Member Highlight - Lorna Miser

CCS Member and author Lorna Miser discusses her new book, Knit Pink, 25 Patterns to Knit for Comfort, Gratitude, and Charity.

Lorna’s book was just released and I asked her about her process of designing and knitting the projects in the book.  What you may not know is many times publishers dictate what yarns they want used and what kind of projects need to be included, but Lorna reports that her publisher, Martingale, did not put those restrictions on her so she was free to choose the yarns and projects herself.  There is a wide variety of patterns to choose from featuring quality luxury yarns from many different labels.  The projects include: cowls, scarves, pillows, hats, mittens and gloves, blankets, purses and totes, shawls, shawlettes and shrugs, socks, a vest, some slippers, and even washcloths.  Something for every knitter.  And the featured yarns run the gamut from superwash wool, wool/silk blends, acrylic blends, handpainted wool, angora, cotton, alpaca, and bamboo.

The project pictures are clear, close-up, and include photos of the backside of many of the projects which is something I think they should make mandatory for all pattern photos.  The lace patterns have both charts and written instructions so you can practice your chart reading if that is new to you.  And there is a very detailed back section on knitting techniques including how to use double point needles, increases and decreases, icord, kitchener stitch, how to do a mattress seam, put in a zipper and how to felt.  Everything you would need to know to do any of the projects is included.  I think this book, some needles and some of the featured yarn would be a great gift for anyone you know who’s got a lot of downtime due to medical treatments and doctor’s appointments, and for anyone who wants easy access to quick-to-knit accessories.  Lorna wanted to emphasize that the book is designed to inspire knitters to give in their own way.  It is not connected with any particular fund raising organization or charity. There’s an interesting list in the front of the book of all of the “colors” associated with different cancer awareness campaigns.  Did you know that the ribbon for male breast cancer, which occurs more than you’d expect, is half pink and half blue? 

Lorna will be our guest of honor at the January 16th Guild meeting and will treat us to her “trunk show” of all the knitted garments from the book before they go on national tour to knit shops across the country.  We’re first!  Refreshments will be served and books will be available for purchase.  And some of our own guild members were knitters for Lorna so you’ll be able to see which projects they knit for the book.

Look for Lorna soon on Daily Craft TV http://www.dailycrafttv.com/ where she’ll have 6 segments of classes featuring her fused lining purse class, lace edges, zippers, and knit flowers.  And if you’re feeling a little left out because you crochet, check out Crochet Pink by Janet Rehfeldt and you’ll feel right at home.  Congratulations, Lorna, on your wonderful new book.   

Goings On

Vendor Night!  This is always a special night for CCS where we showcase our own members and their skills.  Here are a few snaps.  Thanks to Lizette for organizing this year.

Here's Pat with beautiful shawl pins and scissor fobs.  I should have bought more.  Fortunately, I knit with Pat once a month and have asked her to bring some to knitting group.

 Mary with her darling felted mice (for cats).  New this year were pretty goldfish.  Wish I had a cat.

Bad photo.  I did not get around to Annemieka who had her great project bags but she's there in the back.  Those are always a big hit.  Lizette is in the back as well with her size 40 knitting needles.  That will make a project go fast.    

And there was YARN for sale.  Imagine that.  And baskets.  

The baskets are from a friend of Judy's mega-stash that will be sold off later this summer.  Stay tuned.  

Also this week Stockinettes represented at Knit In Public 2013.  We were guests of Beth at the Discovery Museum and despite the 106 degree heat, we were pretty comfortable (for awhile) in the shade of the beautiful redwood trees.  Special guest from the East Coast was Beth's new granddaughter, Leacy.  Super cute as is her mother who I did not get a good picture of sad to say.  Beth's cute too, by the way.  

Leacy and Beth

See, nice and shady.  You should have come. 

Contemplating among the redwoods.  

Don't forget to join our Ravelry group.  Go to ravelry.com and search groups for Camellia City Stockinettes and join.  

Lace Hats

March's Program was Lace Hats led by Stockinette Carmen M.  Thanks, Carmen, for an interesting program.  We need more summer chemo hats so many of the hats knit tonight will be donated for that worthy cause.  Please bring summer (think cotton) chemo hats to the next meeting so we can replenish our stock.  They are very much appreciated.

In other news, the monthly challenge of everyone challenging themselves is moving right along and several Stockinettes are making progress and bringing in very interesting items.  One of my favorites from Show and Tell at the last meeting was this very clever pet bed by Patricia. 

Here it is again complete with cat!

Here's a few of the other projects shown at the March meeting.  

