View online | Subscribe | Visit us online | Archives March 13, 14, 15, 2015 We have PHOTOS! What an amazing 10-Year Anniversary Celebration! Whew, I’m glad that anniversaries don’t happen too often! I continue to get letters from many of you with praises and thanks for a great Festival. Thank you! It is a huge amount of planning and coordination, but very gratifying and I wouldn’t be able to continue to do it without your continued support and kind words. I also wouldn’t be able to handle it without the assistance from my sister Ann. By now, many of you have had the pleasure of meeting her. She will be my right (and left) hand person going forward. How special it is to be able to work with her again! Many photos from the Festival are being added daily to our Facebook page. Please feel free to share yours on our page as well! We have photos from Clyde Harris, our friendly photographer who was so patient and LOVED being with all of the “beautiful women” at the Festival. (You guys were pretty nice-looking, too.) While many of the photos Clyde took are on Facebook, you can see hundreds more (he took over 600) and find the ones that you might like to have as a special memento of our 10-year celebration here. We have so many others to thank for making this all happen: Our sponsors: A very special thank you to MOHAIR South Africa, for stopping in to see our Festival Thanks go to our very special guests:
We also thank all the companies that supported the event and sent donations:
In addition, we thank our many dedicated staff members and volunteers. And last, but certainly not least, I thank Randy, my Mothers, and Sarah. We will resume the Reviews and Sweepstakes in April… and that’s when we’ll also begin a newsletter, including giveaways, for the Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival taking place in August (sign up to receive that enewsletter here). Stay tuned! With Warm Regards, Barb |
Salvation Army Fabric Fair is next Saturday
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Grand Prize Raffle Winners
The following attendees each won a beautiful Gift Baket donated by our sponsor Plymouth Yarn. Congratulations to you all!
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Festival Update is published by P.O. Box 7706, Pittsburgh, PA 15215 / (412) 963-7030 We do not share our mailing list with any third party. © 2014 Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission. eNews designed by Gooch & Gooch, LLC |
THANK YOU!!!
View online | Subscribe | Visit us online | Archives THANK YOU!!! Thank you for your continued support and all of the hugs. The Festival was great; we are still decompressing, unpacking and reorganizing. We promise to have a full newsletter next week, complete with photos, thank-you list, etc. With Warm Regards, Barb and Ann |
2014 Festival Sponsors
Festival Update is published by P.O. Box 7706, Pittsburgh, PA 15215 / (412) 963-7030 We do not share our mailing list with any third party. © 2014 Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission. eNews designed by Gooch & Gooch, LLC |
See you this weekend…
View online | Subscribe | Visit us online | Archives March 14, 15, 16, 2014 See you this weekend… We are packing up and heading to the hotel tomorrow to begin set-up. All advanced and online registration is closed. You may pay for admission or for any remaining classes and Special Events onsite at our registration table. If you have purchased a Nicky Epstein “Kick off the Weekend” Luncheon and Fashion show package, please arrive at 11:30 a.m. on Friday at the registration table to pick up your tickets.
You will receive a classroom assignment sheet along with your event program when you arrive. Check it to see where your class/es are; however, all class locations and times are also listed online. Please be sure to check New York Times #1 Best Selling Author Debbie Macomber’s book signing schedule. This is her public appearance schedule. If you did not purchase a ticket to her Private Luncheon or Private Dinner, this will be your opportunity to meet Debbie in person and get her autograph. Don’t forget to wear one of your Top 10 Ravelry picks to the PJ Party on Friday night. We will be picking winners of all 10 designs, and will have gifts for the winners. On a final note, BOTH USA Olympic Teams Sweaters will be on display during the Festival! The Opening Ceremony Sweater, hat, gloves and scarf will be at Kathy’s Kreations‘ booth, and the Closing Ceremony Sweater will be at Noni Designs‘ booth. We are honored to have them both in one location! Bring your cameras, as this may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We can’t wait to see you all at our very special 10-year anniversary celebration. I hope you have as much fun as I probably will. With Warm Regards, Barb |
Festival parking made easy
The Four Points by Sheraton Pittsburgh North has graciously made arrangements should its parking lots become full, offering both offsite parking and regular shuttles as overflow options. The hotel will run shuttles every half hour after its lots fill up. The offsite overflow parking is located at the U.S. Post Office (300 Brush Creek Rd., Warrendale 15905). Parking will be available during the Festival hours, and shuttles will run through the evening events as well. The overflow parking lot is the first lot on the left. There will be signage at the lot for parking and pick-ups. Please note: The USPS is not responsible for damage or thefts. |
2014 Festival Sponsors
Festival Update is published by P.O. Box 7706, Pittsburgh, PA 15215 / (412) 963-7030 We do not share our mailing list with any third party. © 2014 Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission. eNews designed by Gooch & Gooch, LLC |
USA Team Olympic Cardigan Comes to the Festival!
