Find Your Perfect Fiber Event

Events come in all shapes and sizes, each serving a unique purpose and audience. As a professional netting teacher and designer, I've experienced almost every type of gathering out there. This article breaks down each type of event, what you'll find there, and hopefully help you find the best experience for your Fiber arts needs 

Let's dive into the different types of events and what sets them apart.

Fiber Conventions

Conventions are  large gatherings typically held in conference centers or hotels. Think of an event like Comic-Con, but just for Crafters. Just like cosplayers dress up as their favorite characters, knitters will wear their fanciest projects regardless of the temperature or time of year. These events bring together crafters and industry professionals, experts, and small business owners. Many people wear their favorite knits to show off what they've made. At an event like this, you'll typically see a large marketplace with a variety of vendors selling yarn and other goods, classes with designers and experts, panels, fashion shows, and all sorts of other fun social gatherings.

The only drawback is that some people  find large conventions a bit overwhelming. If you're looking for something relaxing, a retreat may be a better fit.

Examples: Vogue Knitting Live, Red Alder Fiber Arts, Munich Knits

Farm and Fairground Events

Farm shows and state fairs take place in rural settings, such as farms or fairgrounds. These events often feature agricultural displays, livestock shows, competitions, equipment auctions, and local food vendors. They provide a fun and educational experience for families and are a great place to educate young children (or yourself) about where their clothing comes from. 

If you are more interested in fiber animals and production, you'll enjoy one of these events. There are often a variety of classes, some targeted at farm and agricultural education and other classes that are geared towards Crafters. One of the best parts of these farm events is that the vendors are extremely knowledgeable about their product because they are involved with some stage of yarn production. No matter where you stop, if you start a conversation with a farmer, mill owner, historical reenactor, etc. you'll end up learning a lot. In my experience, the people at these farm events are the most open with their information.

You'll see competitions for quilting, knitting, spinning where people bring their finished projects to be judged. Judged. Sometimes you'll even have the privilege of seeing a sheep to shawl race where teams compete to see who can shear a sheep and weave a piece of fabric fastest. The environment is lively, but there's plenty of space to spread out and relax.

Be prepared for inclement weather and dress appropriately. Keep in mind that you may have to walk through a few muddy fields, even if you only intend to stay inside buildings once you arrive.

Examples: New York Sheep and Wool Festival (Rhinebeck)

Virtual Events

Virtual events take place online, allowing participants to connect and engage remotely. These events can include virtual conferences, online workshops, and at home retreats. Each virtual event has its own flavor, offering a virtual version of what you might see at a live convention or retreat. 

Don't assume that you will have less just because the activities are online. Many of these events will send out gift bags or kits to participants to and offer online lounge areas to bring a feeling of community into your home as you learn about Fiber arts together online.

Virtual events offer convenience, cost-effectiveness, and accessibility to anyone around the world. The great advantage of attending a class over zoom is that you don't have to pay for travel or worry about whether you can comfortably navigate a convention center. These are a perfect low stress way to familiarize yourself with the world of Fiber arts.

Examples: Yarn Smarts

Knitting Guilds

Guild meetings are gatherings of individuals with a shared interest. These meetings generally take place in libraries or other semi-public areas. Guilds are member-based, but often allow people to attend a single meeting for a small fee before committing to full membership. meetings focus on skill-building, knowledge sharing, and WIP updates. Every once in awhile, they may have classes or speakers available to members and some guilds even put on large yearly gatherings.

Guild meetings foster a sense of community and collaboration among members. They tend to be smaller groups of people of all skill levels, perfect for anyone who feels overwhelmed by larger events, but still wants to connect with other Fiber artists. 

The only drawback is that some guilds can be clicky. If you attend a guild meeting and don't feel welcome, don't worry, there's probably another group nearby where you'll fit right in.

Examples: Crochet Guild of America

Retreats

At a retreat, the offerings will vary. Many of these events have a wellness component where crafting is used as a restorative and nourishing activity. The environment is quite a contrast to larger events with a lot of commotion. At a retreat you will likely see one or two special vendors selling yarn and a few classes from expert instructors.

Examples: Affiknity Retreat with Patty Lyons,  Peace Tree Fiber Adventures

Travel

There are many craft oriented cruise groups and tours all over the world. Anywhere that you can imagine, you can find a craft-oriented travel group to go with. If you're interested in specific regional or ethnic traditions, this is a great way to learn directly from people who really understand these fiber arts traditions. 

It's generally the best type of event to attend if you want to bring your spouse along. Whether you're on a cruise ship or at a resort, there are plenty of non-fiber arts activities to keep them entertained. The only drawback is that these events are often longer and more expensive than other types of fiber gatherings. Perfect for retirees, but difficult for anyone with a restrictive work schedule or budget restriction.

Examples: Seascape Knit Trips, Knitopia Cruises

Each type of event offers a unique experience and caters to different audiences and objectives. No matter what kind of fiber event you're looking for, there's something out there for you. As you plan your first experience, think about whether you're going to be alone or with family, looking to relax or to be reinvigorated, and what type of community, shopping, and education you're looking for. I find that each experience is uniquely enjoyable and I'm always happy to hang out and meet new people at fiber events.

If you want to see the events i will be at in the future visit the events page.