Y KNIT -- genetically speaking

Mon, 12 January 2009

Episode 17: Go West, Young Man (Men's Fall Knitting Retreat 2008)

The very first Men's Knitting Retreat was held in the Spring of 2008 and featured the hard work of QueerJoe and KnitterGuyTed. The Fall 2008 event was held at the Point Bonita YMCA in the Marin Headlands and the manly magic was in full effect. The event was November 7-9, 2008 and this audio features interviews with two of the instructors: Brian Kohler (professional designer with Skacel), and Harry Wells (President of Humboldt Handweavers and Spinners Guild). But we start things off by chatting with Ted Myatt aka KnitterGuy (organizer and co-creator along with Joe Wilcox aka QueerJoe of the Men's Knitting Retreats).

The Men's Fall Knitting Retreat 2008 was blown away by the extraordinary swag we received from the following folks: Article Pract, A Verb for Keeping Warm, Briar Rose Fibers, BrooklynTweed, Danny Oulette Designs, Hansigurumi, HelloYarn, KnitSonya, Knotty Naomi, Oceanwind Knits, Perchance to Knit, Schoolhouse Press, Shelridge Farms, Spinning Loft, Tactile Fiber Arts, Unique Sheep, Wild Geese Fibers, and Yarn Nerd. We're so not worthy!!!

If you're interested in attending the Men's Spring Knitting Retreat 2009, give QueerJoe a shout.

Contest
Skacel has given us a handsome entrelac scarf pattern designed by Brian Kohler, MFKR attendee and instructor. The prizing includes 3 balls of Skacel's new felted yarn called Loft. To enter, simply tell us how the world would be a better place if more guys knit. A winner will be randomly selected from all entrants.
DEADLINE FOR ENTERING IS JANUARY 31, 2009.

Contest Winners
Congratulations to our winner from episode 16 with Linda Cortright of Wild Fibers magazine, Tyler Macek. He receives a year subscription to WF courtesy of Linda! Thanks to everyone who entered and shared their fiber adventure stories.

A big thank you to everyone who listens, reviews, recommends and responds to YKNIT! Without you, we're nothing.

YKnit with guys? It's MANdatory!

We used snippets of the following songs in this episode:

"Morning Edition Theme" performed by BJ Leiderman (BJ Leiderman Music, 1979)
"Indy Rides the Statue" performed by John Williams and the London Philharmonic from Raiders of the Lost Ark (The Soundtracks Collection) (DCC, 2008)
"Boys Keep Swinging" performed by David Bowie from Lodger (RCA, 1979)
"Richard's Joust - Medea Vita" performed by John Barry from The Lion in Winter (Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Columbia, 1968)
"Jesus Baby" performed by Faith + 1from Southpark: The Complete Season Seven (Paramount, 2006)
"Holiday for Strings" performed by Walter Schumann from The Voices of Walter Schumann (RCA, 1958)
"Teacher I Need You" performed by Elton John from Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only the Piano Player album (DJM, 1973)
"I'm Just Wild about Harry" performed by Al Jolson from Golden Years of Al Jolson (Soho, 2005)
"The Brian Song" performed by Sonia Jones from The Life of Brian Motion Picture Soundtrack (Virgin, 1979)
"The Penis Song" performed by Eric Idle from The Meaning of Life Motion Picture Soundtrack (MCA, 1983)
"Go West" performed by the Pet Shop Boys from Very (Remastered) (Parlophone, 2001)

Direct download: YKNT017.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 1:22 AM

Comments[18]

The world would be a better place if more men knit because then we'd get the same shelfspace as golf mags (!) and generally taken more seriously. Plus I think a lot of men could use a little squishy merino in their lives, don't you? A creative outlet, a calm evening... it might even reduce the outbreak of wars! :)

posted by: Sharon Rose on Mon, 1/12 02:11 PM EST

Here! Here! The more guys that knit means lower blood pressure, rhythmic breathing and erupting joy from the beauty dripping from needles - all over the world!

Reduce wars? ERASE wars...

Not to mention that men would finally be compelled to stop the incessant need to fertilize, cut and manicure the suburban green lawn. As knitters, they would erect simple, white picket fences around their newly sod hay yards. The fence would house the Alpacas or Romneys they would have to have (to satisfy their new fiber desires) and the hay would feed them. Their need to be cheap would be satiated because they were doing it with the ultimate DIY status and they would still be in the running with the Jones' and the envy of the block. With all this renewable "green" effort they could claim tax breaks, the government would notice and public lands previously thought to be undesirable would now be Alpaca farms. The yarn industry would boom, more jobs would be created, the economy would rebound and yarn would be plentiful enough that even houses, suspension bridges and baby carriages were made out of it because EVERYONE could afford yarn....