View online | Subscribe | Visit us online | Archives March 14, 15, 16, 2014 USA Team Olympic Cardigan Comes to the Festival! One week to go … details, details, details and big announcements, including:
The cardigan sweater that was worn by U.S. Olympic team members at the 2014 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in Sochi is coming to the Festival! Kraemer Textiles of Nazareth, PA, spun the wool into yarn that was used to make the sweaters. Eleanor Swogger, one of our teachers, is a designer for Kraemer Textiles and Yarns, who is one of our sponsors. They have graciously agreed to let Eleanor bring the sweater. She will bring the sweater with her to the Festival, along with the hat and scarf that was designed to go with it. The sweater, hat and scarf will be on display all weekend during show hours at Kathy’s Kreations, Kathy Zimmerman’s Booth Nos. 2 and 3, in the main ballroom. There were only 650 sweaters made, with only 300 for sale to the public. They have been selling for more than $4,000 on some sites online. This one is not for sale, it is for display only. Stop by and take a photo next to the sweater (sorry, no one may try it on). THANK YOU, Kraemer Yarns! We are also pleased to announce another “international element” for our 10-year anniversary: Last but not least, Bryson Distributing, Gizmos & Gadgets for Needlearts: knitting, crochet, quilting & needlework, is sending surprises for the goody bags for the Private Luncheon and Private Dinner with Debbie. I can’t wait to see what they are sending. We have such beautiful gifts donated by all of our sponsors. Each of the “goody bags” for all three Special Events has an estimated retail value of more than $50, wow! Getting the gifts from our sponsors is like having a birthday when they arrive, even though they are not for me! With Warm Regards, Barb |
Just some reminders …
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Festival parking made easy
The Four Points by Sheraton Pittsburgh North has graciously made arrangements should its parking lots become full, offering both offsite parking and regular shuttles as overflow options. The hotel will run shuttles every half hour after its lots fill up. The offsite overflow parking is located at the U.S. Post Office (300 Brush Creek Rd., Warrendale 15905). Parking will be available during the Festival hours, and shuttles will run through the evening events as well. The overflow parking lot is the first lot on the left. There will be signage at the lot for parking and pick-ups. Please note: The USPS is not responsible for damage or thefts. |
Field Guide winner
In last week’s Festival Update, we offered one copy of Interweave’s book about fiber, The Field Guide to Fleece, as our Sweepstakes prize. Authored by Deborah Robson and Carol Ekarius, it’s an indispensable reference for all fiber enthusiasts. Our randomly drawn winner was Anita Joslyn, Edinboro, PA. Congratulations, Anita, please pick up the book at the Festival at the Stramba Farm and Fiber Mill booth in the Connections area. |
2014 Festival Sponsors
Festival Update is published by P.O. Box 7706, Pittsburgh, PA 15215 / (412) 963-7030 We do not share our mailing list with any third party. © 2014 Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission. eNews designed by Gooch & Gooch, LLC |
Festival registration deadlines
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Festival registration deadlines The last day to mail in an advanced registration form is Saturday, March 1. Online advanced registration will be open until March 7 for admission, classes or special events. Please be sure to check the website to see whether the class is marked FULL. If it is, please do not send money for it. After March 7, all payments for admission, classes or special events can be made at the door. Any remaining spaces in classes or at the special events will be available at the registration table. Please note: The price for classes will be an additional $5 onsite, so check the class schedule and sign up before March 7 to avoid paying an extra $5. We do not send out any confirmations, unless there is a problem with your registration. You may pick up all tickets and registration information at the registration tables when you arrive. Please see PghKnitAndCrochet.com for Festival hours. With Warm Regards, Barb |
Festival Update is published by P.O. Box 7706, Pittsburgh, PA 15215 / (412) 963-7030 We do not share our mailing list with any third party. © 2013 Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission. eNews designed by Gooch & Gooch, LLC |
Videos, books and yarn, oh my!
