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.
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Oh, poor, poor Tina. What a story! 😀 I hope that Marilyn has a lonely sock somewhere, to wear with your sock from her half-ball of Atomic 6. It’s great that you’ve thought about joining the Leyburn group–there’s still plenty of time, if you can find some time.
LOL! A sock in which to “stick it”, I assume? Sorry, couldn’t help that! But the thought of you with no yarn just cracks me up! BTW, you know you can count on the Knit Bloggers for help, right? Just say the word and Judy and I will spring into action.
….really……
I betcha you can get a pair of yoga socks or slippah (flip-flop) socks out of that half skein. Then again, you know Cookie A is infamous for knitting only 1 sock for all her designs – which is makes that fact that she had all of us sample knitters knit her a pair for each design in her book so ironic.
Another reason why I can’t wait for sock camp!!! Marilyn, Debbi, Susan, you…trouble!! fun! fun!! fun!!
You know Twisted sells STR right?!!? Seriously, Shannon didn’t hook you up?! hehehehe
Story just made my night!!
Ack! A knitters nightmare – no yarn – and on knit night? Unthinkable. I totally would have driven back for it. Maybe you need to put a little sign on your door when you leave that says “Got Yarn?” I’m glad someone finally came to your rescue.
the girls at Twisted tried there dead level best to hook me up. There could of been this extra little side if moodiness. I do not think it was mine though,problay picked it up in the meeting.
love the Got Yarn on the car.
or maybe one that says, will work for yarn.
oh dear
This is too funny! But I feel your pain! Hurray for Maralyn!!!
Hilarious! I love it!
That is hilarious! Your account had me laughing more and more as you went along. And I can just see Marilyn. Ha!
But I know that jonesing feeling. Remember the camp song—which was adapted from your packing song? “Your hands sweat—your body shakes. Another skein is all it takes!”
Must…have…knitting.
Speaking of which: I had a bad moment when I thought that my younger daughter’s first communion was going to fall during Sock Camp. And all my plans would be for naught. But fortunately, that was not the case, so I just spoke with the lovely Joann last night and I will SEE YOU at the end of April! (Actually, sounds like I’ll see you sooner than that, because KT talked me into coming to Madrona. Can you believe I’d never been to the PNW before last year, and now Camp will be the third time in a year! Love it!)
(Just looked up train times; it’s a long trip, but I think I’m going to take Amtrak out there from the Midwest—lots of lovely knitting time, and my first time on a sleeper car!)
What a riot! I can just see you jonesing for yarn and needles. We all know you don’t get enough play time as it is. Anyway looking forward to camp. Have to go make a phone call.
That’s pronounced BEGGA here in my part of the woods!
I need to figure out how to print this story to bring it with me to knit night tonight. (oh, note to self, pack beverage too)
off with my rare leyburn and a toe,
marcy
(trying not to giggle)(too hard)
ps. if you make em pedicure socks, you might get 2 but… two may be more than the story deserves)
The thing is, when you’ve gotta knit even a swatch will do. It really doesn’t matter *what* the knitting is.
Winding yarn into balls suffices also.
Just sitting there? WAY too hard on the fingernails.
Me, I’ve been trying to get a blog post up all day. It’s written. The photos are there. It won’t post. Back-and-forthing with the techs. I think I’ll go knit something. I *do* have yarn and needles.
Hey, girl, I can send you my left-overs!
Glad you were able to get some fiber before the shakes set in. What no one has mentioned thus far in the comments is how wonderful the thought of McMenamin’s beer, tots and knitting night. THAT is reason enough for me to move to the PDX. (Mr. Man would would start packing tomorrow if I agreed.)
Me and my first handspun (from a friend… like I’d spin!) sock talked me off a ledge during the past super stressful weeks at work. Had I picked up the needles sooner, instead of one week in, maybe I would have slept better this entire time.
I’ve been there and it’s not a pleasant situation to be in. I need to pack up my emergency knitting kit and be sure to keep it tucked into my purse.
I’d love it if you joined the Leyburn KAL! That would be so cool! We’re going until the end of March so you have plenty of time to hop in!
A few years ago I was picking up a friends daughter to go shopping and I asked her…..you packing any d.p.n.’s …. I needed to close up a hat. If she was she would of given them to me. She saw she look in me eyes.
Well, you know its bad when you find your missing DPN’s of various sizes in the bottom of the 3 purses you own. Which are all sized to be just a tad taller and wider than said DPN’s. They all have two ‘main’ compartments – one for sock in progress and the other side for you know, your yarn money.
I do feel your pain, its a double whammy to the ego that one you are really without your knitting, and two you really can’t be without your knitting. Such a revealing life moment *grin* just don’t let your close family members know. Happy Knitting.
I still say Marilyn is shameful! So you need to present her that sock as an award for “Best Self-Controlled Stash” or maybe “Best Liar About Stash”. Or maybe she just relished the idea of you begging and pleading for yarn and wanted to see you squirm! “Pure Evil Yarn-Keeper” that Marilyn is–I’m so glad to see she has the same problem I do: very difficult to relinquish any part of the stash!
For the record, Tina? I would’ve sacrified a complete skein of STR from you (but it would’ve been a color I knew I could replenish!-lol!)
Love you, love your story. I think you need a “Will Beg for Yarn” sign to hold up in such emergencies.
Yeah, right. I bet Marilyn didn’t have any yarn. That must have been like leaving one of your arms at home.
I feel your pain. I’ll be in TWO DAYS of meetings here at work (I’m fondling refering to them as two days of hell in the library) and I SO wish I could knit on my Queen of Beads sock during them to keep me awake and entertained, but no one here would understand that knitting would actually make me a better meeting participant. When we have a knitter as President, there will be more knitter’s rights, I hope.
This is just so funny. And the half ball? WTH?