Stitches West Update

Okay, so I may need to blog about the Stitches trip in stages because it was so amazing and I have so much to tell. I had so much fun hanging out with coworkers and talking to people who are similarly intoxicated by the presence of yarn…albeit a large, large space full of yarn.

We stayed in an amazing Hilton (I don’t have a picture to convey how lovely it is, you’ll just have to trust me) in Santa Clara. It was a short walk across the street to the convention center.



There were booths of stores, companies, and knitting celebrities filling the space.



Most shops took up 1-2 booths, but WEBS took up (I believe) 10.



We had quite a presence, needless to say. It was strange to be somewhere where knitters had not yet heard of us. I was joking that it was like a social experiment, some sort of yarn related torture, to work in your booth only able to gaze out at the pretty things. But I jest, we were able to shop a little. We took lunch breaks and moments before the marketplace opened to browse. I literally shopped walking at a fast clip up and down the aisles, only pausing if a color or name drew me. However, it was quite effective to shop with an initial gut instinct.

For all the long hours we worked and as many engrossing customers as we had, we were very well cared for. Every evening we dined as a group at the most fantastic restaurants, laughing any stress of the day away and sharing some wine. What an amazing way to finish every evening.



I cannot seem to isolate my favorite moments of the trip. I had time to talk one on one with almost everyone who came along, I bonded with customers, I had time to talk to my fiancé every evening (despite the time difference) and I was able to score some beautiful yarn. I will have to post later with my loot, as I haven’t taken pics yet. I even enjoyed the traveling. Although it was long and the time difference was a struggle I had time to knit and listen to music, the flight into CA was so clear I was able to take pics of the grand canyon! It was breathtaking.

I was also able to meet up with an old friend from Smith who I haven’t seen in years. What serendipity that our conference was so close to where she lives?
I was really ready to be home, despite the cold wintry reception. We were so afraid our flight would be delayed because of the storm, but in the end we were lucky.

I’ll have to post some progress photos of my projects. My Mainland Cardi for class is mostly done (minus the sleeves) and my Garter Stitch Yoke Cardi is progressing nicely. Oh! And my Legwarmers for Gail’s upcoming book are done as well. More to come…

[I will end with photos of the booth breakdown to give you an idea of what a big job it was. What a great team we had!]



[We shipped 12 of those pallets to CA!]

Stitches West!!

So, I found out very recently that WEBS needed an extra body at Stitches and I quickly volunteered. The rest, as they say, is history. I can't believe I haven't posted about this yet! I'm super excited to be going on a multiple of levels. Not only do I feel supremely blessed to be sent there by my workplace without expense, I get to go with coworkers I enjoy and be in an atmosphere of knitting frenzy (hmmm, this is beginning to sound like a regular day at WEBS).

I'll be surrounded with and tempted by knitting wonder that I am not exposed to on an everyday basis. I've heard tales but cannot actually anticipate what will be there. And! I have never actually been to CA before. Although I'll be indoors the entire time working long hours and may not be able to sightsee I will physically have been there.

Also, I'll be able to visit an old college friend that I haven't seen in years. cordeliaknits lives pretty close to where the convention will be held and has graciously agreed to travel to see me (ahem, and some yarn). I will also have gross amounts of knitting time as traveling will take up 8+ hours each way and if I'm up in the evenings at all I'll be knitting.

My partner is a little anxious to be without me as we've never actually spent a night apart in the (almost) year we've been together. Sappy...adorable...you be the judge. It's never easy to be away from loved ones, but I positively have stars in my eyes...or yarn balls as the case may be.

I promise to report back about Stitches and whatever yarn-booty I come home with.

Lastly, I am adding pics of fxa's shawl since her camera is broken, and I did promise after all.

WEBS inventory

I’ve finally gotten around to taking some pics of my WEBS store projects this week, so this post may seem like a windfall after a long drought of non-posting. Some of these projects I finished quite some time ago and some very recently.

My most dramatic project to date and the most recent is the Soft Kid Bubble, from Boutique Knits.

Project: Soft Kid Bubble
Source: Boutique Knits by Laura Irwin
Yarn: Cascade Eco Alpaca in chocolate brown, 5 skeins (barely used the 5th skein).

