I went to the knitting extravaganza that is Vogue Knitting Live a weekend or so ago. A two and a half days of classes, shopping, fashion shows and knitterati sightings. It was my first VKL and I didn’t quite know what to expect. I’ve been to a number of TNNAs (the industry convention for LYS owners and others). I love going to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival and it’s New York state counterpart in Rhinebeck. But something told me VKL was going to be different.
It was and it wasn’t. There were no sheep, for starters. Nor llama, alpacas nor deep-fried Twinkies. There were space age elevators lifting you twenty floors before you could ask “What pattern is your sweater?” There was Times Square right outside the door–lights and people 24/7. There was Restaurant Week so that wonderful food was wonderfully available.
But as always, there were knitters! Old and young, newbies and old-hands. Lots and lots of knitters. We are a fun bunch. We love to learn new things, share tips, trade discoveries and knit. Always knitting. Imagine being in a class where not only does the teacher not mind if you knit but everyone else is doing it too! There may have been the odd Muggle or two who didn’t know that knitters had invaded, but everywhere I went there were people who got it. My people. You people. Or people like you.
I took a full day class with Taiu Landra of Koigu–on color. She talked about her way of working with color, shared some inspiration and then turned us loose to create on our own. Total bliss.
We knit little stripey swatches based on a drawing of a happy place or thing. Mine was of balloons in reds and pinks and oranges. With gray strings. (I can’t draw so mine was “abstract.”)
What fun!
I also took classes with Carol Sulcoski (filling in for Trisha Malcolm) and Amy Detjen. Carol did an admirable job teaching Trisha’s class on Teaching Classes That Rock. And let me tell you, any time you can take a class with Amy Detjen do it! She is smart, funny and a very good teacher. I often find that the Sunday afternoon slot in a whole weekend of classes can be a dud. The students and the teacher are all brain dead. But not Amy! It was a class on shaping tips and I learned so much. It was a perfect way to end a great weekend.
I think taking the classes is what makes VKLive transcend its vacuum sealed , swirly carpeted setting. That and the vendors. And all the friendly faces. Glad I saw yours!
I bet if we went together we would have a great time- or maybe we would not be invited to return!