That's kewl!
I've met knitters from Jerusalem my self. The friendships still need to be developed right now we are all on the same mailing list.

Thanks for the kind words about my photography skills, but don't forget LoriZ orchestrated that photo. I'm just the photographer. LoriZ is the art director. :)

Hi, Julia. I've been lurking for a while now, but I just wanted to say that your friendship post, in addition to your other blog content, really brought a smile to my face. I'm a relatively new knitter, and an even newer blogger, and I sometimes struggle with feelings of loneliness as a knitter (none of my other friends knit, and my efforts to teach/enthrall them with my passion for it have failed hilariously). It's nice to hear that you were able to form such a tight-knit (hard-dee-har har) group of friends through this forum. I hope some day I'm lucky enough to do the same. Have a great day :)

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Hey Mick - I knit alone for quite a while as well. I think the big difference was that I didn't get to see tons of other people knitting together on-line, so it didn't feel like a lonely activity. I was also very lucky to have two friends who really wanted to learn and who have stayed with it for over a decade. I think building a community, much like building a blog audience, is a slow process, but if you stick with it there are rewards. Leave comments, link to others, be open and yet respectful of space, and I am sure that you will find fiber friends.

In the end I still do almost all of my knitting alone (mostly because Marnie, Andrea, and MJ have ruthlessly abandoned LA and myself along with it (smile!), but also because I work a lot, so I knit at 5 a.m. Very few pals are up for that! I get to share the process with everyone on line after the fact, though, and I am very grateful for that.

xox, J

It is wonderful to make/meet friends thru the Internet and blogs. It's too bad that Tana didn't have a positive experience. I was just recently traveling and had the opportunity to meet with two bloggers that I've read for awhile and I did feel quite comfortable meeting up with them. When I emailed them both, I did have a feeling of wondering if either of them would even return my email, but thankfully it was very favorable.

A lovely post, J., and don't you look fabulous in your nightie and skirt?! I'm so glad that I have your blog to read; yours, and others, have added to my world in many glorious ways. Much thanks for it--

Ah Julia, you've written such a sweet post! The friendships I've made through blogging are special to me. On that note, I hope to be able to spend some more girlfriend time this sunday (it is not a long weekend in this country...).

Wonderful post. :)

Well, i'm about 5 years behind you in feeling comfortable meeting people. In fact, I think I'll continue to just latch onto you for such things ;)

I'm really glad you auditioned and hired me for the role of friend and I can't wait till the next get together, if you don't mind the dog hair.

Oh, I forgot, the pictures were great. You were wearing your Daktari skirt (which really made me want to make my own) and the After Dark Nightie. You just can't get enough of that thing can you!...LOL

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Hi Cathy! For years, my LYS owner was my only knitting pal - if she's as good as she sounds, hold on tight! You'll get out there and meet people when you are ready, and when you do I doubt the kiddos will hold you back. We all have different comfort levels, and there are times when one aspect of life has to take priority over another. Personally, I have been known to hibernate for months at a time - we do what we need to.

Marnie and I met on-line, and I have also met several other close friends on the internet including Nonnahs, MJ, LoriZ and Andrea - to name just the ones who live here (or used to!) It is amazingly fortunate to have so many great people right at my fingertips, but I also really enjoy my longer-distance pals (some of whom I haven't met), like Cara, Jennie and Tiffany. don't underestimate the power of the pen pal!

Although I love your knitting posts the most (because I really enjoy seeing your finished objects), I have really enjoyed your moving posts, your vacation posts, your spinning posts and your every day miscellanious posts. This last one was just great. I would love to have more knitting friends. I try to look at blogs and I'm a pattern-a-holic. I don't really have anyone to knit with where I live and I try to find people, but I work and have kids and so I don't really have time to go to the knitting guild meetings or to knitting circles. My LYS owner really loves me and it feels great to go to her shop because her face just beams and she'll sit down at the table with me and we'll chat for an hour before I have to go back to work (as long as no customers come in). The ladies at the shop have a bunco game once a month, but I'm away from my kids so much because I work I like to spend time with them whenever I can. I know that I could meet some great people online and it's my fault I haven't yet because I lurk more than I share, but I'm working on coming out more. I'm sure one day when the kids are older I can not only devote more of my time to knitting, but also to other knitters. I look forward to that. I'm happy for you though and wish you all the luck. BTW - I didn't realize you met Marnie online. You gals seem like such great friends and its neat to read posts about you two.

