That today is The Knitters Frolic? I am so out of here. I’m taking the Subway to Rachel H’s house and we are going to carry our little selves there as fast as we can. I’m not taking any workshops this year, since this was originally planned as a birthday jaunt for my darling friend Denny. Sadly, Denny is having both a very bad day and a birthday today, and she can’t go, so Rachel H. and I have accepted the task of being her proxy shoppers.
Rachel and I are taking this seriously. All of a sudden, the years of festivals, fairs and yarn shops make sense. They were about today. Rachel and I were being trained by the universe for this moment. This is the day for which we were born. We want nothing for ourselves, but our friend cannot make the frolic on her birthday but we have assessed the list of vendors, planned a route and will not let our Denny down.
If you see us, feel free to say hi, but …you may do well to not get between us and the wool.
Over and out.
Wow, all the way in Massachusetts I wanted to take a step back from my computer! How nicely you put menace into your tone. In such a good cause, of course. Go forth and shop for Denny, and may you improve her day.
Bad days on birthdays are just so wrong. When I get a headache or feel sick on my birthday (or once, our car got rear-ended), it’s ten times worse than if it happens on a regular day.
Wow, all the way in Massachusetts I wanted to take a step back from my computer! How nicely you put menace into your tone. In such a good cause, of course. Go forth and shop for Denny, and may you improve her day.
Bad days on birthdays are just so wrong. When I get a headache or feel sick on my birthday (or once, our car got rear-ended), it’s ten times worse than if it happens on a regular day.
It’s just like in “A Prayer for Owen Meany”!
Have fun!! Do some shopping for me, too!
Oh, I’m jealous! Sounds like such fun. Do good for Denny.
I pity the fool who stands in your way! and I’ll be sending wishful thoughts that Denny’s bad day turns into a good birthday. What true friends you are.
Now that is friendship! Go forward with your noble quest…and Denny, I don’t know you but I do hope your day improves and Happy Birthday..you have a couple of very good friends!!! Fiber lovers, you have been warned!
Have fun! Looking forward to our spring sheep and wool fest, it’s a great opportunity to find really unique fiber.
Oh me! Oh woe! What a terrible, horrible, no good very bad day I am having! And my birthday, by an amazing coincidence, was exactly, erm, a month and a day ago! It must be cosmic convergence, it must be synchronicity, it must be…
Oh well. Worth a shot. You guys manage to convey Denny’s charms all the while you’re assuring a soul nobody can convey Denny’s charms. Wish I could meet her. Happy Birthday, Denny — hope the universe declares that the next week is obliged to compensate for whatever was bad.
Greater love hath no women than you two. Denny’s day is bound to get better! She’s going to have some wonderful surprises, you can tell that. (Actually, from the sounds of it, I wouldn’t be surprised if you and Rachel H managed to bring home the entire Frolic for her. Or maybe that’ll be the show and tell.)
But *nothing* for yourselves? This I’ll believe when I see it. 😉 Go forth and shop! Don’t forget the cake.
Denny, hope your birthday gets better!
Wow, wish I lived closer – I can’t think of anything that sounds more fun than a Knitter’s Frolic! Denny is lucky to have such wonderful, attentive and dedicated friends as yourselves. I hope someone warned the vendors you were coming. Be sure to do your pre-shopping warm ups so you don’t get hurt (it is rather like running an long distance race, and those folks take their warm-ups seriously). Somehow I think coffee and chocolate need to be included here – both to sustain you and to help Denny celebrate.
When I was in college my birthday always fell during finals week, but somehow I persevered so now I can have other unlucky things happen in/around my birthday.
All the best, Denny – hope future birthdays are all you would want them to be!
To suffer the arrow(so to speak) for a friend like this…tis enough to bring a grown woman to tears…. you are a true sister knitter! Racheal too. All’s not lost on Denny’s B-day…(((hugs)))for her.
A Knitter’s Frolic!?!! Another slice of knitterly heaven beyond my reach! Oh my… slightly woozy pondering it….
