Knit and Crochet Show 2008

The best thing about attending the Knit and Crochet Show in Manchester, NH was the people. There is nothing like being surrounded by people who love yarn and all the wonderful stuff that goes with it. You can start a conversation with anyone - an attendee, a teacher, a vendor, a guild member manning the desk - and never know where it will end up! So much creative brain power/skill in one place.

Then of course there are the "celebrity" sightings: authors, publishers, bloggers, and yarn dyers galore. I was luck enough to chat with Jess and Casey of Ravelry fame for the second time (first was at Rhinebeck meet up last year). They are still wonderful! (Hey Caroline! Where's that picture of us with Jess and Casey?) Taking a class from Lily Chin was fun as well. If only I'd had the presence of mind to bring my Couture Crochet to have it signed. Ah, well.

And there were the hand made items sighted all over the place. Dresses, vests, shirts, skirts, wraps, all created in knit or crochet parading around on the bodies of the show goers. Yummy!

I had a real treat in spending some of my time teaching. It was impromptu. The lovely young lady taking tickets at the door to the Yarn Market wanted to relearn how to crochet. She can remember her grandmother teacher her at the age of six, but didn't remember what to do anymore. By Saturday afternoon, she was back at it with yarn and hook in hand. It was a lot of fun to teacher her, so I think we both enjoyed ourselves immensely. Hi D!

Speaking of the Yarn Market, I may have acquired a few new things!

Going clockwise:

From Adironcack Yarns: Four skeins of Alpaca Yumminess!

1) Blue - Baby Alpaca 60%/Pima Cotton 40% in a blue that will look great with jeans! I am intrigued by the idea of these two fibers together. The alpaca lends incredible softness and warmth, while the cotton lends some coolness without adding weight. I'm hoping that this will be a nice "in between" shawl or wrap to use in those warmer months.

2) Gray - I have lately been in search of the perfect grey and here I've found it. These 100% baby alpaca skeins will become an incredibly light and warm scarf for those days when digging out the car is an exercise in weather endurance!

From the Yarn and Fiber Company:

One huge skein of Helen's Laces to make the Arrows Stole! This was the one thing for which I was actively searching. I think the merino in hot pink will be just wonderful with this pattern. NOTE: To see the third lace panel, click on the pattern shop pictures

From Glory-ous Knits and Gifts comes three items all at 50% off:

Two skeins of Cherry Tree Hill and a really interesting shawl pattern (#8225) from Knit One Crochet Too - It requires the use of five different hooks which applies Faroese shaping and a shawl collar.

Lastly, on the yarn front from the Elegant Ewe came the lovely skein of Zephyr - 500 yards of Plum colored Merino and Tussah Silk. Yum. I will finally get my own Ziggy Lace Scarf from this. I've made two (here and here) and given them away. This one will be mine!

Then there are two shawl closures and the Cameo magnet meant for wearing and holding your darning needles.

From the Elegant Ewe - It matches Seraphina perfectly!

From Moonrise (look under knitting supplies)

MOON GODDESS SHAWL PEG Artemis or Diana Moon Goddess w/ Ocean Jasper. Diana was the Goddess of the wild, of the hunt. Jasper was a favorite of the Ancient Greeks, the name comes from the Greek Iaspis, meaning spotted stone. They believed it gave you the courage to speak out, and trust your abilities. Jasper is abundant and found in many varieties. This is Ocean Jasper from Madagascar named for the wavy patterns of grey/green/white and cream with flashes of iridescence, it looks mysterious and wild and each bead is different.

From Copeland Glass

I had a wonderful time and sincerely hope that this get together is in Manchester again next year!

P.S. On the crochet front I finally turned some of the left over Dream in Color from all those shawls into what my sister affectionately calls a Keppe Cover (aka kippah). It's still wet, but I let you know how the fit is once it dries! But, it is looking good so far. =-)