Sorry about the blog downtime there guys. I did The Yarnery event and then the Ann Arbor Event and a couple of things that the publisher makes me do are part of the job and then I went home for fourteen hours before leaving again, and as much as I wanted to, I just couldn’t see spending even two minutes of my fourteen hours with Joe and the girls on the internet. The internet is everywhere all the time and my family is just in that one place. So I skipped it. We watched a movie. We had a great dinner. I took my clothes out of my suitcase, washed them and put them back in, then I slept for five hours and then got up at 5am and left again.
Now I’m at Sock Camp (where there actually is no internet in the rooms, so the blogging will likely happen at really odd hours as I write the entries when I have time, and post when I find signal. Please bear with me) which I will tell you about tomorrow. for now, back to The Yarnery.
The Yarnery is in Minnesota, so the weather was a surprise after Nashville, although I did feel oddly at home with the snow falling on me. I checked into the hotel (after having a coffee in the coffeeshop about Garrison Keillor’s bookstore – which seemed to me to be a very Minnesota thing to do) had a brief “nap” (a loss of consciousness would describe it more fully.) Then went over to the event, which was being held in on the campus of a University. (You can imagine what they thought of us.)
That was when it started to get weird. Good weird, but very weird indeed. If you do nothing else today, please follow this link to see The Yarnery Family Singers. (Ok. I lied. The Yarnery doesn’t have theirs up yet. Go see Shelley’s in the meantime.) They were the first act, and they were so awesome that I considered not going on after them. There was no way to compete. My favourite is “Our Favourite Things”. Listen. Love.
I did go on after them, mostly because The Yarnery people were smart enough to block the exits, and this is what I saw.
That’s a lot of knitters, my friends. A lot of knitters. Enough knitters that when I stepped out there after the singing and the planes and the hotels and the everything that for one second, all I could think was “Wow. Who’s life is this? How does this happen? How do you end up somewhere like this doing something like this and what am I doing? What is this?” Then I remembered that I don’t have time for existential angst.
Knitters and little knitters to be? You bet.
This is Aileen and Lily
Kate and Veronica:
These guys aren’t babies (clearly) but they are a whole family of knitters. All of them, Noah, Nathaniel, Mackenna, and their Mum Heidi.
Does it get any cuter than that? I don’t think so.
Do all of you remember Shelly? She wanted to make a blanket out of leftover sock yarns? I asked you to bury her house in sock yarn (I’ll never do that again. The woman scarcely survived with her sanity. You people know how to go to town) and last year when I visited she was working on it, and this year…
It’s done, and what an incredible thing it is to. Shelley’s got an info thing about it on her blog, since I know you’ll have questions.
First Sock Brigade: Brett, Alyson (technically 1st slippers, but she just learned to knit) Courtney, Jennifer, Kathryn in Minnesota (who also brought a survival kit (whether that is a reaction to the tour or the recent trip into the woods, I just don’t know) Melissa, Mara (those aren’t first socks, they are stalking socks)
Emily knit a pair of Lenore’s
(a sock I designed for the Blue Moon Sock Club, not for sale yet but will be)
I love it when I meet bloggers I’ve loved from afar forever. This is Cursing Mama.
(I KNOW.)
and this, this is BOTH OF THE RAINEY SISTERS IN ONE PLACE.
That messed me up so much that I’m afraid I may have gushed. I hate it when I meet famous bloggers and act like an idiot. I was all “Hey Susan, that’s so cool, you’re getting your sister a book” and she said “This is my sister” and then I went all fangirl and acted like a moron. They were so graceful and lovely and I really wish I had that 4 minutes of my life to do over again. Sigh. Maybe I should start practising.
I later recovered from that with the help of Gwyneth.
Last but not least, Angie.
Angie was the singing/knitting/genius who wrote the lyrics to the great songs they did at the Yarnery, the songs that totally made my day. Mercy it was fun. The Yarnery throws a hell of a knitter party, let me tell you, and their organizational skills are fantastic. The whole thing was huge, wonderful and very nearly seamless…with the exception of one thing.
They forgot to book better weather, or maybe I brought it with me. In any case, everyone who came to the event had to slog their and back through this, and especially on the way home, it was pretty challenging driving. Slippery as all get out. I sat there, MInnesota event behind me and looked at the weather and thought…
Who doesn’t want me to go to Ann Arbor… and Why? I have more trouble getting there than anywhere else, and when I saw that snow, knowing i had a flight early the next morning, all I could think was that if the weather didn’t clear up I was going to rent a car and start driving, because there was no chance that Ann Arbor was getting screwed two years in a row. No way. I went to sleep (briefly) with my fingers crossed, and I guess it worked, because in the morning my plane flew out in between waves of bad weather, and a had the bumpiest flight of my life into Detroit where I made my way forward to Ann Arbor, where I attempted to take sock pictures in a Tornado warning. These were taken in rapid succession while the lovely lady Presbytera of the comments tried to cram as much in as she could.
There was no snow.
There was an M in the “diag” at the University.
