Ann's By Design Celebrates World Wide Knitting In Public Day!

Saturday, June 18 was World Wide Knit In Public Day.  I hope all of you had a favorite place to celebrate everything fiber and show off your skills and the art of knitting.  This was Ann's By Design second year to host knitters to exhibit their love of touching and creating beautiful things out of beautiful fiber.  I had to stop and reminisce about the past year and the family that has been built at Ann's By Design.  It is just like the friendships created in the book The Friday Night Knitting Club.  Last year at this time, I didn't know most of these ladies' names but now I feel like we are sisters brought together by a lovely little shop and its wonderful owners.  My intent was to help Ann for a year get her business off the ground.  Now I can't imagine life without the warm, accepting, supportive family that has grown around Ann's By Design.  Now let's seeing exactly what happened on WWKIP 2016.
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This is a picture from last year.  Ceil is the person on the left.  Ceil didn't join  us this year because her nephew got married on June 18.  Ceil was not happy.  She wondered if maybe the wedding couldn't be moved.  We know Ceil will be with us next year for sure.

Even dogs love to knit in public!  This beautiful 9 month old golden doodle was a welcome visitor.  His coat was so beautiful, I think he would knit up into a beautiful cowl.  Then you would carry that wonderful puppy smell around with you.  

This was the party stop.  Lots of laughter, lots of knitting, lots of fun.  In the blue hat is my knitting buddy Thea.  Fun follows Thea.  She is one terrific person and part of the Ann's By Design family.  Notice the sun in the back ground then look up at the picture from last year.  Last year was cold and drizzly.  Not enough rain to send people inside but enough to make it unpleasant.  This year was beautiful.  Our plan was to fill the park benches around down town Adrian.  We assigned benches, gave people treats and we thought they would be on their way.  Until knitters came in asking if they could find a different bench not in the sun.  Last year we didn't even have to think about being out of the sun.  What a difference a year makes. It was a beautiful day to be knitting in public.

Sitting on this bench is Emma our youngest participant and the one who traveled the farthest.  Emma is visiting her Grandma for a few weeks and is going to knit something for her Mom while she's here.  Isn't that a great idea.  After WWKIP was over, they came back to the shop and Emma got to choose a knitting bag and yarn.  What a great Grandma! Sue on the left is the first person in my Block Of The Month to finish her afghan.  It is beautiful.  

There it is finished!  She did such a great job on every facet of the project.  

Isn't downtown Adrian lovely.  With the benches and the trees.  In the purple on the right is Dawn.  Dawn is one of our teachers at Ann's By Design.  She teaches beginning knitting and crochet.  Next to Dawn is her friend Deb.  Doesn't that look peaceful!?!?! It could have been any day and I could have said, "In purple on the right is Dawn."  Dawn loves purple.

The peace was interrupted by a Fire Department Parade.  The Adrian Fire Department was celebrating an anniversary (maybe 100) and every village, town and township in the county had a fire engine in the parade, all of them revving up their sirens.  I told Ann I thought it was great that she arranged a parade for WWKIP.  I bet we were the only registered sight which had our very own parade.  

​I didn't get to knit in public but I had a ball.  I visited all of the participants and minded the store so Ann and Phil could visit also.

This is Sue in the teal on the left and her friend Dawn.  I think they both have been in the crochet class.  I have known Sue for years.  She is funny, friendly and full of life. (You didn't think I could get by without an alliteration, did you?!?!?!)  Aren't knitters and crocheters the happiest looking people?  It is the Zen, the Yoga, the rhythm and the magic of the obsession which creates the smiles.   

Some sat on benches and some brought their own chairs, but a good time was had by all.  Until next year, do what you love, buy what you love and knit in public every chance you get.  WE MUST PASS ON OUR OBSESSION!

I will close with quotes from my very favorite greeting card.  One I have given to many, many people.

"There's a fine line between hobby and mental illness."  Dave Berry

"I walk the line."  Johnny Cash

That says it all for me.