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Click the links below to read a sampling of our past articles below; click on the [ B A C K ] links to return here!
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We have been having banner turn-outs at our meetings, and I just want to say how terrific it has been! Last month we had a guest free form designer, Myra Wood, whose trunk show was so inspiring I am planning to take her class offered later this summer at the Santa Monica Fiber Fest. Thank you so much to Peggy Baxter, our incoming president, who organized the Myra Wood trunk show. As many of you already know, the Guild and knitting in general is not only a great hobby, it is also a wonderful way to make new friends. I have met so many strong and spirited women (and a few men) through the Guild and through activities involving knitting. Indeed, knitting and friendship seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly! If you know of anyone who thinks knitting is something you do alone in a rocking chair, please immediately tell him or her about the Guild! With summer coming this month, some may ask, what do I knit or crochet during the summer? Don’t even give it a second thought, as there are plenty of goals you can set for the summer and take advantage of the long days ahead. Here is a list of possibilities:
Those are just a few ideas and I look forward to hearing what you are doing this summer at our meetings and events. |
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We had a great turn out at the April meeting, which was chock-full of great ideas. These will take the Guild in new directions in the near future. First, I want to welcome all of our newer members and invite you to get involved in our events and programs. If you are a long-standing member, please be sure to greet one of the newer members and welcome her to the Guild. I'd like to say a few words for our newer members about the Guild's purpose and goals. As a chapter of The Knitting Guild Association, the Guild is a nonprofit enterprise to promote the craft of knitting and related crafts by sharing information and providing mutual support. This is why our meetings include a Show & Share portion and a monthly program taught by one of our members. I personally have progressed leaps and bounds with my knitting since joining the Guild several years ago. In addition, we have a commitment to knitting for charitable causes, though the amount of charity knitting is up to each individual member. If you have any questions about charity knitting, please don't hesitate to ask our Charities Chairperson, Patti Ialongo. Last month we made a lot of important decisions at the meeting, including that Peggy Baxter will co-President with me starting in July, and will run for election as President in 2009! In addition, Monika Riggs accepted to coordinate a Guild knit-a-long in which members will knit a common pattern and share progress. If this weren't already enough excitement, Blair Siebert is organizing a Slipt Stitchers table at the El Segundo Holiday Craft Fair, to be held October 18, 2008 , when members will have a chance to sell their wares to the public. This is an exciting time for the Guild and I hope you share in my enthusiasm for our new members and directions. |
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The book I am reviewing this month, Back on Blossom Street, is the fourth in a series by Debbie Macomber. I found this book in a quilt store in Arizona. The novel takes place in Seattle, Washington and centers around the yarn store on Blossom Street, A Good Yarn, run by Lydia Goetz and her sister Margaret. This is a cozy novel that revolves around Lydia and the customers of her shop. In the knitting classes that Lydia gives, the people in the story get to know each other and develop friendships. They learn to confide in each other about their lives, and their friendships grow as a result. The author describes the characters very well and you come to feel like you know them. Some of the chapters of the books have quotes from great knitting designers and teachers – including our own Joyce Wyatt who is quoted in the beginning of Chapter 9: "When making sweaters and you're off gauge, don't worry! Fudge and smudge until it fits!" I began reading this book on my flight home from Arizona and was 3/4 of the way through by the time the plane landed at LAX. This is a very fast read and is an engaging story about women and friendships. As a bonus there are knitting patterns for a prayer shawl in the front of the book! I recommend this book as a great read and an interesting story. What books have you read lately? Have some words about a great book about patterns or techniques? Send your book review to Maureen Estolas or bring to the next guild meeting |
