Showing posts with label Designers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Designers. Show all posts

Thursday, December 12, 2013

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.   

Saturday, May 26, 2012

A Piece of History

Every wanted to be part of getting a book published?  Annie Modesitt is publishing "A History on Two Needles" and is looking for some financial backing.  Check it out as it's kind of like an NPR donation; there are prizes attached, like a free e-edition of the book when it's published.  The pieces are amazing.  Go, Annie!
See the Slideshow and her Flickr stream and her website.  



Monday, November 8, 2010

Amy Singer was Here!

Amy Singer

Amy Singer was here!

Amy Singer was our special guest at our November meeting last Thursday. Most everyone knows that Amy is the editor of Knitty.com.

Amy presented a lecture on All About Knitty. The Stockinettes in turn gave Amy a Knitty Fashion Show spotlighting all the Knitty patterns the Stockinette members have knit over the years.

Amy's response to the Stockinettes fashion show...

"A Parade of Knitting...I quite liked it!"

Amy said we were the "first guild to do a Knitty Fashion Show". Way to go Stockinettes!

Amy also taught a series of Plug & Play Shawl classes over the weekend for the Stockinettes.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

1,000 Fabulous Knit Hats

1,000 Fabulous Knit Hats
by Annie Modesitt

Hot off the Press!

This just in from Stockinette Terry Morris aka The Sailing Knitter:

It's here! The new book by Annie Modesitt is now on Amazon.com Take a peek inside the book at the Contributors pages...see all the Camellia City Stockinettes Guild members!

Whooo hoooo! I see: Lorna Miser, Sandi Benward, Beth Callahan and me, Terry Morris. I can't wait to get my hands on this book and see all the beautiful and fun hats.

Congratulations ladies for having your hats
published in Annie's new book!

Monday, March 8, 2010

Sock Club!

Hot off the press...

Sock Club

Congratulations to our very own Stockinette Terry Morris. She has two sock patterns published in the newly published book Sock Club. Two of her original original designs are in the book: Cozy Cable Socks and Beaded Lattice Socks.

You can follow Terry's knitting adventures on the high seas by reading her blog Sailing Knitter. Terry and her husband sold their house and possessions in 2006 and now call a 50' Gulfstar Sailmaster home. Talk about adventuresome!

Terry is a well loved and long standing member of the Camellia City Stockinettes. Be sure to check out her book and blog!

Happy Sailing Terry and again Congratulations!

Thursday, September 24, 2009

The Yarn Harlot Was Here!

The Yarn Harlot Was Here!

Recognize those hands? Yep, they belong to the one and only Stephanie Pearl-McPhee aka the Yarn Harlot.
Yes, she was here!

We all know just how legendary Stephanie is in the world of knitting. Did you know that her recent California visit was exclusively to teach for our knitting guild the Camellia City Stockinettes? How lucky are we?!

Knitting For Speed & Efficiency

Stephanie at the mic..."she is the rock star of knitting!"
says Sheila Igoe.

Stephanie taught three sold out workshops for our guild last weekend. She taught back to back Grock the Sock classes on Saturday. On Sunday she taught a 6 hour workshop called Knitting for Speed and Efficiency.

I had a chance to chat with Michele Carotti about Sunday's workshop. Michele really enjoyed Stephanie's presentation on the History of Knitting. "It was quite interesting" she said. "She explained the knitting styles of different cultures and that many early knitters had to production knit for a living."

On another little note of knitting history...did you know that Stephanie learned to knit at age four from her Nana? Her Grandmother was a professional knitter who knit lever style referred to as Irish Cottage Knitting. For those lucky students that took Stephanie's Knitting For Speed & Efficiency Class they were taught the skills for lever knitting.

Knitting For Speed & Efficiency

Want to knit faster? Than Stephanie's Knitting For Speed and Efficiency class was for you!

Kelly Hechinger owner of The Lake Tahoe Yarn Co. attended this unique class. This is what Kelly had to say about attending the class excerpted from her blog:

"Yep, I was there. It was a really cool class. Lots of historical information that I had no idea of and an amazing new concept of knitting. I really like it!