View online | Subscribe | Visit us online | Archives March 14, 15, 16, 2014 Videos, books and yarn, oh my! A little more than two weeks to go, and we’ll be on our way to the hotel. My living room is full of boxes ready to be packed up. I think my family will be glad when we move all of this stuff out! As I mentioned in last week’s newsletter, we have had a tremendous amount of donations come in for our 10-year anniversary celebration. This week, pattern booklets arrived from Be Sweet, the Ravelry buttons have come in, an unexpected surprise is being shipped from Mohair South Africa, and some of Lily Chin’s newest DVD workshop videos came in. In fact, we are going to give a video away to one person in each of Lily’s classes. Each person in Lily’s classes will have a chance to win one of the following videos:
Plus, Lily will have one more to give away at the PJ party. We will pull a name in the classroom. Lily is offering five classes, and four of them still have some slots open. So sign up now for one of Lily’s classes for a chance to win a newly released video. Last, but not least: Due to the overwhelming response to the $50 discounts in last week’s newsletter for the special events, we ended up selecting more than three winners! All have already been notified. Congratulations, and see you at the Festival! With Warm Regards, Barb |
Free fiber fun at the Festival
This year, our free class is a make-it and take-it FeltLOOM Creation centerpiece vase cover, located in the Connections area in the Atrium of the hotel. FeltLOOM’s Lanette Freitag is bringing two table looms, and Terri Stramba from Stramba Farm and Fiber Mill will have the floor model FeltLOOM to make these beautiful centerpieces. We are gathering hand-dyed silk ribbons from Hanah Silk, as well as all of the yarns, fabrics and fibers you will need to make your own vase cover to take home (vase not included). Lanette is also bringing five garments that were made on the FeltLOOM to be included in the Fashion Show and Luncheon on Friday at noon. See what can be made with these incredible machines! Terri Stramba will have info available at her booth, for additional classes at her studio after the Festival. As a special gift, we are also giving away one copy of Interweave’s book about fiber, The Field Guide to Fleece. Authored by Deborah Robson and Carol Ekarius, this book is a must-have for all knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers and fiber artists! In this book, you can learn about the qualities of fleece from 100 sheep breeds in a format that is easy to understand … and small enough to take with you to yarn shops, farms and festivals. When you understand the properties and characteristics of different sheep fibers, it will allow you to make better choices for your next projects, whether it is spinning or making a garment. This truly is an indispensable reference for all fiber enthusiasts. HOW TO ENTER THE SWEEPSTAKES: Simply send an email (one entry per person, please) to pghknitandcrochet@gmail.com by March 1, 2014, with the subject line of “Field Guide to Fleece.” Please include your name and a phone number where you can be reached. The winner will be selected next week, and can pick up the book at the Festival at Terri Stramba’s booth in the Connections area. |
Festival parking made easy
The Four Points by Sheraton Pittsburgh North has graciously made arrangements should its parking lots become full, offering both offsite parking and regular shuttles as overflow options. The hotel will run shuttles every half hour after its lots fill up. The offsite overflow parking is located at the U.S. Post Office (300 Brush Creek Rd., Warrendale 15905). The schedule will be posted online, but we want to ensure that everyone knows about this in advance. Parking will be available during the Festival hours, and shuttles will run through the evening events as well. The overflow parking lot is the first lot on the left. There will be signage at the lot for parking and pick-ups. Please note: The USPS is not responsible for damage or thefts. |
2014 Festival Sponsors
Festival Update is published by P.O. Box 7706, Pittsburgh, PA 15215 / (412) 963-7030 We do not share our mailing list with any third party. © 2014 Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission. eNews designed by Gooch & Gooch, LLC |
Goodies galore!
