Vogue Knitting Live New York 2020
Hey there, blog. Long time nothing to say, but now that I’ve recovered from the weekend that started off with a Thursday at the Greater Boston Knitting Guild, then a drive through snow squalls and early nightfall to New York City . . . to teach 6 classes over three days for the tenth anniversary Vogue Knitting Live event, I am tired but energized to get back to my needles.
The delight of a teaching weekend is the chance to get out of my own head and connect with knitters and the things that excite them. Teaching is a rare social opportunity in my largely solitary work, and as much as I worry the night before I teach just about any class, I am always excited to get in there and find out how I can help. I got to teach some of my favorite classes and really enjoyed seeing the lightbulb moments when knitters “get it”.
I also love running into friends. A lot of people I know in the knitting world I met years ago when we were all just blogging away in the ‘aughts. Others are newer pals I’ve grabbed a beer with or even just shared an elevator ride at another event for about 40 seconds. It’s a crazy connection quilt to stitch together over long stretches of time, but we all greet each other the same enthusiastic way as if we had survived high school together. This weekend I even ran into a really old friend, by sister’s bestie from when they were indeed in high school. Jen (in the middle) is now a manager for Amanda (on the left) of Atelier Yarns in San Francisco.
Imagine my surprise running into her next to the Knit Collage booth where I also recognized my friend Cheryl Kubat who now designs for that brand? Knitting really is a small world!
I got a little gushy when one of the event managers introduced me personally to the weekend’s guest artist, Laduma Ngxokolo. I don’t often find myself at a loss for words, but meeting him was a sudden surprise and on the spot I found myself trying to explain how much the moment meant to me. As if my enthusiasm meant anything to him. Don’t try this at home, folks. It never goes well, and if you’re anything like me, you won’t sleep for two days rewriting the moment in your head. Be cool. Say “Thanks for your work”, and move on. I mean, come ON! Look at his work!
Meanwhile, one of my own celebrations was for a sweater design I did last summer for the winter issue of Vogue Knitting magazine, which happened to correspond in time to this New York event. The sweater is called #10 Folkloric Pullover and is a medley of techniques in some of the many beautiful colors of Blue Sky Alpaca Woolstok. I was delighted to see the magazine photo graced a number of event signs and the sweater even lead off the Vogue Knitting runway show (although I wasn't there to see it in person but instagram let me know). I promise it never gets old seeing your work on a seven foot tall sign when you come around a hotel corner. What!?
I’m happy to be home with my own coffee and my own bed for a stretch. I have some classes scheduled at the Stitch House in Dorchester, MA over the next month or so, if they find some folks to come for steeking, short row shells, and an introduction to intarsia. Check out their website if you’re local and interested. I’ll be here in the meantime, knitting away on a relaxing project: Friday Morning Brioche Shawl by Kate Atherley in lovely Freia Fibers Sport in a new color way, Starfish.
