The weather is changing. It’s getting cold. It’s time to think about sweaters and burrowing in for the winter under an afghan. Having never been an advocating to be a couch potato, running outside, biking in the forest preserve or going to the beach isn’t an option. Doing something when sitting on the couch it. Knitting is fabulous as a means to get through the winter. So it’s time to check out
If this doesn’t get you thinking itching to knit, nothing will. It is a three day weekend of fibers, fashion and fun. It doesn’t matter if you are a totally beginner or super advanced, there is something here for you. If you're a trend setter/style watcher, they got you covered. It you view knitting as a craft than an outlet for fashion, you will find things to help inspire you.
Vogue Knitting LIVE will be held in downtown Chicago at the centrally located Palmer House Hilton Hotel. Located near Millennium Park and right on Chicago’s State Stree shopping area, the event gives fellow knitters a chance to connect and see those whose work they love. This communal Vogue Knitting LIVE brings Vogue Knitting magazine to life with knit couture fashion shows, inspirational master-level technique, design classes for beginners and experts and more.
Never thought of Knitting?
Knitting is a relaxing, zen-type of activity. It is productive in that you can see your work grow with your efforts. A beginner knitter can start out by making something small like a tiny toy for a baby or tackle a large like a sweater. Learning only the two stitches to knit, you will be amazed at how easy it to achieve lovely looking projects. Advanced knitters will be challenged some of the intricate works of art being displayed.
Vogue Knitting Magazine pushes the level of expertice forward with what is considered home made garments and turns them into the hand made treasures. They help knitters turn their crafts into art and offer information on finishing details that help give refinement or polish to a person’s efforts. You will make something that can be worn with pride.
To help with that,
Vogue Knitting has rounded up some of the best knitters and fiber artists in the business and pulled them together in Chicago for a one weekend only event. It is a Who’s Who of those that knit and those who teach this craft with passion.
Cully Swansen (grandson of grandson of master knitter Elizabeth Zimmermann and son of knitting designer Meg Swansen) is on board teaching
Zimmermann’s Percentage Knitting System. It is a must for knitters who want to design their own garments. Concerned about how long it takes to knit a sweater?
Amy Detjen, co-authored
Knitting with Two Colors with Meg Swansen, is offering a seminar on how to increase your knitting speed. For those looking to add more texture to their work
Nancy Marchant, known as the queen of the
Brioche Stitch, will be teaching how to use Brioche to give color and texture.
Norah Gaughan, former design director for
Berroco Yarns, is offering a seminar on
Modern Sweater Structure: A Design Workshop. For those that really have fallen in love with machine knitting,
Susan Guagliumi is offering a number of classes to select from. Ms Guagliumi is the guru on working with knitting machines and creating hand manipulated stitches. Her book and video,
Hand-Manipulated Stitches for Machine Knitters is perhaps the best teaching tool available for those wanting to learn the ropes of machine knitting. Join acclaimed toy designer
Susan B. Anderson to learn all about this incredibly popular knitting genre. Plus there will be giveaways for her books, patterns and yarn. Not in to knitting but perhaps would like to try weaving? Think about
Beginning Weaving for Knitters. Offered by
Deborah Jarchow, this seminar will introduce you to three different looms so you can decide what is right for you. So you really don’t know jack about knitting but would be interested in giving it a whirl, try the
Knitter’s Bootcamp. This is a series of classes that walks you through the process and demystify the concepts. To be blunt, there are so many seminar that are attractive, one will have trouble figuring out just which ones to go too. The level of expertice is amazing. These are individuals who are true craftsmen in their field and who are more then happy to share their knowledge with you. You will want to take advance, if not to try it, but then to at least see what they are doing. There is also an textile art gallery running during the show with amazing conceptual work that uses knitting as the medium of creation.
Knitting is easy and relaxing
Key word here is relaxing. To aid that, there is a free YOGA (yes— yoga) class on Saturday at 10:15. This is seated yoga and doesn’t require a matt but is also appropriate for long days at work. There are massages offered by Oxygen Spa Studio and Verde Wellness on Saturday and Sunday. You may walk in tense, you will walk out at one with the universe.