This garment was a challenge to my skills as a knitter mainly because it was difficult to visualize with the pattern wording. At my skill level I could have benefited from a schematic or a description/summation of the construction at each section. However, the construction was interesting, the yarn was lusciously soft and the store is all abuzz about Boutique Knits. There are so many interesting patterns in this book, the customers and staff cannot get enough. In fact, it goes so fast that no one can get their hands on it in the store. Sidenote: I greatly benefited from the experience of my coworkers in the labor of this project. Thank you Ladies of WEBS!

Thanks to ZombieHunter who is featured here modeling it in the store.

My coworker, fxa and I began our projects at the exact same time (which was shamefully long ago) and we finished them on the exact same day. We bemoaned our projects, commiserated in our misery and rejoiced together as they came off the needles. Regretfully I did not catch a photo of her beautiful lace shawl and she has not posted it on Ravelry yet, so hopefully I can amend that in the near future. [edit: she has now posted on her blog]

Next project: Versatile Scarves

Designed by: Evelyn Clark

Source: Fiber Trends Pattern

Yarn: Araucania Ranco Solid

Project: Springtime in Philadelphia, Canopy

Designed By: Kate Gagnon

Source: Kelbourne Woolens

Yarn: Fibre Company Canopy Fingering in Chiclet Tree

I lovelovelove this yarn. It’s soft and springy and shows perfect stitch definition. I cannot recommend it enough. I can always sell a skein of this in the store with the free pattern. I very much enjoyed working this pattern and it gets constant attention in the store. In fact, I loved it so much I made another for myself!

Project: Vergara Vest

Designed by: Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton

Source: Malabrigo Book One

Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted, in Stonechat

My first WEBS project!

Project: Give a Hoot

Designed by: Jocelyn Tunney

Source: Kelbourne Woolens

Yarn: Valley Yarns Sheffield

I regret that I wasn’t able to use Canopy Worsted, for which this pattern was intended, but WEBS doesn’t carry it. However, I was very impressed that I eeked out with one ball of Sheffield. And I was surprised at how much I loved this yarn. It really blooms when washed and it’s so soft, with a nice variety of colors. The mitts were super quick and ultra cute, although if I make some for myself I may forgo the button eyeballs.

Project: Clapotis

Designed by: Kate Gilbert

Source: Knitty.com

Yarn: Valley Yarns Northfield, hand dyed by KangarooDyer

This sort of counts as a WEBS project since it was made for our resident dyer KangarooDyer. She wanted to have a piece for her table at the Fiber Twist that highlighted her hand dyed yarn, so I volunteered. KangarooDyer is hands down the most generous woman I’ve ever met and in exchange for my labor I received a large sum of hand dyed goodies!

Whew, I think that’s it!

wish me luck

So, clearly I haven't made the photo display I had envisioned of my projects from 2009. I thought it would be easy enough to whip something up, but my tech skills are sadly lacking it seems. Oh well, something else to work on in the new year. In the meantime I do have my knits on my project page on Ravelry.
I have not allowed myself to indulge in any projects until the dreaded store sweater is completed. I am working on the Soft Kid Bubble from Boutique Knits (for those of you who haven't heard me groan about this project). This has been the quintessential nightmare project. I picked it up right before the holidays so it was born in an atmosphere of stress and from there its adversarial powers have only grown in strength. I have had great difficulty deciphering this pattern, suffice it to say it is stretching my knitting muscles to capacity. I had partially taken this project on because I wanted to become more skilled, so in that respect I have no room to quibble. But, I can honestly say I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I will withhold pictures until it is finished and in all its glory. Maybe I'll even do a photo montage of my store knits (hopefully my meager skills can manage that)!
Another excuse for lack of pictures is my mid-winter move currently in process. My partner and I are moving across town. But as I'm sure you know, no move is a small move. We are a little ahead of schedule due to my partners' organizational tendencies so until the big day--Saturday--we'll be living amidst boxes (I had to open several boxes to find pasta noodles tonight).

welcome 2009!

