Monday, August 23, 2010

STITCHES Fun!

I have so much to share about Stitches Midwest, but I really need to catch up on sleep tonight before the reality of going back to work sets in, so I'm going to break this out over a couple of posts! There will be prizes though, so bear with me!

Friday was a fabulous day! My friends Thayer and Cheryl flew back to Chicago for a visit home and a day at Stitches Midwest! It was too fun having Thayer (my gorgeous model, btw!) there with the debut of Bellingrath.

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We may have gotten a bit silly!

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Susie, the fabulous woman behind Kollage Yarns, loved meeting her too!


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Cheryl, me, Thayer, and Angela

Being from Chicago, Thayer and Cheryl insisted we have Portillos for lunch. And I'm so glad they did insist! Yummy!! It was delicious!

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Their Italian Beef sandwich was soooooooooooo good! Thank goodness I don't live there!

After lunch it was back to shopping!

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I loved Jennie the Potter's booth! Her yarn bowls, mugs, buttons, all of it are too cute and it was so nice to be able to hang out and chat with her for a bit too! Guess what?! She's planning to come to Stitches West next year! Start saving your pennies :) Or if you can't wait, she does have an Etsy shop.


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I couldn't resist the necklace that matched my new Bellingrath just perfectly!


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Erica, Melynda, Jill, and Allegra

Erica also introduced me to Melynda (of French Press Knits fame!), Jill (Knitterella fame!), and Allegra (from Petite Purls!). We all had so much fun and it was so nice to be able to talk to other knitters who are branching out in the industry side of knitting! Hanging out with them just made me more excited to keep up the designing! I even asked Jill if she would consider doing a proper logo for me (her graphics are fabulous....she did logos for Plucky Knitter and Through the Loops, just to name a few!).

And since I know you'll ask (I did!), Allegra's sweater is a Women's version of her adorable baby sweater Boheme and it is knit out of BMFA DeVine (love love love that yarn!). She's planning to release the pattern soon! I can't wait to knit it! Along with a pair of French Press slippers too! Seriously, my queue of patterns grew over the weekend!


Knitterella Prize

Jill was kind enough to donate a few Knitterella cards and tags as a prize for one lucky winner too! I love her cards and tags (and she will have notepads soon too! I got one of those for me!). Just leave a comment and I'll pick a winner in the next few days!

And I've extended the sale on Sweet Home for a few more days :)

Now I need to go unpack. And wind some new yarn. Don't let this post fool you. There was definitely yarn shopping! I'll show you soon!

Happy knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

56 comments:

Allison said...

What great cards...I'd love to win! So jealous of your time at Stitches!

Also, in the first picture I love the sweater in the background...it's all the way to the right with the three buttons at the neck. It almost looks like a sweater/cape hybrid. Do you know where I can find the pattern?! Thanks!

IrishGirlieKnits said...

Hi Allison! All of the sweaters are from Kollage's new Fall collection...the one you are referring to is 'Not Quite A Cape' (it was very popular at Stitches!) and can be found at the Kollage website or here
https://www.shopatron.com/products/productdetail/part_number=3642/539.0

Allison said...

Thanks for the info! I guess I wasn't too far off when I called it a sweater/cape hybrid...It is truly not quite a cape!

Mallory said...

those notecards are so awesome, i cant believe ive never seen them before! ive never been to a stitches but i totally want to:(

Anonymous said...

It certainly looks like you had a great time at Stitches Midwest and I look forward to reading your future postings about it. I have a feeling that my 'Things I want to knit' queue is going to grow seriously.

Anonymous said...

Maybe one day I will get to a Stitches event (probably South, as my sister lives near Atlanta). Ireally love the feel of these events. I was just in London where I voluteered to help at Knit nation at the end of July. It was great meeting other knitting folks, both "famous" and not, who are poeple who love to knit just like me!

Kaye said...

Fun!! I love those tags...ha ha!

Jackie's Stitches said...

I love Jill's stuff! You met a lot of knitting stars!

turtlegirl76 said...

Oh My God, I need that tag. If only for the gifts I make for my mom.

sharmylae said...

wow! that necklace is super cute, i want one!

i can't wait to see the yarn you bought. i hear stitches was great!

French Press Knits said...

I was just sitting down to write my own post! Love that shawl pen- that booth was great! Thanks for the tip that jennie has an Etsy shop!

doviejay said...

soooo jealous of your Stitches fun!! Looks like a great time!

Denise said...

Loved reading about your trip, I wish I could get to something like that, or even find more local knitty friends! Love Jill's cards too... hope I'm a lucky winner ;)

Knitterella said...

It was so fun meeting you. So many laughs :)

Hope to run into you again soon!

Susan F said...

Hi Carrie - it was great to meet you at Stitches! It was my first Stitches event and my friend and I had a great time and bought a lot of yarn!

Anonymous said...

So glad you had a great time at Stitches Carrie!

Anonymous said...

i love all the pictures!!! i favorited several in flickr :)
It again was so wonderful to meet you and Erika last weekend. I plan to blog again soon about it!

now where's the pictures of puddy and bailey eating their treats??? ;)

JelliDonut said...

You just made my queue a little longer too!

SissySees said...

Awesome goodies! I've wanted some Jennie the Potter since I discovered her wares, and maybe if I ever make it to Maryland Sheep & Wool, I'll get something!

Mya said...

Can't wait to see what you bought!

Laura said...