View online | Subscribe | Visit us online | Archives March 14, 15, 16, 2014 Goodies galore! Many of the donations have begun to arrive from our sponsors. The gifts are overwhelming, and our sponsors are very gracious. We’ll have magazines and pattern books from XRX Books, Soho Publishing, The Knitting Guild Association (TKGA), Interweave, Fiber Art Now, Universal Yarn and more. Louet North America has sent fiber for use on the FeltLOOM, and sent one kit each for our luncheons and dinner for door prizes. We have yarn from Berroco, Claudia Hand Painted Yarns, Karabella Yarns, Lion Brand Yarns, skacel collection, Tahki Stacy Charles and The YarnSisters; kits from Kraemer Yarns; buttons and thimbles from JHB; books from Martingale; plus accessories and more. We are pleased that everyone who attends will receive a gift from one of our sponsors, whether you are the first person to arrive at the door or the last. In fact, the goody bags are shaping up to be so fantastic for the luncheons and dinner that we have decided this week’s giveaway will be for THREE lucky winners:
Not only will the three lucky winners have a chance to meet and mingle with these special ladies, they will also receive a special goody bag from our sponsors. HOW TO ENTER THE SWEEPSTAKES: Simply send an email (one entry per person, please) to pghknitandcrochet@gmail.com by Feb. 23, 2014, with the subject line of
Please include your name and a phone number where you can be reached. The three winners will be drawn randomly from the entries and notified on Feb 24. With Warm Regards, Barb |
New finishing class added
We had so many requests for another finishing class that Linda Voss Plummer has graciously agreed to teach an additional class on Friday night, 6-9 p.m. Sign up for it here. Also, please note that many of our classes have sold out, so be sure to check our website first if you’re just now signing up for classes. Thanks! |
Salvation Army needs your stash overflowDon’t forget: The Festival is a donation drop-off site for the Salvation Army’s Fabric Fair.
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Feb. 12 Festival Update sweepstakes winner
The winner from our Feb. 12 sweepstakes, for a copy of Crochet Wraps Every Which Way by Tammy Hildebrand, is Pat Derry of Glenshaw, PA. Congratulations, Pat, and we look forward to giving you your prize at the Festival’s registration desk! |
2014 Festival Sponsors
Festival Update is published by P.O. Box 7706, Pittsburgh, PA 15215 / (412) 963-7030 We do not share our mailing list with any third party. © 2014 Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission. eNews designed by Gooch & Gooch, LLC |
Countdown to Fiber Fun
View online | Subscribe | Visit us online | Archives March 14, 15, 16, 2014 Countdown to Fiber Fun The clock is ticking, and we are just a month away from our 10-year anniversary! (You can see our countdown clock on our home page.) Although we won’t have an opening ceremony quite as elaborate as Russia did for the Olympics, we’ll have handmade sweaters on our backs, too. Kudos to our friends Imperial Stock Ranch and Kraemer Yarns for supplying and milling the yarn for the sweaters that Team USA wore. We have had a great deal of support come in for our 10-year anniversary. Our sponsors, along with your support, have made this Festival possible. We are grateful for the fantastic gifts that have been sent in previous years, and the gifts that have been sent this year are beautiful as well. Our sponsors for the Festival this year include:
In addition, UPMC Senior Communities is once again sponsoring Senior Sunday: All seniors pay just $5 admission at the door on that day. Just a reminder, many classes are full. Please be certain to check your class selections prior to sending in a mail in form. Also, no tickets will be mailed out. All tickets will be available for pick up at the registration tables when you arrive. Our newsletters will come weekly from now until March 14. I may not have time to review a book each issue, but we WILL have a giveaway each week until then, with winners to pick up at the Festival. Stay tuned! With Warm Regards, Barb |
RSVP for the PJ Party/Ravelry Design ContestWe’ve had a tremendous response for StevenBe’s PJ Party on Friday evening, featuring the Top 10 Ravelry Design Contest. Bring your version of one of the patterns below, and we’ll see which ones are our favorites! Winners will receive a special prize from our sponsors, and Steven will have some special goodies he is bringing and a special gift for his overall favorite. Ravelry is sending buttons. This is a perfect time to connect with all of your Ravelry friends. We’ll be in the hotel atrium on Friday night at 9 p.m. An RSVP is necessary since space is limited.
The Top 10 Ravelry Shawl Designs are as follows:
We can’t wait to see yours! |
This week’s sweepstakes: Crochet Wraps, Every Which Way
On Jan. 8, Barb did a special book review and giveaway online on Tammy Hildebrand’s first book. The winner from that sweepstakes was Beth Caporali of Vandergrift, PA (congratulations!). But Tammy and her publisher, Stackpole Books, generously provided us with a second book to give away in this issue of Festival Update. HOW TO ENTER THE SWEEPSTAKES: Simply send an email (one entry per person, please) to pghknitandcrochet@gmail.com by Feb. 16, 2014, with the subject line of “Crochet Wraps.” Please include your name and a phone number where you can be reached. The winner will be drawn randomly from the entries and announced in the Feb. 19 issue of Festival Update. |
January Festival Update sweepstakes winnersThe SIX winners of our January sweepstakes, each winning one Martingale knit or crochet book, are as follows.