The Homework Assignment

Yes, there was even a homework assignment. Attendees of the class were instructed to practice their lever knitting on a practice scarf. They are supposed to knit on it every day for 21 days.

Kelly is taking Stephanie's advice and working on a 1×1 rib scarf. "I can tell this is going to take the FULL 21 days. My hands are trying to figure out what the heck i’m telling them to do now. I kind of think of it as playing the guitar and then playing the piano" says Kelly.

Lever Knitting Technique

Stephanie Pearl McPhee can knit really fast! To see how fast she can knit be sure to check out her lever knitting technique or Irish Cottage Knitting technique on YouTube. It will knock your socks off!

Stephanie & Beth

This incredible event would not have happened for our guild if it wasn't for the perseverance of our Secretary Beth Callahan. Beth never gave up on bringing Stephanie to Sacramento. Beth actually worked on this event for three years.

Behind the scenes of bringing Stephanie to Sacramento was somewhat like bringing a rock star to Sacramento. Sheila Igoe said it best in our Ravelry Stockinettes group page:

"Beth and Cindi deserve HUGE kudos for setting this up. What a lot of work they do before and during events like this! Airport runs, yarn shop visits, sightseeing, dining out, caterers, security (it’s like escorting a rock star around!), hotel accommodations, back-up plans, etc., the list goes on and on."

"It was so well planned that, I believe, it was a absolutely wonderful for the attendees and for Stephanie. - Oh, and the Sunday class was one of the best I’ve ever taken. Thank you, thank you, thank you. This guild and SPM ROCK!”


*** Special thanks to Kelly from Lake Tahoe Yarn Co. & Sheila Igoe for providing photos from the workshop, to Beth and Cindi for making the event happen and, of course, to the Yarn Harlot for coming to Sacramento to see the Camellia City Stockinettes! ***

Friday, September 18, 2009

Welcome Stephanie Pearl-McPhee!

Knitting Rules!

The Yarn Harlot has arrived!

Yes, you read that right. World famous author and blogger Stephanie Pearl-McPhee made her arrival in Sacramento today! A warm Sacramento welcome goes out to Stephanie from all the Camellia City Stockinettes and knitting fans in our region.

Stephanie has flown all the way from Canada to Sacramento for two workshops, Grok the Sock and Knitting for Speed & Efficiency for the Stockinettes. Both workshops are naturally sold out! Don't you just envy those lucky students? What fun they will have with Stephanie this weekend!

This is such an exiting event for our knitting guild...we are just thrilled to have Stephanie here in Sacramento! A great big thank you to Beth Callahan for making this fabulous event happen!

Stay tuned...more stories and laughs are sure to come with The Yarn Harlot's visit!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Sock Summit Report

Sock Summit 2009

It was dubbed "The Greatest Sock Show on Earth"! By all accounts it certainly was. Sock Summit 2009 was a smashing success according to the lucky four Camellia City Stockinette knitters who attended!

Sock Summit 2009 was a sock conference for hand knitters held August 6 - 9, 2009 in Portland Oregon. Sock knitters from around the globe filled the Portland Convention Center for classes, a marketplace, book signings, world record knitting and a sock museum.

Presenting: The Sock Summit Stockinettes!
(left to right: Stitch Marker Lady,
Stockinettes: Judee, Doris, Beth and Cindi)

The Camellia City Stockinettes take knitting very seriously. We are known to have some very talented sock knitters in our guild. Four of those serious sock knitters made the trek up to Oregon for the first ever Sock Summit.

Our Secretary, Beth Callahan had this to say about Sock Summit 2009:

We had so much fun!

It is rare to see such a well-organized first-time event. It attracted people from all over the world. I had one class with Meg Swanson and there were two Australians who travelled all the way from Melbourne just to attend Meg's 3-hour class. They said it was totally worth it and I agree with them!


Take a look at the Sock Museum!

