August 07, 2006
She Actually Did It
No lie, people, within two minutes of arriving at the house, Rabbitch had whipped the infamous midnight-blue panties out of her handbag and had arranged them on her head. I exaggerateth not. And I have five witnesses to back me up. It was hysterical yet, oddly, not surprising since that’s just the sort of thing you learn to expect from the pleasantly unhinged sorts who populate knitblogland. And now I know that the way to break the ice with people you’ve never met is to carry a pair of satiny, midnight-blue French cuts around with you and whip them out by way of introduction or whenever conversation grows awkward (which did not, by any stretch of the imagination, happen on Saturday). Note to self: Swing by department store on the way home. Second note to self: Lose enough weight to make people believe you actually wear French cuts.
The rest of the day was spent a little more sedately, as you can see from this photo showing, clockwise starting from TMK: TMK, Leslie, Elaine, Rabbitch sans undergarments (or at least the ones on her head; I can’t speak for the rest of her), Patti and Melinda, wonderful company, all.
(Note to Kay and Anne: Including Yours Truly, of the five knitters at the table, three of them were working on or had within arm’s reach a Ballband Dishcloth. Dude. You should find a way to wangle a commission on these. You could both retire to a life of ease, knowhatmsayin'?)
Okay, local knitters, I’ve finally been able to gird my loins enough for the Event of the Summer. Announcing:
The Mossy Cottage Knits
First Come, First Served
1000-Skein Yarn Avalanche Giveaway
and Lemonade and Cookie Party!
The Giveaway will be held on Saturday, August 26, from 10am-2pm at my house in North Seattle. (I repeat, especially for anyone who has been to a knit-in: At MY HOUSE, not at TMK’s.)
Please email me if:
1. You might, perhaps, maybe, possibly, perchance come, so I can send you directions.
2. You want to come but can’t come that day so I can decide whether to hold another Giveaway.
To repeat from earlier postings, with regard to the yarn:
1. Because of a tax agreement between F.I.R.E. and Rosemary Hallgarten, the yarn has to be used for Dulaan.
2. The yarn is a bulky, chunky weight (I get 2.5 stitches to the inch on size 13s, but I am a neurotically tight knitter).
3. The yarn is medium quality, not terribly itchy, not terribly soft but softens up a bit when you wash it (I’ll have a swatch for you to feel). It’s good for outerwear like vests, cardigans and hats, probably not good for scarves or pullovers or anything that would be worn directly next to the skin.
4. The yarn comes in a variety of colors from beiges through pastels through fun blues, oranges, reds and yellows, to a dark slate gray but, again, the Giveaway will be strictly first come, first served. When I run out, I run out. No bribing the Giveaway hostess. Or her partner. Or the dog.
5. The yarn is put up in a variety of ways, some small skeins (at a guess, 80 yards) and some super-colossal hanks like this:
which we can find a way to wind off if needed, and one grab-bag box that has what looks like one smallish ball of every color. I haven’t yet had a chance to look in all the boxes so there may be more surprises yet in store.
Again, please email me if you think you might come, or if you want to come but can’t make it this time. I need my garage back to, well, store other yarn but we don’t need to go there. And I need to get TMK to stop shaking her head at me over the pickle I've gotten myself into.
P.S. Once I've gotten rid of as much of the yarn as I can locally, I'll start taking orders for shipping it elsewhere.
I'm in for the yarn haul!
Posted by: Rebecca on August 7, 2006 11:31 AMCan't come, but would be willing to reimburse postage if you, or someone, would grab an armful and stick them in a box. I figure "Surface Mail" wouldn't be so expensive (I don't want to realize I could have as cheaply BOUGHT yarn for Dulaan!), but I do know it's a hassle. Maybe if some is left after the big give-away you can consider it?
What a GREAT project, though ... and though I'm glad it isn't all in MY garage!
Posted by: MaryB in Richmond on August 7, 2006 11:40 AMWould love to take some off your hands and out of your garage. I also live in North Seattle but don't have a garage! Wanted to email you but don't have that account. So could you email me your address?
