Thanks!

Once again, thanks to everyone who played in the recent "I'm a child of pop culture" quiz here at HEK. It was a lotta fun. We'll do it again soon.

What's up with the title?

So today I was at a local chain craftstore, and was looking at yarn (Yes, I know I have enough yarn. But that hardly seems a fair argument, don't you agree?). Anyway, this lady came up to me and asked, "Are you knitting 'the scarves?'"

Hmmm. The Scarves? Of the Long Island Scarves? Is this a band? What in the hell is she talking about?

Me: "Uh, I knit lots of things."

Our Lady of the Scarves: Looks blank. Blinks.

Me: "You know, sweaters, socks, hats, and yes, some scarves."

OL of the S: Some comprehension. But not much.

OL of the S: "I made an afghan a long time ago. I think I crochetted it."

Me (in my head): Well, that would be two different things, then, wouldn't it.
Me (out loud): "Oh."

OL of the S: "Do you think I could learn to knit with one of these kits?"

Me (inside head): Knock yourself out.
Me (out loud): "Sure. Also there's a knitting store in town that offers classes, and online help." (etc.)

OL of the S (standing under a sign that says "Join our knitting classes and learn to knit!"): "I'll just get this book."

Me (inside): You do that. And for God's sake, don't hurt yourself.
Me (outside): "Good luck."

This issue of the popularity of novelty scarves has been blogged about, and I never really cared much about it. Each to his/her own. And I knit scarves too, I knit three of them at least this winter. I am a big fan of fun yarns to wrap around your neck. I'm NO scarf snob. And I love helping new knitters, I like to think I do it every week at our SNB.

So why did this lady make me want to strangle her?

It's something in me I guess, that was irked that she was so clueless. I should be applauding her desire to learn to knit. But I wanted to grab the stuff from her, and say, "This is not for you. THIS is sacred, and you don't see that."

What's that anger about???? Hmm. One for the therapist.

Yin and Yang

On the flip side, at the car wash I was working on dad's "killing me softly" socks:

A very sweet elderly lady there asked about them, and said she's making socks for her husband whose feet swell and "store-socks" are too tight. She's been knitting for 40 years. She fondled the yarn I was using, and turned the sock inside out to look at the seams. She oohed and aahed. So there you go.

What's the point of that diatribe, HEJ?

I don't know. Draw your own conclusions.

More knitting more knitting more knitting...

So the COOLEST THING is that the socks I made for my super friend Jess went to EGYPT. Those are well travelled socks baby. She says they held up well. To Egypt! How cool is that???

She had to stand on a ledge for this shot.

And I leave you with a SCARF I made for my mom while she was here at Christmas. One of "the scarves"? I don't know. Maybe.

Hi Mom. Isn't she cute? I made the hat too.

Scarf yarn: Landscapes by Lion Brand. Pattern is "Embossed Check Stitch" from July 6th of 365 Knitting Stitches a Year.
Hat: Lion Brand Homespun. My design. Same pattern as scarf.