We don't need ANOTHER Fiber Festival

During the Spring and Fall seasons, you can't get away from fiber festivals. It seems there are a million of them happening at every turn. Do we need them? Are fiber festivals relevant?
Stemming from a twitter conversation with Lindsey of Erin Lane Bags, it struck me how much the area {New England} is loosing out with the loss of Stitches East this year.

There are a lot of people who think there are already too many fiber shows in the area, so why we would need one more, particularly with big shops like Webs so close by. This conversation with Lindsey made me realize the extent of the loss of this show.
Gong to the yarn shop is GREAT! Especially having Webs in my backyard, who could ask for more?
{Raises hand} Me. All of us!

Fiber festivals are not just a place to buy more yarn and fiber supplies {Lord knows I don't need any more. I have so much yarn, I think even Webs might envy my stash, just a little bit}. The point of a fiber festival or at least in my mind is to make those connections with the makers. It's a way to talk in real-life to those makers who you have admired and supported for so long, to look them in the eye, talk with them and get an insight on their process and inspiration. Also, fiber festivals are great places to meet up and hang out with like-minded fiber enthusiasts and just have fun, in a safe, non-judgey space {yeah, I get the weird looks for muggles too}.

Sure we can read their blogs and follow them on social media to see what they are up to, but nothing beats that one-on-one, face-to-face, human contact where you can see and touch the work, experience new products, and get your fill of all the fiber fumes!

There is just something about real life that just makes the fiber festival experience so much richer.

Hopefully, Stitches East makes a return to the Northeast. Let this be a warning. If you like and enjoy a fiber festival, go out and SUPPORT them. Show them you want the show next year, no matter how small the show, because if we don't show them that we want it, it will go away. And then we'll have nothing!

Comment below and tell me which fiber festivals you plan to attend this Fall.

Tian

Until next time... Stitch on!

Tian

A rising tide lifts all boats!

Tian Connaughton is a knit and crochet designer, technical editor, and coach. Her mission is to help aspiring designers to develop their ideas, build confidence, and live the life they've always dreamt. 

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Are you an aspiring knit and crochet designer needing more help figuring our where to start?


Click here to get your printable PDF copy of Unlock Your Inner Designer: How to start designing (course + workbook)  

Need more 1:1 help than the course + workbook, email me to talk. I'll help you get it! 

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I am dedicated to giving you the tools and confidence to knit and crochet what you want on your terms.

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Is it too late to start designing?

Is it too late to be a successful knit and crochet designer?

The assumptions are that the massive resurgence the fiber industry went through in 2007/2008, a lot of designers were born to fill in the need for patterns for the growing market.

Names were made. Stars we created.

There were tons of new (and returning) knitters and crocheters, and there was a huge need for current and updated patterns.

Now, a decade later, the fiber industry has calmed down a bit. There are some questions.

Is there still that need for modern and innovative designs?  Are all the holes for new patterns filled? Is there room for new designers? Is it too late? Did you miss the boat?

The truth is, there is still PLENTY of room for you. It is not too late.

It is not about luck. It is about your willingness to do the work and crave out a niche in the market for yourself and your work.

You might be saying: 

• I don’t have time because…
• I have a full-time job that take up a huge part of my day and I am too tired at the end of the day to make a go at designing.
• I have a family, I homeschool my kids and can’t fit another thing into my day.  
• I don’t money to buy the yarn, tools, software, etc. to put together a great design.
• I don’t have the resources or connections. I live in a small town in the middle of nowhere (rural area) with no one like me.

The truth is… You are not a special snowflake.  These are all just excuses.

You can do it. You are not uniquely special.

Others have done it. You can do it too. You just have to be willing to do the work.

There is still a space for you and what you have to offer.

I believe it’s Jeff Goins that says, “if you are looking for a way to fail, you will find it. If you are looking for a way to success, you will find it.”

It is not too late.


P.S. I am working on a design for Artisan Yarns (from Hampden Hills Alpacas). It will be a cape worked from the top-down with a collar in gradient DK 100% alpaca yarn. I want to share the process of designing this pattern, row by row with you so that you can follow along (... and knit up the pattern for free). Is this something you might be interested in? If you are, sign up here and I'll share the pattern as I work on it. Not sure how this will work, but details to come when available.

Until next time... Stitch on!

Tian

A rising tide lifts all boats!