Must leave now & apply a skein of a recently purchased Tofutsie to my forehead & breathe deeply…..
That sounds like a lot of fun! Wish I was closer so I could go. Right now the countown is on for Maryland Sheep & Wool next weekend!
I didn’t go last year because I had just learned to knit about 6-weeks earlier and Friend and I were not sure that it would ‘stick’ but it has stuck and stuck something fierce. I cannot wait to get up around all that yarn and all those crazy knitters – of which I am very happy to belong! Can’t imagine a better way to spend a day.
Enjoy your FROLICs!
What good friends you are! And how fun…..
Hope you have a good day. I think if people don’t want to die a death by pointy stick, they best stay out of your way!
Frolic? I’m so jealous. Have a great time!!
Sorry to hear about Denny; she’s such a delightful person, she definitely doesn’t ever deserve a bad day, but especially not on her birthday. Make sure you get her lots of wonderful goodies. Hope your day improves, Denny!
WOW! How did I become so absorbed in other stuff that I missed this going on; surely I could have managed a short day trip!
Allison
Just plan ahead for your next birthday, Rams.
Denny — I hope things improve! Good friends certainly help.
I was in and out of the Frolic before you got there – just to make sure I left space for you and Rachel. Hugs to Denny if you see her.
Good thing you didn’t get between me and the Majacraft Gem I somehow ended up buying 🙂
Hope the birthday fairies come and shoo away Denny’s bad day. Hope they sprinkle a little dust on you, too, so that the yarn purchases don’t go wrong. (Yeah, like *that* could happen.)
Have fun! I rarely ever comment but the first thing that popped into my mind was “Stepanie go yarny now”
Er,Did anyone take a moment to familiarize themselves with the “code of conduct” in which “boisterous” and/or “menacing” behavior will not be tolerated… are they serious??? Yarn, up for grabs, and the crazies running the show think knitters can be micro-managed… Do they know the Harlot is coming? Hope you have an abosolutely riotous time! Cami
Damn. I should be there! But my ride backed out and I’m too chicken to drive in Toronto. Pretend I said “Hi”, and then graciously pointed out a beautiful skien of Fleece Artist to you.
Damn. I should be there! But my ride backed out and I’m too chicken to drive in Toronto. Pretend I said “Hi”, and then graciously pointed out a beautiful skien of Fleece Artist to you.
No “..loud, boisterous or disruptive” behavior?! BWHAHAHAHA.
Yarn shopping for a friend. How giving of you! 🙂 Don’t worry – I’m not dumb enough to stand between a knitter and his or her yarn.
WHEEE! A yarn shopping we go! And guiltless, because we all know that it is for a friends birthday! You’ll make Denny’s birthday a good one yet!
Ooh, I’m so jealous! I wish we had sheep & wool festivals near where I live! Y’all have fun, and buy lots! (Not that I need to tell you that…) Can’t wait to see pictures! 🙂
The event looks fantastic! But I have one question – if it’s in Toronto, why is the pricing in US dollars?
Go forth and shop! That’s true friendship! 🙂
Long time lurker and obsessed reader (I read your blog from the beginning about 6 months ago). I never comment because by the time I get her, I’d usually be commenter #1,234,324. So, I have nothing to say other than, OMG, I’m actually in under 100!
Oh, and love you! Mean it!
Dang – missed you! I’m already back home, having been there early, and picked over all the good stuff! Erm, I mean, left some wonderful things for you to see and buy! Really!
I know we planned to meet for a beer, but family things took over, and I had to get back early – maybe next time…
Now that looks like fun. Not knowing Denny (but somehow feeling like I do know her a bit), I’m guessing some wild & crazy yarn purchases will be made, maybe along with the hints from the Scribble class, or Free Form, or even Organic… I’m guessing that’s her vibe. What good friends you two are!
Happy Birthday, Denny, I hope today turns out much better for you than it’s obviously started but hey, with Stephanie and Rachel taking care of you…..
I agree with Monica…take the Frolic back to Denny!