Check your newsletter for upcoming programs and events.  Our outside event chair announced the next weekend program which will be Crochet for Knitters probably in July.  Ever want to put a fancy edge on some of your knitted items?  Crochet is just the ticket.  Follow the Stockinettes on Ravelry.  Go to Groups and search for Camellia City Stockinettes and join.  

Stitches West 2013

Stockinettes in the Wild.......

Saw lots of Stockinettes at Stitches West 2013.  It was a fun packed day with lots of YARN, goodies, and classes.  If you didn't attend, put it on your calendar for next year (Feb. 20 - 23, 2014) and take the train down with other Stockinettes (thanks to Debbie and Rhonda who clued me into the fact that the bar car serves Bloody Marys.  That was fun).  

Yarn on train.  Miss Babs Yummy for a Color Affection which is becoming a popular Stockinette project.  Check this one out.  Can't wait to see it.  Miek's Meanderings

I guess that after fessing up to the Bloody Mary on the ride down I probably shouldn't post the trip home photo lest you get the wrong impression about the Blogmistress but.......it was the perfect end to a wonderful day.  Did you know yarn fumes cause intense thirst?

See you at the meeting on Thursday.  Knit On!  

Thank you!

A little bit of a hiatus on the blog here.  I accidentally locked myself out and it took awhile to restore everything.  But, we're back and off to a good start to 2013 with new digs for our meeting space.  We've got free lighted parking, plenty of space to spread out, wifi, and heating and air conditioning!  What more could we want?  New meeting space for both the meeting on the first Thursday of the month and the program meetings on the following Monday take place at Christ Community Church, 5025 Manzanita Ave., Carmichael.

I received a nice thank you note from the Mustard Seed School thanking us for the mountain of gifts we  collected at the Holiday Party.  Nice job, Stockinettes.

A big thank you was given to last year's board by our President Doris at the February meeting.  Thank you ladies for a job well done.  We know this year's board will give their all as well.  

Our charity efforts got off to a good start this year.  Member Cindi was asked by a friend if her knitting guild would knit a few hats for a homeless program they were leading.  Cindi put out the word and here's what happens when you ask our Guild for a "few hats".

Our Secret Pal program continues in popularity.  Stockinettes post their thanks on the Yahoo group and the goodies that they get sound wonderful.  And the packaging always looks so tempting.  

How's your personal fiber challenge coming for 2013?  Jude is on her way to knitting a nativity scene piece by piece so that it will be done by next year.  Can't wait to see Joseph.  Quite a few beautiful afghans in progress were displayed at the meeting.   

If you need help or support in your challenge visit the Camellia City Stockinettes group on Ravelry.  We've got a thread started there for discussions and questions.  

See you at Stitches?  Quite a few Stockinettes are taking the train from Sacramento.  There is a 1/2 off train ticket offer for the weekend.  See the Ravelry group or the Yahoo group for details.  Happy knitting (or crocheting.  You know who you are.)  

Jogging Along

Last Monday's Program meeting featured Stockinette Melissa B teaching us how to do jogless joins.  If you haven't noticed, when knitting in the round and switching colors, a little jog will form.  That's because knitting in the round is essentially a spiral and when you add a new color it will be 1/2 of a row higher than the previous row.  Melissa shared two techniques for fixing this which is a great skill to have in your arsenal.  I got to check out the new digs at Christ Community Church and they are perfect for us.  I overheard lots of comments about what a luxury it was to have air conditioning and a table to work on.  Very nice.  To find the place you have to kind of head for the cafe (yes, there is a cafe; it wasn't open that night but how nice to have a cafe on site), then go around to the left to some main doors. The main doors are across from a room called Brock and also room 13.  If you see Brock and room 13, turn around and go through those doors and then upstairs.  Thanks for the great program, Melissa, and the nice handouts.  If you're interested in learning more go to YouTube and search for jogless join and there are several videos to show you how to do it. 

 Pam E. on the left there also learned to use double points for the first time!

 The funny thing about this piece that Melissa is showing is that this is how not to do it.

 Jude, Jude, Jude.......

 Beautiful jogless joins

Vendor Night

Stockinettes are such talented people.  At last month's meeting they were able to show off their skills and wares at Vendor night.  Thank you, Lizette!  Great organization and vendor wrangling.  If anyone has pics from the State Fair send them over, but I heard it was great and we have Lizette to thank for that as well.  Thanks also to all the volunteers that helped make the CCS booth at the State Fair gorgeous and for the weekend staffing.

Great job, Lizette!

 

Beth selling Cindi's Left Coast Yarns and Bags

Hannah's cards

Cheryl's cards

Lew contemplating what he's going to make with that giant cone of lace weight

Our wonderful membership chairs, hard at work.