The videos of the fall fashion show from TNNA are up now on Youtube. I have selected a few to highlight what I felt were the most "Thursday" of the offerings.
If you jump to 8:09 you will see a sweater desperately in need of a set of Neuticles. Someone prop up those shoulders!
Here at 2:55 is a sweater called the "Clown Cardigan." That's the actual name. I am not just being cruel and calling it that.
Clown Cardigan. Really.
June 24, 2010
June 22, 2010
Celtic Bunny Hat
Pattern: Celtic Bunny Hat by Michelle Camancho
Yarn: Toots le Blanc 60/40 Angora Blend
Needle: US3 Addi Turbo
Notes: I don't know why this took me forever to knit but it's lovely.
Mondo Cable Cardi
Pattern: Mondo Cable Cardi
Needles: US7 and 5 Addi Turbos
Yarn: Dream in Color Classy in Black Parade
Notes: This is a smidge too small. I'm still wearing it but leaving it open.
June 20, 2010
Hey, Hey, Hey!
We all went to see Bill Cosby perform at Benaroya Hall tonight. We'd never seen him perform live and figured the chance of seeing him again were slim. The performance was really hilarious and wonderful, like spending time with an old friend.
On the way to the theater Younger Son asked, "What does Bill Cosby look like now?"
Older son replied, "Like Nelson Mandela. But funnier."
On the way to the theater Younger Son asked, "What does Bill Cosby look like now?"
Older son replied, "Like Nelson Mandela. But funnier."
Overprivileged?
We went for breakfast at the Original Pancake House. Older son saw a small dish of whipped butter on the table. With excitement in his eyes he pointed and asked, "Is that Mascarpone?"
June 18, 2010
TNNA Part 2
Saturday is the first day the show is open. There are 15 or so aisles of booth to check out. I'm always looking for something new and interesting. Sometimes it's a new vendor; sometimes it's a known vendor with new products. I had to skip a lot of booths on my first pass because they were swamped. Madelinetosh has two (maybe three booths) this year. Last year they had just one little booth. It was absolutely packed.
Random stuff that I saw that I'm excited about (but did not necessarily buy):
The biggest splash at TNNA this year was made by Ysolda Teague. She had a block of four booths in which she created a parlor with tables, chairs and a sofa. She was there to promote her new book due out this fall. In her booth you could try on the sweaters and have your photo take in her photobooth. She served tea and cupcakes each day at three. It was delightful and definitely where all the cool kids were hanging out.
I'm leaving out a million things but it's all a blur at this point. The Ravelry folks did a great tumblr that is really worth checking out.
*check out Cecily's cool new sweater, Goodale. She was wearing it at the show. It's really lovely with clever construction.
Random stuff that I saw that I'm excited about (but did not necessarily buy):
- Bijou Basin has teamed with Lorna's Laces to create their first dyed yarns. Up to now they've only sold naturally colored yak yarns.
- Swans Island had the most gorgeous organic merino yarn that is naturally dyed. It felt divine and the colors were lovely. However, at $30/220 yard skein of worsted, I don't think it's viable in my shop.
- Imperial Stock Ranch has a great story. They also have fabulous yarn that has an undefinable wonderfulness to it. The Columbia 2-ply is minimally processed and spun on an 1860s mule spinner. It's plump, robust and has loads of character but is still wonderfully soft. I can't wait for this yarn to arrive at the shop.
- Books, books, books! So many great new books are coming this summer and fall. Cookie A's long-awaited Knit. Sock. Love. is due out in November, New England Knits
from Cecily Glowik MacDonald* and Melissa LaBarre comes out next month, The Ohio Knitting Mills Knitting Book: 26 Patterns Celebrating Four Decades of American Sweater Style
is full of retro-fabulous designs, More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts
is bound to be a monster hit, Miriam Felton's Twist and Knit will be available soon. There are many, many other titles coming up.
- Namaste has a new urban, unisex line coming out with the Hip Holster and a new messenger bag. You can see them here.
- Elsebeth Lavold is bringing out Silky Wool in an aran-weight. The colors are gorgeous.
The biggest splash at TNNA this year was made by Ysolda Teague. She had a block of four booths in which she created a parlor with tables, chairs and a sofa. She was there to promote her new book due out this fall. In her booth you could try on the sweaters and have your photo take in her photobooth. She served tea and cupcakes each day at three. It was delightful and definitely where all the cool kids were hanging out.
I'm leaving out a million things but it's all a blur at this point. The Ravelry folks did a great tumblr that is really worth checking out.
*check out Cecily's cool new sweater, Goodale. She was wearing it at the show. It's really lovely with clever construction.
June 17, 2010
Thursdays are for What the Hell is This?
Thursday ChecklistMishmash of textures check
Mishmash of patterning check
Sickly color check
Poorly Photoshopped background check
Appearance that the models shoulders, boobs and stomach are sloooooowly sliding toward her crotch check
June 15, 2010
Part One
Wes kindly took Younger Son to school so I can start attempting to assemble my thoughts on TNNA. Overall it was a great show. There was a much higher energy level than the last few shows I've attended. Attendance also seemed quite high. In fact when the show opened I headed to the first row of booths (I wanted to walk through the entire show before making any purchasing decisions) I couldn't get into most of the booths. So I hurried ahead and looped back around later.
When I went to my first TNNA it was also the first show that Jess, Casey and Mary-Heather from Ravelry attended. A lot of people still hadn't heard about Ravelry, weren't using it, etc. Now they are heavily involved with the show. They hosted an ice cream social on Firday night after the fashion show that was absolutely mobbed. I waited in line for at least an hour for ice cream. They also put together a very cool Tumblr and Twitter feed called Hello TNNA with snapshots and videos from the show floor.