I tried to say hi, but you were too darn fast! Both times!
Gah, I’m *just* missing you. I’m in Vermont now, but I’m moving to Canada next week. I’m meeting my boyfriend in Toronto on Wednesday, staying there until Saturday, and then driving up to Edmonton. I will definitely be visiting Lettuce Knits while we’re in Toronto, but what else should we see? Are there any wooly events on Thursday or Friday?
I, too, am on a mission — looking for a list of French to English translations of knitting terms —- I’ve figured out that “1 jete” is “yarnover”, but this is very slow going!! My 2 years of High school French (some 40 years ago!!) did nothing to prepare me for the real world — surely you as a member of a bilingual country, can point me in the right direction!! Thanks, Stephanie, and good shopping !!
I’m just back from frolic, but managed not to see you. But I think I did over hear someone talking about shopping for Denny. In hindsight, that must be you and Rachel. I had a great frolic day, hope you did as well. I’m off to fuel up and fondle the yarn.
I hope you have a wonderful frolic – I’m sure that your folic finds for Denny will turn her day around!
Ohhh 🙁 Many blessings to Denny!
It is WRONG to name a knitting workshop after sticky buns and other tasty treats. WRONG!
Happy Birthday Denny and get well SOON as it appears as if you are going to have a lot of yarn to knit with soon. Oh well when you do have a good day then it will be a good excuse to go out to another yarn trek with the girls and whoop it up. All the best hunting to Stephanie and Rachel–I’m sure they are Pros at this
wow – denny is lucky to have friends who will shop for her – and hope it helps improve the bad birthday.
…and I loved the frolic description – sometimes not so good to live in georgia where knitting just isn’t … what it is in colder climates. oh well. but I see that there’s an entire class on short rows. and I’ve tried them before – several times and just can’t seem to get the knack. is there a book (with pictures of course!) that might help me? any suggestions would be most welcome. Thanks!
LOL…Such true and selfless friends. Have fun shopping and Denny, Happy Birthday and a better day tomorrow. I claim the entire month of October as my birthday month. I seriously recommend it.
Oh, to be in TO today. Have fun!
I was briefly at a sheep-shearing festival today, but luckily not the same one. Wouldn’t want to accidentally stand in the wrong place.
I sure hope Denny’s birthday improves. With such excellent shoppers her prospects are good.
It was my first frolic…I had a great time!! Just wondering what your approach is for such events. Do you buy any yarn that “speaks” to you or do you have a list with project ideas in mind? I am new to this knitting thing and would love to learn your strategy.
There I was standing in line at the Needle Arts Bookshop booth to pay for my brand new copy of “Casts Off” when the lady at the till says: “Oh did you want a signed copy?” I said something a little un-knitterly and then asked (umm, demanded?) “She was HERE?!” Now that I know you were on a selfless mission of birthday knitting mercy, I feel very bad. Or maybe it’s just wool-fume withdrawal. Anyway, I hope you were able to improve Denny’s birthday upon your return.
Oh, and Denny? Happy Birthday, pet. Ya got good friends at your back.
What a good friend you are. Such a sacrifice. Wish I had friends like you.
Hope the shopping goes well. Get lots of yummies for Denny. I hope you stopped at Wellington Fibres for their new fingering weight yarn. It is very VERY yummy for socks. And I’ll find out shortly how nice for a shawl.
Must have just missed you two. Which is probably good, cause I wouldn’t want to get in your way.
Pass a happy b’day to Denny when you see her. And help her feel less crappy about her day.
Soooo…whadya buy??
Oh dear. Denny the good simply does not warrant the universe visiting her with trials on her birthday. I’m sure you did your best to put things to rights.
I must have been in class while your four-handed yarn-snatching tornado whizzed through. I’m willing to bet the one-for-Denny-one-for-us rule was suggested at least once.
I was chanelling my Czech granny again (aka our inner magpie) and had a little *ahem* accident where a couple of deliciously shiny skeins of Blue Heron metallic might have fallen in my bag. Also one pretty little hat-sized ball of Aurora. Oh. And some beads.