Apparently if you step on it you’ll fail your first exam. I don’t know what that could do to a book tour, so I steered clear. She showed me this big cube thing, and if you push it it spins around. See?
See too how it got darker? From there the weather went seriously downhill, but the knitters came anyway.
Plus the knitters in the “overflow room”.
(I know. Seriously weird.)
First sock brigade of Ann Arbor, reporting for duty. Rita, Alice, Liz, Hadley/Emily/Rebecca, Samantha, Amy, Kate, Cesarina, Valerie (it was her birthday too.) Robin (who also gave me a great hand massage) Erin (those are her first split toe socks)
Harriet knit me a tiny little mitten that fits on the end of my Sharpie.
I find it so charming I can’t even tell you.
Look! It’s my buddy Abby!
Abby is absolutely the most infectious fibre person I’ve ever met. Want proof? This nice lady, Melissa, happened to have the good fortune to be sitting next to Abby in the audience. A little time with Abby?
She’s a spinner now. Abby makes them everywhere she goes.
Here, right in front of you is Juliet and Connie, who together have been LLL Leaders (like I used to be) for 39 years.
Kat’s tat.
Joe knit his own kilt hose and sweater.
Nikki made me a washcloth, and Amanda made me two.
Karin is a lovely 10 year old knitter.
and Kaarina has only been knitting for two weeks, but somehow got herself wrapped up in this.
Here’s Carolyn and Spencer, who is so far, the only baby on tour who wouldn’t smile for me.
I totally get it though. They were the last people in line, and Spencer – little dude, I get it.
Finally, those of you who’ve been reading for a while will notice that someone who is always the heart and soul of the Ann Arbor events (Next to the lovely people at the Ann Arbor public Library, who led by Tim, do an honour to librarians everywhere) Our Lady Rams of the Comments couldn’t be with us for this event, since she had a sad bit of business to attend to. We missed you Rams. Presbytera did her best to fill in for you, and was stellar in her own right, but as she had to admit on her name tag, she was:
We missed you.
More tomorrow. The knitters are beginning to arrive by car, bus boat and sea plane at sock camp.
You were wonderful in Ann Arbor! And I got to hold the sock — it was like meeting a celebrity! Thank you for the humor and insights!
Never have I been so jealous of Minnesota. Seriously.
Is it just me or does anyone else find it hilarious that the YH gets all fangirl?
I love YH.
Oh my gosh — I was actually first!
Oh… and a guy that makes his own kilt hose AND sweater?
Rock. And. Roll.
It was great seeing you in Ann Arbor. Maybe you didn’t notice, but I was pretty fangirl myself, talking with you. Thanks again for making it to Ann Arbor.
It said 0 comments..
but in the time i spent reading, a half of dozen others already had comments in.
Love Ann Arbor (stopped there myself on the to Lansing a few years ago.. but missed the campus.
glad the weather didn’t bog you down.
I was one who was waylaid by weather in Minnesota. We had 55 mph winds on the shore of Lake Superior. 🙁 There was no way I was crossing a bridge in that, let alone driving 2 1/2 hours. Hopefully I’ll see you the next time you come through town.
Oh that nametag! Presybetera stealing the end of the show!
Thank you so much for linking to Shelly’s blog! I remembered that you mentioned it but I could never find the instructions. I’m so inspired to start my own with all of my leftover yarn now!
Enjoy your downtime at sock camp. (is there downtime?) Glad you made it to MN again. Hope the signing didn’t freak you out too much. Speaking as someone in the audience, it was very enjoyable!
Wait, backing up, Rams, I’m sorry for whatever it was that kept you away. Taking a moment to actually *think*, (always a good thing), it must have been something big.
you are getting closer and closer to MA…I’m starting to see sock knitters everywhere I go. I think you are making an impact.
Love all the pics! Especially the sock afgan!
Looking forward to seeing you in Philly.
Never Ever apologize for spending some of your precious time with your family instead of blogging! As much as we all enjoy hearing of your trials, tribulations, & triumphs, no one will begrudge you a few hours with your lovely young ladies & Joe, the Wonder Spouse. Just make sure you get back to the computer ASAP!
Love the leftover sock yarn blanket!
Holy Cow where to start?
Um, hope you got some quality time with Joe. The heck with the girls! They’re teenagers, they wont care.
Good Lord you had a ton of knitters at The Yarnery. That is enough to frighten anyone stepping on stage.
and Not Your Joe in his kilt hose and sweater total rocks.
The left over sock yarn blanket is absolutely amazing.
Thanks for making it to Ann Arbor, neither rain nor snow……..
I hope Rams is all right……..
I had a really nice time at the event in St Paul. It was totally worth the drive from Iowa. Enjoy sock camp and have safe travels on the rest of your tour!
-Emily with the Lenore socks.
It was great meeting you in Minnesota. I had a great time. We trudged through crappy weather to get there and home but it was well worth it.
The Yarnery Family Singers are a amazing! Maybe you could have them open for you regularly 😉 That really made my day. Any way we could convince them to post the lyrics?
