Stitches West 2006 starts for us several weeks ahead of the actual event as we get ready with models for the fashion show and the plan and product for the booth.  We set up on Thursday to open for business for the Student Preview Market on Thursday evening.  The show opened to the public for the weekend on Friday morning.  The knitting and crocheting creativity levels were high - the event was full of great enthusiasm and energy.

We entered three garments in the Friday night fashion:  the Sonoma Shawl design from Oat Couture knit; and embellished by Carolyn; the Jeweled Zipper vest designed and knit by Carolyn; and the Celtic Plait Aran pullover from Countrywool and knit by Ellen.

On Saturday morning, the TV camera crew came through with Shay Pendray of Shay Pendray Needlearts, Inc. and Rick Mondragon of XRX.  The crew stopped at several booths and several shots were filmed in Skein Lane’s booth.  I look forward to seeing the Sonoma Shawl as one of the features on the final cut scheduled to air in April on Shay’s Sunday afternoon needlework show.  Darrius Johnson, customer and friend of Skein Lane, was also “caputured” on film with his year-old goddaughter.  Darrius learned to knit at Stitches about three years ago and almost instantly became an avid knitter.

At noon on Saturday Chris Bylsma, designer of the Saturday morning jacket, joined Skein Lane knitters who knit the jacket as a knitalong project at the shop.  Each sweater was very different and striking.

As a vendor at Stitches, we don’t get to see the market through the same eyes as those who come to market and classes.  We are busy with our booths and walk the floor some, even purchase some things, but I have heard from customers about products that I missed.  I did manage to add some things to my knitting collection:  a beaded scarf kit from Swallow Hill Creations , a beautiful shawl pin, more beads to add to a shawl, some knitting software, and a book on the color of red.  Now, who could believe that it would be so exciting to read about a color, but “A Perfect Red”, by Amy Butler Greenfield, caught my attention. To quote the cover, “……. the colorful history of cochineal, a legendary red dye that was once one of the world’s most precious commodities.”  Staff and customers have returned with new knitting techniques, i.e. shaping with darts, Japanese short rows, improved collars, and more that I will be mentioning soon.

During the busy show, I was able to touch base with our future line up of teachers: Melissa Leapman, Nancy Bush, Sally Melville, Maggie Jackson, and Nicky Epstein. 

It has been great fun to hear from our customers about their Stitches experiences.  Everyone has returned with renewed knitting and crocheting creativity energy.  It will be a joy to see these new projects evolve over the next several months.