Proving My Knitting Cred

Am I the only one that sometimes thinks I need to prove my knitting cred? No it is not as harsh as it sounds. It is not like the yarn store stops you at the door and looks through your project pages before allowing you to enter. That's not what I mean. It is more like you know you're going to meet a new knitting friend and want to show off your best work. Or you're going to Rhinebeck and want to wear just the right shawl, socks, sweater, mitts, hat and cowl. What? Do you not encase yourself in knit wear when attending a knitting festival/retreat?

For me it was meeting a blog pal for the first time. I think my cred was lacking. I tend to travel light, but this trip was painfully light for me. I took one project and finished it on the plane, except for kitchnering and weaving in ends.

One project?! What was I thinking?

I was thinking that I better get Adriene's socks done before I actually meet her. That is right ya'll I got to spend some time with my CBF (Canadian Blog Friend)!

D had a conference in Vancouver BC and I flew out once it was done, to have a little vacation with him. D had always said if we were anywhere near Vancouver we should try to meet up. I do have one disclaimer, I did not take one picture while we all were out and about. Guess I am a live in the moment sort of person. Not to mention I am not part of the selfie generation, I don't even have a smartphone.

When we started planning the trip I asked Adriene if she wanted me to knit her a pair of socks since she is not a crazy sock knitter like I am. The answer was yes, of course, only a fool would turn down hand knit socks, and Adriene is no fool.

We agreed on a pattern and I went stash diving for a lovely Rhinebeck yarn that was sufficiently marinated in wool fumes, and not as much cat hair as you would think. The actual socks were to be a surprise.

I knit diligently and finished 1 1/2 socks then the Baa-ble hat came along and stole my attention. I realized the night before leaving that I had half of a sock to knit! I know I am a procrastinator but come on!

By some miracle my long leg flight did not have a person sitting next to me, so I pulled out Adriene's sock and started to knit away the hours. Sigh, my enjoyment did not last long. Some gent decided to move into our row and proceeded to think of us as his personal entertainment system.

First he started by asking if the socks were for him, I did my polite sarcastic laugh. It was not enough. He reached over and picked up the finished sock from off of my lap and said it would fit him. I think not mister!

Once I got up to use the restroom I was caught in his yammering web of words. He kept asking about socks and scarves and what not. Dude I am not a knitwear dispensing machine, well I sort of am but not for you!

Finally at the end when he said "So no scarf?" I told him the socks were the first thing I had knit for a special person that I had been corresponding with for over two years, I am a tough nut to crack. And really you have to appreciate the time and work that goes into them, you know have some knitter cred of your own.

I got to see first hand some of Adriene's work and it is just as beautiful in person. So yeah knitting cred, we have it, even though sometimes it feels like we need to prove it.