T I D E W A T E R K N I T T I N G G U I L D O F V I R G I N I A

Purls of WisdomA P R I L 4

M E E T I N G

Meet and Greet, 7 p.m.Business Meeting, 7:15 p.m.

Program will be

Master Knitting.

We meet the first Monday of the month (except for holidays) at Westminster Canterbury, 3100

Shore Drive,Virginia Beach. Check tkgv.blogspot.com to

confirm the meeting date. Questions? Please email us at

tkgv1@yahoo.com.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

2 Member Birthdays, Calendar, Charity Knitting

3 Newsletter Name, Deadline for Submissions, Interview Request, Find Us on Facebook

4 Spring Pattern Roundup

5 Silk Reeling Workshop

6 Ads from Local Yarn Shops Allison

April 2011

T R E A S U R E R ’ S R E P O R T

General Fund: $2,735.28 Charity Fund: $299.60 Total Funds: $3,034.88

President’s MessageHello Knitters, The "Spring Spectacular" that Mother Nature brings us each year is so nice. When it is super-freezing cold in January, I tell myself that there ar only eight, seven, six, five weeks until the beautiful flowers bloom. It helps me get through without complaining. Thankfully, I am not prone to allergy problems. I know it must be tough for some of you. All the beauty of nature has got me wanting to hurry up and finish the heavy sweater I am knitting and get on with some lovely lace knitting. I started the Moonfleet shawl last year and set it aside when it was time to knit gifts for the holidays. I will finish it this summer so I can wear it in North Carolina at the National Guild meeting in September. Several Guild members have made the shawl, and it is just gorgeous. You can see pictures of this shawl on Ravelry (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/moonfleet) or by looking up the pattern at the Unique Sheep's website (http://theuniquesheep.com/patterns/moonfleetshawl.html). What is on your needles?  Have you ever tried linen or cotton or silk or bamboo? I think some people think that the warmer it gets outside, the less reason there is to knit. Not me. I just switch fibers and/or switch to a smaller project (e.g., socks or dishcloths) or lighter-weight yarn and keep right on clicking the needles together. Duck into any of our local yarn stores and they will be happy to help you get a perfect warm weather project figured out.

Looking forward to seeing you all at our monthly meeting at Westminster Canterbury on April 4th at 7pm. Until then . . . Knit some,and purl some, too!

M e m b e r B i r t h d a y s T h i s M o n t h

Mark Your CalendarsGuild meetings start with Meet and Greet at 7 p.m., followed by the Business Meeting at 7:15 p.m.

April 4 Meeting – Program will feature three master knitters who will discuss the Knitting Guild of America’s master knitting program.

April 8 – Shearing Day Open House, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Cornerstone Farm Alpacas, 26298 Spivey Town Road, Windsor, Va. Call (757) 651-3335 for more information. $1 admission.

April 9 – Gathering of the Guilds, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Francis Land House, Virginia Beach.

April 18-20 – Six Slick Silks Silk Reeling Workshop, Gloucester Courthouse. See flier on page 5 for details.

May 7-8 – Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival. Information at www.sheepandwool.org.

Sept. 21-25 – The Knitting Guild Association conference, Greensboro, N.C. More information at www.tkga.com/conference.shtm.

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Nell Steckman, April 11 Karen Richardson, April 1 Marian Burns, April 13 Ellen Hansell, April 23 Ann Hudson, April 17 Elena Montgomery, April 27 Pat Trebes, April 17 Teresa Hammons, April 30

Is your birthday missing or listed incorrectly? Please email Sonja Barisic at snbarisic@gmail.com to make sure we set the record straight. Thanks.

K E E P K N I T T I N G T H O S E C H A R I T Y I T E M S    Raise those needles (or hooks) and challenge yourself with a goal for charity this year. You can report charity items at the Guild meetings or email Joanne Fischer at artsyfish@cox.net or Debbie Henderson at hendersonjb@cox.net.

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Y o u r N e w s l e t t e r H a s a N e w N a m e

The members have spoken. A vote was taken at the March Guild meeting and the name selected for the newsletter was Purls of Wisdom. The name was suggested by Guild member Lora Marin. Congratulations, Lora.

F i n d U s o n F a c e b o o k On Facebook, search for Tidewater Knitting Guild of Virginia. Or click on http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_147279678658247.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR MAY NEWSLETTER: April 15

Please send your questions, comments, suggestions, ads, photos, stories and patterns you’d like to share to editor Sonja Barisic at snbarisic@gmail.com or 734 Delaware Ave., Norfolk, VA 23508. Thank you, and happy reading and knitting.

Sonja

C a l l i n g A l l K n i t t e r s : W e W a n t t o T e l l Y o u r S t o r i e s

Guild meetings are fun and informative, but there isn’t always time for personal chatting. To help members get to know each other better, as knitters/crocheters and as people,we’d like to start featuring interviews with members in the newsletter. If you’d like to volunteer to be interviewed for an upcoming issue, or if you have suggestions for knitters to interview, please contact Sonja Barisic at snbarisic@gmail.com.

