Knitting Conventions
So you’ve probably been wondering what knitters and yard spinners talk about over dinner after a long day of knitting instruction. My hotel in Tacoma was hosting the Madrona Fiber Arts Winter Retreat so I had plenty of time to observe the knitting subculture. Last night, I sat next to a table of twenty women knitters as I ate curry at Galanga Thai. Here is what I noticed.
First, knitters wear their handiwork. Most of the women at dinner were adorned in knitted sweaters, vests and jackets. The yarn harlot wore a beautiful shawl loosely knit in a complex geometric pattern. I recognized her as the yarn harlot because there was a poster in the hotel lobby announcing a signing for her book, At Knit’s End.
These knitters are skilled. No bulky sweaters two sizes too large or floppy hats like my Aunt Marguerite used to give me for Christmas. Only exquisite pieces of fiber art.
These knitters are diligent. Many worked on projects while awaiting their entrees, although skill with knitting needles doesn’t automatically translate into skill with chopsticks. Only half of the women used them.
I didn’t catch all the conversation, because I didn’t want to make it too obvious I was eavesdropping. You can also imagine the noise of so many knitters talking at once. But I was extremely curious what these women would say. Half the fun of travel is learning about folks that differ from you, and when you mostly travel the domestic hotel circuit like I do, the closest you get to other cultures are groups attending trade conventions.
So what do knitters talk about at dinner?
Knitting. Knitting mentors. Knitting conferences. Knitting books. Knitting projects. Knitting disasters. Knitting television episodes⎯apparently Sex in the City had a segment on knitting. How friends don’t let friends knit drunk⎯the saying on a bumper sticker one of the knitters was passing around. What to do with scrap yarn.
Back at the hotel, the lounge was overrun with knitters and spinners, who had set up their wheels and were busy turning fiber into yarn. This is a dedicated group. There would be no carousing. Just knitting and chatting. And the peaceful bond of friends who share a passion for creating beauty with needles and yarn.