Well, Jan, I actually have to admit that Franklin Habit didn’t come all the way home with me, but I did give him a ride back to his hotel. He is just as charming one-on-one as he is as speaker, and just as erudite. His talk on historical knitting patterns for the MN Knitters’ Guild was amusing and full of good, below-the-surface stuff. I love me a knitting lecture with intellectual content AND laughs. I recommend reading his Knitty.com column (Stitches in Time) for a taste of it. Best line, in reference to his translation of some of the arcane patterns he features in his columns: “My eyes bleed so yours don’t have to.”
Here is who really came home with me - a brand, new Louet Victoria. Her name is Skylark. In a contest to celebrate her homecoming, I will send a small prize to the first commenter who can figure out why her name is Skylark. Hint: When I first considered this reason, the name Allie McWheel came to mind. I’m glad I realized Skylark fit the same mold, as I really don’t want to see those dancing babies every time I sit down to spin. Bygones.
I don’t know if my new pair of socks will make much progress, as enthralled as I am with spinning. But as even as Skylark packs, I suppose there are places where it just isn’t appropriate to set her up and spin, so maybe some knitting will continue to get done.
Love,
Ellen
P.S. People continue to ask me to send greetings to you. You’ll have to get back here soon!
Jan and Ellen are identical twins who have always had an innate fashion sense. Crafting is an integral part of their lives and they stay stitched together sharing their love of knitting, family and community.
April 21st, 2010 at 4:22 am
Hee…Allie McWheel… Missed opportunity.
April 21st, 2010 at 5:23 am
No idea about the name but I agree with you about Franklin’s lecture last night!
April 21st, 2010 at 6:45 am
Finally, my college French classes pay off:
Louet => Alouette => Skylark/Ally McWheel.
Although my victory is tinged with the pain of watching my mother spiral into addiction.
April 21st, 2010 at 7:08 am
There, there Jenny, it will be OK. Just know that every so often you may have to stage and intervention. A loving one, but an intervention none the less.
BTW Ellen, the whole Christmas/Solstice cactus thing…. mine is terribly confused - first it was a Veteran’s Day/Thanksgiving cactus - which was fine; but then - POOF it was also an Easter Cactus. There is just no telling what a bit of extra water and a change of location will do.
April 21st, 2010 at 12:07 pm
Picturing a high school friend’s ancient brown Buick. It looked nothing like its light-hearted Skylark name, nothing in the slightest. It overate gas and it belched.
You’re just restoring that word to its true and noble calling.
April 21st, 2010 at 1:29 pm
So sad…the warning from Dr. Yarn just didn’t help.
April 21st, 2010 at 5:34 pm
Oops, I just tried to comment on your blog post and I think I commented on your previous blog post by mistake.
My guess is that a Buick Skylark car might be a make/model that you drove around as a teen,? got your license in? learned to drive in? You’re learning to drive a spinning wheel now….. maybe it’s bringing back behind the wheel memories…
That’s my guess and I’m sticking to it.
April 21st, 2010 at 5:37 pm
I was thinking you chose the name because it whines or sings a bit? (Ally McBeal was pretty whiney, wasn’t she?)
I’m SO jealous about you getting to drive Franklin Habit to his hotel. Lucky you!!