Quilting

Hey Flan-
I feel as if I have been Alice and the past four days were a fall down the rabbit hole. I did, however, learn a vast amounts about "string" quilts, and discovered some things about quilters.
As compared to knitters, quilters...
1. Love Cotton Always (here that Cotton haters at MN LYS- they LOVE it)
2. Have absolutely no fear of cutting (they even have multiple types of scissors- shudder)
3. Can, and do, work happily on gargantuan projects even in the godawful heat and humidity of the summer because their work never ever heats up their laps, even if it's a king sized bohemeth made up of postage sized bits.
4. Not scared of a single moth.
5. Would never ever dream of walking on their creation (I mentioned something about this to one of the quilters and she looked at me in utter horror, "you walk on your knitting?!?!?" I reminded her of socks, but she was still horrified)

HOWEVER...
Knitters
1. Have WAY less crap. One needle with two pointy ends (or two pointy sticks if you're particular) and one ball of yarn. That's all we need. Something that can be carried in a regular sized pocket. Quilters require table, machine, thred, thread scissors, fabric scissors, pins, extension cords, lots and lots and lots and lots of fabric, plus an iron, ironing board, felt board, stencils, rotary cutter (the lethal-ist pizza cutter I've ever seen), board to protect surface from cutter, chair and lighting. Not something you can just whip out whilst waiting in line or while being driven around.
2. Knitting (unless you're finishing) does NOT require sewing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO sewing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3. - 12. See part two.
13. Quilts, although they can be extended to random (and often scary) bits of clothing (i.e. the quilted vest) are largely intended for beds. Possibly wallhangings, but generally they are in the blanket category. Knit wear extends the gambit of clothing choices, from head to toe, plus there are all the knits for the pets and for the home. A varitable plethora of options. PLUS after knitters slog away for 1,297 hours we get to show off our creation in public, instead of having to traipse everyone through the bedroom (generally frowned upon- especially in the South)
14. Knitters do their 1,297 hours worth of work, including the dreaded sewing up, and are DONE. Quilters do their 1,297 hours worth of work and are only done with the top. They still have to get the backing and then put the damn thing together (or pay someone hundreds of dollars to do it for them) Not very economical.

My brain is so fried I had better stop now. When I have the photo of my completed top (which I was "encouraged" (in that nice, non-optional way) to stay an extra two days to finish) I will post it and let you witness the creation for yourself.

Your weekend seems so much more exciting than mine was. Are there requirements for spinning wheels? If not I will set The MIL on the case. She is extremely good at finding random objects from second hand and antique stores.

I'm off to have a lie down. But first, thank you thank you thank you for the care package!! Nothing has ever come at a better time, nor was more welcome that the happy little wrapped packages. After four days down the rabbit hole, then a drive home that took an extra 45 minutes (a seven mile bridge, going 5-10 miles an hour, takes how long?? That's right, long enough to make you finish the book on tape, wonder if your car is going to overheat, and swear at the coffee gods for having chosen a size larger than small, and curse the male gender because if they had to go they would just go over the side of the bridge), coupled with hunger and general frustration at The Hubby who, apparently, lost all ability and knowledge for how the dishes (and everything else) are cleaned, added up to a whole new mental state that was saved by the delightful care package. Thanks.