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As on Ravelry, this group is getting quite diverse and we have members from some far-flung places! (Kudos if you are participating in a language that is not your first!). I thought is would be quite interesting if people could list where they are from (country and state/county).

I'm here in the U.S., from Northern Virginia (right outside of D.C.). I can't wait to be envious of all of you living somewhere more interesting!

I'm from the Netherlands and to me Northern Virginia sounds mighty interesting! Well, all of the US really. Would love to visit someday...

i live on a mountain in northern Idaho, near the Canadian border, about 12 miles from the post office that bears my zip code. however, Spokane, WA is the home of my heart and I consider myself fortunate to have also called Halmstad, Sweden; Praha, Czech Republic; and Puerto Natales in Chilean Patagonia also home.

I live on the edge of the Bay Area of California, smack dab between San Francisco and Sacramento. I was born on the Minnesota/Canadian border of Minnesota. Have also lived in Florida and Montana.

I live on a beautiful island near Seattle; I lived in Eastern WA near the Canadian border for about 30 years, lived in Canada for 7 years, and now am firmly established near the mountains and the sea. This thread is going to be fun for us armchair travelers!

Isabel, where you live sounds like where I lived in Eastern WA. On a mountain, about 15 miles from my zip code p.o. I also lived in Elk, WA for almost a year.

Hello, all. I mostly lurk here and spend most of my forum time on Rav. This is a most interesting thread so I thought I'd chime in.

Most recently, I call Hilton Head Island, South Carolina my home and it's likely where I'll stay for a good long while. It's in what's called the Lowcountry and if you're lucky enough to be able to escape the tourists and get out on the water in the abundant salt water marshes, rivers and tributaries, it's one of the prettiest places I've ever been.

My previous life moved me to fun places like Atlanta, Minneapolis, Hoboken New Jersey and New York City. Not bad for a girl from a small farm town in southern Michigan.

Hi, all. I live and work in the western suburbs of Chicago and have all my life. I do like to travel, but this area will always be home.

I live in the East Bay area of San Francisco, but grew up in a Chicago suburb and have lived in Wisconsin and New Jersey. California has been wonderful, we've got it all...mountains, desert, ocean, redwood forests; something for everyone!

Oh my goodness! See, I knew this would be interesting! I am so envious of all your rural dwellers, I grew up in Rural Connecticut before moving to Metro Washington DC area.

Anyone of the canadian border - I salute you! Our long summer vacation this year was in the Canadian Maritimes, and I must say, the Canadians are such a friendly lot....is it the beer? the Hockey? No clue, but they're so content.

And Mardy, the Outer Banks are one of my favorite places too. Every august we spend a week on Ocracoke Island, the most peaceful place on earth. Not sure I could live in an accessible by ferry only community, but it's so much fun to visit.


And Karin, when you DO visit the US, be sure to ask this group for things to see and do. the US is HUGE, and one thing the Europeans sometimes have trouble fathoming (I have some British friends) is that we have it all - beaches, mountains, deserts, rainforests, cities, prairies....

I live in flat, flat central Illinois. Before moving here ten years ago, we lived in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in upper east Tennessee. That part of Tennessee is gorgeous, but it tends to lack the tornadoes and blizzards that liven up flat, flat, really flat Illinois.

Zoe, I grew up in CT too, suburbia on the Sound :)Then I moved to Boston, DC, San Francisco, and finally to WA state. I now call Washington home. Besides my 7-year oops into Canada, I've been here for the last 40 years of my life. Can't imagine living anywhere else, really. Traveling, yes, but I'm weary of moving.

I live in Rhinebeck NY. I love this area very much. I grew in Queens, but have been living upstate for 41 years.

I live in a small community just outside of Akron, OH. I've traveled extensively throughout the US, Scotland & Ireland but can't imagine living anywhere but here. My kids and grandkids live close by, the summers are warm but not too hot and the winters are cold and snowy, just as they should be... perfect for wearing hand-knit sweaters and scarves!

I do love hearing where everyone lives (and what they think of their place of residence!).

Blanche, I am jealous. Upstate NY is supposed to be beautiful, and you get to go to the best fiber festival out there (so I'm told, never been).

