Like Woodstock, But With More Yarn

Through the miracle of smoke and mirrors I may seem like a nice person, but the fact is I'm a demanding and obsessive martinet. Just ask these three lovely people, who got up at an ungodly hour on Saturday morning to help get ready for the Chicagoland Dulaan Knit-In.

Ladies and gentlemen, my dream team:



Buzz




Bonne Marie



Sean

Bonne Marie picked us up from my apartment in her rough-and-tough Jeep. In short order, we had the Alumni House fully prepared (following my very specific instructions) and awaiting the arrival of the Dulaaners. Check it out:


Encouraging messages from Ryan and Konchog. (Konchog was unanimously voted Sexiest Monk Alive.)


A table positively groaning with prizes...


...under the watchful eye of Guess Who.


Another table, covered with donated wool for Dulaan projects. (Look familiar, Penny?)


The bust of John Evans in the Library, looking far more cheerful than is his wont. Carol made the hat.


And on the buffet table, Buddha in Attitude of Contemplating Which Cast On to Use.



The Dream Team gathered for a moment of reflection before opening the doors. And then, after a pause of about forty seconds in which I actually said, "What if nobody shows up?", in came the knitters.



Lieutenant Buzz greeted arrivals at the reception desk with a smile and an overview of the facility.

And they started to knit.










Some of my homegirls from Lakeview Stitch 'n Bitch.


Aidan's extremely helpful wife Myfanwe (left), and the Two Sock Knitters Jonathan (center) and Meg (right).


Aidan (rear) and his knitting son Norbert (foreground), one of those rare children with manners and charm.


















Knitters in the window. Knitters on the floor. Knitters, knitters everywhere...


...but always room for more.












The boys in the hall.


Kneeling in front is Lauren, holding her first FO–a Dulaan hat.






This is Grace, who started knitting in February and is already knitting extempore. She made that hat at the Knit-In, off the top of her head. Scary.


Emily, who provided us with some of her luscious Sophie's Toes Sock Yarn as a prize. She made the hat she's wearing, start to finish, at the Knit-In.


Lynette and her faboo cupcakes, which she described as "portion control desserts." So true, unless you eat five of them as some of us did.

In total, we had about seventy-six folks. If there's anybody I did not have the chance to thank in person for coming out to support Dulaan, let me say it here. This event would have been nothing at all without each and every one of you.

And now I need to go lie down for just a little while.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz