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!  

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

Ravellenic Games 2012

Let the games begin, no matter what they are called.  USOC Apology  The game is to set yourself an Olympian challenge, cast on during the opening ceremonies and finish by the closing ceremonies.  A few Stockinettes gathered last night to get the ball rolling and watch the athletes walk into the stadium in London.  I'm in the Sweater Triathalon, Jude is doing WIPs Wrestling and Sweater Triathalon, Beth is entered in Shawl Sailing and Balance Beads, and Lisa is also doing WIPs Wrestling which entails finishing a work in progress or as Gigi and Jasmine like to call them PhDs, partially half-done projects.  Our prez cheered us on and the snacks were yummy.  Ever heard of "enhanced Saltines".  I'm not sure that's what Linda calls them but they were great.  

We even have our own badge

If you're on the team and weren't at the kick off, Jude will bring yours to the meeting next week.  There is also an official Ravellenic Badge

 but you have to order those through Ravelry.  They are $6 and a nice souvenir.  I have two from the 2008 and 2010 games on my Ravelry bag.  

If you get the urge to cast on soon and think you can make it by the end of the games, go for it.  Instructions for entering and tagging your project are on Ravelry in the CCS group.  We'll have show and tell for the Ravellenic Games at the September meeting.  

Summertime

The July meeting was full of information on upcoming events.  Many Stockinettes are participating in the Ravellenic Games.  For those of you on Ravelry the group and information about events is here.  If you're not on Ravelry all I can say is hurry over and sign up.  Lisa announced a bus tour to several yarn shops later in the summer and there are lots of knitted squares to make up into blankets.  Details will be in the newsletter.  The yarn bombing at the Discovery Museum was declared a total success and a totally fabulous event.  Thanks to all who participated.  State Fair is coming up and we will be well represented.  Someone take pictures! The challenge for August is to do something new, a technique, a stitch, a garment, something that you haven't done before.  You know, a challenge!

Our librarian hard a work!  Check out our website or the yahoo group for the latest library list.  

Don't forget to bring your "trash" so someone else can treasure it.  Donations accepted at the August and September meetings.  The big event will be at the October 4th meeting.

Next meeting will be Vendor night!  Aways a treat to see Stockinette creativity and be able to take some home for yourself.  Here's some pictures from last year.  Did you happen to see that bag on the lower left hand side on the Yarn Harlot's blog last week?  Scroll to the last picture.  I gave it to her at the Port Ludlow retreat.  The blogmistress is very proud!  

Cindi will be back this year with some very cute project bags.  Be sure not to miss the meeting.  You'll be amazed by what's for sale.  It's not too soon to be thinking of holiday gifts.  

Enjoy the month of July, my personal favorite month next to August.  Have you heard about Craftsy?  Online classes that are supposed to be very good.  Has anyone taken one?  

The bombs bursting in air!

Gave proof through the night that our hard work was still there.........

 

We had visitors from the Crochet Club 

Kids who came by with their needles and yarn and wanted to learn to knit 

Stockinettes 

Cake

And a new Grandma-to-be

And perfect weather and a perfect place to gather.  The display will be up until the end of June so please come on by if you haven't had a chance yet.  One of our members, Debra P. has posted a You Tube Video Here  Thank you, Debra!  That's cool.  

Bombs Away!

It's starting to look like a proper yarn bombing.  Several Stockinettes gathered today to start installing our collective fiber pieces at the Discovery Museum.  Here's a picture of the fence being assembled from yards and yards and yards of 7-inch squares that will later be turned into lapghans.

Other installations were to be seen tucked away in the redwoods.

"All Dressed Up and No Place to Go" 

"Birds of a Fiber"

And from the Fiber Fairies, "Jungle Fiber"

Be sure to come out next Saturday, June 9th at 10 AM to help with the rest of the installation of the fence (flowers to be added) and to participate in Knit In Public Day here at the Museum, located at 3615 Auburn Blvd. in Sacramento.  There's parking and lots of trees for shade, picnic tables, bathrooms.  What more could you want for Knit in Public Day?  Bring chairs, your lunch, and maybe some snacks to share and your knitting of course.  See you there.  Thanks to Beth for the idea of the yarn bombing and to Lucky Lisa for coordinating everything and to all the strippers out there who knit strips and flowers.  Good job, Stockinettes (and Fiber Fairies). 

Congratulations Betsy!

Royal Vines Scarf

Here's to another Stockinette success story!

Congratulations to our very own Betsy Coyne!

Betsy just had her Royal Vines Scarf published in Knit Picks!

Shown in Stroll Tonal Sock Yarn

Betsy designed a beautiful lace scarf in a ripple type pattern with a garter stitch border all around. The lace pattern is easy to memorize and knit in fingering weight yarn.

There are four choices of fingering weight yarns to choose from at Knit Picks. Betsy's scarf knits up beautifully in both tonal or solid colors. The Royal Vines Scarf photographed is knit in Stroll Tonal Sock Yarn. One 100 gram skein makes a generous size scarf.

Be sure to check out Betsy's website Cultured Purl for more of her knitting designs.

Congratulations Betsy!

(All Photographs from Knit Picks)

Happy Mother's Day!

Stockinette Mother Daughter Duos:

Andrea & Adrienne

Kathy & Wilma

Happy Mothers Day!

Thank you to all the mothers, grandmothers
and great grandmothers who have taught us to knit!