the yarn beggar
( or when the things go way,way wonky)
Imagine a dyer, spinner, knitter who owns her own yarn company ( I think a bit of obsession can be assumed here) finding herself out in the world with no knitting, not a stitch.
I was leaving for the day to go to a few Sock Summit type meetings and running a bit late, which is now the norm for me, and left the house without my computer bag in which lives my travel knitting.
So not only do I not have my knitting but also no computer for my meeting. Honestly I was not really upset by forgetting the computer, just the knitting.
Although I have stopped knitting at these meetings. I have a hard enough time getting them to take me seriously (really lady a sock summit? are ya sure?) break out the yarn and needles and their eyes just glaze over which makes me completely want to go ballistic. I do not see that helping the situation so for the time being, no knitting.
It really was not about the meeting it was more about it being Knit Night.
I was pretty far away from my knitting in Scappoose ( I could hear it calling) which is about an hour give or take 10 minutes from Portland, so no way were we going back for it . I did entertain the possibility for a fraction of a second but I was not driving so … vetoed that idea. If I had been driving, no problem because I have an emergency knitting project in the glove compartment.
Debbi suggested we go to Twisted and look around and visit Emily and Shannon. Surely I could find something to knit on there. Problem solved right?
Meanwhile Debbi is quite amused by my lack of yarn on knit night. Actually Debbi was amused all night, so were Emily and Shannon, especially when I could not make myself buy more yarn. I mean really I have a pretty impressive stash at home. I have been trying to knit from my stash for quite awhile.
I also have a lot of projects going and not a lot of time . I am ashamed to admit that there was some whining. Debbi will tell you that there was a lot, just keep in mind that she exaggerates.
In my defense, I have a sweater I am working on , a very pond scummy sweater I want to finish to wear to Madrona and again with the not a lot of time. (You know how long it takes to put a sock summit together?) I have at least three pairs of socks I am working on and wanted to join the Leyburn group and think I promised to join the Twisted Lady February KAL so… we left Twisted ( a really great yarn store in Portland Oregon run by the lovely and a bit quirky Shannon and Emily) with, yes thats right my knitterly friends, No Yarn, not a single ply.
Are you getting this? Really how can I go to knit night with no knitting. It is in fact KNIT NIGHT. Named I believe for the knitting at night with friends together…knitting.
I thought that maybe there was an ever so slight chance I was projecting some of the meeting stress onto my lack of yarn and needles.
No, I hardly ever get to go to knit night and I am not still whining. Truthfully I think I should get credit for not weeping openly at this point.
I was brave.
Off to knit night we went,me and my friend with her knitting. Knit night held at one of my favorite McMenamins pubs where believe it or not they do not sell yarn.
Debbi and I are the first ones there because it is in fact not night, but late afternoon. We ordered our beverages of choice and went over the vendor notes from the meeting. I might have heaved a deep and heavy sigh of “ I cannot believe I have no knitting with me†every so often.
I believe with all my heart that is was her deep love for me and not the need to stop the whining that inspired this next oh so brilliant move on Debbi’s part.
She called Marilyn, aka Hotflash the sockateer and told her of my plight and asked her if she had any yarn. What happens next is a bit over spun, so if you are weak you might want to skim over this part. She said no, Marilyn said no.
Yeah right, puhleease no yarn my bfla. Ha, likely story Marilyn. Silly woman poking the crazy wild knitting deprived bear-woman.
I grabbed the phone and well was maybe a wee bit desperate in my plea for yarn and needles. “ What do you mean you have no yarn? Bring yarn please bring yarn. I am begging you bring yarn. Ohhh and do not forget needles…I have no needles either.â€
It was at this point that I switched to a heavier more robust brew to keep me from completely loosing my $%^&*, going.
Marilyn came through as she always does, she showed up not too long (an eternity) after with dpns, lovely bamboo ( what no wood?) dpns and Str lightweight in Atomic 6 ( a half ball of it, you’re kidding me right?).
Ahhh sigh.
I cast on and sat and knit. I f-i-n-a-l-l-y sat and contentedly knit and drank my beer and had a tot or two and laughed and laughed and knit with Debbi and Susan and Marilyn and Lynn and Wally and Jeanette and Trish and I am sure I am leaving someone out and other non knitting locals, lots and lots of fun.
I have been laughing about this all day and the image I have of myself begging for yarn just does me in.
I can see the knit headlines now, “ depraved dyer seen begging for yarn†details so much later.
I decided my knitting last night was for Marilyn, I am knitting her a sock. one half ball sock.
