I’m back home after Stitches, busy unpacking and updating the Femme Fatale Fibers shop. I had a little bit leftover, but I also left some at home for those who were unable to attend. You didn’t think I’d forget you, did you? I’m also posting some sale skeins as well. I’ll be doing updates sneakily throughout the week, so check the shop often.

I met so many people, I can barely remember them all! I made some great people from the Ravelry groups I am a part of, as well as people with their Saroyans and Traveling Woman shawls. I’ve never actually seen one of the patterns in person before.

I did a lot of buying, as well as quite a bit of selling. It was a thrilling – but exhausting – weekend. So first, the purchases.

I paid a visit to Becoming Art, which is based out of Washington. Lisa was incredibly sweet and had some gorgeous yarn and fiber. Her stuff is so deliciously soft, and her fiber made me wish that I was a spinner. I snagged two skeins of her Cielo Fingering, a 100% superwash merino in a tight two-ply. It’s similar to my Lilith Sock, but a little bit heavier:

Outlaw

Amor

Lisa is so talented I had a hard time narrowing it down to only two skeins! If I had visited her first, I would have been in serious trouble.

Perhaps my favorite booth was A Verb for Keeping Warm. Kristine’s booth was beautiful! I managed to get a few good things from her, including a new tote – free!

Wishing (65/35 wool silk, light fingering) in Supernova.

Double-lined project bag. So gorgeous!

I didn’t get a chance to snap a picture of my new free tote, but Kristine should have it on the website soon!

Creatively Dyed was at Stitches as well, and Diane’s booth was amazing! Especially considering that she came all the way from South Carolina with her giant yarn truck. I snagged three amazing skeins from her.

Arbutus in Steele.

Yucca in Steele

Wild Thing in Voodoo.

I enjoy the way Diane’s skeins differ so greatly between dye lots. You’re almost always guaranteed to get something special and one of a kind!

I also paid a visit to my own booth mate, Little Red Bicycle, and picked up a skein of yarn. Didi’s colors are so different from mine, and I love them so much! She’s excellent with bright, vibrant colors, as well as rusted reds and oranges.

Snowflake Sock in Leonidas

I was eventually banned from buying more yarn at this point, but I snuck in a few more purchases that I think were totally justified.

Miss Babs, for one. I’m working on a design for a cardigan and her Yowza! skeins are irresistible.

Yowza! in Pewter

I’m not done yet. Is that sad? My final yarn purchase was from Imagiknit. They had a great pattern knit with Malabrigo Lace that I was dying for – which was free with purchase. So I purchased two colors for the scarf:

Bobby Blue & Paris Night

Finally, I got a Fiddlehead Mitten kit from Tanis Fiber Arts at the booth for Unwind from Rhode Island.

I’ve wanted one of her kits for awhile, but wanted to see it in person before purchasing. I was convinced! Love at first sight.

I did some damage in the bag department as well. I got a snazzy Go Knits pouch in silver, which is not permanently attached to my body.

I think my favorite bags were the ones I got from Slipped Stitch Studios. I needed some slightly larger bags, since most of the stuff I have tends to be smaller.

Large owl project bag

Large (glittery!) Day of the Dead project bag

Circular needle case

And that’s it! That’s my haul!

I met so many amazing people – I can’t even begin to think of them all! There were familiar Ravelers, and people who had knit with my patterns. There were older folks who were newer to my products, designs, and Ravelry who I spent awhile talking with. It was a joy to spend an entire weekend doing nothing but yarning – although it was definitely a little exhausting. By Sunday I was completely beat.

I also had the great joy of meeting Alana of Never Not Knitting, the designer of the Cedar Leaf Shawlette. She is even more adorable in person! We got the chance to chit chat, and she snapped a photo of us wearing our shawls. I do want to take a brief moment to discuss our patterns since there has been a lot of discussion around them. Alana and I released the Cedar Leaf Shawlette and Saroyan (respectively) within the same week of each other back in November 2009. It may have even been the same day! We have discussed the matter openly, and our designs differ enough that they are able to function as separate patterns. While we both use the leaf motif, we use different construction and our lace patterns differ as well. Neither one of us copied the other, it was simply a happy coincidence.

Since then, several patterns have been released with a similar lace motif. Many of them differ enough to function independently, while others do not. Alana and I are not the first people to use the leaf motif in this manner, we are simply the most recent and widely recognized in the online knitting community. I have received several PMs on Ravelry, as well as emails and Tweets, about designs that “copy” Saroyan. Many of these are very kindly worded, but occasionally I receive comments that are very negative towards other designers and their efforts. While I am thankful that people have my interest at heart, please understand that the anger is not necessary. Often times, the problem can be resolved in a few polite conversations. It is neither of our intentions to police other designer’s and their efforts, so please keep that in mind.

I also want to state it very clearly here – in case it wasn’t clear before – that I support Alana in everything she does. She is an incredibly sweet person and amazingly talented designer, with many wonderful patterns available. We do not dislike each other – we actively like each other. The Cedar Leaf Shawlette is ingenious in its construction: it features short rows, and an attached border. The top garter stitch edge holds the piece together and provides a nice, clean edge. I can only hope all of the attention and hoopla surrounding draws more attention to the positive aspects of both of our works, rather than stirring up unnecessary drama.