В В http://www.bostonknitting.com В March-April 2014 Newsletter 2013-2014 Officers: Gail Press, President (gpress@comcast.net) Vivian Bolt, Vice President (vivianbolt@comcast.net) Cynthia Scott, Secretary (cynmscott@hotmail.com) Jane McKinnell, Treasurer (jdmckinn@comcast.net) Rosann Fleischauer, Corresponding Secretary (rosann.fleischauer@mac.com) Dear Knitters, Ok, I have always loved the winter season but even I have had enough! It has been a very busy February for me starting with a ten day trip to the north of Iceland to visit my parents. Yes, I am a Viking for those unaware! I compared the local weather everyday to that of Boston and it was warmer in my little town of Akureyri than here! As you probably know, Iceland has a very rich history of knitting. Most supermarkets have a yarn department and every school child must learn to knit, boys as well as girls. I did spend a day in Reykjavik going to yarn shops and despite my resolve to not purchase any yarn I just couldn't resist some beautiful hand dyed sock yarn from Denmark. I am so looking forward to our Guild retreat at Whispering Pines. We had such a great time last year! I'm sure there will be plenty of stories to share at our next Guild meeting. See you then, Gail PS - Stay Warm! Upcoming meetings: 2013 вЂ“ 2014 Calendar March 20, 2014 - Annual Yarn Auction 2014 Our activity for the March 20 meeting is the Annual Yarn Auction. This is the GuildвЂ™s only fund raising activity and all proceeds are used to support Guild-wide activities, such as funding for speakers, coffee service, room rental, insurance, and more. For new members, and those who have been unable to attend the auction in the past, this is how it works: There are two parts to the auction. In the morning, after you have had some time to inspect the auction lots, we will hold a live auction where you have a chance to bid on larger bags of yarn. CC Fitzgerald will keep a record of the winners and their bids. After the auction is over (and only after the auction is over), you will be invited into the back room for a вЂњyard saleвЂќ - there will be tables of smaller amounts of yarn and lots of notions, etc. These items will all be priced. When you have finished shopping, CC will total up your purchases and collect your CASH OR CHECKS. Remember we do not have the ability to process credit or debit cards - you may ONLY use CASH OR CHECKS. How do you participate? вЂў Take some time to go through your stash and identify yarn, tools and notions, and abandoned projects that are taking up room but are no longer valuable to you. You can also donate craft and hobby supplies that you no longer use. Sort and pack your yarns in clear plastic (ziplock type) bags. For larger amounts, print and fill out the label and seal INSIDE the bag. Do NOT fill in the Lot # line. Smaller quantities need not be labeled - they will be priced by volunteers. Admire how much room you have freed up for new yarn! вЂў Bring donations of yarn and everything else to the March meeting. There will be volunteers outside the church from 9:00 AM on to help unload cars and move bags indoors. The auction begins at 10:30 AM - if you want to inspect the live auction lots, please come early. вЂў While you are inspecting the auction merchandise, make a note of the Lot # of the yarn you wish to bid on. The auction must move along quickly and our auctioneer will not be able to give long descriptions of what is offered. вЂў Now the fun begins - BIB, BID, BID! SHOP, SHOP, SHOP! PAY UP, have lunch, knit and talk. вЂў One last reminder...NO BOOKS WILL BE ACCEPTED THIS YEAR!!! вЂў Label is found at the end of the newsletter We look forward to seeing you at the Auction! Submitted by: Alice Gray and Susan Flier April 17, 2014 - A Baby Shower From Peter Rabbit to Mother Goose, Goodnight moon and Doctor Seuss. Bring a hat, a blanket or a sweater Tiny fingers, tiny toes вЂ¦ itty-bitty baby clothes. Join us for a baby shower in honor of MGH! This meeting will be a celebration and display of items knitted for Mass General HospitalвЂ™s Newborn Baby Nursery. Some В babies В leave В MGH В with В only В the В clothes В that В the В hospital В provides. В В Babies В need В lots В of В clothes. В В They В need В bibs, В blankets, В sweaters, В hats, В booties, В socks, В and В more. В В And В they В grow В fast В too. В В A В felted В diaper В bag В would В be В a В good В