Four years ago last November, I read Debbie Stoller’s Stitch ‘n Bitch, pretty much cover-to-cover. Finding no such group in Salt Lake City, I followed her detailed instructions and started one. I talked to the owner of a small coffee shop in my neighborhood about the possibility of a knit night. He generally closed up shop at eight p.m., but said he’d stay open later for us. Then I made several flyers and dropped them off at the local knit shops, advertising the group as liberal and feminist, but calling it a “stitch ‘n b*tch” to offend fewer people. Lastly, I started a Yahoo group, and invited everyone I could think of who might be interested.
I nervously showed up that first night in January 2004, only to find the coffee shop dark and apparently deserted. Before I could seriously panic, someone inside turned on the lights and unlocked the door. The owner was sick, but a friend of his agreed to cover for him. He didn’t know much about running a coffee shop, but at least our first meeting could go forward.
That first night, Margene was there, a familiar face I knew from the needlepoint guild. And my dear Steph (miss you). Did I meet Susan that night? If not, then soon after. Eileen, too, and, before long, Michaele. And soon Katherine, who “gets” me better than anyone. And many others who have moved on but who were there at the beginning, or the middle—and new faces nearly every week.
At first we met every other week, but that didn’t last for long. Soon it was every Tuesday, officially from seven to nine but more likely to be 6-ish to 10-ish.
I’ve learned so much from these women (and the occasional man), and not just about knitting (though I’ve learned LOADS about knitting). They’ve been my advisors and touchstones, encouraging and supporting me through the dissolution of my marriage and the birth of my business. I’d be lost without them–no exaggeration.
Last night we celebrated four years.
I started a tradition, of sorts, of bringing a little gift for everyone. One year it was Fun Fur (Margene hated that); last year I created hand knit for them, and this year I brought some shea butter salve scented with hand knit. It was an experiment–they’re willing guinea pigs. It’s not quite right, but I’ll try again.
We continued our knit-swap tradition this year–and I took home Eileen’s beautiful envelope purse. I believe it’s knit with Tartelette ribbon, but I’m not entirely sure. It’s just lovely, though. And that button is perfect.
Hey, friends–do you remember how you first learned of the SLC-SNB? Eileen, weren’t you living in Utah county then? How’d you find out? Susan? Kat? Everyone? Let me know.
I love you guys grrls. With extra “grrrr.”
Margene ~ It just wasn’t right without you. Please feel better.
Comments 22
You have a wonderful group out there and I feel privileged to have joined you once last September. The night must have been weird (and sad) without Margene.
Posted 10 Jan 2008 at 4:39 am ¶I’m a willing guinea pig, too. Just saying.
Margene had already enlisted me before I lived in SLC. How about them’s apples?
Sorry I missed the festivities. I need to convince everyone to move to the boonies with me, I guess.
Posted 10 Jan 2008 at 6:22 am ¶Thank-you for putting up some wonderful photos of everyone, and I’m really sorry to have missed the hand balm gift. I still have the bar of hand knit soap so that I can smell it when needed, its wonderful. Thank-you for taking the initiative and starting the group, thanks to Bruce for letting us stay the extra hour, and I miss you all so much.
Posted 10 Jan 2008 at 8:21 am ¶Anne in Calgary
I’m so sorry I wasn’t there! Thank you for taking the first step, for starting the group and bringing us all together. What haven’t we been through as a group? It’s so marvelous to have the best grrls in SLC as friends.
Posted 10 Jan 2008 at 8:36 am ¶Susan came after I started my blog…in March of that year. It’s been fabulous! Thank you so much Laurie, thank you!
Thank you Laurie, for being the mother of us all! And for finding the perfect place for us to meet - Bruce and the Jitterbug are the best!
I’m so glad you had your camera, and even got a photo of Warren!
I found the group through Margene, after emailing her when I found her blog.
Posted 10 Jan 2008 at 8:47 am ¶Baby, you are a true giraffe — you stuck your neck out and look what you did! Four years later and still going strong! Congratulations!
Posted 10 Jan 2008 at 8:54 am ¶Sweet! Congratulations to all of you!
Posted 10 Jan 2008 at 9:22 am ¶How about an SLC-SNB field trip down to Boulder (Utah)??? I’d be glad to set it up, get a discounted room package, etc. just a thought…it’s beautiful down here and quiet… just perfect for knitting and hootin’ ‘n hollerin’…
Awwww. You make me cry! (must be in a maudlin mood =).
Thank you SO much for starting our group. I don’t know where I’d be without it. I miss being with everyone on Tuesday nights whenever I can’t make it. I love the confused reactions I get when I tell people that I have a social knitting group. But, it is this kind of thing that is exactly what our world needs: knitting together like & differently-minded people. We start where we are. The fact that we make beautiful objects and have a lot of fun is just icing.
