Vogue Knitting Live with Janet & Joy

January 19 was a cold and sunny day. We took the bus from Emmaus with Conversational Threads to Vogue Knitting Live at the Marriott on Times Square in New York City.

First, we stopped at the coat check and ditched our coats for the day. We arrived early—even before the market doors opened—but the market had overflowed into the lobby area, so we were able to start browsing right away.

The whole day was a mob scene of people wearing their creations, booths selling yarn and other sundries, fashions shows and glimpses of knits stars.

We saw designer Caitlin Hunter,

podcasters Eric Lutz of Sticks & Twine,

Miriam & Christina of The Chelsea Purls and

Melissa & Lisa of Espace Tricot,

fashion shows by Rowan and Koigu yarns, and

vendors including Dina from The Knitting Place and

Cindy from our own Conversational Threads .

We browsed, bought, ate, and drank in the day, enjoying every minute.

At festivals like this, some independent yarn dyers will dye a batch of yarn in an exclusive colorway, only available at that show. We purchased some yarn by Life in the Long Grass, a dyer from Ireland, in their special event colorway called Vogue.

2017 New York Sheep & Wool Festival

Saturday, October 21, 2017 a small group of us took the bus to Rhinebeck, NY for the annual New York Sheep & Wool Festival. The bus left Emmaus at the early hour of 6:30am and we were in the Duchess County fairgrounds by 9:30am. It was a beautiful day for walking around the barns, starting out cool and warming up nicely by afternoon. We went through the bigger barns first, acquiring a few things along the way. After lunch we shed our coats and headed for the smaller barns. We walked around the fairgrounds with a few thousand of our friends, shopping, looking at animals and admiring the wonderful knits on display everywhere. We saw our friend Nancy at Tika Bags; she will be at our Knit Out again this January. After a break with some refreshing apple cider, it was back on the bus at 4pm and homeward bound. Everyone was tuckered out by the end of our glorious day. See you next year in Rhinebeck!

2017 Knitters’ Day Out

On Saturday, October 7, 2017, Brookside Knits’ members Carol Mays, Laura Piland, Eileen Kampf and Janet Kakareka attended the 32nd Annual Knitters’ Day Out in Summerdale, PA. According to their website, Knitters’ Day Out is “a day and a half of classes, shopping, and camaraderie devoted to knitting and fiber arts, and has been held annually since 1986.” Knitters’ Day Out is a nonprofit organization, run by volunteers, which strives to make high quality knitting instruction “affordable and accessible.”

2017 Knitters' Day Out brochure

This year’s Knitters’ Day Out attracted 315 knitters. Thirty-nine classes were offered over the two-day period: Friday evening, Saturday morning, and Saturday afternoon. Registration fees vary depending on the number of classes taken. Lunch and admission to the Market are included in the cost of class registration. Optionally, the Market is open to anyone not taking classes for only $2.Vendors offer all types of local natural fiber yarns and local hand dyes, as well as handmade project bags, yarn bowls, and accessories for all fiber arts.

According to our knitters, the lunch buffet was excellent as usual, prepared by the culinary students of the Central Pennsylvania College.

Beth, Janet, Carol & Laura at Knitters' Day Out showing yarn purchases

Eileen, Janet, Carol & Laura at Knitters’ Day Out

When they were not shopping or eating, all four members attended classes.

  • Carol attended Portuguese Knitting, taught by Ruth Santos. Portuguese knitting is said to be a “super fast method of knitting.” Their project was a cowl.
  • Janet took two classes, Lace Forensics by Tanis Gray, a class meant to encourage knitters who have previously shied away from lace,  and Reversible Entrelac by Gwen Bortner.
  • Laura, determined to master brioche, took Ann Weaver’s Introduction to Brioche Stitch, which taught knitters how to work with three-colors.
  • Eileen also attended Lace Forensics by Tanis Gray and Introduction to Brioche Stitch by Ann Weaver.

The next Knitters’ Day Out is planned for September 28 and 29, 2018.

Lehigh Valley Fiber Festival

On Saturday, September 23rd, Karen King and Marilyn Rittenhouse attended the Lehigh Valley Fiber Festival in Emmaus, Pa.

2017 Lehigh Valley Fiber Festival Brochure

Festival Brochure

The festival was cosponsored by The Knitter’s Edge, a family-owned business located in nearby Bethlehem specializing in yarns for knitting, crocheting, and other fiber arts, and the Wildlands Conservancy Pool Sanctuary in Emmaus. The family-oriented event included nature activities for all ages. The conservancy grounds were a lovely setting, especially on this sunny Saturday.

Lehigh Valley Fiber Festival Participants

Festival Participants

There were over twenty vendors displaying their wares in a pavilion and under canvas tents. There were people spinning and weaving with beautiful colors. There were also many vendors with fibers for dyeing and spinning. Several vendors had yarn for sale. Notable was What the Flock where they displayed bright colors in many varieties. There was also some lovely, soft alpaca yarn at Shepherd Hills Alpacas.

Just a short mile away, we found Conversational Threads, an Emmaus yarn shop, which has a huge selection of yarn and knitting supplies. A day seeing beautiful fibers and yarn is always a well spent time.

Lenore’s 97th Birthday

Brookside Knitters visited local senior care facility Manatawny Manor to celebrate the 96th birthday of retired fellow knitter Lenore Daly.

The Manor always arranges for a room when “Lenore’s Knitting Group” meets.  For this occasion, ice cream–Lenore’s favorite–was brought along as a treat to all.  A pretty bouquet of flowers and a card from everyone added to the festivities, something Lenore could take back to her room to remember the occasion.  (The ice cream never made it back!)

Lenore, seated at the table, with Laura, Sharon, Janet, Karen, and Vickie behind her. Not shown were Carol and Jane.

Lenore, seated at the table, with Laura, Sharon, Janet, Karen, and Vickie behind her. Not shown were Carol and Jane.