A Perfect World

I see a world where there's a room full of yarn and everyone you meet is interested in whether you knit that sleeve flat or in the round and you have time to sit and knit from breakfast thru dinner. No one bats an eye when you pull out your knitting at the local tavern and they're only staring because they're envious of that hand-dyed merino wool you're petting and want to know where you picked that up. This world is where the greatest fiber arts minds gather and pass on their love and knowledge of all things knit. On the first weekend of November 2008, this world existed in Stitches East.
I was fortunate enough to accompany Moma to Stitches East this year in Baltimore. It was my first knitting convention. I found it comforting, daunting, and exciting all at the same time. It was quite comforting to be amoung "my own kind, " daunting to see a room full of yarn which meant a lot of difficult decisions and exciting to be surrounded by so much...knitting (knitting people, knitted garments, knitting accessories). But, armed with my list of upcoming projects, a map of the convention center and my class list, I was ready.
I had a full class load. Not surprisingly, my 2 favorites were classes where I got to finish projects:

Entrelac Basics with Gwen Bortner where I finished this felted cup holder

and Knitting with Wire with Nancie Wiseman where I finished this bracelet.

An extended weekend with nonstop knitting, finished projects and discounted yarn purchases is my kind of utopia.