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I know I express the thoughts of all of the ladies who came to the March workshop in saying that it was a busy learning experience, chock full of tips and tricks, as well as Joyce Wyatt's own "fudge and smudge" approach to getting a piece done. What we learned at Joyce's workshop is the perfect primer for the Colleen Davis workshop in October, as both involve connecting knitted shapes into a patchwork fabric. Speaking of workshops, it's not too early to think about what you would like in future years, as teachers book up so far in advance that we must start planning now for 2009. If you are anything like me, you envy those relatively few knitwear designers, fiber artists, yarn shop owners, and others who can make a living professionally from knitting and related crafts. Most of us have to struggle to justify hours and hours of knitting when it is "just for fun" or a "hobby." However, lately I have been thinking just how lucky I am to have knitting as a hobby, not as a profession. Hobbyists have the luxury of enjoying knitting and making choices based on personal tastes and agendas. On the contrary, those in the professional design aspect of knitting must make decisions based on marketability and probably spend more time swatching than anything else. Lily Chin has remarked on how lucky hobbyists are to knit for themselves and for friends and family, as designers hardly ever have time for such a luxury. Further, being hobbyists does not mean we don't dabble in designing patterns, garments, etc., when it suits us (no pun intended!). We may even enter a garment in a fashion show, exhibition, or contest for a little extra excitement. I once even held a "Fiber Arts" Exhibition at a local coffee shop and we had many curious guests wanting to learn about spinning, felting, and dying different types of fibers. No, I did not get paid to do it but had a blast and felt good about serving the community. The Guild is a great way for hobbyists to add a little structure to the craft of knitting, and to meet some less-structured women along the way! I am so excited about the steady flow of new members we have had and would like to welcome those who have joined recently. |
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We had a fabulous turn-out of members at our February meeting, and it was so good to see so many of you there. In March, we will not have our regular meeting as we are hosting our Spring workshop, "Garter Stitch Triangle Patchwork Jacket," with Joyce Wyatt. Regular meetings and programs will resume in April, and we will host another workshop in October with Colleen Davis. Be sure to check the 2008 Programs in this newsletter to see the exciting lineup. This month we welcome the spring season and may ask how this season impacts our knitting. The spring season brings new yarns and patterns to us, which tend to emphasize seasonal fibers, weights and colors. Since spring is a season of mixed weather, we tend to see yarns with complex blends of fibers, especially cotton, silk, and alternative fiber blends. The weights of yarns used in garments tend to be lighter, such as DK or sport weight yarns. Finally, colors tend to mirror the rebirth we see in nature during spring, giving way to florals, pastels and soft neutrals. Spring is a great time to head to your LYS and check out the new yarns and patterns. I have noticed a lot of creative blends of fibers in new yarns this spring, such as combinations of bamboo and wool, soy silk and cotton, as well as cotton and synthetics. Two new spring yarns from Noro are getting a lot of attention, Matsuri and Taiyo. To check out new spring yarns online, go to the Webs site. Some say that the sooner you start your spring knitting, the sooner the wild flowers will bloom in the hills! So what am I knitting this spring? I started the a-line jacket which is featured on the cover of the Spring issue of Interweave Knits, a great issue if you haven't already seen it. For more information, go to my ravelry.com page, under i.d. "theknittinimage". I look forward to seeing all of your spring projects both online and at our meetings! |
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If you were at the January meeting, you know I promised to provide information in this month's column about Internet resources. I believe the Internet is one of the main reasons why knitting has exploded as a form of expression for people of all ages. Among the resources available on the Internet are shopping, blogs, podcasts, email lists, and even social groups. Podcasts are audio recordings with current information, news, book reviews, and stories about subjects such as knitting. You may listen to a podcast with your computer speakers, by downloading it to a portable device, or by burning it to a CD. My favorite podcast is the one put out Kelly Petkin of Knit Picks. Just go to the podcast link to listen. Another great Internet resource is the email list service in which subscribers post emails asking questions or commenting about topics such as knitting. You must have an email account to subscribe to one of the lists. Once you subscribe, you will receive emails posted by other members of the "forum," and you may also post emails to the list. My favorite email list for knitting is KnitU from Knitter's Magazine. A recent addition to the host of knitting resources are social websites, in which members may post photos, text, and links under their identifications. The biggest social website for knitting is Ravelry.com. However, be warned that Ravelry is growing so fast that there is a waiting time to become a member. The Internet is a great way to get connected in the world of knitting. Be sure to bring your Internet tips to our attention! |