Friday is for classes. This year TNNA offered a new set of mini-classes called TIPs, which is an acronym for something I can't remember. (Trends, informations, products? Something like that.) There was a series of half-hour sessions, with a wide selection of sessions for each time slot. Some were informational. For instance, I attended one in which Norah Gaughn and Cirilia Rose presented a slideshow of Berroco's fall books and explained the new yarns. Some were instructional, Clover was doing sessions to teach Tunisian crochet. I attended a session presented by Alpaca with a Twist about easy class ideas. I also went to a presentation by Beth Casey of Lorna's Laces about creating custom colorways. I had the most fun in Ysolda Teague's presentation about her new book due this fall, Little Red in the City. You can see some gorgeous preview photos here. The sweaters are all presented twice in the book. Once in Ysolda's size and once in a plus size with information about modifications. She asked for some plus-size volunteers to try on some of the sweaters and I very happily obliged. The designs are all really lovely and I can't wait for the book to come out. I pre-ordered a big pile for the shop.
Friday evening is Sample It! During this event, that only buyers can attend, vendors offer a sample product or small selection of products at wholesale or slightly below. The original idea is that it allows you try a product out and see if you'd like to bring it into your shop. I believe the reality is more that buyers use it as an opportunity to get cool stuff for themselves that they wouldn't normally stock. Namaste always sells a bundle with one of their bags and accessories and their table is deluged with buyers. And if you look around the show floor most of the buyers--myself included--are carrying Namaste bags.
After that comes the fashion show. It's always quite a mixed bag. Last year's was so long I thought it would never end. This year I was smart and ate some dinner beforehand. It was also a much shorter show. The trends I saw repeated quite a lot in the show were cables, lace, bobbles, drapey cardigans, boxy vests and the color burnt sienna.
On Saturday the show opens and it's eight hours of walking the floor and learning about all the lines and products.
More later!
When I went to my first TNNA it was also the first show that Jess, Casey and Mary-Heather from Ravelry attended. A lot of people still hadn't heard about Ravelry, weren't using it, etc. Now they are heavily involved with the show. They hosted an ice cream social on Firday night after the fashion show that was absolutely mobbed. I waited in line for at least an hour for ice cream. They also put together a very cool Tumblr and Twitter feed called Hello TNNA with snapshots and videos from the show floor.
Friday is for classes. This year TNNA offered a new set of mini-classes called TIPs, which is an acronym for something I can't remember. (Trends, informations, products? Something like that.) There was a series of half-hour sessions, with a wide selection of sessions for each time slot. Some were informational. For instance, I attended one in which Norah Gaughn and Cirilia Rose presented a slideshow of Berroco's fall books and explained the new yarns. Some were instructional, Clover was doing sessions to teach Tunisian crochet. I attended a session presented by Alpaca with a Twist about easy class ideas. I also went to a presentation by Beth Casey of Lorna's Laces about creating custom colorways. I had the most fun in Ysolda Teague's presentation about her new book due this fall, Little Red in the City. You can see some gorgeous preview photos here. The sweaters are all presented twice in the book. Once in Ysolda's size and once in a plus size with information about modifications. She asked for some plus-size volunteers to try on some of the sweaters and I very happily obliged. The designs are all really lovely and I can't wait for the book to come out. I pre-ordered a big pile for the shop.
Friday evening is Sample It! During this event, that only buyers can attend, vendors offer a sample product or small selection of products at wholesale or slightly below. The original idea is that it allows you try a product out and see if you'd like to bring it into your shop. I believe the reality is more that buyers use it as an opportunity to get cool stuff for themselves that they wouldn't normally stock. Namaste always sells a bundle with one of their bags and accessories and their table is deluged with buyers. And if you look around the show floor most of the buyers--myself included--are carrying Namaste bags.
After that comes the fashion show. It's always quite a mixed bag. Last year's was so long I thought it would never end. This year I was smart and ate some dinner beforehand. It was also a much shorter show. The trends I saw repeated quite a lot in the show were cables, lace, bobbles, drapey cardigans, boxy vests and the color burnt sienna.
On Saturday the show opens and it's eight hours of walking the floor and learning about all the lines and products.
More later!
Home from TNNA
I may have to turn in my blogger card. I spent five days in Columbus looking at yarn, patterns and accessories and talking to the people who create them and I didn't take a single picture. Honestly, not one.
The show was great and I do have several things I'm feeling pretty excited about. But I have a ten year old who needs to go to school so I'll have to start filling you in later.
The show was great and I do have several things I'm feeling pretty excited about. But I have a ten year old who needs to go to school so I'll have to start filling you in later.
June 10, 2010
Thursdays are for What the Hell is This?
I'm trying to imagine the thought process that went into this.
Cons
Distasteful Tacky
Pros
Keeps can from sweating Keeps drink cold BOOBS!
Make your own.
Previous crocheted boobs.
Cons
Pros
Make your own.
Previous crocheted boobs.
June 9, 2010
Batman, Take Over!
I'm busy/distracted/anxious because I leave for TNNA tomorrow morning. One the one hand TNNA is a big yarny party and all the cool kids will be there. On the other hand I have a lot of work to get done when I'm there. It stresses me out worrying that I either won't get enough done or I won't have a chance to see people I only get to see at TNNA. It looks like there might be some really exciting things this year. I'll give a full report when I get home.
In the meantime my older son and I had a really good time reading through the tweets of @God_Damn_Batman. Our favorite so far.
In the meantime my older son and I had a really good time reading through the tweets of @God_Damn_Batman. Our favorite so far.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
