Memphis Knitting Guild

Jan newsletter

Thanks again to Christy T. for this amazing First Newsletter of 2008 - Now available in PFD format!  (I'll leave the post from the other day stand; as a matter of convenience and if there's anyone who can't or doesn't use the free adobe PDF reader software that's available here.

While I'm thinking of it, I'd like to give you all a pointer to a pretty amazing website I stumbled across thank to the Craftzine Knitting Blog:  a Wisconsin knitting guru (store owner?  teacher?) who has dubbed herself Techknitter is blogging a series of tutorials that are as generously helpful as any I've seen since Eunny Jang departed her old blog to take on the editorialship of Interweave Knits.  Right now, I've printed up the Tubular Cast-On and Tubular Cast-Off (Bind off) tutorials, as I find the Techknitter just a little more understandable than Monste Stanley when it comes to this technique.  (Not that I'll be throwing away my Knitter's Handbook any time soon.)

(Oh, note that the Craftzine link given about will send you to the blog's archive for knitting stuff only -- if you'd like to see what Craftzine is touting for crafters of all stripes , go here.  Craftzine has a penchant for the unique, the offbeat, the artsy and the visionary - projects that combine, say, knitting ability with power tool savvy.  You seriously have to look.)

Meeting Tuesday

My Thursday night post, right under the wire.  Okay, right OVER the wire.  You know, Typepad does let me pre- or post-date posts -- so if I want, I can say I posted it yesterday!  Be sure to read the post under this one - I posted it only 30 minutes ago and already it's history...

As mentioned, I'm a bit delayed with an issue getting the PDF up (again, kudos to new member Christy), but I want to get the meeting & program info out there, and cut-and-paste was invented for just such a need.  January, as always, is Guild Office Elections and all sorts of items for the coming year, so come on down, up, or sideways to White Station Library and make your voice heard.  (Besides, you never know what you might get elected to if you aren't there to say "no" to us!)

From the Jan NL:

Presidential Notes...

Our winter luncheon at Hank's was truly a fun time, as usual. We all appreciate Hank for opening her home again to us. I only wish we could do it more often.

My year as President of the guild is coming to a close this next meeting. I can truly say I have enjoyed every minute of it. I have learned so much from all of you and feel blessed to have you as my friends. I love our guild.

We will have officer elections next meeting. If you would like to continue with the office you presently have, please let me know by email this week. Or if there is an office in which you would like to serve, please e-mail me at vintagekittylady@hotmail.com The offices are: President, Vice President / Program Chairman, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, Photographer, Librarian, Charity Chairman.

I wish to thank Hank for all of her hard work in coordinating the workshop with Susanna Hansson this summer and for editing the newsletter each month (and for her all round general help and support); Suzanne,for keeping up with the treasury and our membership roll; Catherine, for taking all the great pictures; Gayle for serving as Corresponding Secretary; Angie for serving as Charity Chairman; Mary Alice for organizing our library and carrying around that heavy suitcase! Also a big hand of applause goes to Cindi for planning and coordinating all of our programs this year and to Lisa for her talent in editing our website. And I truly, truly, thank each one who conducted a program and for those who provided door prizes.

Keep stretching your skills and knit on!

Love to you,

Marcia

Note from the Editors...

I took over the newsletter by default over a year ago even though I have very few computer skills. I appreciate everyone tolerating getting newsletters with last month’s date, photographs taking up a lot of space, and all other mistakes I have made. I want also to thank all the officers who served this year, especially Marcia who has been a super president. Thanks also to everyone who helped with the Susanna Hansson workshop. It was wonderful! And thanks to Christy, for taking on a new baby, new home, new job AND editing the newsletter!