I am enjoying living vicariously through your trip!

Discoknits said...

So maybe I can get one of those necklaces at StWest too :0) Can't wait.
xoxo

peaknits said...

What a fabulous trip! I can't wait to see your shopping booty either!

Kelly-ann said...

Those cards are great! It was nice to stop by and meet you at Stitches. I also love the necklace you bought - how did I miss those at the pottery booth??? By the way, now I am craving an Italian Beef sandwich with peppers and the closest Portillo's is only 10 minutes away...dangerous!

Tammy said...

What a fabulous time you had!! I can't wait to hear more. :)

Jen said...

Glad you had a good time. My Bellingrath shawl is coming out great so far! :)

Bubblesknits said...

Looks like you had a fabulous time! :D That necklace is beautiful. Off to check out her Etsy shop.

phoenix_anew said...

I'm so jealous! I would have loved to go to Stitches ... maybe next year! Love Knitterella paraphenalia ... LOL!

Jacey said...

It looks like you had an amazing time! I received some of the gift tags that say "Just because it's handmade doesn't mean it's cheap", which I absolutely love!
I'm looking forward to your yarn recap.

Scrabblequeen said...

Glad you made it home safely! I'm sure your pups were excstatic...Looking forward to seeing your stash enhancements.

Knitting Kris said...

Such fun! I love Jennie the Potter! I have a yarn bowl, a mug, and a necklace too! She's so wonderful!
I love fiber festivals, and I can't imagine how much fun you had being "on the other side of the table."
Congrats again!

Jocelyn said...

I received my Bellingrath pattern today. Yay! I am itching to cast on but I'm trying to be disciplined. The free Sonoma Sock pattern is also awesome. Kollage is just too good!

Jocelyn said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Chris said...

Too much fun!! What a great time you have had-thanks for sharing it

Lisa said...

I love the, "I made this for you" tag. It instantly cracked me up! Sounds like you had a good time. Hoping to attend something as fun as that soon!

Zonda said...

What a great time!! One day, I'll get to meet you! Yes, continuing with the designing and look forward to seeing what Kniterella can design for you :)

Anonymous said...

I came to your blog via frenchpressknits...Wish i could have gone to Stiches Midwest,looked like a blast. Your patterns are darling by the way. Amanda
baluethy(at!)gmail.com

Susan said...

I am not (yet?) a sock knitter, so although I think your patterns are beautiful, I've never been tempted to buy one. But your newest pattern, the Bellingrath shawl/shawlette is BEAUTIFUL, and I will be picking that up soon. Glad the Stitches MidWest event went well for you. I would love to win the prize.

Tece said...

Looks like you had a wonderful (and exhausting?) time!!! Thanks for sharing your news about Stitches....those kind of events are exhilarating.

Ann286 said...

Those notecards are crazy cool. I've being following your Stitches adventure on Twitter as well. You reminded me that Stitches was so much fun. I have to choose each year between Rhinebeck Sheep & Wool Fest or Stitches East.

Any chance you'll be at Stitches East?

Kristi ~ Ohio said...

The note cards are awesome! I would love to win. Your new pattern Bellingrath is beautiful. :)

Kristi ~ Ohio
queenbee1958 (Ravelry)

Cheryl S./sdbrncacherry said...

Ooo, yay for contests!! I was just thinking that I'd like to get those cards and now I have the chance to win them, squeee!!

Sarah JS said...

Love the necklace from Jenny the potter!

Mary said...

wOW Would love to win the cards! Cant wait for the cute notepads!!

Deborah said...

Hi again Carrie, It was such a surprise and a thrill to meet you in the elevator at the hotel of all places. I hope you did not mind the "big hug"! What a beautiful young lady you are and your picture does not do you justice. Sorry I could not stop by the booth but had to pack my car, eat lunch and get ready for my spinning class ( plus inhale more yarn fumes)! Keep doing what you're doing, love your blog and patterns. Wishing you continued success. Deborah ( gardenia347 on ravelry)

cupcakefaerie said...

Welcome back! What fun you had. Can't wait to hear more and see all the "souvenirs." ;)

Mary Beth said...

Cool notecards!

Bobbie in AK said...

Carrie, it sounds like you had a blast. Congrats on your success at Stitches! I have added Bellingrath to my faves, it's lovely.

Greengirl said...

Ah - see you found Portillo's - our favorite place to eat on Saturday when we're running errands or anytime we like. When we still lived in Seattle, we only got to eat there when we flew into Chicago to see family. It's nice to be close now.

Unknown said...

The cards are really cute, and Stitches looks like tons of fun!

Andrea said...

It looks like you had tons of fun. I wish I could have gone, but maybe next year!

Rani said...

Glad you're back safe and sound. Great pics! I can't wait to see the rest. It looks like a wonderful time.

gypsyknits said...

OH my gosh! I just found you through ravelry and a few of my rav friends.
Your patterns are awesome and I've only look at a few so far.
Love the cards....LOL Haven't seen those before either. I live in a very sheltered world (must be that avalanche of yarn I'm stashing ;).

mhardersen said...

I just LOVED meeting you. You are such a fabulous person! Keep the Awesome designs comin'! :)

weezalana said...

Looks like so much fun! Hmmmm...maybe I should start planning (code for "saving") for Stitches West in February now...

Gwen A said...

I think I need to plan to attend Stitches next year!! Looks like a ton (plus) of fun and shopping opportunities!

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