Stitches Texas 2016

On September 23rd, I made the three hour drive to Irving, TX for StitchesTexas. I'm glad I went because I wanted to feel the Madeline Tosh and Hedgehogs Fibers yarns that are so popular. I didn't find any Yarn Love :(. But looking at the price tag I quickly realized that I wouldn't be able to afford these yarns on a regular basis or maybe ever LOL. 

I am not the intended customer for the 20 to 35 dollar a skein yarns. I can't afford it. I want to buy it but..like...money. That's something that I rarely hear knitters talking about on podcasts or blogs. The cost of what may be a passion but is basically a hobby. The ladies that I saw shopping at StitchesTexas appeared to have way more disposable income then me.

I kinda felt out of place there. In the knitting sphere, there seems to be a bit of snobbishness about yarn. I hate the tattoo that I see sometimes on Instagram "Death Before Acrylic". That is so uncool. Some people are allergic to wool or just can't afford fancy, high-priced yarn. 

If the only yarn available to me was the expensive stuff I would be priced out of the hobby. One of the things that drew me to try knitting in the first place was the low start up cost. Seven bucks for needles, 4 bucks for a ball of acrylic yarn. Without knowing whether I would like it or be successful, I didn't feel comfortable making a huge investment in tools and materials. The big knitting expos like StitchesTexas (and often the boutique yarn stores, my fave store in OKC has started promoting weaving. Weaving?! It's a huge loom investment OMG!) about making knitting accessible, they are about making some products appear elite or exclusive and parting the more affluent knitter with their money. 

I walked by one booth that sold bags for knitting projects. The fabric was very pretty but the construction was terrible and these bags were marked at 30 to 40 dollars each. I definitely didn't get one. 

I did buy a book of shawl patterns for $35 and it seems pretty frivolous because, well, shawls are a frivolous thing to make but the pictures are so beautiful and I love just reading the patterns. I'll be taking this book to work soon and use it for display because it is just so lovely <3

I was so glad to get back to Oklahoma. This pic is of the windfarm by Turner Falls. So pretty. 

Maybe some day I'll be able to afford Hedgehog Fibers for every project, but until then I will use what I can afford and make beautiful things anyway :)