- Hank

~~~~~

Hi to all!  I just wanted to take a quick minute and introduce myself.  As a relatively new member of the guild, I am so excited to be working with all of you as the new newsletter editor. Hank has done such a tremendous job, and I look forward to continuing her excellence while perhaps bringing some fresh ideas to the newsletter – all, of course, with the ultimate purpose to keep you updated and informed. Stay tuned for some changes in look and possibly some new content. Most importantly, I would like to emphasize that this is YOUR Newsletter – so please feel free to contact me at any time if you have news items or submissions, or just want to pass along a nice knitting-related thought. Happy New Year and I look forward to sharing a great 2008 with you!

Sincerely,
Christy T
e-mail: christydiane@gmail.com
phone: (901) 252-7403

2008 Future Meetings…

January 22
February 26
March 25
April 22
May 27
June 24
July 22
August 26
September 23
October 28
November 25

*subject to change

January Program

Tuesday, January 22

Cindi L will demonstrate how we can increase invisibly and evenly along the last row of ribbing before beginning the body of a sweater. This is a question from the master knitting program level one.

Before our meeting, knit the rib swatch (see below) and bring 4 “split-lock” stitchmarkers.

Swatch: CO 34 sts, work in K2P2 ribbing for 1 in., ending with a right side row. Leave swatch on needle and be sure you have enough yarn to knit a few more rows.

Didn't we just have a Christmas party?

I remember food, and Hank's kitty killing an offending piece of tofu.  ("This is not a shrimp!  It must die.  Now get me some shrimp!")  I remember lovely knitterly earrings crafted by Marcia as her Xmas present to those of us who have enjoyed another year in guild, and I remember peace fleece going home with me, a lanolin-rich, steel-wool-strong fiber with a neat history (read here) that blooms to a surprising softness after the first wash - something I never would have found on my own.  (Thanks, Gayle.)  I remember, with a bit of smugness, that I pick good book titles for Dirty Santa -- gotta watch those sales gals, you can get the latest and greatest dirt cheap!  Oh, and Hank of Yarn's sponsorship of that new PBS series on knitting for WKNO.  (Hope I got those call letters right.)  Mostly, though, I remember that there was a lot of cold medicine in my system and that in all likelihood,  Hank's cat can't actually talk.  ;-)

But back to - oh yes, time flies.  Tuesday is another meeting, THE meeting, where we elect the new officers.  With some sadness, but in all fairness to guild, I have to bow out of running this site for '08.  "If nominated I will not serve..." (How does that quote go?)   But hope to support guild and newsletter/blog if I can be useful.  I'm excited to see where the year will take us!

In a moment I will hit "publish" on this post, then post some items from this month's newsletter - with apologies to our new newsletter editor Christy who has done an amazing first issue for the year, until I can get past some glitches and get the PDF up.

Meeting. Tomorrow. Newsletter. You read.

Blog chick.  Monosyllabic.  Tonight.  Sorry. 

Newsletter.  HERE.  Meeting:  Tomorrow night. Uh... Program?  Bring US #8 Needles. 

Okay?   Good.  Brain hurts.  Had to lead 1st grade science program today.  Go lie down now.  CU 2morrow.

October 2007 Newsletter

Getting the newsletter up belatedly - MS Word Format.

This month, Hank kindly included a little candy corn bag that I worked up - inspired by a crochet pattern on the net.  (Hope you don't mind the re-formatting I've done to the pattern, Hank.  For such a simple pattern, it is just Too Bloody Long, so I tweaked it to take up less space.) 

I'm also linking to the pattern here, for anyone wanting to print it as a "stand alone".

For the MS Word dis-inclined, a 3rd version will appear in the next few days on...my own blog.

What?  I didn't mention that yet?

Okay.  Once upon a time, the current keeper of the MKG blog opened a Typepad account, with the intention of joining the knitting blogosphere.  Although the personal blog originally envisioned was delayed and delayed, she did and continues to make good use of her typepad space by hosting information for the Memphis Knitting Guild.

