8-18-18 Attending: 15 + new member Volunteer Hours: Month 15 / Year-to-date:
Donations: Month 2 / Year-to-date:
Welcome new member: Debbie C.
Old Business:
Susan S. suggested someone who might be a possibility for presenting a program/lesson: Catherine Sullivan, of the Glen Allen Cultural Center. Susan will make contact about the feasibility of a future date.
Corky recommended planning a field trip to Yarn Club, in VA Beach, 2448 Virginia Beach Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454. This site is there new store. Also there is a shop; Stitch Please Yarn Arts at 5501 Bennett's Pasture Rd, suite g, Suffolk, VA 23435; as well as, Baa Baa Sheep at 754 W 22nd St, Norfolk, VA 23517.
Reminder for one and all to keep ears to the ground about other potential presenters, as we need, already, to be thinking about programs for 2019.
Sad news! Dirt Woman is closing in December. Close-out sale is already in progress with everything 40% off. Proprietors are preparing for their well deserved retirement.
Good news! A new knitting shop is opening in Ashland, in October, Center of the Yarniverse, at 109 England Street, near the railroad tracks and Suzanne's. Parking on the street is hard to find, but there is parking in back via Robinson Street.
American Heart Association/Red Hats for Newborns: We will be supporting this cause again this year. Gene is liaison. We need to have the hats done to hand in at the Jan. 2019 meeting, so the hospital has them at the start of the Feb. campaign.
NEW Business:
Elaine K. has a contact with a group in Sandston, who knits for hospital "newborns in need". They gladly accept donations of leftovers of baby yarn, as well as any finished products. Bring any donations to any meeting for Elaine K. What a great way to thin out the stash!
Show 'n Tell:
- Suzanne T. showed us the 'slip-stitch' fingerless mittens she made as a result of lessons learned from Mary's presentation,
last month, on slip-stitch knitting. Done in grey and gradient shades of plum to light purple the finished product was
great!. She made the thumb by picking up 16 stitches doing stockinette for a few rows, then switching to 2x2 ribbing for a
few more.
- Marie dressed 2 bears for donation with vests and hats. She also awed us with a beautiful crescent scarf with beaded edge,
and of course, jewelry to coordinate. The scarf was done in sock yarn in shades of brown and peach set against teal. The beads were
set into a picot edge. The pattern was from the book: One Skein Wonders, by Judith Durant.
- Corky used a pattern from the same book to make a triangle scarf in teal with fall colors of red, gold, and yellow-green. Marie made her
jewelry to accessorize. What a team those two make! Corky also showed us a lovely russet colored lace scarf done in linen that she got at
our last field trip to Dirt Woman. We sure are going to miss that shop! Currently on her needles, Corky is making the Chloé cardigan. She is
using the cotton fiber recommended but isn't enjoying it, suggesting that anyone making this project choose something else in DK
instead. Also still in progress is a grey ribbed scarf for her husband.
- Susan S. is making herself a pair of socks in medium grey with a lovely, feminine pattern. She is also in the process of finishing unfinished
projects from Interweaves Timeless Designs, which has about 35 different patterns.
- Elaine K. bought yarn for a woven afghan, but wasn't happy with it, so she switched her plans to use that yarn for prayer shawls, in cream
with brown and black flecks, almost making a tweed look. Can't wait to see how the finished project looks!
- Mary made a soft, green, maple-leaf-shaped shawl, by Maria Magnusson, on Ravelry, www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/maple-leaf-shawl.
On her trip to Ohio, she bought some knitting magazines published in Britain, that are hard to find in the U.S. which she passed around for
us to view. She was modeling a bateau necked, sleeveless ribbed top with a folded neckline that created a collar. The envy in the room
was palatable!
- Debbie C. our newest member and an empty nester, was inspired to learn by watching a co-worker who crochets, and the wonderful
projects made by her friend of many years, our own Martha. We are delighted to have her join our merry band, and we are all ready,
willing, and able to help her along her way through learning endeavor projects. :-) Our Mary jumped right in to explain he value of gauge
swatches. See the drop down menu on our Helpful References page for links to beginner instructions on YouTube. :-)
- Martha was working with a lively, lime green fiber, purchased in Nags Head, making sox.
- Linda finished the black garter stitch scarf for her daughter, exclaiming it was her last project done in all black! Currently she is working on
a crocheted, corner-to-corner afghan in gradient shades of grey and purple, purchased at Yarn Matters, Williamsburg. There she also won a
skein of yarn using the kitchner stitch and incorporating beads in the ends, such as this scarf from Ravelry:
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tnt-beaded-scarf.
