http://www.bostonknitting.com May-June 2012 Newsletter 2011-2012 Officers: Diane Keighley, President (didokat@verizon.net) Teresa McGonagle, VP (tmm387@comcast.net) Cynthia Scott, Secretary (cynmscott@hotmail.com) Jane McKinnell, Treasurer (jdmckinn@comcast.net) Letter from the President: Dear Friends, With our Knitting Guild year coming to a close, I think back on all the wonderful programs and events we had this year, none of which would have been possible without the hard work of our committee chairs and volunteers. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their dedication and effort, and all they have done to make this year a success. Our Annual Meeting and May Luncheon is just around the corner. I know it will prove to be as wonderful as our other programs this past year. Nancy Bush will share with us traditional Estonian knitting techniques through photos and samples from her collection. I always find it fascinating to see the different knitting techniques throughout the world. Basically itвЂ™s all the same вЂ“ yarn, needles, knits, purls вЂ“ although it can be very different, itвЂ™s all beautiful. If you havenвЂ™t already sent in your reservation, I would encourage you to do that soon as we do have a limited number of seats available. Although we will not meet formally during June, July or August, we will have an informal gathering at the home of Laurie Kent in June and at Bob JaegerвЂ™s in August. Information will be sent by email as the time gets closer. I wish you all a wonderful, relaxing summer and look forward to seeing you again in September. In the meantime, keep knitting! ~Diane Keighley, President Upcoming meetings: 2011 вЂ“ 2012 Calendar May 17, 2012 - Annual Luncheon Boston Common Hotel and Conference Center The guest speaker for our annual luncheon is Nancy Bush, author of the following, published by Interweave Press: Folk Socks - originally published in 1994, the second edition published in 2011 Folk Knitting in Estonia - 1999 Knitting on the Road, Socks for the Traveling Knitter - 2001 Knitting Vintage Socks - 2005 Knitted Lace of Estonia вЂ“ 2008 Nancy is the owner of The Wooly West, an online mail order business based in Utah, specializing in small projects, especially socks, handcoverings, lace shawls and scarves, and the patterns, yarn, and tools to achieve them. Nancy will be signing books at the luncheon so, if you own any, please bring them with you. You can also purchase her books prior to the meeting at our business member stores, listed on the GBKG website. We have a lovely luncheon planned and hope to see you on May 17th. Look for emails for summer events open to the membership. Discount for members: For a list of shops and businesses that offer a discount to members, go to http://www.bostonknitting.com and click on Member Benefits. Greater Boston Knitting Guild Meeting Minutes: Minutes of the February 16, 2012 Meeting It was a cool, cloudy day. Guild members gathered in the undercroft of Trinity Church to hear knitting expert, Deborah Newton, speak on her latest book, Finishing School from Vogue. She has had a 30 year career designing sweaters. She does her own finishing and loves it. Although the finishing part of making a knitted garment is time consuming, Deborah says she likes the problem-solving aspect of it. Using a slide show to illustrate her points, Deborah stressed the importance of proper finishing techniques. вЂњThe sweater must be finished before it can be вЂ�finishedвЂ™вЂќ, said Deborah. She also does virtually no blocking. If you have done a good job on the edging, the garment often needs no blocking. Deborah, like many of our speakers, stressed the importance of the swatch. вЂњIt tells the story of the sweater to come. The swatch never lies.вЂќ Beautifully illustrated with drawings and photographs, Finishing School covers techniques including edging, seaming, zippers, buttons, and blocking. Deborah is helping us build a repertoire of skills so that our finished knitting projects will bring us greater satisfaction. Submitted by: Cynthia Scott, Secretary Minutes of the March 29, 2012 Meeting It was a cool, cloudy day with a brisk wind. The Public Garden was full of tulips but there were no blooms except for one lone bud of bright yellow arising from the center of a tulip bed. Guild members arrived with donations of yarn and other knitting materials for our annual auction. They came also with high hopes to acquire yarn at bargain prices and to rid themselves of projects that no longer held their interest. Many donations had been dropped off early, and the benches around the edge of the room were piled with yarn. First, Ann Weaver, a knitwear designer, presented a slide show of her designs. She has two self-published books to her credit. Her goal is to design garments that are wearable and flattering. Our auction action started slowly. There was yarn of every color, type and description. Offered to the guild members were 100% cotton, camel hair, alpaca, yak from Tibet, mohair, chenille, lambs wool, super wash merino, mixtures of wool and