Not sure which is more dazzling: Seeing 800+ booths of fiber, designs, needles, books, buttons, baubles or watching their arrival at Sticks and Strings this spring. Both visual treats take my breath away! But YOU get to see the best of the best, in all its stunning array, starting in February.

Here’s how I tackled The National Needle Arts show held last weekend at the Long Beach Convention Center. I know I have to end the trip feeling that I’ve seen it all through my eyes and your eyes. I have to bring back orders for the most wonderful fibers, colors, designs, accessories. Things that will delight you! So I plunged in minutes after my flight landed. Friday: Walk the entire show, mark map in multiple colors indicating my plan for that exhibitor (did I mention the show covers acres?)  Maybe they’re brand new and very interesting – I’ll be back. Or, they’re someone I’ve visited in the past but now they’ve got something that catches my eye – I’ll be back. Or they’re just nice people who have a pretty booth and chocolate so I’ll go back if I have time at the end. I’ll also stop by to meet or greet representatives from companies already represented at Sticks and Strings. Truth be told here, sometimes it’s not a meet and greet. Sometimes it’s a bitch and moan. They’re a captive audience at the TNNA show so excuuuuuse me for holding their feet to the fire of slow deliveries!

More truth. I don’t always stick to my plan of “reconnaissance only” on Day One. Sometimes it’s just too good to wait on and I sit right down and write the order. That’s what happened at Tanglewood Fibers! Mother/Daughter team of  Trish and Rebecca produce the most amazing multi-ply-luxury-fibers HAND spun on small wheels by a group of spinning artists back home in St. Helens, Oregon. We’re talking beautiful, sophisticated, delicious (some beaded) artisanal yarns. They hand select fibers from local sources and speak with admiration and affection for the sheep, goats, bunnies whose fibers they ply. This is not rustic spinning wheel hippie yarn. It is luxury through and through. You won’t want to miss the introduction of Tanglewood Fibers at Sticks and Strings on May 17 & 18. Trish and Rebecca will be in the shop! They’re bringing their spinning wheel and tons of fiber to satisfy your curiosity and hankering for their yarns. More about that free demonstration, but mark your calendar today! Trish’s blog is

www.spinningmom.blogspot.com

When I could tear myself away from this booth I ventured over to my friends at Lantern Moon where I snapped up the newest in their hand made baskets and totes including an order of their Tote for the Cure and some gorgeous hand-dyed Cambodian silk strips that I’m going to design into a combo knit/weave something! We’ve got Bindi, Boca, Catherine, Lauren, Libby, Molly, Ring Tote, Rio Basket, Rose Folio and more on the way! www.lanternmoon.com/landing_access.asp

I was particularly focused on travel-related knitting items. We’re all on planes, trains, automobiles, ships and bikes with our knitting and anything that organizes that is a welcome addition to the packing frenzy. Two kinds of interchangeable needle sets are on the way; the Denise Kit (Kit for the Cure - $5.00 towards Susan B. Komen Foundation) and a gorgeous bamboo set with needle sizes 5-15 and cords to 47” ($100.). Very cool Walker Dunham mesh zip bags for corralling needles and accessories (also great for makeup brushes), KnowKnits smooshy, drawstring bags in beautiful easy to find in your bag colors www.knowknits.com, clear vinyl zip totes and accessory pouches that slide easily into and out of your carry-on (got mine right here with me on the plane home), yarn cutters for air travel, Soak (about the best fiber wash I’ve ever used) now comes in small travel bottles (still need the individual size for carry on purposes as the bottle is 4 oz.)

Ran into our friend Lisa Hoffman who is designing and knitting for some of the leading magazines and design names in the industry. Lisa pointed me in the direction of Essential Elements a one-woman enterprise producing the most perfect Fair Isle knitting yarns we’ve ever seen. Thirty traditional and not-so traditional colors.  Now you can get the look of traditional Fair Isle without the itch factor! I’d put this on wee ones with only the tiniest t-shirt barrier. Bye-bye Brillo! 

The newest, funnest thing in sock knitting is Flat Feet from  Conjoined Creations. Let me see if I can describe this. Imagine a 10”x12” stockinette swatch that has been hand painted. Now pick open the bound off edge, cast it on your sock needles and knit your sock as you unravel the swatch! This is the most portable, adorable, innovative way to transport your sock project. No winding, no balls rolling off your lap while on the trains! The yarn is 80/20 wool/nylon, the colors range from subtle-cool to acid-hot and you will not be able to knit just one! This team also brings us “Dance Party” and “Bandstand” coordinated cotton chenille and soysilk knit tape in colors like Beach Boys, Rolling Stones, Creedence, Jefferson Airplane, Frug, Pony, Stroll, Watusi….get the picture?

www.conjoinedcreations.com

Back in the Sticks and Strings lineup is Della Q bags and accessories. They’re added truly beautiful, special spring fabrics to the line and I couldn’t resist. They do a wonderful tote that doubles as the pretty and sophisticated version of the more traditional (manly) briefcase. The silk and the lining of these totes are truly beautiful and functional!

www.dellaq.com

Also back in a big way Mission Falls 1824 Cotton. Thirty solid colors and 5 variegated that will deliver this spring’s most wonderful 4 stitches to the inch on a #8 needle cotton designs.

