Hi All!
I’ve not been too chatty lately, I know. Sorry, but I’ve had my fingers and brain busy with making: a wedding afghan for my son and daughter-in-law-to-be (end of March) and baby things, including Sheldon the Turtle, for my grandson (ETA May 9). All I can say is THANK GOD I’ve learned how to use my USM (Ultimate Sweater Machine).
I would have thought knitting on a machine was cheating until I started learning how to use it. It takes patience and still requires skill and concentration, but I can manage 20 rows of a lace and cable pattern in about 20 minutes, so the afghan may actually get done in time.
Update on Kay
Keep Kay in your thoughts and prayers. They’ve stopped the chemo because she’s been getting so weak from it. Hopefully, she’ll regain her strength and health—and be back to knit with us soon. You can email her directly at cskipkay at gmail dot com to send some love and support.
WOO HOO!! Yarn Shops in PTC & Newnan!
We’ve got more info on the yarn shops—and I’m happy to welcome both to our area of fibery delights.
Ashley Murray will be opening Two Sisters Knitting Nook at 15 Greenville St, Newnan at the end of March. She’ll be offering yarn, knitting and classes, and says that spinning supplies will also be coming soon. Visit www.2sistersknit.com for more info.
Cheryl Drury’s shop, Sugarfoot Yarns is opening, also in March, in Peachtree City, in the Kroger shopping strip on Hwy 54 & Peachtree Parkway. You can reach Cheryl at through www.sugarfootyarns.com.
Both Two Sisters and Sugarfoot have groups on Ravelry, so join to keep up on the news!
Also, Maggie reports that Hobby Lobby is also coming to Newnan in the old Belk’s building, according to the Times Herald.
Heritage Knit Club
The March meetings for the Heritage Knit Club are set for Tuesday, March 3 and Tuesday, March 17. Drop in from 3:30 to 4:30pm at Heritage of Peachtree (across from Gold’s Gym and the Dive Shop on Hwy 54).
The Chain Gang
Our February meeting had special visitors from the Kennesaw Chain Gang—many thanks to them for making the trip. We loved meeting our new sister group and several of us are planning to get up to one of their meetings soon.
The Chain Gang’s next meeting is Tuesday, March 3rd 6 to 8 pm at St. Catherine’s Church (1618 Ben King Road, Room 204, Kennesaw). Caryn Southwick from “The Whole Nine Yarns” in Woodstock will be their guest speaker. Caryn will bring new and exciting fibers that are out on the market, crochet books, crochet patterns and a list of crochet classes offered by “The Whole Nine Yarns.”
Crocheters of all levels are welcome to join. Please RSVP to Gina O’Leary at 404-723-4446 by Friday, February 27.
(Materials needed for this class: If you would like to participate in our “crochet” swap to celebrate National Crochet Month, please bring a taped brown paper lunch bag and enclose in it anything crochet related that you would like to share. You bring a bag and bring home a bag that another member has brought. Your items can be something as simple as some neat patterns, a skein of yarn, a crochet hook, something crocheted that you made….only caveat is that it MUST fit inside of the brown paper lunch bag. Be creative. Have fun!)
CGOA Contest
If you’re a member of the Crochet Guild of America, check out their upcoming contest at http://www.crochet.org/pdfs/2009_DC_announcement.pdf
If you’re not a member, visit www.crochet.org to learn about becoming one.
From Maggie
Here’s a site to keep you up on the latest festivals, events and other fiber related fun:
http://www.spinweave.org/news/festivals.html
Online spinning mag: http://spindlicity.com/2009_01/index.shtml
For Peeps lovers like me:
http://www.materialwhirled.com/Peepy-Basket-Kit-pr-48.html
From Janet Kent
Hahahaha—someone should inform this reporter it’s not an inexpensive hobby:
http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=6805423
From Wilma
A very important fundraiser:
http://www.needlenookatlanta.com/specialevents.html
From Elizabeth Ravenwood
New book available! http://www.leisurearts.com/items/4765/Stars-in-the-Making/c/Knitting/s/newest/default.aspx
With getting to know – and love – my rigid heddle loom, I have discovered that I no longer need my 7″ Tri-Loom from Carol Leigh. For those who have never woven on one, there is no weaving experience necessary to use this loom. It warps itself while you are going over and under the threads.
