VK Live NYC has packed up and headed home to their yarn shops and studios, offices and knitting projects. But, knitters left energized with ideas, encouragement, new yarns to try and new color combinations to think about and count down the days till VK LIve comes back to Times Square.
If you went looking for yarn, you had your choice of Icelandic, Quivit, blends of silk, merino and alpaca. Artisan yarns were available as well as sample items as how to use them. There were books to purchase and have them signed by your favorite authors like Nicky Epstein's "Knitting in Circles", Vedis Jonsdottir's "Knitting with Icelandic Wool" and Laura Zander's "Knit Red" were among them.
Math had its moment in knitting. Geometric designs of circles and off set squares were incorporated in patterns. If you blinked you missed the knitting accessories (needles, stitch markers, stitch holders), crochet, buttons or beads. Yarn dominated.
Norah Gaughan ("Comfort Knitting & Crochet: Babies & Toddlers"), Cornelia Hamilton ("Noro"), Iris Schreier ("One + One") and moderator Debbie Stoller ("Stitch n' Bitch", "Happy Hooker") were among the women on the panel "Knitting Culture where it came from and where it is going". The discussion covered how the internet has changed knitting. The interent has created social connections, an abundance of Knit A-long's (KAL), ease of purchasing yarn and knitting accessories (from around the world) and choices, choices, choices. You can find instruction, availability of patterns both free and fee, invaluable Ravelry.com and so much more.
No longer is it less expensive to purchase quality yarn and knit a garment, so you need a different reason other than saving money to knit. Knitting has grown from a basic necessity to a way of self-expression. It has become a stress reducer and a social outlet.
The Gallery was very interesting. Anna Hrachovec of MochiMochiland had a vignette of her Japanese inspired knitted toys. If you are a foodie you would have enjoyed Bonnie Burtons soft sculptured life size food items. The lobster dinner needed only some clarified butter and the pepperoni pizza were good enough to eat as well as adorable. Jo Hamilton crocheted faces from photographs that were creative and expressive. Very inspiring to see what can be created with a hook. There were many other interesting pieces from other artists.
So we start the countdown for next year or make reservations and head out west to Seattle for VK Live in April.
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