Lucy Neatby

If you're coming to our blog looking for information on the Lucy Neatby workshop, scroll down a few posts or click here

http://indianapolisknittingguild.blogspot.com/2015/04/lucy-neatby-coming-to-indianapolis.html

June meeting- Super Show and Share!

Bring a project you are particularly proud of, or one you learned something from, or one that was a complete failure that you need help with!

It can be a recently finish project or an old one, but this month we'll have more time for show and tell to go in to more detail.

(Pictures are from Meg Swansen's Knitting Camp, which inspired this guild topic a few years ago. )

Needle Sharing

For our April meeting members brought a wide variety of knitting needles for everyone to try out and talk about.  Here are some of the more popular ones

Signature Needle Arts needles
http://www.signatureneedlearts.com/

These needles are one of the most high end available.  They come in 3 different points, stiletto was represented at the meeting.  The tips are slick for quick knitting, but the middle sections are micro etched to grip yarn and keep it from slipping off.  These come in straights, DPNs, and "convertible circulars", where each set of tips comes with several screw on cables of different lengths.

Kollage Square needles
http://www.kollageyarns.com/needles.html

These metal needles come in all the standard formats, and some people find them to be more comfortable (some found them less!)


Knitter's Pride Dreamz
http://www.knitterspride.com/Materialwise-Details.asp?id=1&mcid=1

Dreamz are color coded laminated wood needles with fairly sharp points and flexible cords.  (They also come in a square version)  The example of these were an interchangeable set.  These are nice because you have every possible needle size and cord length together in 1 set.  They are especially nice for garments that will grow (like a circular shawl) or that you might want to try on as you go.

Dyak Craft
http://www.dyakcraft.com/index.html

There were also several interchangeable sets of Darn Pretty wood needles from Dyak Craft.  These are hand made in Vermont.  Unfortunately there was a fire at the DymondWood supplier last fall and they are currently not taking orders for the wood needles.  They are still producing the metal interchangeable needles pictured above.

Chiaogoo
http://www.chiaogoo.com/

A variety of Chaiogoo needles were represented.  These come in bamboo, metal (stainless steel), and lace (sharp) points, in DPN, circular fixed, and interchangeable styles. Their signature red cables are multi-strand, steel cable coated with red nylon that allows yarn to slide and has no memory. You may find that a good thing, or not, it seems to be a personal preference.

HiyaHiya 
http://hiyahiyanorthamerica.com/

A variety of HiyaHiya needles were represented.  These are a relatively affordable needle, and come in all varieties of fixed/interchangeable/DPN and metal (sharps and regular) and bamboo.


Denise Interchangeables
http://www.knitdenise.com/

Another set of interchangeables mentioned.  Some features of these are that they click lock instead of screwing, are plastic (you may like, or not) and are fairly blunt points for those of you who do not like very sharp needles.

Peace Fleece
http://www.peacefleece.com/catalog/knittingneedles.php

Fair Trade, hand painted wooden needles. 


There were others!  So many, but these are a pretty good selection, and some of what was most discussed.

Lucy Neatby coming to Indianapolis!

Classes will be June 5-7, 2015

Cost is $65 per class for Indianapolis Knitting Guild members, and $75 for non members.All classes will be held at Marten House Hotel and Lilly Conference Center 1801 W 86th St. 

The hotel is offering a discounted rate of $89 per night if anyone should wish to stay at the hotel during the conference. Please call them directly and ask for the Indianapolis Knitting Guild Block. (http://www.martenhousehotel.com/).

The Contented Stitch: Self-Sufficiency for Knitters

Friday, June 5th, 6-9pm 
Novice - Intermediate knitters 

This class is designed for both newer and seasoned knitters who would like to learn to read and understand their knitted fabric. With these skills, row counters and paper records become aids rather than lifelines! We will look at the following: The structure of a knit fabric both Stocking stitch and Garter and what makes for a contented stitch. The Long tail / Continental cast-on method and how to make it do your bidding. Decreases and how to recognise them, increases and their differences. Dropping stitches and staging rescues. How to mark your position and count rows. 

Supplies: • One ball of fairly thick (chunky) weight yarn (to give a gauge of 3 - 4sts per inch in St st), please choose a smooth yarn in a solid (not marled) light colour and be prepared to swap a few metres with your neighbour as a contrasting colour. • One pair size 6mm / US #10 needles (or a circular needle). • Usual knitting paraphernalia, including a crochet hook. 

Homework: None

 

Almost Saintly Knitting – It’s So HOLEY!

