Yarn Harlot Weekend

Yeah....I spent Saturday with the "Yarn Harlot" Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. Well, sort of...I attended her book signing at the Detroit Main Library. It was very fun and soothing. You heard me right....soothing. I say that because this was the first event I ever went to where everyone in the audience was knitting. There is something to be said about a bunch of people gathered together to listen to an author talk about knitting while you knit.

At one point I looked over at the guard who escorted her into the auditorium and I thought, "gee, he must be bored". Then I thought, "he must think we're all nuts". What did they think we all were going to do....attack her when she made her appearance. Is that why they gave her protection? LOL! She even joked about it. Like she was some "real" celebrity. Well, in the knitting world she is. Its funny how non-crocheters and non-knitters don't get it when you talk about "our celebrities". Also, how we can't go past a yarn shop or a yarn isle without entering. Then we get in there and molest the yarn. With no intention to buy, but must touch the yarny goodness. The addiction is bad and we all refuse to go to rehab!

A plus of the signing was her showing off her sweater she finished during the Ravelympics. It was beautiful. It was amazing. She got it done in 2 wks. That's insane considering that it's some fair isle involved. She so rocks!

People came from all over. I sat with two ladies from NY, Kathy and Sandi. They both were working on socks. There was even a marketplace before the signing. I bought two skeins of sock yarn and one clipboard with legal pad. No regrets. Boy did I have fun.

Gearing Up!

For the Ravelympics!!!!! I am so excited. The Winter Olympics start February 12th and I can't wait. I am participating in two events, WIP Dancing and Sock Hockey. I plan on finishing Mara and Justina by the end of the Olympics. My challenge is to do two socks on one circ. I have two socks I want to finish.....1 is for my mom and the other is just a simple sock pattern. I didn't want to overload myself.

Also, I am back in school. Luckily my classes aren't that involved where I will lose knitting/crochet time. This will allow my to get through the Olympics. I can't say that for this coming summer. I plan on taking math this summer and that is going to kill me. I hate math. I really suck at it. (Damn Algebra!)

My fiance gave me the great idea of planning a day cruise on the Detroit Princess this summer for the knit group I go to at City Knits and anyone else who would be interested. I've discussed it with some of the girls there and July would be a good month. Its still in the planning stages and I hope to give them the schedule and price list the lady provided me with from the ship. Hopefully, this thing gets up and rolling. It would be so much fun.

I so need to get some pics up of my recent projects. I hope to do this by next month. (I said "hope"....don't hold your breathe.)

DoubleStitch at City Knits

Saturday, December 6th was City Knits 6th B-day. To celebrate they invited the DoubleStitch Twins to come and do a book signing and discuss their career. Erika and Monika were both enlightening. They began to crochet in the 4th grade, but actually stopped for 20yrs before picking the hook up again. They brought along some of their creations from the book, "DoubleStitch" to show to the audience.

Here is Erika demonstrating how to wear the cape and the different ways to tie it to create different lines. Monika is at the table wearing the poncho from the book.
Here again is Erika showing the back of the apron from the book. Monika and Star Christina are looking on.

And here is Erika pairing a cropped bolero with the apron to create a much different look. These girls are creative geniuses. I applaud them in their work and wish them continued success. It was fun to hear them discuss their love of all things fiber.

Star Day at City Knits

After shopping around for yarn for my new winter hat, "The Schwartz Hat" from the movie
"Christmas Story" ( I found the pattern here) I got the chance to sit and chat with none other than Brett Bara, editor of "Crochet Today" magazine and Candi Jenson, author.

Above is Candi signing a book for JoAnne. Unfortunately, I didn't catch her in the photo. Candi is such a nice person. She explained how her "Crochet Bags, Crochet Hats, Crochet Scarves" books were all die-cut and were done by hand in China. Its one of the better jobs there because the room they work in is air-conditioned. We all felt bad and she didn't want to have here books done that way, but they explained to her that its providing a very good income for the workers and like I said before its air-conditioned and considered a better job.


This is Bret listening to a story along with a customer of CK (City Knits). I find that like Candi, Brett also is easy going. She explained that new episodes of "Knit and Crochet Today" will be airing this September. (Check your local Public Television listings) Its currently not being showed because they are shooting new episodes.
I enjoyed talking to them and having my books signed by Candi and my magazine signed by Brett. I can't wait for the new episodes to come on. But, until then I have my magazines and Candi Jenson books to read.