Category Archives: Knitting

I have friends that I consider to be some of my most close and personal, and yet I have never met them in person.  Now, this may seem unusual or even unheard of to some, but within the craft community – especially those of us who knit – it is something that is ever-growing.  This week, I am happy to share with you a post written by Maryann, aka KnittyMuggins.  Like Lisa and Chan, M and I met in a Ravelry swap, where she gave me an amazing pair of knitted socks.  The day I blew the heel out in those, I actually cried.  Enjoy her post, and be sure to check out her blog, too!

M, showing off a lovely scarf that she knit.

I was deeply honored when Amy asked me to write a guest post for her blog. I have known Amy nearly as long as I’ve been blogging. She was my first swap partner and the recipient of only the second pair of hand knit socks I had ever made in my knitting “career”. When I dropped a stitch on the second sock, after nearly finishing the heel, and apologized profusely for being an awful swap partner who couldn’t keep her promise to send a package by the deadline, Amy took it in stride. With much kindness and humor she told me “these things happen” and that she didn’t mind at all, that she understood and would be happy to have them whenever I was able to finish them. Finish them I did, and the rest is history.

Throughout the time we’ve known each other Amy has been a true friend, though we have never had the opportunity to meet in real life. She is always one of the first, if not the first person to comment whenever I post something new. Even now that I am not blogging as regularly as I used to, and the content strikes me as lackluster, she is still there for me. We have been through hard times, blissful times, and everything in between and I am so grateful for her friendship, kindness and support. She is a continuing source of inspiration to me with her strength, her humor, and her loving soul and I am so grateful that we have had the chance to get to know each other throughout the last four years.

Thinking back to when I first met Amy online brings back lots of memories of my early enthusiasm for blogging and knitting. When blogging was young and Ravelry not even conceived, new blogs popped up like mushrooms and the web fairly swarmed with knitalongs and swaps. Meeting other knitters was fast and furious. My blogroll was four times the size it is now. I blogged to share my projects and practice my writing skills. And then, something I swore would never happen, did. My blog became more personal. I discussed something other than – gasp! – knitting. It happened so slowly that I almost didn’t notice. One day I just didn’t have a knitting picture, or a current project, knitalong,or swap to talk about. So I discussed some other aspect of my life and tried to make it interesting. The things I saw out the window at work, what was growing in my garden, or where my husband and I kayaked the weekend before. And people still actually read and commented on what I was writing! What could that possibly mean?

As an incredibly shy person with very little self-confidence, it has always been extremely difficult for me to make friends in real life. I am always just a little too awkward, a little too stuffy. But inside me is a person with a sense of humor, someone who doesn’t want to be uncomfortable with other people. Opening up to share more than just my current knitting projects had the opposite effect from what I had expected. Rather than alienating me from my readers, as I’d assumed would happen when the sheer mind-numbing normalcy of my life was revealed, it actually brought me closer to them. And the more support they poured out for me, the more I realized I was making friends. Much of the goodness I have received in the past four years has been a direct product of the incredible people and knitters I have met through my blog. Without it, I wouldn’t be where I am today with the wonderful friends I’ve made. And I’m grateful. So very grateful.

There have been times when I’ve been overwhelmed and tempted to abandon my blog. But something always brings me back. When you put your thoughts out into the ether and magically, someone comments, there’s a very real sensation that you are not alone in your experiences, in the world, in the universe. It’s comforting. And it’s wonderful to know that though you may at times feel small, you are part of a bigger picture, an impossibly gorgeous picture wherein it is possible to be truly blessed by strangers.

This week, my guest blogger is the wonderful, Tina.  She is one of my dearest friends and I am so happy to have her here at the Menagerie.  I hope that you’ll enjoy her post as much as I enjoy her company and constant warmth of friendship.  Oh, did I mention she has an online shop where she dyes fantastic sock and lace yarn?  No?  Well, check it out!!!!

Tina and I in NY, waiting for the train to take us to the Big Apple

When I was asked to be a guest blogger for the lovely Amy you can be sure that I was immediately tickled pink. Of course I’d guest blog for Amy. She was gracious enough to give me free rein to write about whatever I’d like, and so today I will share with you our shared love of living arcana.

You already know that Amy loves history and bringing it to life with her own two hands. Through her love of reenactment she gets to marry her love of craft with her love of the Civil War. At heart, Amy is a Yankee, but given that she lives in the South, we’ll, she adapts. Along with others like her, she makes history come alive, both as items she sews and wears, and also by demonstrating knitting and spinning to others. As her knitting mom, I am damned proud of her!

Amy, spinning at Brentsville Courthouse

What we do when we create in public is priceless. People need to see that fiber arts are not just a part of our history, they are part of our present and are VERY much alive. There are whole generations of people out there who have no idea what it means to make things by hand! The comments and questions are very telling…

“Look honey, she’s weaving”
“Actually, I’m spinning.” (See, the wheel spins!)

“I haven’t seen anyone crochet in forever!”
“Well, I’m not crocheting, I’m knitting, see? Two needles, no hook. But I do know how to crochet as well.”
“No, you’re crocheting! My mother used to crochet all the time.” (I’m not going to argue with you, people.)

“Ha, ha… will you knit me a sweater?”
“Did you put a ring on it?” (Arched Eyebrow of Doom, that’ll teach ‘em.)

“It’s good to see a young lady doing women’s work.”
“…..” (There is nothing I can say to that in polite company to a stranger.)

 

Some of Tina's spinning in progress

I’m not making this up, I’ve had those things said to me, more than once. Ok, well, that last one was just once. When you think about it, crafting in public is kind of like a crafty PSA (public service announcement). People need to know where things come from! People need to know that they too can make things by hand, if they really want to. At the very least, our society should rediscover a sense of wonder and value at those who choose to spend their time making things the old-fashioned way, and giving new life to old crafts. Zombie amigurumi anyone?

I’m proud to be a part of a community like ours, and I’m doubly proud that I have a friend who takes it all the way to the fringe and back again. Hoop skirts in the humid Southern summer? More power to you, girlfriend! I’ll see your corset and raise you fangs and a Halloween costume while competing and speaking in public at Rhinebeck. It takes a certain kind of fanatic to do what we do, and that’s fine by me, darlin’.

Tina, at the Sheep to Shawl competition at Rhinebeck

Keep on keepin’ history alive, and keep on being awesome. If we don’t educate the un-crafted masses, who else will?