Episode 11: Man Camp (35:27)

This one time at Man Camp, I saw men knitting and spinning and having the time of their lives. The first-ever Men's Spring Knitting Retreat (MSKR) was the event of the year for those who attended. If you don't believe us, read some of the recaps from Ted, Joe, Paddy, Kenny, Mel, Sean and Guido. You can also see the fevered pitch discussions on Ravelry archived thread (last count 416 posts).

QueerJoe and KnitterGuyTed had a vision for a decidedly masculine gathering of fiber-heads. This historic happening was hosted at the idylic and picturesque Easton Mountain Retreat in upstate New York, not too far away from historic Woodstock (well, it's actually closer to the less-pop-culturey-historic Albany).

Stephen bit the bullet for Team YKNIT and traveled to the OTHER coast where he interviewed, taught and met online friends offine. In addition to Joe and Ted, he spoke with cotton-spinning master VTknitboy Chris.

It takes a village of fiber enablers to make super sweet schwag bag. A big thanks to the generous sponsors of the MSKR. If you like to see men knitting and spinning, please patronize these fine establishments:

• Schoolhouse Press
• Black Bunny Fibers (Carol)
• Briar Rose Fibers (Chris)
• Crystal Palace
• Woolcott & Co. (Sean)
• Wild Geese Fibers
• Louet North America
• Danny Ouellette Knitting
• Green Mountain Spinnery
• Hyphen Boy Designs
• Oceanwind Knits
• Rabbitworkds Fibre Studio
• Red Maple Sportswear
• Spinning Loft
• Shelridge Farms
• Nomad Press

A Men's Fall Knitting Retreat (MFKR) (Ravelry link), is being brainstormed right now. Momentum is swirling around one in Oregon. For more information or to volunteer to help, contact GrandfatherKnits on Ravelry.

 

Contest - ENDED ON AUGUST 16, 2008

The kind folks from The Unique Sheep sent a lovely skein of their yarn, just like the yarn for the The Ram Club for Men. It's 334 yards of sport weight superwash merino in Grey Streets colorway.

To enter, tell us your story of teaching a Y-Chromosome (man or boy) how to knit or spin OR how you're planning to do so in the near future. Post your story the comments below or on the YKNIT Ravelry forum. One winner will be randomly selected from the eligible entries. DEADLINE: August 16, 2008.

Yknit and spin? It's MAN-tastic!

We used snippets of the following songs in this episode:

• "Where the Boys Are" by Connie Francis (single) (MGM, 1960)
• "Where the Boys Are (demo)" by Neil Sedaka from Neil Sedaka: The Definitive Collection (Razor & Tie, 2007)
• "Johnny Are You Queer?" by Hotbox from Blowin' Our Cover (Roach Coach, 2007)
• "Hot for Teacher" by Richard Cheese from Tuxicity (Surfdog Records, 2003)
• "The Boys are Back in Town" by Thin Lizzy from Jailbreak (Mercury, 1976)
• "Boys Don't Cry" by The Cure from Boys Don't Cry (Fiction, 1979)
• "Cottontail" by Oscar Peterson from JATP '53 (Jazz at the Philharmonic) (Verve, 1953)
• "Simple Man" by Klaus Nomi from Simple Man (RCA, 1982)
• "Boy" by Book of Love from Book of Love (Sire, 1985)

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