- Elke too won a skein of yarn at Yarn Matters, a soft pink silk fiber, but hasn't decided what to do with it yet. She bought a cake of gradient
fiber for a scarf, in shades of pink to coral to yellow to peach. Such luscious colors!
- Jennifer is making a lovely lilac prayer shawl with yarn she found at a bargain price.
- Gene, who is expecting another great-niece into the family, is working on a pink, lacy baby sweater, that will take three buttons in the
yoke. Sweet! Simultaneously he is working on grey stripe socks, and a garter stitch woman 's sweater, called Veronica, that he started at a
knit-along at Yarn Matters in Williamsburg. It's a a rib knit all in one piece with kimono sleeves, from Modern Knitter magazine.
- Deb B. explained the new fiber to use for making pot scrubbers. We, the curious, will have to check it out at Walmart or A.C. Moore. She is
finding her way through a tricky scarf pattern, called Boom, that was curling using the recommended circular needles, but didn't improve
with straight needles. Having sought help, she's now on the way to finishing the project. Will certainly be interesting to see after this
introduction! If it's the free pattern on Ravelry by the same name, it's describe as an asymetrical boomerang shaped scarf knit all in garter.
We shall see, perhaps next month!
- Jeri was able to rejoin us this month but hasn't been knitting due to health issues. As always, she offered valued insights and great advice.
- Elaine B., who is unhappily still working on a Transitions Lux kit scarf shared fears of running out of fiber to finish! The ensuing discussion
of this issue revealed that other company's kits also share the same issues. The manufacturers don't take into account that some people
knit looser than others. Also, they add in new colors with a knot that has no length to a tail for weaving in, when, like Elaine, you cut that
knot and retie another, leaving longer tail ends for weaving, you might be cutting your supply short. However, in this case, the amount of
inches left in tails no way adds up to the amount of fiber short to finish the project. Elaine is going to track down a contact for this
manufacturer and make a complaint!
Reminder: Next month we meet at Untangled Purls in Fredericksburg, noon - two. Click on our "Coming in 2018" page for links to brioche patterns in preparation for our brioche lesson at Untangled Purls.
Donations: Month 2 / Year-to-date:
Welcome new member: Debbie C.
Old Business:
Susan S. suggested someone who might be a possibility for presenting a program/lesson: Catherine Sullivan, of the Glen Allen Cultural Center. Susan will make contact about the feasibility of a future date.
Corky recommended planning a field trip to Yarn Club, in VA Beach, 2448 Virginia Beach Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454. This site is there new store. Also there is a shop; Stitch Please Yarn Arts at 5501 Bennett's Pasture Rd, suite g, Suffolk, VA 23435; as well as, Baa Baa Sheep at 754 W 22nd St, Norfolk, VA 23517.
Reminder for one and all to keep ears to the ground about other potential presenters, as we need, already, to be thinking about programs for 2019.
Sad news! Dirt Woman is closing in December. Close-out sale is already in progress with everything 40% off. Proprietors are preparing for their well deserved retirement.
Good news! A new knitting shop is opening in Ashland, in October, Center of the Yarniverse, at 109 England Street, near the railroad tracks and Suzanne's. Parking on the street is hard to find, but there is parking in back via Robinson Street.
American Heart Association/Red Hats for Newborns: We will be supporting this cause again this year. Gene is liaison. We need to have the hats done to hand in at the Jan. 2019 meeting, so the hospital has them at the start of the Feb. campaign.
NEW Business:
Elaine K. has a contact with a group in Sandston, who knits for hospital "newborns in need". They gladly accept donations of leftovers of baby yarn, as well as any finished products. Bring any donations to any meeting for Elaine K. What a great way to thin out the stash!
Show 'n Tell:
- Suzanne T. showed us the 'slip-stitch' fingerless mittens she made as a result of lessons learned from Mary's presentation,
last month, on slip-stitch knitting. Done in grey and gradient shades of plum to light purple the finished product was
great!. She made the thumb by picking up 16 stitches doing stockinette for a few rows, then switching to 2x2 ribbing for a
few more.
- Marie dressed 2 bears for donation with vests and hats. She also awed us with a beautiful crescent scarf with beaded edge,
and of course, jewelry to coordinate. The scarf was done in sock yarn in shades of brown and peach set against teal. The beads were
set into a picot edge. The pattern was from the book: One Skein Wonders, by Judith Durant.
