Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Highlights from the Knit and Crochet Show - San Diego

I was fortunate to be able to attend the Knit and Crochet Show in San Diego July 21 - 25. This is the national show of the Crochet Guild of America and The Knitting Guild Association. If you ever have a chance to go to one of these shows, I highly recommend it. This was my third show, and I've enjoyed each one. There are wonderful classes, lots of other yarn crafting enthusiasts to socialize with, and of course, a yarn market. 

Friends

I ran into my friend designer Andee Graves in the line at the hotel registration desk. Reconnecting with friends is one of the best parts of the show.




Workshops and Classes

From Get Your Geek On to Engineered Tunisian, there were lots of opportunities to learn. The former was a workshop led by Vashti Braha, Amy Shelton, and Doris Chan where we explored some of the geeky crochet topics beloved by those of us who aren't content to always color inside the lines. For example, what are some of the unusual places in the anatomy of a crochet stitch where you can pull up a loop to make a stitch? In Engineered Tunisian taught by Jennifer Hansen, we learned how to do increases and decreases and manipulate Tunisian stitches to make cables. These are the skills needed to complete Jennifer's Tunisian Keyhole Cravat pattern. I also took Design Your Own Crochet Stitch Pattern with Marty Miller and Shell Game (an exploration of shell stitches) with Karen Klemp. I was so engrossed in learning all the new things that I totally neglected to take any photos. Oh nooooo!
 
I have to go to next year's show just so I can redeem myself with better photos!
Design Competition

Thursday evening we got our first look at the design competition entries that were displayed in the market are. Here are a few of the lovely entries.

   Aegean Dress by Kristin Lynn                     Blue Poppy Coat by Alla Koval (turned to                                                                             display the interesting back)

                                     

Tunica Geometrica by Susan Walsh                    Lollapalooza by Julia Bryant

                                       

Market

What's a fiber show without a chance to buy fiber? The market opened for a preview Thursday night and ran through Saturday. I think my favorite part was the Yarnover Truck. I had heard about the truck on a podcast a few years ago but had never seen it. It's a mobile yarn shop operate by 2 women in southern California. Here it is on the floor of the market.


A few purchases from various vendors:


Fashion Show

Saturday night was the big finale with the banquet and fashion show. Many of the design competition entries were modeled as well as other garments and accessories made by attendees. Here are the models wearing the many variations of Doris Chan's Lotus Lattice top.


San Diego

Before heading home, I spent a day seeing some of the sites in San Diego. Here's the Museum of Man in Balboa Park.


Also in Balboa Park, the Botanical Garden building with its lily pond:


View of the harbor from Cabrillo National Monument:



5 comments:

  1. Thanks for the highlights Amy, it sounds like you had a really great time :)

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  2. Gorgeous pictures! I want to get to San Diego sometime AND to a CGOA convention. Looks like so much fun.

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    1. I'm going to hold you to that! The CGOA convention part at least!

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  3. Ooh, those design entries! Always an amazing part of the show. I remember meeting Kristin Lynn last year - I'll bet she looks stunning in that dress.

    The classes sound really fascinating - especially Engineered Tunisian. The Get Your Geek On would be right up my alley as I'm always putting my hook into odd places (in the stitch I mean). :D

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