I’ve never lived in Utah county, thankfully. Glad you like the ribbon bag, I spent at least an hour picking out that button.
Cheers to you in 2008!
Posted 10 Jan 2008 at 9:33 am ¶I have NO idea how I found out about the group. I was a regular denizen of Yahoo Groups at the time and may have just stumbled. But I did show up the first night, I do recall that.
Didn’t you advertise in Catalyst or something?
Posted 10 Jan 2008 at 9:35 am ¶I’m so grateful to you, Fearless Founder!
I found out about the group when researching our move from the Bay Area to Utah–went to Stoller’s site and looked up the link to the Yahoo group. I actually signed up before we moved, it’s been 2.5 years.
I’m so happy to have found you all!
Posted 10 Jan 2008 at 10:05 am ¶I saw the flyers when I was at a LYS (Black Sheep maybe?). But I didn’t decide to show up until Margene emailed me in March and twisted my arm. She found me through my blog.
Posted 10 Jan 2008 at 11:00 am ¶Congratulations! (And yeah, it was that Caroline. Duh, forgot to link her.)
Posted 10 Jan 2008 at 12:17 pm ¶Oh man. Who knew it would turn into this. I went to a meeting soon after you first started, but I got a little scared off, I have to admit.
But I tried again, and look what’s become of it.
We’ve been through a lot–even lost one of our own for forever, though I know he lives on in our hearts.
I’m forever grateful to you myself. When I’ve thought of moving from SLC, the first thing to cross my mind is that I would miss The Grrrls too, too much, maybe more than anything else the city.
Love you, Laurie babe.
Posted 10 Jan 2008 at 1:07 pm ¶I’m all verklempt.
Posted 10 Jan 2008 at 8:07 pm ¶P.S. I love the shea butter salve. I put a tiny bit on my finger and use it to smooth out my undereye concealer. Can’t let those wrinkles get the best of me.
Posted 10 Jan 2008 at 8:29 pm ¶I found you grrls through your yahoo group, after falling in love with Susan’s Branching Out scarf. I had never knit anything from a pattern before and really had no idea how to start. So I got some yarn and my needles and headed to the coffee shop. It took me three separate trips before I was brave enough to actually walk through the door (darn anxiety disorder). Once I actually made it inside I pulled out my supplies and stared at them until Teri asked if I needed help. My addiction has grown since then
Posted 10 Jan 2008 at 8:44 pm ¶Miss you grrls!
Ha, ha… love Carole’s remarks! But then, I feel the same way, having such fun when I was a guest last April and came away with some of your giveaway yarns (I still will finish that purse for you, I promise!)… good on you to have been the initiator of so much joy!
Posted 13 Jan 2008 at 11:01 am ¶Thanks so much for the group and thanks for the balm. It smells so delicious.
It was so good to be back after a long break and find everything just about the same.
I am not sure exactly how I found out about the group but it was all tied in with Stephanie Pearl-McPhee’s visit in 2006.
Posted 13 Jan 2008 at 4:27 pm ¶I found the group through the SnB website. I knew about it for about 6 months or so before I dared come. I am so glad I did. You know, I think one reason I haven’t ventured into a knitting group in CO is because I am convinced I was already in the best one there is. Miss you guys!
Posted 14 Jan 2008 at 10:52 pm ¶Miss you too, Erin! I remember the first time I met you (and Cara), at the World Wide Knit in Public event at the Farmer’s Market. That was a fun day! We were all so impressed by your mad knitting skillz.
Posted 14 Jan 2008 at 11:23 pm ¶Right after we moved here from WA State, I saw a notice in (I think) SL Weekly, which said that there was a SnB group meeting on Tuesdays that was really fun “especially if you like hanging out with a bunch of opinionated feminists” (I’m paraphrasing here). I excitedly showed my husband and told him I’d be busy Tuesday nights from now on. “Great,” he said, “just what you need — more encouragement.” While he meant to be humorous, he was right — you grrrls have been essential to my feeling “at home” here in all the weirdness that is Utah. Thanks, y’all, and especially to you, sistah.
Posted 31 Jan 2008 at 9:06 am ¶I am so honored that you put me in with such amazing company. You know that this group is what made my year in Utah so very, very special. I love you all so much! Thanks for starting it all!
Posted 20 Feb 2008 at 5:24 pm ¶Trackbacks & Pingbacks 1
[...] Stitch ‘n Bitch group. Laurie, who started the group, has a great post about the festivities here. As part of the fun, we held a one-skein [...]
Post a Comment