We sailed on the Norwegian Pearl from Seattle, WA for our cruise of the Inside Passage of Alaska. Something we noticed as we were going through the boarding process (which is similar to going through security at an airport for almost 3000 passengers) was a boarding line with a small sign saying “Welcome knitting group.” We wondered what that was all about. It didn’t take long after boarding for us to see why there was a special line just for them – they were everywhere! They all wore purple lanyards and some had canvas bags and/or sweatshirts with “Stitch and Sail” on the them. Found out they were all part of the group from “
Stitch and Sail to Alaska with Debbie Macomber“. All 300+ of them. I’m not sure if that number included the non-knitting spouses or not, though there were couples where both were knitters or at least worked with fiber.
And yes,
Debbie Macomber was on board, though I don’t think I ever saw her.
Throughout the cruise you would see individuals as well as groups of knitters in all areas of the ship. They had classes going on in different locations during the cruise, and, I understand, special events just for them. Like me some would bring their work with them while they waited for a show to start or while listening to some of the live entertainment that was available, as well as just relaxing around the ship. For some reason a lot of people thought I was with the group, I suppose because the uneducated couldn’t tell what I was doing other than something with “yarn”.
Having breakfast in the Garden Cafe. Check out the lady behind me.
I met Priscilla and Linda, both from the state of Washington (different cities), and asked about the many knitters aboard. We had a nice chat out on the deck about knitting, the cruise, and tatting. Both ladies do many of the fiber arts. Priscilla’s mother taught her knitting, embroidery and crochet, then she learned needle tatting later when she had her own yarn shop so she would to be able to answer questions about it. Linda’s grandmother taught her to knit when she was a child. She has made items from fiber she’s carded, spun and knitted (pretty much doing everything right from the sheep’s back except to actually sheer it). She also knits very fast. A special yarn and shawl pattern were made just for the cruise, and only a few days out Linda was already done with her shawl and was now on to other things.
I met Andy one evening in the Atrium. Both he and his wife knit and came on the cruise together.
He was working on a baby blanket for a grandson due in a few months. He and his wife are owners of “All Strung Out,” a yarn shop in Ontario, Canada.
The Atrium was a nice place to relax and people watch. There was usually some kind of entertainment going on at one end, customer services had desks at the other end, and a lot of people going through from one place to another. I think I spent some time there almost every day, usually with tatting in hand and usually not the only one working with fiber of some kind. I really enjoyed having all those knitters on board and felt a kinship with them, even if I don’t knit.
“When people see me knitting, I tell them I’m a knitter. Not the sort of knitter they may have run into before, but a passionate, constant, deliberate knitter. I knit everyday, all the time, everywhere I go.”
Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
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Wow, 300 knitters. Interesting! So you weren't the only person crafting in public on the cruise.
I've never seen to many people crafting in public! It was neat to see them all over the place.
Very interesting post! It's no wonder people thought you were part of the knitting group!. On the one hand you could tat in peace and quiet, but on he other, no one knew what you were doing, so no one learned about tatting!
I recalled that Debbie Macomber was an important guest at Pittsburgh's Knitting and Crochet Festival in 2014, but although I knew she was a writer of books and of the Hallmark 'Cabot''s Cove' TV series, I didn't meet her (she had left earlier) and I asked my friends why she was there. ( I only attended for a few hours on the last day, where I visit friends from my knitting guild days.) I was told that she is an avid knitter and she gave a speech about knitting being of great help to get her through the grief of losing one of her adult children (she had four).
I've done more research since reading your post, and now realize she lives in Port Orchard, near Seattle, and she owns a knitting supply store, and has always been an avid knitter. Her path to writing fame is quite amazing, and would certainly inspire anyone who wants to be a writer!
So true! I was asked by quite a few but not nearly as many as there would have been without the knitters. I had hear of Debbie Macomber and even read a couple of her books but I didn't know about the knitting at all. I came home and looked her up, too.
Is the woman you pointed out (with an arrow) in one of your photos Debbie Macomber?
No, just a random knitter. I pointed her out because I don't usually see others crafting in public. One of the very few times (outside the cruise) that I have seen people knitting/crocheting/embroidering etc at the table. Except for my sister.