^Г‡|Г Г |Г‡z axГЈГЎ Leadership Team 2008 в™¦ Judi Tepper, President 914-238-0545 judiknit@optonline.net в™¦ Olive McNeil, Programs 914-664-3513 opm888@aol.com в™¦ Jeanne Scofidio, Treasurer 914- 923-0712 ajsknits@bestweb.net jeannes@us.ibm.com в™¦ Sharon Barette, Newsletter 914- 739-7648 swbarette45@aol.com в™¦ Dorothy Freeman, Charities, Library 914-271-5743 dorfree@verizon.net Westchester Knitting Guild February 2008 Member-led Workshops This Month in a light color, needles size 6,7, or 8. Our second annual Member-led Workshops will take place on Monday, Feb. 25 at the Chappaqua Library. Whether you are learning a new skill or teaching one, we look forward to your participation. Magic Loop with Olive McNeil- Please bring about 100 yds of yarn in sock, dk or sports weight, circular needle(s) in size 36 with a length of 32" or longer, markers. Please bring the supplies needed for the following techniques: Cabling without a cable needle with Judi Tepper Cast on about 30 stitches and knit a few rows using DK or worsted weight yarn Entralac with Margie Laury- Please bring two (2) colors of yarn and appropriate sized single point needles. Learn about machine knitting with Sue Corcoran. Sue will demon- strate on her Mid-gauge machine which knits DK to worsted weight yarns. She will bring several swatches to be rehung on the machine and will show that it is possible to have the fun of handknitting while letting the KM take over the scut work. Knitting Nurse with Penny Margeotes - Knitters can bring a problem project, or get some help with a technique not being covered. General knitting questions, specific knitting queries - the knitting nurse will try to cure your knitting ills. в™¦ Linda Higham, Yahoo Master 914-277-7803 linhig@aol.com DonвЂ™t let this be the end! This will be your last issue of the WKG monthly newsletter Inside this issue: Pres. Message, KAL, Local groups Knitting News and WKG e-mail announcements if you havenвЂ™t joined for 2008. 2 Book Review, Thank You 3 Podcasts 4 Calendar, Directions 5 You can stay up-to-date by making your dues check payable to the Westchester Knitting Guild or WKG in the amount of $30.00. You may give the check (or cash) directly to Jeanne at the February meeting or you may mail it to her at: Jeanne Scofidio, 2 вЂ“ 4 Brooke Club Drive, Ossining, NY 10562 *Please note: the newsletter will only be sent via email as of March - no hard copies. Please be sure Jeanne has an e-mail address where it can be sent. Page 2 Westchester Knitting Guild From the President... I am so pleased with the turn out for our January meeting. More than 60 women showed up for what turned out to be a delightful visit from Jack Blumenthal from Lion Brand Yarns. For those of you who werenвЂ™t there and donвЂ™t know about this family owned business, Lion Brand offers over 1,100 free patterns, an e-newsletter, and even podcasts on its web site. They have also donated generously to our local prison project. The plans for February are our member led workshops; lets hope there is not the usual late February snowstorm and that we will all learn has graciously volunteered to be something new. our Yahoo Group moderator. If you have any questions about Please too, bring more show and joining feel free to contact her. tell. I, for one, would like to see what each of you is knitting. Even The newsletter will be going out simple scarves these days are beau- only via email starting in March tiful with all the fabulous yarns and will be available as well in available. the yahoo group files. I hope everyone joins the Yahoo See you on the 25th! group and starts to share ideas, judi websites and patterns or uses it to ask for help. I for one would like to know what you are listening to while knitting. Linda Higham (Linhig@aol.com) This pattern is based on the book, "Victorian Lace Today" by Jane Sowerby. The techniques are challenging but are adaptable to all knitting levels. Join us on Feb 25th at 6pm. A copy of the pattern will be provided. Just bring yourself and the following materials: вЂў 400 yards of fingering/sports weight yarn, solid color prefered вЂў gauge: 18 sts = 4вЂќ in garter stitch вЂў Crochet hook for casting on вЂў US # 7 needles (4.5 mm) and crochet вЂў stitch markers вЂў blunt tapestry needle for weaving ends Local Knitting Groups вЂў вЂў Yorktown Knit-Out: Thursday night 7:30 - 9:30 pm. Panera, Triangle Shopping Center, Yorktown Hgts. (Note: We do not teach knitting. People must know how to knit.) Katonah Yarn has a knitter's gathering on Tuesdays from 6-8 pm. Further info www.katonahyarn.com Com e an kni t! d Page 3 Westchester Knitting Guild Audio Book Review Dorothy Freeman Now available: The Art of Fair Isle Knitting вЂ“ the audio book. Ann FeitelsonвЂ™s beautifully written and scholarly book examines the lives and the knitting of women on the tiny Shetland island of Fair Isle. This book traces the development of Fair Isle knitting from its beginnings as a folk craft to a world-wide design phenomenon. Feitelson is a frequent visitor to the Shetland Islands and holds an MA in Art History. She has contributed many articles to Knitters magazine and Interweave Knits. Amazon lists two paper copies, published in 1997 and again in 2005. The 1997 edition is in stock but the 2005 does not look available. This edition is lavishly illustrated and contains more than 20 original Fair Isle garments by the author along with color photos and color charts. The audio version was released Dec. 2007. IвЂ™m not sure how many would like to just listen to a book about knitting but listening to the history of the technique and the women who made it so popular would be a worthwhile venture, especially if you knit while you knit. A word of caution, when Amazon says вЂњusually ships in 3-6 weeksвЂќ often means they donвЂ™t have any in their