By the time February rolls around, most New Englanders are willing to do anything to get out of Dodge, so to speak for awhile. The snow and the cold and the grey skies get to some people. I don't mind the winter all that much, but I must admit I do look forward to going to California (blue skies, warmer weather, NO SNOW) to take part in Stitches West. Even if the weather were horrible in Santa Clara, I'd still come--it is so much fun! The market was huge this year. I signed books at the Yarn Barn booth. It was really crowded!
Here is my first class. I am not too fond of the "Horsehoe" set-up, but it does give me a lot of extra exercise during class. it's a LLOONNGG way down there!
My students in the Latvian Fingerless Mitt class were just wonderful--so enthusiastic and motivated! They worked very hard that day and they were very proud--as they should be! Look at all their lovely mitts!
And here's a close-up of their work. Every mitt was beautiful!
My second class was two days long: The Danish Skrå-trøje. It was just a wonderful class, small and intimate, and we had the absolute best times! I wish every class I taught could have this combo of students. What a pleasure! It was a lot of knitting, but they all got pretty far with their little sweaters. I made them knit in two colors on the right side, purl in two colors on the wrong side, work in the round and flat, and make twined-knitted cuffs. I put them all through their paces and they were so successful! YAY!
The student banquet was fun too, but as I had a cold the entire time I was in California, I went to bed if I wasn't teaching or eating. If any of you students got my cold, I am so sorry!
I am already looking forward to Stitches West 2014!
The atmosphere of this amazing retreat is so different from many others. There is a rich comradery, a personalness to it, that makes me want to return year after year. It is now held in the Hotel Murano in Tacoma a few doors down from the Glass museum. But each floor of the hotel features a different glass artist--its own museum! If you have a chance to experience this retreat, I heartily recommend it.
After a week at home, I flew back to the Left Coast for Stitches West. Another fun time was had by all, I assure you! The faculty seems to grow and grow each year. In April I will go to Atlanta for the brand new Stitches South. It was going around that there is no recession in the fiber world--or at least at Stitches!
So I am home again, putting the finishing touches on a new class I'll be teaching (The Danish Nattrøjer over one day) in Portland, Oregon for 
