April Meeting

April Monthly Challengers

Let's Get Green!

In honor of April's Earth Day, the Guild took on a

"Knitting Green Challenge"!

In keeping with the environmental "green" theme, the Monthly Challenge for April was to use recycled materials and create something new. Many Stockinettes took on this challenge and were quite creative in the process!

April Challengers

Recycle - Reduce - Reuse

It was fun to see the many creative ways that knitters can recycle, reduce and reuse. Some knitters cut up existed knit garments and re-purposed them into handbags, skirts and blankets. A few knitters even frogged (ripped out) existing sweaters and re-knit the yarn into a new sweater (see photo above). Now that sure is being "green"!

Recycled Sweater Bag

Check out Phyllis' adorable felted sweater bag! She really got her creative juices flowing. She felted a sweater and then made up her own pattern creating her one-of-a-kind recycled sweater bag. She ended up with only a few sweater scraps left..so she saved on old sweater going to the landfill. Nice job Phyllis!


Junior Members Are Welcome

Sheila and her Granddaughter

We had a cute little visitor at our April meeting...

Sheila's granddaughter!

Did you know that the Guild offers a Junior Membership?

What a wonderful way to keep our needlecrafts alive by exposing young people to needlecrafts. If you have a young family member or friend that would be interested in a Junior Membership, please contact Doris or Jude in Membership for details.

Thank you to each and every guild member for taking on the "Knitting Green Challenge".

Let's all do our part to Recycle-Reduce-Reuse!

Giving Thanks!

Beth Callahan, Michele Wong Synergex President & CEO,

Cindi Unmack & Lizette Hopkins

Thank you, Synergex!

by Beth Callahan

It’s very hard to think of a way to thank a company as generous as Synergex. For the past several years, Synergex has allowed the Camellia City Stockinettes Knitting Guild to use corporate meeting spaces for guild project nights and workshops.

Since knitters like to give back to the community with knitted projects, they decided to make a donation of knitted chemo caps -- on behalf of Synergex – to one of Synergex’s corporate charities, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Michele Wong, Synergex President & CEO, is a national LLS board member, and her husband Tony is a local LLS board member.

The Stockinettes created over 100 caps of differing shapes, sizes, colors, and patterns – some for men, some for women, and some suitable for teens and children. Created of the softest, most cloud-like fibers, the caps are intended to cover and sooth the tender scalps of patients undergoing hair loss due to chemotherapy.

Current Stockinettes president Lizette Hopkins presented the hat collection on behalf of herself, last year’s president Lorna Miser, and grateful Sacramento knitters to Michele Wong. Stockinettes co-vice presidents Cindi Unmack and Beth Callahan were also in attendance. Michele accepted the hats, and will personally deliver them to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society patient services team.

Chemo Caps donated by The Camellia City Stockinettes

Cindi Unmack said it best...

"It made me so proud of the Guild to see all those hats!"

Knitters Love Crochet!

Knitters Love Crochet

The Stockinettes put down their knitting needles and picked up crochet hooks for the March Tuesday Night Program. Jude Tarrant led the program teaching Crochet for Knitters!

Jude teaching crochet edging

Jude taught the basics of crochet and how to use crochet as a decorative edge to knitting. The best advice Jude gave the knitters that evening was "find yourself a good crochet instruction book to use for reference"!

Lizette helping the ladies

Lizette Hopkins is also an experienced crocheter. She also helped many of the ladies learn the basics of crochet and how to crochet knit squares together for afghan making.

Jude made crochet fun for knitters!

Jude and Lizette made learning crochet fun and easy. We are so fortunate to have so many talented and experienced members in the Camellia City Stockinettes.

Get ready for the April Tuesday Night Program...Sandi Benward will be teaching Double Knitting. See you there!

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!

March Meeting!

Cable March Madness!

There was a definite green, Celtic and Aran theme to the March Meeting!

With St. Patrick's Day just around the corner, members were encouraged to wear green to the meeting. What a showing of green there was from Aran sweaters to cabled berets!

The Stockinettes packed the house again with nearly 100 members in attendance. Membership leader Doris K. reported that we now have 175 members including a new "junior member" who is just 5 yrs old. Talk about keeping our craft alive!

The March Challenge

Annemieke's "Ludo" sweater by

Designer Elsebeth Lavold

The March monthly challenge was to "Knit with Cables".

