Dropping in

That’s all I’m doing here at home. Dropping in. I came home from Seattle yesterday and I’m leaving for SOAR tomorrow (morning, unspeakably early) and I rushed in, washed my clothes, visited with the family, voted (I’m going to be away for the election) baked them some banana bread (which was really more of a defensive move – the bananas were going to be a whole other organism tomorrow if I didn’t do something) and dropped in at knit night.

I’m not even really sure where I lost a couple of days there, but it’s Wednesday night, sure enough, and the last thing I really remember clearly was getting up at 4:45AM on Tuesday and heading for the airport. I remember there was a pretty good bagel, and a flight delay, and a whole lot of coffee… and I remember that I got home at dinnertime (time changes are rough) and then everything since then seems like a weird dream on fast forward – until I sat down now to tell you about Seattle, and about how much fun it was. I’ve been to Third Place Books a few times now, enough that I can start feeling a little bit comfortable. I know where the bathroom is, I know that their coffee is pretty good.. I know tons about it – but I never know who’s going to turn up.. and it’s always crazy fun to meet the Seattle knitters…First en mass:

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And then one (or two) by each. We had our knitters with sidecar humans, like Denise and tiny Isabelle (we didn’t wake her), Jennifer and Sarah, Stephanie and Eviebelle, and Sarah and Jack. (I love Jacks serious little face, and see that? He’s wearing a sweater I knit! I made if for his brother a few years ago, and there it is again. Lovely. )

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I saw the most charming little knitters. Hold your breath knitters, and then give me a collective “Awwwww”

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for Haileigh and her sharebear. That’s Haileigh’s knitting too, since she is a most competent and quick knitter – especially for a girl of only 5. Haileigh can hope, when she is a bigger knitter, to turn out as well as Sabrina (or was it Tracy? I think that was your mum) who’s 7, Katrina who’s 10 and Rita – who’s 12.

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If those knitters play it right, they can hope to be as clever as McKenna, our lady of the stash weasels – accompanied by her sister Madison for the first time.

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As always, there was the first sock brigade, this time just Laurie and Lauren, which makes me wonder if all the knitters in Seattle know socks now.

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Lauren has, you will note, presented her first socks in 2-D form… since she was unable to get them off the feet of the recipient, which is a pretty awesome testimonial for a pair of first socks.

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Finally, there was my good buddy Paul, who turns up, as perennial as the grass, and always a pleasure. There were a ton of other folks, like Syne especially, who gave me one of her Sci-Fi books, thus preserving Seattle’s place in my heart as geeky knitter central.

Seattle… it’s always awesome.

I’ve got to go to bed. Tomorrow… I spin.

71 thoughts on “Dropping in

  1. Get some rest and have fun at SOAR! I wish I could be there. One of these years it will happen.

  2. Just look at that bumper crop of young knitters! That is wonderfully awesome. Or awesomely wonderful!
    One thing about Seattle, you can usually count on pretty good coffee almost everywhere.
    TRY to get enough sleep and safe travels!

  3. Oh I was so wanting to be there – I decided to stay home and not share my stomach bug instead. I’ll catch you next time!

  4. I just read about SOAR today. It is being held just a few miles from my niece’s. I taught her to knit over the summer and you can be sure I called her to drop in. She already knew you would be there but had no idea what the vendors’ market is. Hehe! I hope she brings her first socks.

  5. Jack is one lucky little boy!
    You’re spinning tomorrow? Did tomorrow turn into Tuesday in the madness? Please do tell your family thank you for loaning you to us; Santa Rosa was wonderful.

  6. Oh, Stephanie so glad to see you in the Pacific NW again so soon. Next time Portland, K? I quoted you this evening while competing in an impromtu speech contest! Love pulling the knitting in with non-knitting audiences. Soon they will all be under our thrall…

  7. Hope you enjoyed the Broken Rake! I had a pint off the tap tonight and thought of you. ๐Ÿ™‚

  8. Thank you so much for coming again to Seattle and Third Place Books! It’s always a thrill and a pleasure to see you and your traveling sock and hear your encouragement to knitters of all types. It was such a joy to be in the crowd, feeling proud to knit among all those gals! We may have rain, but we have the coffee…ah..yes!!