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Happy New Year Slipt Stitchers! I hope you enjoyed the holidays and are ready for an exciting year of knitting with our Guild, starting with our planning meeting in January. Our Vice President Pat Hyland will facilitate the meeting in which all members will have an opportunity to suggest teachers and topics for this year’s programs. I would also like to welcome our new Co-Secretary Peggy Baxter and thank the entire Board for agreeing to serve another year. I love the New Year because I can start projects for myself after having completed and given away the holiday knitting. Actually, this year I hope to finish the Chanel-style jacket I put away reluctantly last year and have only one more sleeve to go! I am also hoping to finish a short kimono in bamboo yarn, from Vicki Square's book. As far as a new project, I am still looking at color and design trends for 2008 in deciding on one. According to Knitters' Magazine, the trends for 2008 and 2009 will include many embellishments and surface textures, such as bobbles, cables, flowers, and ruffles. Think more creative designs, such as free form, incorporating many different motifs in a single fabric. "Sorbet" colors will be popular in busy combinations, but neutral-lovers need not worry, as brown will be worn as the "new black." There will also be an emphasis on loose-gauge and thickly knit items, especially knitted dresses and skirts. I look forward to seeing your creative designs and ideas at our meetings this year! Happy knitting, Cindy |
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Happy Holidays Slipt Stitchers! I hope all of you will be able to join us this month for our holiday potluck and gift exchange, as we wrap up yet another year of knitting together as a Guild. I have so enjoyed this year as President and commend all of the members for such a productive year of charity knitting, as well as our terrific programs. A special thanks to our Board members and to all of those who have contributed in 2007 to make this year a blast! As we go into the final stretch of the holiday knitting season, I hope all you are enjoying the "process" of knitting your gifts and treasures, as well as staying on schedule for finishing those projects! This brings to mind the distinction between "process" and "product" knitters, the former who savor every moment of knitting and the latter who are more focused on the final result. Most of us are a little of both and find a happy medium, though this time of year I get a little more focused on the product so I can have the gifts ready for Christmas! Still, I am grateful for the extra hours I am able to devote to knitting this time of year and wouldn't have it any other way! I wish you are your families a joyous and heart warming holiday season, and hope you make knitting part of the celebration! Best wishes, Cindy |
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As we welcome the fall season and cooler weather, it's an exciting time for knitting! Sometimes I think the only reason we like cooler weather in Southern California is because it gives us the opportunity to wear wool and other natural fibers! It is also the beginning, for many of us, of the holiday knitting "production mode." I like to get a jump on knitting for Christmas so as to avoid a "crunch" in December. This fall I am planning to knit a couple of projects with bamboo yarn. I have already started a sweater in the round for my sister with a wool and bamboo blend. Next, I plan to knit myself a short kimono from 100% bamboo, to wear over my yoga clothes when it's cool. I find the bamboo fiber has a nice drape and is a good weight for our climate, not to mention that it is considered good for the environment because it is a renewable resource. Regia even has a bamboo blend sock yarn! On another note, at last month's meeting, Monika M. introduced a new charity opportunity called Sunshine Kids. This charity offers support to children with cancer, including providing them with knitted and crocheted hats. We discussed at the meeting what fiber to use. While Monika emphasized the children appreciate any hat, my internet research on chemo caps confirms that most recommend not using any yarn with wool content. Because I plan to knit the hats with patterns for smooth yarns, I found a cotton blend at Knit Picks called Shine, as well as a new synthetic by Berroco called Comfort. At the meeting, it was also mentioned that Berroco and Trendsetter have very soft novelty yarns which could be used. I hope you share in my feeling of excitement for knitting this fall, and that you will continue to join in our meetings and activities the whole season. Happy knitting |
