Bernat® knit and crochet for Breast Cancer
There are many ways to “Race for the Cure®” to support the Susan G. Komen foundation in bring awareness to this disease that primarily affects women. Michigan had four affiliates sponsoring races this year with the Grand Rapids, MI race scheduled to take place Saturday September 26, 2009.
The Susan G. Komen Foundation is the leader in the breast cancer movement by supporting the research to cure this disease. The foundation is constantly finding new partners and sponsers to generate funds to support their cause. The Susan G. Komen Foundation is the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.
The knitting community is no exception in supporting breast cancer sufferers. Pattern designers and Charity knitters have long supported breast cancer sufferers by knitting and crocheting Chemo caps.
The September newsletter from Bernat® introduces the new Knit & Crochet for Breast Cancer collection. This collection is available at participating ACMoore, JoAnns, Michaels, Walmart Canada and Zellers – while quantities last. Bernat® is contributing $10,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure® through the purchase of the yarn in the Knit & Crochet for Breast Cancer collection from August 15 – November 15, 2009.
Bernat has also made available 4 new free patterns featuring their new yarns. There are two knit patterns and two crochet patterns available for download. These patterns are not available through the normal free pattern search.
Easy Gift Scarf Cabled Hat & Scarf Prayer Shawl Crochet Chemo Cap
It is important for us as a community to acknowledge the many men and women that have fought breast cancer. The best way to honor their heroism is to work towards a cure and to make a difference. A purchase from the Knit & Crochet for Breast Cancer collection will make sure the total amount of $10,000 will be given to the to Susan G. Komen for the Cure® foundation.
To find out more information about breast cancer research, breast health, or any other breast cancer issues, visit the foundation or call 1-877-GO-KOMEN.
1 comment September 7, 2009
Knitting needles could be classed as weapons in Scotland
2 comments August 28, 2009
Stitch n' Pitch at Comerica Park
TheNational Needlearts Association (TNNA) has partnered with Major League and Minor League Baseball to host people who love to knit, crochet, crossstitch,embroider and needlepoint. These promotional events attract thousands of “Stitch N’ Pitch fans” every year who are encouraged to bring their projects to work on during the game.
Stitching in public has become a hot trend and seeing groups of people working on needlearts projects in coffee shops, restaurants and other unusual places is becoming a regular sighting.
Stitch n’ Pitch will be at the Detroit Tigers vs. Tampa Bay Rays game held Sunday, August 30, 2009 at 1:05 p.m. Grab your needles and yarn and come cheer for the Tigers while you embroider, needlepoint, knit, crochet or cross-stitch with other creative people like you!
The Tigers have reserved a special section of seats for the Stitch n’ Pitach participants. The seating is in sections 210 to 215 for this special event. Tickets are only $15.00. To purchase tickets at this special location, go to the Stitch n’ Pitch website and follow the links.
Also, as part of the “Every Kid Every Sunday” promotion, all kids 14-and-under can enjoy the following:
• Back to School Backpack sponsored by DMC
• Pre-Game Kids Take the Field presented by Big Boy
• Kids Day Bicycle Giveaways (4 per game)
• Free Rides on the Carousel and Ferris Wheel presented by Red Robin
• Interactive baseball Card Game “Pack Attack!”
• Post-Game Kids Run the Bases presented by Pepsi
• Face-Painting
Locally, tickets are available at City Knits in Detroit and Mount Clemens.
Add comment August 23, 2009
Sock Summit knitters aim to set Guinness World Record
The organizers of Sock Summit decided to have an event to break the Guinness World record of people knitting simultaneously. Stephanie Pearl-McPhee and Tina Newton booked the Oregon Ballroom of the Convention Center to hold this event. The ballroom was limited to 1600 knitters. The Knitters at Sock Summit, all 935 of them, attempted to set the world record for simultaneous knitting. The previous record, set in June in Australia, was 256 knitters
On Friday, the 7th of August at 12:15 p.m., the knitters started knitting, following the Guinness World Record rules. The Guinness World Record rules were that the attempt must be made by knitters knitting for 15 minutes, using “traditional needles” which they define as “two needles”. This means that every person that participated used two needles, and not circulars or four needles. The attempt was a success. The record was broken, but no official word yet.
There are many blogs detailing this event, and also a video from K2TOG at The Oregonian.
Add comment August 15, 2009
Old Yarn Company creates New Brand
[tag]Blue Sky Alpacas[/tag] started out importing luxury alpaca yarns, and then added cotton to its line. When it came time to add other fibers to their line, many people just could not get past the Alpaca tag, and never expected to find any other fiber offered by this company. To get around this marketing problem without changing the name of the company, or remove focus from the Alpaca yarn customers, Blue Sky created a new line of yarns and patterns with a different name and brand. This new line of yarns are made of natural but machine-washable fibers and is called[tag] Spud & Chloe[/tag]. The yarns are made of wool, silk and cotton.
