He-Man Chemo Hats

In the last couple weeks my husband and I have spent a little time in radiology departments and I noticed something--they have bales of chemo caps for women and few to none for men.  One of them has a bin with a few ball caps in it but ball caps are not warm and I'd imagine that a newly-bald head needs something warm.

We talked about charity knitting at the last BLKG meeting, about how we've been knitting preemie hats and chemo hats and charity hats since the Guild began, and that maybe we need to branch out into something like scarves and mittens.  That's a good idea, people need scarves and mittens.  But men need chemo hats, knitted or crocheted chemo hats.  Not only do the hats keep heads warm but a pile of them available for the taking says "I'm thinking about you, wish I could do more, but I made you a hat, hope it helps."  At least that's what mine are saying.

Mitch-made hats

So I'd like to ask you to think about making a man-size, manly-colored hat or two and bring it, or them, to the next meeting on December 13.  VP Mitch dropped a couple off to me the other day--thanks, Mitch!  I already talked to Lucy and she doesn't mind if I usurp a bit of her job collecting charity hats as long as I promise to collect and deliver the ones from January and February while she's away.  I will, cross my heart.

Andy and her first charity Hat-stravaganza

Andy brought a whole bag of hats she'd knitted from the partial balls of yarn left from her projects.  They're deeply ribbed so they should fit most heads.  Here's a link directly to the pdf of the pattern; it's one of those awesome ones that you can make for any size head in many sizes of yarn.  Thanks for the link, Andy! 



Reminder #2:  Please if it's at all possible come to the December 13 meeting.  Not only is it our Annual Dishcloth Exchange (bring one to get one) & Potluck, it's also election time for next year's officers and we need you to be there to vote.  We promise no robo-calls or campaign commercials.

November Meeting Highlights

Quite a few BLKG members found their way to the Fellowship Hall for our, one week early, November meeting. That is one huge room!  Vicki Jicha started the meeting with the news that we have a nearly full slate for the upcoming officer elections in December.  Thanks to all who have stepped up to the challenge.


 


We were lucky to have Julie Deprey who teaches knitting through Monterey Yarns (a BLKG corporate member) talk to us about gauge and yarn substitution.  She made a strong case for the need to knit a gauge swatch, especially if you want the garment that you're knitting to fit.  She brought along a warm, snuggly, and elegant vest she'd knitted as a store sample and had made a dramatic and some might say risky yarn substitute.  (I can't speak for anyone else but I confess that wondered if I could make off with it and skip the knitting part.)  She had made wonderful, laminated Standard Yarn Weights cards with samples of the yarns looped into holes along the bottom for each of us to keep.  On the reverse she included a schematic example and an explanation of "ease" which governs the fit of your knitted garments.  Thank you so much for the handy tool to add to our knitting arsenals, Julie.  (Don't worry if you missed the meeting, Julie gave the extra Yarn Weight cards that she'd made to Vicki so talk to her at the December meeting to claim yours.)  She also donated one of Ann Budd's Knitter's Handy Guide to Yarn Requirements for the Guild library.  If you don't have one, check it out either online, at your LYS or in the BLKG library.   It's an invaluable tool that helps you decide how much and what weight yarn to buy when you're making all sorts of sweaters and accessories.  Thanks again, Julie, for an entertaining and informative program.  You're welcome to come back anytime, even if it's just to knit and visit.

REMINDER:  The Guild meeting Thursday, December 13 brings not only the Officer Elections, which we need as many of you as can possibly make it to attend, but our annual Holiday Potluck and Dishcloth Exchange too on .  We'll be back in our usual room and look forward to seeing all of you there.

November Meeting Change

Just a reminder that the November meeting is on Thursday November 1 in the church's Fellowship Hall, not on the second Thursday as is the norm. July Deprey will present the program on yarn substitutions and gauge, which should be very informative. You might want to bring paper and pencil and take a few notes. See you all then!!!

In "Wish I Was There" Department News...

... we have the Puget Sound Local Yarn Shops 4-day yarn crawl. 

I read Rose-Kim Knits for her weekly feature "Thursdays are for What the Hell is This?"  (I don't know how she finds this stuff.)  (She's either the owner, part-owner, or an employee of the Fiber Gallery in Seattle.  Whatever, she's a champion knitter and blogger.)  I know it's too late for you dedicated yarn crawlers/shop hoppers for 2012, but maybe you can plan a trip next year.  There are 21 shops on the tour (21!!!) and over $1500 in prizes at stake.  Man, if I wasn't on a severe yarn diet and had a spare plane ticket and no job, I'd so be there.

Picnic a Great Success

About 25 Bay Lakes Knitting Guild members congregated May 10th for the annual end-of-year picnic, and a great time was had by all. The food was all amazing, and the chance to just chat and mingle was particularly fun. As you can see, the group celebrated another great year with a special cake.

Summer Knitting

Monthly meetings will continue over the summer but without programs. We will meet at the First United Methodist Church (FUMC) at 7 pm on the second Thursday of each month –  June 14, July 12, and August 9. If the weather is nice we will go across the street to the park to knit so bring a lawn chair and a beverage along with your knitting. Regular programming will resume at the September 13th meeting.

Green Mountain Spinnery Online Tour

Somehow I got onto the Green Mountain Spinnery newsletter list (big shrug, it's yarn) and hung onto the latest one because I thought you all might enjoy the online tour showing how they take wool from fleece to skein.  I'm not advertising for them nor have I ever been there or ordered their yarn (although I might one of these days).  I was just riveted by the pictures.  The care that they use in preparing the fibers and their dedication to using first local and then other American fibers really made me feel good. 

Maybe someday one of us will get to visit and come back and give a report.