Speaking of Show
Ready for some entertainment? How about this? Get a chance to see
Steven Berg of
Steven Be Inspired. Steven will offers two free lectures on
Unleashing your Creative Potential on Saturday. The Sunday FREE lecture is called
Pin It, Shop It, Design It, Wear It With Steven Berg! Steven is a very entertaining lecturer and he is someone you will not want to miss. Energetic, gregarious and fun, he is a real crowd pleaser and pushes the bounds of creativity in a charismatic and humorous way. On a deeper level,
Dr. Carrie Barron (psychiatrist) &
Dr. Alton Barron (orthopedic surgeon) will offer a talk on creativity.
The Creativity Cure: How to Build Happiness With Your Own Two Hands will discuss how creativity can be used as a fuel for working through depression and works in building long-term happiness. And for the guys: Sunday’s Panel Discussion is entitled
Men at Work — How They Turned Their Passion Into Their Careers. This panel pulls together men who knit who have made it their livelihood.
Looking Chic.
Knitting is about craft but it is also about style. As you are knitting along, you will know your what you are working on will be ahead of trend as opposed to behind. Check out the
FIVE fashion shows that will be offered on Saturday October 25
10:30 am - 11:00 am —Vogue Knitting Fashion Show
12:30 pm - 1:00 pm — Rowan Fashion Show
1:30 pm - 2:00 pm — Koigu Wool Designs Fashion Show
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm — Knitting Fever Presents: Miss Bliss & Noro Fashion Show
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm —Vogue Knitting Fashion Show
And there are books!
Knitting and books go hand in hand. So getting a chance to meet the authors, have a lesson with them and pick their brain is an opportunity you will not want to miss. Here are the times when you can have the author sign your copy of their book.
Barbara Walker
Author of so many books, but everyone will want
A Treasury of Knitting Patterns if you don’t already have it. It is a bible of knitting.
Friday, October 24, 6.00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 25, 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Nancy Marchant
Author of
Knitting Fresh BriocheSaturday, October 25, 12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 26, 1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Rosemary Drysdale
Author of
Entrelac 2Saturday, October 25, 1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 26, 1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Trisha Malcolm
Author of
60 Quick Luxury Knits &
Knit Noro 1-2-3 SkeinsSaturday, October 25, 1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 26, 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Registration starts as early as Thursday October 23rd. Friday October 24th is a day devoted to seminars. Classes start at 9:00 AM run in three-hour blocks. The second set of the day start at 2:00 and run until 5:00. The last set start at 6:00 and go until 9:00. This schedule of classes runs again on Saturday. For those who don’t feel like sitting for three hours, there are also 2-hour classes or modules that run on Saturday starting at 9:00 AM and also at 2:00 PM. Sunday; classes from 9:00 until 5:00 PM
The Market place – a pop-up shopping mall of fibers, patterns and supplies, is open on:
Friday 5:00 PM — 8:30 PM
Saturday 10:00 AM — 6:30 PM
Sunday 10:00 AM — 4:00 PM
You will also find crocheting patterns, fibers for weaving, patterns for plush toys for kids, small and large projects.
Tickets can be purchased online at
www.vogueknittinglive.com or at the door. One-Day Marketplace Tickets (for attending on Saturday OR Sunday) are $20 and Two-Day Marketplace Tickets (for attending both Saturday AND Sunday) are $25. Friday evening Marketplace is free with the purchase of either a One-Day or Two-Day ticket. Kids under 12 are free; students receive half off Marketplace Tickets and save $15 on classes.
Parking is available at Palmer House with a weekend special for $16 a day. It is also close to parking at the Grant Park Garage and at 55 East Monroe. The Palmer House is also conveniently located right above the Monroe Stop on the Red Line and as well as a host of bus lines that come down State. Transportation is not a problem, so enjoy.
A Deal Just For You
Just because Vogue Knitting Magazine knows are HalfStack readers are special, they have offered us
50% off on classes AND tickets to the event when you register online. When you register, use the promote codes:
CHI50: Half off Classes
CHI50MP: Half off Marketplace Tickets
Please note: the promo codes are case sensitive and they are exclusive to HalfStack readers. Enjoy the day with half off from HalfStack and Vogue Knitting Magazine. 
