Ravelry Loves Texas!
February 20th, 2009
We are still reeling from the fabulous weekend we had at the Valentine’s Day “Texas Loves Ravelry” party at The Knitting Nest in Austin (they have an online shop, too!). They gave us a warm Texas welcome and made us feel at home right away - Stacy, the owner of The Knitting Nest, wrote to the office of the Governor, and had us officially declared Honorary Texans, y’all!
Everywhere we looked around the shop, there were special, fun details for the Ravelry party. A banner made from a whimsical drawing of Bob and Hank, the shop dog at The Knitting Nest, drawn by none other than Franklin, was up on the wall for Ravelers to sign (and Jess and Casey to take back to Ravelry World Headquarters). Handknit and fulled stockings, needle-felted with our names and filled with chocolates and Valentines, hung below the banner. Project bags with the Bob & Hank banner were available, and there was even a gift basket filled with doggie treats and toys for Bob!
One of our favorite things to do is get out and meet Ravelers. We hung out at the shop all day, got to look at beautiful projects, connect faces to the avatars and projects, and talk in person with users we’ve known from the forums for months. Such a great time!
There were even sweet dogs at the party, to help keep us from missing Bob and Charlie too much! Sweet Hank, the cutest Westie on the planet, gave us lots of snuggles. Halfway through the day, a lovely Raveler walked into the shop carrying her Boston terrier girl! Jess made a beeline to the front door to give some ear scratchies.
Thank you so much to all the Texas Ravelers who came to say hello, and especially to the staff of The Knitting Nest - we had a great time, and we can’t wait to come back!
Thanks, Stephig, for the last photo of Team Rav! To check out more pictures from our weekend in Austin, you can view the Flickr sets in Jess‘ and Mary-Heather’s photostreams, or by searching Ravelry Weekend on Flickr!
February 20th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Wow! Looks like such a blast!
p.s. I want to know what entrelac-looking patterned scarf the woman with the blond/pink hair next to MH is wearing!
February 20th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
Congrats on being honorary citizens of the greatest state in the union! woot!
February 20th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
We were there, and had a great time!
February 20th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
YAY!!! That was so fun!!
@ TheRedHotKnitter - that’s ME and MY scarf! It’s not any pattern at all, just entrelac, based on a 40 st cast-on and with 8 sts per block.
The yarn is my own handspun, made from white Brown Sheep Mill Ends roving, dyed with WashFast acid dyes, then spun into a fairly soft singles yarn.
The project is here:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ZaftigWendy/entrelac-scarf
February 20th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
I’m sorry that I missed the party, but totally stoked that I got to check out the Knitting Nest while I was in Austin. Thank you Stacy for the project bag!
February 21st, 2009 at 5:54 am
Congruation. That was a great party. Anxious to be involved in.
February 21st, 2009 at 7:47 am
Oh how I would have LOVED to be there! I miss out on so much with a new wee little baby and two toddlers. (I even have a $50 gift card to The Knitting Nest to spend, too!) Y’all will just have to come back.
February 21st, 2009 at 7:47 am
Oh how I would have LOVED to be there! I miss out on so much with a new wee little baby and two toddlers. (I even have a $50 gift card to The Knitting Nest to spend, too!) Y’all will just have to come back.
February 21st, 2009 at 8:46 am
oh how cute is hank?!
looks like great fun!
February 21st, 2009 at 9:12 am
You make me homesick for Texas and all the friendly folk and warm weather! Austin is a great city - I went to college there many years ago when it was still a great city. You went too early for the Texas bluebonnets! You’ll just have to go back in the spring.
The Honorary Texan thing is way cool! (further proof of the friendly state of Texas)
February 21st, 2009 at 9:29 am
I am sad that I never made it to The Knitting Nest before I left Austin. Now I’m a little homesick too! Looks like it was a great time.
February 21st, 2009 at 10:14 am
Looks like a nice happening and a beautiful shop. I have been in Austin in July 2009. Have been searching on the web for yarn shops, but seems like I have missed this one.
If I ever get back to Austin, I will certainly look for it.
February 21st, 2009 at 10:50 am
That t-shirt is great! A knitter’s take on “Keep Austin Weird!”
Love Austin-getting homesick for it and I’ve only visited once!
February 21st, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Beauty! Looks like you had a great party! What fun. Thx for the great pix!
February 21st, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Aw, looks like you guys had a great time!
When are you coming to Cincinnati? LOL - I’m just kidding. But seriously - when are you coming? :D
February 21st, 2009 at 1:08 pm
It was such a joy to have y’all there!! I miss y’all already!
February 21st, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Wow! There is no welcome in the world like a Texas Welcome! DH and I traveled all over the US and found Texas to be the friendliest, most heartwarming place ever. Just reading the account of your visit makes me miss that big ol’ state!
Those folks in Austin really know how to show some Ravelry love, don’t they?
February 21st, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Hey that’s me and my handspinning daughter up there! We had such a blast, and it was so nice too meet all of you! Come back to Texas soon!
February 21st, 2009 at 1:34 pm
I love these postings of the outings the Ravelry group get to do. They really make me feel that I am part of a huge family and that we are related! Great pictures! Thanks for sharing!
February 21st, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Hello,
Beautiful items at your store and how fun this would be.
Wish there were stores like this where I live.
How come don’t have a store on etsy?