Saturday, June 6th, 9am-12pm  
Intermediate Knitters 

It’s an ongoing source of fascination to me as to how to capture significant quantities of nothingness within knitting, in larger than traditional lace holes. We’ll take a look at single and double yarn-over lace holes and a series of different methods of making larger holes and how they can be employed to give a variety of effects. We’ll look at using waste yarn to create openings, with a crochet chain to hold the edges and the versatility of the marvellous scallop hole, which may be used for an all over fabric, for detailing and as a method for increasing and decreasing. How to handle multiple yarn overs and create new stitches. Even if you don’t currently plan to make holes in your knitting, there are many useful mainstream spinoffs for these techniques. 

Supplies: • Double pointed or circular needles in a size to suit your yarn. • Smooth worsted weight yarns in at least two bright, solid colours. (Precise yarn weight is not critical.) • Crochet hook • Scissors and your usual knitting paraphernalia. 

Homework: None

 

Gilding the Lily: Finer Points of Finishing

Saturday, June 6th, 2pm-5pm 
Intermediate upwards – must have a working knowledge of grafting (Kitchener Stitch) and Mattress Stitch Great knitting is a sum of small parts. 

We will be looking a variety of refinements to the detailing and finish of your pieces. We will use an easy provisional cast-on technique, work a facing, incorporate a selection of turning rows and fuse the facing to the main fabric. Preparation will be made for a seam involving no bulk or fabric loss, make an impeccable double-knit pocket and trim it with a choice of decorative pocket tops. All of this will topped with a modified bind off technique which improves ease, speed and adds elasticity to the bound off edge. 

Supplies: • A smooth Worsted weight yarn (gives an approx gauge of 4 - 5 sts per inch) in a light solid colour, wool rich blend. • Bring 3m/yds of two contrasting colours of similar yarn (or be prepared to swap some yarn with a neighbour). • A set of lightweight dpns suitable for your chosen yarn, plus one smaller size dpn and two larger size ones. • Usual knitting paraphernalia, including a crochet hook. 

Homework: None

 

Dabble into Double (Double Knitting Part A)

Sunday, June 7th, 9am-12pm 
Intermediate/experienced knitters – No DK experience necessary 
Make a voyage of discovery to achieve a deeper understanding of your knitting! Try a variety of types of Double Knitting to produce two-layer fabrics. Starting with tubular knitting on straight needles, open and condensed bind-off methods and the magnificent double knit pocket trick. Using two yarns we will introduce positive/negative DK color patterning techniques and quilting for added texture and warmth. 

Supplies: • Two double pointed needles of sizes 3.5 - 4 mm/US #4 - 6. • 20g each of two contrasting solid colours of smooth DK or Worsted weight yarn. • Scissors • Crochet hook • Usual knitting paraphernalia 

Homework: None

 

Double Up and Around! (Double Knitting Part B)

Sunday, June 7th, 2pm-5pm 
Intermediate/experienced knitters – No DK experience necessary (Dabble 1 is not required to take this class. These 2 classes can be taken independently or together)

Make an exploratory journey into other realms of Double Knitting (which produces two-layer fabrics). We will begin with tubes within tubes, worked in the round, initially with a single yarn, two yarns and then with colour patterning. We will look at different ways to handle the yarns for maximum efficiency and how to incorporate shapings into double fabrics, topped off with tubular bind-off. These techniques are suited to ultra warm mittens and cozy lined socks. 

Supplies: • A set of double pointed needles of sizes US 3 - 5,(3.5 - 4 mm) or one or two circulars according to your preferred method of working in the round. • 20g each of two solid colours of smooth DK - Worsted weight yarn. • Scissors • Crochet hook • Blunt darning needle • Usual knitting paraphernalia 

Homework: Cast on 48 sts in the round and work 2 rounds of 1x1 rib (k1, p1). Use whatever type of needles you prefer. Leave the stitches on the needle.

Click here to register

Questions? 

Contact Mandie Harrington 

Join our Event on Facebook
 

Seaming Challenges

Join us this Tuesday to learn some tips to deal with seaming challenges from Barb Bettegnies

Happy knitting!

Short Row resources

I collected together some videos of the techniques we talked about at guild.

