Program Notes Update

Due to a miscommunication, the Program Info in the December newsletter was incorrect.  Sorry about that.


 
At tomorrow night's December meeting, we will all bring a dish to pass and the Secret Santa projects will be exchanged.  We will also kick off the Ambiente Modular Pillow (free from Skacel) KAL project so bring your yarn, needles, and pattern to get started.







At January's meeting representatives of a few of the charities we knit for will be there to tell us about their work in the community.  We will also have information so we can prepare for the steeking program presentation in April.  Yikes!  I don't know if I'm ready to cut into my knitting but I'm willing to watch and learn.

Another Knit-Away Coming In Spring

3^rd Annual Knit-Away at Washington House Inn in Cedarburg, WI April 1st -3^rd.  

You probably don't want to miss this!

Come with us to the historic town of Cedarburg with its main street full of specialty shops and restaurants.  Spend a couple days with a bunch of your knitting friends.  This is not an organized, everybody goes everywhere in a group, trip.  We have the use of their basement meeting room for the two days we're there.  If you decide to go shopping or go for a walk, get up, and wander off.  If someone else wants to go along, they can.  If you need a nap, be our guest.  When it's time for a meal, a few people go here, others go there, still others go someplace else.  Like I said, it's fluid.  If you want to spend two days just knitting, that's what you do, just don't skip

the 5 PM wine and cheese reception in the Inn's Gathering Room or the full breakfast (and I mean FULL!) from 7-10 AM. 

In case you run out and need more yarn, the Grafton Yarn Store is only three miles away.

Reserve a room by calling (262) 375-3550 and asking for the Potter block.  (Room rates included in the body of the group email.)

Knit-Away Day Is Coming!

Knit-Away Day is on Saturday, October 19^th, from 9AM to 3:30PM at the Green Bay Botanical Gardens - Green Bay Botanical Gardens. 

 

Everyone should bring a wrapped gift, usually something to do with knitting, but people have brought wine, etc., spend around $10, but don't put your name on it. We will then have our annual gift grab (Chinese Christmas, for those who know it by that name).

 

Go to Perfect Potluck sign up for a brunch item to bring. Coffee and water will be provided.

We will have our corporate sponsors there with yarn to show and sell, including yarn that can be used

for the upcoming pillow KAL.




(photos from 2014 & 2015)

Something New for December!

Somebody, I don't know who (probably Carol), had a great idea for our December meeting/holiday potluck.  Instead of bringing a dishcloth to exchange, we're going to go through our stash, find some interesting yarn that you'd like to knit into a hat, scarf, or cowl (no sweaters or afghans, please), and then find a pattern to go with it.

Now the fun begins.

Bring the yarn and pattern to the October meeting in a brown paper bag (stapled closed) with the form that MaryLu emailed to us all after the September meeting inside too.  

• Mark on the outside of the bag if it's a Hat, Scarf, or Cowl and the level of difficulty--Easy, Moderate, or Difficult.

• Please have the yarn wound.  It doesn't matter if it is wound by machine or by hand.

At the meeting we will put the bags out and you will pick a new one.  You'll be knitting a hat/scarf/cowl for another member.  Shh, don't tell!  You have two (2) months to complete it and, at the December meeting, you give the item you knit to whoever it came from, and you will receive the project that you brought all completed and gorgeous.  That night its Mystery Knitter will be revealed to you.

For the program in October we'll view the Philospher's Wool Fair Isle video, which is a festival of late 1990's style sweaters with valuable Fair Isle hints and tips thrown in, so bring something easy to knit on while the video plays.

***Also at the October meeting, please bring any items you've knitted for Julie Lefevre's request for things for the siblings of young cancer patients.  Hats, purses, scarves, mitts, even Hacky Sacks--make up something for these often forgotten victims of cancer in families.

In November we're having a yarn swap/sale/giveaway, so as I went through (part of) my stash last weekend I found a single skein with a scarf pattern already inside.  Score!  So that's going into the bag with the pattern that I read through to make sure it isn't too complicated or challenging and the form.  It'll get stapled so I can't second guess myself and will wait for the October meeting for the next step in its destiny.


Doesn't this sound like fun?  (As always, participation is optional.)

September Meeting Coming Up

Next Thursday, September 19 is the next BLKG meeting and here's what our president Carol had to say in her letter in the latest newsletter:

Our September meeting will be primarily business. I’ll present the 2020 budget and a mini “State of the Guild” report. Please give some thought to “What I Want Our Guild To Be”. We’re eager to hear ideas about the next steps for our Guild. Where do we want our Guild to be a year from now? 5 years from now? I look forward to seeing you there
 

I'll be there at 5:30 because I rashly agreed to be Knit Doctor at the September meeting so if you need help with a project bring it along and hopefully together you and I can figure out how to proceed.   Even if that means turning your knitting back into yarn balls.