Hi Julia,

I am a new reader (well, I've read your blog from time to time before, but it's just in the past few weeks that I finally clued into Google reader and have been able to keep up regularly) and lurker up to now. I just had to join in commenting on what a really nice post this was - I can only hope that after a few years in my new home of San Francisco I will find myself with a similar local circle of support.

I also have to ask, seeing the pictures of the wedding, whether that is Descanso Gardens? I was a bridesmaid for a good friend's wedding there a few years ago (a friend I made while working in Africa, so the circle knows no international limits) and it is such a beautiful location - your pictures brought me back, even if they are of a different place altogether! My time with my friend in Pasadena have given me a love for the LA area that stays with me even if my husband (a NoCal kind of guy even if he has SoCal roots) doesn't understand. I'm glad to hear that it's doing so well for you, fires and such notwithstanding.

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Hi Megan, The wedding was in a semi-private garden, not Descanso - BUT I do know Descanso Gardens, which are fairly nearby and just lovely. If I do a photoshoot there sometime (not at all unlikely), I will be sure to let you know. It's a beautiful place and dirt cheap to visit (especially in comparison to Huntington Gardens -$$$).

SF has some great knitters, so you should easily be able to find a circle. I have visited Emily of Fathom Knits, who is great, and I have heard that CookieA. has a knitting group that meets in cafes up your way. You could pull Jenny and Nicole of Stash and Burn out of their shells, etc. There are tons of possibilities!

Megan

So glad to call you my friend - in both the virtual and REAL world! Thank you!

What a poignant post. Does it matter how someone becomes your friend? I have made some very close friends through the knitblog world, and my knitblog is what keeps my best friends close to me despite our distance.

What a wonderful post, Julia. And that photo of us really makes me happy & brings the biggest smile to my face every time I see it (I may have to post it too, just so I can look at it again!) It's easy to feel a little isolated at times, living in LA- I am blessed to have met such a wonderful circle of generous and supportive women, and I'm so very happy and thankful that we've become *real* friends. I cherish the bond we've formed over the past few years- you continue to be a wonderful friend as well as a knitterly mentor. Enjoy your time in Portland; "Hi!" to Marnie!

I wish you were closer, and I'd so love to meet you in person. I don't know if it will ever be possible, given the distance between coasts and the rarity of either of us ever making it to the "other side," but I do want you to know I'm so glad you're here. You've flown into my inbox at times when your voice was exactly the one I needed to hear, and I'm grateful for it.

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Lee Ann - Right back atcha, hon! BTW, I've been enjoying some of your older IK articles recently - great writing!
xox, J

Really great post! I'm generally pretty hesitant to meet people from online, but you definitely give me something to consider! If done cautiously, there are friends to be had:)

why, thank you, julia, for including me in the circle. i had such a neat afternoon with you and i know more will come. the picture of owen is great, i love the bands on his ankles (the tag that alerts the hospital of baby theft stayed there, but we got the i.d. tag). our babies are doing great and i cannot wait to meet up again. i hve a post planned for my great mom day weekend, i went to a yarn stiore with the boys! start 'em early. tim also offered to watch the boys if we want to let the meesh and zosh have their own 'play date'. ah, the possibilities that can unfold. enjoy portland, i am sure it is spectacular right now. i do miss it so at times, smell some roses for me if you make it to the rose test garden in forest park. smiles.

what a lovely post! I've met a few local knitbloggers in person, and my life is so much better for it... though it does seem strange to have so much in common with someone you've never seen before :)

Your post has forced me to delurk. I don't have a blog of my own, but read yours and others every day. It's a strange thing because I do feel like I "know" you a little bit and you have no idea I'm even reading. So, I want to "introduce" myself and say I love your work and enjoy reading your posts. Keep it up!

