New England's Narrow Road

Ahhh Ravelry, What Have You Done?

Today I saw the changes that Ravelry made to their site over the weekend. As I opened their front page I saw the rainbow flag next to their name. Then I read the paragraph:

“We are banning support of Donald Trump and his administration on Ravelry. We cannot provide a space that is inclusive of all and also allow support for open white supremacy. Support of the Trump administration is unambiguously support for white supremacy. “ (Taken from the Ravelry website.)

What?? I support my country, and whomever is in office, whether I “like” the person or not, but to do so means (in the eyes of Ravelry) that I am a bigot and hater of blacks and pretty much everyone who is not white?

AND, just below this paragraph is one addressing specifically the LGBTQIA+ community. I’ll be honest, I’ve lost track of what all those letters stand for, but Ravelry wants them all to know that they love and support them. Yes, they are lumped together as people to love…. Trump supporters are lumped together as no good and banned. See a problem with this way of thinking?

FYI Ravelry, this is a hateful thing to say.

At least I know where I stand.

I went on to view some postings at Twitter and other places about that notice at Ravelry, and not surprisingly the Trump-haters were pleased as punch. Some were even considering taking up knitting because they loved Ravelry so much for the statement! For me, its just another fun place to hang out online that has become intolerant of anyone who does not believe like they do. (And I bet I pretty much do believe like they do except for the mass hating of a specific group of people.)

Pointing the finger when you need to look in the mirror. What’s new? This type of thing has become so tiring.

I’ve only recently become a member of the largest knitting and crafting website out there, and honestly I am still finding my way around Ravelry. But I’ve liked (until now) what I’ve seen. I’ve been building my FO’s (finished objects) section, finding and saving favorite knitting patterns from around the web, and learning from KAL (knit-alongs), forums, and others who love knitting as much as I do. Sharing photos about my projects as they progress has been fun.

I’ve never seen hate speech on the sight, and everyone seems to be friendly and helpful. But apparently a seething hatred has been building towards a group of people, of which I am a part.

I’d Love to Close My Account, But

They apparently don’t want any of us who support the leaders of America. We are ALL racists if we support our President. Removing and banning all political statements / designs from the site would have been fair, but this is not about fair. This is the typical hate message of the left, and phew… finally they got it out there!

The pattern designers are one big reason I am hesitant about closing my Ravelry account. They design and sell on Ravelry, and without the site, it will be difficult for me to find new patterns and pattern support. A lot of people who would like to make an exit from the site may feel like there is no place better to go, because presently there isn’t, as far as I know. That could change soon.

I also have a lot of links on my blog posts that go to my Ravelry pages. I don’t want to lose those links, but I do plan to remove some. Links to Ravelry helps them, and I will not do that from now on.

My Support of Ravelry is Gone

I’ve been working online since 2007, and I know a thing or two about promoting myself and others, but I will no longer promote Ravelry in any way. I will not Tweet them, Pin them, FB them, share them on Instagram, or (after today) blog about them. Yup, they are quaking in their boots over that! I am one, but I know I am not alone.

This does not include the designers, unless I see hateful posts from them individually, or see that they support Ravelry’s decision to exclude a big part of the membership (don’t know for sure, but I bet it’s a lot) on their site by lumping us into a collection of bigots.

Beware yarn-dyers / sellers and pattern designers, do not go down this road. It would be a mistake. I believe Ravelry may be sorry.

Finished Knitting Photography of My Dewdrops Shawl

Just a quick post to show my finished photos of the Dewdrops shawl. I began knitting the peach -colored triangle section a few months ago. (See my cast on post here.) I loved the yarn (Emma’s Yarn) so much that I then had to wait for the Four Purls yarn truck to visit my area again in April to pick up a denim blue color for the border.

Dewdrops shawl in peach and dark blue colors.

From the time I cast on I had pictured a dark blue color for the border. I love the outcome and am very happy with the way this shawl turned out. I’m not a super experienced knitter, but I had no trouble with that lace border.

I have more trouble trying to get good photos once my projects are complete! Outdoors is the best choice for bright, true color photos. But I don’t want to get my newly cleaned and blocked shawl dirty! So I simply held it with one hand and pointed my iPhone with the other.

Dewdrops shawl is finished! — Outside photo shows the true colors

Get the Pattern

Want to knit Dewdrops yourself? Here is the link to the designer’s Dewdrops pattern page at Ravelry. Or visit Woolenberry.com to see more of Janina Kallio’s massive selection of shawls.

More of What I’m Knitting

So what am I knitting now? Well, I always have a few things going at once but I’m focused on the Sun Kissed shawl, which is also being knit using Emma’s Yarn. When I want to relax and knit something simple, I work on my Ruffled Scarf. I’m working on a pair of socks – which are coming out okay. I’m not a sock-knitter, but I’m trying to be. A post on that is in the works.

What are you knitting? I’d love to hear about it.

Emma’s Yarn Colors Gatsby and Farmer’s Market

Whenever I buy yarn it’s a guess as to how it will look once knit up. Unless I am working with a solid color it really is a crap shoot with speckled and variegated yarns.

Below is my photo of some beautiful yarn purchased from Four Purls. The central Florida yarn store has a yarn truck which makes stops around the state to sell to us poor folk who don’t have a local store.

