summer review

I can’t believe that my summer is coming to an end. Next week I return to my day job as a library media specialist to over 800 middle school students. Returning to school is always bittersweet. I LOVE summer- it’s a time for travel and relaxation, gardening, and of course knitting!

This summer we spent some time up in WNY at L.’s parents house. I used the time as a knitting retreat and designed a hat and two pairs of socks. I also started the Jarred Jacket from Rowan Vintage Knits, one of my new favorite books. The bad news, on the way home we had to switch cars and my beautiful knit socks, waiting to be bound off, along with two pairs of harmony circulars found a new home on the side of I-70 in a torrential rain storm (didn’t realize it until I got home).

The Briar Creek Hat (pattern available soon on www.worldknits.com)

The Charleston Socks (pattern available soon on www.worldknits.com)

The summer culminated with my trip to Buffalo to go to the TKGA Knit & Crochet Show. I had the best time at the CGOA Professional Development Day. The morning started with a panel discussion with various professionals- Brett Bara, magazine editor, Drew Emborsky, author/pattern writer, Edie Eckman, yarn shop owner, and Cari Clement, design director of Caron Yarn. It was incredibly informative. They answered questions about various aspects of the crochet business, and while I have yet to learn to crochet, the info was equally applicable to knitting. The afternoon was divided into break out sessions of which you could choose Contract Crocheting, Schematics, Designing for Publication, Using the Internet to Grow Your Business, Owning a Yarn Shop, Self-publishing, Design Inspiration, and Teaching. Lionbrand provided gift bags that included two skeins of jiffy, one circular needle, a ruler, and a pattern book. Next year I plan on attending the entire week of the conference and taking some technique classes. I scored some gorgeous yarn on the trade show floor, as well as a gorgeous new notions bag (photos to come).

While in Buffalo, L. and I went to Niagara falls, the Disney World of National Parks. So, while it was totally built up, I had a ton of fun going on the Maid of the Mist boat ride, as well as doing the Cave of the Winds tour. When I was standing in the water under the falls I didn't have a care in the world. We did try to go for a hike, but the trail system out there isn't very well marked and most of the harder routes were closed. Who knew the Canadian border was less than 9 hours from Virginia?!