And  if you’ve missed those fun, funky carry-along yarns from Trendsetter you’ll be happy to see the new collection of pop-up ribbon, teeny-tiny “flags”, subtle ladder prints that stand alone, string with a silk, pop the top of a felted bag, trim a sock or otherwise indulge your creative side. I’ve missed these little gems; especially Binario and Joy.

New this winter was Misti Alpaca Chunky and you voted with your needles! It was an instantaneous hit so look for the Chunky Hand Dyed from Misti to join its solid sisters. The quality, color and karma of Misti is fabulous so I’ve added Misti Alpaca 100% alpaca laceweight for spring. I love their laceweight because it’s slighter larger than the real “birds’ eyelash” weight of true lace. It’s your perfect first lace project yarn though it will surely be your tenth lace project yarn too! Try it!

Going Green was a ubiquitous presence just about everywhere! Every yarn manufacturer has an entry or two (or ten) in this arena. I’ve tried to tease out the marketing hype from the truly environmentally beneficial aspects of their offerings. My pick: Sky from the Terre Collection by Tahki Yarns. Six soft colors in this 100% biofil cotton. 4.25 stitches to an inch on a #8 needle. Vogue Knitting Spring cover will feature this beauty!

Our friends at Blue Sky Alpacas heard our cries of delight over their cotton yarns; organic and dyed. They also heard us beg for a lighter weight of this quality yarn. Introducing Blue Sky Cotton Skinny Dyed and Skinny Organic. Grab your size 6 needles and work this at 5-6 stitches to the inch. Sit back and admire your work! 10 colors coming soon! www.blueskyalpacas.com/yarn_detail.php?yarns_ID=18

If you’re ready to venture beyond cotton, here’s the yarn to try. It should come with a warning, “Knitting on Be Sweet 100% Bamboo Can Be Addictive.” I know I can’t stop! The label reads, “Eco-Friendly, Anti-Bacterial, 5-6 stitches to the inch on a #6. The texture, the colors (twelve on their way from South Africa) the precious put up….this is very special! www.besweetproducts.com/product_type.php?cat=1&prod=134

And, yes indeed, I made a spectacle of myself once again at the Koigu booth. I can’t help it. I go all wobbly in the knees, my heart races, my cheeks flush….must be lust! If you’re a Koigu fan you know this feeling. Sticks and Strings is already the largest retailer of Koigu Yarns east of the Mississippi but I just had to order more. The way I do it: I wait until no one else is near the booth (nearly impossible so I’ll approach if there’s no one I recognize within 50 feet). Then I park myself on the floor and scoot along pulling skeins and placing them in color circles. I attempt a cloak of secrecy so I put out lots of decoys. Our assortment is so special to me. It’s worth the two hours of knee and eye strain to bring you the most amazing array. What I chose on this trip will likely arrive next winter. I am very grateful to Taiu and Maie Landra for supporting our habit and for Richard who hand dyes every skein! Word up: The falling dollar has caused rising prices for Koigu. With our spring shipment expect to see a small increase – sorry.

Also spent hours at the Great Adirondack booth. That Patty Subik….what a creative, wonderful woman! Her yarn and color ideas are spectacular. I’ve added some Funky Ribbon and Bamboo Cotton in eye-awakening colors to the spring lineup that already included: Nassau (silk/cotton), Peru (chucky cotton), Wool Crepe (just a shot of sparkle), Tribbles (maybe my favorite acrylic) and Apollo (wool/silk.)

In the hand dyed, feel-good category the award goes to Schaefer Yarn. The color palette pays homage to women who’ve changed the world and I found myself thinking very personally about each color. How could I pass up Rachel Carson, Virginia Apgar, Margaret Mead or Empress Wu Zhao? These will join Jeanette Rankin, Frida Kahlo and others in the cotton yarn “Laurel.” Cheryl Schaefer strives to present colors that you want to dive into – she’s really done it!

http://www.schaeferyarn.com/yrn_gallery.taf?

http://www.schaeferyarn.com/yrn_gallery.taf?_function=event&ge_id=7

All this shopping made me very thirsty. Popped open a few with Beth Casey of Lorna’s Laces, the ad folks from Vogue Knitting, editors from Potter Craft, and Clara of Knitter’s Review.

Caught up with Annie Modesitt, Nicky Epstein, Chris Blysma, Pam Allen, Stacy Charles and many others Made as many dates for store visits as possible (some as far out as 2009.)  Met the folks from Ravelry, yelled at the manufacturers who don’t ship on time (just checking to see if you’re still reading.) Ended my California trip in San Francisco visiting my son.  And now for the last name drop….Sean Penn. He dined with us at a wonderful Noe Valley restaurant (ok, maybe not with us but he was at the same restaurant!)

Home Tuesday exhausted but happy and delighted to be bringing all these amazing finds to the shop! These, and so much more sourced beyond the TNNA show, should make a totally awesome, unique yarn and accessories experience for you. Hope you love spring at Sticks and Strings!

Happy Knitting,

Laurie

TOP