Knitlandia: A Knitter Sees The World: Clara Parkes, review and give-away...

 This giveaway is now closed~ Thank you for all who entered.

Let me begin with vowing my love for Clara Parkes. I want to be best friends with her and I know that I am not alone in my desire. When I read The Yarn Whisperer ( three times and counting), a term that I normally felt uncomfortable with "fan girl", was for once a real thing and I was one. I heard that Clara was coming out with a new book, but someone the knowledge of this got pushed to the backburner of my mind with the holidays and such. Then I was contacted by a lovely angel, Traci from ABRAMS books about a review. A review about a book written by my pseudo best friend...heck yah!

 

 

Knitlandia: A Knitter Sees The World, is not only a dream read but my true to life dream. While other's plan our their possible lottery wins by listing homes for parents and paying off debts, I list an across the world yarn store and knitting event crawl.

Being one the last knitters in the world not to experience knitting events to read this book was like being there. Clara takes us along to TNNA in Columbus where we get to experience all the wonderful joys to be had.

 

MIGHTY SCOOPS AND PHO TO G O : Celebrating TNNA in Columbus

BOOKSELLERS HAVE BOOKEXPO AMERICA, the gift industry has NY NOW, and in the knitting world, industry folk converge twice
a year for TNNA, our largest and only trade show, sponsored by the National NeedleArts Association.

Here, the people who make our world go ’round—the manufacturers, distributors, designers, agents, and retailers, to name a few—come together to network, take classes, and conduct business for the coming season. TNNA is where trends are launched, competitors are eyed, and closely held secrets are revealed. Are we headed toward novelty yarn again? You’ll get your answer at TNNA. Is the pompom back in style? A quick walk through the show floor and you’ll know.

 

  Clara shares with us stories of Jeni's Ice Cream that I have heard about in what I thought were fairy tales...

 

The Farmer's Market sundae at Jeni's, featuring delicious lemon frozen yogurt and boozy berries and a dollop of freshly whipped cream

And because us knitters not only go to the event and ignore what the community has to offer, we get to experience a Pride Parade.

 

 

gay pride parade. 

We needle crafters take it all in, or so I read and heard.

 

storm clouds over North Market

 So if you are like me and long to experience travel through a knitter's eye, you really should read this book. In true Clara Parkes style there will be many moments when you laugh aloud, so maybe you shouldn't read in public if you are easily embarrassed.

Lucky for me ABRAMS Books not only provided me a copy of the book to review but also offered up a copy for one lucky reader. Leave me a comment telling me about your favorite knitting event or if you are like me and have yet to experience one, what your dream knitting event is.

This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian entries only. Giveaway will close March 4th at midnight (PST) and I will announce the winner via a blog post on March 6th. I will be in contact with the winner and forward your info to ABRAMS Books. Good luck!

There are more stops on this fantastic book tour~

Feb 22           Knit and Tonic 

Feb 26           Mary Jane Muckelstone 

Feb 29           Knit Circus

March 2          Yarniacs 

March 4          Leethal 

March 7          Tin Can Knits

March 17          Marly Bird (Yarn Thing Podcast)

 

Have the best day today!

XO,

Andi

Comments

[Chrischris]

I'd like to go on a knitting cruise, maybe Ireland, Scotland; somewhere really yarny.

[Vikki Harraden]

Knitting and Yoga Adventures Mohegan Island Retreat
Any Squam retreat
A STITCHES event
Rhinebeck

All on the knitting buck list...

[Amy]

My favorite thus far has been New Jersey Sheep and Wool. But, I would love to get to go to Rheinbeck.

[Cheryl]

How inspiring! I think I'd better go get a copy and knit/live vicariously through Clara :)

[Mary Beth]

While my hometown doesn't have a yarn store - I have to drive 40 minutes to the closest one! - in the next big town, they have a yearly conference called "A Knitter's Fantasy." Some years I've gone just for the marketplace, and one memorable year, I met some Ravelry friends in person and took a class in spinning. Fun times!