Wrap and Turn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfGpKiNfQmk

Cat Bordhi Wrap and Turn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yVikAvPuE4

Japanese short rows
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_vcXbu0_B4

Ysolda does the same thing as Japanese short rows using scrap yarn instead of pins, she calles this technique Wrapless short rows.
https://vimeo.com/84546182

German short rows
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_6Pjl20zKA

(Note: I think she makes an unfair comparison as the left side short rows often don't look as good as the right side, but her instructions are good and clear)

"Thanks Ma" from Cat Bordhi's Sweet Tomato Heel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRc3309JUyc


And here is a Free Craftsy Class on short rows. 
http://www.craftsy.com/class/short-rows/96?_ct=sbqii-sqjuweho-dum&_ctp=1&rceId=

It discusses Wrap and Turn, Yarn over, and Japanese Short rows, but also has a section on how to work them in shoulders, sleeves, and bust lines, so those of you wanting more specific information on how to add them for your own shape might find it there.

Short Rows in February

Join us on February 10th where we'll talk about Short Rows. 

Short rows are rows of knitting that do not go all the way to the end, which allow for shaping.  We'll talk about when to use them, how to add them to your pattern to improve fit, and several different ways to perform them. 

Abby Franquemont workshop on January 24th

Abby Franquemont is the author of Respect the Spindle and several Interweave videos.  She is also the daughter of Ed and Christine Franquemont who were textile anthropologist.  Her family moved to Chinchero, Peru when she was quite young and learned spinning and weaving there.  Many of you will remember her as the Abby Cat Bordhi mentioned a lot in her lecture.

Classes are:
Drafting: the Long and Short of it will take place from 10-1. This class is geared toward people who already know how to spin at least a little. Cost is $50 plus $30 materials fee (paid to Abby).

What’s the difference between long draw and short draw? Does it matter? Why would you choose one or the other? What difference does it make in your finished yarn? Are some fibers or preparations more suited to one or the other? What do people mean by woolen and worsted? We’ll talk about those subjects and learn to execute a range of drafting methods with a variety of fibers. Bring a wheel and/or spindle, and we’ll supply the fiber.

Spinning for Knitters will be $50, plus $10 materials fee (paid to Abby), from 2-5.

Have you been wondering about learning to spin? Is it for you? Is it expensive? Why would you want to? How hard is it, really? How long does it take to get to where you can make lots of yarn you’ll want to use? Whether you’re just looking to find out if you’re interested or not, or looking to finally make that leap, this is the class for you. Using a spindle (we’ll supply one for class, and you can buy it if you want to keep going), get hands-on instruction right from one of the world’s foremost spinning teachers and feel confident you’re off to a great start.

The lecture will be at 7, the topic is Handspinning through History, the cost of the lecture is $10.

Well-suited for audiences who may not spin. From ancient times through the dawn of industrialization up to the present day, who spins and why? What do they spin, with what tools? What do they make with yarn? What role to textiles play in the development of civilization? What would live be like without yarn? Includes spinning demonstrations with spindle and wheel.

All 3 events will take place at the Olde Mill Condominium Clubhouse at 165 Olde Mill Circle North Dr,Indianapolis, IN 46260

Please email me (SheepyTime@gmail.com) if you have any questions or to sign up.

And please feel free to share this with anyone you think might be interested.

Latvian Style Wristlets

We are lucky enough to have Anne Reaves teach us about Latvian mittens and will make wristlets at the January meeting on the 13th.

Supplies: two strongly contrasting colors or shades of worsted wool (the label should read 20 stitches by 24 rows on size 7 needles for 4 inches square) and size 5 or 6 needles (double point or magic loop). You can definitely use leftovers from wool hats.

No, you won’t be able to complete an entire wristlet during the workshop, but you will be able to accomplish enough to be able to finish the wristlets at home. There are two different designs: one for those less experienced in stranded knitting and one for the more adventurous. The easier version is a wristlet made of different bands of typical Latvian geometric designs, and the second is made of alternating braids but is only for those who are already comfortable with stranded knitting. (A third version could be one braid, then other chart—if you decide braids are not a technique you enjoy!)


In case of cancellation due to weather:  We will make every attempt to let everyone know.  It will be posted here, and on the facebook page, as well as direct email.  

Sweet Tomato Heel KAL

IKG is having a KAL of the lovely Sweet Tomato Heel (you can choose any of the many versions, it's the heel we are focusing on).

Shown in Feather and Foliage

 
We will meet one Wednesday evening every month starting in September (9/17, 10/22, 11/19) at the Panera in Glendale, about 6-8, but please come even if you will be late.

You do not need to be an IKG member to attend.