Maybe your next book could be a collection of your travel writing? This is excellent (as always). 🙂
I was worried that the weather this weekend was really going to mess with things but I’m glad it didn’t and you made it to sock camp in one piece. Oh, how I wish I’d had the fundage to attend camp. A whole week with knitters and socks!!! Enjoy.
I certainly hope the sock didn’t touch the diag M, because if stepping on it makes you fail your finals, I have no idea what horrid misfortunes would be in store for the sock.
Sock Camp – woo hoo! I love that cube thing. Does it work when it gets snowed on, I wonder….. Just so you know – now that you’re gone, Toronto has been promised stupendous weather all week. Birk weather.
Clearly I should have stowed away in your suitcase for sock camp; my only concern would’ve been taking a dpn to the eye, or worse. Was great to see, and, quite frankly, you kill me….”I hate it when I meet famous bloggers and act like an idiot” thats exactly how I felt.
I noticed you’ll be in Indianapolis the end of April. Sadly I’ll miss it because I live in Florida now (when, when will you come speak in Tampa Bay?!). But I wanted to make sure you know that the Radical Lace and Subversive Stitches is opening April 23 at the Indiana State Museum. So hopefully you’ll have a spare hour to check it out!
I love reading about your travels. And I love seeing all the first sock knitters. I wish that I were somewhere on your book tour so I could bring my first socks 🙂 Keep on spreading the word of Knitting!!!
I got teary at the ‘existential agnst’…what a life, LOOK what you’ve stirred up. Yeah you. Terrific blanket and baby photos. What fortitude to fly into Ann Arbor in that bumpy stuff!! I love reading about the tour.
The Minneapolis event was a lot of fun, and you were great, Stephanie. It was fully worth hauling my three-month-old baby (see Veronica, above) out in a sleet storm by myself after it turned out that none of my friends could come along–and I am completely not kidding about that. The book is great, too!
In your talk, you speak about other people with hobbies that might, when looked at objectively, seem silly (not that they don’t have every right to undertake such hobbies, of course). I will now tell you why I will never, ever, ever get any sort of guff from my husband about spending money on yarn and having a stash. He customizes action figures. He searches for “base” figures and sculpts, paints, etc., to make one action figure in another one or to improve an action figure. There is a whole community of people that customizes action figures. My husband has a stash of potentially useful base figures. He has display cases for his action figures. My husband is 33. He really loves his modeling (since that is really what he is doing), and I would never criticize, but he would never, ever think to question my knitting or my stash.
Again, loving the baby faces… Spencer, he’s one beautiful little dude, looked tuckered out too.
Sorry to hear Rams couldn’t be there… tending to bits of sad business, part of life.
Glad you got to make it home for awhile :^D
I had so much fun with you, Steph! Second year in a row in Ann Arbor, and once again, it was the best knitting party ever!
oh man! if i am EVER in minnesota i will SO be going to the Yarnery! Now those are people after my own heart! That song thing was FAN-FFRRREAKIN-TASTIC!!! Stephanie, you have to feel honoured and loved after that little serenade! and uh, Steph? i saw that podium picture on Shelley’s blog, and you might want to start travelling with a step stool! heh heh!
Wow you got to hang with my girl crush. (Hi Abby)
Give a hug, a big one to Tina and then when shes not looking swipe some silk for me will ya? Skinny silk. Must. Have. Skinny. Silk. Hey Tina, whats that thing in the sky over there,is that a hot air balloon?
No, over there………………then swipe silk. Thanks.
Infectious? You totally make it sound like a disease. Also, takes one to know one, and I know you are, but what am I?
Now that I have thus elevated the grade level of this dialogue, I could leave with a clear conscience.
Seriously, you throw one helluva yarn party. I’ll totally be back, probably with friends. I’m sorry to have missed meeting Rams, yet delighted to have met Presbytera, who is quite awesome. Thanks for everything. Don’t hate me for never finishing a sock.
Holy Crap! The sock blanket! I’m in awe.
And as many knitters as you saw in Minnesota… there were more of us who wanted to be there but just wouldn’t fit. Apparently the fire marshal has this thing about too many people and blocking exits. 🙁
I was motivated by the Yarn Harlot to knit, knit, and knit some more! A friend and I went to see her speaking at The Yarnery in Minneapolis and she was amazing. She reminded me of a knitting Erma Bombeck for the 21’st Century. She was funny and she was real. She is famous yet carries with her a self depredating humor that kept us rolling in the aisle. I snatched up her book and it has kept me in stitches… hmmm… pun intended!
Wow–I have wonderful friends in Minnesota and you just made me think of them in the warmest, fuzziest kind of way. I’m going to email them all tonight!
Thanks.
Yes! Am SO glad you took time to be with your family and take care of yourself, Stephanie! We can always wait. (big grin)
That was amazing. Both the singing (flipping brilliant!) and that you only had 14 hours at home.
