Back from Stitches East

Wow, just wow, such an amazing event!

Stitches is a conference for knitters and crocheters that is held four times a year in different locations all over US.  This year was my first time and I went to Stitches East in Hartford, CT.

My journey started in ungodly hour of Friday morning (5am), when I left the house to drive to CT.  The next two hours were filed with cursing, been stuck between truck on the upper level of GW bridge (civic seems even smaller, when placed between 4 trucks), traffic, did I mention cursing?.  Note to self: please take Tappan Zee bridge instead!  After missing couple of turns (yes I have two GPS and I still miss turns, because they cannot agree where I suppose to turn!), I got to Hartford Convention center, I parked, I walked inside, and all that hustle did not matter anymore!  It was amazing to see so many people knitting and crocheting in one place.  Fiber bug in the air!

Friday, I was helping out in a booth of a wonderful online based yarn store, handknitting.com.  They have a lot of good yarns, at good prices, and some yarns, like a wool/possum bland, they carry exclusively.  I had a great time, met a lot of people, learned about yarn, and just talked fiber!

Speaking of meeting people… First, I met Gwen Bortner.  I happen to be at the booth where she was signing her book Entree to Entrelac, after some encouraging from the staff, I went to talk to her.  She is such nice person.

Second, I met Debbie Stroller, a person behind Stitch n’ Beach books and meetups, Stitch Nation, and new wonderful yarns that appeared in big craft stores.  I did not have her book with me, so she signed a bag for me.  I was trilled!

Then, on my way to get food I heard someone calling Mary Beth.  Well it’s not very common name, so I went to the person who was called, and asked: “Are you Mary Beth Temple?”, and what do you think, that was her!  I wanted to ask her so many things, but I just stumbled..  I was speechless to say the least. I listen to her podcasts all the time and she is awesome!

And last, but not least I met Edie Eckman, not so much met, as took a class with her!  She is absolutely wonderful!  I learned a lot in her Pattern Writing class, and working on implementing it right now (hint: new patterns are coming up).

The highlight of the Friday night was a Pajama Party!  It was huge, about 150 people, most of whom were wearing pajamas.  That was fun!  There were contests, hot chocolate, snacks, and knitting (I was probably the one crocheting though).  Did I mention that Mary Beth was awesome?  She stopped by and wished me good night :).

Do I need to say that I bought a lot of wonderful, gorgeous yarns?  Well, I did! But they deserve a separate post!