[Sue J]

My favorite knitting event, in fact the ONLY knitting event I have experienced was last year at SAFF in Fletcher, NC. A year and a half ago, I moved to NC from Australia and anything yarn related at a craft show is almost an afterthought. I didn't know what to expect at SAFF....apart from I knew there was going to be yarn there and I'd seen some of the names on Ravelry...Like Miss Babs and Dragonfly Yarns! There was booth after booth of beautiful yarns and the choices were mind boggling. My husband had said to me "get whatever you want" and then when I was hugging my purchases (three skeins of sock yarn, a skein of lace weight yarn and a two sets of stitch markers) and said I was ready to leave, he said "Is that all you're getting?" (I'm keeping him! lol) My reply was..."This will keep me going until next year!"

[Kylie M-W]

I love the Toronto Knitter's Frolic, every year! It's close to home and full of lovely yarn.

[Suzanne]

I have never attended a knitting event...all the more reason to read Knitlandia!!

[Bonney]

I've been to Vogue Knitting Live and it's a wonderland but I also enjoy going to our more local NH Sheep and Wool festival. Always a good time!

[Christie]

I, too, have yet to experience a knitting "event" and long to go to one that is also a retreat that includes luxurious cabins, new friends and lots and lots of yarn to look at and purchase.

[carrie]

Maryland Sheel and Wool mostly because I have been going since before I learned to knit. It was part of what inspired me to try and I still love it there. Haven't been to Rhinebeck though and I hear the food is better there.

[Rose]

I've been to the kitchener waterloo knitting fair, but it's a fairly small deal compared to what I hear about the other ones, though it seemed huge to me!
I would LOVE to go to Shetland wool week, im saving up to go after I finally leave school, but closer to home I love the glamour of vogue knitting live :)

[Jeannine]

Andi,
First let me say I'm trying to type fast, so I can hurry and buy a copy of The Yarn Whisperer, and oh that book looks adorable!!
Sigh, I have not been to a knitting event, but oh yes, a knitting retreat, with knitting friends new and old, and yarn for sale is something I daydream about….one day:)
Jeannine

[Diane]

I dream of going to Shetland Wool week. In the dream, I also move to the UK and open a hugely successful yarn store.

Another dream on the list - move to Maine and become a best friend and traveling companion of Clara Parkes.

[Claudia]

I've been lucky enough to go to several knitting events: Rhinebeck,a knitting tour of Ireland, and Plucky Shindig. each was wonderful in their own way.

[Kim M.]

I dream of going to a major fiber event. I don't live that many hours from the Maryland Sheep and Wool festival, but I have yet to attend, for a number of reasons. I believe this year, I might attempt to change that.

Longer term, I intend to go to Rhinebeck.

[Chris S]

I dream of having the knitting skills to be able to comfortably go to any knitting event available! Maybe that is the backwards way to look at it and I should say that I look forward to any fairly local yarn event so that I can learn MORE! (How's that?) Thanks for the give away - Chris

[Kat]

I dream of going to Rhinebeck or Stitches or Madrona, but they're all a little out of reach right now. I do have a small knitting retreat I make it a point to go to every year-it's usually around a dozen of us, almost always fewer than 20, and it's such a full, intimate weekend that as soon as I leave I can't wait to go back :)

[Tara]

I have signed up for a retreat! It is not until April. I am sometimes rather impatient to go pamper myself. It is a bit daunting to walk into an unknown situation. So many times I have done so and felt like an outsider. I am thinking that this will not happen here. Fellow yarnies are all so sweet!

[Eloise]

I've never been to a knitting even, but hearing about them on my podcasts makes me eager to go. Rhinebeack or Stitches West seem awesome. Since I'm from Québec, I'm also looking for events in French and I might go at Twist since it's closer to home. Connecting with strangers who loves the same things then me, that must be so much fun!

[Maureen]

I have been to a Stitches Market and so enjoyed it.
I also enjoy when just a few knitters get together and we have a gab session (if that counts).

[Dee]

I was so excited to pick up my copy last Sunday at the Barnes and Noble.

I haven't cracked it open yet. I'm waiting for when life settles down and I don't have to rush through it.

[Roslyn]

I have never been to a knitting/yarn event - they sound amazing. Something to dream about!

[Leanne]

My favorite is Rhinebeck. It gets better every year. And for my DREAM knitting travels, a trip to Shetland and Scotland with knitting friends, good food, wooly sweaters, wine and laughter.

[Anna Conway]

My favorite knitting event is The Rose City Yarn Crawl in Portland, Oregon AND it happens to take place next week from March 3-6 2016. Can't wait. It's a ton of fun!!!