July 13, 2004
Welcome, Southern Knit Bloggers!
I've noticed many blogs I've read are members of various webrings, New England Knits, California Knitters, QueerKnits, Friend of Queer Knits, Knitting with Feet...just kidding about that last one. Seems like there's one for every cause and geographical location. Anyway, tooling around on the net, I discovered no such webring for Southerners, so I thought I'd start one. Now, I know nothing about starting a webring, but I had wanted to make a button, and one thing led to another...and suddenly I'm hosting a webring.
So, if you want to join it, you must be patient with me.
Here are my rules, such as they are. These may change as I see fit.
1) You must be a resident of one of the following states: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee. I don't remember my Confederate history very well, so one or more of these sites may not technically be Southern, but this isn't that kind of site, people. Heck, if you were born in, or even near, the South and consider yourself Southern, we'll letcha in. I left Lower Alabama in the third grade, but if people ask me where I'm from, I'll still say "Butler County." That's the way it works around these parts. Roots run deep. And wide. Real wide. Heck, dig deep enough and we're probably all related anyway.
2) You must write a blog that is primarily about knitting and/or spinning. I mean, I don't spin, but if you're into that kind of thing, hey, more power to ya. Or let's say you're just trying to get more fiber in your diet. If you ask nicely, we might let that one slide, too.
I mean, really, none of us can be held responsible for going off on a tangent. If so, my grandmother would have been kicked out of the fambly long ago.
3)The ring code should be visible on your page. Do I really have to say this? I mean, what's the point of joining the ring if you don't use the code? In case you're one of those Southerners with a low tooth-per-head count, the one who always gets interviewed in the trailer park after a tornado with curlers on her head, and you need things spelled out like that for you, well, it's been said. Consider yourself warned.
4) I think I'm insulting all Southerners by saying this, but in case some roving band of KKKK group (knitting Ku Klux Klan) decides to take this ring on as their personal platform, this isn't any kind of heritage-ist, white supremacist, segregationist web ring, so just get those thoughts right out of your head. If you immediately conjure up those images about the South, then you should visit us occasionally. We're no worse off than other parts of the country as far as idiots go. But, if you're in the ring and you're going to be rude to anyone, you're going to make the rest of us look bad, so please refrain from doing so. We've got an image problem, people, and you're not helping matters. If it gets bad enough, you may be asked to leave the group and nobody wants that.
Act right like our mammas taught us.
5) Consider welcoming new members real friendly-like, like with a virtual "Hey," a clever pitcher postcard, or an electronic casserole using a recipe from the latest Southern Living. Maybe if you're feeling especially productive and generous, you could knit them a mailbox cozy or something. Hospitality, people, that's what we're known for, and we've got to protect the shreds of positive image we have left. We're all in this together and it'll all come back to you eventually. Hence the "ring" part of this gig. Get it? Cyclical. That's what it's about.
Look to the right and also above for the button. Please just take the button already. Linking to the image is impolite and uses up my bandwidth. If you have another button you'd like to submit, please do so and I'll put it up. We like buttons, especially when we have choices!
Welcome, friends, and join the club.
I've made additional buttons on the side over there. The text is a little hard to read on some of them, but I don't have time today to redo them. Check back in a few days for some revisions and possibly more buttons!!
Thanks, Lisa, for pointing out my oversight. Maryland is also a Southern state. All you Marylandians come aboard!
Posted by Rachel at July 13, 2004 09:23 AMOk, I'm a Nawthenah, through and through, and never feel at all comfortable south of the Mason-Dixon Line (more than slight hyperbole there, but you know what I'm sayin'), but I tell you, after reading your rules, your HILARIOUS mission, and your reasons for starting this webring, I just WISH I was from the south. Is 10 miles south of the Canadian border in Vermont south enough? (I fear not.) And I love it that you started this because you wanted to make a button. I do that all the time in my decorating. Get, like, a new toothbrush in a color I really LOVE, and decorate the bathroom around it. Yeah, Baby. Good luck with it!
Posted by: Norma at July 13, 2004 09:52 PMYay! A knitting ring for us! I was feeling left out without an appropriate regional ring. I've signed up!
Posted by: Wendy at July 14, 2004 07:19 AMAnd Wendy's led me here, too. Thanks, Rachel! (And I'm glad to have discovered your blog in the process~)
Posted by: maggi at July 14, 2004 08:10 AMDo transplanted Yankees with an affinity for Southern Culture qualify? I have more than adequate training in Southern colloquialisms (quaint and otherwise)and a love of fried okra (and sweet tea, and 'nana puddin' and fried green tomatoes, and Bailey White). And I believe "ya'll" is the best contraction ever invented. What'ya say?