Whoo. All shiny things. Dude. I think I need to go take some plain old natural worsted and have a bit of a lie down.
I must have been in class too! And I was at Needle Arts – if only I had know they had signed copies of Casts Off! That was my first Knitters Frolic, and boy was it exhausting and overwhelming (by the end of the afternoon, I could not distinguish between yarns anymore) – but terrific. Wish I had been able to say hi, though.
And sending good thoughts for an improvement to Dennyès birthday.
I have to go to sleep now…
Happy birthday, Denny! “Casts Off” is dedicated first to you, and now you get dedicated yarn to top it off. Very cool. Hope it’s turning out a good day after all.
hahaha.. that sounds so fun.. I wish I could have gone with.. never been to a.. yarn event of any sort..
poor deprived anno.. course, it’s not my birthday so ok, I’m sorta over it.. poor denny… there.. got the sympathy back where it belongs now. 🙂
I sure hope that Denny’s day has improved by now. Are you going to be able to let go of your purchases and actually give them to her?
It’s a mitzvah, yarn shopping for a friend! Please tell Denny – if it’s a bad day then the Birthday is automatically moved ahead to the day where the Yarn and Friends come!
Hope the frolic was fun – and I hope someone said hi to Lettuce Knit’s BMFA yarn for me, as it wasn’t at Lettuce Knit today….
Alas, I have been at The Yoga Conference this weekend, and being an out of towner, didn’t know about the Frolic until the last minute. I DID plan my Yoga day with a break long enough to make it to Lettuce Knit on the 510 Spadina Car, having seen in their newsletter they got STR in not too long ago – only to find much of the sock yarn stock decimated as it all went to Frolic! Bummer – I couldn’t get THAT far in my between-class times.
Did end up with some of those Fleece Artist hanks that keep following me home, though.
Oh my. I read about the workshop where one can learn to knit in several directions and got dizzy. Why don’t I live in Canada? I don’t think we even HAVE yarn frolics in the US. Or any other kind of frolics either. I hope Denny was pleased with what you found and that you had a very good time.
Lill
It’s after midnight Toronto time, so I assume you’ve come home by now. Hope you found lots of goodies for Denny. I don’t know her but if she’s having a rotten time on her birthday she has my sympathy. I have tried to send happy thoughts to Some One Named Denny In Toronto so I hope she got them.
When I want a Knitters Frolic I open up my storage containers and roll in all the wool in my stash. But there’s still room for more – I’m waiting for Fibrefest in Abbotsford on May 11th.
Have fun shopping. Us knitters are really good at that!
What do you do when you are stuck in the Amsterdam airport for a 5 hour connection and nothing to do? Go to the internet and read knitting blogs! Enjoy your shopping!!
Maureen the stitchinpuffin: there is a whole book by Margaret Heathman called _Knitting Languages_, and it includes French.
Best wishes to Denny.
It was nice seeing you yesterday at The Frolic.
I hope the day was stash-worthy for you, also.
~A
I couldn’t come, o woe is me, but I had a new niece on that day instead. Consolation prize.
Shop on!
Hope you found something to make Denny’s day better! Can’t wait to see what y’all found! 🙂
Hi! It’s Stephanie the sock virgin! Thanks so much for signing my book yesterday. It was a thrill to meet you. Again, I apologize for using a word other than harlot when I met you. Egads! I can’t believe I got so tongue tied when I met you. CHeers!
I read this post yesterday and had nothing to add to the other comments. But I was thinking about this post (yes, so empty is my life–I mean, enamored of the Yarn Harlot am I that I actually spend time thinking about the deeper meaning in her work.) and it occured to me that once again, Steph has given us the ultimate acceptable excuse for adding to the Stash: we are really buying for OTHER PEOPLE! Seriously, what is a more noble cause than buying yarn for the projects we are making for other people? And then, if it so happens that the socks/sweaters/hats/mittens that we knit turn out to be a bit off in size, as in, won’t fit a child but will fit a woman with a medium foot, then what can one do? I mean, it’s not like our motives weren’t pure when we bought the wool…
Brilliance. That’s what this is, Steph. Sheer genius.