item В for В the В mother. В В Here В are В the В guidelines В from В the В hospital: В вЂў Items В include В hats, В booties, В cardigans, В and В blankets. В В вЂў Sizes В should В be В preemie, В newborn, В 1-ВвЂђ3 В months, В 3-ВвЂђ6 В months. В В вЂў Items В should В be В made В with В acrylic, В nylon, В or В yarns В either В designated В for В babies В or В very В soft В fine В yarn В such В as В fingering В weight. В Yarn В must В be В machine В washable. В Additional В guidelines В for В the В contest: В вЂў You В may В knit В or В crochet В any В size В up В to В size В 2. В There В is В a В baby В or В a В sibling В for В every В item! В вЂў Be В sure В that В embellishments В are В securely В attached. В В вЂў Toys В must В be В constructed В of В all В new В materials. В More information is provided on the GBKG website. The hand knitted items we donate will wrap a newborn in warmth and love. (See Outreach Information below.) Submitted by : CC Fitzgerald May 15, 2014 вЂ“ 21st Annual Meeting Save the Date! Where: Undercroft Rooms at Trinity Church Guest Speaker: Sally Melville Topic: вЂњWhy We Do What We DoвЂќ The Importance of Creativity: Sally speaks to what knitting (and any handwork) does for our soul. It makes us happy, promotes good mental health and even contributes to our economic recovery. Sally helps us to understand why we love to do what we do and why we should keep doing it! (more details to follow) Greater Boston Knitting Guild Meeting Minutes: January 16, 2014 Meeting For the first meeting of the year the Guild borrowed the talents of several of our members to share skills and ideas in the form of workshops. Attendees chose their workshops as they came in from the cold, and broke into eight groups - with a couple of additional groups working on their own ongoing projects. Since our April meeting will have a "Baby Shower" theme, the workshops were a way to get ideas and build anticipation for that event. In April prizes will be awarded for the most innovative and beautiful examples from members. Many members are also helping to provide knitted and crocheted items for newborn patients at Massachusetts General Hospital Blake 13 Newborn Baby Unit, one of the Guild's outreach projects. The workshops: 1. Simple Baby Hat вЂ“ Learn to Knit in the Round вЂ“ Instructor: Bob Jaeger 2. BabyвЂ™s First Socks вЂ“ Learn to Knit Socks вЂ“ Instructor: Vivian Bolt 3. Baby Sweater вЂ“ Learn to Convert a Pattern Knit in Sections into a One Piece Seamless Sweater вЂ“ Instructor: Anita MacKinnon 4. Little Knit Pullover вЂ“ Learn a Purl Free Design вЂ“ Instructor: CC Fitzgerald 5. Dianthus Baby Cardigan вЂ“ Learn a lacy style with вЂќnalgarвЂќ (raglan spelled backwards) sleeves. вЂ“ Instructor: Cheryl Mariolis 6. Booties and Hat вЂ“ Knit a set of matching booties and hat. вЂ“ Instructor: Gail Press 7. Diagonal Blanket - Learn how to make a diagonal blanket. вЂ“ Instructor: Carol Gelb 8. Lucet Cording (Braiding) - How to Start, Continue, and End. Learn a centuries-old technique of cording (braiding) to enhance your knitted garments. вЂ“ Instructor: Mary Keefe Many thanks to Jean Holtey (In Stitches, Weston, MA) and Webs, Northampton, MA. who donated yarn for the workshops. Speaking of community outreach, Guild members donated 957 items this past year to Caps for Kids. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute sends thanks. Submitted by: Ingeborg Endter, Workshop Attendee February 20, 2014 Meeting В The sun was out, but the temperature felt as though it were below freezing. A subway ride was in order. A large group of knitters braved the slippery sidewalks to learn about double knitting. Our speaker today was Alasdair Post-Quinn; The subject of his talk was the book he has written called, Extreme Double Knitting, an overview of a unique method of making a fabric with no вЂњwrongвЂќ side and a built-in reversible colorwork pattern. Alasdair was brought up in a household where there was knitting. He had a very strong interest in Origami. While he was at Brandeis, majoring in sculpture, knitting made an appearance in his life once again. It inspired him to explore dimensional properties of knitting. Alasdair presented a slide show of his work. There were wristlets he called wrist chakras, 4 winds hat design, boxes, and infant socks with contrasting sole pattern showing the bottom of the foot. A scarf with pattern of a