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Pattern Roundup: Spring Fever Spring has sprung. Here are a few free patterns available online that will keep you in stitches as the weather slowly gets warmer:

Spring Forward socks, by Linda Welch: http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer08/PATTspringforward.html

Knitted Lamb, by Angela Mobly: http://www.livingcrafts.com/page/Free_Patterns

Spring Tulips Stole, by Night Owl Knits: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/spring-tulips-stole

Spring Beret, by Natalie Larson: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/spring-beret

Knitted Easter Rabbit, by Natural Suburbia: http://naturalsuburbia.blogspot.com/2010/03/knitter-easter-rabbit-bunny-tutorial.html

Easter Peeps, by Kat Crafts: http://kat-knits.blogspot.com/2007/03/some-easter-peeps.html

Novelty Eggs, by Jean Greenhowe: http://www.jeangreenhowe.com/Images/Novelty_Eggs.pdf

Sock Yarn Easter Eggs, by The Loop Craft Cafe: http://www.theloophalifax.com/free-patterns/

Knitted Easter Basket, by Craftbits.com: http://www.craftbits.com/project/knitted-easter-basket

Crocheted Passover Yarmulke, by The Purl Bee: http://www.purlbee.com/crocheted-passover-yarmulke/

Felted Afikomen Bag, by Lion Brand (free membership required): http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/BK4K-0604003.html?noImages=&newreg=1

Sweet Hex Child’s Hood, by Lisa Shroyer: http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2009/05/15/free-pattern-child-s-fair-isle-hat.aspx

Fine Jacket, by Schulana: http://www.skacelknitting.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.49960/.f

Williamsburg Spinners & Weavers GuildPresents

Six Slick SilksMichael Cook

Silk Reeling Workshopwww.wormspit.com

April 18 - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., April 19 & 20 - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m each dayBring your lunch.

(Refrigerator and microwave are available.)

Whitcomb Lodge, Beaverdam ParkGloucester Courthouse, VA

Name:

Address:

E-Mail: Phone:

We will learn about the reeling of silk, starting with a simple filament with lots of “charm” (i.e., bumps)and “character” (i.e., inconsistencies), and then go on to a more advanced two-basin international style whichmakes a fine, even filament. We’ll cover twisting of raw silk to make six different yarns - weaving single, tram,low-twist organzine, high-twist organzine, sewing thread, light knitting yarn — which among them encom-pass most of the typical options, and are suitable for a variety of tasks from weaving and knitting to embroi-dery and sewing.

Don’t dilly-dally — there are a limited number of spaces still available. This is first come, first registered.

The cost is $150 for 3 days plus $35 materials fee.Mail check for $150 to: WSWG, c/o Ingrid Kross, 320 Blacksmith Arch, Yorktown, VA 23693.Check for $35 to be paid directly to Michael Cook on the first day of class.

Contact Sandi Petty with any questions - 804-435-2414

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Happy Spring, KnitWits! What plans do you have for your spring and summer knitting? We've got plenty of ideas, and the stuff to help you carry it out! New seasonal offerings are slowly trickling in to the shop. We're still loving Cascade's Ultra Pima, with its brilliant color and luxurious feel, and Nashua's Creative Focus Linen, an easy-on-the-hands cotton/linen blend that's a great deal for the price. Erin knitted up Knitting at Knoon's On the Half Shell with the linen and the feel is perfect for not-quite-summer layering, or even a great tee for warmer weather. Speaking of Erin and knitted tees, check out her upcoming class on easy summer tops – knock it out in a matter of weeks and have something nice to show off ! If you haven't seen Namaste's newest bag in action

yet, you MUST come check it out. Tailored, chic, incredibly well designed, and lined with the cutest fabric, the new Bitty Bag will find a place in your wardrobe as either a regular purse or knitting bag. No detail was overlooked in this one, and we've got all the colors. And I'm not tellin' what new surprises are in the works that you may want to play with. ... I will tell you about the latest bit of fun we've planned to welcome spring: mark your calendar for April 16. The Annual Pajama Party is happening that evening, and it's one rowdy evening of fun! No cost to come and party – we just ask that you bring a potluck dish or snack to share. Wear your jammies (yes, we're serious), bring something to work on, and prepare to laugh until your sides hurt at the hands-down most-fun-you-can-have-with-your-pjs-on event of the year. Tricks are up the sleeves for summer fun as well. Planning is being finalized, so keep checking back with us. You never know what's happening next around here!

Please support our advertisers, as they help defray the cost of this newsletter.

 

yarn patterns notions classesall in the company of friends.

945 Providence Square Shopping Ctr Virginia Beach757-495-6600 knitwitsyarn.com

Workshops for April: April 7: I-cords; $5. April 23: How to join yarns without tying knots. April 30: Basic increasing and decreasing along with picking up stitches. Join our Sit & Stitch groups, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30 p.m.-5 p.m. No experience required.

 

TKC has TWO great classes starting in April. First is the "Hexagon Petal Tee" from Interweave Knits’ Spring 2011 issue. This will be a challenging class and is taught by expert knitter Jackie Scott. The other is a knit-along from the book "Swing Swagger Drape." Participants get to choose which garment to make from the book and we will meet every other week. For more info call the shop at 420-7547.    New and exciting: We have recently signed up for the Fiesta Yarns "Color Cruise." Each month we will receive a special selection of beautiful Fiesta Yarns dyed in a new and unique colorway. This colorway will only be available during that one month and will be discontinued forever at the end of the month. The colorways are

influenced by ports of call around the globe such as Barcelona, Jamaica, etc. Since Fiesta has 18 different styles of yarn, each month will feature five of those yarns all in the same colorway so you can blend textures for your own unique shawls or sweaters.

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