How to stalk a celebrity

You've got your traveling sock in hand with a need to acquire mojo. You really don't want another letter from the TSA (traveling sock association) so you've decided to do all you can to satisfy the rules and regulations.

You go to where the celebrity is doing a book signing, just so you don't have to wait around or pay someone to wait around to alert you when the celebrity emerges.

So there's a long line up. You don't need to deal with that. Just getting a picture of the sock with the celebrity in the background should be good enough.



Good picture of the sock, but with my dime store camera, lousy picture of celebrity. So to the line-up I go. Bonus...there is a woman from celebrity's camp who is giving out handfuls of recipes that are off the website.

Finally get to celebrity and sheepishly admit that any book of hers that I wanted signed was forgotten at home. Don't admit that while I want to buy her latest book, I'm too cheep to buy the hard cover version and am waiting for it to come out in paperback. Tell her that you did stand in line so that you could get a picture of her holding your traveling sock.



Debbie Macomber was most obliging. She even asked if she should appear to be knitting on the sock for the photo.

Okay so it's not true celebrity stalking, but I got my photo and didn't get arrested. That's what I call a good day!

Until next time
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic

Response from the TSA

Here's what the TSA had to say......

Dear Fibreholic

The Travelling Sock Association is a regulatory body set up to govern the rules and regulations regarding travelling socks.The TSA was formed in order that all travelling socks would have equal opportunities to acquire the greatest possible amounts of knitting mojo.

A travelling sock requires many experiences and a great deal of exposure amongst a wide variety of knitters and "others". Pictures must be taken. They can be taken against the backdrop of beautiful scenery, historical places or unusual or seemingly useless/tasteless monuments that a city has decided to waste money on to amuse tourists. More importantly, pictures of the sock must be taken with "people of note".

The use of the term "people of note" has caused some confusion as of late. We view the term, people of note as a general term. It can include any of the following but not limited to:

• fellow knitters
  
• local celebrities
  
• those rendering aid to get you to a knitting event
  
• those rendering aid for a yarn crawl or simply accompanying you on the crawl
  
• those acting as a tour guide during your travels
  
• the recipient of the socks
  
• someone with so much joie de vivre that the sock is naturally drawn to him or her
  

A blog is the most logical place to display these photos as they allow for the greatest exposure. A blog is easily set up and this should done before you depart on your travels. Because of the accessibility of blogs, not having one is not an excuse.

Knitting the sock in public is also a top priority. Places we suggest are on any form of public transportation, places where people gather or more importantly in the company of other knitters. If the knitters gather in a public place even more mojo is gathered.

As to what sock yarn to use on your journey, it matters not. All sock yarn is equal in our eyes, for it is the journey and the amount of mojo that is important. Choose a good quality yarn that speaks to you and you absolutely can't leave home without.

Stripes and Variegated spoke very highly of you and were delighted to both be chosen for your trip to Australia. They knew how excited you were about the trip.They wrote about their travels and experiences and we are satisfied with the results so far. It is unusual for two socks to be taken on a journey but it is not unheard of. Just to let you know, any mojo picked up by the second sock will be spread over both sock and vice versa.This way if the first sock is lacking mojo, then it can be made up. Because of the high recommendation, given to us by Stripes and Variegated we are confident that sufficient mojo will be acquired for both pairs of socks.

But please remember, because of the lack of pictures taken with the first socks, we will be watching you!

Yours in Yarn,

Miss Y.O. Purl

Mojo Acquisition

Travelling Sock Association

A Letter from my Socks

This note was left in my knitting bag along with this photo.

Dear Janet

This letter is to inform you of our intention to lodge a formal complaint against you with the Traveling Sock Association. The TSA will inform you, in writing, of mojo requirements and how best to achieve them. We should also warn you that not having a blog at the time does not excuse the sock maker from his or her responsibilities.

We would, however, like to thank you for the experiences and limited mojo we picked up during your trip to Australia. Stripes enjoyed the very short stint in Hawaii, the many trips on the Action bus system and visiting the Canberra SnB session. Variegated enjoyed going to the movies and was especially pleased with the road trip in NSW. The plane trip was rather long but we do appreciate you spending equal time with us.

Please do not be upset with us for lodging this complaint against you.It is your first offense and the TSA will be understanding and lenient. The fact that you casted on Stripes's second immediately after finishing the first is greatly in your favour. Please do not worry!

Yours in Yarn,

Stripes and Variegated