  9. The Paparazzi was very upset that he had to do homework instead of seeing “that funny yarn lady with the cool hair” ๐Ÿ™‚
    Happy trails!

  10. Awww. My girl who turned 4 in July says she wants to knit, but when I cast on stitches for her she doesn’t want me to show how to do it… I still have high hopes for her since she’s been doing this for a year or more, perhaps it’ll just come to her gradually. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  11. Hi, Stephanie! Wish I could come see you soon, but am going to Alabama to be in the last photo shoot for 1000 Knitters. My sister is going with me, yay! Anyway, wanted to tell you I had breakfast with Vickie Starbuck at the Taos Wool Festival this last Saturday. We chatted for nearly half an hour before I discovered who she was…I started raving about you (in a good way) and she mentioned she was the Entrelac sock designer and I didn’t put it all together until I reread your book.

  12. Wow. It’s strange and surreal to see my own face and name on your blog, o Yarn Harlot. I’m pretty sure it’s not even true. Thanks for showing us Seattleites a great time!

  13. Yup, TGH for short, I’m the mom. ๐Ÿ˜€ Pics on my blog including the bra-o-rama. Dude, you are tired! As Sabrina’s favorite movie says, “what a swim!”
    See you at madrona! ๐Ÿ˜€

  14. Holy crap, don’t DO that! I’ve barely started my first cup of coffee and am totally helpless against the adorablosity that is Haileigh.
    And another thing? While it’s nice to click to embiggen the small shots, it doesn’t work to embiggen the already big and I’m messing up my monitor pressing my nose against it trying to see that pageant of stashweasels McKenna (mail to whose comments always bounces back) is holding.
    Go. Spin. Not that I’m bitter or anything.

  15. I’m gobsmacked by your constant supply of high energy. An idea for using browning bananas: just peel them and put them in a tupperware (or reasonable facsimile) container and put them
    in the freezer. To me they taste like banana ice cream. They don’t look great but taste fine. Although your family probably prefers the banana bread. Marlyce in Windsor, Ontario

  16. Just be sure you’re spinning yarn, okay? (I have visions of your head spinning around from all the travel.)

  17. Wow, I know you are waaay on overload, but for those of us who are very new to your blog and check in not every day–pretty please update your tour. The last entry is London, which I am pretty sure was like six weeks ago, surely would love to know if you are going to be anywhere in the vicinity of where I could possibly be.
    Perhaps your publicist could do this for you. LOL!
    Have all your books except the new one, in addition to being new to your blog, I am new to knitting. I find your attitudes so inspiring!!
    And, hey, I just got back from London, and your posts helped me a lot!

  18. Nope. not all the seattle knitters know how to knit socks, I am still struggling with learning how to knit one.
    I’ll get it.
    Never give up right?
    Be safe and have a good trip– hopefully I’ll get the mysteries that is sock knitting in time for the summit

  19. A belated welcome home and have a good trip to SOAR! You are the only person that I know of that relies on the divine brown brew to keep you going as much as me. Hurray for coffee, and for Seattle, the stomping ground of Starbucks. A decent cup of coffee costs you a kidney and your first born child, but man, is it good!

  20. Beautiful babies in beautiful handknits-what could be sweeter!SOAR is practically in my backyard(maybe forty-five minutes away?)but I’ve already made plans for Rhinebeck,so I’ll see you there instead!Can’t wait!Good travels and Happy Thursday!

  21. Wow! Seems like just yesterday I saw you on your LAST tour, and there you go again! Think you’ll ever venture as far south as Panama City? Not Florida, but by the “Big Ditch” (The Canal. In Panama. Central America.)
    C’mon down!

