SpinExpo 2011

Marcel and I recently spent a few days in NYC - we didn't stay long but had just enough time to visit a museum, take in a play on Broadway (my first!) and attend SpinExpo. Oddly enough, Mars opted not to follow the knitters to the latter venue...SpinExpo is a trade show for industry professionals, much like Pitti Filati. Exhibitors range from yarn mills, companies selling ideas to RTW (these are mostly oversized swatches which include design details such as necklines and closures) to contractors specializing in knitwear. As far as we were concerned, the trend exhibition area was the area of most interest.Most swatches are knit by machine. Some employ techniques familiar to hand knitters, but less commonly seen such as using both the right side and wrong side of stranded colorwork. This textural effect was created using short rows along the center section. A crochet row is later to control the gathers created.Short rows and cables, followed by stitches picked up from either side.More short rowed cables, this time in fancy sparkly yarn.Tuck stitches - these are formed in a manner similar to brioche knitting whereas stitches are slipped while executing yarnovers; the slipped stitches and corresponding yarnovers are knit together in a subsequent row. Note how the elongated stitches also appear thicker than the regular stitches, due to multiple strands being knit together.And some applied I-cords. All in all, a worthy visit.