Closing Day Just to give the event context, here is a bit from just before the event began. Setting: the Minneapolis International Airport, the gate: Any gate to Stitches, the date: February 8, 2005. There was an early spontaneous meeting of Stitches trekkers at the Minneapolis Airport. Long-time Stitches attendee, Tommie Tank from Keene, ND, found a receptive audience to pre-show her shawl that she would present at the Student Banquet on Saturday night. Lois Horton, from N. Pigon, Ontario, Canada, countered with her sweater made from an old Knitter's pattern, from leftover yarn from her Great American Afghan afghan. Mary Lou Campbell, from Sioux Falls, SD, found herself wishing she hadn't left her knitting in her suitcase. Something you should know about Mary Lou is that she wasn't going to Stitches, though I think it's fair to say we'll see her at Midwest! We feel the excitement at Stitches, but it is almost more exciting to know knitting is growing all around us. I keep bumping into new knitting clubs that have nothing to do with me. The kids waiting for rides, and for rehearsals to finish are knitting, and I don't know them. These are great knitting times. It makes me so happy to know the craft is flourishing and growing. More and more people are getting connected and finding the peace, or comfort, or freedom, that creation can bring. The excitement is growing all around us. Although we can conceptualize that Stitches is winding down, there is very little to clue you to that conclusion by the Sunday line-up. The Stitches classes are still in full session, the Market is in full swing, the demos and book signings throughout the day keep one ever interested in the what's up next. Every hour prizes are drawn and Market shoppers flock to the Info desk to find out if their name has been called. "If you have a prize to claim your name will be posted on the bulletin board just outside the door," says Karen Bright over the PA, who gives a face to the near mayhem at peak Market moments. If shoppers aren't stopping to find out about prizes, they're trying to find out if there are any open spots in the free Learn to Knit classes. Stitches staff had to scramble to meet the needs of all the would-be knitters. Classes were added, supplies were bought, teachers were pulled in. The rear curtain of the Learn to Knit area was removed and replaced by more chairs. When Stitches closed, the world held 189 new knitters. Many thanks from all of us at Stitches and from all the newbie knitters, to Learn to Knit instructors Debbie Ratke, Sue Nelson, Joyce Wyatt, and Beth Whiteside; and to Lion Brand Yarns for supplying yarn and needles. To all of you who understand... "...I went up to her and grabbed her sleeve and said, 'Oh, I just love this...' She pulled back and stared at me like I was crazy... She wasn't attending Stitches." (Laughter.) Thank you from the Stitches StaffThe Stitches Staff would like you to know how fun it is to be a part of Stitches Midwest, seeing you all again: students, teachers, vendors. We look forward to next year. We can’t wait to see what you’ll be working on! Events Director Assistant Coordinator Exhibits Coordinator Assistant Exhibits Coordinator Stitches Host/Emcee On-site Convention Coordinator Registration Knitter’s/XRX Booth Web Editor Photographer Learn-to-Knit Instructors: Please also help us thank our anchor crew in Sioux Falls, for making Stitches possible: And our off-site staff: And thanks to our fearless leaders
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