For Those Entering the Fair...

The time to carry your well-knitted offerings to the Fairgrounds, pin on your entry tags, and leave them there to the tender mercies of the judges.

Entries are received in the Exhibit Building on Monday evening from 6:00 - 8:00 PM or Tuesday morning from 8:30 - 10:00 AM.



All of my pieces have had their overnight soak in Eucalan, then been patted and pinned into shape to dry.



Ooh, I'm so excited.  I have to confess that I was never in 4-H so I am inordinately tickled to be entering the Fair.  I will cherish my ribbons until the end of my days.

Fair Entries

The deadline for entering items in the Brown County Fair is coming up.  It's Monday, July 15 so you've got the weekend to get your things organized and get on the Fair website to register them.  They don't have to be finished by July 15 because the date to take the entries to the fairgrounds is Monday, August 12 from 6:00-8:00 PM and on Tuesday, August 13 from 8:30-10 AM..  Click on "Exhibitors" on the top, then scroll down to "Exhibitor Information", then down to "Entry and Judging Schedule" to find dates, etc.

I've been scouring the closets for things I've finished, that I think are worthy of being entered, and that might earn a ribbon.  When I laid it all out this afternoon to take its picture I realized that it all needs a nice soak in wool wash and blocking.  The cardi will need de-pilling too.


I hope that at least a few Guild members decide to be brave and enter the Fair.  It's fun and great for a person's ego.

I hope to see you next Thursday evening in the park!

World Wide Knit In Public Day Is Saturday

Here are the details for the WWKIP (world wide knit in public):

We have the okay to meet on the city deck on Saturday, June 8th from 10:00 - 2;00

Danette

If the weather is unsuitable for outside knitting, we have been warmly welcomed to meet at the downtown branch of the Brown County Library.  It should be noted that that day is also the opening day of their summer reading program, so it will be quite busy.  I contacted Hagemeister  (325 N. Washington Street, Green Bay) and they have a lounge area we could move to if the weather turns.  It would be expected to at least purchase a beverage.  If seating in the restaurant was desired, food would need to be ordered.

I can bring a small folding table to set up.  I don't know how big the banner is or where to get brochures.  I was planning on buying some helium balloons to attach to my chair or table to be more visible for anyone trying to find me.  

Danette

 

Bring your own chair, sunscreen, beverage, hat, and don't forget your knitting!

Unfortunately/fortunately I won't be able to attend as I will be in New York with my grandson and his family.  I'll return before the picnic.

MaryLu

Got Your Homework Done?

I do.  See?  I'm ready to learn.

Tomorrow evening is the May BLKG meeting and the program is Fair Isle.  Glenyss sent us instructions to download the Fake Isle Hat pattern from Ravelry (you are on Rav, aren't you? it's a gold mine!), dig around in your stash (or buy yarn), cast on, and knit the ribbing and the first few rounds so that you're ready to plunge right into the challenge and triumph of Fair Isle knitting.

Some of you have also signed up to attend the special post-program lesson Glenyss is teaching on Friday from 8:00 AM - Noon.  The cost for the lesson is $20 for Guild members and $30 for non-members.  It would be a big help if you brought the money to tomorrow's meeting.

Carol said in her Agenda email sent the other day that she's hoping to get the meeting started at 6:30 or even a few minutes earlier to give us all the maximum amount of time with Glenyss so show up a few minutes early ready to knit.

See you there!

Help Wanted

The Bay Lakes Knitting Guild is in need of a Program/Events Chair.

Don't stop reading because you think you can't help or because the idea of doing it scares you.

Now is the best time to take on the job because a great majority of the work is already done for you (or you and a friend, two people can do this together--half the work, double the fun).



Carol has planned and scheduled an April Sock KAL and Kris K. is set to coordinate it.








Glenyss from the Grafton Yarn Store is already scheduled to teach Fair Isle at the May meeting, spend the night, and teach a full morning Fair Isle class for those interested the next day (for a small fee).  Barbara Boville stepped forward to coordinate.  All that's needed is to contact her to make sure that she solidifies the plans, times, and materials.






June is the annual picnic, the venue is set and Della M. and Diane W. have stepped forward to coordinate that.




 So the Program/Events Chair needs to coordinate.  Delegate.  Oversee.