- Corky used a pattern from the same book to make a triangle scarf in teal with fall colors of red, gold, and yellow-green. Marie made her
jewelry to accessorize. What a team those two make! Corky also showed us a lovely russet colored lace scarf done in linen that she got at
our last field trip to Dirt Woman. We sure are going to miss that shop! Currently on her needles, Corky is making the Chloé cardigan. She is
using the cotton fiber recommended but isn't enjoying it, suggesting that anyone making this project choose something else in DK
instead. Also still in progress is a grey ribbed scarf for her husband.
- Susan S. is making herself a pair of socks in medium grey with a lovely, feminine pattern. She is also in the process of finishing unfinished
projects from Interweaves Timeless Designs, which has about 35 different patterns.
- Elaine K. bought yarn for a woven afghan, but wasn't happy with it, so she switched her plans to use that yarn for prayer shawls, in cream
with brown and black flecks, almost making a tweed look. Can't wait to see how the finished project looks!
- Mary made a soft, green, maple-leaf-shaped shawl, by Maria Magnusson, on Ravelry, www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/maple-leaf-shawl.
On her trip to Ohio, she bought some knitting magazines published in Britain, that are hard to find in the U.S. which she passed around for
us to view. She was modeling a bateau necked, sleeveless ribbed top with a folded neckline that created a collar. The envy in the room
was palatable!
- Debbie C. our newest member and an empty nester, was inspired to learn by watching a co-worker who crochets, and the wonderful
projects made by her friend of many years, our own Martha. We are delighted to have her join our merry band, and we are all ready,
willing, and able to help her along her way through learning endeavor projects. :-) Our Mary jumped right in to explain he value of gauge
swatches. See the drop down menu on our Helpful References page for links to beginner instructions on YouTube. :-)
- Martha was working with a lively, lime green fiber, purchased in Nags Head, making sox.
- Linda finished the black garter stitch scarf for her daughter, exclaiming it was her last project done in all black! Currently she is working on
a crocheted, corner-to-corner afghan in gradient shades of grey and purple, purchased at Yarn Matters, Williamsburg. There she also won a
skein of yarn using the kitchner stitch and incorporating beads in the ends, such as this scarf from Ravelry:
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tnt-beaded-scarf.
- Elke too won a skein of yarn at Yarn Matters, a soft pink silk fiber, but hasn't decided what to do with it yet. She bought a cake of gradient
fiber for a scarf, in shades of pink to coral to yellow to peach. Such luscious colors!
- Jennifer is making a lovely lilac prayer shawl with yarn she found at a bargain price.
- Gene, who is expecting another great-niece into the family, is working on a pink, lacy baby sweater, that will take three buttons in the
yoke. Sweet! Simultaneously he is working on grey stripe socks, and a garter stitch woman 's sweater, called Veronica, that he started at a
knit-along at Yarn Matters in Williamsburg. It's a a rib knit all in one piece with kimono sleeves, from Modern Knitter magazine.
- Deb B. explained the new fiber to use for making pot scrubbers. We, the curious, will have to check it out at Walmart or A.C. Moore. She is
finding her way through a tricky scarf pattern, called Boom, that was curling using the recommended circular needles, but didn't improve
with straight needles. Having sought help, she's now on the way to finishing the project. Will certainly be interesting to see after this
introduction! If it's the free pattern on Ravelry by the same name, it's describe as an asymetrical boomerang shaped scarf knit all in garter.
We shall see, perhaps next month!
- Jeri was able to rejoin us this month but hasn't been knitting due to health issues. As always, she offered valued insights and great advice.
- Elaine B., who is unhappily still working on a Transitions Lux kit scarf shared fears of running out of fiber to finish! The ensuing discussion
of this issue revealed that other company's kits also share the same issues. The manufacturers don't take into account that some people
knit looser than others. Also, they add in new colors with a knot that has no length to a tail for weaving in, when, like Elaine, you cut that
knot and retie another, leaving longer tail ends for weaving, you might be cutting your supply short. However, in this case, the amount of
inches left in tails no way adds up to the amount of fiber short to finish the project. Elaine is going to track down a contact for this
manufacturer and make a complaint!
Reminder: Next month we meet at Untangled Purls in Fredericksburg, noon - two. Click on our "Coming in 2018" page for links to brioche patterns in preparation for our brioche lesson at Untangled Purls.