November 07, 2005
Naughty, Frankie! Naughty!
The frickin’ dog was the Guest Blogger’s Guest Blogger?!! Here I thought that writing a blog required at least a wee smidgen of skill and style and intelligence but, no, because apparently even a dog—who barely squeaked through obedience school, and whose idea of true talent is seeing if she can clear the room with one tremendous fart—can churn out a blog entry, given access to a keyboard. I have been humbled.
On the bright side, thanks to that astoundingly unflattering photo of me from the knees up, now people will believe me when I tell them that I can’t see my feet.
But I am officially back, back from my classes (during which I discovered that my brain is Completely Full, since everything I learned in Class A was summarily flushed out to make room for everything I learned in Class B); back from breaking my tooth; back from grownup camp; back from a lovely ferry ride followed by a lovely drive through the country followed by days and days of guilt-free knitting followed by another lovely drive through the country and another lovely ferry ride.
A few photos, beginning with the business end of the ferry Walla Walla:
The inside of the ferry. This photo shows maybe 1/3 of the seating and doesn't show the hundreds of cars and trucks this ferry is also transporting. These things are ha-yooge, let me tell ya'.
The part of the ferry where you would lean on the railing, fling out your arms and yell, “I’M THE KING OF THE WORLD!!!!”—if you were that kind of a geek.
Arriving in Kingston. (The drive between Kingston and Port Townsend, where the retreat is held, involves going over Hood Canal Bridge. Maybe ho-hum for the people who live in the area but, for me, always cool.)
The house where we stayed (nope, not your imagination; I just re-used last year’s photo. Gotta love that digital technology.)
Some of my knitting companions at the dining table where we spent most of our days and nights. (Quiz: How many Ott lights can you count?) For a refreshing change of scenery, we moved to an identical dining room table in an identical dining room in the other half of the house, which involved walking across the adjoining deck in flannel nightgowns and bare feet in heavy rain but that's par for the course for us hardy Northwesterners.
We discovered at one point that every person at one end of the table was knitting in purple or using something purple. See?
One of the projects finished by one of the housemates during the retreat. I caught the snowman during one of his more dignified moments, when he wasn't being squished, folded, squeezed, bedecked with a strand of Christmas lights, stood on his head, or remolded into a female snowmanperson with little boobies.
Wednesday, more photos of our projects, the Dulaan-associated activities that went on, the story of the Catheter Cozy, and a glimpse into the bawdier side of knitting camps.
Ah, but it's good to be back!
Welcome back! It sounds like you ended the time away from your adoring public in the best way possible. We missed you, but thanks to TMK and the fantastic Frankie (future journalism major) we were kept entertained.
Any idea where I could get a pattern for that snowperson? I bet I could figure out some short-row shaping and make a snow-chick.
Posted by: Elaine on November 7, 2005 11:43 AMWelcome back Ms. Ryan! It's good to have you beck, even if you did have some fab guest bloggers. I do envy your weekend though. I truly do.
Posted by: Stalker Angie on November 7, 2005 11:52 AMLove the little snow-person - is that raglan shaping for the shoulders/top-of-the-body? What a cool idea!
Posted by: Robbyn on November 7, 2005 12:02 PMMary B here to shed some light on the teddy bear pattern----it's a Sirdhar pattern and it uses the Sirdhar yarn called "Snowflake" (or Snowpuff or something like that). The yarn is really, really fluffy and using it for a bear pattern is the best use of it I've ever seen. I think it's all polyester, so the whole bear is washable. It also comes with the pattern for the little hat and scarf. And, as Ryan pointed out, depending on the thickness of the stuffing, can be contorted into all sorts of shapes...which got a little out of hand for our group and brought us to peals of laughter more than once. Ah yes, grown women never tire of stupid bear tricks, I guess...
There was another animal pattern shown at the retreat--Fiber Trends (just "google" for Fiber Trends) has one that's for a felted dog that's really cute. One can modify it for different breeds--corgi, anyone? I think Bev Galeskas said it was up on their website now.
The retreat was great fun, but I agree with Ryan--it's good to be back. Talk about over-estrogen stimulation.
The Dulaan Project was very well received too. Ryan, you're gonna explain about those mohair hats next time, right? BTW, I made one last night while winding down from the retreat. It is sooooo cool!
Mary B
Posted by: Mary B on November 7, 2005 01:01 PMEr, Mare--did you mean the snowman pattern? Not teddy bear?
And, yep, Wednesday I'll be telling all about the rest of retreat. *All.* (Wink, wink.)
Posted by: Ryan on November 7, 2005 01:10 PMYes, snowman, person, or whatever. Definitely not a bear!
All???? All???? Time to change my name and go into witness protection??
