Once you’ve signed up to take a class with your favorite instructor at the STITCHES Midwest conference, the Fashion Show is the next big thing to see. Vendors at the STITCHES Market submit their best designs, and the audience gets to see each design modeled live on stage. It’s a wonderful way to see how a particular yarn or pattern is going to wear once you get it off the needles.
One of the most exciting things about going to a knitting fashion show was seeing the wide variety of projects on display. There were just over 100 pieces in the show, and each piece was distinct from the last. Everything from lace shawls to a knitted wedding dress was displayed on the runway. Seeing so many different creations was inspiring; the show was a real tribute to what a human can do with a bit of yarn and a good idea.
But let’s get down to the knitty gritty: what exactly did I see at the show? I was delighted by some of the pieces that the fashion show featured. My hands down favorite was the design featured above, which was inspired by a Frank Lloyd Wright art glass design. You could say that I’m an admirer of Wright, so seeing his designs translated into knitting was a very rewarding experience. The colorwork on the sweater is also worthy of note. It’s a pattern with strong construction and coloring.
Another favorite of mine was Stephen West’s Akimbo shawl, featured by the Chelsea Light Foundation (right). The creative use of colorwork around the edging of the shawl is really fantastic. Pictures of his work honestly don’t do the patterns justice, so I enjoyed seeing a knitted version of West’s patterns.
I’m going through a colorwork/sweater phase, so it makes sense that the sweater pictured at the right also caught my eye. I love the use of bold colors and the modern look created by the different sized blocks. I tend to gravitate towards sweaters with more waist shaping, but the use of color blocks really makes the blocky form of this sweater work.
These three garments definitely made it into my top 10, but there were lots of different things to see at the show. If you want to see more of the pictures from the show, just take a peek at the Knitting Universe’s Facebook Page. If you’re planning on checking out any of the STITCHES shows, the fashion show is worth checking out!
What would you want to see in a knitting fashion show?
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