This week,I will finally be starting that personal blog.  Rest assured that I'll have a big honking disclaimer on my page that clearly attributes any insightful or or idiotic statements, opinions, comments, etc. to myself, and myself alone.

...and I've made myself a deal that I won't post THERE, without first posting HERE.  Now that should boost my MKG blog posting volume to at least 3 a month, easy!

Hansson workshop - about those beads...

Just a quick FYI for those attending the workshop.

I've been poking around Ravelry, and it seems that Ms. Hansson strongly recommends that we NOT use czech glass beads (the kind that is pretty ubiquitous in craft stores) for the beaded cuff class this coming Sunday.  Instead, she recommends the Japanese made seed beads that go under names like Miyuki (?) and Toho.

For those who've never had the pleasure:  I examined both kinds of beads when I stopped by a bead shop in Overton Park this weekend, and I can tell you that yes, the Japanese beads are much more squared off and regular in size, plus they have larger holes for stringing onto (relatively) thick yarn.  I also understand that the Japanese bead holes are simply smoother and inflict less wear and tear (think breakage potential) on the yarn.

As hinted at above, the local craft chains I've visited around here don't seem to have the Japanese seed beads in the 6/0 or 8/0 size.  (I did spot some 11/0s, but those are just too small to use with the specified fingerling-weight yarn.)  I ended up in Overton Park, because "Need to Bead" in Germantown is closing.  (Closed today, open tomorrow and Friday from 10-2 only, and a peek in the window suggests that any possibility of them having a specific type of bead in stock is highly speculative.)

I'll be checking with Yarns to Go today, as Beth has such a wonderful bead and jewelry making selection, but I'm not sure about the bead type off the top of my head - and I was just in there this weekend!(Oh yeah - $1 Cotton Classic!  And a bunch of other stuff at $1, $2 or half off - either great news or DANGER WILL ROBINSON, depending on your resolve and your budget!)

If at all possible, I'll be stopping at Bead Towne in Olive Branch today - I understand that they have the Toho in the right size, and they are just 30 minutes South of Germantown/East Memphis.  (Not exactly pure altruism on my part - got a bunch of colors the other day, but a quick count of one vial suggests I'm probably short of the 800 beads suggested by Ms. Hansson.)   I If anyone reads this, and knows of other likely shops, please drop me a line @ lisabUNDERSCOREguppyATyahooDOTcom  - thanx

(Post to be updated with additions and crossouts as needed! - LB)

Looks like we are good for tonight!

...at White Station.  A/C is back.  YAY!!!

Important to read if you are going to meeting tomorrow night!

I understand from Marcia that the library was closed today, due to the air conditioning being Out Of Order. Of course, that just doesn’t work in this weather, especially someplace where I suspect they won't let you open the windows...

Watch this space, and watch your email, as Marcia is scoping out possibilities for an alternate meeting site close-by the White Station Library – if needed. I will be sure to stop by if the library does remain closed for a second day, to leave a note on the door re-directing Guild members to an alternate location, if this is possible. So in any case you should be able to stop by White Station and get the 411, even if you are coming direct from work or otherwise unable to check email or this site. (See 8/28 post above this one and let's cross our fingers - LB)

Here’s the August newsletter, MS Word Format. You need to read it.

I’ll wait.

No, seriously. Stuff about the Hansson workshop. (Not to late to sign up, and you won’t be dinged with a “late fee”!) Stuff about a member in our midst who is …nope – you gotta read it. (Very cute pun, Hank!) Info/updates on the Midsouth Fair, oh, and where to get Tahki Cotton Classic for a BUCK a skein!

My knitting life would be considerably duller without Guild...

Newsletter for July

MSWord format.  Goodnight!

Hansson Workshop

Something went wrong with the link in the sidebar, but I think I've fixed it.  Please drop me a quick email (lisab_guppy@yahoo.com) if you still can't access it and I'll send you the MSWord doc!  (Thanks to Marcia and Kathy B. for the 'heads up'.)

Look for the newsletter later this evening!