Kathryn - Oops into Canada? Sounds like there's a story there. :)

Cindy - I like Akron. I've passed through a couple times, and once my husband and I stayed in a hotel room that was round - a relic of the grain silo days. I love Quaker oats (it was a sad day when we came through last time and discovered they no longer make the cookies that made the tiny mall smell so good....

Molly - I've decided I am a mountain girl, but I don't live near any either. I remember when my sister went from CT to the University of Chicago. She was shocked at how flat the area was. First day she had off with a friend with a car, she drove, and drove, and drove until finally, they spotted a huge hill! Upon closer inspection, sadly, it was a dump. :(

Mountains and islands! Many of my childhood summers were spent on Washington Island in Lake Michigan. When my husband and I moved to the hills of eastern Tennessee, we took our boys to the Outer Banks and Ocracoke each summer. We're going back to Ocracoke in September for the first time in years. Can't wait! But a dump in place of a hill, Zoe? That is very sad.

I am from Karlsruhe, which is in the very Southwest of Germany, close to the French border (in fact, it is only a 3 hours train ride to Paris, whereas 6 hours to Berlin - what a pity I do NOT like Paris at all...). I think it is too hot for knitting currently, so I started using my Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ account a little. Looking forward to read about your book recommendations!

I live in south central Wisconsin. Have lived here my whole life, yet I long for some place warmer. We have done very little traveling outside of the states immediately surrounding us, although we have been to Nebraska and Tennessee. In October/November we will be traveling to California and I'm looking forward to seeing the ocean.

Molly, so glad you enjoy Ocracoke too, I'll be there this month! Warning- books to be red,the excellent tiny bookstore, has added yarn!

Domic, so sorry you hate Paris! I loved it, although only for exploring and people watching. Anything else,and it's just a hassle. Someday we'll explore Germany, since that Is the language my husband took- and in Paris, I had to do all the talking!

Amber, south central Wisconsin sounds mighty close to Madison- one of the most excellent yarn cities in the mid-west. Do you listen to the Knit Circus podcast? They are frequently waxing poetic about the yarn stores there, and my sister, who lived in Madison for years, STILL talks about the farmers market!

I'm from Shetland in Scotland. It's a group of islands about 100 miles from the northern tip of the Scottish mainland and famous for its ponies and knitting. Unfortunately I hate Shetland wool (it's so scratchy!) and I'm not keen on Fair Isle patterns either. I'm sure I must be a great disappointment to my grandmother who taught me to knit! Thank goodness for online yarn stores that keep me supplied with lovely soft wool.

The good things about Shetland are the beautiful scenery and it is one of the few places left in Britain where you can leave your doors unlocked and let your children roam around without worry. The main disadvantage is transport to the mainland - either a one hour flight or a twelve hour overnight ferry. It makes for very expensive and long journeys whenever we visit my husband's family in Wales.

Most people here complain about the weather - cool and usually windy - but I figure it is perfect for handknits. In the two months were it isn't cold enough for a hat, scarf or mittens I can still always wear my socks!

I'm from Denmark and live right in the middle of Jutland, in Viborg - so I am the furthest from the sea that you can get here, about 100 km.

I have lived various places in Denmark (was born in Copenhagen), interspersed by two years in Malawi ages ago and later one year in London.

Denmark is a great place for handknits: everybody learns or at least tries out knitting at school, and the climate invites warm clothing (I am wearing woollen socks right now!).

Rachel wrote: "I'm from Shetland in Scotland. It's a group of islands about 100 miles from the northern tip of the Scottish mainland and famous for its ponies and knitting. Unfortunately I hate Shetland wool (it'..."

Rachel I am shocked you are from someplace other than the US....part of me assumes I would be able to hear your accent even in typed word instead of spoken, but I guess I was wrong! Shetland sounds beautiful, and Fair Isle knitting is definitely an acquired taste, I think your grandmother would be pleased you still knit at all!

Dorthe wrote: "I'm from Denmark and live right in the middle of Jutland, in Viborg - so I am the furthest from the sea that you can get here, about 100 km.

