Yesterday, K and I joined the SF Bay Area masses at Full Thread Ahead in Los Altos to see Stephanie, AKA the Yarn Harlot, speak. Over 300 knitters showed up! Can you spot K with her sock in the crowd? This was over an hour before the speaking, so the crowd is quite small at this point. Hint: She's making a crazy face.
Much of the fun was seeing the local knitters and picnicking with Janice, Nathania, Margit, Jeni and her daughter, "Seltsame", CJ, and Spinnity. We also saw Grace, Julie, Emy, no-blog-Rachel, and tons of other knitters. Here's a shot of Freecia looking as cute as ever:
And Nathania fondling some stash enhancing Curious Creek Mohair. Mmmmm.
And then onto the Harlot! The infamous sock picture taking:
I have to say, her voice was deeper than I expected, and she was even funnier than expected which is to say pretty damn funny. That hour really seemed to fly by.
And then we got to TALK to her! And take pictures of socks together. That was very exciting. Here are some deer with socks in the headlights:
Unfortunately, I was exhausted from a full day of knitterly-ness by that point and wasn't able to speak very well. (I can only imagine how the Harlot feels after a day of signing 300 books.) Luckily K picked up for me and told Stephanie all about how I haven't finished my second Pomatomus yet, so it's no big deal that she hasn't finished hers either. I got to feel a bit guilty about that, but then I fed her some cookies and I think it's all good now. Damn, I wish I had taken pictures of the cookies. They were GOOD and totally worth making K stay up past midnight to bake them with me the night before.
And for those that notice these things, yes that's Sarcelle around K's shoulders, and I'm wearing the mostly finished Karabella Breeze sweater. So to conclude, here are some pictures of said finished sweater with a bit of leftover wrinkling from a full day of knitterly-ness. I was very close to not making it. Somehow I always underestimate seaming time. Note to self: Seaming takes FOREVER.
Can you tell which sleeve I blocked and which one I didn't? Someday, I will get around to re-setting the sleeves properly.
Awesome knits, Awesome cookies, Awesome Harlot. (I think the cookies were worth it, thanks for letting me have a Harlot Designated cookie)
Kristi, your shawl looks fantastic in person. Cookie, I didn't even notice that one sleeve wasn't blocked until you pointed it out.
Oh, also, thanks for taking a cute picture of me :) Nathania is gorgeous and photogenic! Maybe I should wear some lipstick...
Posted by: freecia at September 10, 2006 10:45 AMAnd I will say, you looked fabulous in your Breeze yesterday. Isn't it just like a knitter to point out all the flaws/things that went wrong with a project while everyone is just cooing over how great it is. Did anyone point out to you your lack of blocking -- hmmm?! I didn't think so!
I also saw Stephanie last year at Stash, and she was just as awesome this year, considering how numerous the groupies have become.
Posted by: Kathy in San Jose at September 10, 2006 11:06 AMLooks like you had a fabulous time! I really like the sweater--kudos for finishing it and the cookies :)
Posted by: toni at September 10, 2006 11:19 AMLate as usual, I didn't see yall (well, a little after my friend won a pair of clear clogs cos he was wearing the Pomatomii I knit for him!!!), but it was superfun :)
Posted by: Aija at September 10, 2006 11:38 AMStunning new sweater Cookie, you are so talented abd it looks spectcular on you!
Posted by: Debi at September 10, 2006 11:57 AMI hope the Harlot noticed your beautiful sweater which looked gorgeous on you. I hope she was thrilled to meet you!
The sweater looks great! I think I know which is the unblocked sleeve but I could be wrong so I am not saying.
Posted by: Devorah at September 10, 2006 12:59 PMLooks like you had a fab time with the wonderful harlot, congrats on completing the sweater in time.
Posted by: Schrodinger at September 10, 2006 2:27 PMI love your top!!!
And go see my blog and you'll see why I wanted you to e-mail me!!!
Posted by: Scout at September 10, 2006 3:22 PMExciting! Yes, I recognized Sarcelle right away! And your top looks great, your dummy really knows how to work it. Sassy!
Posted by: Laura at September 10, 2006 3:53 PMLOVE the sweater! Might there be a pattern for it coming up?
Looks like the Harlot thing was fun. I envy your fun knitter stuff... we don't get things like that anywhere near here!
Posted by: Crystal at September 10, 2006 6:04 PMThe sweater looks great, blocked or not! Glad to hear what a blast the whole day was...Now if she'd make a trip closer to L.A.!
Posted by: AJ at September 10, 2006 7:33 PMDarlin', you looked fab in your new sweater, unblocked sleeve and all. Thanks for a fabulous afternoon, especially our chat and the great pic. And Cookie's cookies rock!
Posted by: Nathania at September 10, 2006 7:44 PMUGH, the sweater is TO DIE FOR! I love it, and I am so jealous that you have the patience for seaming like that, I really don't. Beautiful though, and totally worth all the hours it took to put it together!
Sarcelle is beautiful in person too, I love that pattern! :)
I am jealous that you met the Harlot, I have been dropping hints for her to come to Baltimore in all of my comments to her. One day it will pay off! :)
great sweater. i'm diggin the horizontal cable panel. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: j a r e d at September 11, 2006 8:13 AMWonderful seeing you and Kristi at the Harlot-fest. And, I was so happy that you got recognized for your design skills in front of the knitterly crowd. Sooo... any chance of getting a copy of the cookie recipe?
Posted by: Janice at September 11, 2006 9:28 AMYour socks on Knitty are fantastico! And the sweater you just made is awesome. Will there be a pattern forthcoming? Great work!
Posted by: Becky at September 11, 2006 10:18 AMYour sweater looked awesome, I forgot to mention it when we met but I was admiring the horizontal cables from two rows behind you! I was also totally laughing that nobody was pronouncing Pomatomus right (I think).
Posted by: Grace at September 11, 2006 11:18 AMSo very impressed with you knitty pattern--I must try the herringbone socks with a variegated yarn and a solid... also so jealous of your time with the Yarn Harlot... Los Altos was just too far away from Citrus Heights for me to make the trip...
Posted by: Amy Lane at September 11, 2006 2:16 PMI still have to meet the Harlot! I always miss her when she's in town.
Your sweater is really cute!
Posted by: monica at September 11, 2006 2:55 PMI love love love your sweater!! Its stunning and makes me want to wear slightly poofed sleeves...
Posted by: Sea Anemone at September 11, 2006 9:40 PMThe sweater is gorgeous - I absolutely love all the cables, and so want to make one like it now!
I also loved the herringbone pattern socks in Knitty, they're to be my next pair of socks (hopefully).
Posted by: Anushka at September 12, 2006 12:06 PMGorgeous sweater!
I wish I could meet the Yarn Harlot. *jealous!*
Posted by: Elinor at September 12, 2006 6:13 PM