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Giveaway: Knitlandia

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Knitlandia by Clara Parkes review

Congratulations to Kim!

If you’re a fan of knitting-related travel or just knitting-related armchair travel, you’re going to want to read Clara Parkes’ latest book Knitlandia. It’s a collection of essays all about different knitting events, people and places that will make you feel warm and fuzzy about the craft you’ve chosen (and maybe a little bit itchy about the mindless consumption that happens at some of these events, but that may just be me).

This week I’m giving away my copy of the collection, so if you’d like a chance to read it, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, March 6.

I’d love to know what your favorite knitting-related event is that you’ve attended and/or your dream knitting event. The only big event I’ve ever been to is TNNA, and I wasn’t in love (oh, my goodness, I am such an introvert I couldn’t handle it), and despite the craziness of the scene I’d still love to go to Rhinebeck (which is always the weekend of my husband’s birthday, so it doesn’t seem likely to happen).

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing, and good luck!

Comments

  2. The only event I have been to was Vogue Knitting Live and I loved it. It was so great to be able to take classes and improve my skills. I am hoping to explore more shows in the future!

  3. I have only attended the Stitches Market events. I have enjoyed them and look forward to going each year that I can.

  5. I have attended 2 Stitches South Market events. I enjoyed looking at all the different types and colors of yarn, needles, and other knitting goodies. I am looking forward to going to the Stitches South Market on April Fool’s Day with several members of my knitting group.

  8. I have never been to an “event,” but whenever we travel I always make it a point to visit the local knitting shop. I usually buy at least one skein of yarn to make something that will remind me of that trip.

  9. I haven’t been to any events yet, but I would love to go to a sheep and wool festival like Rhinebeck. I love sheep! Thanks for the giveaway.

  11. I really enjoy the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. I liked it a little more when it was smaller (in the first 10 years) but it’s still great.

  12. I’d love to attend any knitting event where Stephanie, the Yarn Harlot, will be speaking. I’ve enjoyed her books & her blog immensely.

  15. I’ve been to Vogue Knitting Live, the Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival and Stitches East before this location was discontinued. Thank you for the chance to win this awesome book!

  17. Most knitting events are too far away for me to attend-but would llove to go one day. Maybe this book will give me some insight.

  18. I’ve been to Stitches South a couple of times. I liked hanging with my friends and seeing the producers that I had only read about.

    I would love to go on one the those foreign adventures to see maybe the Faro Islands or Shetland.

    My favorite though are the local craft nights in my own neighborhood.

  19. I want to go to the Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair in Asheville – it is only an hour away so that would be my first choice for my first experience. One day I would like to attend some of these other ones or maybe go on a knitting cruise!! How fun would that be??!!

  21. My favorite knitting event is the Knitting Pipeline Retreat – with over 100 people that are like instant best friends. Someday I would like to attend a sheep & wool festival like Rhinebeck or Maryland

  22. I’ve never had the fortune of attending a big event but would love to someday attend Stitches. Until then, I’ll live vicariously through others!

  23. Because my Husband has the attention span of a gnat when it comes to anything to do with knitting, I haven’t been able to go to any knitting events – however, I would love to go to one of the events in my State, where I could watch someone actually spinning the yarn, and my Husband could have a little better idea of the work that’s involved in making a skein of yarn. I drool now, when I come within 10 yards of any yarn, and know that I wouldn’t go home empty-handed!! This book sounds wonderful, and I can’t wait to read it!! Thank you for the giveaway!!

  25. My favorite even which I’ve attended each year it’s happened is the Mid-Iowa Yarn Shop Hop. My dream event is Knit City in Vancouver.

  26. Dream event would be a fiber festival in England. Sheep, strong black tea and scones, and lovely stitches all go together plus all those Kate Davies designs. Love all of Clara Parkes’ thoughts and advice.

  28. I would love to attend a stitches event someday. Also, there was the first annual Annies craft festival in my state last year. I would have loved to have gone. Maybe this year?

