Where can you find

• eXtensive class list?
• Ravishing yarn selection?
• eXhilarating good time?

At an XRX Stitches Event, of course.  I have to admit, until this past weekend the only Stitches I’d ever attended was the one in my own backyard here in the Midwest.  Always enjoyed, never disappointed.  And after Halos of Hope had such a rousing and successful show here at home, we felt compelled to take our story on the road in 2011.

Just walking into the Santa Clara Convention Center took my breath away.  I knew our booth (1005) was at the far end, and we were excited to be placed close to one of our donation location shops, Fine Points Yarn Shop.  We so appreciate the local yarn shops that help collect hats from our volunteers!  What I didn’t expect was to walk to the end of our row, and see seven more rows of vendors!  At that moment, I think I was grateful to be a vendor, knowing that if I walked this show floor, and didn’t leave my wallet behind, I’d be in trouble!

Since this was our first out-of-town show, finding the right mix of display items that would fit in a suitcase (or two) was a bit of a challenge! Once we had everything set up, we were pleased that our first out-of-town booth looked about the same as those from our local and regional shows.  Given the interaction of the visitors in our booth with the display, we think we did okay!

Over 1300 people stopped by to learn more about our Halos of Hope story.  100 hats were donated by West Coast knitters & crocheters who learned of our work through Facebook, Twitter, or Ravelry.  For the first time, we had a Show Book ad, which brought additional visitors to our booth to learn more about what we do.

We were warmly embraced by the XRX team, and by veteran Stitches vendor, Dianne at Creatively Dyed Yarns, who offered complementary polymer buttons to those who donated hats,

by Red Heart Yarns/Coats & Clark, who liked our January Sock Monkey challenge.  Red Heart brought along ‘crochet-fashionistas’, the Double-Stitch Twins, who always have fun and funky fiber ideas.

We were introduced to PolarKnit and are looking forward to trying out this yarn and a couple of patterns, especially for our centers in the Northern climes that need warmth in the fall and winter months.

We thank Benjamin Levisay and Kimberly Reynolds for visiting with us (and thank you Kimberly for the hat donations!), and were thrilled when Edie Eckman stopped by to say hello. Edie is the designer of the cover patterns for the Chemo Caps & Wraps book published last fall by Annie’s Attic.  Truth be told, I’ve made up Edie’s wrap design out of a delightful Classic Elite Liberty Wool to use for myself.  Couldn’t resist!

And now, my copy of Chemo Caps & Wraps is signed by two of the designers, Edie and Rosalie Johnson, who is from my home state of Illinois!

Also enjoyed meeting Ali McGraw, who, together with designer, Marion Foale, recreated Ali’s cap from her role in “Love Story”.  Pattern/kit sales now benefit a cause near to her heart: the Wildlife Emergency Response Fund.  Being a cap kindred spirit, wanted to take a look at the pattern, and ‘yes’! it will work for a chemo cap.  Can’t wait to get this one on the needles and give it a try! When Ali stopped by our Halos of Hope booth, well, we just had to get a picture!  She was so gracious and kind to everyone she met!

We’re so glad we could contribute to the daily door prize drawings.  Our winner was Kitty Nevin from Monterey, CA.  Kitty won a copy of Chemo Caps and Wraps, 2 skeins of Berroco Comfort yarn, and a Halos of Hope project bag.  We hope to be able to make our Halos of Hope project bags available for purchase very soon!

Most of all, we enjoyed meeting all of the West Coast-based knitters and crocheters. We’re happy you enjoyed our Helmut-the-Shark-hat sibling; of course, we should have remembered we were in San Jose Sharks territory, and it would be a big hit.  Sibling Seven is now migrating to her final destination by way of our campaign coordinator in Utah.  When she arrives at her final destination, we’ll post a photo to our Facebook and Ravelry pages.

And, that wallet didn’t stay in my pocket.  Stitches West got its fair share from me!  Fell in love with Marion Foale's Knitting Collection, and her 3 ply wool yarn.  Must try the new Shimmer yarn from Red Heart – soft and sparkly.  And excited to make up some hats with Dianne’s Woodbrook, Voodoo, and Satin collections.  Hope we can have these ready for Stitches South.

Have you been to a Stitches event?  If not, there are 3 more calendared this year.

South, Midwest and East.  Click on the links to learn more.  Halos of Hope is planning to have a booth at each Stitches Event this year, and we’ll collect caps onsite with each event.

We look forward to meeting you and seeing your cap creations!