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Are you working on a difficult project? Do you need to put it down in frustration or just need a break? May I suggest a book? WAIT--Don't stop reading it's not what you think. I am not going to refer you to a pattern book or a book about knitting techniques – this is a book of short stories. Do I have your attention? The book I am talking about is Knit Lit edited by Linda Roghaar & Molly Wolf, described as "Sweaters and their Stories… and Other Writing about Knitting." This is a book of short stories about knitting that is in our guild library. I haven’t read the whole book yet, and don't want to spoil the stories, but I will give you an idea of what types of stories are in the book. There is a story called "Nautical Knitting" about a woman who knitted on board ships. A humorous story called "Never Knit Dog" – no secrets told here you have to borrow the book to understand the title. "Sir Alexandra and the Lobster Twine" is a story about a knitted Halloween costume – part of a suit of armor. "Frozen Toes of Fear" is written by a knitter who is also a mountain climber. There are many more; why not check it out? You can borrow Knit Lit or Knit Lit (too) from our guild library. |
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We had a great turn-out at the August meeting, where Patti taught our program on Aran knits. Next month's meeting promises to be dynamic, with Joyce Wyatt and Jo Ann Mill's program on "Crochet for Knitters." For those of you who have not met Joyce, she is a long-time Guild member and a professional teacher, who has taught at knitting conferences such as Stitches. As summer comes to a close, we can be proud to put behind us another season of productive knitting! A big thank you to all of the ladies who participated in last month's charity program, which was organized by Brenda P., who also artfully maintains our wonderful website. We will have many lovely lap blankets to donate to seniors residing at the Royalwood Care Center in Torrance. Please be sure to turn in all completed lap blankets at the September meeting. I have often reflected on the spiritual nature of knitting as a craft. And, I am not alone. Many texts have been written on how knitting relates to meditation, prayer, and mystery. Some feel that knitting's spiritual dynamic comes from the actual repetitive movements and methods of knitting itself. Still others find it is the end product we give to others or to ourselves which makes knitting feel soulful. With knitting being touted as the "new yoga," there are endless possibilities once we have needles and yarn in hand. Related to the topic of knitting's spiritual aspects is the news that an "organic" theme will pervade fiber trends this fall. Interweave Knits Fall 2007 issue had a full-length article on the new organic yarns, posing the question, how is an "organic" yarn different from a conventional yarn? While we love yarn whether "organic" or not, knitting a yarn produced with eco-friendly processes affirms our relationship to nature and the planet. Not only is organic a choice in fiber, we can choose organic themes in our designs, such as earth tones, rugged textures, and folk-inspired shapes. Whether you choose to knit a prayer shawl, a yoga bag, or anything else, I hope you will find the Guild is a welcoming place to come for support! Happy knitting, Cindy |
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Last month we said "Happy Birthday" to Slipt Stitchers of El Segundo, and I am happy to report that many ladies joined in the festivities at our birthday potluck. It is an appropriate time for me to thank all of the members who contribute generously, and have contributed generously in the past, to make our Guild what it is today. If you are a newer member and would like to get more involved, there are always many opportunities, and you need only to ask! Slipt Stitchers of El Segundo is a chapter of The Knitting Guild Association (TKGA), a national nonprofit organization devoted to promoting the craft of knitting. While membership in TKGA is mandatory only for officers of the Guild, I encourage you to join TKGA in addition to your Slipt Stitchers membership. Membership in TKGA allows you to receive Cast-On, a quarterly magazine with patterns and articles of interest to knitters. You also enjoy a member-rate on all TKGA-sponsored activities, including the Master Knitting Program, correspondence courses, and Knit and Crochet Shows and Conferences. For more information about TKGA membership, please visit their website at tkga.com. Because we are part of TKGA, a national nonprofit organization, we have an ongoing commitment to charity knitting. The amount of charity knitting is up to the individual members, and our members have always generously and whole-heartedly supported our charity programs. This year's Charity Chairperson is former Guild President, Patti Ialongo, so if you have any questions about charity knitting, please be sure to ask Patti. We are currently supporting several charity knitting opportunities. First, we support Stitches From the Heart, which accepts baby items and other knitted or crocheted items for underprivileged mothers. (Ask Brandi D. or Joan W. about Stitches.) Second, we are knitting lap blankets for senior citizens residing at the Torrance-based Royalwood Care Center. (Ask Brenda P. or Cindy P. about the lap blankets.) Third, we are knitting scarves for U.S. service men and women in Iraq through the Compatto yarn store. (Ask Monika R. about Scarves for Soldiers.) Finally, the membership has brought to our attention two organizations accepting knitted and crocheted items: Afghans for Afghans and the Red Scarf Project. Thank you so much for all of your support! |