I just had a vision of you telling poor Joe “Okay. We have 5 minutes during spin cycle. Get yourself upstairs”. LOL
Take care of yourself. See you in a couple weeks!
eeek! I think I see some of my sock yarn in that blanket!!! Huzzah!
That family time was precious–never apologize for it.
(btw–am I the only one to whom ‘sock camp’ sounds like ‘boot camp’ only not quite as hard and ickky? Just wondering…)
Of course you didn’t blog during your brief stay at home – your fellow knitters are nothing but supportive when it comes to your Harlot-y self soaking up what family time you can. I can’t imagine trying to maintain your pace for a week, let alone three.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the songs. We had a blast singing for you and the gathered throng that braved the elements last Thursday. And BTW, if you come back to St. Paul on your next tour, we’ll try to pull some strings in the weather department… and, of course, more music!
We have one of those spinning cube-things in NYC too!
As someone who has referred to The Yarnery as the “mothership” for a long time, I have a whole new fondness after watching and listening to their warm up routine. And Stephanie? It’s so nice to read about you going all “fangirl” because that’s exactly how I felt when I spoke to you! You were kind and patient, and really wanted to see my knitting. I was amazed and totally, totally charmed. Thank you.
Seriously people…when will A2 EVER come up with enough room to fit you and allllll your fans. If past is prologue a larger room is needed. Next time come to Farmington (the 53rd greatest city in the country to live in) and we’ll put you up in the Costik Center – lots of room, lots of free parking. Can’t beat it.
Stephanie, about the reaction to meeting famous people: in a recent (March or April of 2008) issue of _The New Yorker_, there’s a profile of George Clooney where he parses the fan’s reaction from the celebrity’s point of view. He talks about the fan’s inevitable embarrassment after the episode (“Did I just do that? No way did I just do that!”–my paraphrase) and how he tries to help them “find a way back to normal,” or something of that ilk. So the embarrassment happens to everyone, apparently.
Loved seeing you in St. Paul. It was well worth the drive from North Dakota even in crappy weather.
When I stepped outside after your presentation there was snow thunder.
It seemed only appropriate to have some astounding weather while you were there.
Too great. I miss Minnesota =( Love the singing, hilarious!
Oh, yes. Now I remember that previous trip to Ann Arbor. You accepted a ride from some ‘stranger-man’ just to get there. And he really took you where you needed to go. That was quite an awesome story.
I wish I could have been at the Yarnery event. I did see the videos. The singing was awesome. In fact I posted a comment a few days ago on Shelly’s blog mentioning that it must have been hard for you to go on stage after all that hilarious singing. How does one follow that?
Wow. There are a lot of hours in that sock yarn blanket.
Next year, tell Jamie: South and Southwest in the winter. North and Midwest in the summer. Northwest any time.
Wow. All those knitters. We’re taking over the world!
And here’s hoping Rams is alright.
You’re at Sock Camp?
Say hi to Blogless Carla for us…
If anything could lure me from my desert, it’s this kind of thing…maybe you could tour the Southwestern U.S. someday. We’d be happy to ply you with all the chile and beer you could hold, sometimes even in the same container!
I love Shelly’s blanket! Who wants to bury me in sock yarn 😉
Are you coming back to Cleveland soon, Steph?
Thanks so much for coming to Ann Arbor. I really enjoyed your talk and am getting so much pleasure out of reading your new book. Even my husband (the non-knitting fisherman type) really enjoyed the evening and is reading your book as well. He says it is a real insight into my (knitting) behavior. Wish I could go to sock camp. It sounds awesome…a whole week of nothing but knitting and knitters and socks. At least maybe some small part of me made it there. (I’m the one who gave you the handmade green & violets project bag with the WIP tube inside. I hope you enjoy it! I just wanted to give something back for all you have given me.)
Thanks to the Tornado warnings(which were earlier in central Michigan) I had to miss the Ann Arbor event! 🙁 Glad it went well-and you made it on time(you had a terrible day last year) and hundreds of knitters made it too! I waited to buy your book this year to get it from the bookstore the AA Library hosts so… I will wait for my LYS to get it in!
Hope to see you next year.
you can bury my house in sock yarn leftovers whenever you want. i look forward to seeing you in june at TNNA in columbus.
Wow… is there anything hotter than a man who can knit his own kilt hose and sweater!! Yowsa!
That cube is so cool! I love interactive art. That was an amazing group of knitters.
nice meeting every one
lovely lovely to meet
the smallest of the small
mother took me to meet harlot
back in 08 look at the picture
can you believe i was so small
first things family and you
we can wait till you have time
lots of links to follow keep one busy
does every one on the blog know whats
its like to try to find and buy the yarn
written about its like a raceing around
the world with needles in hand me first
hi rams
So sorry to have missed you in St. Paul. I’m just far enough from the event that the weather (and predicted weather) kept me away. 🙁 I hope my tickets were used by someone who had never had a chance to see you in person (I’ve had that honor twice). Good luck on the rest of your whirlwind tour, and have fun at sock camp!
the Yarnery Family Singers have raised the bar for YH events! They totally cracked me up. Are they going to be on Itunes soon?
