild. It was fabulous! The Bohus was around too and (as posted) lots of socks. No underwater knitting picture thank heavens. The yarn wouldn't have shown up.
Thank you Stephanie for adding to the wonderful time at camp and I hope I can come again next year.

Posted by Alice in the Heartland at April 16, 2007 12:59 AM

I've been defending knitters and knitting most of my adult life!! UNDERWATER KNITTING . . . You're on your own with that one ladies! Love my daily fix of YH!!

Posted by caro at April 16, 2007 5:45 AM

If you want to see whales, I suggest the whale watching cruise out of the Boston Aquarium. We saw tons...

I'd have liked to seen the yarn that looked like jellyfish.

Sounds like you had a blast... chances are slim I'll get to Washington, however, unless I do take the job at Google. Then the gods know where I'll end up.

Posted by Mary Peed at April 16, 2007 8:55 AM

Looks like it was a total blast! One question. Was nobody up for just taking a picture of floating ribbon? I mean, I sympathize with letting nobody see my way-too-pale-winter-whitened-hide in a bathing suit in April, but I'm thinkin' there's an art shot of a 'ribbon jellyfish' in there somewhere!

Anyway, welcome home Stephanie! Go hug That Man and Those Young Ladies -- and then go to bed. I can wait a few days to hear anything else that might need updating.

Cheers

Posted by Gwen in Bowmanville at April 16, 2007 9:30 AM

I can only imagine how much you want to go home. It sounds wonderful, and it's lovely when your travels are fun, but for me there's no place like home.

Posted by Jennifer at April 16, 2007 9:39 AM

Sock Camp looks like so much fun, even without pictures of underwater knitting.

Posted by kniternet at April 16, 2007 10:00 AM

I just wanted to say that I love your blog. I am a crocheter and a very beginning knitter, and I feel like I have finally found my place in the world. I also travelled to Orcas Island last July for a wedding, and it is a beautiful place.

Posted by Amber Siasoco at April 16, 2007 10:05 AM

Steph - It was SUCH a wonderful week! And as Cate says - seeing my Maralade in the wild makes me love it more, and *somewhat* forget the pain of knitting it.

I'll be seeing you at Webs. And man, is it great to be home.

Posted by Cece at April 16, 2007 10:09 AM

Would the lovely gal leaning on the boat railing with the amazing, colorful, striped sweater identify herself. I want that sweater! It's beautiful. What pattern did you use?

Posted by Ahrisha at April 16, 2007 11:21 AM

The colorful, striped sweater is called "Marmalade Blueberry Jam Sweater." In addition to the citrus colored sweater in the picture, there is a sample made with blues, purples, and greens. I googled and ordered the pattern from Yarns by Design in Wisconsin.

Posted by Deborah at April 16, 2007 1:27 PM

Oh, you saw the Stellers! That's actually much more unusual than the orcas, who cruise the west side of San Juan very regularly all summer long. I saw one enormous fellow rear up out of the water and gobble down a passing gull once - yikes. You'll just have to come back for the whales, though, because they really are neat. I grew up on San Juan and had the good fortune to spend my wedding night in a tiny amenity-less cabin perched on the rocks just above the tide line, and we could hear the whales blowing and splashing all night. I can't tell you how unearthly and cool it was. Thanks for making me nostalgic for home!

Karen - the island with the bizarre African wildlife is Speiden. You can see the critters from the ferry to Vancouver Island.

Posted by Sarah at April 16, 2007 3:32 PM

You totally had me with the bathing suit picture! ;-)

Posted by Abril at April 16, 2007 6:38 PM

Totally wish I could have been there instead of here for the weekend!! I broke my leg in 3 places and had surgery for it on Sunday. Up side? I am frantically trying to finish my first LACE SHAWL!! Down side? I am out for at least 3 months!! Please keep it up so I can live vicariously through you!

Posted by Jajigirl at April 17, 2007 8:07 AM

They look great. I love them :-)

Posted by Storjägarn´ at April 18, 2007 10:24 AM

That last sock photo is drool worthy.

Posted by Alexis at April 18, 2007 3:37 PM

Nice site. Thank you!!!


Posted by prom magazine cosmo at May 4, 2007 9:57 PM