So I kind of had an idea of duplicating SPA by hanging out with my friends in the Waverly lobby after the Fashion Show and Dinner on Friday night. One thing has lead to another, and now it looks like we are not only having a fun Friday to kick off the STITCHES South weekend, but I have goodies to give away in contests that night.

Contest 1 - Wackiest Pajamas

Ever get a pair of pajamas that are so brightly colored you have to wear shades? Do your pajamas come with attached feet? Have you been wearing fun silky lace ensembles to pamper yourself? Then this contest is for YOU.

Contest 2 - Coolest Handmade Slippers

Love making a statement with your footwear? Are your feet always cold? See if you can make a striped pair of Fuzzy Feet, delicately dainty Twinkle Toes, colorful

...

I was meeting up with some friends the other night and topics on STITCHES South came up. One of the coolest subjects was where we were staying, which is the Convention Center's Renaissance Waverly hotel. Why? Well here are *my* top 10 reasons why we are staying at the Renaissance Waverly:

10. This AAA 4 diamond-rated hotel is beautiful and the service is wonderful.
(I just LOVE being pampered!)
9. The STITCHES rate at the hotel is very good at $149 per night.
(And I am sharing a 2-bed room with 2 other women).
8. It is attached to the Convention Center which means you can take cat naps between classes and events. You also can drop off your goodies so you can keep enhancing your stash.
("What do you mean I came back with more stash, dear?...

These are some of my favorite Postcards from STITCHES West 2010.


Double points



Addi circular needle impersonators



Sisters at STITCHES


Gwen and Kellie


SEND MONEY!


Good friends, Milan, Lubica, & Mirek.

...

With all the immense styles, techniques, and textures that the fiber industry offers, my indecision of selecting classes addles me. My tastes run the gamut from heavily cabled cardigans like Sylvi to delicate lace shawls like La Cumparisita to intricate colorwork like the socks that I designed and knit for MomSue during Sockapalooza. Seeing what I have made and tried still has me scratching my head on what the various teachers are offering. Here I am listing a few classes that interest me.
Myra Wood has an Advanced Freeform Knitting class that taps into the internal artist hidden in you. The idea of randomly using atypical stitches sounds like a creative outlet for spontaneity.
Gwen Bortner is offering entrelac classes and her Entrelac Design one piqued my curiosity on...

I can't say I was actually invited, but I did get to witness the first ever STITCHES pajama party, dubbed Night Owl Knitting by Cole (or coleyknits on Ravelry, the one with the sock monkey), the parent of this brain child. Tipped off that these knitters in their comfort zone would be visited by sponsors bearing gifts, I showed up, camera in hand.

Susan (cocohugs), crashed the party from her nearby Hilton home, showed me her first-time Magic Loop socks-in-progress, and explained that almost everyone came from 2 (exceptionally devoted, if I might add) knitting groups: Llama Llama Knit in Novato, CA and Yarn Cottage, which is sadly no larger in business, but the knitting group party's on!
...

I have more news to spill!! The esteemed Mary-Heather (aka rainydaygoods on Ravelry) made a super huge announcement today. Ravelry is coming to STITCHES South!! Not only will there be a Ravelry party for Thursday night, but they will be our celebrity judges for our Student Fashion Show on Saturday night.

For those on Ravelry, here is Mary-Heather's post: http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/stitc...uth/1001372/#1

And to be sure we know you are coming, click the "I'm attending" button on the Ravelry Events page for STITCHES South:
http://www.ravelry.com/events/stitches-south

So who's bunny dancing with me???

Bunches of hugs for now,
Kimberly
=:8

Long lines streched for almost half a block on Friday morning before the STITCHES East 2009 Market opened. The whole front end of the convention center (which looks like it has been inspired by a large ship) has windows that go up for five stories and extend for about half a block.

Hello Knitters!

We're finally getting around to posting about STITCHES East 2009. As you probably know we're heading out to STITCHES West 2010 in Santa Clara next week and we didn't want to leave for this show without sharing some of our great pix from the last show.

This was our first time in Hartford, CT... and it was great. Natalie (our web editor) wrote a lot about our experiences...

Hi Everybunny!

Today I had to make sure that the STITCHES South classes and events I wanted were not only available, but were still at the discounted Early Bird pricing which ends tonight at 10PM. Instead of using the website, I decided to call the toll-free number (1-800-237-7099) and not only was I sweetly helped, but I was offered some tips on what to expect during my weekend in Atlanta.

Could you really ask for anything more? Well okay, if Brad Pitt, Michael Buble, or Sting would have answered the phone...

Now for the folks that prefer to use email, please send stitchesregistration@xrx-inc.com all your inquiries. The email elves are working as fast as possible to respond to all correspondence. As for this bunny, I am one "hoppy" camper....

Last night I threw what my friends and I call a "Knitters' dinner party" in which I cook up a meal and we discuss fiber-related topics. Since the two friends coming with me "On the Road to STITCHES" South have never been to a fiber-filled event, I could barely contain my excitement when explained the details I am looking forward to. Add the wine we sipped while I kept pulling various yarns out of my stash for them to fondle, and the assorted publications that we leafed through for patterns of what we could wear to STITCHES South, we were in HEAVEN.

This morning as I was getting ready for work, it dawned on me why I love events such as STITCHES. Sure I have a local yarn shop where I might be able to take a class on a specific technique from one of the employees, but where...

The Big Sock has come to STITCHES! The only thing more amazing than the size of this sock is the depth of the enthusiasm that surrounds it. Kimberly Reynolds was my guide to finding out about its history that began in 2006, and its competition that measured 4.95m x 4.3m x 1.9m. It has its own website, of course, and you can join a group for it on Ravelry. Knitters on the STITCHES Market Floor are signing up to sit around the sock and add to the revolving knitting. You just have to ask yourself:

How are they going to turn the heel?

Visit Kimberly and knit a few rounds at booth 526 at STITCHES!