Stitches West

As just about every knitter in my region of the country knows, yesterday was Stitches West taking place in the Santa Clara Convention Center. Last year was my first year, and being new to knitting, I had no idea what I was in for. This year however, Mr Kiwi (formerly Mr A) and I were well prepared. Stitches West has a deal with Amtrak to give discounted train tickets to the Saturday Marketplace, and they likewise hand out passes for discounted entry tickets. I think we managed to get a 20% discounted train faire, and $3 off per entry into the Center. Last year we had gotten on the train at the Martinez Station, and our car was fairly light. It was later that right that we realized that there was a car fully dedicated to knitters. This year, we decided that we wwanted to be in the knitting car, so it was decided long ago that we would get up extra early (at 5am), drive our butts to the first station of the day (Sacramento) and take it past where we live and all the way down to Santa Clara. It actually turned out to be the absolute best idea. We got onto the first car and managed to share a table with another knitter who was not in a group. Once the train got going, Mr Kiwi sprang off to get me coffee and a bagle, as well as snacks for himself. The second stop was Davis. And we were already full. Mr Kiwi had not yet returned from obtaining food and insta-wakeup, and the women in charge were attempting to give away his seat. I had to keep telling them that "really! He's here! I'm not saving the seat for a woman getting on at a later station, but HE is on the train at this moment!" I was glad to have him come back; not only did I get food, but I didn't have to continue defending his seat :o) I can imagine how bummed out we would have been had we tried getting on 4 stops down the line.
We had interesting conversations with the knitters around us. The woman sitting across from Mr Kiwi happened to be a Mechanical Engineer, as is Mr Kiwi. He was tickled the whole day about that. "What are the odds that I, a knitting Mechanical Engineer would sit on the train across from another knitting Mechanical Engineer!" During the train ride, I was showing Mr Kiwi two new techniques; YO and k2tog. He got excited when he had knit enough for the jumble of stitches to actually look like something cool. One of the women sitting with us said "You two are such a cute couple!" To which he laughed and said "You are only saying that because I'm knitting." It was another moment that seemed to stick with him all day. When we got into the Convention Center, it was pretty much how I remember it; yarn everyone, a color explosion, and knitters of every kind swarming booths to pick over the deals they wanted. I recognized some of the vendors from last year as they managed to keep the same location as the previous year. And they had they yarn hanging around their booth the same way, with the same fibers on the same units. The guy with the wooden swifts was in his same place from last year; I remembering wanting to get one (this was Kiwi pre-owning a swift) and Mr Kiwi decided I had spent enough. Getting home that night and tring to ball one of the brand new hanks of endless yarn proved that I didn't just "want" one, but for both of our sanities I "needed" one. We bought a swift later that week, not the same one from this man, though.
I was asked "What is your budget for today". I knew I was forgetting something as I had not set one. I didn't get too carried away though. I made an instant purchase on some Dk weight yarn that I knew I couldn't get for that price anywhere else. Then I spent more time browsing and watching and touching and lusting. I think if the show did anything for me this year, it inspired me to make more lace. And the fine lace that I swore I'd never do because it is so thin, not just "lace" on a sport weight or larger yarn (not to say it isn't lace, but the Boise Shawlwas far less intimidating because it was a weight I was very familiar with). I was fingering all the fine lace weight yarns, touching all the shawls, and browsing all the lacy patterns. Mmm lace. I am so excited to get started.
Around 2pm we decided that since we were in the San Jose area, and right down the street from Daddy Kiwi's shop, I called him to see if he wanted a quick lunch. As predicted, he was infact at the shop and was there faster than we could cross the convention center (getting minorly distracted) and make it out the door. We went down the street to Bennigan's and had some tastier food, without the long lines and nowhere to sit. And of course a quick visit with the Dad. We got back to the show refresheed and I was ready to look for patterns, blocking wires, and sock blockers. I found one size of sock blockers (still need the medium) and found a number of patterns that I liked. I forgot to look for the wires, so I am going to have to buy those online somewhere (since I don't know who sells them locally, hint hint) along with the sock blockers. Not enough people carry those two items.
In all, it was a spectacular day, surrounded by hundreds of people who love to knit. It was inspiring and fun; everything about the day was great. I am only too sad that the day seemed to end so quickly, yet we didn't make it home until 9:30pm. Sitches 2008... here we come.