And to think it was all started because it was made MANdatory!

posted by: Charles Clark II on Tue, 1/13 10:58 AM EST

In our house, a man knitting means we all have toasty toes all winter long. I taught my husband to knit four years ago, and he now knits all of our felted clogs (a project that this knitter does not enjoy at all). It's a system that works out VERY well for us, and so I think more men should knit so that they can also help keep their families and friends warm!

posted by: Kristin on Tue, 1/13 11:43 AM EST

More men must knit in order to increase the sane conversation in knitting groups. I am only writing from experience. I am a lone knitter because I do not cluck like the other hens. Roosters where are you???

posted by: Nina on Tue, 1/13 12:22 PM EST

If more guys knit, I'm SURE that chicks would have an easier time finding a fabulous man who knits. That makes sense, right? And they could make us SHAWLS! Therefore, the world would be more beautiful, and that is always a good thing. And if another male knitter wanted a knitting boyfriend, that would work out too. How cute, 2 guys knitting lace on the Bart! It would make other people smile, and that makes the world a better place! And we would all be wrapped in warm, cozy handknits - the best possible outcome!

posted by: the Lady on Tue, 1/13 01:18 PM EST

Oh, how did I know that the Pet Shop Boys were destined to be in this episode?

Let's see...the porn industry would suddenly go down in flames? I know. I am a hideous human being.

posted by: Heather on Tue, 1/13 06:58 PM EST

I honestly think that if more men knit, knitting wouldn\'t constantly be dismissed as \"women\'s work\" and therefore not as valuable as the work a man would do. I also might be able to convince my husband to take it up as a hobby!

posted by: Sarah on Wed, 1/14 01:42 PM EST

Ways the world would be a better place if more men knit:
1. less war and conflict as men knit out their aggression. make tank cozies, not tanks. Instead of wars, armies of soldiers can compete to see who can make the biggest afghan, best fair isle sweater, or laciest shawl.
2. less global warming. If men knit as much as women do, then we'd double the amount of warm woolies in the world and less need to use heating oil or natural gas to heat homes and cars. We'd all be well wrapped in handknit sweaters and blankets. Also more sheep and alpaca and angora bunnies means less cows which means less methane gas. If you know what I mean.
3. There'd be more fun, laughter, sharing, and color in the world because how can you be surrounded by all this beautiful yarn without finally branching beyond grey, brown, and blue?

posted by: red on Wed, 1/14 02:27 PM EST

The world would be a better place if there were more male knitters because then we would get better mens patterns! I am all for male knitters as long as I don't have to share my yarn budget. ;)

posted by: LittleWit on Wed, 1/14 05:21 PM EST

The world would be a better place if more men knit, because those knitters would be a sign that fewer men felt constrained by the gender stereotypes of our society. That would benefit all of us!

posted by: debd94 on Wed, 1/14 07:55 PM EST

If more men knit, knitting would be more widely accepted in meetings, during work breaks etc. In fact, knitting would become a national pastime as well as a national league sport. It would be great when we all will be drinking beer, eating wings while watching the "knitting bowl" on TV.

posted by: monica on Wed, 1/14 09:23 PM EST

If men knit they would learn patience, humility and the power of small things. In our society, men are rarely taught to value these things.

posted by: Laura on Sat, 1/17 12:16 AM EST

The world would be a better place if more men knit as they would understand us women better. They would indeed add some more views of the state of the world, economy, sports, etc. and that's a good thing. It indeed would increase the space for more knitting magazines and books in the store.

posted by: Darlene on Sun, 1/18 07:20 PM EST

More men knitting would mean more funding for the arts simply because more men would understand the joy of creation. More men knitting would mean the creation of more accessible space for dialogue via knitting groups where more of the world's issues could be worked out with fiber and a glass of wine rather than with weapons. hhhmmm... Weapons of Mass Creation... hhhmmmm...

posted by: Shibaguyz on Thu, 1/22 07:30 PM EST

Ha! More men knitting would mean an awful lot of socks in neutral colors given to women as Christmas gifts. On the upside, I think a DIY mentality for both genders would help us a bit with this environmental crisis we're facing.

posted by: Cobbalicious on Fri, 1/23 03:25 PM EST

If more men knit, the odds of finding a significant other who knits would greatly improve...instead of someone who thinks spending 20 hours knitting socks, with yarn that costs more than a already constructed store bought sock, is utterly rediculous.

posted by: Gavia on Sun, 1/25 04:32 PM EST

They couldn't hold a gun and knit at the same time...

posted by: Manisha on Sat, 1/31 10:01 AM EST

I think that the world would be a better place if men knit because knitting is a relaxing and stress reducing pass time. Men need to destress and relax just as much as women do. There would be much better communication between men and women if more men knit.

posted by: BreannaS on Sun, 2/8 01:53 PM EST

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