teaching sewing confidence, tip by tip

Saturday 19 January 2013

Vogue Knitting Live 2013 - Manhattan


Guess where I've been?  Well, the image above is a bit of a give away isn't it?!


This morning I headed off nice and early to the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square with Ivete from Rose Smoke and Chiagu.  We hadn't signed up for any classes, we just had Marketplace tickets - a half-price bargain at $7.50 each.


Ivete had to drop off some of her new yarn kits at the Knitty City stand so that's where we started and look what I spotted straight away ... that's someone checking out Ivete's Chamomile Infinity Scarf pattern with me on the cover (remember my unexpected modelling assignment for Ivete a few months ago?).  I know they stock the pattern at the Knitty City store on Upper West Side but I haven't been up there yet to check it out so it felt a bit weird seeing myself there on their stand at the show! 


There's a close-up below just in case you can't see me properly.  It's not my favourite photo from the shoot - I think it shows off my chins a bit too well but Ivete says it's all about the scarf and that image is the best one to promote it.  So that's pretty fair and Ivete did give me the most fantastic handknitted vest/tanktop that she's designed/made as a thank-you so I'm not complaining ;)


Next stop the Simplicity Boye stand and who did we see but our friend Victoria, who also happens to be our NYC Mod Quilt Guild President.  Here she is demonstrating the Simplicity Deluxe Felting Machine.  You've probably come across Victoria before through her blogs Victoria Findlay Wolfe Quilts and 15 Minutes Play, but if you haven't then do take a look.  She's just had her book published 15 Minutes of Play which is also well worth checking out.


There were so many stands all selling yarn, needles, hooks, buttons, beads and patterns and hourly catwalk shows but my favourite pieces were in the Knit Art Gallery:

Crocheted portraits by Jo Hamilton of Jo Hamilton Art


Nature Drag Sculputres With Armatures by Kelly Fleek - these were amazing like something straight out of a Tim Burton movie, I'm sure Helena Bonham Carter would wear one in a flash.  Or how about using them in a Tim Walker photo shoot for Vogue UK?


and finally, I was so good today and didn't buy toooo much - just some Spice Berry wool in Wintermint and also Cardamom from Blacksheep And Ewe to make this gorgeous Cowl Shawl (shown here in Cardamom).


And you didn't think I was going to let a post go by without mentioning quilting did you?  Well we did end the day down at my LQS, debating whether or not to each start a Dear Jane Quilt and cuddling one of our friend Karen's baby twins - she only had one with her today or we'd have been cuddling both!!!


Have you ever made, or thought about making, a Dear Jane Quilt?  Two hundred and twenty-five 4.5" x 4.5" blocks - Ivete suggested we make 2 blocks a month, no pressure there then, so by my reckoning it'll only take 10 years - I must be crazy to even entertain the idea, what do you think?



For details of other fabric, yarn, trim and notion stores that I've visited around the world along with the NYC stores I love, exhibitions and events I've attended and wonderful people I've been lucky to meet click the links below or in my side bar :D



Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only, no payment or commission is received on click-throughs and opinions are my own.

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20 comments:

  1. Now that - looks like a really fun day!

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  2. *Sigh* I agree with Mina, that sounds like the best day ever!!! Really so much fun, I do so love NYC - planning a trip for Spring - yay!!!

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    1. It's the best Lisa, I love living here! Let me know if you need any info to help with your trip :)

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  3. That was a good trip through the NYC knitting world.

    Nana

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  4. The crocheted portraits are amazing! That's some serious talent.

    I have often thought about making a Dear Jane quilt - I remember seeing the pattern or book somewhere and it was terribly expensive so I thought I would wait until I was certain that I wanted to embark on one. It looks like quite a labour of love but the end product is so wonderful that it is definitely on my bucket list.

    I think the first one I saw was on Green Fairy's website - Judi Madsen did an extraordinary job on the quilting, obviously - lots of close ups of the blocks and the quilting if you can find the post. I seem to remember it was in lovely vibrant colours too. A real 'wow' quilt!

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    1. I loved the portraits - they reminded me of the textile art portrait I did of Flicky (it's on my Textile Art tab), I loved them. Thanks for sharing the Green Fairy Quilts link - I think you've sold me now on the Dear Jane Quilt idea. I'm not really up for the traditional colours but to see it done like this as you say really is a 'wow'. Now to get the book and get started, my friend Ivete did her first block today! :)

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  5. ...had a quick search and here is the Dear Jane link I mentioned earlier:

    http://greenfairyquilts.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/dear-jane.html

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  6. I wanted to go to Vogue Knitting Live so badly! It's a bit too far for me, would have made it a weekend trip. So glad you posted the pictures. It must have been so hard not to buy everything! That cowl shawl will be lovely!

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    1. It was a good day Rosemary and I was very strict with myself about not adding to my wool stash as I've not been knitting/crocheting as much this last 12 months. I'm looking forward to making the cowl though, I don't think it'll take very long, it'll be an easy one :)

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  7. So fun to see you at a KNITTING EVENT! LOL! not quilting! ;-) had a great time! see ya soon!

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    1. Thanks for showing me where to find that yarn - you got them another sale too! See you very soon :)

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  8. What a great day out Chrissie, those crochet portraits are amazing.

    Of course you are mad to think of starting a Dear Jane quilt, but life would be boring without a bit of madness now and then, wouldn't it!

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    1. I think I might go for it you know, especially now that I've taken a look at the link Gertie shared to the Green Fairy Quilts in her comment - that's a really gorgeous quilt :)

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  9. What a busy day you had Chrissie and you're home already AND posted on your blog. Impressive! I always wanted to make a Dear Jane quilt, how exciting! Good luck to you! I'm really happy you're feeling better! Have you changed your mind about QuiltCon?

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    1. It was a good day Kati and I am feeling better than I was but I was tiring by lunchtime and totally shattered by mid afternoon. QuiltCon's a no-go now I'm afraid :(

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  10. Ohh Dear Jane. I am teaching Dear Jane beginning this week. I did decide to teach 6" block to make it more enjoyable ;) I do suggest getting the software with the book, you can print out the patterns and resize if needed. Have fun, it is definitley a test of wills.....

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    1. Thanks for that Anna, I'll take a look at the software. So if you make 6" blocks will the software let you print off each pattern at this size? How fab that you're teaching it - how long will your course run? I haven't even done my first block yet, though I have succumbed and bought the book, I think this could be a very long time in the making. :)

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Chris Dodsley


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