inventory and might not be able to secure a copy. But considering it is a 2007 release, I tend to be more optimistic. Listen while you knit, while you drive, while you unwind. Audio books are the newest form of knit lit! Announced on Knitting Daily online 1/16/08 A Thank You Letter I recently received the following letter from Yvette Rodriguez, Program Manager, Volunteer Services of the Montrose VA hospital. On behalf of our veterans here at the VA Hudson Valley Health Care System, I would like to thank you for your donation of handmade knit caps. The caps have been placed in the patientsвЂ™ clothing room for distribution to our veterans. It is your caring and Dorothy Freeman generosity which enable us to care for our veterans in the manner they so richly deserve. Your effort reflects the concern that you feel for our veterans and for the service they provided to all of us while in service to our country. Please accept my personal gratitude. Sincerely yours, Yvette Rodriguez Letters like this make it all worthwhile. . You are all unbelievable! Not only did you knit an amazing number of hats, scarves and slippers for the holiday party, which have all been delivered to worthy causes, at the January meeting you again donated many, many items. I walked out with a huge bag full. IвЂ™m going to be very busy indeed and there are going to be a lot of people looking great and feeling warm. Again, I personally thank you all for your generous outpouring. You should be very proud. I constantly knit preemie hats, booties and blankets so I would love to add your items and make a delivery to one of our local hospitals. I find these so rewarding because it takes no time to speak of and the sense of reward is huge. Thanks, Dorothy Page 4 Westchester Knitting Guild Knitting Podcasts For those who might have been out of the loop, podcasts are like internet radio shows that you can listen to on the web or subscribe to so you can listen on your iPods. There are so many knitting podcasts out there that it's hard to figure out which ones you might have time to listen to, so I asked for input from the list. Here are the suggestions I got. I am including links only for the top recommendations, but you can search for the rest in Google or in Tunes. In no particular order, these podcasts were all recommended several times: 1. Cast On! with Brenda Dayne is very professional and got the most recommendations. It is more about the philosophy and art of knitting than technique. Each episode is on a different theme. Very entertaining and not too technical, so you don't need a pad and paper while listening. This one by far got the most suggestions, it seems like everyone absolutely loves it. www.cast-on.com 2. Lime and Violet. Random knitting and nonknitting topics. They talk also about independent spinners and dyers for those who are interested in those topics as well as knitting. Older knitters found this one to be "silly," while others found them "hilarious." I guess you'll have to try and see! http:// limenviolet.blogspot.com/ 3. The Knitpicks pod casts are informative - but a little dry according to some listeners. They discuss technique, new/ interesting knitting books, and current products. Suggested by several people for the informational content. Not salesy. Apparently Kellie has asthma and was having trouble with the recordings but she's working on treatments that should help her breathing and speaking, which could make the podcast easier to listen to for those who found it plodding. http:// www.knitpicks.com/ content/index.php/cat/ podcast/ 4. Sticks and String by David in Australia is very well done. Listeners say he has a great voice, and it moves along quite quickly. This was also recommended by several people. www.sticksandstring.com. au 5. Stash and Burn. Suggested by several of people. One said, "2 female co-hosts who are tyring to work through their large stash numbers, they talk about patterns, news, and interesting thinkgs they are trying with their projects." www.stashandburn.com 6. Ready Set Knit from Webs includes lots of information about knitting & crocheting, yarn, knitalongs and books. Suggested by several people. Has interesting interviews. Not everyone likes the projects they feature. http://yarn.com/s/ podcast.html Other mentions include: Yarn Thing She-Knits KnitViews It's a Purl, Man Socks and the City Knit Science Craft, Rock, Love WeaveCast One video podcast was also suggested, Let's Knit Together by Cat. I've seen this podcast and it's very nicely done with great examples that go along with the knitting instruction. This American Life" by Chicago Public Radio was also recommended, but it's not about knitting. :-) ____________________ Donna Druchunas www.sheeptoshawl.com My newest books: Ethnic Knitting Discovery: The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and The Andes Kitty Knits: Projects for Cats and Their People Westchester Knitting Guild Knitting News c/o Sharon Barette 2023 Crompond Rd Cortlandt Manor, NY10567 I Knitting Monthly meeting: Monday, February 25, 2008 Calendar Directions to Chappaqua Library 195 South Greeley Ave. 914-238-4779 вЂў вЂў вЂў Feb. 25 Member Led Workshops Mar. 23 Catherine Lowe Swatching and Blocking Apr. 28 A Night with LYS From the South: Go north on the Saw Mill Parkway, Exit #32 - Chappaqua, Rte. 120. Make left at end of exit ramp and a left at first light. *Go over parkway and bear right at the fork onto S. Greeley Ave. Proceed down street. Library is on the left, across from Town Hall. From the North: South on the Saw Mill Parkway, Exit #32 - Chappaqua, Rte. 120. Right again at light. Then follow from *above. Meeting Schedule 6:00 KAL 7:00 Hands on help 7:15 Announcements Show and Tell 7:30 Program exyГњxГЎ{Г…xГ‡Г ГЎ tГњx tГ„ГЈtГ§ГЎ ГЈxГ„vГ‰Г…x tГ Г {x Г…Г‰Г‡Г {Г„Г§ Г…xxГ |Г‡zГЎA