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March 27, 28, 29, 2015

THE WESTIN CONVENTION CENTER PITTSBURGH

Bon Voyage…

This is just a brief note to let you know I am taking a break! We have had a whirlwind of activity here at our home. Sarah has successfully graduated from high school, is enrolled at Pitt for the fall (I am shedding a few tears, but HAPPY that she will be close by). My stepson, his wife and our grandson are back from Turkmenistan for the summer. My stepdaughter was home with our granddaughter, and announced that we will be grandparents again later this year! And we finished details for the first Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival, and opened registration last week.

I finished my decorative tree panel and have collected all seven panels for the Cranberry Township’s Community Days‘ tree bombing. Stop out and see them on the weekend of July 10! The panels will then stay on the trees for six weeks for the Music in the Park Series of concerts.

Last but not least, I have been preparing for a trip: My Mother, Sarah and I depart for Poland this week. Many of you have met and know my Mother, Irene Kierski. She was born in Poland. She gave us a treasure for Christmas, a book (pictured below) that she wrote, her memoir. It chronicles her happy childhood years, her bitter journey through Poland and Germany during World War II, and her immigration to the US with all of us in tow. It is a legacy to treasure and to pass on to our grandchildren.

Mother has decided she wanted to go back one last time to visit her homeland, and to have Sarah accompany her. It is with great pleasure that I am accompanying them, and we, the three generations, will share this incredible experience. I’ll post photos on Facebook when we return. I plan to take some yarn and needles with me, it’s a long plane ride!

Ann will be holding down the fort and answering any questions that come in while we are away, as well as keeping track of registrations for the Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival. She is also coordinating a knitting and crochet contest on Facebook when we return. We’ll have details in the next newsletter … as well as the announcement of who the headliners are for the 2015 Knit & Crochet Festival!

With Warm Regards,

Barb

Many readers entered our May Sweepstakes for Lavish Lace: Knitting with Hand-Painted Yarns, which was reviewed in our last issue. It was paired with a skein of Claudia Hand Painted Yarns Serenity silk lace yarn “Blue Fields.” We’re pleased to announce that Valerie Csehoski of Bedford, PA, has won the prize package. Congratulations!

Festival Update is published by

Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet

P.O. Box 7706, Pittsburgh, PA 15215 / (412) 963-7030

We do not share our mailing list with any third party.

Copyright 2014 Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission.

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March 27, 28, 29, 2015

THE WESTIN CONVENTION CENTER PITTSBURGH

International Quilt Market: Fantastic!

Last weekend, we had the good fortune to attend the International Quilt Market, here in Pittsburgh at the Convention Center. Wow! It was like being in a huge art gallery… the colors, textures and patterns of fabrics are as amazing as yarns, and quilters are equally as passionate about their fabrics as we are about our yarns! It won’t take much for me to start sewing again.

We saw many new faces, and some familiar faces, too. With the crossover of many of our sponsors, and trade show vendors carrying supplies for many hobbyists and artists, we spent time learning about many new products.

Martingale, one of our longtime Knit & Crochet Festival sponsors, publishes a plethora of books, pattern books and magazines. They will be our sponsors for the Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival in August. I have a book of theirs for our review and sweepstakes prize, along with some Claudia Hand Painted Yarns Serenity (silk lace) yarn.

Knittreat update

As Ann and I are expanding our horizons with the Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival, I have decided to step down from the role of organizing the Knittreat. Although it is always such a wonderful retreat, it was also a lot of additional work.

I am pleased to announce that Elaine Smith has agreed to continue the Knittreat at Bedford Springs Resort, with details listed at www.knittreat.com. I promise to stop in and visit, but since I will be wearing a different hat, I hope to be able to play for a change!

With Warm Regards,

Barb

Busy weekends coming up

This weekend, I’ll be enjoying PyroFest at Hartwood Acres, and next weekend I will be at the Pittsburgh Public Market with our friend (and Festival Teacher) Deb Jacknin’s fundraiser. Market After Dark: A Special Night of Music, Food, Drinks, & Shopping takes place Friday, May 30, 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $20; the event benefits the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Association, Western PA Chapter.

Review/Prize PACK:

Lavish Lace: Knitting with Hand-Painted Yarns… PLUS, a skein of Claudia Hand Painted Yarns!

As a collaborative effort by two gifted and talented ladies, Carol Rasmussen and Cheryl Potter, Lavish Lace: Knitting with Hand-Painted Yarns is a breath of fresh air from many nations, and cultures.

This book honors the memory of Carol Rasmussen Noble, a popular knitwear designer who wrote knitting books on subjects ranging from Fair Isle mittens to Orenburg shawls. What makes this book unique is that we are told where the designers and dyers got their inspiration.

