September 2017 Program

In September, we have our Annual Book Sale to benefit the Knitting Guild. Please donate any books you no longer want, so long as they are not textbooks. We accept fiction, nonfiction, hard cover, paperback and of course any knitting related books or magazines. The proceeds of this sale will go to the guild coffers for programs and education.

September – Sale and Discussion.
· Bring in your list or your favorite books about knitters and by knitters, from Mme. Defarge to Sue Grafton to Ann Budd, to share. These are for recommendation if you can’t bear to part with them.
Tell us why you recommend them. This is your chance to promote your favorite designer. (Although “Because I do.” is an OK answer for “Why”, try to tell us a little about the contents.)
Or – read a selection that concerns knitting from a favorite novel.
Example: Death of a Ghost – M.C. Beaton. Very good, very funny, if you like Hamish MacBeth, Scotland and the characters of the Scottish Highlands. One knitting mention, where “a middle aged woman with aubergine hair was knitting something long and grey.”
Find a book to take to the retreat.

Suggested prices for book exchange:
Paperbacks: 50 cents
Hardbacks: $1
Magazines and patterns 50 cents
Knitting Books will be priced (in general) $1 to $5 – the pricing will be done by the person who donates the book. Feel free to put a price you think is fair

We ask that you bring small bills and change to the meetings, as this makes it easier on the treasurer.

Dates and Locations:
The NIGHT MEETING will be on Tuesday evening, September 12, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, 2500 Soquel Ave.

The DAY MEETING will be on Thursday, September 21, from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Vintage Faith Church (aka The Abbey), the large brick church at the corner of Mission and Highland.
From Highway 1 North, Highland is the first right after the light at the top of the hill where Highway 1 merges into Mission Street. Parking lot is the first right turn off Highland.
From Highway 1 (Mission Street) South, turn left at the light on Walnut to Escalona. Turn right on Escalona to its end at Highland. Parking lot is across Highland. Enter through the Office; our meeting is straight ahead in The Fireside Room.
Stella Sexmith
147 Sacramento Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

831-425-4933

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Knitting at the Fair 2017

We are still looking for someone to coordinate the knitting volunteers at the fair.  Contact one of the officers if you are interested.

Please remember to bring your SCC Fair entries to the August meetings along with the completed entry form that can be downloaded from the SCC Fair website under Home Arts. Joanne Y. will take them to the fairgrounds on 8/26 and retrieve them 9/18.

Also, if anyone would like to set up and take down our table at the fair, Please let Stella know. It’s a great job.

Stella Sexmith

147 Sacramento Ave.

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

 

831-425-4933

August 2017 Program

Fancy Lace Edgings – Presented by member Stella Sexmith

Who has not wanted to add an interesting ribbed lace edge to a simple accessory so that you can keep your knitting interesting and mind engaged, or to dress up the piece a little? But, just how would you approach it? And where do you find patterns for those edges?

At the Knitting Guild this month member Stella Sexmith will present a few different lace edges that you can make and show you how to convert them from a flat sample to an in-the-round sample. Using the concepts presented, you will be able to add lace edgings to simple hats, cowls, socks, scarves or even sleeves. (This program was a suggestion of member Dorothy Mayeda.)

Although there is no “homework”, if you would like to participate in a short knitting practice in lace edging, please bring single colored or tonal yarn with appropriate needles. Worsted yarn and needles size 7 or 8 would be good.

We hope to see you at a meeting this month! Should you have an idea for a future program, please contact Stella Sexmith.
Dates and Locations:
The NIGHT MEETING will be on Tuesday evening, August 8, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, 2500 Soquel Ave.

The DAY MEETING will be on Thursday, August 17, from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Vintage Faith Church (aka The Abbey), the large brick church at the corner of Mission and Highland.
From Highway 1 North, Highland is the first right after the light at the top of the hill where Highway 1 merges into Mission Street. Parking lot is the first right turn off Highland.
From Highway 1 (Mission Street) South, turn left at the light on Walnut to Escalona. Turn right on Escalona to its end at Highland. Parking lot is across Highland. Enter through the Office; our meeting is straight ahead in The Fireside Room.

Judy’s Magic Cast On

Judy’s Magic Cast On
Taught by Joanne Yablonsky

Judy’s Magic Cast On is a seamless Cast On designed to be used with toe-up socks. It can also be the start of a handbag, eyeglass case, pillow cover, or limbs of stuffed toys.

Come learn this Cast On as an alternative to the provisional Cast On.

Joanne Yablonsky will teach this Cast On using a 40inch circular needle. She will share how it is used for knitting Cat Bordhi’s Guadalupe Mitts and Mountain Mitts (patterns available on ravelry for $5 each).