Posted by: Pat Helgerson on August 7, 2006 12:03 PM*sigh* *whine*
THIS is why we wished we lived closer to you. Sue and I would love to help dulaan-a-thon. *sigh* *pout*
glad you are feeling better ma'am. we've not been commenting, but been cheerlieading from far away.
hugs
Posted by: anj on August 7, 2006 01:50 PMPut me in the same boat as MaryB--I'd happily reimburse postage for any yarn left over. Sadly, Seattle's a little too far to drive from Nebraska, even if it is for free yarn :)
Posted by: Amanda on August 7, 2006 01:53 PMMaybe if we carpooled... Let's see, MaryB can start out from Virginia, pick me up in Wisconsin, then we swing down to Nebraska for Amanda, hey, anj, where are you? We'll grab you up, too!
If there's any left, put my name on the list for yarn-by-mail-reimburse-Ryan-for-postage.
Posted by: kmkat on August 7, 2006 02:29 PMAdd me to the mail-the-leftovers list. I was eyeing the flat-rate boxes in the post office the other day, wondering if the flat wide one would hold more than the taller, narrower one.
Looks like fun was had by all. I wish *I* were cool enough (in a nerdy, knitty kinda way) to be able to wear satin unmentionables on my head in public.
Any details on the final total for Dulaan 2006 yet? Glad you're feeling better.
Posted by: Jennifer on August 7, 2006 03:20 PMNow that is a great ice-breaker :).
Don't live locally, but if there is any left-overs, I will gladly pay for postage. I must start on my Dulaan knitting :).
Dude. You are just adorable. And I refuse to believe otherwise. Nyah. I mean, look at that cutesy photo with the yarn! The smile! The hair wafting in the breeze!
TMK, back me up, here. She thinks she's ordinary. Feh.
Posted by: Lee Ann on August 7, 2006 08:04 PMI'd love to be added to the Pay-For-Postage list. I'm afraid a WV to WA road trip just isn't in the cards right now, though it sounds like a great time.
So glad you're feeling better and are no longer running into walls.
Posted by: Lisa on August 7, 2006 09:37 PMIf that is a new picture of you, dear, you're looking quite the image of health!
Posted by: CarolineF on August 8, 2006 05:11 AMI live way too far away to come to Seattle ( with or without blue satin panties on my head), but add me to the pay for postage list! I hope you are continuing to feel better everyday!
Pat( in Virginia)
Hello Ryan! I am so glad to see that you are feeling so much better. If it's possible, could I be added to the "Pay you for Postage" list? I would love to be able to meet you in person, but alas, that isn't in the cards--Texas is a little too far away.
Have a great day and take care of yourself.
Hmmm. A trek from Maine to Seattle just might put my yarn obsession and need to knit for Dulaan a little out of scope for the food/gas needs of my family for a few months. Sorry, sounds like a good time but can't do it. Can, however, pay you for postage on a set for me and the kids to knit up for dulaan 2007! Let me know. So good to see you doing so well.
Posted by: farm-witch on August 8, 2006 07:32 AMI am going to miss the fun Dulaan party (way to far to go from IL) and its on my birthday. :(
Posted by: Mindy on August 8, 2006 07:55 AMCaroline, old-ish, pre-operative photo of me. My smile hasn't been quite as broad these days but it's getting there!
Posted by: Ryan on August 8, 2006 09:01 AMIf anyone in Portland, Oregon, wishes to carpool up, email me and perhaps we can make a go of it! Imagine, meeting Ryan IN PERSON!! I have room for three, and will put others in touch with one another if there are extras.
Posted by: Camela on August 8, 2006 12:23 PMOh! Bummer!!! I'm going to be out of town that weekend!!! (taking R to the coast to see the Rain Forest for the first time)
If you have any leftovers, let me know. Still need to have an official sit down and meet :)
Posted by: Carry on August 8, 2006 02:21 PMPlease put me on the 'shipping it elsewhere list'. :)
Posted by: Tish on August 8, 2006 11:55 PM