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Yay! Thanks for delurking, Linda! I really love to see everyone participate in the comments, and I love to get to know the people who take their precious time to read my blog. Thanks for stopping by and don't be a stranger!

xox, J

Julia, I'm really, really, really happy I got to know you beyond the blog! I'm sniffling a bit as I write this because I am going to miss our little group, but that's how it is with life. At least there's email and the knitblogs. What a great community we have here.

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I know! I'm going to miss you so much. My little circle is getting tiny! But I know we'll stay in touch and that we'll meet again. M and I still have a much-belated honeymoon to do in Italy, and Barcelona in winter sounds like a great trip, too. Have a safe trip over and make sure we get your physical address as soon as you set up a home. Hugs to you and Frank.

xox, J

Aw! Glad you're my friend, friend! You're a keeper.

HEY! I was going to call you and say, "come on over to Edna's" today. But, I see you're in Oregon. How nice. Enjoy your visit!

That was a fantastic post. It only confirms my suspicion that we, as knitters, are never really alone. No matter where we move or visit it is very likely there is a knitter to meet. Happy knitting!

It's great to read this. I have only recently come out of lurkdom and aren't known on the blogs at all. And seeing as how I live about as far away as humanly possible while still being on the North American continent, the reality of actually meeting other bloggers is limited (not counting potential vacation meet ups!). I'm sort of saddened by Tana's post - it seems to me that meeting someone from blogland shouldn't be so scary. We all (mostly) have blogs where you can do a quick recon of a person's life to see if they sound crazy (any mention of eating lint or harming animals) and meeting someone for a coffee is not any different as meeting a random stranger while living your "real" life.
The community of knit blogs is really that, a community, and it's absolutely lovely to see you making such great friends and expanding your circle.
Thanks for sharing!

Jen

PS - regarding the fire - I grew up in the interior of BC (in Kamloops) and every summer the sky turns orange during the day with the smoke and reflection of the fires surrounding the city. The vegetation does come back, through sustainable management and patience. One big thing is keeping people off the land (staying on the trails, etc) so that the land has time to heal and what tiny vegetation is coming back doesn't get trampled. This summer is looking to be a long hot dry one - I have my fingers crossed for everyone in fire areas.

I appreciate your post because I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I have been traveling a lot the last two months and I was excited at the prospect of meeting two fellow blog knitters/writers. I put myself out there and suggested it, but I did not get a warm reception. Heck, I didn't even get a response. That's okay, I certainly can understand someone's trepidation at meeting a perfect stranger for coffee or lunch. I felt that way when I met my husband whom I met online. It's a safe, logical reaction. Always trust your gut. I suppose because of my experience meeting my husband, I'm less afraid of meeting people through the blogs I read.

I know it's silly, but my feelings were a little hurt that I didn't get emailed back at the very least. I have to remind myself that while I feel like I know these people, I really don't. It's hard to remember that when I'm reading their thoughts everyday.

I'm glad for you that you've been able to meet such cool new friends through your writing and knitting and traveling. They're lucky and you're lucky.

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Hi Tana, thanks so much for your comment. I think it's true that it can be harder to meet some people through the blogs than others. I always take these relationships slowly, comment and e-mail back and forth and get to know the other person. Some people are more reluctant to meet than others, and I try to respect that, even if I think I would really, really like to hang out. MJ and I, in particular, got to know each other really slowly. I think you just have to put your self out there, and then have patience. I often suggest hanging out in a group. That way if a few of the people involved don't end up being thick as thieves, it isn't awkward. You'll find your niche. If you are ever in the LA area, leave me a comment - I am happy to meet up with you! We have a really nice little knitting circle here that I am sure you would enjoy.
xox, J

It amazes me how close we become to friends we've met (or haven't yet met) through the blogs. Grrlfriends do make the world a better place.