Those songs were hilarious! Have a great time at sock camp! Tell Irishgirlieknits (Carrie) I said Hello!
Could you ask Jayme-the-Wonder-Publicist to guesstimate the total number of attendees on this tour?
Hugs to Rams…
I wish I’d been there! I feel like I’ve got my nose pressed up against the glass. Dying to make it to Webs, but don’t think it’s gonna happen.
Don’t know why I’m writing everything in telegram-ese today.
OMIGOD! “Joe knit his own kilt hose and sweater.” I want his phone number NOW if he’s single. I’m hot, 38, knit many styles such as lace, socks, & freerange, I spin, dye, crochet, sew, and am a gourmet cook. I also seriously think this guy is the b0mB!
I was there in spirit… and my rav friends are in the first row at the Ann Arbor event. We got the juicy info play by play! Visit the other side of the state next time!
Sthephanie,
I was one of the lucky knitters from the St. Paul group. I slogged my way back south to Rochester, could not see the road for all the white stuff blowing around. I hummed “my favorite things” all the way home…and my only thought was……this evening was so cool…I got to see Stephanie…and I have her new book. The evening was so much fun. I will drive through a blizzard and even endure my husbands side seat driving any time just to have the opportunity to hear you speak again.
Thank you!!!!!!! Next time I will bring you beer and chocolate.
I thought maybe you had made it home for a brief time….thus no blog entries. Good for you!!! I would miss my daughter terribly if I was away from home as long as you are this time.
Someone else commented about you being like “Erma Bombeck of the 21st century”….I have been saying that to people since I read your blog for the first time. You are a truly hilarious, compassionate, warm, and genuinely kind person.
Hoping to see you again in Northern California sometime soon.
Tammy
I know no one likes deep maternal angst, but I have been checking up on you for days and getting that fretting thing about you not posting. Truly, I understand and agree with all the reasoning for the why of it and now that this has happened once I won’t be drawn in (so much) again. But, (just let me, a tiny bit) please Jayme W-P TAKE MORE CARE of you. This tour is in need of more vitamins, more top-notch food, more REST. More down time. Knitters, bring more gifts of beer, more cake, more hand massage. Stephanie needs it. Un-asked for maternal plea over. Congratulations on your stellar tour heart. Good on you.
I’m so bummed! It looks like yet another fabulous Harlot tour – you’re all having so much fun – and I’m going to miss it. 🙁
My stupid work scheduled a 12-hour (!!) meeting on the day of Harlot’s visit to Portland and I’m not allowed to leave early. I tried to explain how important it was, but no dice (they’re muggle administrators, what did I expect?!). I was planning this big excursion of knitters all meeting up at the World Forestry Center by MAX lightrail and everything, and now I can’t go.
I’m going to buy my book at the LYS (not sure who’s sponsoring this stop), and I’ll just have to get it signed on the next book tour.
Keep posting the fantastic pics for those of us on the “vicarious tour”. Thanks!!
LeAnn in Aloha, Oregon
I love how the new trend in your events appear to be a musical opening act. You’re such a rock star! 😉
Thinking of you, Rams.
I’m so glad that your blog silence was due to being with your family, and not from being sick or stranded in an airport, considering all the flight cancellations that have been happening lately. Love those kilt hose (and the sweater).
The part y’all don’t realize about the Yarnery Family Singers is that there were two SERIOUSLY hot men involved, in addition to the gorgeous ladies.
I think I was the only person in the audience not knitting due to a broken wrist, and it was painful. The not knitting, I mean. Stephanie, I wanted to wait in line to have you sign my cast but the weather was insane and I carpooled. You were like the best deadpan stand up comic ever. It was a blast – thank you!
Loved getting to see you in St. Paul at The Yarnery event. It was fun to be back on campus at the University of St. Thomas, too (I’m an alum). Five of us from Rochester (about 90 miles to the SE) came up to see you. As you mentioned, the weather made the return trip pretty harrowing, at least for the first 65 or 70 miles. After that, it was just wind and rain, and I could raise up the speed from 40-ish mph to normal freeway speeds. But it was a terrific event, made all the better because we got to meet up ahead of time with some of the other Ravelry folks from Minnesota.
I hope you get to spend a little more quality time with your family. I looked at your schedule and wow! That’s wicked! Unless you’re approaching it from the “get it over with as quickly as possible regardless of the pain” perspective.
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Presbytera — and she can always find a parking place, too. Uncanny.
(Thanks for the concern — a beloved friend’s visitation and funeral, far side of the state.)
But thank goodness for that final babychick — I was beginning to wonder what kind of hoodoo you were working to get such uniformly adorable photos. I mean, it’s a gooood fishface, the Harlot fishface, but… Well. Good to see there are limits.
Wow, you’re good!!!! You even made it thunder-snow in Minnisota!!! What a bang!
