October 23, 2005
Estrogen Overload!
Good morning/afternoon/evening, Dearest Readers. Your blogmistress here, squeezing in an entry before her Two Weeks of Frantic Weirdness begin…
Considering the fact that yesterday Mother Nature blessed us with the most dreamy fall day imaginable—warm and breezy with cloudless blue skies and that special golden wash of autumn infusing everything, the kind of day that would make even the most committed Dulaaner contemplate playing hookey—we had a fantastic turn-out for the Knit-In: Sandy, Karen, April, Flora, Susan, Elaine, Leslie, Diana, Perclexed, Rebecca I, Rebecca II, LindaK, Beth, Marilyn (TMK's mother who schlepped over from Eastern Washington to join us), Theresa (who schlepped over with Marilyn), MaryB (the hostess!), me and, of course, The Mysterious K.
Oh, and I musn't forget the most important participants of all, Charlotte, the Knit-In Cat…
…and Mongol LEE, the Knit-In Camel, playing, yet again, king of the (very small) mountain. He tells me he much enjoyed being fondled by all the ladies, hubba, hubba.
Here is the embryo of what will eventually be the Northwest Dulaaners' MegaPile, including my contributions so far as well as a pastel green blanket, a Danish Earflap Cap from Hat's On, a Dulaan Pointy Hat…
…and this from Sandy, a cheerful red sweater with the occasional variegated accent stripe…
...and this Zud Hat knit by Diana and modeled by TMK...
…and this, knit by the lovely model herself, Rebecca I, from superbulky yarn winged at her head by the Mariner Moose during the Stitch & Pitch, and finished and added to the pile during the course of the party!
Here, pictures of the ladies hard at their knitting:
From left to right, Theresa, Sandy, Rebecca I, Beth, Diana and Perclexed
From left to right, Diana, Elaine, Marilyn, Theresa and Beth
From left to right, April, MaryB and LindaK
Note the orange can in the last picture. This wonderful and unexpected contribution, which says in jaunty letters on the outside "Coins for the Dulaan Project," was brought by Sandy so anyone who was so inclined could deposit her pocket change, lint and all, into it.
Now, if we were truly just seeking pocket change, a quarter here, a dime there, maybe the odd dollar, how is it that by the end of the evening we counted an astonishing $114? Because someone, who I assume would prefer to remain nameless since she is historically modest and humble in her generosity, brought a large amount of high-quality stash to share with the knitters with two remarkable stipulations:
1. If you were going to use the yarn to make something for Dulaan, you could have the yarn for free.
2. If you wanted to purchase the yarn—which she was selling for an obscenely modest amount of money in an effort to reduce her stash—for yourself personally, all the money paid would go directly to Dulaan, i.e, into the orange can. Voila! $114!
Thank you Modest, Humble and Generous Stash Lady and anyone who contributed to Ye Bright Orange Can of Charity. As with the money from CafePress, the money gathered in the can will be contributed directly to F.I.R.E.
And lastly, a photo of me opening a surprise gift from MaryB. Apparently when we organized the Stitch & Pitch, MaryB, as the person who purchased the block of tickets, was given a Mariners sweatshirt which said, under the Mariners logo, "Group Leader." Yesterday MaryB chose to give the sweatshirt to me in honor of my role as the "group leader" of Dulaan! MaryB, I am wearing my wonderful new sweatshirt as we speak, although—sigh—I already dripped sticky syrup on it at breakfast this morning. Oink.
Thank you everyone for a wonderful party! We hope we can see all of you, and especially those who couldn't make it this weekend, at the Summer Dulaan 2006 Knit-In!
Posted by Ryan at October 23, 2005 11:10 PMWhat a wonderul knitting party! Congrats on the gorgeous Dulaan items & on the 114 smackeroo dollars.
Generousity is inspiring & can be quite contagious.
Best,
Marfa
wowee momma! sounds like a great time (and thanks for pics of charlotte the cat... that si exactly what my cat does during knit ins) the money raised makes me so happy. I'm glad to see the creative and inspiraing ways we all help dulaan.
Posted by: anj on October 24, 2005 10:09 AMI am SO sad to have missed it. :( Thank you for sharing it virtually. What beautiful stuff people are making already!
Posted by: Patti on October 24, 2005 10:13 AMWowie, thanks for the run-down of this fabulous event! I wish I coulda been there. Amazingly beautiful things in the pile!
Posted by: Norma on October 24, 2005 11:00 AMI followed the link to the knitters retreat and realize that you wrote that last year -- but this intrigued me: "Why are buffalo smart enough to lie down to conserve body heat and cows aren't?"