The Sock Museum made it's debut at Sock Summit. It is a real live exhibit and a historical timeline of socks from the past to the present. All the knit socks were hand knit by actual volunteer knitters. The Stockinettes are proud to have two volunteer knitters who knit socks for the Sock Museum; Beth Callahan and Cindi Unmack.

The Sock Museum will continue on as an online exhibit for all knitters to contribute to. Congratulations Beth and Cindy for your contribution!

Beth knit Joan's Sock
Pattern by Joan Hamer 1995

Cindi knit Feather & Fan Socks
Iconic Sock Pattern


History in the Making!

Cindi, Barbara Walker and Beth!

History was in the making at Sock Summit 2009. Many fabulous knitting teachers and celebrities were there. Yes, that is Cindi and Beth with the Barbara Walker! Barbara Walker is a famous American knitting author treasured for her knitting treasury series on stitch reference first published in the 1960's and 1970's!

The Sock Summit knitters made history,too! On Friday August 7, 2009...935 knitters broke the Guinness World Record for the most people knitting simultaneously. Way to go knitters!

Rumor has it...the next Sock Summit could be Toronto 2010! See you there!

Friday, August 14, 2009

August Guild Meeting

The Camellia City Stockinettes New Banner!

We packed the house for our August meeting with 70 members in attendance. The Camellia City Stockinettes are growing with nearly 150 members now!

Guild meetings are a wonderful way to "stay in the loop" with the Camellia City Stockinettes. At the August meeting topics of discussion were: The California State Fair Stockinette Booth, Our 1st Annul Knitting Retreat in October 2009, September Vendor Night, and our new banner was presented!

We also welcomed a new member and advertiser/supporter Lauren Wayne of The Knitting Nest, a boutique yarn store in Stateline, NV. Lauren is an enthusiastic shop owner and is thrilled to join our guild. Lauren is looking forward to attending meetings and "popping" by our upcoming South Lake Tahoe retreat!

Lauren, a former Interior Designer, opened The Knitting Nest in October 2008. She would love to have you visit her store. She is located in the Eagles Nest Resort.

Special Guest

Designers Joan McGowan-Michael & Lorna Miser

Another fabulous part of attending regular guild meetings is...you just never know who may show up at a meeting!

We had a very special surprise guest at our August meeting, knitwear designer Joan McGowan-Michael! Joan resides in our Sacramento region and her label White Lies Designs is famous for her romantic knitwear designs.

Joan loves the fabulous 1940's era. Her flirty and feminine Zelda sweater was recently on the cover of the UK's Yarn Forward magazine's Summer Issue # 15. Congratulations Joan and thank you for being a special guest at our August meeting. We hope to see you again soon!

Charity Knitting Update

Veteran's Lap Blanket Project

The Stockinettes love charity knitting! Susan H. shared a letter from a local Veteran's Hospital thanking us for our wonderful donations. The Veteran's really appreciate our lap blankets.

Susan is showing off a recently completed Veteran's Lap Blanket in a handsome masculine colorway. Each lap blanket consists of 7" x 7" knit squares. Susan welcomes everyone to join the charity knitting cause!

Refreshment Break!

Tasty Summer Refreshments

We enjoyed a beautiful array of summer's bounty for our refreshment break! A great big thank you to the Stockinette monthly volunteers who bring in such wonderful refreshments for all to enjoy at our meeting break time.

Monthly Challenge Results

Christina's Toilet Paper Holder

Doris challenged us last month with a Toilet Paper Holder monthly challenge. Check out new member Christina's adorable TP holder that actually looks like a roll of toilet paper! Great job Christina!

Christina has also graciously taken on the task of updating and redesigning our website. Check out our new website design already in progress. Christina is doing a fabulous job and the new website is very "user friendly"!

Fashion Show Time!

What an ensemble!

At the end of each meeting we have our fabulous fashion show. This such a fun part of our meetings where anyone can get up and "show & tell" their completed knit projects.

At our August meeting it was clear that this is not your grandmother's knitting! The Stockinettes are quite the fashion diva's these days! Check out Jill B's ensemble that looks like it stepped right out of a fashion magazine. She even made her dress!

