Interweave Knitting Lab

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Have you heard the good news? Interweave Press, the company that produces two of my favorite magazines- Piecework and Interweave Knits, is hosting its own knitting conference!

Interweave Knitting Lab is the title of the event being held in San Mateo, California, November 3-6, 2011. Yes, there will be the usual market to do some wonderful shopping as well as how-to classes. But that's where the Interweave Knitting Lab similarities to other knitting events ends. What this event will bring is a level of talent with the kind of in dept knitting knowledge that only Interweave could provide.

Don't believe me? How about learning Bohas knitting and its history from Anne Berk. Design skirts and dresses with Shirley Paden. Recreate traditional folk mittens with Donna Druchunas or try your hand at Andean hat scallop knitting to the Chinchero style with Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez. This is just a tiny sampling of classes designed to immerse you with the knowledge and technical skills for continued learning and success long after the conference is over.

If you happen to be in the area, I urge you to attend. Classes are filling up quickly so do not hesitate. Seeing the history of Interweave's other well-known event, SOAR, I'm sure Interweave Knitting Lab is destined to become a 'must' for knitters serious about cultural history and techniques in knitting.

Well?

Well....

I finally got some really cute pictures of my Boy Toy wearing my first ever male socks. And, of course I can't show them to you because the swatch for it is being sent off for consideration in another knitting magazine.

My room looks like a giant mutant yarn moster stumbled into it after having way too many jager and redbull shots and threw up all over the place. There is yarn everywhere- but in the oh so wrong kind of way.

I just found my bobbin lace pillow, finished the lace edging that's been hanging off that thing for like the past three years and have now started another lace piece. (Yes, I do bobbin lace. Unlike Latin, its not completely a dead artform. And once I take over the world with my two needle knitting I will then require all scholl age children to spend two hours a day learning bobbin lace. Yes, I AM an evil dictator!)

The Boy Toy has finally raised the white flag saying he has given up on trying to understand how I can have so many different craft projects going on at the same time. "I still can't pat my head and rub my belly at the same time. How the hell do you manage to do so many things at once?"

After several tall adult drinks, I think I've finally come to terms with the fact that unless someone is willing to give me an all expenses paid trip, I will not be going to Sock Summit this year. (Wait, I think I may need another drink. The pain is starting to come back.)

I just realized that once my sock design gets published I still need to come up with a plan to get three TNNA members to write letters of introduction for me. Anyone out there willing to volunteer? I'm willing to send a free pair of hand knitted socks to you for your time. (Yes, I will stoop so low as to knit my way into TNNA. I am never above grovaling!)

And, well...

I'm working on another sock design that I will try to post here on the blog next week. Yup, its going to be a free one, yeah!!!

 

Brave New Knits Rocks!

I picked up another gem from the library this week. Brave New Knits by Julie Turjoman. The patterns in this book make you want to go out and buy more yarn, but that is not why i love this book. I love it because of its interviews with many of the  knitwear designers/bloggers that we all know and love.

Interview after interview, I am amazed and inspired by the diverse and often times contradictory backgrounds of each designer that somehow knitting has worked its way into.

Each designer interview includes a pattern from the designer. This gives more depth and meaning to each pattern because after you finish reading about a designer's approach to knitwear and their design philosophy, then you turn the page and see their ideas and concepts in full physical form waiting for you to make.

The overall message in this book is how the internet- and especially Ravelry- has help to make are knitting community a little more 'close-knit' and has been a great platform for new designers and their work.

A great book to read for anyone thinking about becoming a knitwear designer or if you just want to know how a person makes the leap from biochemisrty to sweater designer.