3 Reasons Beginners Should Look Forward to Vogue Knitting Live 2022
One day in late 2017, my mom suggested we go to an upcoming event she learned about while shopping in a local yarn store called Vogue Knitting Live. Even though I knew how to knit at that point, it wasn’t something I was doing frequently, so I imagined I’d be going just to keep her company. Little did I know, Vogue Knitting Live would be the spark I needed to really advance my knitting skills and find patterns that were worth wearing.
And for me personally, Vogue Knitting Live really represents what this blog is all about: focusing on learning new skills and witnessing both my abilities and confidence grow as a result. I’ll never forget walking around the event for the first time feeling intimidated and how different it felt to return a year later. It was remarkable. After my first Vogue Knitting Live, I went home and learned how to do a provisional cast on, use double pointed needles, change colors within a row, and (the dreaded) kitchener stitch. And that was all from just one project! Vogue Knitting Live inspired me to try just one new project that was outside of my comfort zone. Returning for a second time made me realize how much could change in a year if I really focused on stepping outside my comfort zone to learn new skills.
Were it not for the coronavirus, this weekend would be our fourth annual Vogue Knitting Live, so I’m a little nostalgic. It’s really special to be around so many other creative people, and it’s where I gathered up a lot of courage to try new techniques. If you’re currently learning how to knit or crochet, here are three reasons to stick with the skill throughout 2021 and look forward to Vogue Knitting Live 2022. See you there!
But first, what is Vogue Knitting Live?
Vogue Knitting is a magazine that knitters can subscribe to for patterns, articles and more. In 2011, the magazine began hosting an annual event called Vogue Knitting Live, which is a traveling convention for yarn lovers that, according to their website, centers around fashion, fiber, and education. While the event is called Vogue Knitting Live, it’s not strictly for knitters. There’s something for anyone who uses or appreciates yarn. Vogue Knitting Live usually comes to NY around Martin Luther King weekend and is hosted in the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. Though the event travels to cities around the country, I believe lots of people from all around the world actually fly into NY and make a mini vacation out of it!
1) Shop for more yarn.
Local yarn stores (LYS) and specialty yarn companies set up booths to sell their unique yarns and knitting supplies. Sometimes, yarn companies will even release a limited-edition colorway that can only be purchased at the event. The large (and sometimes overwhelming) number of LYS in attendance is a convenient way for people who don’t ordinarily live near these stores to buy high quality yarns. Nothing against crafts stores like Michael’s or Jo-Ann’s, but the selection in chain stores is frequently limited when it comes to the type of fiber, the weight of the yarn, and color options. By shopping for yarn from a LYS, you’d open yourself up to more fiber variety (you usually won’t find yarn made of angora, mohair, cashmere, silk, bamboo, linen, etc. at a chain store) and often find more unique colors... all while supporting a local business!
2) Take a class and learn a new technique.
When you purchase your ticket to the event, there is also an option of adding classes to your package. These classes are often taught by “celebrities” in the knitting/crochet community: popular pattern makers, book authors, or business owners. These classes sell out really fast, and if it’s a really well-known teacher or popular technique, I’ve even seen seats fill up before a la carte class tickets go on sale. (This is because Vogue Knitting Live first opens ticket sales for vacation packages for out-of-towners, and these often include classes.) Once general admission tickets go on sale, class sign-ups are cutthroat. Make sure you review the available classes and rank the ones you’re interested in ahead of time.
The first year at Vogue Knitting Live, we learned 15 Cast-Ons and Cast-Offs with Debbie Stoller, author of Stitch ‘n Bitch: The Knitter’s Handbook, and more recently, we attended Susan B. Anderson’s class on how to knit a tiny toy hedgehog. My mom was just getting into knitting stuffed animals and toys at the time, and at least in our household, Susan B. Anderson is the queen of tiny adorable stuffed toys. Securing seats in Susan’s class was so exciting. Like scoring front row seats to a Beyonce concert exciting. In fact, while in that class, Susan told me she’d never seen a student try to knit a hedgehog with such tight tension before. And while I know she told me in hopes I would loosen up (I was on the verge of snapping my bamboo needles), I can’t help but believe I made an impression.
3) Find inspiration. Commit to taking on new crafting challenges.
In addition to buying yarn and taking classes, Vogue Knitting Live also features so many opportunities for inspiration. From yarn art displays to a fashion show of knit clothes, Vogue Knitting Live makes it clear that there’s no limit to what could be done with some yarn and a little thinking outside the box. I’ve seen things like a gigantic blanket version of Claude Monet’s “The Water Lily Pond” made out of tiny knitted squares, an absolutely charming landscape of miniature gnomes made completely out of felted wool, tiny gnomes having fun in a ball pit, and some more abstract pieces. It’s virtually impossible to attend this event and not walk away feeling inspired. I also left with a collection of trendy patterns to add to my Ravelry queue!
There are also a few opportunities to get your hands on some yarn. One being a “tasting bar” where you can sample what it’s like to knit with certain featured or popular yarn brands, and another opportunity at the infamous yarn toss. The toss is one of my favorite parts of the weekend-- event organizers toss free skeins out into a packed crowd of excited attendees. And who wouldn’t love that?