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.

New York Sheep & Wool Festival in Rhinebeck

New York State Sheep and Wool Festival

New York State Sheep and Wool Festival

Eight knitters from our little cluster rode the bus from Emmaus to Rhinebeck, NY on Saturday, October 18, 2014. The bus trip to the New York Sheep & Wool Festival was sponsored by Conversational Threads yarn shop in Emmaus. We left at 6 AM and arrived just before 9 AM; the gates were not even open yet!

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Four of us were old hands at this trip, the other four were newbies, experiencing for the first time the fun and largeness of this wonderful festival. We walked around from 9 AM to 4 PM enjoying the booths of yarn, roving and other assorted items (jewelry, candles, maple syrup, cheese, wine, etc). In a few of the barns were the animals: sheep, alpaca, rabbits and others. We met for lunch early, as lines at the food vendors became very long! Along the way we ran into two other fellow knitters who had come separately, one with her parents and another who came with her husband. One of our knitters even ran into an old high school friend that she had not seen in 40 years! A few sprinkles chased us indoors, but generally the weather was perfect for such day. We all came home with yarn and inspiration.

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If you were not able to attend, we hope to see you next time!