Dorthe - A country where knitting is taught in school? Heaven! I always thought it would be a great idea to teach knitting, sewing, cooking, fishing, gardening, to kids. You know, the old - 'teach a man to fish' philosophy. Anyone with those skills should be able to survive, but I live in near the United States nations capitol, so it's heavy government and heavy technology. I guess if you teach a kid to feed and clothe themselves, they still complain they cannot get an iphone with that. ::sigh:: Of course, I'm typing this on my much loved computer.....

Zoe wrote: "Rachel I am shocked you are from someplace other than the US....part of me assumes I would be able to hear your accent even in typed word instead of spoken..."

Unfortunately my parents took it upon themselves to move us all to the south of England for a number of years when I was a child. Since then I've sounded more like Mary Poppins than Scottish!

Zoe wrote: "Dorthe - A country where knitting is taught in school? Heaven!..."

Knitting was taught in schools in Shetland until 2 years ago when the council decided to get rid of non-essential subjects to save money :-(

Rachel wrote: "Zoe wrote: "Rachel I am shocked you are from someplace other than the US....part of me assumes I would be able to hear your accent even in typed word instead of spoken..."

Unfortunately my parents..."

Better than most Americans, I promise.

Rachel wrote: "Zoe wrote: "Dorthe - A country where knitting is taught in school? Heaven!..."

Knitting was taught in schools in Shetland until 2 years ago when the council decided to get rid of non-essential sub..."

Ah, now I want to know what 'essential' would be!

Zoe wrote: "Dorthe wrote: "I'm from Denmark and live right in the middle of Jutland, in Viborg - so I am the furthest from the sea that you can get here, about 100 km.

Dorthe - A country where knitting is ta..."

Yup: knitting, maybe crochet, sewing by hand & machine, woodwork, cooking.

So the knitting basics are taken for granted; I never realised how much, until I joined Ravelry and discovered that adult newbies are the norm in the US and elsewhere.
Having learned as a child is something to be grateful for :o)

Hi all, I live in Adelaide, South Australia and have done all my life. We live near the sea (ocean for you Americans) and at the moment it is cold and perfect for knitting and reading.

Here in the 'States, you can still learn to knit at an early age in a Waldorf school, or if you're a homeschooler. Just not necessarily in a public school. I agree with others, the "basics" should be survival skills, based on what all humans consider to be basic needs: food, clothing, shelter, plus reading and simple math. There is also a need for beauty - incorporating art and music into everything! - and for meaningful relationships.

After all, what's the most important thing many people do? Find a lifelong partner. And it takes a whole village to raise a child - we don't need to parent children to be a part of that.

In Waldorf schools they use art and storytelling in every subject. They also incorporate music into it all. Very young children learn to play the recorder and knit a "bag" to keep their instrument in, as their very first knitting project.

Hi all. I now live in central Florida, but grew up in Illinois (Chicago suburbs). Back when I was in grammar school in the 60's we had home ec where we learned to cook, sew, crochet, and embroider. It was a class for the girls, but the boys had woodworking and that type of thing. We switched off with them for 6 weeks a year. Sadly, that was stopped some time ago.
I was introduced to cooking, baking, sewing, handcrafts by my mother and grandmother before I was old enough to go to school. It's sad how many adults can't teach their children these skills because they were never taught themselves.

Welcome Mary Ellen! I've always been curious, what doe Floridian knitters make? I would assume no wool sweaters.....

Zoe wrote: "Amber, south central Wisconsin sounds mighty close to Madison- one of the most excellent yarn cities in the mid-west. Do you listen to the Knit Circus podcast? They are frequently waxing poetic abo..."

I'm about an hour from Madison. I have not heard of Knit Circus, but will definitely be checking it out!

I live in a northern Minneapolis suburb. Right now though, I am living in the lakes area of Central Minnesota caring for a sick relative. I haven't knitted since April but will be taking up socks today while listening to an audiobook.

