As the mentor of all knitters, Elizabeth Zimmerman, once said, "Knit on, with confidence and hope, through all crises." Well those are good words for this somber holiday season, but a little humor is a welcome break to all the doom and gloom. Even knitters can get in on the comic side of things.
Did you hear the one about the little kids who got lost in the forest?
They found their way home just fine, but when their parents asked what took so long and how come they were naked, they explained that they left a trail along the path by unraveling their wool sweaters and they had to wind the yarn into balls as they walked home.
Fortunately there are some funny knitters who have been writing down their knitting and crochet humor for the rest of us to enjoy.
You probably have become familiar with Stephanie Pearl McPhee's books on the antics of knitting. And now there's Franklin Habit.
"It Itches, A Stash of Knitting Cartoons" by Habit (Interweave Press, $12.95) has just come out, and it will make a nice stocking stuffer for your favorite knitter this holiday season.
This little comic book is full of wonderful pen- and ink-cartoons and essays, all of them featuring knitting, fiber or crafts humor. Habit has a wry wit that fits his sophisticated style and a creative eye that lets him illustrate the stories with talented flair.
Habit learned to knit while a student at Harvard and limited his stitching to scarves, hats and mittens for several years.
He jokes that people would come up to him and comment that it was so nice he was learning to knit, as they just assumed that a guy must be learning and couldn't be a devotee of the craft.
He also admits to knitting in solitude. Perhaps that's why Habit started an online knitting community blog in 2005.
The Panopticon (thepanopticon.blogspot.com) has become a source of humor, gifts for the silly knitter and fiber person, and the place to find Habit's own designs.
You can also find Delores Van Hoofen, Habit's comic sidekick sheep, running through his work.
You can buy tote bags for knitters with her image on them and see her in the cartoons.
Check out Habit's signature images on everything from tote bags for knitting, a mug for your morning cup of coffee, and even political tees for the Fibertarian Party in the Panopticon Shop at www.cafepress.com/60613.
Remember the calendar girls? Some very brave gals in the U.K. made a calendar for charity tastefully featuring themselves nude. Now you can have your very own "beefcake" pinup calendar just for knitters. Habit rounded up some gorgeous hunks with hanks (of yarn!) and has photographed them in a guys-with-yarn calendar for 2009.
The mix of his friends and professional models all knit. The calendar features dates for yarn events and regional fiber gatherings.
Habit is currently working on a project to photograph 1,000 knitters. You can also find him appearing on location at sheep and wool festivals, signing books at yarn stores and even in London hanging out with other knit-loving people.
Enter to win your copy of "It Itches" by counting sheep in the holiday issue of Interweave Holiday Knits Gifts 2008 or by visiting www.knitsgifts.com or www.knittingdaily.com.
More giggles are available at Knitting Humor www.celebratingcesarchavez. com/knitting.html, where you will also find a music CD to knit by, mouse pads for your computer, knitter's puzzles and note cards for knitters.
Whatever makes you laugh, find some time this season to smile, giggle and enjoy yourself.
Catherine Hollingsworth has lived in Alaska for 20 years. She is a professional knitwear designer, past president of knitters of the North and The Alaska State Yarn Council. You can reach her at twosticks@ymail.com. Knitters of the North Guild events:
Christmas Party and open meeting Dec. 13, 1-4 p.m. Pioneer School House at Third Avenue and Eagle Street in Anchorage. For more information call Janice Chulick at 561-3933, or visit the Yahoo Group page at groups.yahoo.com/group/Knitters_North/.
By CATHERINE HOLLINGSWORTH
Daily News correspondent