  30. I have been going to Stitches West with a group of friends for about 10 years now. I always come away with renewed inspiration and creative energy. And of course more yarn….

  32. I have not been to a knitting event, just not feasible monetarily or schedule wise at the moment. However, I do love to get together with friends at a coffee shop, and hang out and knit.

  35. I am falling in love with knitting! I have crocheted for years and I was always afraid of knitting. I have done some scarves, a cute egg cosy and am starting a blanket. Hopefully I will try socks soon. I have never been to any yarn event, but would love to go on a cruise with a yarn theme.

  36. I have been to SAFF and our local event, but I would really like to attend one of the Stitches some time.

  38. I dream of going to one of the knitting workshops held by Meg Swanson. Just to sit somewhere with a group of fun loving knitters and improve my techniques sounds awesome. And no traveling schedule to live up to.
    The only knitting groups I’ve been to have been at my LYS.

  39. I’m a big fan of VKLive NY. Rhinebeck is great for sweater spotting. Theres a great retreat at an Omni in PA called Knittreat, which is super relaxing.

  40. I would love to have this book. I went with several Knitting friends to a cabin in Gatlinburg a few years back and would love to plan more crafting trips like this.

  41. I’ve been a fan of Clara Parks for years and recently heard her on the Craft Sanity podcast. She was amazing.

  42. Big events in closed spaces aren’t really my cup of tea. But I have been known to enjoy a visit to sheep or alpaca on the hoof at various farms in VT and MA. Fun to have shaken hands personally with these critters that provide us with our fiber!

  43. I love travelling from the comfort of my cozy reading nook. I’ve not attended such events, so this will be exciting.

  44. Also, there are no knitting events in my corner of the world and darn few knitting supply stores, too.

  46. Before i had kids, I used to attend many knitting events: stitches, TNNA, small regional retreats. Now that they’re in college, I’d love to go to Scotland or Ireland for some knitting tourism. My favorite events are the mall regionals… More intimate and more focused.

  48. I would be over the moon to receive your book. Thanks for the chance to enter the giveaway. And for the inspirations.

  49. While I have been to a few knitting events by now, my favourite one is still the first I ever went to: Fibre Fest. Sadly, it never took place again. It was on college grounds in the southwest of the UK and had beautiful scenery and a lake. There were three large tents with vendors and an exhibition and of course there were classes and talks inside the building, too. You could see sheep and alpaca there and watch shearing. And they had the best ice cream, too!

Have you read?

Easy Knit Baskets to Use All Your Stash

For the past few years I’ve taken part in a Christmas in July blog hop that encourages people to get a jump on their making for holiday gifts. 

I love to use yarn I already have for these projects in the hope that people will consider what they already have that they can use to make projects for themselves or to give as gifts. 

This year it was a couple of knit baskets made using partial balls of yarn left in my stash from other projects. 

They use the same basic pattern but the first one is made with two colors of bulky yarn, and the second used two strands of worsted weight yarn held together, which made the gauge about the same, but I cast on fewer stitches to make a smaller version. 

The bottom of the basket is square, though you can make them rectangular if you’d rather. Then I just knit up the sides in rounds until I was about to run out of yarn. This gave both baskets rather short sides — maybe more like a tray than a basket — but you can keep knitting as long as you like to make the sides of your basket as tall as you want. 

They’re worked in seed stitch, which keeps the edges from curling and adds a nice texture to the baskets.

Of course this also allows you to use even more odd balls from your stash. I’d love to make a big one someday combining lots of different yarn. I mean, I’d probably use it to store more yarn, but that’s a fine thing to do. 

As it is, these little trays are great for sitting on your desk or bedside table to hold little things that always seem to appear there. I like to use one to hold the supplies for whatever project I’m working on, things like little scissors, my tape measure, a crochet hook, etc.

And they would make good gifts on their own or as a container to hold some other goodies if you like. 

You can find the free pattern for these stash busting baskets over at Our Daily Craft.