I'm from Brooklyn, NY - born & raised. I've lived in Boston, Raleigh, Atlanta and the Cayman Islands. But no matter where I go, I always end up back in Brooklyn.
I'm an adult newbie also. I went to a great science & technology high school in the mid '80s. Not one home ec or typing class to be found! I was especially surprised about the latter - how were we going to type up our papers in college? It was also a boys high school until 1972 - I guess they figured secretaries would be doing the typing.

Good for you, Stephanie! Socks are my comfort food. I like knitting them, and always look forward to wearing them.

Tiffany - no home ec or typing at my prep school, either (secretaries AND maids I guess is what they were expecting for us).

Welcome to both of you!

Here's another member from the Netherlands! I have many friends in the States (and many other countries) and introduced a lot of them to our spin- and knitgroups. Several lived in this country for a while. Now I'm asked to come and visit them. Much as I would love to, my health doesn't permit long travels, I'm afraid. Fortunately there is internet and there are books!
I love this topic - found it after our holidays in the South of France.

I live in the Upstate of South Carolina, in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. Learned to knit about six or seven years ago, after I had a stroke. (Great hand therapy!)

ETA: I learned to knit from a woman who taught knitting in a local Montessori school for some years. We didn't have much "home ec" in my school, although I remember them attempting to teach us to crochet in third grade. I took typing at my high school, though.

I love armchair traveling via the internet. I have lived in some pretty remote places where if it wasn't for internet friends and mail order yarn catalogs, I would have been one very very sad knitter.

I especially love the "time traveling" aspect -- imagining myself in an Australian friend's mind space, as we live "upside down" from each other, in opposite seasons, and she is living my tomorrow. I'm knitting with wool by the fire while she is working on her tan.

Hello, everyone! I am new to knitting, crocheting, and ravelry, though I have been a member of Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ for a few years and have been reading much longer. ;) I am from central Illinois, where I work as a librarian at a school library and a public library. I think I may be falling in love with knitting and crocheting. My other loves include traveling, playing basketball, playing volleyball, and swimming as well. And, I've never been known to turn down a nice cup or coffee or tea. :) Pleasure meeting you all!

Susanna wrote: "I live in the Upstate of South Carolina, in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. Learned to knit about six or seven years ago, after I had a stroke. (Great hand therapy!)

ETA: I learned to..."

Susanna, I've never been to the western part of the state, but I have a deep and abiding love for Savannah and Charleston and camellia bushes!

Rachel wrote: "Hello, everyone! I am new to knitting, crocheting, and ravelry, though I have been a member of Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ for a few years and have been reading much longer. ;) I am from central Illinois, where ..."

Welcome Rachel! You're in the right place - you love knitting, and I think every one of us loves libraries and librarians. :) I'm glad to see someone so active take up knitting, but still manage to get exercise. I like to think of my time working out as adding more knitting years to my lifespan. :)

Hi everyone! I'm from Detroit, MI, and the only thing I love more than knitting and reading is chocolate, lol. I'm a mother of three teenagers and a soon-to-be empty nester. I'll never run out of knitting projects, though!

Thanks, Zoe! My mom and sister are librarians as well (my mom's now retired), so I think it runs in the blood. :) I love the way you look at exercise--it'll help motivate me the next time I don't feel like getting off of the couch! :) I'm looking forward to being an active member of this group!

I'm from the western suburbs of Chicago. I'm the mom of high school and college kids, and for work I write "Pamela books"--readers of our current book choice will know what I'm talking about :)

Allie wrote: "…for work I write "Pamela books"--readers of our current book choice will know what I'm talking about :)"

Pamela books - how fantastic!

Argh, I feel so dense...what is a Pamela book? I must have missed something again!

"Pamela" books - I love it.

I live about 20 minutes south of Madison, WI...it's a wonderful city, several nice yarn shops and food venues galore:) I have net been many places but love Disney in Florida, and we are heading to Hawaii in a few weeks on vacation...I'll be on the hunt for yarn for sure!

Okay, Kathryn, 'Pamela Books" are what George read the sheep in Three Bags full....romances. And FYI, I write contemporary Romantic Comedy, so from the sheeps perspective, I suppose I write Pamelas too!


Welcome, Michelle, Stacey, and Allie!

Stacey, enjoy Hawaii! It's on my bucket list. :)