Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Madison Knitters Guild Rocks!

Hi Knitters,
Oh my goodness! I never knew how much fun the Madison Knitters Guild was until last night. I was the guest speaker for their monthly meeting last night. I have never attended a guild meeting of any sort before so I didn't really know what to expect.
I set up my trunk show for Itty-Bitty Toys. I also brought some projects from Itty-Bitty Nursery and Itty-Bitty Hats. It was fun to pull out some of my older book projects. They still look good!
There were over 300 people in attendance. There wasn't an empty seat in the house. It is interesting because the Madison Guild recently changed their location due to the ever-growing attendance at the meetings. Now they are filling up this venue to the brim! They will have to switch locations again. Impressive!
What a great position for the guild to be in! Too many knitters!
It was fun to see such a large audience enjoying each other and knitting and sharing projects. I just loved the whole thing.
The trunk show tables were packed full and the toys got lots of love! They have been sitting in my suitcase so it was fun to pull them out and plump them up a little. The toys are holding up so well even with the hundreds and hundreds (maybe thousands by the time my tour ends) of hands hugging and touching and squeezing them.
I literally sold boxes and boxes of books! It was so fun! I signed and signed and signed. I couldn't believe the support and enthusiasm of my hometown knitting crowd. Knitting is alive and well in Madison! You are an awesome group of FUN knitters.
It was a treat to see many familiar faces from my past and present. I always love seeing old friends.

I would like to thank the guild for having me. A special thanks goes out to Kay Moffat for being my right hand for the entire night. I grew up with her beautiful daughter, Chris, and she knew my mom really well. It was nice and comforting to have her there. She was incredibly helpful! Thanks, Kay!

Thank you to Kate and Connie. I have never had a better time at an event. The energy was just intoxicating. The audience was really fun and funny and participatory. It was a love fest.
After I spoke there was show and tell. I loved watching the knitters proudly share their newest knit. Above this woman is a brand-new grandma and she made a jingle bell hat for her grandchild.
This is Heidi and she made a sweater for her son. Gorgeous!This woman made her beautiful sweater. It got lots of oohs and aahs.
This is Amy Anderson. She is well-known Madison designer and knitting teacher. Amy makes a lot of hat patterns and she shared a bunch of her newest hat designs. They were lovely!This is my buddy, Sara! She is from Platteville and comments on the blog all of the time. She is fun and positive and it was a treat to see her again. She made some simple child size leg warmers and they were really cute.
This man made a double-knit hat for a friend. The hat is reversible and well-done!
This was my favorite share of the night. This is Beth. She made that fantastically complicated sweater on the table. She was asked when she started the sweater and she said November of 2009. The crowd gasped. One woman yelled out in a funny, joking way, "We don't like you." Everyone laughed. It was so funny. I loved it. Beth also made her looooong stocking hat that sits on her head and wraps around as a scarf! I want one of those so I may have to design something like that. Isn't she cute?

That's that. I felt so good and happy after the meeting. It was an incredible night. Madison is cool and the knitters in Madison are even cooler. It is THE place to be!

best, susie

27 comments:

B said...

What a great night!

I would love to get some Mom's together in my area to knit or learn how.

I started in November of 2007 when I was pregnant with my fourth child and I LOVE knitting.

So many people ask me about the hats I make for my kids...especially the one I topped with feathers. I always refer them to your book and blog of course.

KCina said...

SO COOL!!!!

Thanks so much for sharing...

Envious in Oregon.... {grin}
~ Kathy

coffeechris said...

Hoorah for Madison Knitters! I love that so many people are knitting at the meeting, even while standing waiting in line...it looks so cool.
Wish I could have been #301 and there in person, your recap is great. Love that you included the show and tell. You must be exhausted and your toys must be filled with new good energy :)

Kar said...

Sounds like it was a wonderful night. I wish there was a group like that in my area. Thanks for sharing again. I just love seeing and hearing about all the groups you get to hang out with. So fun!

xxxx

mommieof4munchkins said...

That looks like so much fun!

The Cooking Ninja said...

wow! how exciting! Everyone is having so much fun.

I'm a beginner. Still trying to get decent knit looking scarf done for my little girl. :)

~yolanda said...

Wow! Look at all the knitters. That is just incredible.

Seeing all the projects that everyone made was great. Thanks for sharing.

Kate (KnitsInClass) said...

Your guild is incredible!

Renee Anne said...

Well, we loved having you last night! And I'm impressed...I'm in TWO of your pictures.

The jingle bell hats that Laurel made were fun and they look adorable on her grandsons (though I've only seen one of them).

Also, thank you for making my only meeting of the year a memorable one (as I go back to school next week, classes conflict with meetings).

melissa said...

Wow, I wish there was a group like that in my area. I would love to get new ideas from a show-and-tell like this!

Charlene said...

Susan, you rock! It was one of the best guild meetings that I've attended. Your sense of humor and ability to break down the knitting of each project was exceptional!

I loved Itty-Bitty Hats, but I think I'm going to love Itty-Bitty Toys even more. My poor grandchild! What will he do with all the toys!

madcityknitr

Bev said...

Looks like a blast!

Suze said...

How I wish I could have been there! I have yet to join the guild but a blogging buddy invited me, and had I not needed to stay home and practice a mountain of music for auditions I'm accompanying at UW this weekend, I would have gone. I'm glad you had such a good time!

Katie B said...

Look at that crowd! This makes me want to move to Madison.

christine m. east of toronto said...

pleeeeeeeeeeeze tell me you will come to canada sometime? and i guess i better specify... near Toronto, please!

Sara in WI said...

Hi, Susie! YOU Rocked last night! Come knit with us again....

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing all your wonderful toys and baby items and bringing them all to see! I really enjoyed the "tips for making toys" that you had. Such and informative and entertaining night! We are lucky to have you in Madison! Great great great knitting! Kim

Pam said...

Hi Susan: Did I tell you that I was in Madison one summer at the Drum and Bugle Corps Finals held at the University of Wisconsin football stadium? We all loved Madison -- we got to know it pretty well in the four days there. I wish I had been knitting more then, but one never knows. I may come back.

Can't wait for your latest hat pattern with the heart on it. We love everything you do and can't wait to see you again.

Jaime said...

Aaaaaahhhh! SO EXCITED that this was such an awesome event! I feel like this one has been a long time coming and it sounds like the timing was PERFECT!! Wish I could have been there!
xo, Jaime

Jayannell said...

Susan, what a fun night we had with you. Your enthusiasm and skill and cute, cute designs won everyone's hearts. Come back again to a monthly meeting and just hang out.
-Judy

SockPixie said...

It sounds like the Madison Knitters are great fun!

Knitterella said...

I hear great things about that Knitter's Guild. I wish I lived closer so I could be a part of it.

What fun hats!

Zenitude said...

I love reading your blog Susan. I can feel the excitement in your written words. Sounds like you had a great time and I am sure that Madison enjoyed it also!!!

Kim said...

Wow, what an amazing night. Thank you for your great blog. Just got Itty Bitty Toys as a Christmas gift from my Mom. Can't wait to dive in!

Jen said...

It sounds like such a fun event. What really caught my attention is a sweater in the third photo from the top. There is a woman in the first row wearing a fantastic blue/green/purple striped sweater. Anyone recognize the pattern?

Inken said...

This is gorgeous! So many wonderful things. I love it.

Regards Inken
from Germany

klhp said...

How fun to see a room of people knitting during a lecture/meeting. I always said I would have paid better attention in college lectures if only I could knit while listening! Alas, not everyone finds that acceptable.

Happy knitting!