Posted by: Mercedes at July 14, 2004 09:59 AMWendy's site got me here, too! I'm a Southerner by marriage (got me a genuine Southern Gentleman, born and bred in Georgia) and the part where my dad retired from the Army while in Georgia. Of course, except for that stint in Germany, I've always lived in the south (Georgia, Texas, North Carolina, South Korea ;) ). So glad there's a web-ring just for us. Kudo's Rachel!
Posted by: Melissa at July 14, 2004 02:52 PMI just signed up ya'll!! Its great to see this! I host the Texas Knitters webring.
*brings a green bean casserole to the party*
Posted by: KnitSteph at July 14, 2004 04:16 PMYay! I'm still a brand spankin' new southerner (4 years and counting) - but lovin' it and working on my accent. ;-)
Posted by: Jenanne at July 14, 2004 10:31 PMHi Rachel, what a good idea! I will be moving to GA at the end of the year and will join the ring. I am from OK, does that count??? Wendy linked to ya, hope a bunch of new folks check out yer perty blog. ;-)
Posted by: jenny at July 15, 2004 03:12 PMBless you - I've wondered where the blogring for our regional area was! Whilst I was not born in the South I've spent over half of my life here in Georgia. I hope that counts. Now that might not hold a lot of water here 'cause being birthed here is all that counts - but one sweet native told me that "after twenty years of living here - consider yourself adopted" And I LOVE grits, eat burgers WITH slaw, and my kid wants to go to UGA - please let me in!
Posted by: lillium at July 15, 2004 04:36 PMHey Rachel, I'm a new knitter and a new blogger, but a relatively "old" southerner. =) I'd love to join.
Posted by: katie J at July 16, 2004 11:12 AMHey there! I just joined! I'm your Southern neighbor and your prettyposies neighbor too! And I love the Dixie Sticks button.
Great idea :)
Posted by: Carrie at July 16, 2004 02:16 PMWow, ya'll! Look who all showed up! I'm so happy to see everybody showing interest. The webring, en mi opinion, was long overdue, as was the bringing of casseroles with French fried onion rings on top to a virtual soiree. I'm just tickled to see this group gathered here today.
I'm getting around to emailing everyone all personal like, but bear with me, I've sudden broken out all over with social engagements. It's strange how when it rains, it pours.
If you haven't clicked "join", that'll be the first step to becoming a member. No Kool-aid or creepy tennis shoes involved, just some Corningware and sweet tea.
Posted by: Rachel at July 16, 2004 05:07 PMI may live in Oklahoma now,but I am a native Tennessean, and that is where my heart is. Where oh where do I sign up?
Posted by: Janine at July 17, 2004 12:54 AMHey there! Would really love to join... how do I sign up?
Posted by: Angela at July 17, 2004 04:26 PMdon't forget Maryland! it is below the Mason-Dixon line and, thus, a southern state!
Posted by: shobhana at July 18, 2004 09:22 AMhey there,
are there any members with a typepad plus account who can tell me how to add the code to my blog?
thanks!
Posted by: shobhana at July 18, 2004 09:29 AMYay, this is so great!! I'm in New Orleans, and I'd love to join!! I'm working on posting the button, but just wanted to thank you for the great idea!
HLS
Posted by: Heather at July 21, 2004 08:07 AMI live in texas right now but have also lived in NC and OKlahoma. Yee haw!!! Can I join??
Posted by: marlo at July 21, 2004 11:00 AMI am Tennessean, born and bred! I would love to join your webring. :D My blog isn't just about knitting but it ends up about all I talk about anyway.
Posted by: Wahooni at July 23, 2004 06:59 PMWell, dang... I am a Southerner, and I do knit, but my blog is *very* off-topical (I think I just made that word up). Oh well, best of luck to y'all anyway! :)
Posted by: Gina at July 28, 2004 02:18 PMSweetie, where's the JOIN page? I live in Central TN, and am truly a Southern Knitter/blogger (yeesh, I have FOUR blogs!)
Noreen
Hi Y'all,I'm definitely a southern knitter - here in the great state (well, that's all I hear these days during the John Edwards campaign) of North Carolina. Knitting away between painting - been here all my life of 50 years and hopefully counting. I don't have a blog but will love to check in here often. Denise
Posted by: Denise at July 29, 2004 06:57 PMI'm late to this party but hope y'all will let me in. If it helps, I know eggzackly where Butler County, Alabama, is and my daddy grew up there.