The yarn in my photo is “Gatsby” and “Farmer’s Market”. Gatsby is mostly white with blackish speckles. I’ve been looking online for similar yarn. The variegated Farmer’s Market caught my eye because of all those luscious shades of blue and pink. It’s a guess as to how it will look once knit up. So I’d like to share that on this page.

Emma's Yarn in Gatsby and Farmer's Market colors. — Emma’s Yarn colors: Gatsby and Farmer’s Market

I am using these two yarns to knit a triangle shawl with skinny stripes, alternating the two colors. The pattern is free to download at Ravelry. It’s called “Sun Kissed” by Veronika Jobe. Her stripes are green and white with speckles. I like the frilly lace edging. I don’t see anywhere what colors she used, only the yarn types. Someone guessed that “Optic” was the Mad Tosh color, and I think that my Gatsby skein comes close. The alternating stripes color could really be anything, but since I had purchased Farmer’s Market at the same time, I wondered what a variegated yarn would look like alongside the speckled white.

Farmers Market yarn skein is variegated blue, peach, teal, yellow-green and white. — Pretty “Farmer’s Market” skein by Emma’s Yarn

After I wound my balls of yarn (I don’t have a winder), I couldn’t wait to get started on this pattern. I have cast on and knit a few rows of the shawl, which is pretty simple (don’t know about that lace edge, but that comes later). Because both the colors are light, the stripes are not as noticeable, but I expected that. I think it’s pretty. I wish the white had more pronounced “speckles” but maybe they will show up more along the lacy border.

The Super Silky Emma’s Yarn is a joy to knit with. I just finished knitting the Dewdrops shawl using it, and had to buy more. I don’t really wear shawls, but they are fun to knit.

knitting sun-kissed shawl — Beginning knitting the Sun Kissed shawl pattern

Visiting the Four Purls Yarn Truck

A few months ago I visited the Four Purls Yarn Truck for the first time. I bought lots of wonderful yarn and learned a little about their store and the family behind it. Both daughters of the owners do their own hand-dying to create some beautiful hanks of yarn. It’s a family run store. I’ve met the husband and wife team, who are helpful and friendly, both times I have visited their truck stopover in New Smyrna Beach.

Tables of colorful yarn for sale set up on tables outside the Four Purl's yarn truck. — Outdoor tables full of yarn

My knitting experience with Emma’s Yarn was such a delight that I had to be sure and buy more when the yarn truck came to town.

Located in Winter Haven, in central Florida, the Four Purl’s yarn store takes road trips in their colorful yarn truck to share their wares with those of us who have no local shops. They show up in New Smyrna only a few times a year, but I am grateful that they do. It’s always nice to be able to handle yarn, and see colors in person!

Rack of hand-knit shawls and sweaters — Shawls and sweaters knit from patterns, which are listed on their tags.

Pattern Samples Already Knit

A rack of clothing was displayed at the outer edge of the yarn tables. As I browsed, I realized these were patterns (name of pattern on tag attached to item) already knit up for us to see. This is a clever idea and next time I may do some pattern browsing before I buy my yarn.

As it was, I already needed quite a few skeins for patterns I had in mind. Hand-dyed yarn is gorgeous, but it is not cheap. One must restrain oneself when surrounded by all that pretty yarn. As it was, I still bought a lot of yarn!

Colorful skeins of Emm'a Yarn hand-dyed in semi-solid, speckled and variegated colors. — My purchase of Emma’s Yarn, hand-dyed in an array of beautiful colors

My Knitting Plans Using The New Yarn

Sun Kissed is a free shawl download which I have been planning to make for a while now. I’ve been waiting to find the right colors. For the time being I am thinking of using “Gatsby” (mostly white yarn with dark speckles) and “Farmer’s Market” (look at those colors!) to knit it.

Hanks of yarn — Emma’s Yarn colors: Gatsby and Farmer’s Market

Even though I recently purchased Stephen West’s “Mohairino Medley”, I didn’t find the right colors at the Yarn Truck. But I do love a couple of WestKnits shawls and was thinking of the Sea Swell Shawl pattern in particular when I bought the three skeins below. Or, I may knit another favorite by Westknits called Slumber Shawl.

Silky and basic yarn in skeins — L-R color names: Malibu, Turtle Haven, and 10 Questions

I found a skein of “Denim” blue for the border color to finish up my Dewdrops Shawl. I began the triangle shawl with Emma’s Yarn in “Main Squeeze” color which reminds me of pink grapefruit.

denim blue ball of yarn — Denim blue color ball of yarn to finish my Dewdrops shawl.

And inside the truck I picked up a DK weight skein in “Don’t Call Me Peaches” color (below). This one is part nylon, with merino wool, and I am using it to attempt a pair of socks – again. Emma’s “Simply Spectacular DK” yarn is combined here with some fingering yarn from my stash to make a heavy-weight pair of socks (fingers crossed). For some reason I gravitate toward peachy colors!

Peach and aqua sock knitting — Sock Knitting

While I was paying, the husband of the Four Purls team mentioned that they would not be back to New Smyrna until next Fall. They don’t go out in summer, which I can’t blame them for. It’s a really hideous time of year here in Florida and no one wants to be standing around in the Florida sun. So I will have to use up my yarn over the next six months while I wait.