  22. Squeeeeee! Looove the little knitters! I agree – embiggen the stashweasel collection if possible please – they look supercool. Try not to wear your little self out having a good time!

  23. A little late to the comment party, but having spent most of my life near the Pacific, I’m thinking, “But of course it’s green in winter and brown in summer!” That is the normal course of events. It’s true of the whole west coast, except where they are irrigating. We’re really at the peak of brown now in San Diego. I’ve come to decide it’s really pretty. A beautiful palette. I think I am in the minority though. People are still watering stuff.

  24. Well, it’s past unspeakably early so you’re already winging your way to SOAR. Sounds like you sure had a whirlwind “drop in” at home. Hope I can get to FL next week to finally meet you since Atlanta wasn’t on the list this time….darn…..

  25. Really, a 5 yr old knitting? Really??? My daughters are 8 and 5, I have to get cracking.
    And is that 12 yr old using DPN’s? I know adults who are terrified of those. How awesome is that?
    Looks like lots of fun!

  26. WOWZA !! HOW do you do it and remember where you are and who you have seen? Your exercise and diet regime must be the best yet for you to keep up this pace, either that or you come from one fantastical gene pool. Have a bit of fun at Soar and thank you for being able to see the key board to send us pics of the great group.

  27. I have my copies of Yarn Harlot and Free Range Knitter ready for the Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival … will be there Sunday only … when is your book signing?

  28. I didn’t get to see you in Seattle on Monday. Wah! Had to spend all day at a Real Estate conference on the opposite side of the city. Urgh! I still owe you some homebrew, however. Next time you’re in town, I owe you a Belgian White and a slice of orange.

  29. Always great to see you in the Great NorthWet! Have a wonderful time at SOAR. I remember SOAR in the Poconos from 2004 with the fondest memories: good food (amazing, actually); great classes (also amazing); basketfuls of fiber and laughter and the best vacation I’ve ever had. And lovely autumn colors, too!

  30. i join in the request for embiggened stash weasels and add a banana suggestion:
    peel and freeze the browning-and-mushy ones in a plastic bag until you have enough to make banana bread. then, either leave them out to thaw a few hours ahead or thaw them on defrost setting of the microwave. the advantage is that you will have lovely banana mush of the perfect consistency — no need to waste several minutes mashing the fruit.
    i’m asking for “free-range knitter” as a christmas present this year — though i’ll revoke that request and buy it for myself if you come back to indiana before then (pleeeeese?).
    happy travels!

  31. Ditto the update request. I would have loved to go to Third Place Books but couldn’t find the date on your website.
    Weasels? Stash Weasels! Gotta seem em, gotta make em! I haven’t seen anything so adorable since Simply Knitting had the first installment of the circus mice. Anybody know when the next group of mighty mice is being printed so I can haunt the book store?

  32. Have a great time at SOAR! One of these years I’ll get to go. Alas, this year, it’s too far away from Calgary, and next year, I fully intend to be severely pregnant. And yum. Banana bread. Lucky family.

  33. i am in florida and i enjoy
    meeting your return knitters
    in seattle
    i was taught how to knit
    in fourth grade love the babies
    ps still warm in florida

  34. Awwww — that bear is so fortunate to having a loving owner!
    Enjoy SOAR — don’t tire yourself out!

  35. It looked like so much fun! Wish I could have been there. How’d your banana bread turn out? Almost-unusably-nasty bananas make the best bread. Lay off the coffee, sleep, and have fun at SOAR!

  36. I would have been there, but I was laid up with my hip being xrayed at RCH in BC harping about how my husband told me to “forget about my knitting” while I was waiting for the ambulance.
    Maybe the next time you’re on the Wet Coast, I’ll have a chance to see you. Try to see if Indigo will bring you in. *hint*
    hmm… time to write them?