The 7′ adjustable oak loom, its oak stand, and instructional video cost $370 in 2000, so I suppose they are more now. I am asking $300 for the whole thing to get it out of my studio. Note that there are no shed sticks included as I bought those separately and am using them with my rigid heddle loom. (For those who don’t know, shed sticks are used to clear the shed if you are using especially fluffy yarns like mohair. Though I bought them, I never used the shed sticks with the tri-loom.)
The little great wheel is in kit form, still in its package, ready to assemble with a hammer, screwdriver, and white glue, and then decorate as you desire – photo of two decorated little great wheels is attached. I bought this kit thinking I needed a second little great wheel for cotton projects, but find that I am getting plenty done on my first, beautifully painted, little great wheel. Please note that this is a spindle wheel, not a flyer wheel. The cost of this little wheel was $125 when I bought it, but am selling it for $100 (no charge for the dust on the wrappings).
You can pick up the loom and/or little great wheel at my house, or we can make arrangements for pick up at an alternate location. Please email me at dogyarns at gmail dot com if you wish to purchase either of these great items.
From the Spin List
Spin Off has a new site and some networking is going on there: http://spinoffmagazine.com/
Lonely Hungarian Sheep
Another funny website, this one on the plight of Hungarian woolmaking. http://lonelyhungariansheep.blogspot.com/
It’s not quite Cake Wrecks, but it’s good. (I love the bit about “Budapessimists.”)
You don’t know Cake Wrecks? Get over there NOW: http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/
Need more snarky humor? Google “You Knit What” There are a few sites that answer the question hysterically.
BTW, I found a Hungarian Knitters Group on Ravelry and I’ve invited the Budapest Knitters to become a sister group of ours—no response yet.
Calendar
Feb
28 – Peachtree Handspinners Guild, 1-5pm, North Decatur Presbyterian Church, Decatur, www.peachtreehandspinnersguild.org
Mar
3 – Heritage Knit Club, 3:30-4:30pm, 1967 Hwy 54, Fayetteville
3 – Chain Gang, 6-8pm, St. Catherine’s Church, 1618 Ben King Road, Room 204, Kennesaw, Gina O’Leary at 404-723-4446
5 – Atlanta Knitting Guild, 6:30 social hour, 7:30 meeting, St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, Atlanta, www.atlantaknittingguild.org
6-8 – Work of Our Hands, www.workofhands.com/folkschool.htm for info
8 – Southside Spinners, 1-5pm, NOW AT TOWNE CLUB, PTC
17 – Heritage Knit Club, 3:30-4:30pm, 1967 Hwy 54, Fayetteville
17 – Creative Crochet Guild, 7-9pm, NOW AT TOWNE CLUB, PTC
20-22 – Crochet Guild Spring Craft Retreat, $50 members, $60 non-members, contact Judy Powell at pow599@aol.com to register.
27-29 – Peachtree Handspinners Guild’s Spring Retreat, Salem Campgrounds, Conyers, www.peachtreehandspinnersguild.org
Apr
2 – Atlanta Knitting Guild, 6:30 social hour, 7:30 meeting, St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, Atlanta, www.atlantaknittingguild.org
TBD – Southside Spinners, 1-5pm, NOTE: Our normal date, Apr 12, falls on Easter, so we’ll plan in March for an alternate date.
21 – Creative Crochet Guild, 7-9pm, NOW AT TOWNE CLUB, PTC
23-26 – Stitches South in Atlanta, www.knittinguniverse.com/flash/events.php
25 – Peachtree Handspinners Guild, 1-5pm, North Decatur Presbyterian Church, Decatur, www.peachtreehandspinnersguild.org
For an extensive list of upcoming fiber events, etc:
http://www.spinweave.org/news/festivals.html
You can reach me at ktvogeltanz at earthlink dot net.
