Bitches Get Stitches

i’m exhausted.
i worked a full week at the shop,
and helped a friend organize her stash.

you’d think with all that yarny goodness,
i’d have some really great blog material.
let me tell you, it’s been a struggle.

so, instead of one cohesive post,
i give three short ones,
and an epilogue.

act one: hotpants lives
as you may recall,
i became semi-infamous for the gams i knitted for this past maryland sheep and wool festival.

(they were pretty cool)

well this past week, our favorite yarn rep informed me that clara parkes had mentioned my shorts on the knitter’s review:

“I saw men in kilts, lambs in halters, women in giant floppy hats, and countless kids being led around in high-tech strollers. I spotted colorful tattoos and brightly colored knitted shorts, grilled lamb burgers and deep-fried corn dogs, kids playing catch on the grass, and nervous sheep being groomed to perfection. It was a weekend to end all weekends.”

i immediately sent an email informing her that it was in fact me in those hotpants, realizing that she might be too busy to respond herself. imagine my surprise when i received this:

“Hi Steven,

The gorgeous orange shorts? That was you? I LOVED THEM!! I was at the Spirit Trail booth when you came by, and I really wanted to ask you for a picture but I feared you’d take it the wrong way. I loved that you paired them with a turquoise shirt. And you looked so much more comfortable than everybody else combined. So I say bravo, and once again I tip my hat to you. Please oh please, keep the inspiration coming.

Take care,

Clara
Knitter’s Review”

the legend of the hotpants lives on.

act two: the international

what’s that?

what’s that i see?

that would be shara,
winner of the bitches get stitches girasole giveaway.

she graciously showed it around london

(if memory serves me this lion lives in trafalgar square)

this was certainly worth every penny of the international shipping to see my knitting on another continent.

i wonder where she’ll take it next.

finale: do not go gentle
in regards to my recent post about my grandma,
i just want to say thank you to all the people who were so supportive in their comments both on the blog and in person.

my dear friend nancy left a particularly beautiful comment,
braving her nemesis the internet to do so:

“3am in the ‘Burgh, reading about musk ox in the arctic tundra, memories of ice and the sound of birds flying guiding a migrating people, memories of your grandma knitting themselves into your heart, the sound of my Swedish mor mor’s voice, the sweater she knit me in junior high…We are connected by these threads; we wrap ourselves in their love. It is always the right thing to do, and you have the heart to tell it. You are a writer!”

thanks nancy.

as an update,
my grandma is out of the hospital
and back in the rehab center of the nursing home.
her appetite has returned, and they hope to get her up and walking again.

if i’m very lucky, she’ll be here to see me turn 26.

epilogue: i am, in fact, a crazy face

if you’ve made it this far, you have the opportunity to get a reward.
in the spirit of de-stashing, i’m announcing the second bitches get stitches giveaway!

the prize:

50g/170yds of pure, french, cashmere deliciousness.

the reason:
it’s been in my stash for a while,
and i still don’t know what the heck to make with it.

the rules:
leave a comment telling me what you will do with the skein,
and whichever idea i love best, wins.
(a rav link might help you)

the winner will be announced in may 30, 2010

fairness factor:
zero.
the last giveaway was completely fair.
this time, it’s completely arbitrary.

hey it’s my blog.

do you want cashmere or not?