I have pet cows and think they don't particularly suffer from cold -- they are, after all, wearing leather coats. Mine don't seem to care about rain or snow or cold itselt -- but they seem to dislike wind. If it's really windy they will go up to the barn and sit around under the overhand on the side where the wind isn't.
It surprises many people to find out how intelligent cows are.
Thanks to all who attended the knit in--and to everyone who couldn't make it--well, you missed a great time. (Patti!!! Where WERE you??? We missed you.) I was checking the blog this morning with Charlotte curled up on my lap (this cat loves the computer and even watches TV) and she saw her picture. Well, thanks so much, Ryan--there will be NO living with that cat now. She thinks she's famous. (Being 15, she's getting quite elderly, and she was so exhausted from all the socializing on Saturday that she slept the entire day Sunday.)
We have surely assembled some wonderful things, and I'm pleased to report that I finished the hat I was working on Saturday. That's three in the hopper for Mongolia for me so far! (Ryan has, like 14 things so far, everyone, which she's too gracious to brag about, but she is knitting like a fiend for Mongolia.)
Mary B
Posted by: Mary B on October 24, 2005 12:25 PMThe knit-in was a lot of fun and very exciting. Mary - thanks for hosting us in your lovely home! Everybody was gracious, the nibbles were incredible (I'm a tofu-chocolate-pie convert). I can't wait to pick up and start socks from the Lorna's Laces I got (are they bumble-bee or holloween?). Knitters, and those who love them, are amazing people.
Posted by: Elaine on October 24, 2005 01:23 PMPS to Elaine--there is another skein of that bumblebee yarn (we found it in the pile after you left) so if you want a third one, let Ryan know!!
MaryB
PS Ain't that tofu chocolate pie grand???
Posted by: Mary B on October 24, 2005 02:02 PMI'm sad that I couldn't be at the knit-in. I'm in Ohio visiting my mom. Schedule the next one for sometime I don't have a flight booked, okay?
It looks like a fabulous get-together.
I am glad that you had fun at the knit-in!! That sweatshirt looks sooo comfy too. All of the knitted things look so great!! :) Laters!
Posted by: Courtney on October 24, 2005 10:03 PMHow many of the attendees smelled the camel yarn? Be honest.
Posted by: Cuzzin Tom on October 25, 2005 06:27 AMI'd have loved to have been there, but I was a bit busy with other stuff. Let's start talking dates for a California Dulaan In!
Posted by: Nathania on October 25, 2005 08:41 AMCan't remember if I smelled the yarn (I think I did) but I definitely smelled the camel! From what I remember there was a lot of sniffing going on. Mary B
Posted by: Mary B on October 25, 2005 09:11 AMHi, alla' youze. I'm back at work for one day, so I'm checking in...
Hi, Catherine. Love your comment, especially because you said you have "pet cows." Love that. My opinion about cows/buffaloes was the result of my driving past two identical fields, both covered in frost and very, very cold, one full of buffalo, one full of cows. The buffalo were lying down, their feet all tucked up in their buffalo fibery goodness, and the cows were all standing up and looked freezing. Maybe it's just me...
Cuzz, a lot of people sniffed the yarn. It's what we do.
And, yes, everyone, the Knit-In really was wonderful! I forgot to mention that a group of us didn't leave MaryB's house until close to 9pm! Such hangers-on we are...
Posted by: Ryan on October 25, 2005 10:16 AMHi there. I've been lurking for a few months. Ok, maybe a bit longer than that. Anyways, I'm finally back in western Washington and hope to be able to join in the knitting community here sometime soon!
Posted by: Christina on October 25, 2005 12:31 PMChristina, where are you located? Can you come to Guild sometime?
(P.S Tried to email you from your profile on your blog but the link didn't work.)
Posted by: Ryan on October 25, 2005 12:52 PMMy email is lionessria at yahoo dot com. I don't know why the profile thingy didn't work.
Posted by: Christina on October 25, 2005 01:23 PMSo bummed that I had to miss the Knit-In! We just got back from a 2.5 week trip to the East Coast, visiting two sets of relatives. Phew! Thanks for the great write up, though. I am secretly ashamed that I haven't begun my Dulaan knitting, but I promise to start as soon as the last holiday gift is finished. I'm looking forward to trying my hand at Scandinavian double knitting; I figure the items will at least be warm even if not perfectly executed. :) P.S. Wishing you and TMK a belated Happy Anniversary!! I am already looking forward to the Summer Dulaan 2006 Knit-In...
Posted by: Denise in Kent on October 29, 2005 12:40 PM