Martingale Crochet Books:
Martingale Knitting Books:
Congratulations, everyone! See you in a few weeks, when you pick your book up at the Festival’s registration desk! |
2014 Festival Sponsors
Festival Update is published by P.O. Box 7706, Pittsburgh, PA 15215 / (412) 963-7030 We do not share our mailing list with any third party. © 2014 Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission. eNews designed by Gooch & Gooch, LLC |
Books, Books and More Books
Books, Books and More Books I have received a box of assorted books as well as six pattern books from our sponsor Martingale for review and giveaway. I am going to do something a little different since I am up to my neck in details and registrations for the Festival, now less than two months away! I’ll give a brief description below of each pattern book, and we will select six lucky winners for each one in the next newsletter. Please note, however, that the winners will need to pick up the pattern books at the Festival. We have another fun announcement: One lucky winner at the Weekend Kick Off Nicky Epstein Fashion Show and Luncheon will get a chance to win one of the garments being modeled at the Show! Nicky has been gracious enough to donate a garment, and it will be a surprise for us all as to which one she selects. We will randomly select a name for one Fashion Show Luncheon attendee at the end of the luncheon. We have been busy making various centerpieces for each of the VIP events: the Fashion Show, the #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Debbie Macomber Luncheon and the Debbie Macomber Dinner. One person at each table at each event will win a centerpiece, such as these FeltLOOM vases:
Last but not least, please keep in mind as you are registering for the Festival that many classes are already full. To avoid disappointment, please double check the website to see whether your class selection is available. With Warm Regards, Barb |
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Salvation Army Fabric Fair If your New Year’s resolutions included clearing out those closets, remember to set aside your unwanted fabric, yarns and notions for the Salvation Army for its Annual Fabric Fair. We will once again be a drop-off site for them at the Festival, all three days. |
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Special Martingale Books giveaway…
HOW TO ENTER THE SWEEPSTAKES: Simply send an email (one entry per person per category, please, for a maximum of two emails) to pghknitandcrochet@gmail.com by Jan. 31, 2014, with the subject line of either “Martingale Knitting Book” or “Martingale Crochet Book.” Three winners will be selected for each category, for a total of six winners. Please include your name and a phone number where you can be reached. The winners will be drawn randomly from the entries and announced in the next issue of Festival Update. |
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New Year’s Day Sweepstakes winner The winner of our Jan. 1 sweepstakes, for Martingale’s All About Knittings paperback, is Lynn Puckett of Manawa, Wis. Congratulations!
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Festival Update is published by P.O. Box 7706, Pittsburgh, PA 15215 / (412) 963-7030 We do not share our mailing list with any third party. © 2014 Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission. eNews designed by Gooch & Gooch, LLC |
Barb's Book Review and Sweepstakes: Crochet Wraps, Every Which Way
Kudos, Tammy, on your first book! Tammy Hildebrand is a crochet designer and the vice president of the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA). Many of her designs are not new to many of you. They have been published in Interweave Crochet, Crochet!, Crochet World, Crochet 1, 2, 3 and in the bookUnexpected Afghans, as well as for many other publications. Tammy has designs in the collections of many yarn manufacturers and distributors, and shows her best and brightest designs in this book.
The 18 original patterns featured here are shown in six traditional techniques, which include traditional crochet, broomstick lace, hairpin lace, and Tunisian crochet. What makes this a special book is the way Tammy makes each pattern look like it just came off a fashion runway. Each wrap is versatile and stylish, from dressy to casual. An explanation of each technique (with a little history included) is well written, and step-by-step photo tutorials are offered before you begin any pattern. There are three patterns shown for each technique, making this a perfect book for all levels.
Tammy has included designs in hairpin and broomstick that are worked in the round. The instructions are clear and concise, and recommendations are made for different yarns, edges, and even different ways to wear the garments. With ponchos, shawl, and ruanas, there is a wrap sure to please everyone.
My personal favorite is the Purple Passion shawl, which if made smaller could be a scarf, on page 5. The Irish Jig pattern, made using hairpin lace, looks like a knitted dropped stitch pattern. Cleverly shown either as a shawl or over a skirt, this is a must-have accessory.
HOW TO ENTER THE SWEEPSTAKES FOR A COPY OF THIS BOOK: Simply send an email (one entry per person, please) to pghknitandcrochet@gmail.com by Jan. 31, 2014, with the subject line of “Crochet Wraps.” Please include your name and a phone number where you can be reached. The winner will be drawn randomly from the entries and announced in the next issue of Festival Update.