Tian Connaughton is a knit and crochet designer, technical editor, and coach. Her mission is to help aspiring designers to develop their ideas, build confidence, and live the life they've always dreamt. 

---

Are you an aspiring knit and crochet designer needing more help figuring our where to start?


Click here to get your printable PDF copy of Unlock Your Inner Designer: How to start designing (course + workbook)  

Need more 1:1 help than the course + workbook, email me to talk. I'll help you get it! 

---

I am dedicated to giving you the tools and confidence to knit and crochet what you want on your terms.

Join

{The Weekly Yarn} from KnitDesigns by Tian

* indicates required

Email Address *

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I am interested in Crochet and Knit...

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• Both

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This blog post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

Never drop the ball on your second sock again

Do you love handknit socks?

I love socks!

The type of socks doesn’t matter. I love them all...short ones, long ones, plain ones, fancy one, cuff down, toe up… it doesn’t matter.

But I hate making them because I hardly ever finish the second sock.

Yep, I get wicked second sock syndrome.

Maybe this sounds like you:

... You find a new sock pattern you want to make. You go through the process of picking out just the right yarn. You start knitting and it’s exciting, and sexy… in the beginning, just like when you meet a guy and start a new relationship, right? You sit down to cast-on. Your eyes are shining, your heart is all aflutter, everything is perfect.

Then after a few days you hit a stumbling block. You get stuck somewhere along the pattern, you make a mistake, the frustration set in.

The glow begins to fade on you sock WIP like that not-so-shiny new boyfriend that comes over and leaves the toilet seat up! All that exhilaration you felt when picked out the yarn and started the sock is diminishing.

Sock knitting anxiety sets in. You can’t get ahead.

There is a kind of shame that goes with all those sock WIPS piling up. You have too many yarns, an overwhelming stash, and you’re feeling the guilt of starting but NOT finishing a complete pair of socks.

The truth is, you want to finish and wear those darn socks. You want to proudly roll up your pant leg to show off your fibery masterpiece and say I MADE THESE!

I want that to be me. I want to be that weirdo that pull up my pant leg to complete strangers in the grocery store to show them the socks I knit.

…And I want to do that with the Cranberry Harvest Socks. Have you seen those socks? OMG, they look amazing, and I don’t want to end up with just one completed sock.

Knowing myself pretty well, I know I can’t do this by myself. After sharing my desire to make the Cranberry Harvest Socks and the inevitable shame when I don’t complete the second sock, my yarnie buddy Ashlee over at Smashlee Stitches came up with the brilliant idea of doing a knit-a-long (KAL) together. The idea is that we will knit the socks together and provide support and motivation to help each other complete the pair. (Side note: I’m pretty competitive at times. Ashlee doesn’t know this, but even though this isn't a race I’m gonna win, hehehe.) Because the bottomline is that we drop the ball on our knitting projects and having someone on the journey helps to prevent those languishing WIPS.

So, I thought this would be fun to have you join us as well as we support and motivate each other on this journey to finish these socks.

If you don’t want to just start socks that never gets completed. If you want to start and FINISH a complete pair of these Cranberry Harvest Socks, join us in the KAL.

Here are the KAL details: 

When: August 13, 2017 to September 30, 2017.

Where: Ravelry Group (I Like Knitting and I Cannot Lie)
Post your yarn choice, in progress photos, chat, give and seek support and motivation.

Where to get the pattern: The Cranberry Harvest Socks are available in the August 2017 issue of I Like Knitting Magazine 

Drawing: If you finish your Cranberry Harvest Socks (a complete pair) by September 30, 2017, you qualify for a Random Drawing.

Prize: Yarn and patterns (details to come). Be sure to join the Ravelry Group to get details as they become available.

Until next time... Stitch on!

Tian

A rising tide lifts all boats

Tian Connaughton is a knit and crochet designer, technical editor, and coach. Her mission is to help aspiring designers to develop their ideas, build confidence, and live the life they've always dreamt. 

---

Are you an aspiring knit and crochet designer needing more help figuring our where to start?


Click here to get your printable PDF copy of Unlock Your Inner Designer: How to start designing (course + workbook)  

Need more 1:1 help than the course + workbook, email me to talk. I'll help you get it! 

---

I am dedicated to giving you the tools and confidence to knit and crochet what you want on your terms.

Join

{The Weekly Yarn} from KnitDesigns by Tian

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

I am interested in Crochet and Knit...

• Patterns
• Designing
• Both

Email Format

• html
• text

This blog post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.