Jill's Debbie Bliss Shrug

Jill obviously has a flair for fashion with this stunning outfit she created. Her adorable red shrug is a Debbie Bliss pattern that she modified. She added her own special touch with a crochet trim
embellishment. It is knit in Butterfly Cotton which she says "the yarn was really nice to work with." Great job Jill!

So you can see just how much fun we have at our meetings. Our next meeting is on September 3, 2009 and is also our vendor night. Be sure to come and shop our vendor marketplace full of fabulous finds for all knitters!

See you then!

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Lucy Neatby Workshops

Lucy Neatby May 2009 Workshops

"I design to teach" says Lucy Neatby.

Lucy Neatby was back for her fabulous knitting workshops this weekend. Yesterday's workshop was Tessellation Secrets-Creating Your Own Interlocking Patterns. Today's workshop was Part 1) Hello Cinderella...An Introduction to Intarsia and Part 2) Fringes, Folderols and Furbelows.

Introduction to Intarsia

Lucy describes Intarsia knitting as painting with yarn. She taught us today the importance of linking our colored yarns together for Intarsia knitting. Lucy says "yarns hold hands". "Let your yarns link with one another with Intarsia."

Lucy began our Intarsia workshop with teaching us how to make butterflies for winding our different colored yarns. She gave us some great tips such as to knit Intarsia firmly for a longer lasting knit fabric.

She taught us the most important step for Intarsia knitting is preparation. She gave us some great tips to make Intarsia knitting easier! Next we were on our way to knitting an Intarsia sample.

The second part of our workshop was called Fringes, Folderols and Furbelows. This was a great workshop for learning how to do great edges and decorative details for our knits. We had fun learning how to do a beaded unraveled fringe, an i-cord fringe, garter stitch edgings, and Latvian twisted edging.

Lucy and Catherine

Lucy is a wonderful teacher and makes learning new techniques fun. She continually checked each student's work making sure they understood the technique.

The Stockinettes deep in concentration!

The Stockinettes working on fringes, folderols and furbelows!

Lizette and Tami

Stockinette Teamwork!

Lisa
Deep in concentration!

Cindi, Beth and Lucy

Lucy says " keeping stitches happy,
keeps the knitter happy"!

Those of us who attended these wonderful workshops are "happy knitters" thanks to Lucy's great teaching! Lucy's charm and her love for knitting is contagious!

Thank you to Beth Callahan for her hard work in getting Lucy back to teach for us. A great big thank you to Lucy for travelling all the way from Nova Scotia!

For those of you who could not attend the workshops be sure to check out Lucy's A Knitter's Companion Series DVD's to learn or improve a certain technique.

For more information you can find Lucy at LucyNeatby.com.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Welcome Lucy Neatby!

Welcome Lucy Neatby!

Impromptu Welcome Party
Tahoe Joe's, Folsom, CA

Left to right: Lorna Miser, Lucy Neatby,
Beth Callahan, Betsy Coyne, Cindi Unmack.

World renowned knitting celebrity, Lucy Neatby just arrived in Sacramento tonight. A warm Sacramento welcome goes out to Lucy from all the Camellia City Stockinettes!

We are thrilled to have Lucy back all the way from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia! Lucy is on the road again in the US and doing a two day workshop for us this weekend. According to Beth Callahan it took us about three years to get Lucy back to Sacramento for the Stockinettes. That's how popular Lucy's workshops are!

Here's a sneak peak at our workshops with Lucy:

Sat May 2, 2009: Tessellation Secrets-Creating your own Interlocking Patterns.

Sunday May 3, 2009: Introduction to Intarsia, Fringes, Folderols and Furbelows!

For those of you who can't take a workshop with Lucy...check out her Knitter's Companion DVD series. They are like having a private workshop with Lucy right in your very own home.

For more information and inspiration,

By the way...Lucy is blogging now, too.
You can follow Lucy's blog at happystitches.wordpress.com.