This morning I received an email from one of my LYS informing me they were at the Interweave Knitting Lab this weekend. Um, say what?!?! How did I not hear about a knitting event coming to town? While I'm knitting from the stash these days and certainly not looking to spend a lot, I noticed the market had free admission.... OK, I'll bite. After all, I was out and about using up some of those fun birthday coupons and offers all the stores send out. After a quick trip to Starbucks for my free birthday drink,
I headed to ManchVegas to check out the market. It was quite small in comparison to the Knit & Crochet Show and Stitches East markets I've been to in the past, but that wasn't a bad thing, because it was all the good stuff... without the junky filler some of those bigger markets have.
I went armed with great restraint, looking specifically for a beautiful skein of bulky weight yarn for the Bandana Cowl (as part of the Nikki, In Stitches knit-along). I walked all around the market twice fondling every skein in sight before making any decisions.
I met a wonderful Australian lady named Biggan. She is the founder/creative director at Biggan Design and was on hand mainly to display her yarns and get the word out in the States. I wish I had snapped a photo of her table, but I must have been too mesmerized by the amazing colors. They are so incredibly vibrant and absolutely beautiful (just click thru to her website and see for yourself). I would definitely consider ordering from her in the future.
It was fun to walk around and see some of the newer yarns and patterns, but as I said, I went with great restraint and ended up leaving with just 3 skeins of yarn. I picked up 2 skeins of Green Mountain Spinnery Capricorn bulky handdyed and 1 skein of Tess' Designer Yarns Bella handdyed. Bella will become the Bandana Cowl for me and the Capricorn may possibly turn into Christmas gifts.
For the most part, all of the vendors were very laid back, but still friendly and helpful at the Knitting Lab market. They were not overbearing, as I've experienced with some shows in the past. On the other side of the spectrum, this is the third or fourth time I've run into Tess from Tess' Designer Yarns and I have to say, I really wish she were more friendly. Perhaps in real life she is, but at the shows I've experienced an almost stand-offish vibe from her. Even when you're making a purchase, she seems almost as if she's bothered to ring up your sale. I've purchased from her twice and the first time, I figured maybe she was just having a bad day... but I got the same vibe today. Her yarns are beautiful, which is the only reason I justified making the purchase today. If it were based on friendliness, I would've walked away. Has anyone else run into this with vendors at knitting shows?
And on that note... what are you knitting this weekend?
Skacel sponsor display |
I met a wonderful Australian lady named Biggan. She is the founder/creative director at Biggan Design and was on hand mainly to display her yarns and get the word out in the States. I wish I had snapped a photo of her table, but I must have been too mesmerized by the amazing colors. They are so incredibly vibrant and absolutely beautiful (just click thru to her website and see for yourself). I would definitely consider ordering from her in the future.
Manos del Uruguay sponsor display |
It was fun to walk around and see some of the newer yarns and patterns, but as I said, I went with great restraint and ended up leaving with just 3 skeins of yarn. I picked up 2 skeins of Green Mountain Spinnery Capricorn bulky handdyed and 1 skein of Tess' Designer Yarns Bella handdyed. Bella will become the Bandana Cowl for me and the Capricorn may possibly turn into Christmas gifts.
For the most part, all of the vendors were very laid back, but still friendly and helpful at the Knitting Lab market. They were not overbearing, as I've experienced with some shows in the past. On the other side of the spectrum, this is the third or fourth time I've run into Tess from Tess' Designer Yarns and I have to say, I really wish she were more friendly. Perhaps in real life she is, but at the shows I've experienced an almost stand-offish vibe from her. Even when you're making a purchase, she seems almost as if she's bothered to ring up your sale. I've purchased from her twice and the first time, I figured maybe she was just having a bad day... but I got the same vibe today. Her yarns are beautiful, which is the only reason I justified making the purchase today. If it were based on friendliness, I would've walked away. Has anyone else run into this with vendors at knitting shows?
And on that note... what are you knitting this weekend?
7 comments:
I must say, that is great restraint to buy only 3 skeins of yarn! I'm knitting a Springtime Bandit shawl this weekend during my knitting time.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/springtime-bandit
I really envy you guys in the States, so many wooly shows to go to, wish interweave would come to Oz! I'm knitting a toddler hat using my handspun which is a first :)
Have a super Saturday, sadly we do not knit.
Best wishes Molly
Why don't events ever come to my area like this? Stitches is the week before the Michigan Fiber Festival so I never go. Argh! Good girl for showing restraint.
Those give-away bags look yummy!
Love the Biggan site with all the bright colors.
When we first moved here there was one yarn shop, but the women who ran it were so miserable that I never went back after my first visit. It went out of business a couple years later and it was probably because they treated customers so badly.
I would love to knit fashionable shawls with different colors and styles this weekend so I could wear it wherever I go! Hope I can do more than what I expect. :)
OK. Who's your LYS? I got an email Friday morning from mine, The Elegant Ewe, that they were going to be at Knitting Lab. It would be too funny if we lived this close together and didn't know it!
(I have to admit that I'm lucky enough to have another LYS, Spinning Yarns, too. I live right smack between the two!)
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