July 16, 2016
Old Business:
Andrée updated us on some leadership changes. Due to family committments, Donnie has resigned as President. Andrée has stepped up to fill that position. Gene has switched from Vice President to Andrée's position as Program Director. Susan continues as Treasurer and is reorganizing the documentation so that we can have regular treasury reports. Elaine B. will be logging donations and volunteer hours so that we have a more formal record of that, in order to maintain our non-profit status.
In addition, Susan reported that we have a bit more than $1900 in treasury after a check for $260 was sent to the Rescue Squad station to bring our committment of $20 per meeting there up to date. A brief discussion of using some of the treasury to bring in a guest presenter for a workshop. Gene is going to explore some options along that avenue.
Jeri suggested the idea of setting up a calendar to let members know well in advance which charity we will be collecting items for at each meeting. Elaine B. will put that together after discussion with a few members to make sure all our charities are included. When completed, a copy of that calendar will be included in this web site.
Show 'N Tell:
Elaine B. had 2 items to show: a child's sweater, in lavendar, with an white bow knit in via intarsia method. The other item was a first attempt at stranded colorwork, a knit bag, that was lined. She shared that she found the intarsia the most challenging, discovering when completed, that the twisting of fibers each time colors were changed had to be done with the right amount of tension or it could create a bit of pucking around the edge of the design. She'll get it right, next time! Elaine also shared a new tool purchased from Patternworks, the Stashbot. This tool contains tables to help a shopper know how much yarn to buy for any size garment, from babies to adults. It's a handy tool to have on a yarn crawl. Gail informed us that The Knitting B also carries that tool. Expect to spend about $6.00.
René shared some information about her recent trip to Iceland, as well as, showed some of the Icelandic wool she had brought back. Wool from Icelandic sheep is called lopi. This unique fleece produces a rather stiff yarn that needs to be conditioned to soften it. Apparently even hair conditioner could do the trick. She made a thin, beige scarf with recycled wool from an older garment and edged it with Icelandic wool. This project clearly showed the difference in texture between Icelandic wool and other fleece fiber.
Elaine K. is working on a lovely, rich green afghan for her daughter using the same pattern design she has been using for baby blankets.
Gene made a tiny baby boy sweater in variegated yarn in soft green, grey, and blue. He also brought in 4 winter hats for donation to the Hats For Kids project.
Suzanne T. made the lightest, softest scarf ever. The fiber was so fine that entire scarf weighted only like a handful of feathers. It had a beautiful subtle colorway of very dark green to brown. Lovely!
Becky showed us a scarf called, Arabella, the pattern for which can be found on Ravelry.
Andrée knit up two chickens. Hens or rooster was a bit hard to tell. She told us the hilarious family story that inspired her creations, the upshot of which is that an uncle in Florida will be soon sharing his home with said chickens.
Mary is currently working on a deliciously deep red prayer shawl.
Susan S. had some sox to show us. Seems hard to be thinking about sox given our July temperatures and humidity levels, but we'll be needing them sooner than it's pleasant to think about right now.
Gail is in the process of finishing up a jacket in a subtle greyish blue. She is so ambitious with her projects, and they always turn out so finely done. Eyes are green just thinking about it.
Marie, a newer member, has been working on shawls. She had an Arabella, a Hitchhiker in shades of green and grey, and a navy seed stitch cowl. Really busy fingers!
Corky made a triangle scarf, from designer Katy der Graaf, called "Little Surfer Girl", done in a fine Blue Heron yarn of rayon with a bit of metallic.
Our newest member, Jennifer, is working diligently on an afghan, based on the book, Learn To Knit ... Afghan Book, which yields a 7'x9' patchwork design of 63 uniquely patterned squares, if the project is completed according to the prescribed plan. Ambitious!!!!
Program: Jeri's mitten puppets.
Jeri introduced her program by showing us photos of completed mittens, as well as, actual mittens. Very cute. Then, having provided the patterns prior via our meeting reminder email, Jeri walked us through the process, which was a good thing, because some of her tips will render this project with very adorable results. Click here for the pattern and Jeri's tips. For those interested in expanding the menagerie to include a snake, like Jeri's, or a skunk. Contact her at home. Suggestions requesting a whale or a shark were also made.