Ooh, I so love seeing what ‘famous’ people like Presbytera look like! =)
It’s always good to hear the travel gods have been smiling on you; I hope it keeps up! Have fun at camp! =)
Multiple the fan-feels-like-idiot feeling by 1,000 for me after reading the blog. I appreciate the courage that made you manage to not discreetly signal for the security people when confronted with me at the actual signing (I mean, how much of one foot and leg can one person stuff into a mouth? Lots, I’ve discovered). I’m blown away we made it on the blog (totally the “clearly not babies'” deal; Noah feels famous now!) and am mortified that I once again managed to take a picture that makes me look like, well, me in a picture. Why do I ever let anyone put me in front of a camera?? Bad mojo, that.
I wish I’d been able to talk to Shelly of the blanket about the blanket when she had it out (I was so blown away from the beauty of it I was too shy to talk to her), rather than mistaking her for Shelley of the Yarney when I saw her again sans identifing blanket (yep, it was my night).
Enjoyed hearing about the talk, as Makenna filled me in (she and the non-knitter of the family, her big brother Josiah, attended and laughed for me as I was with Nate watching Noah perform) and am hoping I’m less tongue-tied the next time I see you.
BTW, it’s going to 70 here in Minneapolis-St. Paul tomorrow….
(Makenna says, “Wow, 70 degrees! It’s a miracle!”)
Oh, what fun we had in Ann Arbor! No matter what happens, I am NEVER disappointed. How nice the snow didn’t do to you this year what the fog did last year!
It was marvelous seeing you again and meeting all my new knitting friends. I feel honored to be in their company. Seeing Presbytera is always a special treat. So sorry Rams couldn’t be there. Take care, Rams.
Thanks again for a lovely day…..so glad you took some time to just “be” with your family. Have fun at sock camp…and THANKS AGAIN for a lovely day.
We had a great time in the overflow room in Ann Arbor! A fun crowd and a funny, fascinating talk.
Hey, if I had only 14 hours at home, I’d spend it the way you did instead of blogging, too.
We’ll be here when you get back!
That’s meeeeeeee!!!! the toe of my sock isn’t so weird-fitting in real life. Really. Promise.
I was hoping you had a few hours at home. Good for you for staying off the internet. Dinner and movies with your family is more important. The blog will always be here. I am enjoying your travels vicariously. What a trooper. Knitters forever! Jane
Wow! What a great time in St. Paul, The Yarnery Family Singers were a hoot and then The Yarn Harlot was even more of a hoot…It was totally worth the drive from Fargo!! Thank goodness I was staying in Minneapolis, the drive back was icky enough. The Fargo group I was with tried to drive back that night but only made it as far as Rogers, 30-40 miles, maybe, before finding a room for the night.
And there we are in the second row of the pictures, how cool is that!!
Ah Joe. I ctrl f’d the blog, he has 5 hits including this. ’tis the love o’ the kilted man! This could never happen in NH. We’ll be up for Chestico days at the end of July and I’ll be stocking (no pun) up with a new supply of home grown Judique mohair.
Nancy
All my best wishes to Rams for whatever she needs them for. She has kindly sent me links and notes after past comments. She does take care of your readers. I’m sure everyone missed her.
When you posted the photos of the cube, I knew I had to link to the website where some guys turned it into a giant Rubik’s cube (at least, I think it’s the same cube. Good gods, I am American, fer chrissakes, and my geography sucks). Freakin’ awesome.
Hey, I did say I was the “Knerdy Knitter”, didn’t I?
Hurray, I made it onto the blog! Now to get going on those “skeinky knitters” t-shirts for next time…
It was such fun seeing you!
How fun! My latest Harlot book arrived in the mail today, and while it is certainly not the same as hearing the Yarnery Family singers, it is at least a fabulous day to start the week!
Stephanie, I have to tell you that you were the highlight of my day today. I am bitterly disappointed that you are not coming to New Mexico yet, but meanwhile I’m totally enjoying the fabulous ride around the country, meeting via photos and your descriptions such wonderful people. Even my non knitting sister now reads your blog (she just skims over the technical knitting parts) regularly. Thank you so much for the time you take to include those of us who can’t make it to the world tour. I know you must be totally beat, but I sure love it when I check in and see a new post. Hope you’re getting some rest. Somewhere. Somehow.
I enjoyed seeing you in St. Paul. I hope you had a chance to enjoy your scone.
Ach, and they really do arrive by seaplane at sock camp. I can’t be there this year, I have a new nephew coming in a few months. Have fun and hi to Cat!
I am so jealous you aren’t coming to Arizona. I live in the knitting hinterlands, the nearest store is at least an hour away. I am new to you, bought my first ‘harlot’ book today (happy to say it was used). I took a bath just to have time to read. Fabulous, thank you!
We expect the odd late snowfall up here in Fairbanks, so with 6+ inches today we can relate. Thanks for the prodigious posting and it’s comforting to know that even you, the Harlot herself, gets flustered meeting her blog idols just like I did meeting you last year.
