On Sunday, Marissa and I checked out the Stitches West market at the Santa Clara Convention Center.
When we first walked in, I was like, “This is smaller than I had imagined.” But as we got deeper into it, I realized HOW. MUCH.FREAKING.YARN was in there!
I am prepping a yarn de-stash sale soon to make some space in my craft room, so I told myself I would only buy yarn if it were REALLY weird and funky and unusual. And even though Marissa wanted to buy the whole convention center, she was really good and only bought 4 skeins! Overall, it was definitely fun to see lots and lots of yarn, but I wish there had been some more crazy-funky-art yarn companies with bits of things and doodads sticking out.
I wanted to make a point to stop buy the Lion Brand booth to visit a gal who (a) reminded me to come to Stitches and (b) was super helpful and friendly and was the person who contacted me about contributing a Bonbons pattern (what ended up becoming the gummy bear).
I made her a present out of Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice yarn and the pattern I wrote for my Michaels.com APRIL pattern. I will give you guys more deets and photos of that soon!
(photo stolen from @LionBrandYarn)
Sorry I didn’t get better photos, or even photos of the convention. I never remember to bring a camera to these things. It’s kinda like how you’d imagine it: a giant hall filled with booths and booths of yarn and yarn-related gizmos. The coolest gizmo we saw was an electric needle-felter with a needle that poked in and out a million times a minute for all your needle-felting needs. Way cool!
Allison from ImagiKnit told me that Sunday was a pretty slow day compared to Saturday, and that we had chosen wisely. However, I think it would also be fun to experience a crowded day. Maybe next year!
Here’s a cute story, though:
A gal named Lynne wrote to me and told me she was demo’ing at a machine-knitting booth. She also mentioned that she had made the Chocolate Truffle scarf and that she might be wearing it at Stitches. I asked her to please take and send me a photo! She did, and also sent me this cute email! Love it!
If I can help someone feel red carpet-ish, my mission is complete!
And where will you sell your stash of yarn? Or are you only selling it where you live?
I’m creating a separate shop for things I want to sell from my “closet” including the yarn closet!
YAY!!!!
Part of me feels like I should just donate all of it, but then I feel like a lot of people out there might want the chance to buy yarn on the cheap (but it becomes less cheap with shipping…). I’ll try it out! If nobody buys it in 2 weeks, then I’ll donate it!
I’m limited as to when and where I can buy yarn and color options. So to be able to buy from home possibly cheaper w or wo the shipping still is a better option for me at least. Plus you have a huge selection of colors and we all know corporate stores sell different colors per state and city. I remember you saying Walgreens sold yarn in your city, but in Vegas I have yet to see it at a Walgreens
I am limited as when I have things that are nice that I think people will want I post to sell it and if it doesn’t then I donate it
plus seeking it covers the cost for the new yarn you want or at least puts a little towards I so am interested and would love to see the shop 
Loved this blog piece! You are so clever!! I’ve got your book & now will watch for the Lion Brand patterns you share! Keep up the AWESOME work!!!
Thank you! They are actually patterns for Michaels that I do monthly, but I will definitely keep y’all updated. Actually the next pattern is up, but I wanted to wait to get more photos before blogging about it
So glad you went to Stitches West. I was there on Sat. and darn, wished I would have gone on Sunday to run into you! I can’t wait for your April Michael’s project!! Sooo cute! I love the photo of Lynne with the bon-bon scarf
I see the Mother Bear Project booth in the background. You need a booth there next year!!!!!!!
Aw I’m sorry I missed you!!
I’m not really sure what I would sell if I had a booth
This is my first time posting a comment to your blog
I’ve been a fan of you and http://www.normalynn.info for a long time. You two have been my favorite crochet artists! And you both are in the yay area 
Can you two please collaborate and come up with something so salivating for us crochet fans???
Guess what! We met once a few years ago
She visited my booth at Renegade and is so so so super sweet, the sweetest person ever!
http://blog.twinkiechan.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3353&action=edit
Thanks for inviting me out! I think if there were some wilder yarns I would probably have left with a way bigger haul
now I am tempted to try spinning my own!!
I’m so happy you were able to make it!!!!
I have definitely flirted with the idea of spinning in the past, but I got scared of collecting a bunch of extra stuff for a new hobby!
Looking into drop spindles
DD it might be kind of fun to try spinning some yarn into the same bulk or similar texture as the discontinued Homespun yarn for your cupcakes 
Wowz! Her chocolate truffle scarf came out so good! I need to start finding UK yarn substitutes for the ones your patterns call for……hehe. =]
I hear some people are just doubling yarn, cuz I know you guys have a lot of DK and lightweight yarns out there
Way too much!! But I wonder if it’s worth ordering the yarns called for if it means the scarf will turn out better.
I’m thinky of using chunky yarn instead of worsted/aran weight………….
I had made your pizza scarf pattern and recently gave it to my friend’s 13 yo granddaughter who loved it. I was so pleased to see her immediately put it on. Thanks for your great designs.
Yay! I’m so happy!
Love this entry – sounds like everyone had a good time. Was this convention for buyers/sellers only? How do you get information about these kinds of gatherings? I would melt my credit card in a minute there – ! Keep up the good work, you’re such an inspiration!
Hi! I actually always miss these things and only hear about them after the fact if someone else blogged about it. I was lucky this year to have been in touch with a gal at Lion Brand who reminded me to to! They are open to the public, and Stitches has lots of classes you can sign up for too
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Cool! We can’t wait to see what you two will produce
(the link is broken btw)
We two who? Hhhee, also which link is broken? They seemed to work for me. Maybe I missed one!
So sorry Twinkie!! I was corresponding to our comments above. You two = my two favorite crochet artists in the sf bay area
and the link you provided after 
OH DOH! HEheheh well, in the link, I actually look really gross, so maybe that’s a good thing
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Because of your comment, Norma Lynn and I have started chatting again via email, and we are definitely cooking up some yummy stuff