Hello again, fellow crafters. I'm very excited to be bringing you this special edition of Make+Do's Weekly Giveaway. As I hinted in the winner's post for giveaway #19, this giveaway is the first in a series of four, and it comes to you as a result of the generosity of the Creativ Festival organizers. Coming to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on October 16, 17, 18, 2009, the Creativ Needlework Festival is celebrating its 22nd year of bringing crafters of all kinds together to learn, to shop, and to have fun! As the website describes it:

"Creativ Festival is… trend spotting, inspiration, new products, spectacular shopping, industry experts, conference classes, how-tos, hands-on activities, seminars, fashion & trunk shows, exquisite displays, book signings, door prizes and more! "Here you will find fabulous fabrics, to-die-for yarns, textured papers, dazzling beads, techniques, project ideas and all the latest and greatest in equipment, tools and crafting supplies whether beginner or expert. "Creativ Festival is your one-stop shop where you learn how to create your own singular style." Each week for the next four weeks, I'll be highlighting one craft that will be represented at the festival – and offering the chance to win a pair of tickets AND each comes with your choice of a 3-hour class. (Conference classes start October 14.) This week, I'll be looking at knitting. Read on for more information (and your chance to enter!) There's lots to inspire knitters (both beginners and experts) at this year's Festival. One big attraction for me is always the awesome selection of retailers, which this year will include British Yarn (UK), Fur Yarn by Paula Lishman International, Headwater Wool, PassionKnit Ltd., The Purple Purl, Romni Wools, Signatur Handknits (Australia), Spinning Wheel Alpacas, Sweaterkits...and that's not even half of it! Start saving your pennies and clear a space in your stash. Among the many exhibits, a must-see attraction is the "30 Years of Rowan Exhibit," featuring breathtaking hand-knit garments. Many are original and date back to the year they were published – they echo the world of fashion, yet remain timeless and unique, and could still find a place in the wardrobe of today. [caption id="attachment_416" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Jo Watson (left) and Brandon Mably (right) will both be teaching at this fall's Creativ Festival."][/caption] Workshop-wise, you'll want to check out both Brandon Mably (Kaffe Fassett Design Studio) and Jo Watson (owner of British Yarns and host of UK Ravelry Day), who'll bring British knitting techniques to share in their conference workshops. And, get inspired to knit the colours of Australia at the Signatur Handknits trunk show (free with admission!). (Check out more workshops here.) And, when you're finally ready for a break, you can relax, sip a latte, knit and pick up purls of wisdom at The Purple Purl Yarn Café. For your chance to win a pair of tickets and two passes to your choice of a 3-hour class, check out the festival website and tell me what you'd most like to go see at this year's Creativ Fest. Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, September 20; a winner will be posted on Monday, September 21. Unfortunately, free plane tickets aren't in my budget, but if you think you can get yourself to Toronto (and really, it's worth the trip), be sure to enter!