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New England Fiber Festival Recap

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This is going to be picture-heavy, but it’s worth it!

I spent this last weekend in Springfield, MA.  I was teaching at the Fiber Festival of New England

My grandmother and I, early in the morning before I head to NEFF.

(sometimes called New England Fiber Festival, or NEFF).  I grew up in Massachusetts.  My family lived outside of Boston when I was little, and we often visited family in other parts of the state.  Even when we moved to other states, I returned back to MA for summer camp at Chimney Corners YMCA Camp each summer.  Going to NEFF, in some ways, was a little bit like coming home… especially because I crashed with my grandmother, who lives nearby.  It meant that both my mother and grandmother could send me off on Saturday morning.

NEFF is an incredibly well-run event, and I can say that both as a teacher and the support I received, and as a participant, when I returned on Sunday to browse and network.

NEFF, Classroom Space
I got to NEFF early, so I could check out my classroom. Aren’t they nice?

One of the highlights of the trip was my second class, Hairpin Lace Scarf.  Our group had a bit of some adverse conditions – there was a fashion show and another class with a miked instructor just adjacent, but everyone kept a great attitude.

I had two great experiences happen during the class.  The first was when an old family camp friend walked in (Sue B!) and informed me she was one of my students.  I was so happy and excited to see her – I had not been expecting her to be there!  It took me a moment to recover myself I was so startled, but in a wonderful, wonderful way.

Then, nearly an hour into my class, as we’re making great progress I look up, and in the doorway is my Aunt Sue!  She had stopped in with her sisters to say hello.  It’s thanks to my Aunt Sue that I have the only picture of myself teaching from the weekend.

Tinking Turtle, Teaching, Hairpin Lace
Shot from my Aunt’s Camera-phone, I’m talking about Hairpin Crochet.

Having both camp friends and family stop by was SO incredible.  Living in Washington, DC, I have a wonderful network of people that support me in my endeavors.  Being able to have an opportunity to teach at a venue located so near my family and camp friends meant that my childhood support network could roll out the carpet to support me.

On Sunday I returned to the event with my mother and my best friend (again, from Camp, I’ve known her since we were both 8 years old!), Becca.  Both my mother and Becca coped well as I dragged them from one booth to the next telling them about what I loved.  It’s such a rare opportunity to share with people I love the things I love.

I’ll close out with some pictures of the event, with captions.

Melissa Jean, Buttons, Ceramic, Camera, NEFF
Melissa Jean‘s fabulous buttons, each one signed on the back and absolutely lovely.
Decadent Fibers, Sample, Cap Sleeve Top, Irina Poludenko
A fabulous stall by Decadent Fibers.
Pattern Is #15 Multidirectional Cap Sleeve Top by Irina Poludenko
Felt Pumpkins, Decadent Fibers, November, Fall
Also by Decadent Fibers, these cute pumpkins!

Wandering Wool, Rainbow Yarn, Gradient Skeins
Pretty Gradient Skeins by Wandering Wool.  I kept admiring her stall and samples –
turns out she’s from DC, pretty close to me!
Wandering Wool, Rainbow Yarn, Shawl, Cowl, Samples, NEFF
A few different samples in Wandering Wool‘s Stall.
Alpaca, Mustache, NEFF
This (girl) alpaca looked like she was rocking the mustache for November.

German Angora, Rabbit, Fiber, NEFF
German Angora Rabbit.  Nearly took it home.

Moving On and Changing Focus

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When I was younger I used to get the most awful growing pains.  Often they would come at night and leave me tossing and turning as I tried to find a position that would work so that I wouldn’t feel the pain.  Luckily, like most children, I grew out of the pain (and my clothes!) and settled into my new skin.  But I still remember those wakeful nights.

Classes at The Yarn Spot

I’ve been kept up with another type of growing pain these last few weeks – as I’ve come to face that the time Tinking Turtle needs to grow, and the time has to come from somewhere, and I have only so many hours in the day.  It is with bittersweet feelings that I’ve come to the conclusion that I can no longer fit working at The Yarn Spot into my weekly routine.  I need to focus my energy on the great things I have planned for my business.  It is not fair to The Yarn Spot that I work for them while my brain is somewhere else.

It would be remiss of me to not mention how much The Yarn Spot has done for me – letting me develop and hone my teaching style, helping me make connections in the industry and teaching me about many of the different things that go on behind the scenes of running a Yarn Retail Business.  Thank you very much to Victoria and Marianne for giving me so many different opportunities – and for being very forgiving when I made mistakes.

The Yarn Spot is most graciously hosting a party in honor of this transition at the store.  It will be occurring on January 31st from 4-6 pm.  I hope you can make it!

Dress Forms and Sweater Design at The Yarn Spot

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Two Sundays ago on the 17th (where did the time go?!?), I had a great time teaching one of my favorite classes at The Yarn Spot.  It was a full class, full of students that came with lots of questions and interesting insights.  We had a great time.

Take a look at the pictures.  I think they speak for themselves.


Created with flickr slideshow.

Why I don’t Recomend Adults to take Knit/Crochet Lessons with their Children

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Children behave better when their parents aren’t there.  I’m sorry, but in my experience, it’s true.  Children listen to me better when the parents aren’t there dividing their attention.

Adults are dividing their attention between their children and learning themselves.  It’s just gotta be said.  Knitting and Crochet aren’t easy.  You gotta concentrate on what you are doing.

And the final reason?

Adults get frustrated when their children learn faster than them.  And typically?  Children learn much faster than adults.  Children are hardwired to learn, and they do it well.  It’s hard for adults, who are used to teaching their children, to be the ones that are struggling beside their younger classmates.

And I know, there are exceptions to this rule, but… it happens often enough it bears saying.

The Ongoing Adventures of Knitting with Wee Ones

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It’s about time I give you an update on Sweetness and Light, since we haven’t visited them in a while.

It’s been a rather rough winter for all of us.  There’s been very little snow, which makes it hard for us to go out and play outside… snow is much more fun to play in when it’s cold than going to playgrounds.  As a result I’ve been having to scrape the bottom of the barrel finding ways to keep them entertained.  There’s only so many days we can go into the city to see the Smithsonian or even go the the Airplane Museum, which is closer to home.

(On a side note, Mrs. D, as she’s known at the College Park Library, is amazing)

Hence, Sweetness and I have been working on our knitting.  She’s coming along nicely.  We still haven’t learned purling, but she’s developed on her own a style of knitting that’s a little Picking and a little Throwing, and a lot her own.

Light has decided she wants to learn.  Now, I’m all for teaching kids early, but Light is 2 1/2 (the half is important!) and not quite there yet.  She’s sit in my lap for ten minutes and work with both our hands on the needles, but that’s about it.  Which is actually quite impressive that she lasts for ten minutes.  Then she’ll take up her own needles, and “pretend” to knit.

Well, I couldn’t help snapping this picture the other day, when I realized the picture we made.

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