The New Spooktacular Halloween Activity!

Our children have been so desensitized to the horror of Halloween that commonplace handcrafts apparently scare the jeepers out of them!

My son and I headed to my mother's house for Trick-Or-Treating and helping pass out candy. She didn't have the house all decked out this year (owing to her recent skin cancer surgery) and neither of us had on costumes. My son (who is 8) was a blue ninja. Nothing scary there, right?

Wrong!

Everything was fine for this pair of little ones that came up for their candy, until they turned and saw me knitting. I have never witnessed such an abrupt change of mood. They both paused for a second, staring as if transfixed...then starting crying and wailing like some monster just stole their favorite toy away or something. They then dived behind their parents legs, continued to cry, and peek out at my knitting again.

How do I know it was the knitting and not some horrid fashion faux pas on my part? Well, when I tucked the "uber-scary" green striped dishcloth and needles away in my bag...they stopped freaking out! I was even able to coax them over for extra goodies (to make up for the "trauma"). They gave the bag with "the evil" in it a wide berth, but didn't seem opposed to more treats. The parents were confused and apologizing, to which I assured them it was no big deal. They left with only an occasional glance at "the bag with the scary stuff in it".

Who knew that a plain old, striped green dishcloth being knitted would be the epitome of horror this holiday? As a Mom, I was horrified that something I love so dearly could cause a child such distress, but on the other hand...it was so freaking strange that it caused a secret snicker deep inside.

Skeletons, Zombies, Murderers, and Monsters beware! Us Knitters own on Halloween!

Knit Like An Outlaw Day part 2

Is everyone ready for the knit Like An Outlaw Day?

In case you haven't heard of it, it's the day after Thanksgiving and we'll celebrate by... well... knitting like an Outlaw. Knit in public, knit at home while having Outlaw type beverages (and yes, Kool-aid counts), or knit like an Outlaw at the in-law's house. Anything goes but if you end up needing bail money it make take a day or two for the rest of us to raise the funds so CYA when possible.

sic transit mundi

I did all the knitted pieces for this on public transit and during staff meetings. :-)



Far more info than you wanted to know and pictures than you wanted to see on the blog.

Hello Fellow Outlaws!

I just wanted to post a quick "HEY Y'ALL"! I'm a self-taught knitter of about 4 years now. I love it and am totally obsessed with knitting. I've never really understood the whole "fear of knitting in public" thing. As soon as I got the hang of it, my knitting went everywhere I did and it still does. I cannot leave my house without my knitting. Most people who know me expect it and will question me if they don't see my needles. I taught a lady to knit while waiting for my daughter during speech therapy. I've so far gotten nothing but positive feedback from others. Most people are curious and genuinely interested. The only flack I got was from my friends and family when I first picked up the needles. (The whole "grandmother's knitting" thing.) I got the last laugh....they now beg for me to knit them things. lol

I'll hush for now...just wanted to say hello and thanks for letting me join you. I'm proud to be an Outlaw Knitter!

Melanie (lilknitter on Ravelry)

Our Shop Is Up And Knit Like An Outlaw Day

The official Outlaw Knitters Shop is up and running. There isn't much in it yet, but it's a start. Everything is set at the base price, so it's all affordable. Anyone who has a design or an idea for a design can submit it here and we'll put it in the shop. All designs must be original. Please check out the other merchandise available through Cafe Press and let me know what you'd like to see in the shop so I can add it to our inventory. It doesn't cost anything to add it, so we can add anything you'd be interested in having.

Also... would anyone object to making November 22 (the day after Thanksgiving) "Knit Like An Outlaw Day"? This way we could use it as an excuse to celebrate it through Thanksgiving weekend. I'll post this on the Outlaw Knitters message board on Ravelry as well so we can get as many opinions as possible. If anyone has any other suggestions on what day to have it, post it or e-mail me at outlawknitters@insightbb.com.

Have a great weekend y'all!