Sue K. sent a great picture, and although it’s not one of the new stitchers we taught at Maker Faire, I just had to post it . . . It demonstrates how very skilled our volunteers are, and is a testament to the fact they can motivate just about anyone to learn.

Bentley learned how to knit . . .see it's easy

Several volunteers commented about how nice it was to spend time with other fiber artists, as well as welcome newcomers to the needlearts.   Dawn Pollard, Treasurer
of the Monguagon Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America and a
member of Needlepoint by Night, part of the American Needlework Guild told us she “walked away from the event in a great mood” and sent her best “to each of you that helped to bring the love of needlework to the Metropolitan Detroit area!!”

In fact, I don’t recall anyone leaving without asking to be notified again next year.

I have a feeling volunteer list for the Stitch Zone in Dearborn is going to fill up quickly in 2011 . . . in the meantime, we’re in the planning stages for Maker Faire NYC, to be held at the New York Hall of Science on September 25 and 26th.  We’ll be sending out information soon.  If you want to know more now, send an email to tnnamaker@gmail.com.

Maker Faire Detroit 2010

The needlearts were hot at Maker Faire Detroit the last week of July . . . but not because of the weather.  Although we were outside (under a tent), our Needlearts Stitch Zone volunteers seemed cool and comfortable . . . even as they feverishly taught over 500 new stitchers throughout the two-day event.

Following a fantastic Maker Faire in San Mateo . . . the second year for TNNA there . . . we looked forward to the Detroit event with excitement and a little bit of trepidation.  This was a new venue, and we weren’t sure how it was going to work out, especially since we were going to be along a causeway on the Henry Ford Museum grounds.  But we really didn’t need to worry.

Set up went amazingly well thanks to the help of the Maker Faire organizers and the Henry Ford Museum people. Cherry pickers can be great fun.

Setting up the Stitch Zone

Our display rose over 17 feet, pointing everyone towards TNNA’s Needlearts Stitch Zone.

The NeedleArts Stitch Zone display pointed the way to fun with fibers!

Volunteers taught needlearts to over 500 new stitchers

Our enthusiastic volunteers (around 40 total) couldn’t have been more fantastic.  There were times when a single volunteer would be teaching  four or more new stitchers.  Even when we weren’t overloaded with “makers,” the volunteers kept busy with their own projects or teaching each other new techniques.  We even had people come by just to sit and stitch . . . or spin . . . with everyone else.

Sharing the joy of stitching seems to transcend the simple act of knitting or crocheting a stitch, or drawing a fiber through a canvas.  One of our volunteers expressed her heartfelt reaction to seeing the light of accomplishment in a young girl’s eyes with her first row of stitches.  Another volunteer noted how teaching renewed her own spirits as she watched new stitchers feel the first fires of passion for the fiber arts.

Priceless

At least a thousand “makers” stopped by.  They were attracted by our giant needles, as well as our lavish display of yarns, knitting needles and crochet hooks . . . or by the people working on hand painted needlepoint canvases.  Half already knew how to knit, crochet, needlepoint or cross-stitch . . . or embroider or quilt.  It appears, in the midwest the fiber arts are definitely alive and thriving.

The others came because they always wanted to learn how to stitch.  There was a young man who had tried knitting before but just couldn’t get it right . . . because he was left handed.  Frederikka Payne of Aurora Yarns (a TNNA distributor who has been involved in all the TNNA Maker Faires  . . . taking care of all the yarn donations and teaching her fair share as well) turned him into a new knitter!  He left with a ball of yarn and a bounce in his step.

Everyone had a great time and offered to come out next year again.

Because it was the first year, the numbers of visitors was somewhat lower than in California where Maker Faire originated and has existed for a while now.  Organizers estimated over 25,000 . . . as compared to 90,000 in San Mateo. But the event was definitely a success, and we’ve been told they have already reserved the last weekend in July at the Henry Ford for the next two years.

To see the slide show with pictures of our volunteers and our happy new stitchers, go to TNNA.org.

Did you know you can already register online for the Fall Needlecraft Market, September 25 – 26, 2010 in St. Charles/St. Louis MO.  Fall, you say?  Certainly far, far away.  But it will be here before you know it, and now’s the time to make your plans, and let your customers know you’ll be bringing home some treasures for their holiday purchases.

You can also find information about PiPN 2010 — TNNA’s Pathways into Professional Neeldlearts internship/apprenticeship program.  This summer’s students have been in the field since the middle of June, and are finding their experiences to be beyond their expectations.

I recently heard from one of the interns working with Handwork Studios.  Trekina Miller of Mississippi State University commented “I love it and everyone that I am working with. I look forward to going to work everyday. I am also working with the Fashion Bootcamp program in Rosemont, PA for the Handwork Studio. I can not thank you enough for this great opportunity!!”