[tag]Clara Parkes[/tag] , author and blogger, reviews the new line of yarns from Blue Sky Alpacas at her[tag] Knitter’s Review[/tag] site. According to Clara, this yarn brand, Spud & Chloe, was the hit of the recent TNNA.
The yarn comes in 3 weights to complement one another, and in a multitude of colors. The yarns can probably be found at your favorite store by now. A google search (my favorite search engine) found many hits yarn stores, including kits at[tag] Jimmy Beans Wool.[/tag]
In addition to the new yarn, [tag]Susan B. Anderson[/tag], blogger and author of Itty-Bitty Hats and Itty-Bitty Nursery, is now working for Blue Sky Alpacas. Susan was hired to write and create the Spud and Chloe blog and to design and write free patterns for the blog,with new and fresh free patterns every month.
Add comment July 5, 2009
Self Publishing your Ideas or Patterns
Have you developed patterns that you would like to compile into a book, or perhaps offer on the internet? Many people dream of the great American Novel, and would like to someday write that novel. Now,there are ways to get a book published without hiring a publishing house or an agent. You can self-publish your ideas without mortgaging your house!
The term “self publishing” produced over47,000,000 hits at google.com. Here are just two that I looked into, including one that is use by blogger and knitter [tag]Nanette Blanchard[/tag]. Nanette blogs at [tag]Knitting in Color[/tag].
One self-publisher is[tag] Lulu.com[/tag] The Lulu website offers many options for the self-publisher, including templates, methods of binding, and marketing if you so desire. You also can set up a storefront to sell your books or patterns electronically.
Another company that offers publishing services is called, appropriately,[tag] Self Publishing, Inc[/tag]. Self Publishing offers different services than Lulu, including packages that use the help of Graphic Designers. Self Publishing also has an online book store for the self published authors called[tag] Just Bookz[/tag] where your book is listed for sale at no cost to you after you use their services.
Whatever choice in publishing you make, I hope it is both profitable and enjoyable for you.
Add comment July 2, 2009
Stranded Knitting Reprints
Stranded Knitting describes the process of carrying two colors of yarn in your hand while knitting a color pattern. One color strands across the back while the other color is being knit. This is a great way to produce a double thickness of knitted material, while still only having to knit the stitches to produce one layer. When you use lofty yarns, this traps body heat without producing bulk . The firm gauge produced by this type of knitting, and the way that the yarn runs cross ways to the openings in the fabric, help keep the body-warmed air trapped instead of losing it. In countries where the weather is extremely cold for half the year, it’s pretty important. Stranded color work is pretty and practical due to it’s warmth without weight.
Even if you are a new knitter you can do this. Mastering color work is more a task of training yourself on how to hold the yarns and how to read a chart. There are several stranded knitting experts, such as [tag]Alice Starmore[/tag], [tag]Anne Feitelson[/tag], [tag]Carol Rasmussen Noble[/tag], [tag]Joyce William[/tag], [tag]Charlene Schurch[/tag] and [tag]Anna Zilboorg[/tag], to name a few.
Anna Zilboorg is a renowned knitter and designer. She was educated at Harvard, taught at MIT and then left the teaching world to become a hermit on a mountain, in love with wool. She is a teacher of note and experience, and the author of Magnificent Mittens, Knitting for Anarchists, 45 Fine & Fanciful Hats to Knit, Socks for Sandals and Clogs and Fancy Feet: Traditional Knitting Patterns of Turkey
Several of her books are out of print, but the reprint of Magnificent Mittens will happen in November. This book had some of the best knitting photography ever. Anna Zilboorg is one of the teachers at[tag] Sock Summit 2009[/tag].
Charlene Schurch learned to knit before she could read. She is also a spinner and dyer, and is fascinated with what can be created with needles and yarn. Charlene Schurch will also be teaching at Sock Summit 2009. Charlene Schurch is the author of Mostly Mittens, Hats On!, Knits for Girls and Dolls, Sensational Knitted Socks, More Sensational Knitted Socks and The Little Box of Socks. Charlene Schurch’s mittens book will also be reprinted in November as well so there is no need to pay high prices for these books used.
For other beautiful examples and patterns of stranded knitting, I suggest you look at [tag]Nanette Blanchard[/tag]‘s work. Nanette has patterns at Knitting in Color, her personal webstore, that she self-published. You can order a book or an electronic copy at her Lulu Store. Nanette’s patterns are also available at Ravelry as well as [tag]Amazon[/tag]. The individual patterns and technique booklets are available in PDF format at [tag]Ravelry[/tag] and you can purchase the 3 technique booklets in print at Amazon.
