StitchesWest is just about a week right now, and I am all kinds of fired up about it. This will be my third or fourth StitchesWest experience, but my first since starting up this. Not only am I looking forward to just the StitchesWest experience in general, I’m also excited for some of the changes I’m making in my approach to it this year.

Most years, I go on a Saturday or a Sunday with my family. We take about four hours and walk the marketplace. Normally, I’m out hunting for new tools and needles and getting ideas for knits I want to make from the samples I see on display. It takes us about four hours, and if we miss a booth or two, it’s not a big deal.

This year, I have goals going in to this StitchesWest. While my original intent was to take some classes, the ones I was most interested in were full by the time I saw the roster. I’m not registering as an attendee as a result. However, I intend to spend each day there that the marketplace is open. Since I now have some podcasts I listen to on an active basis, I’m excited to go to the Podcaster Meetup on Saturday and hopefully get a chance to meet the ladies I listen to every week.  I’m also excited to show off my completed Four Seasons shawl to Alana Dakos at her Never Not Knitting booth, and getting to meet her in person. I’m a little anxious I’m going to fangirl over all these knitting celebrities.

I also intend to walk the marketplace floor more intensely and take multiple passes at it. This year, I want to get to know each of the vendors better, especially those I actively follow on Instagram. I know that I’ve missed out on seeing new things by only walking the floor once, and this is an opportunity for me to really slow down and get to know it a bit better. I also have a (secret) project in the works, and I’m currently reaching out to some knitwear designers to set up some times for us to chat about it.

If you see me there, please stop me and say hi! I would love to meet all of you! See you at StitchesWest!