Materials needed: 32-40 inch circular needle size 4 or 5, worsted or DK yarn

*If you would like to start right in on a pair of Cat Bordhi’s mitts, download the pattern of your choice, bring yarn and circular needles for gauge. The mitts are knitted flat using the magic loop method. You will be able to complete one mitt in the course of the day!

July 2017 Program-How Ply Structure affects Knitting

Our speaker for the July meeting will be Kelly Locke. Kelly, a woman of many talents, recently wrote me:
“Gardeners have a saying. “Right plant, right place.” You know the feeling. You see a gorgeous plant at the nursery with such interesting flowers that you have to have it. You know it won’t thrive in your climate or fit in the spot you have for it, but you’ll make it work. The same thing happens at the yarn shop. A lovely soft yarn catches your eye. You take it home and you make something with it, but it isn’t quite right. The garment starts pilling before you have even finished the knitting. The fabric that was supposed to drape beautifully is instead stiff and firm. That beautiful lace that you worked so hard to make just doesn’t block open. You may wonder why the finished object is disappointing. Well, to paraphrase the gardener’s mantra, “Right yarn, right pattern.”
One of the yarn characteristics that can have a big impact on the finished project is the ply structure. Yet how many times have you actually examined and thought about the ply structure of the yarn you use? Spinners do a lot of thinking about yarn plying. As a long-time spinner I will share with you what spinning has taught me about ply structure and how it can help you match that gorgeous yarn to the pattern that will make if shine. “
I started spinning in 1998 and soon my skeins of yarn were overflowing the bowls and shelves where I had decoratively placed them. Even giving yarn away to friends and family couldn’t stop the proliferation! So I learned to knit and weave in self-defense! In 2014 my friend Marsha and I started the Two Ewes Fiber Adventures podcast to share our fiber fun with others. You can listen to the podcast and see other information about my projects at http://twoewesfiberadventures.com I’m also on Ravelry as 1hundredprojects.”

Please join us for our July meeting, an essential one for knitters to know.
Dates and Locations:
The NIGHT MEETING will be on Tuesday evening, July 11, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, 2500 Soquel Ave. (Dinner beforehand for those who wish at Jeffery’s on Soquel.)

The DAY MEETING will be on Thursday, July 20, from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Vintage Faith Church (aka The Abbey), the large brick church at the corner of Mission and Highland. From Highway 1 North, Highland is the first right after the light at the top of the hill where Highway 1 merges into Mission Street. Parking lot is the first right turn off Highland. From Highway 1 (Mission Street) South, turn left at the light on Walnut to Escalona. Turn right on Escalona to its end at Highland. Parking lot is across Highland. Enter through the Office; our meeting is straight ahead in The Fireside Room. (Lunch afterwards for those who wish at Zachary’s downtown on Pacific Avenue.)

Kris Nardello Dye Class

I’d like to remind you about signing up for Kris Nardello’s class using acid dyes on animal-based yarn. Dyeing yarn is lots of fun and this is a wonderful opportunity to create your own colorful yarns under the guidance of a talented instructor. We are extremely fortunate to have Kris as a teacher, as she is one of the most sought-after and talented dyers on the Central Coast. This is the last opportunity that you have to sign up for the class, since the deadline is June 17. We could use a couple more people in the class, or she might be forced to cancel. 

Dyeing skeins of animal-based yarn using acid dyes

When: Saturday, July 15th     9:30-1:30

Cost: $55 payable to Kris Nardello (see below)

Where: St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, Fellowship Hall, 2500 Soquel Dr., Santa Cruz

What’s Involved:

• Provide your own protein fiber yarn in skeins, up to 8 oz. total weight. (Protein fiber is fiber from an animal, so wool, cashmere, alpaca, mohair, yak, camel and silk qualify, as well as blends of those fibers.)  
• We will be using several different types of acid dyes and methods of application, so small skeins of yarn (like 1 oz.) are especially good for trying out multiple techniques.
• Many of these techniques are especially good to use with children as some of the dyes are food grade, easily available and non-toxic. 
• You will receive a folder with complete instructions, on-line resources and vendors for purchasing materials

 What else?

• Bring an apron, rubber gloves and plastic bags to carry home wet yarn.

• Bring a bag lunch and drinks and wear old clothes.  

 Questions?

• Please contact Kris Nardello at spderwmn@cruzio.com

 Note: Payment is not refundable unless the class does not meet minimum enrollment.  You may sell your spot to another person.  Registration closes on June 17th.

 Yes! I want to come!!!!!

Wonderful. Fill out the form here, send to Kris with $55.00. (You’ll have a great time.)

June 2017 Program

Here is the handout Stella created with all of the helpful sources.

Knitting Travelogue – Trips, festivals and vacations around the globe taken by several members, presented to inspire you in your own travels and creativity.

