 Recently, I joined an internet dvd rental service. Finally I have seen
almost every episode of sex and the city. Now, when I’m in fantasy
mode, I imagine myself as the Carrie Bradshaw of knitting – writing
witty columns about the vagaries of knitting and yarn store life.
Of
course, you may never see my face plastered on the Stitches shuttle
bus. Nor, even if I could afford them, will I never be able to skip
down the sidewalk in Manolo Blahniks. And although Mr. Bigs may come
and go, most nights I would rather have Addi Yurnos, Rowan Magazine,
and my stash for an evening’s entertainment.
Like Carrie, I am lucky. I too have many friends. Mine differ in age,
occupation, and interest, yet share a passion for knitting. Some I have
worked with over the years, others I’ve met through events like
Stitches, a few came as a literal ‘gift with purchase’ when I acquired
Great Yarns.
Knitting friends come and go. Case
in point, my knitting friend in the late 1980’s (let’s call her M),
became an knitting ex-friend when she married my ex-husband. M still
knits, and he is probably still getting those Manos sweaters that he
loved so much. But, I digress….
When I worked
at classic elite yarns, I met the creative and chaotic genius that is
Kristin Nicholas. She encouraged and nurtured my nascent design skills,
subtly and persistently suggestion better color combinations and design
elements, until I formed my own style. In return, I fed her baby chicks
– and one unpleasant rooster, baby-sat her dog, and soothed her nerves
on a turbulent flight to Dallas. Whenever I visit my family in
Massachusetts, I take a day trip to Kristin’s house, the most inspiring
place I’ve ever been.
I met Alice at Stitches
in Valley Forge in the mid 1990’s. Alice told me, point-blank, “You are
going to have to get together with us for knitting.” She invited me to
her annual Christmas party, where among other guests, I met more
knitters, and the people who love them. Alice even hosted a party for
me when my design ( under the pseudonym of Lisa Morse) made the cover
of Knitter’s Magazine in 1995.
Alice worked in
my booth at Stitches East this year. For four days, she cheerfully
supported all of our efforts and wore the faux mink Xing stole with
great aplomb. Trouble arose, however, in the form of a Stash
Enhancement Experience, when she took a break and discovered Habu
Textiles. From that moment on, she has delved into their eclectic yarn
mix. Alice has created some beautiful pieces of wearable art and will
never be the same.
Alice visits me in North
Carolina. She is the sous-chef at my Thanksgiving dinners. Patient
beyond belief, she then works at Great Yarns on the day after. We spend
the rest of the weekend in sweat clothes, watching movies and KNITTING!
Some
of the knitting friends I have met in North Carolina are customers,
most have some present or past affiliation with Great Yarns. Years
before I moved to north Carolina, a group of staff members had
initiated a regular knitting night in order to each create their own
version of a sweater called Aeoteorora, designed by Cynthia Helene.
This project involved a lot of shaping, color work, and creativity, and
the finished sweaters were displayed in the store window.
This
team has morphed into a loosely-knit group of past and present staff
and teachers that meet one Sunday each month. Since Sunday is my day
off, I do not join them as much as I should. But, I know the invitation
is there.
We did all get together
this year for a holiday luncheon. I sat, knitting wrist-warmers, in the
midst of women aged 16-65 who all had been affiliated with the store at
one time or another. Their energy, creativity, potential, and power
awed me. This warm memory will stay with me as long as I live.
And
there are new faces at Great Yarns who have come aboard as staff and
become knitting friends. Carol and Denise have also become muses,
reminding me that there are many customers under 40 and that they do
not necessarily like the same things that I appreciate.. knitty.com has
become an adjective –“Is it Knitty enough” and wrap-around sweaters
take on new looks from the glampyre.com site. This exploration has just
begun.
So while Carrie Bradshaw
and her friends are sipping martinis at chic Manhattan bistros, my
knitting friends and I can be found somewhere around Raleigh, sometimes
sharing white wine, always sharing the passion of knitting.
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