Stitches Midwest 2010

Check out this haul!

I was up late Thursday night, waiting for a virus scan to complete, when I came across  Stitches Midwest being in town Aug. 19-22.  I realized in an instant that "it starts tomorrow!"  First thing in the morning I called my friend Debbie to see if she could go, and talked to my husband about watching the kids, and by midday it was set. Yes!  On Sunday I would finally be going this big fiber fest!  I got "prep" info about what to pack from a forum, and got set to go.

What a BLAST!  We had 3-1/2 hours 'til it closed, so we got busy and made a once-through, and then went back for the must-see/buy items.  I bought a whole bunch of bamboo circulars and dpn's at truly awesome prices, two new patterns, a skein for socks, two different skeins for a hat for each of my kids, and a Fair Trade basket from Ghana.

Half an hour before closing, I found a booth with such amazing prices on Merino that I couldn't believe it - I'd hit the jackpot!  $3 and 4 per skein?!  It usually runs $9!  I was so glad I'd been told to bring the yarn information for patterns that I wanted to do, because now I could afford the yarn!  I feel like a whole new world opened up for me, in terms of items I could knit, because it would no longer cost $120+ for the yarn for a sweater!

For a few moments, my mind went mad as it tried to consider 4 patterns and yarns for them all until I focused it - ONE project at a time, I told myself.  I was hurrying, because I was concerned about running out of time, and the folks working the booth were especially helpful, letting me know if the size required was worsted or DK, directing me to the proper section for superwash, and figuring yardage differences so that I wouldn't find myself 1 ball short anywhere.  There was only one project that I couldn't get enough balls for because it took 5 and they only had 2 in the color I wanted.  The young woman working there said I could order it online, and I said "at THESE prices?", and she said yes, and brought me a catalog.  I'm telling you, I was in yarn heaven!  THANK YOU,WEBS!

I finished up at Webs just one minute before 4, and was (semi-frantically) trying to locate the booth where I'd seen linen yarn that I wanted to try, when they came on the PA with the announcement that they were closed.  I was a little bummed I couldn't find them, when Debbie said, "I'm sure if you want to buy something, they'll let you." and said she saw a display down the aisle that looked like it could be it.  Sure enough, she was right!  It was them, and they were, of course, still willing to run my card!

It wasn't until we were walking out the door that I realized how tired my feet were, and then, as we sat down in the car, how tired our backs were too!  We were so excited about our yarn purchases that we wanted to start knitting right then and there, in the parking lot!  The adrenaline-like high held up until we were halfway home, when hunger kicked in.  Fortunately, my wonderful  husband was making dinner and it was ready a few minutes after I walked in.

We are definitely going again next year, and we hope to remember about it in time to sign up for classes there, and just stay at the hotel.  Debbie remarked that every time she walked past somewhere, she noticed things she hadn't seen the first time, and I found that to be true.  Next year, we'll make a weekend of it!

*These conventions are held every year in CA, GA, IL, and CT.  Check them out online at the above link to find out when they're coming near you!