Sounds like a grand time! You’ll have to let us know about your purchases.
Wasn’t the frolic a great show this year! It keeps getting better and better. I saw you there but knew better to get between you and the yarn!
Dude, you would completely fit in with our SnB road trips! Hope y’all had a great time…
SO jealous- looks like a fun day full of yarn. Need to plan a trip to TO to include that!
Wow! I am so envious of Toronto having a festival of such lusciousness. What a wonderful friend you are to shop for another. Happy wool hunting and gathering.
well, i kept you from the yarn for a few minutes, but i gave you two cookies. maybe that evens it out. 🙂
For fair warning, they should call it The Knitters’ Smackdown, don’tcha think?
Wear a mouthpiece and helmet. xo Kay
How I envy you! I so wanted to go this year and then I bought a yarn shop…(which is a good thing)..no employees yet…next year…was it great??
Ah, you’re very good friends, indeed. Denny is lucky to have you. I’ve just caught up on your blog, and am guiltfree with casting on another pair of socks =) I seem to have lost the second one I’m working on. I’m sure it will turn up as soon as I get committed to this new pair. Ah, well…. who could knit too many socks? Have a great day shopping!
I can’t believe I was in town during this and missed it!!! The conference I’m here for went until 3pm and there was no way I could make it over there time. Oh well, at least I made it to Romni and Lettuce Knit:-) Hope it was fun!
Wow… a woman with a plan. What a great friend you are. Hmm… want to make a plan for me? I have no idea what to do first at the MD sheep and wool festival… I guess I’ll just have to get there early and wander all day.
Wow… a woman with a plan. What a great friend you are. Hmm… want to make a plan for me? I have no idea what to do first at the MD sheep and wool festival… I guess I’ll just have to get there early and wander all day.
Tell your friend Denny that she has lots of good birthday wishes from my family. She is lucky to have such good friends as you two.
Anybody knitting anyting nice for Mother’s Day?
I had a great time at the Frolic, and it was nice seeing you too! We brought much Sea Silk and sock yarn back to Detroit with us.
Sometimes I really hate living up in the bush. Most times really, but all the festivals, the fairs and now a frolic?! Freakin up north in the bush.
Happy Birthday to Denny though. I hope you guys scored big on her behalf.
dude, i’m so jealous that you have something like that to go to. i want to go on a yarn frolic!
Main Street Yarns. Milton, ON.
I visited recently. Heart-rending yarns and masses of them.
Also – my dears – Sally Melville is a Personal Friend of the owner. Too cool.
Knitters frolicking. What could be better? Sorry to hear about Denny’s Very Bad Day, though. To happier times! (Speaking of the ultimate frolic: Only five days until the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival! I’m sure there are still plenty of seat left on the plane! 🙂
I’m sure you both did a fabulous job in Denny’s honour.
I saw you by the LetuceKnit booth and nearly walked over and said Hi – like I actually know you. Of course you graceously smiled back.
It’s the first time I’ve been to the Frolic and I’m glad I made the trip from London
I’m sure you both did a fabulous job in Denny’s honour.
I saw you by the LetuceKnit booth and nearly walked over and said Hi – like I actually know you. Of course you graceously smiled back.
It’s the first time I’ve been to the Frolic and I’m glad I made the trip from London
I am so glad that video from Channel 9 was linked! I am amazed that you can carry on a conversation, maintaining eye contact, knit a sock on dpns, AND NEVER LOOK AT YOUR KNITTING! Maybe some day. I have a few crochet projects I can sort of do that, but I don’t know if I will ever be able to knit without looking.
I am in awe.
And as far as that “it has nothing to do with me” garbage, pshaw! Who else can get three hundred or more knitters together in one place!
Thanks for the inspiration.
Ruth