crow was very impressive, and I heard more than one person say she would like to knit it. TodayвЂ™s presentation on double knitting was most interesting and informative. Submitted by: Cynthia Scott, Secretary Lemon Walnut Zucchini Cookies by Cynthia Doherty Voted вЂњBest Use of VegetableвЂќ in the Annual Cookie Contest 2 C flour 1 tsp baking powder ВЅ tsp salt Вѕ C butter Вѕ C sugar 2 eggs beaten 1 tsp lemon zest 1 C shredded zucchini Preheat oven to 375В°. Stir flour, baking powder and salt together. Set aside. In large bowl, cream sugar and butter. Beat in eggs and lemon zest until fluffy. At low speed, add flour mixture. Stir in zucchini and nuts. Drop by rounded teaspoon on greased cookie sheet. Bake 15-320 minutes. While warm, drizzle with lemon icing. Lemon icing: 1 C confectioners sugar 1 T lemon juice 1 drop yellow food coloring (if desired) Community Outreach Program: Knitters are some of the most generous people you will ever meet. Often they buy and source yarn to make gifts for others whether it is family, friends or beyond. Rarely do they knit for themselves. Congratulations to the members of the Guild who support our community projects. Our current tallies are: Caps for Kids вЂ“ 179 Mass General Hospital -115 Information about Mass General HospitalвЂ™s Newborn Family Units: Blake 13 has twenty-one private postpartum rooms and three nurseries. This patient care unit admits obstetrical patients after they have delivered their baby. The three nurseries admit newborns that meet level I or level II criteria as determined by DPH regulation and medical evaluation. Ellison 13 is a twenty-bed unit, along with a nine bed Level II Nursery. The patient population includes high-risk antenatal women requiring hospitalization during their pregnancy for diagnoses that include diabetes, premature rupture of membranes, placenta previa, renal problems, and premature labor. The population also includes postpartum mothers and their infants, and also infants who need specialized level II care. Post partum women and ante partum women and their newborns are admitted to Blake13 or Ellison 13. The care for the patients is provided by experienced post partum, antenatal and newborn nurses in the obstetrics service. The length of stay varies 2-4 days for birth and longer for medical reasons. The rooms are "Customized" for post partum patients. Patients transferred from the medical and surgical ICUs after delivery are also admitted on our units. In addition, any post partum patients that are readmitted for mastitis or infection are admitted to this floor. We have 13 level 2 beds that support newborns that have medical needs. Many of which are premature infants or infants who are learning to feed and grow. The following is a recent communication from our friends at MGH: В Hi В Vivian, В В Thank В you В so В much В for В your В support В to В our В unit В and В our В families. В The В families В are В thrilled В to В receive В these В gifts. В I В want В to В personally В thank В you В and В the В Greater В Boston В Knitting В Guild В for В your В time В and В generosity. В The В gifts В for В these В newborns В are В precious. В В Please В extend В our В ongoing В gratitude В to В the В Guild. В В В Lori В J. В Pugsley В RN В BSN В MEd В В В Nursing В Director В Newborn В Family В Units В Massachusetts В General В Hospital В В Another В Message: В I'm В not В sure В if В this В is В the В right В knitting В club, В I В hope В so. В I'm В a В nurse В on В the В Newborn В Unit В at В MGH В and В just В wanted В to В thank В you В for В some В of В the В cutest В hats В we've В had. В I В gave В several В out В to В the В babies В last В night, В even В let В a В Dad В pick В one В out В and В he В was В very В excited. В They В are В so В cute В and В the В tags В are В great. В Had В some В from В Kathy, В Nancy, В Joanne В and В Linda. В Just В wanted В to В thank В you В for В your В beautiful В work. В We В enjoy В working В with В people В at В MGH. В В We В also В must В remember В the В importance В of В knitting В for В our В Caps В for В Kids В partners В who В are В very В much В in В need В of В warm В hats. В Submitted by: Vivian Bolt, Outreach Coordinator В Photo by L. Darisse Plymouth Kudo Slouchy Tam (Beret Style Hat) by Kristen Ashbaugh ~ Free Ravelry Download This is a colorful and hip slouchy hat knit in self-striping Kudo yarn