Stitches South spotlights hand-dyed yarns

"Artful Color,  Mindful Knits" by Laura Bryant.

Stitches South 2013 was a fabulous show once again... with lots of buzz about new techniques, the latest knitwear fashions, tools, fibers, yarns and more.

I attended classes with world-renown knitting gurus Lily Chin, Anna Zilboorg and Rick Mondragon, did my due diligence at the vendor mall (sigh!), and breathed in enough inspiration to make one's head spin.

This year, I decided to attend the Pajama Party (10 pm to midnight) where knitters, crocheters (and a few spinners) came in their PJs, fuzzy bunny slippers and curlers. PJ Party-goers toted their yarny WIPs (work in progress) along with miscellaneous and sundry items for the "Let's Make a Deal" games and antics—knitter's style. It was a blast and winners won some great prizes!

A few of my knitting students and I having lunch at Stitches South.

I met up with a few of my knitting students at the expo. We took a [short] break to get a bite for lunch... then back to the vendors and the show floor...

Back at the vendor mall... XRX, the publisher of Knitter's Magazine and numerous knitting books, and the sponsor of the Stitches expos, always has a booth up front. This year, the XRX booth was spotlighting "Artful Color, Mindful Knits: The Definitive Guide to Working with Hand-dyed Yarn" by Laura Militzer Bryant.

Laura Bryant's new book, "Artful Color, Mindful Knits."

For those that may not know Laura, she is the creative master mind and founder of Prism Yarns and has been hand-dying yarn for 30+ years. A brief demo at the XRX booth on Laura's "Magic Number" concept for using hand-dyed yarns to achieve amazing (and controlled) patterns immediately sold me on the book. (You should have seen the swatches and the garments... OMGosh!) I took a class with Laura 2 years ago at Stitches South, so was familiar with her vast expertise and stunning knitwear designs using hand-dyed yarn. Her book tops this!

Poster showing one of the Artful Color garments.

I haven't digested all the info in the book, but this is a resource every knitter and crocheter should have on her/his bookshelf. It will serve you well as a reference now and for years to come.

The dash into the vendor mall preview for pre-paid attendees.

So, run! Order Artful Color, Mindful Knits: The Definitive Guide to Working with Hand-dyed Yarn for yourself now!

Stitches South knitting and crochet expo

One of my best fiber art buds and I went to Stitches South this weekend. Woohoo! It was full of yarny goodness—sensuous fibers (one vendor booth had mink yarn!), mouthwatering colors, and this year, lots of beaded bling.

Here I am, wearing my "yarn fabrication" vest, outside the vendor mall
where they have the yarn sampling of yarns from 12 differenet suppliers. 

Betsy Hershberg's new book, Betsy Beads: Confessions of a Left-Brained Knitter, was a focal point at several vendor booths and expo presentations. 

Betsy Beads by Betsy Hershberg.

Other attractions at the expo (and a look into some of the latest trends) included:

• Drew Emborsky, "The Crochet Dude," was on site and buzzing around the show floor
• a booth in the vendor mall was dedicated to crochet
• lots of attendees were wearing amazing knitted shawls (lace, textures, stripes, pattern stitches, you name it...)
• several knitted shawl samples made up with Rosetti Polaris by Universal Yarn, a wool blend infused with sequin payees (the dazzling beauty of this yarn and these garments can only be experienced in person). Get a jump on holiday projects... all of the patterns for these samples were FREE ones from Universal.
• a return to some of the novelty yarns (Plume by Prism Yarns was heavenly!)

One of the vendors was wearing a great "recycled creation" that she graciously allowed me to photograph. Is this vest not ingenious? It's crocheted with pop-tops (you know, recycled from soda cans). The crochet was very fine and lacy but the aluminum pop tops gave the vest weight and drape.

I purchased a few "high density" items for my stash and got Betsy to sign a copy of her book for me.

Buttons from Gail Hughes Art Buttons and
a hank of blue sock yarn (on sale) for my Sky Scarf.

Sheri and I also splurged and got two To-Go orders of Limoncello Bread Pudding from Carrabba's. We brought it back to the hotel and indulged with a late night snack.

Stitches inspiration

From a class with Laura Bryant of Prism Yarns.

Students from several of my knitting classes have requested a class on color knitting techniques. I sent in a course description to my program manager. It was accepted. As I research, make notes, develop outlines and class projects that support the concepts I plan to present, I went back into my photos from Stitches South expo looking for inspiration. Here is some inspiration for color, fiber, pattern and texture that I encountered this past spring.

Laura Bryant's garment (left) and swing vest (right) from Barry Klein at Trendsetter Yarn.

Look up and down for patterns and color. Carpet in one of the conference rooms.

More carpet designs.

From the expo parking lot. This says it all.

An Earth Day recycling opportunity

Earth Day reminds us to reuse, re-purpose and recycle. But, it doesn't have to be all about washing out aluminum cans and milk jugs, bundling newspapers or going through closets to discard clothes that no longer fit or are not fashionable. I picked up this hank of a yarn made from recycled blue jeans this past weekend at Stitches South. It's called Riveting, by Kollage Yarns.

