Stitches East 2006

My LYS Woolbearers sponsored a bus trip to Stitches East at the Baltimore Convention Center in Maryland yesterday. To start us off, Suzie, one of the owners, gave all attendees a bag of goodies. She also held a raffle on the bus and gave away some additional prizes. I wasn't lucky enough to win one.

The bus arrived at 10 a.m. and we weren't scheduled to leave until 5 p.m. I thought oh boy this was a long time to be here. However, I was busy checking out stuff the entire time. I had to make myself eat a late lunch at around 3 p.m. But first thing I did was "case the joint". I walked up and down the aisles just checking out the vendors and what they had. Some of the vendors were familiar: Dreamweaver Yarns, Webs, Rosies (a yarn store in Philly), Interweave Press, etc. Then I got busy.

I bought some Berocco Soft Twist to make the Simple Knitted Bodice. The Berocco is supposed to be a good substitution. The recommended yarn, Tilli Tomas, which I saw yesterday in the two sweater variations, is nice yarn but the price is way up there. So the Berocco will have to do. Especially the way I've been messing up patterns lately.

I also bought some Noro Aurora. I might do another Lady Eleanor stole. I would like one for myself. And I bought some ribbon type yarn to make some quick scarfs and a bolero jacket for a 10 year old. Lastly, a few skeins of wool for some felting projects. Which brings up the subject of bags, felted ones from now on. I'm getting nowhere with sewing and lining the bags I need to finish.

Then I bought a few gadgets because I like toys. I bought a sweater blocking kit and a yarn keeper bracelet. Plus a few crochet hooks and some other little odds and ends.

There were plenty of workshops going on but I didn't sign up to take any. Just as well as I was too busy browsing. Also saw some wonderful things that other crafters had made. One of the guards at the door said that he would never of thought knitting was such a big deal. I told him to bite his tongue.


The bus was full going down. It was a lot fuller on the way back. I only had a few bags but some of those ladies had suitcases on wheels.

All in all it was a long day but a really nice and enjoyable one.