Greetings from Stitches Midwest

GREETINGS FROM STITCHES MIDWEST ---- CHICAGO

AUGUST 11 - 14, 2006

Day 1 ---- Safe flight and no security problems on the way from Cleveland to Chicago.
SAD moment when I realized that I left my LANTERN MOON Bamboo knitting BASKET with my HYPHEN BOY Modular Bag pattern and PROJECT somewhere at O'HARE AIRPORT. Never to be found again.

I guess that was a result of getting to the airport 3 hours early and only getting 3 hours of sleep.

Plus, my luggage went around the carousel for 20 minutes before I realized it was mine.....

ON TO THE CONVENTION

Class on Day 1 ---- MAKE A RUANA with Colleen Davis

We had time in class to create 1 Tessera module with surrounding "grout". Lovely item.
I learned about the basic shape and the definition of a RUANA.

In the marketplace, I met the talented graphic designer, Natalie Sorenson, who does all the stitches and xrx designs. She was taking digital postcard pictures (as seen above) for attendees to email to friends and family.

DAY 2 --- Noon fashion show highlighing LACE items from the (soon to be released) book, Victorian Lace by Jane Sowerby. Each one was more amazing than the next plus Jane was on hand all weekend to meet and greet fellow LACE knitters.

Class on Day 2 ----- BEADED SCARF with Judy Pascale Click on link to find a photo of the scarf.

TOO complicated for me. The lovely LACE pattern was complicated enough, not to mention putting the beads on in a certain direction. This pattern I will need to practice at home, first attempting the lace alone, then adding the beads.

Saturday night STUDENT BANQUET -

I chose a random empty seat at a table and ended up sitting next to the One and Only

LILY CHIN

What a delight !! She was very nice and very funny, crocheting away at lightning speed. She told the story of her visit on the Dave Letterman show and MORE!! She was wearing an amzing KIMONO that she obviously made.

Our M.C., Rick Mondragon, editor of Knitter's Magazine, delighted everyone with laughter, impromtu jokes and gags.

The fashions that students modeled were inspiring. Some people worked all year since the last Stitches event to complete their garment.

I didn't win any door prizes, but everyone went home with a free gift that was donated by the vendors. I received a skein of LORNA's LACE hand dyed SWIRL CHUNKY, 83% merino - 17% silk and the YARINA HAT PATTERN to go with.

The STITCHES MARKET was great. EVERY book under the sun, tons of samples knitted from the books we know and love, great fun meeting the authors and designers of my favorites.....especially the "TWO OLD BAGS"

2 terrific and down to earth women who met while knitting at their daughter's gymnastics classes - the brains and creativity behind my favorite "THE LUCY BAG". How nice to see ALL their bags displayed and the NEW ONES !!! I purchased the new one called

THE CLAMSHELL BAG

I fell in love with the hand dyed yarn from INTERLACEMENTS by JUDY DITMORE

and I purchased her kit to make this beaded scarf.

At the booth next door I received a free demo on how to get started from the pattern designer herself, DEANNA'S VINTAGE STYLES.

This is a pattern where the beads are pre-strung and the drape and colors are just divine.

BOOKS I PURCHASED AT THE MARKET:

"FENG SHAUN" - an adorable little book based on the wisdom of calm of Feng Shui.

and the irresistable

"THE KNITTER'S HANDBOOK" by xrx

I was introduced to the DEBBIE NEW's world of

"UNEXPECTED KNITTING"

"She enjoys the non-traditional possibilities of knitting and has masterminded innovative freeform techniques, such as 'virtual knitting' and 'swirl knitting', to achieve striking effects in her work." Mind-boggling, and truly an artistic engineer at her craft. Click on the link "Unexpected Knitting" and look on the Philosopher's Wool home page for "featured artists - Debbie New".

FREE PATTERN from Blue Moon Fiber Arts

FLIP FLOP SOCKS

I selected a very popular yarn and SOCKS THAT ROCK pattern also from

BLUE MOON FIBER ARTS = ROCK'N' SOCKS

The yarn is so lovely that it inspired me to try to make my first pair of socks. Of course, I can always us it for a scarf !! --- hand dyed, 1 skein has 360 yards, 100% merino lightweight my colorway: CRACKED CANYON

I visited THE KNIT DOCTOR, the talented Karen Frisa, who was busy at table solving knitter's problems and answering questions all weekend.

I purchased a Noro pattern called MY FIRST VEST and Noro Kureyon for $5.00/ skein.

HOMESTEAD HEIRLOOMS = HANDMADE LEATHER PURSE HANDLES

Two women with their own business introduced their handmade leather purse handles to the knitter's market and I selected 2 for future bags. Now that knitted bags are so popular, these women are sure to keep busy !!

beautifully crafted, smooth wooden dowels, soft leather, braided, buttons to stitch on handles, many colors and designs from which to choose ------ check out their website.

FOXY KNITS = KOIGU

showcased their exclusive collection of KOIGU (at $12 skein) and original designs by Ellen Warren. WOW you can do alot with this amazing yarn.

CLASS on Day 3 ---- ILLUSION KNITTING WITH JUDY DITMORE

from Interlacements.

We learned to read and design graphs for illusion knitting and discovered how purling or knitting the design stitches creates the illusion. We started with a triangle, viewed samples of other ideas, and learned what types of yarn go best together to make the illusion stand out. Here is a sample of my initial piece

It was also enjoyable to meet the people from these favorite online sites:

WEBS
YARN EXPRESS - check out their suede handles and handbag bottoms

CABIN FEVER
HABU

newcomer KNIT THREE TOGETHER

and cute cartoons for t-shirts, mugs, etc. from PEARL'S KNIT WITS

and last but not least

KNITTING FOR CHARITY Handouts and information available from:

THREADS OF COMPASSION

AFGANS FOR AFGANS

CAPS TO THE CAPITAL

Make your plans to go to the next

STITCHES !! East, West, or Midwest events

World famous designers, all the latest trends in knitting and fashion, market and vendors,

door prizes, freebies, classes of all types and at all levels, make new friends !!!