“Chancay Morning,” a square scarf designed by Carol, was inspired by the Peruvian Coast sands, the driest desert in the world. The Chancay people buried their textiles in shallow pits in the ground, hence the color of the shawl shown is a colorway that Cheryl created using all vegetable dyes called Indian Summer. The golds, fuschias, pinks and mauves are as rich today as many intact museum pieces from that area and time period.

Each pattern and piece shown has an intricate explanation of how and from where their inspiration was drawn. “Peacock’s Pride” truly is like the peacock’s brilliant tailfeathers. “Rosebuds and Climbing Roses,” “Frost Flowers,” “Amazonian Jungles,” rich in greens with flashes of color as parrots might appear, and even a shawl inspired by Keat’s poem, “To Autumn.” There is sure to be a shawl or scarf for everyone, with rectangular, square and triangular options, and easy-to-follow instructions and patterns. An added bonus in the back section of the book includes Cheryl’s Basic Dye Methods.

This is lovely, brilliant work, a rich and timeless book that you’ll use over and over again. My favorite is “Peacock’s Pride,” a feather and fan pattern with a twist stitch interlacement.

To accompany this book as this month’s Sweepstakes Prize, we have a skein of Claudia Hand Painted Yarns Serenity silk lace yarn. “Blue Fields” is a beautiful, year-round-suitable color, with 1,100 yards! Soft and luscious, it can be used with just about any lace pattern.

HOW TO ENTER THE SWEEPSTAKES: Simply send an email (one entry per person, please) to pghknitandcrochet@gmail.com by MAY 31, 2014, with the subject line of “Lavish Lace.” 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.

Many readers participated in the chance to win these fun books, both of which were reviewed in our last issue. We’re pleased to announce that Cindy Gordon, Loveland, OH, has won a copy of Knitted Mitts & Mittens by Amy Gunderson, while Anna Hopper, Kittanning, PA, has won a copy of Mommy & Me Crocheted Hats by Kristi Simpson. Congratulations to both!

Festival Update is published by

Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet

P.O. Box 7706, Pittsburgh, PA 15215 / (412) 963-7030

We do not share our mailing list with any third party.

Copyright 2014 Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission.

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March 27, 28, 29, 2015

New dates, new location
for 2015 Knit & Crochet Festival

The Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival is moving. We are pleased to have been at the Four Points Sheraton for six years, and thank you for your continued support. But it seems as though we are bursting at the seams there. So many of you have made comments and suggestions about moving, and we’ve done it! Next year, you can look forward to a new location, along with a date change:

• NEW DATES: MARCH 27-29, 2015
• NEW LOCATION: THE WESTIN CONVENTION CENTER PITTSBURGH

As the name implies, this hotel is adjacent to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh. We will keep everyone abreast of all details and hotel floor plans, etc., in the fall. But at least you can make the date change note on your calendar at this time.

We are beginning to gear up and plan classes for our Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival in August (at the Four Points by Sheraton Pittsburgh North). Things are shaping up, and we’ll have a newsletter go out soon to keep you updated, with some book reviews and giveaways, too!

On Saturday, I had a chance to stop into the Salvation Army’s Annual Fabric Fair and saw many familiar faces. Thank you for supporting the Fair! While I was there, I got lots of goodies that you’ll see at the Creative Arts Festival.

Last but not least, we have two books as reviews and giveaways this month, one for crocheters and one for knitters. You can enter both contests, but please make them separate entries, and please enter just once for each. Read on!

With Warm Regards,

Barb

I bet you’ll say the same thing my Mother-in-law said when she saw this new book by Kristi Simpson: “I thought I had seen every hat idea under the sun, but these are the most creative and cute hats yet!” Being 91, she can say she thought she had seen it all!

There are matching hats, not only for Mommy and child, but for Daddy, too. Hats for every season and occasion, Kristi has thought of it all. Monsters and Pirates, ahoy, Horses and Sock Monkeys, Hunting Hats, and Hats with Beards, oh my! But she did not forget the sweet and pretty dress-up hats: Cloches, Sunhats, and this year’s most popular style, the Slouchy Downtown Hat.

In every color of the rainbow, embellished, fun, pretty and silly, this book is a sure hit for every crochet enthusiast. My favorite: “Giggles and Curls” hats with the cute corkscrews.

HOW TO ENTER THE SWEEPSTAKES: Simply send an email (one entry per person, please) to pghknitandcrochet@gmail.com by APRIL 15, 2014, with the subject line of “Mommy and Me.” 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.

Author Amy Gunderson is the design coordinator for Universal Yarn and Premier Yarns. Her innovative designs have been published in all of our favorite knitting magazines.

