Letters
TNNA: Trade Show Post Card
Dear Ann,
As I write this, at 11:30 on Monday night, I hope that your very delayed 6:30 p.m. flight has finally left Columbus and you are homeward bound. I made it home just fine, but I’m knackered and dazzled by the 72 hours we spent in Columbus at the summer trade show of TNNA (The National NeedleArts Association).
How to describe TNNA? At its core, it’s the Knitting Industry Establishment all gathered up in one highly air-conditioned place for a few days. All of the old-line yarn makers and distributors, and many of the new, showing their wares and sharing their ideas with their customers—local yarn stores by the score, and businesses like ours, small as a local yarn store but existing up here in the atmosphere. Plus designers, writers, publishers, technical editors, and purveyors of the latest gadgets to take pills off sweaters. wind yarn, wash wool, and make ropes, tassels and pom poms.
In addition to the knitting and crochet-centered exhibitors, there are miles of aisles that we walked past as if they were not there: these were the needlepoint and cross-stitch people. They seem super nice, and we love a whimsical canvas as much as the next person (probably a little more than the next person), but we had yarn to see! My brain is buzzing with all the color I’ve seen, and all the textures I’ve touched.
We saw many people, and we had many intense, productive and laughter-filled conversations. So many old and new faces, and yet so many we meant to see and only waved at, or missed entirely.
I feel like I need to stay in my apartment and speak to no one for the rest of the week, just to restore some balance. We talked a lot. We listened a lot. We learned a lot. We bragged a little as we showed off our Field Guides. We worked the phrase “Melanie Falick” into as many sentences as we could. (SHE IS OUR CREATIVE DIRECTOR Y’ALL I DON’T KNOW IF WE HAVE MENTIONED THAT. WE ACTUALLY KNOW HER.)
Also, the food in Columbus, Ohio is very good. To restore that particular balance, I am going to subsist on sunflower seeds and black tea for the next little while. Definitely no ice cream or gin.
Despite being surrounded by beauty, we barely fired up our cameras. Up top, a few of the highlights. Write your own captions. (Yes, there was a llama and alpaca visitation this year! And wasn’t that a cute service alpaca? Hardworking little guy.)
Love,
Kay
Jealous!
But um, what’s with the evil babies?
We weren’t the only trade show in the house. The other show was the Haunted Attraction Association. So many frightful costumes! Yet we all got along.
To be sure, they all thought we were equally terrifying–all those frightful costumes!
Wow! Dizzying! You guys look absolutely ecstatic!
So wonderful to meet you and Ann. Thank you for my fangirl moment and selfie!!!
That “cut service alpaca” sure looks like a poodle to me !
Um, yes, I have two just like him at home!
That long cardi is to die for!!
It’s by Varian Brandon, in Elemental Affects’ gorgeous Shetland yarns. The absolute star of the fashion show, modeled by the designer!
Look at her Facebook page. You’ll see pics of her knitting it.
I looovve Varian Brandon’s work!
It must be like heaven to walk in there! The yarn! The gadgets! Food and beverage and lovely people!
So jealous!!!!!!
I have a new career goal: Hand Model! Looks like fun, and I’ve got the body for it. But oh, that group picture with the head cut off cracked me up! (Or is it just my laptop?)
Rest up, fiber professionals. Exciting days ahead 🙂
Wow great pics, it looks like you had a lot of fun! Please, oh please, would you identify the long navy stranded cardigan? If someone had been wearing it I might have followed them home to get the details!
It’s by Varian Brandon in Elemental Affects yarn. Absolutely gorgeous, and surely the most photographed non-llama at the show.
A delight to see you and um, help with the gin and tonic levels. It’s all a lovely yarn blurrrrr. Xox
Your in-house fashion model, Olive, must be so jealous that she didn’t get to go, but that “service alpaca” did!
It WAS National Gin Day, after all.
So glad yow had a good time in my hometown!
Lovely pictures! I’d love to know more about the red and grey shawl/scarf/wrap. Looks very fun and versatile.
It’s the Herbawi Shawl by Ann Weaver: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/herbawi-shawl
I love the tassels at the corners.
Me too! Thanks!
Alas, I am a mere consumer and so not eligible for TNNA. I was in Columbus on Sunday. I waved. Did I see yarn decorating the Ears of Corn?