Have you ever dreamed of traveling to someplace around the world, or even just outside of Santa Cruz County to see how other people create the knitting supplies and products you enjoy so much? Were you aware that there are an incredible variety of knitting events to choose from, starting with animal visits, going through the shearing, spinning and dyeing process and making the end products that you love so much? Maybe you just want to take a knitting education trip and knit the entire time with someone famous in the field. Or perhaps you just want to take a trip and buy yarn.

Several members have done one or more of those things, and they keep on doing them! This month we will hear and see short presentations by several members who have traveled far and wide, and close to home, to participate in classes, festivals, vacations, and even short trips to experience knitting and yarn. We will provide the sources to find even more of these events.

It promises to be an exciting program.

We hope to see you at a meeting this month! Note: Both meetings are in the same week this month.
Dates and Locations:
The NIGHT MEETING will be on Tuesday evening, June 13, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, 2500 Soquel Ave.

The DAY MEETING will be on Thursday, June 15, from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Vintage Faith Church (aka The Abbey), the large brick church at the corner of Mission and Highland.From Highway 1 North, Highland is the first right after the light at the top of the hill where Highway 1 merges into Mission Street. Parking lot is the first right turn off Highland. From Highway 1 (Mission Street) South, turn left at the light on Walnut to Escalona. Turn right on Escalona to its end at Highland. Parking lot is across Highland. Enter through the Office; our meeting is straight ahead in The Fireside Room

World Wide Knit in Public Day

When:

• Saturday, June 10
• 10:00  until  yarn  runs  out

Where:  In front of Jamba Juice, Corner of Pacific Ave., Front St., Water St.   Santa Cruz

Bring:  Chair, Knitting/Crocheting  be prepared to sit outside

Maggie will bring:     

• extra yarn & knitting needles
• yarn for finger-knitting

What we need:

• Signs     
• Card table for display
• Cards  (Stella)
• Extra chairs

2017 Knitting Guild Retreat

Knitting Guild of Santa Cruz Annual Fall Retreat

September 22-24, 2017

Select here to get application to submit with reservation.

St. Francis Retreat Center, San Juan Bautista

Come join us for one day, two nights, or three nights. Get away from it all in beautiful, peaceful surroundings with all meals taken care of for you. This is an annual tradition with our Guild, but we welcome new people.

This year we are offering even more than before!

• Welcome table with all the information you need and a list of participants
• Well-prepared meals
• DIY Runway
• Tech corner for going online, scanning, copying, and printing
• Lanyard station for your name tag: Kumihimo
• Sharing/swapping table of knitting-related items
• Sharing ideas and patterns and getting/giving help

All activities are totally optional. You can knit, work on other projects, hike, read, socialize, take this time to be alone, and just do whatever you wish.

• Friday dinner through Monday lunch
  • $400 shared room
  • $515 private room
• Friday dinner through Sunday lunch
  • $280 shared room
  • $360 private room
• One day, breakfast through dinner
  • $ 65
• Non-member fee
  • $ 20

Questions? Contact Lisa Hoesing (821) 247-7201 lhoesing@earthlink.net

 

May 2017 Program- Felting

Felting – Presented by member Lisa Hoesing

Who has not admired those multicolored felted bags seen around town, or those felted bracelets on strangers’ wrists and colored felted bowls at our friends’ houses? But, just what makes them felt and how do you make those things?

Member Lisa Hoesing, who has an extensive background in crafts, will present the history, whys and wherefores of felting and will lead us in making a felted wrist band at the Knitting Guild this month. Using the concepts presented, you will be able to make your own felted objects.

To participate in this presentation, please knit a 5 stitch 10” i-cord of 100% wool, or 60/40 wool/silk using needles that are normally too large for the yarn leaving a 10” cast on end. For instance, if you are using 100% worsted wool, knit using size 10 or 11 needles. (The wool needs room to felt.) Fasten the ends together with the cast on end and bury the tails in the center of the i-cord. (If you don’t have leftover wool yarn, types that work well are Brown Sheep, Cascade 220 or Schoppel-Wolle Reggae Ombre, all available at The Swift Stitch.)

We hope to see you at a meeting this month!

Dates and Locations:

 The NIGHT MEETING will be on Tuesday evening, May 9, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, 2500 Soquel Ave.

The DAY MEETING will be on Thursday, May 18, from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Vintage Faith Church (aka The Abbey), the large brick church at the corner of Mission and Highland.

From Highway 1 North, Highland is the first right after the light at the top of the hill where Highway 1 merges into Mission Street.  Parking lot is the first right turn off Highland.

From Highway 1 (Mission Street) South, turn left at the light on Walnut to Escalona.  Turn right on Escalona to its end at Highland. Parking lot is across Highland.  Enter through the Office; our meeting is straight ahead in The Fireside Room.