Did you know that the monthly challenge has changed to a fun new format? There is now a "theme" for the "challenge of the month" verses an actual pattern challenge. Based on the 34 March challenge participators ...this seems to be a big hit!

Kudos to Cindi and Beth for changing up the monthly challenge for the Stockinettes. Now when you participate in the Monthly Challenge, you earn an entry into the challenge drawing that evening.

Congratulations to the March challenge winner Phyllis A.. She won a $25.00 gift certificate to Rumpelstiltskin's.

The Stockinettes Love a Challenge!

Yes, we can twist the cable!

Attending the monthly Guild Meeting is a great way to "stay in the loop" with the Stockinettes!

Nina R. reported on the Stockinette Ravelympics 2010 team, Team Yarn Sac Near & Far. Over 20 members challenged themselves during the Winter Olympics including Kimberly H. who competed from her new home in Idaho! (Yes, most competitors crossed the finish line!)

Stitch 'N Pitch is just around the corner. Bring your knitting and come out to Raley Field and cheer on the Rivercats Wednesday, May 5th, 2010. We have a reserve section so be sure to buy your official Stockinette tickets through the Stockinettes at the April meeting.

Wilma K. reported on the California State Fair . This year's dates are July 14 to August 1, 2010. As always, The Stockinettes booth can be found in the Creative Arts Building.

Save the date for the Second Annual Retreat this October 14 - 17, 2010 at Camp Richardson, South Lake Tahoe. It will be pretty tough to "out do" last year's Retreat but here's hoping we can do it!

BIG News Announcement!

Perhaps the most exciting news of the evening was Beth's announcement...

Amy Singer is coming this November.

Amy Singer is a designer,author and the editor of Knitty.com. Amy will be our special guest and featured speaker at our November Guild Meeting. There will also be three lace workshops with Amy that weekend. Be sure to mark your calendar!

Cable Challengers!

As you can see...there are a lot of fabulous things happening this year for the Stockinettes.

The Stockinettes are truly one of the most fabulous knitting guilds around. There's a tremendous amount of work that goes on behind the scenes for the Stockinettes...thanks to the many Guild member volunteers.

The Guild is seeking volunteers for committees and special events this year. Can you volunteer?

Stitches West!

Betsy Shopping at Stitches West!

Every February knitters across America head to the Santa Clara Convention Center for STITCHES West.

Many Camellia City Stockinettes were spotted at the Stitches West Marketplace on Friday, February 26, 2010. Here they are:

Caught on Camera at Stitches West!

Daniella & Lorna

Daniella enjoyed classes and shopping at the Marketplace.

Lorna Miser worked the show for Village Spinning & Weaving as a Designer and did book signings as well.

Sally

Sally was there working the Wild Fibers Magazine booth!

Cathy

Cathy, aka "The Librarian",

picked up three fabulous books for the Guild Library while shopping.

Cheryl

Cheryl was excited to finally find some "real"

San Francisco Giants colors!

Diane & Elizabeth

Serious yarn shoppers say "shop 'till ya drop"!

Catherine

Catherine "scored" on some Noro yarn deals!

You certainly can tell by all those Stockinette smiles that eveyone had a fabulous time!
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Be sure to mark your calendar for Stitches West 2011.
It will be held February 24 - 27, 2011.


See you there! You might even be caught on camera!

Let's Spin!

Let's Spin!

Introduction to Spinning was the February Program Class. Stockinette President Lizette Hopkins is an avid spinner and led this fun and informative workshop for the Stockinettes.

Here's a quick recap of Introduction to Spinning:

Cheryl's a Spinner!

Most of the Intro to Spinning attendees had never spun before. Each attendee was given a drop spindle and fleece to spin their own yarn. Lizette began the program with instructions on how to even make your own drop spindle.

As the photo above shows, Cheryl and the Stockinettes had no trouble getting the hang of spinning!

Ready, Set...Spin!

Spin, Spin, Spin!

Lizette worked the room making sure everyone was able to get the hang of spinning with a drop spindle.

Sandy spinning away!

Stockinette Sandy loves to spin. She became hooked on spinning at last year's

Lambtown in Dixon.

She loves spinning and says "it's very therapeutic"!

If you haven't tried spinning...why not give it a try!