This is the start of sock #2 from the STR (Socks That Rock) wool from Blue Moon Fiber Arts' Rockin' Sock Club. I took it to the Fashion Institute of Technology to see Stephanie Pearl-McPhee give a talk at the launch of her new book Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off. Steph is the Yarn Harlot, a knitting-humor blogger. No one knew there was such a thing until she invented it.
The talk was delightful. The auditorium, which seats 750, was nearly filled. Each attendee was given a bag containing a ball of yarn, #8 needles and instructions to knit a 7X9 rectangle that would be sewn into afghans and given to people made homeless by flood and fire.
Steph gave the knitters a lot to think and laugh about: why don't knitters get any respect; why do "muggles" (non-knitters, a word appropriated from Harry Potter) think it is wasteful to knit socks when you can buy them in Wal-Mart rather than the other way around; why is there more an one way to size needles (metric and American); why are swatches lying little scraps of yarn; why, if you knit, it is assumed you want to date men regardless of your gender? I'll add, "Why is there no decent sock wool in Wellington, NZ, in a country with 30 million sheep?"
It was great to see so many socks in progress, so much beautiful yarn, so many enthusiastic knitters--some from Switzerland, England, California and even western Massachusetts! If you're a knitter and Steph comes to your town, run--don't walk--to hear her talk. Buy a book too.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
I saw Stephanie in St. Louis last year, at the event she mentioned when she first posted the "Represent" idea. (Far, far too few chairs & too small a space was given to us by a local library.)
She is indeed worth seeing in person when at all possible, but it is *almost* as fun to read about her visits on other people's blogs. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Lucinda!
She spoke about the "too few chairs" issue--trying to convince a muggle that there will be more than 10 people coming to hear someone talk about knitting. Just one of the outrages knitters have to withstand!
Lucky you for getting to see TYH in NY. I caught her about a year ago when she came to Vancouver. Very enjoyable!
How are you liking your Monsoon sock? I'm almost finished my first of the pair and while I'm not overly fond of the colourway, I love the weight and feel of the yarn and am intrigued by a reversable sock.
I agree, Maureen. I'm not a big fan of the colors and I found knitting the foot with the two different ribs a bit of a drag. I did like the toe-up sock and the reversible aspect is interesting.
You sometimes have to try something new just to have the experience.
Post a Comment