I don't really believe in resolutions, but for the first time my head is filled with good intentions for the new year. I want to prioritize my health (like, go to the gym once in awhile), focus on my family's oral history project and pare down some of my stash (books as well as yarn).
I had a great heart-to-heart with my yarn stash and it has been decided that I can only buy for projects that I'm starting ASAP. Of course, I will not be so cruel as to keep myself from picking up pretty skeins from time to time with no purpose. However, there will be no scooping up of bags of yarn simply because they are on closeout. I work at WEBS, therefore this resolution is a big deal. So, so much yarn taunts me daily, I must be disciplined.
I recently learned that we are moving in a couple of weeks which necessitates paring down. My partner is a minimalist and I am a packrat, which lends itself to different interpretations to ownership and living space. I'm hoping a new place will be a new beginning.
That said, I am looking back at all my projects for this year, as so many knitters are and I do want to add a pictorial view of them. There are a few pictures missing, but it is a fairly comprehensive composite. Seeing the time line of projects really emphasizes how my skills have developed, particularly after my hiring at WEBS. What a difference it makes to be in a community of knitters!

I will put the pictorial in a second post, for fear of losing the text. As a neophyte blogger I am struggling with the posting pictures function, which has slowed my postings considerably. Any tips are welcome!

We're Engaged!!

Yes, its’ official. We’re engaged! She proposed on her birthday. It was a warm fall afternoon on Mt Skinner overlooking the valley. We felt totally insulated from the outside world: quiet, calm and clear.

As happy as it may be, queer engagements are a trepidatious matter. Our crowd isn’t exactly traditional, so they certainly didn’t get too excited. We were pleased that we got a ‘congrats’ rather than a lecture. And our families run the gamut as far as acceptance. Overall it’s been a quiet affair, no one has really seemed to notice the ring, believe it or not. Our families seem happy, and if they aren’t I don’t think they would tell us which, I suppose, is the real blessing. But it’s hard to not share in the joy with those you love.

It feels particularly bittersweet in light of recent legislation, and notable admissions by politicians about gay marriage. I’d almost forgotten, living in Northampton (our liberal bubble), that queer marriage is still radical. Here, it’s largely considered passé.

But, we were sure about each other from the moment we came together, so for us it doesn’t seem so sudden or subversive. So, for now, we’ll patiently wait for the rest of the world to catch up.

a condensed timeline

Okay, so my promises haven’t exactly come to fruition… in regards to posting more often anyway. So much has been happening lately. My weekends have been booked solid between work and, well, work. No, there have been some other things…

My family came to visit from VA the weekend before last which was wonderful and exhausting. I actually cried outside their hotel room after saying goodbye. It’s becoming more and more difficult to live so far away the older I get. Not only was it great to see them but their visit was very constructive in regards to Xmas. It’s not so easy to observe casual admissions for gift ideas when you live so far away. And as a crafter you must know that September is never too early to start for Xmas.

I’m also glad to announce that I’ve been able to resurrect tuesdays craft night. Dara and I have been trying for a long time to get this off the ground, but have been forced to postpone for one reason or another. Most recently its been because of the poor puppy (10 year old puppy, actually). She tore her ACL when she was jumping up to greet me…absolutely heartbreaking. Alyx and I were afraid if we had company she would get too excited and re-injure herself. Despite our grave reservations it looks like surgery is in Lexy’s future. Her spirit, however, is very much intact and we are unable to keep her from her usual movements.

I’ve been working overtime trying to finish projects for webs to work up store credit but seem to be spending it before it accumulates too much. Oh, the yarn. I turned in my first garment, the Malabrigo Vergara vest, today. I’ll post pictures as soon as they’re on my computer.

Last weekend I was lucky enough to participate in a staff only rigid hettle weaving course. We made a scarf out of Sheep Shop 3 variegated yarn. The results are so lovely, but now I’m a little fixated on obtaining a loom. Sigh. Pics of that coming up too.

Speaking of overloading the craft wagon….Alyx and I went to the Garlic and Arts Festival in Orange, MA this weekend. I’m elated from the experience if only because I discovered some lovely roving to begin my first spinning experience. I’m eager to start immediately since I know the same woman, from Winter Berry Farm, will have a stand at the Franklin Fiber Twist and I’d like to get some more.

My next post, it seems, will be purely pictoral…