We will be meeting at the Panera Bread in Glendale: 

6055 N Keystone Ave, Indianapolis, Indiana 46220

August Meeting

At this month's meeting (on Tuesday August 12th) 3 members who attended Meg Swansen's Knitting Camp in July will be talking about camp, what they learned, and what they brought home.

We will also be discussing some upcoming programming ideas, including a trip to Turkey Creek Alpacas and having Andrea Wong teach Portuguese Knitting.  Click for more info on Andrea. and sign ups for a dye workshop hosted by president Ann Wright.

Pre-meeting dinner will be at the Keystone McAllister's, 8487 Union Chapel Road
Indianapolis, IN 46240.

Also, a reminder that election of officers and dues are due in September.

Looking forward to seeing you all there.  Happy Knitting!

June Meeting moved

Our regular meeting location at Epworth Church will be unavailable for the June meeting.   Instead we will meet at our vice president's home. 

Please contact the guild for the address.  IndianapolisKnittingGuild@gmail.com. 

March Minutes

The March meeting was led by Beth Soper (Vice President).    Beth asked for Shop News.

Susan Brennan announced several upcoming events at Mass Ave.    They are (currently) selling some of the shop samples.    Upcoming dates:

In store overnighter April 12^th

In store retreat April 24-26^th.  $25 plus dinner $7.50

Malabrigo trunk show May 2^nd.   5-7 pm,  $5

Check for more info on the blog

Carol Powers  mentioned that Broad Ripple Knits is moving in early April to a bigger location just down the street.

Mandie Harrington announced that she is teaching dyeing at Hoosier Hills Fiber Festival this summer.   

Lana Holden announced that Small Knits Symposium would like to offer Indianapolis Knitting Guild members $15 off a la carte classes at the event, April 25-27th. please email registration@knitsymposium.com or the guild for the promo code.

The February Minutes were voted on and approved.

Carol (Treasurer) reported the guild has $4859.  She gave $200 to the church that evening as voted on in February.

The Cat Bordhi event was discussed briefly.  Everything is coming together nicely. The event should pay for itself without guild funds.  As of right now the Cowl class is full with 2 people waiting, and there are 2 spaces in the sock class.  Due to a slight scheduling conflict it was announced that the lecture would be moved from 7 to 7:30 to give the preceding event time to get out of the space.

Barb Bettegnies also announced that she would be talking to Lucy Neatby soon about coming in mid 2015. 

Beth announced that the board wants the membership to know that scholarships to events such as these can be made available for members who cannot afford to attend for whatever reason.  If you would like to request one for yourself or another member please speak privately to a board member.

Susan gave our guest presentation.  She showed a project that will be a knit along at Mass Ave in April, the River Run shawl by Mango Moon, and then she demonstrated arm knitting.  She also mentioned Berroco gives a good video tutorial.  This is a great use for silk ribbon or other big unusual yarns. 

There are several examples of arm knitting on Ravelry here  

IKG hosts Cat Bordhi in April

We're so happy to have the opportunity to have Cat Bordhi here with us this April 27-29th, just before TNNA.  Classes will take place at the Broad Ripple United Methodist Church

Cat Bordhi’s mission, according to Stephanie Pearl McPhee, “is to make you a more creative, freethinking knitter who problem-solves and experiments with vigor and fearlessness. The best part? She can.” Cat teaches and inspires more than a thousand knitters each year in classes all over the world. Her YouTube knitting tutorials have nearly three million views, and her innovative books, Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles, A Treasury of Magical Knitting, A Second Treasury of Magical Knitting, New Pathways For Sock Knitters, Personal Footprints for Insouciant Sock Knitters, Cat’s Sweet Tomato Heel Socks, and an award-winning novel, Treasure Forest, have reached hundreds of thousands of readers. For more information, visit www.catbordhi.com.

Cat will give a lecture on Sunday evening: Time Travel to Perú—when modern and indigenous knitters join as one.

She will teach Seven Super Skills Cowl on Monday, a class which teaches what she calls her 7 most appreciated techniques in 1 project.

New Pathways for Sock Knitters will be on Tuesday, probably her most well known sock innovations.  Learn to think about socks in a whole new way and stretch the way you think about knitting in general.

Full information on classes and registration can be found here. Please note that priority registration goes to IKG members until March 15th. 

February Minutes

Beth Soper, our Vice President, led the February meeting. 

We discussed our charity knitting projects.  Members brought yarn to share for charity projects.   The contact person for Wishard who had been collected knitted breasts has let us know that they don’t need any more (yay!) but they would really appreciate lap sized blankets and chemo caps.  It was agreed that we could collect 9” squares for the lapghans, and chemo caps should be made with very soft yarn.