Thanks
February 22nd, 2009 at 10:28 am
Right back at ya from Texas!! Wish I could have been there. Next time you’ll have to come to our place just west of Houston!!
February 22nd, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Texas does love Ravelry! And this is one desperately misplaced Texan longing for one of those project bags! Anyone having information on how I could buy one of these, or if you’re willing to sell yours, do PM me, won’t you?
February 22nd, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Boston terrier? Isn’t that a West Highland terrier? I have two Westies, so I know them pretty well. Adorable dog, whatever it is.
February 22nd, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Oh, never mind, I should read more carefully!!
February 22nd, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Sounds like everyone had a big ol’ yee-haw time!! I wish I could have been there but I’m up in Dallas and Austin is 5 hours away. :(
Hope you guys come to Dallas someday!
February 22nd, 2009 at 8:36 pm
I moved away from Austin just before the Knitting Nest opened. :( Enjoy your signed declarations from Governor Goodhair!
February 22nd, 2009 at 9:24 pm
glad you had a good time in my great state! austin is too much fun- haven’t been to the nest yet, we’ll have to make another trip down.
psssst, future reference… REAL Texans know the proper spelling is: ya’ll (just sayin’ ;-P )
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:54 am
Come to Tennessee already!! :D
February 23rd, 2009 at 1:48 pm
How cool! I LOVE Austin, it’s one of my favorite cities! The next time I’m in town, I’m going to check out the Knitting Nest. :)
February 24th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
How fun! And also, I spy ZaftigWendy. :)
February 24th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Looks like a great fun place. Will have to visit next trip to Austin. Thanks for sharing!!!!
February 25th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Sweet Hank the Westie is a cutie! How great to see knitting and doggies together, what a great combo!!!
February 26th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
I love the story on this store. Looks like a fun place to be. Their website is adorable…one of the better ones that I’ve seen. I looks as if their online shop is all handled thru Ebay which has tons of Cascade 220 and Baby Ull. Do they not have shopping thru their website or did I miss something.
February 26th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
I’m originally from Texas and this is one of my favorite places to shop when I return for visits. I always feel welcomed…so stop by when you’re in town.
February 27th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
That store makes me want to buy more yarn (that I don’t need). Casey, Jess, and Crew…I hope you realize how much we love you, and Ravelry, and the community that you have helped we knitters to become!!!
February 28th, 2009 at 10:49 am
Mary-Heather, your last name is my maiden name; imagine my shock at seeing Cogar in an unexpected place! Forgive my inquisitiveness, please, but I thought there were so few of us! My branch of the family originally came from Webster Springs, West Virginia. I wonder how many degrees of separation there are between us!
February 28th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
I’m so glad you enjoyed your visit! Austin is such a great place and I’m so impressed with the pics from the store. Next time I make it down there I must find time to go, and I’m off to hit the website now! Congrats on your honorary citizenship…y’all are always welcome! (Sorry, I’m a native Texan but insist on spelling y’all properly. =) )
March 4th, 2009 at 11:47 am
I’m a brand new member and just got onto the site for the first time and I couldn’t believe what I saw..the first words I read were “ravelry loves texas”! I’m a native Texan, currently living in Galveston, and seeing that made me feel so welcomed! I’ll actually be in Austin next month and will have to check out the Knitting Nest! Keep up the good work! :)
March 5th, 2009 at 11:16 am
Yep, We had a great time. My Boston Terrier looked like she wasn’t but she was beautiful with the crowd.
You can spell ya’ll correctly, but can you explain the phrase :I’m fixin’ to” to a complete stranger from another country,I mean, state??!!!
March 5th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Awwwwwwww MAN! Looks like I joined just barely too late! I’m only an hour away from Austin; I would have loved to participate in something like this. Do it again soon, okay? I’ll be there next time for sure!
March 7th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
I wish I were still in Austin!!!! I worked for 7 yrs. off Far West and Mopac. Boy would you be in trouble!!!!
I am now in Wyoming and would like to know more about how you set up this party. Our shop here struggles, yet there are alot of knitters in the city who don’t use her services. She is a great person and would do anything she could for a customer. Thought this might be a fun thing. When you have a minutes, which I know are few, would you send me some tips, etc.
Like I said I loved Austin but I have MS so needed to get out of the heat and also I needed to get closer to family.
Thanks and it looks like a great shop.
Marsha
March 9th, 2009 at 7:31 am
Knitting sounds fun, but I’m afraid I’m useless at it :(
March 9th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Love the pasties!! Haha!!
March 10th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Hi, I travel to Austin 4-6 times a year and have been looking for a fun knitting store in the area. Can’t wait to visit fellow Ravelry fans.
March 10th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Oh, I am adding this on my list of placing to check out in Austin when we head up there in 2 weeks!
March 10th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
I want to live in Austin!! SUCH a cool yarn place…nowhere around HERE like that!! (and it’s much warmer there). This is like the 4th time this city has come to my attention in less than a week. Is it kismet?
March 10th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
I wish I had been able to make it. Looks like you all had a wonderful time.
March 11th, 2009 at 8:42 am
Ladies,
Great article about your trip to Austin. Looks like everyone had a wonderful time. But more than anything, I want to thank you for ravelry.com! I love this site and get inspired every time I log on. You do amazing work and it is appreciated!
March 11th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
that t-shirt should say, Keep Austin in Stitches