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About this Project Dimensions & Materials Please use smooth, machine-washable and -dryable yarn (a soft acrylic is a good choice) in cheerful colors! In order to make assembly of knit squares easier, it is recommend you add a garter or seed-stitch border to your blocks and use a selvage stitch edge (e.g. chain stitch selvage, or slipping the first stitch of each row purlwise). Schedule You are encouraged to turn in squares as you complete them so they may be photographed and posted on the guild Web site. Squares may be submitted to Brenda Podemski in the following ways:
Need a little inspiration? Links to patterns and ideas for squares will be posted in the Newsletter and Web site each month. Questions and Suggestions Thank you all for participating in this fun and worthwhile project! |
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Big Trees from Little Acorns Ann Roberts first learned about AnySoldier.com late in 2004, and as a long time knitter, she asked her knitting friends to make scarves which she and her husband, Fred, could send off to soldiers for Christmas. In 2004, she collected and they shipped 45 scarves. In any project there are many highlights - here are just a few of them:
More and more people wanted to do something special for our young men and women now serving in Iraq and Afghanistan - and the Roberts' were pleased to be one of the many pathways. They selected the recipients from a wonderful website named AnySoldier.com which lists 3,900+ soldiers each of whom acts as focal point for their particular group - the smallest group receiving boxes from the Roberts' was 4 soldiers and the largest group was 160 soldiers. All in all, 43 boxes were packed - 15 large boxes (6+ cubic feet each), 12 empty fruit boxes (from Stater Brothers), plus an eclectic collection of smaller boxes - for a total weight of 675 pounds. Each box, in addition to hand-knit scarves contained a variety of items featuring Hot Chocolate (packets or boxes), bundles of white socks, cans of coffee, Hall's lozenges, packets of Cookies, bottles of shampoo, bags of Popcorn, Christmas gifts and so on. In letters packed inside each of the boxes, they said, "We want you to know just how much we value each and every one of you. You are certainly the cream of the crop, and we look forward to your safe return to your families and loved ones. Hope this package makes your Christmas a little brighter." - and, each letter was signed, "With great affection for all of you." In describing how this "small effort" has grown, the Roberts' noted there are several different groupings of knitters (and others) who participated and can be "defined" or "named" to provide the reader with a better sense of those who donated scarves and/or was a part of the Scarves for Soldiers project. They are: Knitting Groups - These are knitters who generally live near to each other, get together in a social environment and enjoy each other's company - some groups have names, some do not.
Knitting Guilds - These are knitters who generally meet monthly, and frequently have a program to learn something entirely new. Knitting Guilds have officers, a newsletter and have membership dues. Guilds are usually affiliated with the Knitting Guild of America.
Large Volunteer Organization
Knitting Shops - These are usually small businesses where the owner(s) are frequently skilled knitters, and offer classes. Since there are so many different yarns, it is not uncommon to find something totally different in a shop that is not offered or available anywhere else. These shops have all displayed the Scarves for Soldiers signs and have served as collection points for their customers.
Other Businesses that Helped
And - all the Post Office patrons who patiently waited while our many boxes and custom forms were processed at the counter In summary, the Roberts' report being happy they were able to keep this project on track - in spite of the very huge increase in volume, and noted it would have been significantly more difficult without the overwhelming generosity of so many people. Asked about next year, their response was, "Let us get everything out the door for 2006, before we even begin to think about next year!" And, just in case you wondered, 1,511 scarves represented about 4-1/2 million stitches. |