There are 9 different Riveting colors (no pun intended), but in the vendor mall, this one (Dusk Denim) seemed closest to the color of my comfortable faded favorites. The gauge is 26 sts/32 rows = 4" on a US #4 at 350 yards per hank. The fiber content 95% cotton and 5% other, and is 100% recycled yarn with 80% post consumer. I'll have to find just the right project for this earth friendly yarn. What do you think—a cowl, skinny scarf, something in lace, a pattern stitch? Kollage offers these pattern suggestions. [a new window may open behind this window, or here is the link: http://www.kollageyarns.com/patterns_in_cat.php?catid=50.]

Another yarn made from recycled knit fabrics left over from Europe's ready-to-wear industry is Remix by Berroco. Gaia, a short sleeve cardi designed by Kristen TenDyke, is a Free Pattern that showcases this yarn.

So, green up your knitting, support the repurposing efforts of the fiber industry and create something comfortable and environmentally-friendly... in blue, green, natural or whatever color makes you feel good!

Knitting, swatching and snoozing

We had another glimpse of Spring yesterday as the temperature reached the 70s and the sun smiled on all the flora and greenery in the back yard. It was a relaxing afternoon to enjoy the outdoors, and prepare the swatches I need for upcoming classes.

We're going to cover the Kitchener stitch in my Lace Knitting class this evening. My students are working on a lace sampler scarf and will be joining live stitches from both halves of the scarf. The other swatches are in preparation for classes I will be taking at Stitches South in a few weeks.

I also completed a sample for a new class on Knitting in the Round (another request from my knitting students). This is a modified pattern inspired by Louisa Harding's Poppy Beanie. It's an adorable and retro beanie style hat—reminiscent of the 1920s cloche. The beanie and its flower embellishment have several fun techniques for knitters of all levels. I am converting it to be knit in the round for my class. It will be a good intro project for learning how to maneuver double pointed needles (dpns) and a circular needle. Stay tuned for more information on this class...

And, here is the "extra kitty" who was snoozing away the afternoon. He is a neighborhood cat who has more-or-less adopted us.

Try to relax, kitty.

Stitches South Expo

I attended the Stitches South Expo again this year—fabulous classes and a market full of luscious yarns and mouth-watering eye candy to see... and touch and feel. I sought out the Universal Yarn booth to see if Hal (the owner) was there this year. I wanted to show him what I've been doing with Universal's tape yarn (see my Yarn Fabrication vest in the pic below). Alas, Hal couldn't make the trip this year but I did meet Michael del Vecchio, Universal's Creative Director, who was intrigued with the technique and snapped a few pics. Here's a link to Michael's blog and what's going on at Universal.

While at the expo, I took a class with Lily Chin, knitter and crocheter extraordinaire. Don't let her size deceive you, she is a dynamo in the classroom! And, she speaks fluent knit-ese. For example, she told the class to pull out our "dippins" (dpns, or double pointed needles) and begin "kattoo togg tibble" (k2tog thru the back loop). She also interjects her teaching with knitting humor--"so, have you heard the one about the 3 knitters and the flasher?" (I guess ya had to be there.)

I have three of Lily's books. I brought two along to class which she graciously signed. These three (Knitting Tips and Tricks, Crochet Tips and Tricks, and Couture Crochet Workshop) are in my personal library, but after taking a class with her, I would recommend anything she publishes! Either knitting or crochet—she is a master at both.

Knit One Below, k1b

I learned the Knit One Below (k1b) technique while attending Stitches South expo in April (see previous post) and here is a finished scarf I knitted using this stitch. The scarf is a modified version of the Inside-Outside scarf in Elise Duvekot's Knit One Below book. It's knitted with two colors of Sensational yarn from Universal Yarn's Fibra Natura line.

I really like this technique as it offers myriad creative possibilities--in color, pattern and yarn combinations. I taught the technique at a recent Stitch Pattern Monthly session at a fiber arts shop. With a little practice, all my students began to master the knit-and-slide of a two-yarn technique and the rhythm of the *k1, k1b* sequence. Oooh the possibilities of this technique!

Stitches Expo--Atlanta

After a 6 to midnight quilting party on Friday (which my business sponsored) and a full workday on Saturday, I was debating whether to attend the final day of the Stitches South Expo in Atlanta. I hadn't pre-registered, but on the other hand I didn't want to miss this opportunity when it was so close--in Atlanta. So, I bucked up and hit the road at 7:30 a.m.--and glad I did!

The Cobb Galleria is a good venue for this event--right off the highway, convenient (and free) parking, a short walk to the entrance, and a facility that is easy to navigate (the expo hall and classrooms were easy to find). There was a nice crowd for a Sunday morning. Yarn and fiber vendors and good representation of local and national yarn and knit shops filled the hall.

I chatted with Hal, the President of Universal Yarn. (A super nice guy.) He remembered our last meeting quite well and asked how things were going at the Studio. He briefed me on Universal's new yarns and upcoming colors. I also got to meet Jean Lux, Universal's marketing director, in person. We've had a few phone and e-mail conversations, so it was nice to put a face with her name.

I made my way through the isles of booths--browsing and drooling over the luscious yarns, inspiring books, knitted garments and accessories. Samples really sell product! Here is what came home with me. Alas, now to find the time to create something with these beauties . . .