To streamline the entire process we’ve created an online Host Application Form.  You can now go online and request an intern for the upcoming fall, winter or next year.  Students will also be able to register online within the coming months.  If you’ve been a host in the past, please let us know and we can make sure you’re information is entered correctly.

You’ll also see that TNNA is heading off to Maker Faire in Dearborn MI this week. We’ve had an enormous response from volunteers who have offered to come out to our Needlearts Stitch Zone

to help teach knitting, cross-stitch, embroidery, needlepoint and crochet.  In fact, we’ve pretty much filled all our time slots!  If you’re in the area, you should stop by the Henry Ford Museum.

If this is even half as much fun as the San Mateo Maker Faire, it’s bound to be a real kick.

Stitch N’ Pitch has been in full swing this season.  Check out what’s been going on by visiting StitchNPitch.com.

I recently received an email from Pete Poitras, the “P” in JP Needlepoint, and TNNA’s Needlepoint Group Chair.

It was all about a “craft social” which is, simply, lots of people getting together to work on craft projects.  They don’t have to be the same projects  . . . They could be anything from stamping, buttons, T-shirts, cross-stitching, knitting . . . well, you get the picture.

The article was specifically about the Chicago Craft Social which included total strangers, in their 20’s and 30’s who even paid to spend the night at — what the organizers call — the biggest craft party in the nation.  The event is held four times a year in suburban Chicago.

The article states, “More than (offering crafters a chance to try new techniques, find inspiration and sample new materials),
Craft Social is a chance to build a community for a new generation of do-it-yourselfers who follow popular crafting blogs, search YouTube videos and post their own tutorials online.”

The organizer Amanda Edwards, says “People are craving community, so we say make stuff, make friends and meet with other people.”

The event is being compared to the “Stitch ‘n Bitch movement” . . . but it seems to me it’s more like the Maker Faire events that TNNA has been involved in recently.  Talk about community  . . . the San Mateo Maker Faire in May 2010 brought out 90,000 people who simply wanted to learn about “making stuff.” TNNA’s Needlepoint Stitch Zone entertained over 1000 new stitchers, thanks to the help of close to 50 volunteers from local guilds, TNNA members (wholesalers and retailers), Ravelry followers, and other local stitchers.

I guess, some of it wouldn’t be called crafts.  At Maker Faire, there were all types of “making” going on from high tech to low tech and everything else in between.  But it certainly was a community, and it certainly was creative.

TNNA is planning to be at Maker Faire in Detroit on July 31st and August 1st.  Although we don’t anticipate quite the turnout we had in San Mateo, we can expect a great, enthusiastic crowd.  If you’re able to teach one of the needlearts (crochet, knitting, needlepoint or cross-stitch/embroidery), and would like to come out to join the fun, please go to Jooners and sign up for a convenient time slot.  We still could use a few people . . . and best of all, you get in for free on the day you volunteer.

But even better, you get to participate in a type of “craft social” . . . people who love to simply create coming together, in community, to share new ideas, techniques, materials and good times.  What a great way to spend a day.

This year, the theme of the event was “children,” so we were even more tuned in to the kids.  Again, we spent time knitting, crocheting and stitching (needlepoint) with the kids on our oversized needles, hooks and canvas.  You can get a glimpse of what it was like at http://tnna.org/Outreach/tabid/100/Default.aspx.  And, again, we estimate we taught over 1000 new stitchers . . . this time, even more appeared to be under the age of 12.

Ada Lai shows a young boy how to crochet!

Now you might think, ok . . . these kids really aren’t going to go home and knit or crochet . . . but we also know most of the fiber lovers of today first learned when they were younger than 12.  So, today’s play will eventually turn into tomorrow’s passion.  We also know, many of the parents who were watching will go home and get out their old projects, left unfinished years ago and just waiting for the moment they’ll be picked up again.

Even the young ones are able to pick up this lace making technique.

Recently, Jules Kliot (Lacis and the Museum of Lace) sent me some picture of an event at the Exploratorium in San Francisco in early July.  They demonstrated lace making to young and old . . . These picture really tell the story.  Even the young ones were enthralled, and obviously were able to pick up the techniques themselves.

The children were enthralled with the lace making demonstration by Lacis at the Exploratorium in SanFrancisco

If you have pictures of young stitchers, send them to us so we can show the world the stitchers of tomorrow.  (Of course, get their parents’ permission first!)

This year, as an added twist on the event, fans are invited to participate in an attempt to set the Guinness World Record for the most number of people crocheting simultaneously.

I googled the Guinness Book of World Records to find out what the current record is, and discovered this record has never been set.  So this will be a very first.  I did find a number of interesting records, though, that should give us some yardstick to measure this momentous event.

