Letters
Knitting in Real Time
Dear Ann,
Sometimes there are nice synchronicities. The other day, I posted on Instagram a status photo of my fast-growing Metronome scarf, and someone commented that they felt like they are watching me knit it in real time. Then, yesterday, a kind reader emailed us a link to the fabulous news that, beginning on August 1, Netflix will be streaming a selection of Norway’s Slow TV programs, including National Knitting Evening (beginning on August 5). The ultimate real-time knitting adventure.
What is National Knitting Evening? Why, it’s twelve hours of Norway’s participation in an international sheep-to-jumper competition. It starts with shearing the sheep, then spinning yarn directly from the fleece (carding is forbidden). All this happens at the pace at which these tasks actually are accomplished.
In terms of sheer excitement, National Knitting Evening is right up there with the mighty trilogy, National Firewood Morning, National Firewood Evening, and National Firewood Night. (These involve–you guessed it–chopping firewood. Here’s Stephen Colbert’s review of National Firewood Night.)
I did some googling, and I have fantastic news. We don’t need Netflix! Norway lets us stream all of National Knitting Eve, in five handy chunks, right here. I’m only about a half hour in, but can report that the narration is in English. There is some trash-talking directed at the standing record-holder, Australia (“you don’t ski, so we will have to beat you at knitting.”)
It’s pretty riveting stuff. Spinning, knitting and cheery chat galore. Enjoy!
The other real-time knitting, my Metronome summer scarf/shawl/scawl, is progressing apace. Here is documentation of the moment yesterday evening when I was poised on the precipice of starting the final border stripe, in Berroco Indigo, shade Overall.
(Note: I did five stripes of Color 1, instead of the prescribed six stripes. I have plenty of yarn but I don’t want my Metronome to get too heavy.) Today I will be in the car for nine hours to bring a boy back from Vermont, and I feel sure of finishing Metronome the First. I’ve packed my precious wheel of Jill Draper Makes Stuff Rifton, and hope to get Metronome the Second cast on, and some solid progress made. The clever trick of Metronome’s no-cut intarsia is second nature now. Doesn’t everybody do it this way?
Love,
Kay
I think I might have to try Metronome just to learn this no cut intarsia method! Have a safe drive!
I watched it live when it was on tv,it was awesome!
Oh,and the other day when i was on a hike i met a bunch of sheeps, made me think of this blog 🙂
I’m a crossword puzzle fanatic and “apace” is one of my least favorite words. And you used it in a sentence! I’m going to queue up some of those slow TV shows for this winter – still lost in the garden.
I am mesmerized with the spinning! Thanks for the link. The haircuts are great, the sweaters beautiful and the spinning divine. Total relaxation, watching this process.
Is the National Knitting Evening only 1 year? Went to the site and it listed 2013, hoping that NetFlix is for this year. Love your Metronome, can’t wait to see the colors of the next one.
Wow! Slow tv! Real time knitting challenges! These are totally new concepts to me, and I am hooked. Thank you from the bottom of my lazy Saturday-afternoon heart!
Ha! I thought that title sounded familiar. I’m typing in real time while I read about your real time shawl while I fantasize about knitting while watching Norwegian real time knitting this afternoon. It’s so meta!
I almost missed this fine print at the top of the page: “Best news all day: Clif’s friend is out of ICU, so much better.”
Hurray!!!!!
How come the shearing and spinning is in English but the knitting is in Norwegian? (Aside from the fact that it’s in Norway, duh.) Wonder if the Netflix version has subtitles?
Yes. I watch it on Netflix and you can enable subtitles. Love all the SLOW videos. Checkout Telemark Canal which is also SLOW TV on Netflix. I watch it a lot. So fun and relaxing.
Ah, the combination of Rifton and automotive air conditioning. . .add free Wi-Fi so you can watch National Knitting Evening in the car, and all you’d need would be indoor (in-car?) plumbing!
This is crazytown!
I know I am a novice when it comes to all areas involved here but I’m in total shock of what I’m watching. The sheep is just hanging out inside this giant factory getting a haircut and then the wool literally becomes yarn seconds later. How is this animal so docile? Do they not need to clean anything? Is it really that simple to just feed it into the machine and you’ve got yarn? I have so many questions.
The sheep’s name is Guri and she is indeed a lovely girl and so sweet.
Thanks for the link, I enjoyed watching the spinning, shearing, knitting and handknits on display. In the US we have “Sheep to Shawl” competitions.
I hope for only glad tidings from Vermont. Three weeks really so fast..?
Thanks so much for the link to Norwegian Slow Knitting Television. While watching/listening I was able to spin 1/2 pound Cotswold/BFL/Rambouillet!!
Many good thoughts to young man and his family and friends.
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I am watching this now, and it is very intersting. I do know that at the Maryland Sheep and Wool festival, there is a “sheep to shawl” contest, similar idea. I’ve never watched this, but would like to one day.
Not to be outdone, but in Denmark, they have the knitting equivalent of “so you think you can dance..knit”
Check this out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxpcuCPMLps
Hi Kay and everyone,
I just cast on my first Metronome (and we are having a mini kal in the Ravelry group should anyone care to join) and was wondering if a second circ for the last row of the stripe to avoid all that stitch slipping would be a good idea?
Hi, Enjoying the competition! It is very interesting. Is there a place online where we can see the pattern they are using for the sweater?
Wowser! Watching this now while knitting the Quaker Yarn Stretcher scarf and drinking my coffee from a realug, not a travel plastic paper container. My goodness, I’m in love. This program is…… comfortable; inspiring; fun! And now I want to wear a Norwegian sweater!! Can’t get enough.
I mean to say drinking coffee from a real mug. Darn auto wording!
Dear Kay and Ann, Thank you for sharing this link. I didn’t realize but it happened three years ago. I watched the link from your blog and then the beginning (don’t know how I missed that) from Netflix. I left a comment on #nrkstrikk and #knittv. It was a awesome and eye opening experience watching the entire process from sheep to sweater. I looked to see if I could find the pattern if it was listed but did not. I’m going to see if there are any other posted.
Thank you again and love seeing what you ladies have created. I have two of your books.
eleonora