Add comment June 7, 2009
Sock Summit Registration Opens and the hate begins!
Sock Summit Registration opened Tuesday May 26th. Stephanie ([tag]Yarn Harlot[/tag])and Tina ([tag]Blue Moon Fiber Arts[/tag]) worked hard to get this summit up and running with high caliber teachers and speakers. They estimated the amount of convention goers based on the mailing list (12,000) and some math percentages to determine how large this seminar might be. They underestimated their ability to have people come – alot! Turns out about 30,000 wanted to attend. More than they dreamed and more than they could possibly accommodate at any venue!
And what happened when people couldn’t get the classes they wanted or even get registered for one class? Not only was there disappointment and frustration, but there was hatred. The type of hatred that makes people wonder why they even try to do something amazing. The hate mongering began as the server crashed due to the load of people attempting to register.
I am appalled and ashamed of the small percentage of the knitting community that had the temerity to spew hate and venom to these wonderful women. How dare you! These two fine people tried to have a summit that was not like anything ever arranged until now. Never has there been a teaching festival for just socks. In return for months of hard work, a significant cash outlay, they were treated like dirt. What a slap in the face this was.
I hope this doesn’t stop Stephanie and Tina in arranging future summits. I would like to think that the hateful comments are far outnumbered by the comments praising the good work that Stephanie and Tina are accomplishing!
And for all you naysayers – just you watch. I’m betting this will rock the knitting world and [tag]Sock Summit 2009[/tag] will be a tremondous hit!
Add comment May 29, 2009
Squam Art Workshops
Are you looking for a workshop that will revitalize your creative juices. something that provides you with a beautiful setting, activities that include swimming, hiking, and boating? How about numerous antique shops, second-hand stores, and general stores, as well as restaurants and picturesque towns, to explore?
If you answered yes to the above questions, you might be interested in attending the [tag]Squam Art Workshops[/tag] events to be held June 3 – 7, 2009 and September 16 – 20, 2009 at the [tag]Rockywold-Deephaven Camps[/tag] on Squam Lake, located in central New Hampshire For more information about the area, please check these links:
Squam Lakes Association
Squam Lakes Chamber of Commerce
There are many classes to choose from that include: painting, printmaking, journaling, doll making, writing, knitting, sewing, photography, crochet, sculpture, felting and some classes that combine several of those elements into one workshop. Both sessions follow the same format: there are three days of workshops.
Both sessions have 3 days of classes, June’s sessions will focus on textiles and September’s classes will focus on visual arts and writing workshops.
There is a very long list of classes, and a very long list of teachers for the June sessions. There are still spots available for the June session ; downpayment of $350 is needed. Registration and cost information is found here.
Another bonus, if you are a member of the [tag]Raverly[/tag] website, the first Ravelry party in New England will be at the SAW on Saturday, June 6th. The party. is open to all Ravelers and friends, not just participants of the Workshops
Add comment May 26, 2009
Contribute to Australia's National Gallery
How would you like to take part in creating a knitted pole cozy that will be on display at the [tag]National Gallery[/tag] in Australia? Not happening you say? Well read on.
Held over four days, Magda Sayeg, founder of [tag]Knitta Please[/tag], and Sydney artist [tag]Denise Litchfield[/tag] will transform the front entrance and foyer of the National Gallery.
Knitters are invited to help create squares of knitting for the coverings. Denise Litchfield - Grrl + dog writes about this event at her blog. This event is part of Knitta Please a festival of events from July5 to 12 , which celebrates the final week of the exhibition Soft sculpture.
Knitters are invited to help create pieces that measure 10–20 cm wide and 140 cm long, which will be stitched together by volunteers to create coverings for 6 large concrete poles - 10 meters high, that’s over thirty feet. Each pole measures 140 cms or 55 inches in circumference. That means your piece has to be that long to fit around the pole. Make sure your piece is no higher than 20 cms or 8 inches.
Any color of yarn, any type of yarn and any technique is accepted! The wackier the knitting the better. Use your imagination – recycled plastic bags, ribbon, whatever!
And, just to make it more fun -Denise Litchfield will send you special commemorative hand made, one -of- a- kind knitted bling just for sending a knitted swatch
You need to start knitting now and send your items to arrive by July 1st. Takes about 10 days to mail to Australia from the US. Just email Denise at grrlandog@bigpond.com to commit.
Include a small note stating your name, location and age (optional) because each knitted strip will have a small label stating the maker’s details.
1 comment May 14, 2009
Knitting Daily Waist Shaper
Ravelry
Yarn Harlot
