knitXmidwest 2015 /
iowa
knitXmidwest 2014 /
Ah! I'm so sad that our wonderful weekend of knitting is over! Last weekend was the second annual knitXmidwest knitting and crochet retreat, held right here in Des Moines. I co-hosted alongside these wonderful ladies, Jessica and Erica of Hill Vintage & Knits. Here are some of my favorite photos from the weekend, taken by our talented pal Bethany Kohoutek.
It was so much fun, you guys. If you couldn't make it this year, definitely plan for it next November because this is truly a weekend you can't miss. A huge thank you to everyone who came out to knit and crochet with us! See you again next year. xo.
It's almost time! /
I'm pretty stoked because there's only 9 days until knitXmidwest! Saturday is officially sold out, but we still have a few spots available on Sunday.
Find more details and register HERE.
(See you soon!)
knitXmidwest 2014 /
- Devastatingly good lunch catered by Tacopocalypse.
- Lots of uninterrupted time to knit + crochet, perfect for finishing up that big project you've been wanting to work on.
- Relaxed, laid-back atmosphere. Wear your hand-knits and your sweatpants. We don't mind.
- We'll be knitting and crocheting in the beautiful Walnut Woods Lodge. Have you seen the leaves starting to change colors this week? It's gonna be gorgeous out there.
- T-shirts! Cat t-shirts. T-shirts with cats on them.
- Photos with friends. Taken by our very talented photographer friend, Bethany.
- Fun times with friends.
- Knitting and crochet show and tell. Show off the coolest things you've ever made! Bring your stuff. We want to see it.
- Our friend Robyn, author of the blog She Makes Hats is joining us again this year and will read an excerpt from her recently released book. She is also in the midst of a charity hat knit along for kids living below the poverty line and we are encouraging everyone to participate. She has even created patterns that you can use and there will be a retreat special giveaway! You can find all the details here!
- Stashbust. Hey hoarders: bring yarn that you want to trade/get ride of. Leftovers will be donated.
- Mimosas. And cupcakes. And BYOB, if you wish.
- After-hours shopping and wine at Hill Vintage & Knits in the East Village.
- Hotel slumber party + late night knitting with your friends. (With optional midnight snacks at Fong's.)
- Fantastically cool door prizes. So many giveaways. From these wonderful sponsors: Blue Sky Alpacas, Knitter's Pride, Feel Good Yarn Company/Silverspun, Lavishea, Manos del Uruguay, Spud & Chloë, Green Mountain Spinnery, Bijou Basin Ranch, Mari Knits, Zealana, Mountain Meadow Wool Mill, Eucalan, Louet and Red Barn Yarn. (Yeah, whoa!)
- Just look at how much fun we had last year.
You seriously won't want to miss out. Sign up here, right now. You can register for one day or the whole weekend. It's up to you.
I really hope to see you there!
I really hope to see you there!
WATG Workshop! /
Hey, knitting friends ... I'm hosting a WOOL AND THE GANG WORKSHOP!
Right here in Des Moines.
WHEN:
Sunday, September 7 from 1-3 PM
WHERE:
Des Moines Social Club
900 Mulberry Street
Des Moines, IA 50309
www.desmoinessocialclub.org
We’re bringing the party to Des Moines, sisters. Come and hang out at the Des Moines Social Club and knit with the gang. Beginners and experienced knitters welcome! Ticket price includes Wool and the Gang Jersey Be Good yarn, 12 MM Rosewood knitting needles, pattern and clasps + tuition!
You will choose a Sansa + Khaleesi Choker and Bracelet Kit containing one or two cones of Jersey Be Good in your choice of colors at a discounted price. Plus, get 10% off all Wool and the Gang orders placed at the Workshop (not valid on sale items) - AND free shipping! Definitely take advantage of the free shipping – WATG only ships from the UK (which makes shipping charges $15 and up to the US) so this is a great way to save.
*SPECIAL WORKSHOP PRICES*
$40 for a one color Sansa + Khaleesi choker and bracelet kit (Regular Price $48.74 + shipping)
$50 for a two color Sansa + Khaleesi choker and bracelet kit (regular price $63.74 + shipping)
*SPACE IS EXTREMELY LIMITED.*
BOOK NOW: Jen's WATG Workshop – Des Moines
upcoming events! /
For this knitter, the holiday season means ... craft fairs! If you've been reading here for awhile, you know that I have mad love for craft fairs and have been selling my handmade goods for quite a few years. This holiday season, I'll be selling hand knits at two craft fairs: Market Day Black Friday here in lovely Des Moines and What a Load of Craft in Iowa City. Here are all of the details.
