Mission Statement

It is the mission of the Bay Lakes Knitting Guild to give knitters of all skill levels the opportunity to get to know other knitters, to learn new techniques, and to share their ideas, resources, and talents with the community.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

February Guild Meeting

The weather cooperated this month so we had plenty of members join us for the monthly meeting. The board meeting was smooth and productive, one of the big things we talked about was putting patterns and the minutes of the meetings on BLKG's Yahoo group to save newsletter space. Members need to be invited to join the group, so contact Terri or Linda at their web addresses printed in the newsletter to join. Then you'll be able to use the resources there, which will soon include the spreadsheet with all the contents of the BLKG library so you can see all of the wonderful books and magazines you can borrow--for FREE.


I'm still looking for any blogs, fiber festivals, and knitting or pattern websites to link to here on the blog. Even if you find a particularly helpful YouTube video, let me know and I'll share it with the group.

I knitted Ember scraper mittens for my family for Christmas. A scraper mitten is a cuff with a broad body, no thumb, and a hole in the top. You slide your windshield scraper handle down through the hole and the mitten protects your hand while you scrape off the ice that we really haven't had this winter but will most certainly have in the future. Click on the highlighted name in the first line of this paragraph to link to the FREE pattern. It's a quick and easy pattern made with two strands of worsted held together.

Terri mentioned that Iris Fine Yarns in Appleton is hosting knit designer, Josh Bennet, for a day-long workshop on February 29. Contact Iris by phone at: (920) 954-9001 to see if there's still room. The class fee includes lunch.

Once all the business was concluded Pat taught a much-needed (by this knitter, at least) lesson on seaming. I was astonished to see my white sewing yarn disappear in the sage green stockinette swatches as I sewed. I was less successful sewing the reverse
stock
inette, but still got the idea. Thanks, Pat, for a great lesson and all your individual attention.




In the "Does Andy Ever Sleep ?" department, new member Andy blew us all away when she showed the 29 hats-for-charity she knit in January. She made fuzzy chemo caps and all sorts of kid hats, one a day (she kept one and gave one away), for the whole month. As you can see in the picture it was an impressive display. She's amazing, isn't she?



Pat showed off pair of fingerless mitts. These have beads. Shiny! They tried to stick to my hands when they were passed around but I eventually sent them on their way.





Denise made a pair of Entrelac mittens in my favorite red, and to make these even warmer, they're fully lined with another plain mitten. Ooh, they were luxurious and soooo squishy.







Jesse showed off the Chevron scarf she made. Don't you just love the colors?





Terri was excited that she got to knit a cowl for her son's girlfriend. This is the hugely popular Honey Cowl pattern from Madelinetosh. This is a simple, slip-stitch (free) pattern that really shows off variegated yarn to its best advantage. Cast one on and join the mob!





These gorgeous Noro mitts were Laura's show-and-tell. I love that they don't match, but then I'm the woman who rarely makes a second sock, I just wear them willy-nilly. Works for me.



Look at this toddler sweater! Isn't it the cutest with its contrast edging and little ears on the hood? She even put on double buttons to make it sturdy.




Vicki finished a shawl. It's huge and gorgeous. We all decided that when she's not using it as a shawl it'd make a great piano scarf.






Our VP (and sole male member, so far) Mitch brought info about Knitting Guilds in Madison and Milwaukee. I have put links up on the sidebar. Thanks, Mitch!


That was pretty much that. We all circulated around admiring what people working on, some dipped into the charity knitting bags, and we packed up our toys and went home. Next month's program we're to bring our favorite knitting book, pattern or instructions or stitch, to share with the other members.