Hello there again dear friends.  It's that time of year, the birds are singing, the flowers are blossoming, and I am ripe for giving advice!  I'm prime for your toughest questions, Let's hear them!

Dear Mr. Bebee,

I feel like a bad mother.  I love knitting, crocheting, or making things in general, but I have a problem:  My children love to spend time with me.  My 6 year old daughter constantly asks me to teach her how to knit but has the attention span of a house fly, and my 2 year old is often causing mischief around the house too often for me to spend time committed to something.  What do I do?  I feel like I am losing my knitting mojo!

Yours,

M. Nakayama

Annoyed in Aichi

Dear M.

Oh M, my M....you are NOT a bad mother...as much as I like to judge people, I have to say, your love for making things isn't something you should feel bad about.  Everyone needs some time to themselves, and if you have to pop elmo in the DVD player for the younger child then, so be it!  I have a fancy solution for the older child who has no attention span.  Recently the toy shops, and knitting shops alike are carrying interesting knitting toys (some of which you can use to make amigurumi or other tube shaped items.)  Also there is something you can use called a "knitting hoop" that is really easy for young children to do, and they can see their progress a lot better than with two sticks.  That being said, if she still is disenchanted or easily bored, it may be time to send her to her room with a book.  A happy mummy equals a happy family...take some time for yourself!

Dear Mr. Bebee,

I am a man.... I am straight....  but I love to knit.  I like making my own hats, scarves, designing fashion in general....

It seems whenever I bring up my hobby in conversation to anyone, especially single, attractive women, they immediately recoil and treat me as if I am diseased.  How do I avoid the stereotypes and the stigma around "girly hand crafts"?

T. Aoyama

Dear T.

Ahh...how DO you get around something like this?  I guess you could start off by avoiding the topic.  When someone compliments one of your hand knits, just a simple thank you might do best.  You are right, men aren't usually interested in knitting, BUT, there is no reason you shouldn't be.  If you are trying to have any sort of relationship with someone, maybe you could warm them up slowly to the fact you spend time making your own clothing.  And if you are trying to have a romantic relationship with someone special, maybe you could let the cat out of the bag about your hobby by knitting her something special?  

Dear Mr. Bebee,

I am a woman who knits.  I belong to a knitting group in my city (I live in Canada) and the members of this group are SO competitive!  They are constantly making snarky comments about each other's knitting and then showing off their work.  I am just a beginner and this is really making me want to quit.  Are all knitters this bitchy?

C. Davies

Tried in Toronto

Dear C.

Leave the group.  Stop meeting up with them, knit on your own and read knitting blogs and if you get really bored with it, skip over here and hang out with me...I won't make snarky comments, I'm sure your knitting is gorgeous!

Please email your questions to me here!  I will answer them in the next issue of The Fibertarian!

Thanks guys and gals

-Mr. Bebee