Hi,
Just want to say I really enjoy reading your blog. On a tough day like today when I would really like to knit but absolutely don’t have a minute to spare I can at least fantasize by looking at the lovely knits on your site 🙂
Thank you!
Infectious yarniness just crops up wherever you go, doesn’t it?
By the way, in the Annapolis post from a couple of days back, it’s nice to see your Must-Have Cardigan out and about, and looking so dapper.
(Note to the Must-Have Cardigan: one day you will be mine, oh yes, you will be mine. 🙂
Okay, so I’m so completely upset that I couldn’t be at the Minnesota event. Unfortunately I was on stage singing “Just a Little Bit Of Luck” When you guys were having all that fun.
I’m glad you got a tiny bit of time with your family though. Glad you enjoyed it.
So the stories change as the tour goes on… I can see carpools of HarlotHeads following the tour so they get to hear all the variations, knitting rainbow socks decorated with dancing^W knitting teddy bears, skully yarn balls and crossed needles, collecting the tour buttons…
And yes, I was worried too, given the weather and the airlines combined. Glad to hear all is well and you’re safely at sock camp!
Ah yes, there’s my sweet boy ruining your record! I promise, he loved you; he was just mad at me for not letting him continue to climb up and down the stage stairs…if he could talk I’m sure he’d thank you for the chance to be adored by so many new people…he’s #3 so we don’t get the opportunity to “get out” often, just he & I. And (after the first 20-30 minutes of stopping to nurse repeatedly) we enjoyed a peaceful 2 hour drive home (i.e. he slept & I snuck in some fast food!).
I hope you have a great week at sock camp!!
Glad you made it to Minnesota. I posted a few photos of the evening at the U of St. Thomas on my blog and included a photo of the front of my car once I arrived home. Safely. Since my friend Betty introduced me to your humor and knitting skills, I’ve been knitting a lot. I’m on my 6th pair of sox!
Thanks for being you and being willing to share your knowledge an joy of living with the rest of the world.
Weee!! I see meeee in one of your pictures! It was SO great seeing you and getting to meet and speak with you in Minnesota!
(You probably don’t remember, but I was the one with the green Embossed Leaves socks and we talked about how they just fly off the needles.)
Your new book is an instant favorite! Thanks for everything.
oh my – those Sound of Music song re-writes are the best I’ve heard in awhile. what a HOOT> and you totally deserve it.
Great posting–I so loved seeing so many knitters and really cute babies! Loved the blanket, loved your stories. Stay healthy–and thanks for the great blogging! I really admire how you keep up while on tour–you are an amazing woman!
Missed you, of course (that goes without saying, right?) but I’m really glad that you got to spend time with the fam, and that you didn’t waste a precious moment of that time on “The Blog”… we can definitely wait!!!
Glad to see you’re being proper feted in the Upper Midwest; we’ll do right by you in Madison too! (We Hog-and-Bloggers have talked of little else for weeks!) We have plans to make your visit here Charming and Delightful too…you know, sort of like “sweets for the sweet”. And we’ve been working like mad on the weather – we tend to import our straight from the Twin Cities, but we’ve been putting in for Spring really earnestly. Our practice days (this week) are coming along nicely. SEE YOU SOON! (she said, gasping in happy anticipation)
Hurray, the Harlot got to see her family, eat a home cooked meal and sleep in her own bed! No matter how comfortable the hotel bed is, you always sleep the best in your own bed. Thanks for all the great blog pictures. I just love looking at all the things people have knit. It’s so inspiring. Thanks for all your hard work and have a great time at Sock Camp!
I am so glad that the airline cancellations haven’t messed up your schedual so far!(knock on wool) Thank you for taking the time to catch us up on the tour. Sock yarn blanket=beautiful.
Rams, our thoughts are with you.
So jealous of all those that get to see you! Please come to Texas!!!!
I used to live in Ann Arbor and seeing your traveling sock in front of the diag “M” and Hatcher library made me miss the place so much! Glad you had a big time there.
The Yarnery event was soo fun!!! I loved your talk and it was great meeting you. I wish I had brought some kind of present or something. I know what you mean by the “do over”, I totally forgot about the first sock brigade! and I was wearing mine 🙁
Abril
p.s. I know a ton of people that would be interested in reading the article that you mentioned in your talk, is there a chance you could link to it?
There were times, last Thursday, that I questioned my sanity while driving in that crap. But it was so worth it. I was, at one point, surrounded by the Rainey Sisters and Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. The only thing to do was keep my mouth shut. Awed, pickled tink? You bet. I needed both my feet to drive back home. If I had opened my mouth it would have spewed weird words and gibberish. When I read of people driving from Iowa and the Dakotas, I am ashamed that I even doubted.
Rams-our thoughts are with you.
It was great to see you again this year in Ann Arbor! I had a lot of fun and didn’t even realize there were storm warnings out until I got home later that night (I’m either a total ditz or just that much into my knitting). Thanks for braving the elements once again!
Aww, sock picture on the diag! Made me tear up. . . I miss Ann Arbor and my college days!
