Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Before Classes - A Time to Vent

I had a rather frustrating experience this year with picking my classes for Vogue Knitting Live NYC 2014. I had signed up for my classes and then received an email from Vogue Knitting that one of my classes had to be canceled. So, I spent a LONG amount of time completely rearranging my schedule to pick another class.

When I went to update Vogue with this info they then informed me that the original canceled class was back on. While I was excited I could go back to my original intentions I was frustrated that I had just wasted all that time.

Fast forward a few weeks. Now I get another email from Vogue Knitting that the original class has, yet again, been canceled. They offered us a replacement class - one that I, to be honest, was not very excited about. However, by the time they notified of this the majority of the best classes were sold out!

So, I wound up taking the filler class that turned out to be pretty darn awful! Frustrations!

Did anyone else have troubles like this?

Until Next Time,
Broke Knitter

Friday, January 24, 2014

Let's Talk About Lectures

Today I wanted to take a minute and discuss the Vogue Knitting Live NYC 2014 lectures. I took three lectures - 10 Tips for Fabulous Photography, Pattern Stitch Development and Design Possibilities, and Creativity.

One thing I thought that was very neat this year was the multitude of lecture offerings. Vogue Knitting has done a great job really expanding on the lectures. I also liked the varying time offerings for lectures as well. It made it easier than running from class to lecture and back to class.

To be honest, I really want to talk about Sally Melville's Creativity lecture. It was FABULOUS! What an amazing combination of science and knitting! I loved how Sally really talked about the creative process - and not just from a neurological point, but also from a point that any "normal" person (and I would consider myself pretty novice in terms of biology and the brain) could understand. I was completely enraptured with her lecture and stories. I would love to see more lecture offerings that are dual focused like this one was with science and knitting!

My other two lectures were alright. I don't have anything in particular to say about them. To be honest, when I purchased the large package for the weekend I had a hard time finding 3 lectures I really wanted to take. Besides Sally's, nothing else really jumped out. I wish that Vogue Knitting would give you some a la carte options with the packages.

Did you find any lecture particularly interesting (or perhaps the complete opposite)? Share your thoughts!

Until Next Time,
Broke Knitter

Thursday, January 23, 2014

VKL NYC2014 - The Extras

Today I wanted to spend a few minutes and share my thoughts on Vogue Knitting Live NYC 2014's two "VIP" package events - the Friday night cocktail party and the Saturday night Gala dinner.

First, the cocktail party. To be honest, I was MUCH happier with last year's cocktail party. This year, the cocktail party was in a very small and cramped ballroom. Last year, the party was held on the Marriott Marquis 8th floor restaurant and bar area. With the floor-to-ceiling windows and views of Times Square, not only was that venue more fun, it also felt much more open. I felt VERY claustrophobic at this year's cocktail party. As a result, my mom, Diane, and I sat at a table in the back to have some breathing room. The drinks were fabulous and the wait staff and bartenders great - so thank you to the Marriott for that. The cocktail party featured the design contest finalists and several of their finished pieces. This was the best part of the party! I loved getting to meet the new designers and voting on their pieces. But - did anybody else notice that there was not a big announcement about who won either the judges choice or the people's choice?! What was the point then? Vogue Knitting either never mentioned it, or didn't do a good enough job publicizing it. I had very strong feelings about the designs and was hoping the woman I was rooting for would win! Check our girlyknits on Ravelry - you won't be disappointed!

Saturday night was the annual Gala dinner. This was BY FAR the best program ever at the Gala dinners. Barbara Kingsolver was the keynote speaker and she knocked my handmade knit socks off! What a great speaker! I personally am a big fan of Barbara's novels, but I had no idea how much she did besides writing. Barbara and her family have a large Icelandic sheep farm. I greatly enjoyed her speech about a year in the life of a sheep farm. I especially loved the pictures of the adorable kids! She was AMAZING! Another great perk of the Gala dinner is the Vogue Knitting fashion show which featured pieces from the upcoming issue of the magazine. Boy were those pieces gorgeous! I am getting very excited for the magazine now and I know that there are several pieces in that issue I want to put aside to make. Lastly, I have to say that the goody bags for this event were FABULOUS! Thank you so much to Rowan Yarns for the gorgeous yarn and pattern. I cannot wait to give it a go! These were the best bags yet! The only thing I did not like about the Gala dinner was that it was held in that same cramped ballroom. More light and openness would have made the room seem much less cramped. I felt awful for anyone with a walker - they would have been relegated to the rear tables and unable to make their way around the room at all. I was surprised that was something that Vogue Knitting did not plan for!

Anyways, please let me know your comments on these two events. I would love to hear your thoughts. I will be sharing more of my opinions on my classes, lectures, and OF COURSE, the marketplace throughout the week!

Until Next Time,
Broke Knitter

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Vogue Knitting Live 2014

Just like the Christmas season flies by all to quickly, so too does the Vogue Knitting Live weekend each and every year. I have so many fun stories to share but here is a favorite snapshot from the weekend - me and Mom together at the Gala Dinner!