• You need to check that the coordinator for that month's program is up to speed, has contacted the teacher or venue, and has what they need to get the job done.  
• The Program/Events Chair needs to make sure that the coordinator of each program gets any "homework" needed for the next month to Kathy P. in time to put it in the newsletter.
• July and August are months we have no programs but right now there is nothing lined up for September, October, and November.
• Carol has the interest surveys that we all filled out earlier this year.  The survey is filled with ideas to help the Program/Events Chair with planning.

One thing to keep in mind:  if you figure that we have 30 members taking turns and figure that there are 6 "big" volunteer jobs (President, Secretary, Treasurer, Program/Events, Newsletter, Charity Coordinator), 30 divided by 6 equals 5.  That means that we'd each only have to do one of those "big" jobs once every five years.  Think of it, if you step forward this year to coordinate the Programs/Events, you're off the hook until 2024.

Plan to Come Next Year

 



An even dozen Bay Lakes Knitting Guild members drove off to Cedarburg on a fine Wednesday a week ago to spend two nights at the Washington House Inn right in the heart of downtown.  If you've never been to Cedarburg (and I hadn't) it's a quaint little town with all sorts of specialty shops up and down the three-block-long main street.  And the Washington House Inn is right in the center.  (that's my second-floor room window right above the stoplight)

 



We were given the use of their lower level meeting room for sitting and knitting and talking and laughing.  Being in the middle of town let us wander to shop or eat as the spirit moved us.  There was no expectation that we'd move around in a group, people stayed or went as they wanted.  The Inn hosts a wine and cheese hour in the Gathering Room each evening and the breakfasts were amazing.  This was no "continental" breakfast either, this was coffee, tea, eggs, meat, coffee cake, quick breads, fruit & juice, cereal, milk, yogurt, toast.  All delicious.








 






On Friday morning we packed up and drove the three or four miles to the Grafton Yarn Store where Glenyss gave us all a quick lesson in knitting backwards which is not as useless a skill as you might imagine.  She recommended it for short rows, baubles, entrelac, and toys, just to name a few uses.  To thank her for her time and expertise we might have bought a little yarn.  


 







Plan to come along next spring when the Bay Lakes Knitting Guild once again travels to Cedarburg for a little late winter/early spring knitting getaway.  You won't be sorry.

So Much Fun!

 

Arti Gras this weekend was a blast.  The booth was festooned with hats and shawls and purses and socks and afghans, a quart jar of needles and a basket of skeins.  It looked great and so inviting.  Saturday morning when I was there we talked to a lot of people interested in joining or at least coming to check us out.

Quite a few knitters didn't know about Bay Lakes Knitting Guild so we spread the word.  

We're all excited about the many people that expressed a desire to learn to knit.  We made sure each one took a brochure to remind them of our promise to teach them to knit.  We hope they all come since we agreed that it would be loads of fun to "grow" a new crop of knitters this spring.

Talk today revolved around how we'd make space in our meetings for the beginners to learn at the same time the program was in session.  We are all eager to share our enthusiasm for knitting with a whole new group of friends.

So if you're one of those people who took a brochure, please don't just recycle it.  We are looking forward to seeing you again and helping you learn to knit or increase your skills and confidence.  Come join us!  We laugh a lot, love to share our hobby, and there are snacks.  How can you resist?

Arti Gras!

What are you doing this weekend?  Come downtown to the KI Center, walk around looking at all the art on display and on sale, and stop in the far corner to say hi to your fellow Bay Lakes Knitting Guild members.  We are lucky enough to have a free booth in the cultural area to display some completed projects and to hand out our new brochures.  We hope to lure new members to join us in our yarn-y fun.

We'll be there from 10-5 on Saturday and 9-4 on Sunday.  (Don't forget that Daylight Savings Time arrives at 2 AM on Sunday--set your clocks and don't be late!)

Come on down!  Bring your friends!

2019

March 9 & 10

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Presenting an eclectic display of the arts, Arti Gras will be held at a new location, KI Convention Center in downtown Green Bay. The fine arts festival offers patrons a chance to view and purchase the works of 100 artists and craftpersons from throughout the Midwest. Exhibited for sale are original works representing various media. Artist demonstrations take place throughout the event providing a rare view of artists and their work during the creative process.

Outstanding performances are a highlight at the event including exciting classical music, powerful jazz, and magnificent dance. Children can get hands-on art experience through participation in a variety of creative art and music activities. The event also boasts an array of special gourmet items to choose from. And the cultural area features information booths and special exhibits by area organizations giving visitors valuable information about the many community cultural opportunities in the area.