  37. I went to the blog and saw Sen. Obama good-naturedly holding the sock! I looked at it for quite some time. They should put that picture on all his posters…Hey, he’s gotta be a good guy!! All knitters (of both parties) would realize this immediately! Priceless photos; thanks for sharing. P.S. Glad you got your vote in.

  38. Banana butter is good too. Just chop up nuts, very ripe mashed bananas and use as a toast spread.
    Elma in N.J.

  39. I can’t believe I missed you in Seattle, my dearest home, AGAIN! Even worse, my friend lives up the road from 3rd Place – and being the one who taught me to knit, I fully expected her there with her babe slung in…she talked about it. I’ll be beating her up for not going. And make her sit down for a sock lesson, because I still haven’t even attempted the things despite her gifts of sock yarn!
    Rest up when and where you can and travel safe!

  40. I’m with the “Can we please see the stashweasels bigger, please?” crowd — and Yarn Harlot? I had to read your words (and enjoy your pictures) BEFORE I go break my fast for Yom Kippur! (I know which order to take my delights). So now, having been Good all day, I’m going to go eat. And then it’s back to the Dr. Who scarf (dale-harriet, weren’t you the one complaining about endless toque knitting? yes ma’am. and now you’re knitting a Dr Who scarf? yes ma’am.) I believe I hear the short bus at the door…..

  41. This comment actually has nothing to do with this particular blog post- but I know you will all be interested! I live in the DC area and just saw Obama’s latest tv ad. It features…..A BALL OF YARN. Hmmm…..has he been affected by holding the sock? Yarn fumes? Did he say to himself, “I need to get more knitting voters……”
    The thought of that excites me.

  42. Did you like the Pipeline Porter and the chocolate cookie in Seattle? The porter was made with Kona coffee in it, a little Hawaiian culture ๐Ÿ™‚

  43. Nothing deep or even knitterly to say today other than DARNIT.. I knew I forgot something while I was out today and reading this post reminded me. I didn’t buy bagels! Hope you enjoyed yours as I shall remain bageless until next week now.
    And I’m incredibly jealous of everyone going to SOAR. I wanted to attend this year, but that whole moving cross country thing kinda wrecked those plans. Have fun!

  44. wish i could see you monday! (can’t get back in time to get the kids to school, sigh). did you see that greg kinnear mentioned you on conan o’brien! you’re the michael jordan of knitters!

  45. My dear Harlotta – I am so enjoying seeing your finished items…it inspires me to get clicking a little faster.

  46. Hello there!
    I was just wondering if you were going to stop by Ottawa for your next tour. I’d really love to get my book signed =).
    Oh, and I’m making a sock from your Vanilla pattern =D. It’s working out splendidly! (Second sock brigade, hurrah!)

  47. So Awesome. Thanks for showing that Syne MItchell of weaving podcast fame was the same Syne Mitchell who wrote the “Deathless” book. Too bad she didn’t get to finish it. Could you pressure her to finish it as it was some of the best Science Fiction to be published recently (IMHO). You know, author to author.
    Thanks.

  48. Pawdua: Awww. Thanks so much! You just made up for a lot of bad Amazon.com reviews in this writer’s heart!
    The problem wasn’t that I wasn’t willing to write more, I had the next two books plotted out. It was a matter of the publisher deciding that my sales figures did not warrant future books. Not all of us can be as successful as Stephanie. ;>

  49. i REALLY REALLY need to know more about those tiny teddy things mckenna is holding in her picture. anyone?

  50. I was there! Moved to Seattle the previous Weds…first time seeing you. You said some stuff I needed to hear, thanks for that. Also hadn’t anticipated your attractive and sultry voice…nice speaking voice.

  51. Happy Thanksgiving!
    OK, to me, it’s “Canadian Thanksgiving”… which I’ll spend being thankful for Columbus, and Canada. Hope you can have a decent peaceful one wherever you’ll be.

  52. I’m glad it was you signing books and not me. If sisters named Katrina and Rita had approached me, I would have screamed like a banshee and fled the buidling immediately.

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