by Plymouth. Kudo is a blend of Cotton, Rayon and Silk, and comes in a selection of gorgeous colors! This stylish hat is perfect for every season and makes a great gift that can be knit in just a few hours! It is the perfect intro-to-lace project. Enjoy this free pattern from Plymouth Yarns and Jimmy Beans Wool! Size: One Size, hat measures 16вЂќ Unstretched and 21вЂќ stretched. Supplies: - 1 Skein Plymouth Kudo Yarn - 1 US size 8 (5mm)- 16вЂќ Circular Needles - 1 set of US Size 8 (5mm) Double Pointed Needles - Darning needle for finishing Abbreviations: CO - cast on K - Knit P - Purl YO - Yarn Over K2Tog - Knit 2 Together K1fb- Knit 1 Front and Back (Increase) Sts- Stitches Directions: Set up rows: CO 72 sts onto the Circular needle (IвЂ™ve used a long-tail cast on here.) Place marker and join for knitting in the round. Knit in K2, P2 rib for 1вЂќ-1.5вЂќ depending on your preference. *K1, K1fb* repeat to the end of the round. (108 sts on needles) Lace Pattern: Row 1: *YO, K2Tog* repeat to end of round. Rows 2-3: Knit Row 4: *YO, K2Tog* repeat to end of round. Rows 5-7: Knit Row 8: *YO, K2Tog* repeat to end of round. Rows 9-12: Knit Row 13: *YO, K2Tog* repeat to end of round. Rows 14-18: Knit Row 19: *YO, K2Tog* repeat to end of round. Row 20: Knit Decrease Section: Row 21: *K10, K2Tog* repeat to end of round. (99 sts) Row 22: *K9, K2Tog* repeat to end of round. (90 sts) Row 23: *K8, K2Tog* repeat to end of round. (81 sts) Row 24: *K7, K2Tog* repeat to end of round. (72 sts) Row 25: Knit Row 26: *YO, K2Tog* repeat to end of round. Row 27: Knit Row 28: *K6, K2Tog* repeat to end of round. (63 sts) Row 29: *K5, K2Tog* repeat to end of round. (54 sts) (Knit Row 30 onto 3 double pointed needles ending with 15 sts on each needle.) Row 30: *K4, K2Tog* repeat to end of round. (45 sts) Row 31: *K3, K2Tog* repeat to end of round. (36 sts) Row 32: *K2, K2Tog* repeat to end of round. (27 sts) Row 33: *K1, K2Tog* repeat to end of round. (18 sts) Row 34: Knit Row 35: *YO, K2Tog* repeat to end of round. Row 36: Knit Row 37: *K2Tog* repeat to end of round. (9 sts) Finishing: Cut yarn leaving about 6 inches of tail. Use darning needle to run through each of the remaining 9 sts and take the double pointed needles off of your hat. Run needle through the center of the sts, turning the hat inside out and pulling the sts tight. Tie a knot to finish off your hat and keep sts from unraveling. Weave in all ends. Block lightly before wearing. 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 positive feedback I get from the newsletter is about stories and photos people have submitted. Please email me at lindadarisse@hotmail.com about any articles for publication in the newsletter. ~ Linda Darisse, Editor Critter Hat: Seen in the Common? GBKG Website:http://www.bostonknitting.com The Guild is trying to focus more on our website and depend more and more on communicating electronically. The Calendar page is updated regularly. We encourage you to check our website just before you come to a guild meeting for last minute notices. All newsletters are uploaded at the beginning of every second month. Business members are listed there as well. Enjoy! ~Ingeborg Endter, website untangler Plimoth Plantation Community Outreach: As part of the Guild's community outreach program, several GBKG members knit 17th c. garments for Plimoth Plantation and the Mayflower II, and travel to the Plantation once a month to knit and talk with the Plantation's visitors. The Plantation created a poster to display while GBKG knitters are on site that shows various knitted items, which are keeping GBKG members busily attending to their needles (see Jan-Feb 13 issue.) If you would like to join in the fun, please contact Mary Keefe at 617-522-0235, or Mary_Keefe@post.harvard.edu GBKG Website http://www.bostonknitting.com LOT #___________________ YARN NAME/BRAND_________________________________________________ FIBER CONTENT____________________________________________________ Total YARDAGE_____________________Total WEIGHT_____________________ GAUGE____________________Recommended NEEDLES___________________ LOT #___________________ YARN NAME/BRAND_________________________________________________ FIBER CONTENT____________________________________________________ Total YARDAGE_____________________Total WEIGHT_____________________ GAUGE____________________Recommended NEEDLES___________________