Knitters' Day Out

6 June 2009 was the first annual UK Ravelry Day and I must say I was ridiculously happy to be there. I woke up at 6:30am (very early for me - I generally don't wake up until about 8am most days) to get myself ready and head off to Euston station to get the train to Coventry - a place I'd never visited or even considered visiting. The weather in true English style was rainy, windy and altogether crappy.

Vendors set up at UK rav day:


But the weather did not deter us knitters. There were workshops to be worked, yarn to be stashed and Meg Swansen to be adored.

My friend and I hopped on the train and chattered happily while knitting our way to Coventry to the annoyance of probably many in our carriage. But who cares about them, how often do knitters' get to have a day out to simply revel in our craft!

We arrived at the venue at 10am and you might think we went into the hall, had a cup of coffee, surveyed the goings on and you would have been wrong. No! First thing, to the yarn stalls, batman! (play batman music) Actually first to the cash machine. London-liver that I am, I didn't think to carry cash so after a first abortive attempt at some yarn purchasing, it was to the cash machine and then up up and away, to shop our hearts out. I had an introduction to spinning class from 11-1, then Meg Swansen talk from 2-3:30 and I wanted to get my yarn before all the good stuff was gone.

It was quite nice to have so many locally-sourced vendors and I made sure to buy British all day.



I had my spinning class and I should add that I suck at spinning.

Points for trying?


Diane - our awesome spin sensei.


Here's a pic of my first bit of spinning. Eek! Don't quit my day job, right?


I plan to persevere though and even bought some tasty fiber to keep me inspired. Or one might argue that I'm just a shopaholic and I've found yet more crafty things to purchase...



Then we had the talk with Meg Swansen. That's her at the book signing afterwards. She was absolutely lovely to everyone.



I found it a bit weird that she read excerpts from her mother's book for her talk (I mean we could do that for ourselves) but I enjoyed the Q&A section. I kept asking myself though how she could enjoy being a representative for her mother when I think she is quite the knitter in her own right. I would have liked to know a bit more about Meg Swansen; I wasn't there to revive Elizabeth Zimmerman in the guise of her daughter.

I did have a quick chat with Meg Swansen though. She heard my American accent during the book signing and then she started asking questions (what was I doing in England? Where I was from in the states? etc etc). Seems she lives in Wisconsin and often visits the Madison guild and seeing as I may move to Madison, it would be cool to hang out with Meg and even get an invite to see her sweater and stash warehouse. How amazing would that be!?!

Pic of myself and Meg. Eeep! I'm touching her...


And after that, more shopping... ;-). I got this lovely yarn to knit Maplewing by Anne Hanson. Can't wait to cast on!