I was honestly a little worried about you. I’m glad you were with family and you do not need to justify a little down-time for you and the family! I think it is perfectly understandable and wonderful that you were able to do so. My concern was about 2 things…AA canceling a bunch of flights, which I was sure would impact other airlines and travelers and some of the crazy weather. So I was very happy that your absence had nothing to do with either of those things! Never really worried about a person I don’t even know before…just feel like I do, between your books and blog. Take care.
Oh. My. Gosh. The Yarnery Family Singers are great! Maybe you could get them to quit their day jobs and go on tour with you? After all, all the biggest acts have someone to open for them, and they do you justice! Then again, it would be awful for the knitters of the Twin Cities to have the Yarnery lose some obviously great employees! I wish I could have been there!
Well, I guessed we missed the tour this time, but I’m relieved to know that another book is in the pipeline. Next time you’re in the Cities, do you think your publicist would be willing to schedule a side trip to Fargo? I’ve talked w/ the Workman/Storey folks at the national library conferences, and asked to be notified about tours, but apparently missed the opportunity this time. I’ve got two knitting shop owners willing to partner . . .
Sock Camp!!! OOOhhhh. . . . I just seethe with envy. I hope you have a great time. Can’t wait to see the blogs. BTW–and I’m sure someone has mentioned this–you should in NO way shape or form apologize for being blog free during your family time. I’ve had people criticize me for not taking my work home more often and to them I always respond: Family, marriage, work—-in that order. Some things are too precious to be squandered.
Thank you for enduring the trials of travel to bring joy and wisdom to rooms full of knitters. Your book is blog wisdom between happy yellow covers. I like the flock chapter the best.
Fourteen hours spent with family – good choice, but not enough time. No need to apologize. We will all patiently wait (with yarn and sticks).
Hugs to Rams. Take time, be patient with yourself.
Thanks for sharing the incredibly fun Yarnery Family Singers. Creativity of knitters is unmatched – all that time “in theta”! Hmmm… I really like this theta brain place. Sure explains alot.
Enjoy your rockin’ sockin’ week. It’ll go by quite quickly and there will be more travelling sock pictures.
I hope that beer helped. I’ve always maintained Minnesotans are much crazier than anyone gives us credit for and we are excellent singers. Here’s another link to the Yarnery Family singers on my friend Ikisti’s blog.
http://ikiknits.blogspot.com/2008/04/harlot-brought-cold.html
When,if?, you come back to MN I’ll bring you a Surly beer.
http://www.surlybrewing.com/index.php
Knit On!
Gwyneth
It is always great to see you, even when time is limited by the number of friends you must greet. Ann Arbor is such a wonderful city, and Rae and Riin and I had a wonderful luxurious dinner down the street after we left the library.
I keep reflecting on what a great “party” you create when you hit town. Just giving knitters a date like that, means that we all stop our normal lives, slow down, and spend time with people (some previously strangers) who understand our passion. In that environment we all feel (like nowhere else) that we belong.
Thank you for that gift.
(So glad you took time for your family… at least this tour won’t drag out as long. I hope sock camp is a nice change of pace.)
Oh good grief… three times I read.. he knit his socks, kilt, and sweater.
WOWZA!!! I could NOT believe it…
That’s because it’s not true… he only knit the socks and sweater — still I’m a little in awe.
Haha. When you said that there was an “M” in the diag, I pretty much freaked out. My mind went, “OH MY GOD IF SHE STEPPED ON IT I WILL DIE.” And then you said that you didn’t and I was very relieved.
Yes, I’m a UMichigan student, why would you ask? ;]
…Maybe for the next book I should fly out for the event in Ann Arbor. I think the region-specific angst has to make it more worthwhile than the easy ones.
I was in the overflow room at Ann Arbor. When 7:00 came around, the nice gentleman keeping an eye on things upstairs started to turn off the lights, presumably so we could see the video screen better. Then he hesitated, and asked, “Would you rather I leave the lights on, so you can keep knitting?” Smart man!
Enjoyed your remarks, enjoyed meeting other knitters & admiring their knitting, great fun all around. Glad you had some down time back home. I don’t know how you’re surviving the pace of this tour…!
Oh, man! I totally *heart* the Rainey Sisters. I am jealous.
Minnesota here and I wanted to say that was my first Harlot experence and I really enjoyed it! Hope you come back soon and tell us the things you would rather do then make a swatch.
my sister, the kate half of “Kate and Veronica” (btw, the blanket is the one i made for the cuteness, my first big project! which of course took more than twice as long as i thought it would, but so is the way of knitting) was also not happy about the weather… i had been there a few weeks before the event at the yarnery and when i landed it was nice and cool and clear and by the time i left two days later, there were eight inches of snow on the ground… which is unusual even for minnesota…
my mom looks at that blanket and goes, is that intarsia (and she pronounced intarsia wrong)? and i’m like, no, that’s mitred squares. :/
All those knitters in one place. Tats. Knitting menin kilts. Sock yarn blankets. Half the people from the comments. Looks lovely!