In this book, Amy has us knitting mitts all year long. With the cold weather (hopefully) behind us, Amy has garden mitts, opera mitts, and even little zippered “energy” mitts for boarding (I’m not taking up that sport, but the mitts are very cute for the teen in your life). There are plaids and pleats, circles and miters, slouchy and whimsical. This books shows you how to try out a new stitch pattern just learned, and not have to repeat it too often, making learning very simple. One mitered square on each mitt is perfect.

The instructions seem well written, with charts too, and the accompanying photos are lovely and detailed. Amy offers mitts in a variety of yarns, making them suitable for spring and fall, not only winter. My favorite: The linen woven-looking “Fade Fingerless Mitts” in gradient pastel aqua, greens, blues and cream.

HOW TO ENTER THE SWEEPSTAKES: Simply send an email (one entry per person, please) to pghknitandcrochet@gmail.com by APRIL 15, 2014, with the subject line of “Knitted Mitts.” 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.

Festival Update is published by

Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet

P.O. Box 7706, Pittsburgh, PA 15215 / (412) 963-7030

We do not share our mailing list with any third party.

Copyright 2014 Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission.

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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
and for the generous donation of mohair swag bags and mohair throws.

Thanks go to our very special guests:

• #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Debbie Macomber
• Lily Chin
• Nicky Epstein
• StevenBe
• all of our fantastic teachers, and
• all of our wonderful exhibitors.

We also thank all the companies that supported the event and sent donations:

• Annie’s online classes
• AslanTrends
• Be Sweet
• Berrocco
• Bryson Distributing
• Claudia Hand Painted Yarns
• Coats and Clark
• Debbie Macomber
  
• Feza Yarns
• FeltLOOM
• Hanah Silk
• Interweave Press
• JHB Buttons
• Karabella Yarns
  
• Kraemer Yarns
• Lion Brand Yarns
• Louet, NA
• Mohair, SA
• Pat Catan’s
• Pittsburgh Post Gazette
• Pittsburgh Tribune Review
• Plymouth Yarn
• Ravelry
• Red Heart Yarns
• SoHo Publishing
• Susan Bates
  
• Susan Wolcott, Knitting in Tuscany
• Skacel
• TKGA
• Trendsetter Yarns
• TSC
• Universal Yarns
• UPMC
• XRX, Inc.
• Yarn Sisters

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

The following attendees each won a beautiful Gift Baket donated by our sponsor Plymouth Yarn. Congratulations to you all!

• Friday: Rachel Principe
  
• Saturday: Donna Utwell
  
• Sunday: Sarah Springer

Festival Update is published by

Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet

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.

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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

Festival Update is published by

Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet

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

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.
Otherwise, registration officially opens at 12:30 p.m. The Market opens at 1 p.m. The Festival hours are:

• Friday 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. (registration opens at 12:30 p.m., unless registered for fashion show/luncheon)
  
• Saturday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (registration opens at 8:30 a.m.)
• Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (registration opens at 8:30 a.m.)

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

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.

Festival Update is published by

Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet

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

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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:
A Mohair, South Africa representative is stopping in to visit us. She will be at StevenBe’s booth on Friday. Steven invited her to attend; he does quite a lot of work with this non-profit organization. She will take the stage with Steven at the PJ Party on Friday night, tell you a little about her company and have some gifts for us.

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

• Advanced mail-in registration is now closed. The last day to register in advance online for any classes or admission is March 10. 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 10, all payments for classes and admission must be made at the door. Please note, all remaining class prices onsite will be an additional $5, so check it out and send it in this week.
  Online registration for any of the Special Events Packages will also stay open until March 10, with limited spaces available at the door.
• 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.
• If you have purchased a Nicky Epstein “Kick off the Weekend” Luncheon and Fashion show package, you may arrive at 11:30 a.m. on Friday at the registration table to pick up your tickets. Otherwise, registration officially opens at 12:30 pm. The market opens at 1 p.m. You will receive a class assignment sheet along with your event program when you arrive. Check it to see where your class/es are. All class times are 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 the Private Luncheon or Private Dinner with Debbie, this will be your opportunity to meet Debbie in person and get her autograph.

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.

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.

Festival Update is published by

Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet

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

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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

Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet

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

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:

• Shaping Up with Short Rows
• Crocheter’s Toolbox
• Knitter’s Toolbox
• Reversible Cables
• Mix and Match Crochet Sampler

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

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.

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.

Festival Update is published by

Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet

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

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:
We are giving three people a $50 discount off one of the following Special Events:

• Friday’s Kick Off VK Fashion Show and Luncheon with Nicky Epstein
• Saturday Luncheon with Debbie Macomber
• Friday Evening Dinner with Debbie Macomber

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

• “$50 Discount for Fashion Show Luncheon” OR
• “$50 Discount for Debbie Luncheon” OR
• “$50 Discount for Debbie Dinner”

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

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!

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!

Festival Update is published by

Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet

P.O. Box 7706, Pittsburgh, PA 15215 / (412) 963-7030

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