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::More About Market 2006::
When Pam and I take our yearly trek to market, we don't just look for new yarns, we are also looking for trends in the marketplace, garments from future pattern books, and we schmooze (Pam is particularly good at this). We love to see our friends that we've made over the years and always look forward to meeting new faces in our industry. We also have the opportunity to hob-knob with the yarn world's "rock stars" , who seem sort of stunned at the amount of attention they receive at these functions because they are just like everybody else once they leave these functions. Who might these "rock stars" be? Well...a little name dropping seems appropriate here...Melissa Leapman (new book coming on cables), Suss Cousins (she has her own yarn line), Sara Lucas (one of the authors of Holiday Knitting with two new books coming), Teva Durham (of Loop de Loop fame), our own Ann Shayne and Kay Gardner, Melanie Falick, Sally Melville and Vivian Hoxboro. Yes, some encounters were brief (even fleeting) - but I must say how access able they all are to all of us when everyone wants to bask in their creative aura.
The sights at market are over-whelming. Imagine something akin to the width of a football field and about 2/3rds of its length, filled with nothing but various types of needlework. Examples of the yarns, and items made from said yarn, were everywhere you looked. We noticed a definite turn toward more classic, timeless sweaters. Several are simple to knit like Sally Melville's "Faith Jacket". It is actually made up of several scarves and two sleeves ~ INGENIOUS! It is super-cute on all body types. We'll actually have a model of this shortly.
We are still seeing shawls/wraps and purses (especially felted ones), but skirts are coming on the scene in a big way and vests are coming along behind them. We saw several knitted coats, as well. Think about one of those for our Southern winters. We noticed the use of pompons on several items (one coat collar was covered in them and it was cute!) The best effect was when they varied in size and were massed in an area.
I've done my best to give you all a small slice of what market is like. It is stressfull, back breaking, and exciting all at once. The yarn companies have it even worse. They have to prepare the collections at least a year in advance, have model garments made, color cards and price sheets printed, and get the display materials together along with staff to man the booth. Phewf! All of this so that we can knit, knit, knit or crochet, crochet, crochet!
Happy Knitting!
Andrea
::Sunday, June 25, 2006::
andrea
|6/25/2006 05:44:00 PM|
::Seeing Green::
Everything I took a picture of in the shop the other day was green. I guess it was just a green kinda day. Before I post the pictures, definitely come in and see the new stuff that's arriving! We have some new needle felting tools, several new models (pictures to come in another post), notably a Rowan trunk show (garments change every two weeks), Mary Bit's gorgeous Safari pullover, Liberty's black-n-white Colinette throw, and Sue's Giotto cardi.
NOTE: Did you bring in a contest entry for the $50 giveaway on July 30? There aren't many entries yet, so you have a GREAT chance of winning! Make a shawl, scarf, purse, hat, ANYTHING!!!, using novelty yarns and you have a chance of winning free $$$$$ at AHYC!
 Dian just finished sewing her Bistro Shirt at the table!
Pam's Ruffly Scarf is blue, half as ruffly as Andrea's purple Scarf on the right...
 
Aaahh, Nan, another gorgeous Koigu shawl!
Oh, one quick peek at another site - I met Margaret Hubert at TNNA (our fall market) on June 9 and I was carrying my new Freeform Knit Purse, pattern designed by Margaret herself! She posted a picture on her website - check it out here - scroll down to the June 14th entry! It was pretty neat - you definitely need to ask Stephanie or Pam about Freeform Knitting & Crocheting! It's HOT!
::Tuesday, June 20, 2006::
Pam
|6/20/2006 09:36:00 PM|
::Our buying trip to Indianapolis::
Yes, I know that I never post...well, I'm going to make up for all those months of silence by posting several. We can call it a series of posts about my observations of the TNNA market in Indianapolis. Many of you want to know what we saw while away at the market, and actually it was quite a bit. I'm very encouraged by the changes we are observing in our industry. Yarn manufacturers and distributors are striking out to be different from their competitors...very good for us (more variety) and we are beginning to see the trends turn more toward natural and organic yarns as well as more emphasis on luxury yarns. We had a difficult time deciding what new items to bring into the shop. So, after much debate and number crunching...drum
roll...more drumming...we will be bringing in...more drumming (if your into that much drama) Tilli Tomas hand cut silk ribbon with and without beads(this stuff frays on the edges making for the most beautiful stringy,shimmery, textured knitting), Mango Moon's hand-spun alpaca in natural alpaca colors, Modern Yarn's very cute fashion tees with knitting emblems (they have the mud flap girl with her knitting...you know the sexist silhouette of the naked woman on the mud flap of semi trucks?) I wasn't aware that she was a knitter! Her secret is out and on a cute tee shirt. We visited Habu Textiles booth. They always have wonderful things. We are getting their stainless steel yarn, some thin hemp, linen, and raw silk, plus a lovely slubby cotton. Any of these would be wonderful held together with anything else from them or with a thin mohair...not to mention just used on their own for lace or any other kind of sheer knitting.
Chunky yarns are still in, but we are definitely seeing the tide turn toward thinner yarns - We most definitely are buying smaller yarns. So, if you like the instant gratification...get your big yarns before you can't find what you want...hint...hint..
Next post I'll talk about the designs we were seeing on the show room floor.
Respectfully submitted,
Andrea
::Sunday, June 18, 2006::
Pam
|6/18/2006 05:41:00 AM|
::Do This - Knit in Public (KIP)!::
If you want to try your hand at knitting in public, otherwise known as KIP, try this: Ann of Mason Dixon Knitting will be in the Popular Materials room at the downtown public library for a lunchtime knitting session! Call our shop for more info about exact times. Show off your stuff, wear anything you've got that's knit and enjoy the curious stares of onlookers! Bring an extra set of needles and yarn if you think you might even show someone how to do it!
Each one, teach one! That used to be the National Knitting Guild's motto!
Ok, so Andrea and I are off to TNNA (our fall buying market), held this year in Indianapolis. We've already got one of our first fall shipments arriving today from Berroco, so come in and see.
Remember, just because our fall stuff's arriving doesn't mean we can't keep knitting with cotton! Summer's just begun in Nashville, plenty of time for a tank or tee!
We'll be back on Tuesday with news and ideas for Fall 2006!
::Thursday, June 08, 2006::
Pam
|6/08/2006 08:28:00 AM|
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