viscose, wool and acrylic. Roving also went on the auction block. After the live auction ended, we went into an adjoining room where tables were set up with more items for sale: books on knitting and cooking, and small amounts of yarn and roving each labeled with a colored dot that indicated its price. There was also a display of scarves that had been made at the knitting guild retreat. The scarves were made using the Nuno Felting Technique. Guild members remarked that each scarf looked completely unique. Our yearly auction is now over, and once again in a flurry of bidding, knitters have exchanged their unwanted yarn for new, exciting yarn just right for their next project. Hope springs eternal! Submitted by: Cynthia Scott, Secretary Minutes of the April 19, 2012 Meeting It was a sunny but cool day. The flower beds in the Public Garden were blooming with vivid red, yellow and pink tulips. Mothers were out early with their children playing with Mrs. Mallard and her children. Today was our Teddy Bear Tea Party and Contest. Guild members had been busy knitting outfits for their bears using their imaginations and knitting skills to produce wonderful and creative clothing. The bears were collected and placed in a room where they were examined by judges Judith Shangold of a вЂ™Bear in SheepвЂ™s Clothing,вЂ™ Tracy Robinson of Tilly Tomas yarns, and Isabella Massarelli, HirokoвЂ™s daughter. When the judging was completed, the winners were announced; then we could view the bears and enjoy refreshments of coffee, tea, cake and punch. The bear outfits were very creative. Pictures were taken by Sue Hemphill and Alice Gray. Be sure to look for them on our website, www.bostonknitting.com. Our bears will be sent to Dana Farber and eventually will be owned by children who are patients at the hospital. Show and Tell featured not only knitting projects but also pendants with a knitting theme. One had the engraved message, вЂњKnit or Be Damned.вЂќ The second one worn by Suzanne Holloran depicted crossed knitting needles piercing a skein of yarn. Knitting projects for show and tell may be partially made, recently completed or completed long ago. Nancy Guetersloh wore a beige, lacy vest made by her mother-in-law more than 30 years ago. Worn over a black jersey, the intricate pattern showed to great advantage. Thanks to all who knit bears and to those who worked on the planning of this event. I t was a great success! Here are winners of the teddy bear contest. 1st Place: A Day in the Park with Daddy by Carol Gelb 2nd Place: Wizard by Diana Laird 3rd Place: Papoose Bear by Ira Dearing Honorable Mentions: 1st Honorable Mention: British Bobby by Anne Richardson 2nd Honorable Mention: Ballerina Girl by Susan Flier Little Mermaid Award by Barbara Aramini Picasso Award by Rita Looby Mardi Gras Award by Sharon Carey Best Superhero by Joan Crowe Pippa Award by Cheryl Mariolis Kate Middleton Award by Paulette Tucci Queen Mum Award by Anita MacKinnon Top Chef by Jacquie Hurley Spring Forward Award by Nancy Allen Best Disguise by Hiroko Massarrelli Most Coordinated by Susan Flier Best Nanny Award by Ira Dearing Olympic Gold Award by Jean Laramie Angelina Award by Doris Millan Brad Award by Anna Finzi Best Wolf Story by CC Fitzgerald Submitted by: Cynthia Scott, Secretary Teddy Bear Tea Party Photos by Sue Hemphill Note from the Editor: IвЂ™d like to thank everyone who contributed to this edition of the newsletter. I am always looking for stories from members about fiber happenings in your lives. I know all members have had interesting experiences and if you are willing to share, please contact me so we can get them in the newsletter. Everyone loves to hear about knitting weekends, fiber trips in the US and abroad, guilds and other groups who meet regularly, courses and classes, etc. The most feedback I get from the newsletter is about stories and photos people have submitted. Please email me at lindadarisse@hotmail.com for any articles for publication in the newsletter. ~ Linda Darisse, Editor "Hat for little girl who wants to play." ~Beard, 1906 Community Outreach Program: Thank you all for all the hats and other knitted items signed in since January. We are off to a great start toward our December goal! Our monthly Hat Tricks workshops, however, have been less successful with few participants. So let me remind you what "Hat Tricks" is all about. We meet during the lunch break with the purpose of learning or reinforcing knitting techniques while knitting a "Caps for Kids" hat. Each month a pattern is available to start at home; then, at the meeting, we cover the "how to" of that month's techniques. So far we have worked on the cable cast-on, knitting in the round, jog-less stripes, picking up stitches, i-cords, and two handed stranding. The knitter takes her project home, finishes it and returns the hat at the next meeting. Then...on to another hat! The September hat is a worsted weight Tam, and we will learn how to yarn-over and decrease in sections resulting in beautiful swirl pattern. If you are interested, please start your hat at