Sticks 'n' Stitches 2010

The annual Columbus edition of Sticks 'n' Stitches took place at Nationwide Arena this afternoon as the Blue Jackets hosted the Chicago Blackhawks. To my knowledge this is the third year the event has been held here, and in my observation it was the best version of it yet. (There's still the niggling matter of the CBJ actually winning on one of these dates. Then again, being victorious is something they've had trouble with the last couple months.) The game itself was a sellout due in no small part, I'm sure, to the approximately 150 Sticks 'n' Stitches tickets sold.

Goody bags included: a hank of Caledon Hills Worsted Wool in Mallard (green), a free PDF pattern from WendyKnits at The Loopy Ewe, an issue of Cast On and Interweave Knits, a stitch marker from In a Pear Tree..., bags from Temptations and Namaste, a Twist Collective pin, yarn and needles for charity knitting, a free pass to the Ohio Historical Society, and other knitting and local information.

Other contributions were available as door prizes. Yours truly continued his streak of not winning one. This is not a big deal. Anyway, my eyes were on winning the 50/50 raffle--not affiliated with Sticks 'n' Stitches--that I entered with a dollar I found on the ground yesterday. I didn't win that either.

The distribution of freebies and information about door prize winners was handled as smoothly as something like this can be, especially when the organizer is limited to a couple tables in a metaphorical corner.

Since the group was kind of nestled into its own corner of the arena, it was a different atmosphere for a hockey game. As a partial season ticket holder, I'm familiar with the routine and the traditions, such as shouting "Leo!" when the national anthem singer is introduced and standing to cheer and clap along when the team scores a goal. (In that sense it's like following the ceremonial actions in a church service.)

I tended to be one of the few who stood after a goal. Then again, I overheard one person realize late that she had been accidentally cheering for the visiting team. Not all of the Sticks 'n' Stitch-ers were hockey newbies, but it was a less engaged group. That can be OK. The bellowing fan behind me at my regular location can be a bit much, so less vocal attendees have their benefits.

So, lots of goals, some free yarn, and a good turnout from the local crafting community. I think that qualifies as a success. Great job, Erin!

Tickets, please

Things are just terribly uninteresting at the moment, so I'm going to keep it short today for another bit of advocacy targeted at area knitters and crocheters. The 2010 Sticks 'n' Stitches in Columbus takes place on Saturday, January 16. I know the organizer would appreciate people getting their tickets early, so why not go to the Ravelry event page for all the pertinent information?

Yes, I'm going. (Apparently I purchased the first ticket.) No, I won't be knitting, mainly because I don't want to drag all that stuff in. Also, I'll be watching the game anyway.

Contents

I'm off to an Oscars party. Knowing that show I'll be getting back late, so I'm dropping a quick post to get my daily minimum allowance of blogging.

Above you see what came in the Sticks N Stitches goody bag.

In last night's entry I neglected to mention that I enjoyed speaking with the fellow knitter next to me and her husband. After asking if everyone there was a knitter, her next question was what my Ravelry screen name is.

I'm sure there are plenty of knitters who've never used Ravelry and have no idea what it is, but how indicative of the site's popularity and influence is it that Ravelry is taken for granted as just another tool in the knitter's bag (so to speak)? And that site is still in beta.

Sticks N Stitches

The second Sticks N Stitches took place at tonight's Columbus Blue Jackets game. (Perhaps I ought to qualify that statement by saying it's the second one that I know of.) Like last year, I came away with a nice haul at this year's event. You'd never know I didn't win one of the door prizes (and honestly, pretty much anyone else would likely be more deserving of the additional gifts).

LittleWit, who organized our local celebration mingling hockey and knitting, did a fine job coordinating it all and soliciting donations for the goody bags, including the pink corduroy messenger bags from Namaste that stored the other freebies. All right, even if I don't feel like knitting is a challenge to my masculinity, you're not going to see me toting around a pink bag. I have to draw the line somewhere. Still, I can appreciate how impressive of a get the bag is.

I landed all knitting magazines--no crochet here!--and a skein of Caledon Hills worsted wool in the Moose colorway. Maybe another hat is in my future.

The Blue Jackets laid an egg against the Anaheim Ducks, so the game itself left something to be desired. The Sticks N Stitches part, though, was run exceptionally well, especially in comparison to my experience at a Stitch N' Pitch last summer. Unlike last year, I do not expect any non-knitter rants appearing in next Sunday's letters to the sports editor column. It probably didn't hurt that a youth hockey team was seated behind the rows of knitters, but we all were contained better this year despite the game being sold out.

So, great work LittleWit. From my vantage point the attendees seemed happy. Hope you enjoyed your ride on the Zamboni during the first intermission.