I need to negotiate some kind of deal with my north-of-the-Mason-Dixon line co-bloggist, so I hate to say it but you may see a New York Bloggers button right below the Southern button. Ah, we'll work it out.
Love this idea! Roll Tide! Whatever!
Posted by: Mason-Dixon Ann at July 29, 2004 08:36 PMDefinitely a southern gal here. Grew up in Alabama then Florida, then moved back to AL to go to college and have been here since. Will defintely be joining the ring shortly. :)
Posted by: Rayne at August 2, 2004 01:27 PMI am a Yankee who married a Southerner (Georgian) and have been transplanted to both GA and now TN. I make sweet tea, I fry green tomatos, I make "chicken 'n dumplins", my 3 year old son says "y'all", and I live in NorthEastern TN where there isn't much to do BUT knit.. so may I join too? ** Brings potato salad to the party**
Posted by: Mouse at August 5, 2004 07:13 AMWhat a great idea. I live in Minnesota now, but I was born in Fairfax County, VA, so does that countas a southerner? I moved north so I would be able to wear all the sweaters, scarves & hats that I knit. Once up here I fell in with a band of sock knitters. I am wearing some of my creations today since, even though it is August 19, the low last night was 48! What happened to summer?
Good luck with the blog. TTFN
Posted by: Katharine Owens at August 19, 2004 02:59 PMHey ya'll,
This is a great idea! Just wanted to let you know I made an additional button for the webring, feel free to bounce over to my blog and steal it for your use... just be sure to save it to your own server! Rachel, if you want to add it to the offerings on this page, feel free.
Thanks ya'll!
Posted by: stacy at August 19, 2004 09:58 PMHey y'all!
I would love to join the ring too! (I couldn't find the code for the ring - I wasn't sure of the "process") I was born in Atlanta, went to college in Nashville, and I now live in Auburn. War Eagle!
I'll bring the sweet tea!
Posted by: Gracie at August 20, 2004 01:43 PM
I'd love to join!!!
Posted by: Alyx at August 24, 2004 09:42 AMHi,
South Carolina signing on. I'm a new blogger, but definitely not a new knitter. Where do I get the ring code?
Thanks
Posted by: Beverly at August 30, 2004 09:07 AMDo you wear a tiara while you knit? I think you should. Obviously, you're a knitting queen. Are y'all familar with Jill Conner Browne and the Sweet Potato Queens? Jill's last book, The Sweet Potato Queens Big Ass Cookbook and Financial Planner was a NYT bestseller. She has quite a "following." Many of us wannabes are knitters. Check out the queens on the message board of love, and get yourself a sparkly tiara while you're at it! www.sweetpotatoqueens.com
i live in philadelphia, but i'm always "from" mississippi. 12 years wasn't enough for me! (and heck, i've only been out for 6 months...) can i play, too!
Posted by: suz at September 22, 2004 04:54 AMCan I join? We're moving back home to OK as fast as we can load and our trucks can haul. Do it yourself move. We've been in CA 7 years tooooo long.
Posted by: Marty at September 26, 2004 10:34 PMHi, count me in! I'm in DC -- I assume that's okay, since Md. and Va. are both there. After all, Washington is a city with "Northern charm and Southern efficiency." Ha!
Posted by: Ann at September 28, 2004 02:31 PMHell yeah! It's about time - a blog for all of us southerners! I was born in Florida but grew up in North Carolina and Virginia. I moved to Minnesota in 1994 and I'm still here, but I do long for the south and go back whenever I can. Moving to a northern state from the south, well, let's just say that I felt like I'd moved to a foreign land! So glad to have found this blog. Yeehaw!
Posted by: Becky at September 30, 2004 05:44 PMJust joined the ring and looking forward to meeting via blogland as many of you as possible. I'm from NC, my older daughter is getting ready to move back from Germany to her college days stompping grounds of Charleston, SC (her husband is from Richmond, VA and also went to school in Charleston) My youngest daughter is currently living in Tuscaloosa, AL where she graduated from the universtity (her husband is from Grove Hill, AL and attends the university in Tuscaloosa). My husband is from Foley, AL.and graduated from the University of AL, post graduate of UAB in Birmingham, and post graduate of Duke University in Durham, NC. So now you know my "southern heritage". Happy knitting to you all.
Posted by: Elizabeth at October 4, 2004 05:40 PM