Greetings fiber people! Do you have a minute to look at a post without pictures? I decided to share a little bit about the cease and desist letter that spawned a huge explosion of hurt feelings in the fiber community.
Most of you reading this are fiber people, meaning you know all about it already. Most likely you know more about than I do. What excites me is that this is my blog and I get to write my opinions in it freely.
So, there's this worldwide sporting event called the Olympics, perhaps you've heard of it. A few years ago knitters and crocheters wanted to watch the Olympics while challenging themselves to create something during the span of the games. There are several variations on this, but the one I am going to mention is the event that happened on Ravelry, called the Ravelympics.
[unlicensed image of Olympic Rings not available]
Ravelry received a C&D letter. There are trademark issues. There are also judgements, the highlight being this passage: "We believe using the name “Ravelympics” for a competition that involves an afghan marathon, scarf hockey and sweater triathlon, among others, tends to denigrate the true nature of the Olympic Games. In a sense, it is disrespectful to our country’s finest athletes and fails to recognize or appreciate their hard work."
Okay, I think most people are okay with the idea that trademark infringement is serious and changing the name of Ravelympics isn't really a big deal. The problem lies in saying what we do denigrates the Olympics. Maybe it's because I've been knitting longer than many of the athletes have been alive, or maybe it's because I think fast food and soda companies sponsoring the Olympics is denigrating, but that part of the letter ruffled my feathers.
I know what I do is not the same thing as what they do. It does not follow that what I do denigrates what they do.
It turns out thousands of people feel this way too. The USOC (United States Olympic Committee) was bombarded with tweets, letters, calls, emails, and more. Gawker picked up an the story, as did the Oregonian. It's still expanding and the ripples are headed to who-knows-where.
There has since been an apology, though it hasn't been well-received.
I am talking about this today because I keep getting asked about the Tour de Fleece. I started the Tour de Fleece in 2006 in the spirit of spinning yarn along with the Tour de France. It's a crazy concept and with extremely limited appeal (people who spin their own yarn AND like cycling?)
I have not been contacted by anyone associated with the Tour de France to cease and desist the Tour de Fleece. I will let you know if that changes. So far, we are safe. I don't think anyone would accidentally confuse us with the Tour de France, but to be very clear... the Tour de France and the Tour de Fleece are two different events. One does not denigrate the other, except for performance-enhancing doping, which denigrates us all. Maybe it is I who should send the cease and desist letter?
The Tour de Fleece starts on June 30th. It's not too late to join!
Thanks for reading this. I like you.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Friday, June 01, 2012
Powell's City of Books Shawl
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| City of Books Shawl |
Welcome to June! This is the very last pattern in the Stumptown collection. Of course, I’m already hatching ideas for my next club, and I’ll let you know about it as soon as I can. Also, I really appreciate your support this year. It means a lot to me that you took a leap of faith and I am grateful for that! Now, let’s talk about the pattern...
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| Madeline Tosh Merino Light in Earl Grey |
Inspiration: Powell’s is a Portland institution. From humble storefront beginnings in 1971, Powell's Books has grown into one of the world's great bookstores, with five locations in the Portland metropolitan area. This shawlette pattern pays tribute to the “world’s biggest bookstore” with textures resembling stacks and aisles. It’s the perfect project to wear on your next book browsing outing.
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| Malabrigo Sock in Turner |
There are two samples this month. The bright lime colored yarn is Malabrigo Sock in Turner. The brown version is made out of Merino Light from Madleine Tosh. Bother are soft and fun to work with.
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| Try it with a shawl pin |
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| stacks and aisles |
Dearest knitters, thank you so much for joining me on this tour of the places I love. I hope you are enjoying the patterns, and even perhaps finding your own renewed interest in your places too.
Want more? This pattern is part of the Stumptown Knits Collection: a monthly pattern club featuring 6 accessory patterns inspired by the place you live and the place you love. For me, it's Portland, Oregon. This is the final pattern in the collection, but it's not too late to join!
Benefits for joining the club:
- When finished, the club will be compiled into an e-book. The e-book will be included in the cost of the club for those who join. I'm working on this now.
- Half the cost of buying the individual patterns.
- Individual patterns as well as finished e-book (at the end of the club) can be stored in your Ravelry library.
- Knit-a-longs! This time we will have official knit-a-longs each month with prizes! See my group here for info.
- 20% off discount codes to use at Twisted. All of the yarns used in this club are available for purchase there and if you want to match the yarns I’m using, you can!
Join now! Only $15.99
What are you waiting for?!
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