home, and knit until your project measures 4 1/2 inches from the beginning. We will go over sections and decreasing at the meeting. All you experienced knitters are welcome to knit the monthly hat, too! We are very excited because many hat kits were taken for the summer break, and we can't wait to see the results! And don't forget...you earn a "raffle ticket" for each knitted item signed in and the chance to win a great prize at our December meeting! Happy Summer Knitting! Submitted by: Susan Flier and Christine O'Neill Hat Tricks Workshop, September Hat: Worsted Weight Tam Yarn: Needles: Size: Gauge: Approximately 120-150 yds worsted (larger number is for pom-pom) 16вЂќ size 7 and 8 circular needles. Size 8 dpn for decreasing 18вЂќ brim to fit adult size Sm/Med 17 sts to 4вЂќ in stockinette stitch on size 8 needles Cast on 72 sts with smaller circular needles. Join. Place marker at beginning of round. Work K2P2 rib for 1 вЂњ Change to larger needles and work increase round: *K2, yo, P2, yo: repeat from * to end of round вЂ“ 108 stitches Knit every round until hat measures 4 вЂќ from beginning. Decrease as follows: Rnd 1: *knit 16, K2tog: repeat from * to end вЂ“ 6 sts decreased Rnd 2: Knit Rnd 3: *Knit 15, K2tog; rep from * to end Rnd 4: Knit Continue decrease sequence, with one less st between decreases (14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8) and alternate with knit rounds вЂ“ 54 sts. Change to dpn when necessary. Now dec every round until 6 sts remain. Run tail through sts and fasten off. Weave in ends and block. Make pom-pom and attach to hat. Another Free Knitting Pattern Photo and Hat by Linda Darisse Go For It Hat designed by Christen Roberts Comer (Free Ravelry Download) Materials needed: Approximately 2.5 oz of worsted weight yarn, size 8 needle, stitch marker Skills: Long-tailed cast-on, Knit, Purl, Bind Off, Seam Abbreviations: K=Knit, P=Purl, SM=Slip Marker, CO=Cast Off, BO=Bind Off Notes: First 10 stitches in garter stitch (knit every row) make up the brim of the hat. If you are using two colors, do 2 rows per color carrying the yarn evenly and consistently on the even numbered rows. Directions: CO 50 stitches for slouchy hat, 40 for regular hat, and 30 for toddler hat. Row1: k10, place marker, *p5, k5-repeat from * to end Row2: *k5, p5. Repeat from * to marker, sm, k10. Repeat rows 1&2until hat measures head circumference (approx. 17вЂќ for children, 20вЂќ for women, 22вЂќ for men.) When hat is desired width, bind off in pattern and seam sew OR pick up stitches along cast on edge and use the kitchener stitch. Weave a piece of yarn through the end of the hat (opposite the 10 stitch garter brim, pull tight and secure. Weave in ends. Block if desired. Winning Cookie Recipe вЂ“ Most Decadent Lemon Ricotta Cookies (from Giada) Sift together: 2 1/2 C flour 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt Set aside Cream together: 1 stick butter (room temp) 2 C sugar Add: 2 eggs (room temp) Zest of 1 lemon 3 T lemon juice Add: 15 oz ricotta and mix well. Then add the dry ingredients 1/3 at a time. Using a small ice cream scoop, drop 1 inch apart on parchment lined cookie sheets. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes. Glaze: 1 1/2 C xxxsugar, lemon zest and 3 T lemon juice Submitted by: Mary McGonagle GBKG Website by Ingeborg Endter Dear Members, Our GBKG website http://www.bostonknitting.com/ is your go-to place for information about the Guild. You'll find the schedule of meetings, any important updates, a form to send a message, some fun pictures, and more. Please come and explore! Anyone can see those goodies on the site, but we now have some things that are for members only and require you to log in to see them. For now only the newsletters are "members only" but there will be more coming soon. HERE'S HOW YOU LOG IN: Click the red Log In link on the right side of the page. If you are a paid member, you already have a username; it is your email address. The password is gbkg2012 You can change your password by clicking on "Lost your password?" on the login screen. Ideas, comments? We'd love to hear your suggestions about new and better features. You can leave a message on the website or email me at inge@iejj.net. Enjoy! Ingeborg "The spinning-wheel shall buzz and whirr." ~Beard, 1906... Plimouth Plantation Community Outreach: As part of the Guild's community outreach program, several GBKG members knit authentic 17th c. garments for!Plimoth Plantation, and!travel to!the Plantation once a month to knit and talk with the Plantation's visitors.! The Plantation created this poster to display while GBKG knitters are on site.! Note the various knitted items, which are keeping!GBKG!members busily attending to their needles.! If you would like to join in the fun, please contact Mary Keefe at 617-522-0235, or Mary_Keefe@post.harvard.edu The following is a photo taken at the GBKG Teddy Bear Tea Party by the staff photographer at the Boston Courant. The picture will be in the issue published the first week of May, 2012. GBKG Website http://www.bostonknitting.com