A Pack of Knitter's Converged Upon Boston Today...

Do you know what the best thing is about a large, public gathering of knitters is?  I don't mean public like up in some fair grounds, or tucked away in a yarn store.  I mean public like right in the middle of everyday, like the Boston Common.  You'd think it'd be the new faces, the old faces, the exchanging of ideas.  But no.  I think, for me, the best thing about today's Knit Out was watching the faces of the non-knitters walking through the Common and wondering what the hell we were doing.  It was just another day for them, and we were in their common, making it crowded, having our speed-knitting contests and our knitted-item fashion shows.  They just didn't know what to think of us.

So yes, as a more orthodox intro, Chris and I went to the Boston Knit Out (and Crochet too!) today.  It was pretty nice day, truth be told.  A little sunshine, a little rain, representing yarn shops (not allowed to sell, because the event is non-profit, so they were giving stuff away!)

When we first showed up, we went to the Bloggers' table.  We signed in, got a little sticker that I put my name on, with my web address... it is so time for me to register the domain.  It's just not Armed with Pointy Sticks when you have to explain that the address is really erickajo.typepad.com/knit.  Anyway.  Since I was one of the first 25 knitters to register, I got a door prize.  Check this out.  I put it up against Moose because it blends in with the carpet.

It really blends in with Moose too.  It's lettuce color bordering on translucent.  The upside is it's really soft.  I like the way it feels.  Good thing.

Because I got a whole pack.  That's 920 yards of this stuff.

So then Chris and I went over to the door prize tent (there was already a line, and we didn't have anything else to do.)  He got a pattern and a booklet, and I got... wait for this...

Ten more skeins of that same yarn.  1840 yards of a very slinky feeling, lettuce colored, eyelash yarn.  I find this amazingly hilarious.  I should make a coat.  Or a car cozy.  Or fringe everything that I ever make, for the rest of my life, in this yarn.  Or give it all to Hana, my cousin who is a new knitter, just to see what she'd do with it.  Maybe my dad's wife will get a scarf out of it for Christmas.  No doubt she'd love it.  Maybe a blog contest: figure out what to do with it and win... all of it.  I'm typing this amidst fits of giggles.  A big Cruella DeVille jacket might be the ticket.  We don't look gift yarn in the mouth, right?

There was other free yarn.  Manos, in my very favorite color.  The booklet is fairly useful.  Needle conversions, shoe size to foot lengths, a place to write what you own for needles, all kinds of useful junk, and the right size to go in the knitting sack.  Don't mind the cats, when somethings is put on the floor they have to investigate.

We met up with Jackie, Lora, and Gigi from our group at some point, because there's strength in numbers. ;)

We made our way through the tents.  Lots of great shops there, and I'm sure I'm on about 8 more mailing lists.  My heart is not broken.  No junk mail like yarn junk mail.

We made our way over to the gazebo for the Fastest needles contest.  Got there too late to join, but cheered Lucille on.

And then we hooted for Gigi, winner of the Fastest Hook contest!!  Woot! 

The nicest thing about these events is the new people to be met.  I think today's winner is Alastair.  Alastair is a double knitter.  Well, he's more than that, he works for Apple, he's witty, but he's also a double knitter.  Really, how much do you expect me to learn about someone in a few minutes?  Check out some of his work.  The one on the right is actually triple knit.  And bullet proof. But supple.  Knitted Kevlar.  No, really.  Would I kid?

He was also working on a scarf that was a raven with raven tracks.  The raven was black on an army green background on one side, green with a black background on the other.  I am incredible impressed.  It hits the geek button.  He teaches classes, and I think it might be worth a trip down in to Mass someday.  Never mind that I'm currently trying to double knit two separate objects and failing (due to Amanda's proddings, I will cast on with two different colors, until I own the technique, but that will wait until after I kill my target in Sock Wars.  I've got about another solid hour of knitting before the pair is done.)  Ok, really though, go check out his site.

And then... keynote address, one last pass at the tents, and off to the Windsor Button Shop.

One might wonder what would draw a knitter to a button shop.  How many cardigans can we all make, collectively?  Ignore the misnomer.  The inside of this shop was a delightful mix of everything.  And we bought stuff.  That's some Regia Silk (which is all the more sexy now that I know it's machine washable. Sexy, sexy, sexy).  Some Art Yarn's Super Merino (the blue Koigu looking gems) for Chris, and two skeins of Cherry Tree Hill.  The red was a selfish gift for myself, and the blue/green is a gift for a friend who told me that she wanted to start socks this winter.  I love this friend, and I think new sock knitters should be fostered anyway, so I bought her a present.  The skein asked me to send it to her.  And... Cascade Fixation!  Hooray! And some Addis.  My normal sock-making size.

And then we went to the Beantown Pub for an early supper.  I suggested it, so I was praying all the way  up the hill that it didn't suck or cost a whole lot.  It was a winner for both. Very great meal, and I would suggest it for anyone spending the day on the Common.  Except on a Red Sox game night.  I've driven past this place on those nights.  Yowch.

Walking back to the cars we bought fried dough, and I'd say that pretty much did it for me.  God, now I have to go back and stick all the pictures in where I talked about them.  Have mercy!

Everyone enjoy your week!  And if you were at the Knit Out, and are blog surfing, and trying to put a name with a face, I was hanging out with this guy:

Comments

[Julie]

Sounds like it was a good time!

[Arleta]

Sounds like you had a great time!! I'm so jealous. Maybe not of your eyelash yarn, but of everything else. LOL. I'm just joking, of course!

[Yarnophiliac]

OMG -- booger green eyelash??? What a travesty! lmao -- I DEF think you should do a contest for the craziest idea of what to do w/ it -- and then require it to be knitted (and worn in public, if a garment --hehehe). THANK THE KNITTING GODDESS you got some red Manos to balance things out. I'm so sorry I missed it! Spent the day overhauling my daughters room and the playroom. Mommy stuff. fun. See you Wed.! ~heather

[Jackie]

I'm thinking green eyelash legwarmers! Of course to get rid of all of it you'd have to make matching arm warmers.
It was a great time, and the restaurant you picked was perfect!

[Gina House]

Sounds like you had a super time. I'm so jealous of all the FREE stuff and Windsor Button shopping...boohoo. Darn that work!!! Great pic of Chris. MUST go next year!

[Lorraine]

I'd suggest admin addding a "google+" button for easy share.