Remember, be kind...
Hugs, M
Posted by: Mary B on November 7, 2005 01:14 PMMary B or Ryan (or Frankie or TMK, if either of ou know) - what book is that pattern in, or does it come on the yarn label?? I must have it!
Posted by: Carrie on November 7, 2005 01:17 PMAm I the only one that noticed that Ryan said "Catheter Cozy"?
Am I the only one that is scared of the story behind that? :)
Posted by: Libby on November 7, 2005 01:38 PMALL HAIL THE MARVELOUS, MOST-POWERFUL OTT-LITE!!!!
Catheter Cozy? ????????
Posted by: Norma on November 7, 2005 01:46 PMI am anxiously waiting to hear about the catheter cozy. Never heard of one of those before.
Posted by: Mindy on November 7, 2005 01:55 PMFirst things first--the teddy bear pattern wasn't in a book, it was just a sheet-pattern. Have no idea how long it was purchased before it was knit, but this particular knitter brought only projects that had been languishing on the needles FOR SOME TIME. She managed to finish several almost-done projects while at the retreat. The pattern could be several years old, but I'll bet if you asked at a yarn shop that carried Sirdhar patterns they might know. Or check the website.
As for the Catheter Cozy--well, you're just going to have to wait till Wednesday. I'm sure Ryan will tell the story in her typical leave-'em-rolling-in the aisles fashion. If I hadn't participated in this whole thing, I'd never believe it myself. . . .
Again, remember these were grown women with wine and sharp pointy objects and marvelous senses of humor. Quite a combination...
Mary B
Posted by: Mary B on November 7, 2005 02:09 PMAh, I *thought* that building looked like Officer's Row at Fort Worden. A glance back at the archives confirmed it. I love that place! Used to attend the Sea Kayaking Symposium there, 'back in the day.' It sounds like you had a grand time at the knitting retreat. I'm *so* looking forward to reading all the lurid details! Heh, heh.
Posted by: Denise in Kent on November 7, 2005 02:18 PMAn online search based on the words:
Sirdar snowflake snowman
produced this: http://country-yarns.com/info.php?id=245, offered by a company located in Ontario.
And this, http://www.knitwellwools.co.uk/acatalog/SIRDAR_SNOWFLAKE_CHUNKY.html, offered by a company located in the UK.
I also found a knapsack version of the snowman, http://www.mavis-crafts.com/details.php/648/N, also from a company in the UK.
And, yes, you read that right: "Catheter Cozy." All will be revealed.
Posted by: Ryan on November 7, 2005 02:36 PMSorry, I said teddy bear again---it's a SNOWMAN or SNOWPERSON, or SNOWGIRL or SNOWCROSSDRESSER, or whatever. Trust me, we contorted it into one of each.
With a hat. And a scarf. Mary B
Posted by: Mary B on November 7, 2005 03:17 PMCute snowman! We have one like him at the store where I work. He's oh, so soft!
Posted by: Sheri on November 7, 2005 06:28 PMThat retreat looked like it was soooo much fun. The building looks beautiful and so does the ferry ride! Sounds like you had fun....talk to you soon! :)
Posted by: Courtney on November 7, 2005 06:38 PMSnowperson boobies! Oh, that's too vivid an image. I'm not going to be able to escape thaat one for hours. Quick, someone! Distract me! Sing Gilligan's Island to the tune of Stairway to Heaven or something!
Welcome home, Ryan
Ryan, you and all those working on Dulaan are going to be blown away by all the wonderful things the KR Retreat donated for the MongoLEEans this week... we'll have a total for you soon, but really an exciting number!
Posted by: Amie on November 7, 2005 08:50 PMI love riding the ferrys!* I'm so jealous. Here I am all close and everything and didn't get to go.
*except the part where I get to suffer motion sickness unless I ride outside on the deck parts.
Posted by: Christina on November 7, 2005 09:41 PMGoogle!!! D'oh! Thanks for doing that, I will look those up. I knitted this snowman: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/pacalaga/detail?.dir=16c8&.dnm=2c59.jpg&.src=ph from the Mr. Flurry pattern at Freepatterns.com, and I think he needs a friend. (He also needs eyes, but I'm not buying a whole skein of black acrylic yarn to use two little pieces.)
And I have seen anatomically correct snow-women on the mountain near my house.
And I personally have made anatomically correct gingerbread men and women. (Two dimensional cookies, except for the Parts that count.)
I'm not sure what that says about me.
Nor am I sure what it means that I read "Catheter Cozy" and a) could picture it, and b) thought it was probably a good idea. I freak myself out sometimes.
The snowperson is SO COOL!
Posted by: PainterWoman on November 8, 2005 07:49 PM