Kvetch:  Yid.  To complain in a nagging or whining way.

Dear Reader,

I don’t know about you, but I love a good Yiddish word.  I love words in general, but those of the Yiddish variety seem to capture something that can be related to on a deeper, more emotional level.  I have wanted to kvetch for the better part of 2 weeks.  So as to not burden you with the trials and tribulations of the aforementioned time period, I will put a positive spin on things by relating how knitters differ from others in the business world.  You can infer what you like…

Knitters do not harass others with numerous phone calls asking you to change your policy when you have clearly stated what that is (not to mention that it’s in writing).

Knitters are pleasant and do not begin their phone conversations in rude tones of entitlement.

Knitters are patient and understand that you may be speaking to another human being, live and in person, and will happily leave a message as to what they are calling about.

Knitters have a sense of humor.

Knitters have a sense of fair play.  You can trust a knitter.

Knitters are folks you can enjoy a cold beer with.

And even if all knitters are not your friends, they are people you can respect.

Thank you, dear reader, for allowing me to kvetch.  It also reaffirms why I like knitters, and knitting, and yarn…

Le’chayim,

Liz

This past weekend we trekked to Rhinebeck for the NYS Sheep and Wool Festival.  This has been a long-standing tradition and in the past 20 years, we’ve only missed the event once.  It seems to get bigger and better every year.

I’ve noticed that the weather has also gotten friendlier for this event.  By the third weekend in October, temperatures start to dip below 60 during the day, and precipitation in one form or another gets more common.  In years past, we’ve been bundled up against the drizzle and raw temperatures, talking to vendors wearing winter coats and mittens.  This has not been the case recently – lots of sun, balmy temperatures…  It’s almost difficult to think about wool (ok, not really).  And I’m sure the sheep that attend would welcome something cooler.  The vest that I spun and knit up from last year’s roving purchase had to be left behind – it was just too hot to wear it!

Nonetheless, I searched for roving and found it (same spot as last year – Persimmon Tree Farm).  The stuff is lovely – wool and mohair, “antique rose” was my pick, Alison lobbied for “wildflower”.  She’s shown a real interest in spinning, so I have taken my own advice to get her something that she would like to work with.

We indulged in various food items, toured the “haunted house”, played on kid-friendly apparatus and saw a turtle and a variety of snakes, among other things.

I also worked up my nerve to visit the authors’ tent (new this year), to say hello to the big names in the knitting world.  Alison tagged along for moral support instead of watching the pumpkin launch.  Her comment – “We’re here for the wool, right?  I could live without watching pumpkins being thrown around.”  I feel fulfilled in my mission to indoctrinate the young into the world of fiber…

I met Kay & Ann of Mason-Dixon fame, Clara, of Knitter’s Review (and hostess of the upcoming Knitter’s Retreat, of which I am attending!!), and Carol Cypher, of felting, beading and other fiber fame.  I heard Stephanie Pearl-McPhee speak for a brief time, but Alison was in need of liquid refreshment, and unfortunately, it was difficult to hear and see from where we were standing.  As we were heading out the gate to journey home, Bob turned to me and said “Hey, isn’t that Stephanie, the Yarn Harlot?”  Indeed it was, so, tripping over my words, I said hello.  Bob was more eloquent in telling her that because of my book collection and visits to her blog, that even he could recognize her.  Poor woman, she probably couldn’t wait to head back home and have a stiff drink.

So there you have it – fiber, food, fun, and celebrity action.  Only 364 days to go until next year’s show, but who’s counting?

Peace & Love,

Liz

There’s a lofty title, eh? 

I’m in a philosophical mood, and have been knitting (and finishing!) lots of stuff the last 2 weeks.  I realized that the temperatures were not going to drop to those nice fall-like ones I love so much - temps that make knitting a natural (almost required) thing to do in the evening.  So I picked up my knitting despite the 80+ degree temperatures, because for goodness sake, it’s OCTOBER!!

So here’s the philosophical part (once I get past the background stuff) –

When I was a college student, I went the “liberal arts” route.  I chose history as a major, and English as a second field.  Undaunted by the number of books I had to read in these subjects, I rounded out my education with accounting, business law, film, Chinese calligraphy, and my absolute favorite (and perhaps the most important thing to have stayed with me all these years) – Chinese philosophies.  I was fascinated by these ideas that ranged from a way of thinking on life, to the basis for military strategy. 

It was Taoism that spoke to me.  At a very simplistic level, there are a couple of ideas that stick with me, because they seem so very common-sensical.  They are the idea of strength in weakness – the lesser bamboo bending in the high wind versus the stronger, mightier maple that snaps in the same conditions.  (The importance of flexibility.) And, the ability to return to the “uncarved block”.  This is the  potentiality of the block to become anything at all.  We are all uncarved blocks.  Each one of us possesses the ability to be anything we want to.  And if it doesn’t work out, we can return to that state (metaphorically) and begin again.

And here’s where knitting ties in.  That skein of yarn is the equivalent of the uncarved block.  It has the potential to be anything – sweater, mittens, hat, socks, blanket…  And if for any reason the results are unsatisfactory, or were experimental in nature, we can rip the whole lot out and start again (and again, and again).  And, while the single strand of yarn itself may break when pulled, knitted together it becomes a durable fabric. (Strength through weakness.)

I may not have utilized my degree in history to become an historian or teacher, but I do practice a philosophy that sparked my interest all those years ago.  Now there’s something to think about – knitting as philosophy in action.

Peace & Love

It’s not that the love affair with Mako, the grey kitty, has come to an end.  Let’s just say that reality has set in.  Maybe he steered clear of my yarn because he wanted to endear himself to me.  Winter is coming, and the house is warmer than the great outdoors – leave the yarn alone and she’ll let me stay inside, his little cat-mind was thinking.

But with 80 degree weather all week, and not much in the way of fall temperatures predicted in the near future, it’s hard to think about winter.  Consequently, non-endearing behaviour ensued in the way of leaping in my lap while working on a large-scale lace project.  The last thing you want are cat claws kneading lace.  I carefully extracted him, only to have him grab the skein of yarn as I continued to knit.  Apparently the movement of fine yarn is too much for a cat to resist.  At this point I decided it was a good time for Mako to get some fresh air.

Yesterday’s adventure involved some kid alpaca skeins that I had just finished rinsing from their dye bath the evening before.  Two pounds of gorgeous colored, super-soft yarn, hung out to drip dry on the drying lines on the deck.  Bob and I were talking about the agenda for the day when I noticed Mako outside, rubbing his face against the yarn.  For a nano-second, I thought what a great picture that would make.  Then he did what no cat of a yarn-lover should do – he attacked one of the skeins.  With Bob in mid-sentence, I put (threw) down my cup of tea and raced for the door.  The tricky part was not to startle him so much that he became completely entangled in 600 yards of fine yarn, but alert him that he must cease and desist immediately.

Fortunately, there was not damage done aside from rearranging the hank to its former order.  The yarn quickly found itself back indoors.

It’s nearly dry, but I like to air it out before it gets labeled and photographed for the website.  The umbrella clothes line might work.  I’m just a little concerned about the birds.

Peace & Love