An Evening with the Harlot

“You drove 6 hours to do what?”

This is what the muggles in my life would have asked - had they known what I was doing on April 3rd. DH, on the other hand, although he is technically a muggle, being married to a knitter he knows better than to question such things, especially The Knitting and Anything Knitting Related.

So, I hit the road – Illinois tollway, I hate you with the heat of a thousand suns – and headed to Oak Brook, IL to see the Yarn Harlot in person.

Of course, my driver’s side window (electric), which had acted up months ago but had been behaving itself since November, decided to not roll back up after a stop at one of the many FRICKIN’ TOLL BOOTHS…and naturally it decided to do this only after it started raining REALLY hard. I tried to make it to Oak Brook before dealing with it but once the wiper blades began to push a wall of water through the open window, I decided the wisest thing to do was pull over under a bridge and wait the rain out. Thank heavens the window started behaving - after I opened the car door, then closed it with some force. Not that I thought this would fix anything - it was just a way to vent my frustration.

This same thing happened to me in November on the way to Franklin’s Dulaan Knit In. (What have the knitting gods got against me going into Illinois?) I took the car to see our favorite mechanic, who informed us that little motor in the door that raises and lowers the window probably needed to be replaced. With an estimate of $400, DH decided that repair was a luxury item that could wait. I decided there was a whole lotta yarn in the cost of that one little motor – and, what the hey – the other 3 windows still work.

Back to the important stuff. A night of Knitting Blog Glitterati.




Franklin was there as part of the Harlot’s entourage. It was great to catch up with him and to meet other bloggers. Franklin will deny it, sweet dear that he is, but he also had many admirers approaching him throughout the evening.

If you have never seen the Harlot in the flesh, so to speak, you will probably think the following is all hyperbole. Those of you who have had the joy of listening to her talk will realize that what follows is complete understatement…because there just are no words to fully describe the experience.



Excuse me while I gush…

I gush because when I hear her speak, my enthusiasm for my knitting is rejuvenated. There are many reasons I knit. I have always been attracted to handcrafts. I use knitting to relax, to meet people, to make things, beautiful things, useful things. If I am in a particularly ambitious mood (infrequently, I admit), I use knitting as an intellectual stimulant, as a learning tool, as my remedial math course.

But after listening to the Harlot, I am filled with a renewed pride for my chosen hobby.

(Or did it choose me?)

I feel a connection to those women and men who, through the centuries, have done wonderful things with two sticks and a string since…the discovery of two sticks and string. And I feel empowered to knit more frequently, to improve my skills, and to connect with other knitters.

After spending an evening worshipping at her feet, I came away feeling that I am included in a very special group of people, a group that is extremely diverse in ethnicity, culture, religion, and politics, but who are, despite all their differences, for the most part, patient, sharing, caring, friendly, honest and trustworthy. Just go to any yarn shop and write out a check for your purchase. (And I don’t mean at a shop where they already know you by name.) I have been to MANY (just ask those who know about the stash) and I have never been asked to present my driver’s license or if all the information is current on my check and could I please write my telephone number on the check.

But the most important reassurance I left with is that my stash is OK. That I don’t need to apologize for it. That the size of my stash is not indicative of mental instability and a need to be on medication or rampant consumerism.

Thank heavens for that – because I just bought more yarn yesterday.