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.  

Spotted at Stitches

Look who was spotted at Stitches and who was mentioned in the Never Not Knitting Blog (scroll down to the 4th picture from the bottom for a nice storyline).  Our own Elizabeth R.  Lookin' good there, Elizabeth.

Spring Flowers!

Spotted at A Perfect Blend and knitted by our newsletter guru, Sandi.  She'll be entering her flowers for the April Challenge at the next guild meeting, so better get working on yours.  Flowers can then be used for the yarn bombing Fiber event at The Discovery Museum  in June.  The Guild is supporting this event and has bought a fence that will be bombed with 7" wide strips of knitted or crocheted acrylic fabric and decorated with FLOWERS, all shapes and sizes and varieties.  (Hint, click on the FLOWERS link to be taken to a Ravelry page for free crochet and knit flower patterns.  You have to be a member so if you're not, follow this link Ravelry and set up your account today.  It's free and pretty much risk-free except for frequent episodes of yarn lust and project envy).

Another hint for today is to look on the right hand sidebar.  See where it says "Follow by email"?  If you fill in your email address there, every time there is a new post it will show up in your inbox.  Or, underneath all the posts, you can sign up for an RSS feed.  More on that later.  Master knitters arriving here soon.

RAVELRY!

2nd Monday of the month is our Program night open to CCS members only.  Tonight Cindi presented "Ravelry - the ins and outs and how-tos".  It was a very engaged crowd that had lots of questions and we hope that they all go out and sign-up for Ravelry and "friend" one another.  A few of the members shared their Rav names:  Nina is Ninaclock145, Cindi is Cindiknits, Beth is Topfrog, and Jude is Meherbie.  Once you find one of us or someone else you know on Ravelry, you can look at their friends and maybe find some you know as well.  A suggestion was made to maybe include Ravelry names on the membership list.  You can also add your Ravelry name to your CCS name tag.  And once you are up and running on Ravelry, be sure to go to Groups and search for Camellia City Stockinettes and join the group.  Have fun!

You've heard of yarn bombings?  Check this one out Olympic yarn bombing at Saltburn Pier.  Speaking of yarn bombings, the guild is supporting International Knit in Public Day and International Yarn Bombing Day by celebrating both at the Discovery Museum Science and Space Center on June 9th and 10th.  We need the help of all Stockinettes!  Start knitting 7" wide panels out of acrylic yarn that will be stitched together and embellished.  Stay tuned for details but start knitting.  Here are Sandi and Beth getting started.