I found the largest number of people simultaneously Riverdancing is currently 1032 people.  I certainly hope they were dancing in a very well reinforced building.  And, although, quite a feat . . . (pun intended), this has nothing to do with the needlearts.

At a London Marathon in 2008, a record was set by Susie Hewer for knitting the longest scarf while running a marathon . . . a remarkable 1 m 62 cm (which is well over 3 feet long, I believe).  This same woman also holds the record for the longest crocheted chain at 77.4 meters long.  (You can do the math here.)  But this was only one woman.

The closest record I found was set in 2009 for the most men and women simultaneously knitting in Sydney, Australia.  256 people knitted for 15 minutes to raise money for breast cancer research.

Certainly, our Stitch N’ Pitch supporters can outdo a mere 256!  TNNA’s even giving away a free ball of yarn and crochet hook to people who want to participate (and will teach anyone who doesn’t know how to crochet).

At the upcoming Stitch N’ Pitch event, money will be raised for the Needle Arts Mentoring Program, as well as Needle & ThREAD: Stitching for Literacy, both programs supported by The National NeedleArts Association.  These programs focus on healthy habits for children.

So, if you’re going to be in NYC, you really need to get to Citi Field and help set this new record.  How often do you get to be part of a real “first” . . and have some fun with fiber at the same time.

Go to www.stitchnpitch.com for more information.

Maker Faire is known as the largest DIY event in the country.

Last year, the event drew over 78,000 people to the San Mateo CA Event Center.  TNNA’s Stitch Zone hosted close to a thousand of them.  Volunteers taught a stream of eager “makers” how to knit, crochet, needlepoint, cross-stitch and embroider.  Both visitors and volunteers enjoyed the fiber, the creativity and the new found friends.

TNNA is still looking for volunteers for San Mateo.  If you live close by, or think you might be visiting San Mateo the weekend of the 22nd (I know it’s coming up quickly), and would like to volunteer to teach, set up or tear down, please let us know.

Remember, you receive a free pass to the faire on the day you volunteer.  If you volunteer for a Friday time slot, you can use your  free pass on either Saturday or Sunday.

We’ve streamlined the process this year.  You can sign up to help by going to:

http://jooners.com/guest?t=help&p=none&l=-11e5839e:1280adadbca:-1147

If you have any questions, please email tnnamaker@gmail.com.

By the way, this year, there will be three faires, with Detroit and New York City following the Bay Area event.  So check back later to find out how to get involved in the future Maker Faires.

I just saw a post regarding a totally cool commercial, and just had to let you all know about this one.  You can find it at: http://www.masondixonknitting.com/

Take a minute to watch the other video about “the making of the video” . . . it’s even more interesting.

It’s not really about knitting . . . but I won’t ruin it for you.  Totally entertaining.

As part of  National Crafts Month, TNNA members Lion Brand Yarn and the Knit Kit both received attention on Martha Stewart’s March 9th show.   Anduin Havens, a new knitter and Martha’s in-house art director, demonstrated using Lion Brand’s yarn to knit up up stitch gauges.  She’s made the gauge form available on marthastewart.com.

As someone who knits while traveling, she also highly recommended the Knit Kit, created by TNNA’s own Barbara Barry.  Havens commented that she was even able to take it on the plane since it’s TSA compliant.  Although it’s called a Knit Kit, she recommended it for all crafters on-the-go.  Everyone in Martha Stewart’s audience received a free Knit Kit to take home!

See the video at http://www.marthastewart.com/article/knit-gauge-template.

Both Knitty City and Habu Knits received cudos from Time Out New York’s recently published “Knitting Guide to New York.” Both were listed as favorite shops to buy yarn in New York City.  Knitty City was also mentioned as one of the best places to take classes.

Puffin & Co.’s thread organizers and “scissor sitters” and Amy Bunger’s DVDs all received rave reviews in NeedlePointers.  Puffin & Co. was also highlighted in Kathy Paterson’s column in the March/April 2010 issue of Needlepoint Now.

Living longer, we have more decisions to face . . . and to make . . . as we get older.  Today, more than ever before, we are in the position to move through several different careers, and to find fulfillment in our day to day lives.

Recently Pauley interviewed Betsy Lee McCarthy, formerly an executive in the health care industry, who turned in a very different direction.

After living with constant stress, ten years ago at 57, McCarthy gave up her career and six figure income, and turned her secret hobby of knitting into a business.  She now travels all across the country teaching others how to knit socks.  She’s even written a book.

McCarthy is eloquent as she explains why she did and how much she’s enjoying her knitting business.

Check out the interview on the AARP web site at http://www.aarp.org/money/work/your_life_calling/articles/knitter_betsy_mccarthy.html