Old Business:
Andrée updated us on some leadership changes. Due to family committments, Donnie has resigned as President. Andrée has stepped up to fill that position. Gene has switched from Vice President to Andrée's position as Program Director. Susan continues as Treasurer and is reorganizing the documentation so that we can have regular treasury reports. Elaine B. will be logging donations and volunteer hours so that we have a more formal record of that, in order to maintain our non-profit status.
In addition, Susan reported that we have a bit more than $1900 in treasury after a check for $260 was sent to the Rescue Squad station to bring our committment of $20 per meeting there up to date. A brief discussion of using some of the treasury to bring in a guest presenter for a workshop. Gene is going to explore some options along that avenue.
Jeri suggested the idea of setting up a calendar to let members know well in advance which charity we will be collecting items for at each meeting. Elaine B. will put that together after discussion with a few members to make sure all our charities are included. When completed, a copy of that calendar will be included in this web site.
Show 'N Tell:
Elaine B. had 2 items to show: a child's sweater, in lavendar, with an white bow knit in via intarsia method. The other item was a first attempt at stranded colorwork, a knit bag, that was lined. She shared that she found the intarsia the most challenging, discovering when completed, that the twisting of fibers each time colors were changed had to be done with the right amount of tension or it could create a bit of pucking around the edge of the design. She'll get it right, next time! Elaine also shared a new tool purchased from Patternworks, the Stashbot. This tool contains tables to help a shopper know how much yarn to buy for any size garment, from babies to adults. It's a handy tool to have on a yarn crawl. Gail informed us that The Knitting B also carries that tool. Expect to spend about $6.00.
René shared some information about her recent trip to Iceland, as well as, showed some of the Icelandic wool she had brought back. Wool from Icelandic sheep is called lopi. This unique fleece produces a rather stiff yarn that needs to be conditioned to soften it. Apparently even hair conditioner could do the trick. She made a thin, beige scarf with recycled wool from an older garment and edged it with Icelandic wool. This project clearly showed the difference in texture between Icelandic wool and other fleece fiber.
Elaine K. is working on a lovely, rich green afghan for her daughter using the same pattern design she has been using for baby blankets.
Gene made a tiny baby boy sweater in variegated yarn in soft green, grey, and blue. He also brought in 4 winter hats for donation to the Hats For Kids project.
Suzanne T. made the lightest, softest scarf ever. The fiber was so fine that entire scarf weighted only like a handful of feathers. It had a beautiful subtle colorway of very dark green to brown. Lovely!
Becky showed us a scarf called, Arabella, the pattern for which can be found on Ravelry.
Andrée knit up two chickens. Hens or rooster was a bit hard to tell. She told us the hilarious family story that inspired her creations, the upshot of which is that an uncle in Florida will be soon sharing his home with said chickens.
Mary is currently working on a deliciously deep red prayer shawl.
Susan S. had some sox to show us. Seems hard to be thinking about sox given our July temperatures and humidity levels, but we'll be needing them sooner than it's pleasant to think about right now.
Gail is in the process of finishing up a jacket in a subtle greyish blue. She is so ambitious with her projects, and they always turn out so finely done. Eyes are green just thinking about it.
Marie, a newer member, has been working on shawls. She had an Arabella, a Hitchhiker in shades of green and grey, and a navy seed stitch cowl. Really busy fingers!
Corky made a triangle scarf, from designer Katy der Graaf, called "Little Surfer Girl", done in a fine Blue Heron yarn of rayon with a bit of metallic.
Our newest member, Jennifer, is working diligently on an afghan, based on the book, Learn To Knit ... Afghan Book, which yields a 7'x9' patchwork design of 63 uniquely patterned squares, if the project is completed according to the prescribed plan. Ambitious!!!!
Program: Jeri's mitten puppets.
Jeri introduced her program by showing us photos of completed mittens, as well as, actual mittens. Very cute. Then, having provided the patterns prior via our meeting reminder email, Jeri walked us through the process, which was a good thing, because some of her tips will render this project with very adorable results. Click here for the pattern and Jeri's tips. For those interested in expanding the menagerie to include a snake, like Jeri's, or a skunk. Contact her at home. Suggestions requesting a whale or a shark were also made.