Okay, I did it. I wrote a guest post on Handshake 2.0 titled, “The Business of Knitting” and hope the 300-words-or-less challenge is met in a positive light. The yarn manufacturing industry continuously has the stereotype of an elderly woman knitting while seated in a rocking chair with cats at her feet. Hello, but though I may be fabulously forty, I am by no means “elderly” and have no rocking chairs in my house. The crafters (weavers, spinners, knitters and crocheters) of both genders are hip and young at heart no matter what their age. So do not dare say I am old! 
To note, the social network of Ravelry has brought together what online groups, e-lists, blogs and podcasts have started. Crafters have been communicating online worldwide, and Ravelry now offers a single resource that combines them together. Only on Ravelry can a person in Denmark comment how much she likes one of my projects, and where I can also participate in a worldwide group on specific techniques used in Scandinavia.
The community of yarn has brought different races, religions, and politics together. Currently I am looking forward to the 2010 Knitting Olympics. Here is when teams of crafters around the world will start a self-chosen project when the torch is lit, and in 16 days time finish that project when the fire is extinguished. Most of these projects can generally take months or even years to finish, but the bragging rights of participating are immense. My project of challenge will most likely be either a complicated lace ensemble (shawl or stockings), or an intricately cabled covering (coat or jacket). Either way, I am rising up with the other folks who are techies like myself and are not afraid of admitting their craft. Are you? =:8
Finally I am sneaking in time to enter a blog post! For the past couple of months I have been occupied with work and found myself feeling detached to everything else. Sure, I managed to make it to special guild meetings (courtesy of Guido Stein and the Common Cod Fiber Guild), knitting SNBs/circles, and conferences (Stitches East with the awesome Ravelry Helpers). However there are little bombs inside my head that want to explode. I am wrestling with them during my daily drive, and sometimes hourly at home.
Every year I make resolutions and then immediately break them. They all fall in the same line: weight loss, driving more at work, turning WIPs into FOs, fixing up the house, volunteering more charity work, saving money, and then blogging about it all. Last year of 2008 was full of surprises — both good and bad. I hope to make 2009 a bouquet of sweetness whenever possible. Doing so may involve in closing off harmful relationships (all are muggle ones) to my psyche. If these old ties were true friends, they would understand. For now I shall sharpen my skates and sprint across my icy network as fast as I can. I may even bunny dance during my run!
In the knitting realms, Ravelry has definitely kept my attention — and the attention of over two hundred fifty thousand (250,000) members. Though the membership seems small, Ravelry made its debut to a very select handful on April 11th, 2007 and has skyrocketed membership like a “hockey stick” in a graph. The niche of “internet crafting” is amazing to behold, and Ravelry caters worldwide primarily to knitters and crocheters who are also spinners, sewers, weavers, and jewelers. The site can be very overwhelming to those not familiar with forums, but the information and social networking aspect can be harnessed into powerful business connections.
A few examples are presented in the following:
1. All members are given a Notebook to track their projects, yarn stash, needles/hooks, library, friends, and other items. The organizational aspect helps leash each member’s tigers of piles.
2. Local yarn shop owners on Ravelry have found that when customers come into their shop and are fuzzy on pattern material details (“I think the pattern’s name is ‘Wavy Wimple’ but I am not sure.”), the LYSO can go online and look up the pattern and suggest the yarn and tools necessary to make it.
3. For events like Rhinebeck S&W, TNNA, and Maryland S&W, vast information including what vendors to check out, which hotels to stay/avoid, where to find the best eateries, and when the meet ups occur were communicated in specific forums.
4. Designers have the ability to create their own shop in which members can browse their patterns and decide to buy/download after seeing how other folks did in following them. There are future works that will allow Dyers and Spinners the same ability.
5. Specific guilds, groups, and shops can communicate with their friends, members, and/or customers. Kate, the president of Massachusetts MetroWest Knitting Guild’s group posts messages about upcoming meetings and sponsored events. The “Cuppa Tea?” group brings folks from all over the world to profess their love of tea types and where to find them. The “Ocean State Crafters” group discusses items like where to shop or local events. Gina’s Mosaic Yarn Shop Maniacs host various knit-alongs, list classes, and updates on their fellow members.
These lines of communication have networked folks around the world together. Digesting all of this information is a constant work of art, but I love it. Adventurous stories to come soon — I promise!! Meanwhile, please note the other social webs that I live and feel free to include me. Now, I leave you some of Richie’s chocolate cake with white vanilla “almost buttercream” frosting… Bunny hugs! =:8
Kimberly | 13th September 2008 | 6:37 PM
Wednesday night on the tenth proved to be a very fun and educational round of learning. After being introduced by Vickie of Island Yarn Company to their fabulous president Kate, I joined the Metro West Guild and attended my first meeting at the public library in Needham, MA. The group was a lively bunch, and after the “show and tell” of our current/finished projects that were brought in, we shared our favorite gadgets for crafting notions. Later, we voted on what classes we would like Lucy Neatby to teach us in March using a technique which required us to vote with dot-shaped stickers.
At one point when I was being introduced, somebunny said, “Oh I already know who YOU are. We have been checking out your stash!” And when I was talking to Sue, I spied Kate (the president) and grabbed my precious cake of Regenbogen to show her. I placed it in her hand and asked if she could identify it. Touching the yarn, she shook her head. Sue then held it and began to stroke the cake like it was a kitten. When I finally fessed up that the cake was Wollmeise 100% Superwash, Sue turned away from me. Kate began to tease her by saying I will want that back. Sue’s reply? “Hahaha! I have seen her stash. She’d never miss it.” Of course, I stuck out my hand and Sue put it back in my possession.
It was a fun evening chatting with the folks that I met. One of them, Melodie, had issues with her Clapotis WIP. I promised her that I would bring both of mine when we saw each other in two days. Her skeins of Dream in Color Smooshy are the same dyelot, but the change between the sections could be seen when peered closely. Oh, what was in two days? Let me tell!
Friday the 12th was a big day for the Common Cod Guild. It was the first meeting, and to kick it off, Franklin Habit was in town to talk about knitting. To cut to the short of it all, I present more photos.
I will admit one little thing about that night… When I first spied Franklin outside the speaking hall greeting Mel, I wanted to drop everything and pick him up for a huge bunny hug. Instead I froze, and whispered to Melodie, “I so want to run up to him right now and hug him.” She said, “Why not? I am sure he would not mind one bit.” Later on after seeing Lucy Lee from Mind’s Eye Yarns, I told her that I wanted to see Franklin but was too shy/chicken. She then walked me over and introduced me to him! All I will say is that he is awesome, and that everyone should come see him.
After Franklin’s talk, there was a lot of chitchatting and laughter. I managed to get another photo with Deborah — hunnybee33 on Ravelry, and exchanged hugs with Kathy (Grumperina) for a fan of hers. Of course my friends Michelle, Ericka, and Chris were there and we all did quick shots.
Later, when cleaning up was finished, we all decided to walk over to The Asgard on Massachusetts Avenue. Guido had raved about the Truffle Tater Tots which are fried tater tots tossed with truffle oil, parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Of course with our luck, we get a cranky Irish (or maybe he was Welsh) server who gave the bad news that the Truffle Tater Tots were 86′ed off the menu by then. We still made good with the rest of the menu. My coconut shrimp and avocado salad was surprisingly filling with lots of shrimp and avocado. I was expecting something skimpy. The desserts looked delicious, and from the faces of those who ordered them, I would say they were! =:8
! 