In December, I'll be packing up my knitted goods and heading to Iowa City for the tenth annual What a Load of Craft fair. Ten years, people! What a Load of Craft (WALOC) is Iowa's premier punk rock craft fair, celebrating the power of DIY arts, crafts and music. What A Load Of Craft 10 will be held Saturday December 14, 2013 at the Johnson County Fairgrounds in Iowa City from 11 am - 6 pm. Swing by to find a huge variety of unique handmade, local and vintage gifts for everyone on your holiday list. There will be over 50 vendors, food, record swap, raffle, photo booth, gift wrapping and more. Head on over to the Facebook event page to rsvp and hope to see you at one or both of these fine local events. (Until then, I'll be knitting my tush off.)
knitXmidwest! /
We've been talking and planning for months, and our big weekend finally came! I spent Saturday and Sunday co-hosting Des Moines' own knitting retreat, knitXmidwest with my fantastic friends Erica and Jessica of Hill Vintage & Knits. It was crazy fun and for our first time putting together a knitting retreat, I think everything went pretty great. (Let me tell you all about it.)
Our crew of die-hard knitters took over this lovely lodge in Walnut Woods, just outside of Des Moines. The trees were gorgeous, the weather was fantastic and it proved to be the perfect place to cozy up with friends for two days of knitting.
Knitting friends traveled from Denver, Chicago, Omaha and surrounding Iowa cities to hang out with us. We had a wonderful group of fun people and it was pretty incredible.
We covered the tables with vintage tablecloths, spray painted pumpkin gourds and ceramic cats.
We met new friends and hung out with old friends.
We had show and tell.
And ate delicious food catered by Tacopocalypse.
My sweet friend Robyn from She Makes Hats talked with us about her goal to knit and give away 10,000 hats in her lifetime. And I'm pretty sure everyone fell in love with her.
I made cupcakes that looked like balls of yarn with golf tee 'knitting needles' sticking out of them.
We did 'knitting' yoga to stretch out our backs, shoulders, arms, hands and fingers.
Maggie Howe from Girl With a Sword talked to us about handspun yarn and fiber creations.
And our friend Diane Muse brought tons of fantastic yarn and craft-related designs that had been screenprinted on kitchen towels, t-shirts, aprons and tote bags.
But mostly, we did what knitters/crocheters do best. We hung out and made things. We admired projects that others were working on. We laughed. We thoroughly enjoyed the girl time.
And we had a photo booth.
It was so much fun that we think we'll do it again. Hope to see you next year!
knitXmidwest! /
Hey hey! I'm teaming up with my girls at Hill Vintage & Knits to host our first annual knitting retreat right here in Des Moines, knitXmidwest! And it's only two weeks away. So if you want to be there, you should sign up now. So I know how many cupcakes we'll need.
But really! There are a zillion reasons why you won't want to miss this. For $25/day, you will enjoy:
- Devastatingly good lunch catered by Tacopocalypse.
- Lots of uninterrupted time to knit + crochet, perfect for finishing up that big project you've been wanting to work on.
- Relaxed, laid-back atmosphere. Wear your hand-knits and your sweatpants. We don't care.
- We'll be knitting and crocheting in the beautiful Walnut Woods Lodge. Have you seen the leaves changing colors this week? It's gonna be gorgeous out there.
- T-shirts!
- Photobooth. There will be a photobooth, people! (Or ... Jess and I with cameras and a backdrop, but same difference.)
- Fun times with friends.
- Knitting and crochet show and tell. Show off the coolest things you've ever made! Bring your stuff. We want to see it.
- Knit + crochet doctor. In case you need help with something.
- Meet our speaker (and my friend) Robyn from SheMakesHats. She's writing a book about her mission to knit and give away 10,000 hats to 10,000 people in her lifetime.
- Stashbust. Calling all hoarders: bring yarn that you want to trade/get ride of. Anything left over will be donated!
- Yoga. Which will be easy (and optional.)
- Mimosas! And cupcakes.
- After-hours shopping and wine + dessert at Hill Vintage & Knits in the East Village.
- Fantastically cool door prizes.
You seriously won't want to miss this. Sign up here, right now. You can register for one day or the whole weekend. It's up to you.
I really hope to see you there!