It was agreed that we would make a $200 donation to Epworth Church as a thank you for allowing us to hold our meetings there.

We discussed the Cat Bordhi workshops, which will be held from 9-4:30 on April 28^th and 29^th (Monday and Tuesday).  We are aware that these are not ideal times for some members, but it was quite literally the only time that we could have Cat teach here at all, and we hope that many of you can attend.  There was an email sent out earlier with the sock class choices, please vote for those this week if you are interested.  The other class that was chosen was the 7 Super Skills Cowl, which was a clear winner in our initial poll.

Please look for specific details and registration information to come next week.  Members will have time to sign up exclusively until a few days after the next guild meeting, and then we will open it up to non members. 

Paula Winnig gave a book report on the Knitter’s Book of Yarn by Clara Parkes.  She also brought the Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook to share. 

Mary Ellen Lohr gave the main presentation on Mosaic Knitting.  Barbara Walker’s excellent book is here. There is a good Knitty article on the subject if you missed it or would like more information.  You can also find some mosaic knitting patterns on Ravelry.

January Minutes

This month’s meeting was led by Vice President Beth Soper as our fearless leader has flown south.

Mandie Harrington (secretary) reported that the Membership Directory was in progress but not everyone had responded.  The draft was passed around for additions and corrections.  If you have not responded to the directory survey please do so here or email me with that information.

Barb Bettegnies (Special Programming Committee Chair) asked for additional members to help with the Cat Bordhi committee and Peg Alexander joined.  Barb reports that Cat will split her travel expenses between us, TNNA, and the Small Knits Symposium in Bloomington.  She has asked Cat to extend her stay at the hotel she is staying at for TNNA, and we are making headway toward choosing a location. 

Barb passed around a list of classes Cat offers and asked people to vote.  If you did not get to the meeting but plan to attend the workshop in April, Titles are:

Lecture 

Twenty Misleading Knitting Myths-Uncovered and set right

Time Travel to Peru - When modern and indigenous knitters join as one

Classes

Seven Super Skills Cowl
Cat’s Sweet Tomato Heel Socks
New Pathways for Sock Knitters
Personal Footprints for Insouciant Sock Knitters
Personal Footprints for Rebellious Sock Knitters
Carefree Moebius Knitting
Advanced Moebius Knitting and Designing
Engineering New Stitch Patterns
Finding the Fountain of Fresh Knitting Ideas

Please let Barb or I know your preferences if you have them or if you need more information about any of the classes.

Guild members were asked to come to a decision on this year’s charity knitting.  Mary Ellen Lohr suggested the Tit-a-long for breast cancer survivors.  Beth brought up the orphanage in Zimbabwe which we knit sweaters for last year has 60 more children newborn-12 in need of sweaters.  Marsha Callahan suggested Craine House, A halfway house on Michigan Road where non-violent offenders can serve out their sentences with their children, and the kids have a need of sweaters.

The options were discussed and it was agreed that we would have two charity knitting projects, one small and one larger.  The small project is the knitted breasts.  Sweaters will be collected for Zimbabwe until June when they can be delivered, and sweaters after that will be for Craine House. 

The pattern for the knitted breasts is here. 

They have a need for sizes C and larger, especially sets.  Please Please go ahead and fill them with polyester fiberfill and leave a tail, but don’t close them.  They will add a weight and close them up.  There is no need for the icord or buttons. 

We will get more information about the sweaters for Zimbabwe and Craine house, but all sizes from newborn to youth large are needed.

At February’s meeting anyone who wants can bring yarn (preferably worsted and washable) for sharing or swapping for these projects.

Barb also announced that we are tentatively scheduling Lucy Neatby for Spring 2015.  She will call her to make more specific plans.

Mandie did the Tip of the Month, about weaving in ends of yarn as you knit.  I have a blog post about that here.

Paula Winnig also mentioned the “helpful notes” on Ravelry projects.  So, if you are looking at a pattern and you click the projects tab, you can sort by people who have marked the project notes as helpful (they have a little life preserver on them).  This is useful if you’re stuck, or if you’re altering a pattern in a way someone else may have done before you.

Alice Bell did the Book Report this month on Nicky Epstein’s Knitted Embellishments.  She also brought in some beautiful examples of her work from this book, including a gorgeous tree skirt with various knitted trees all over it.

Laurie Hagans mentioned the yarn crawl Roving Indiana.  You buy a passport for $5 from any of the 8 participating yarn shops.  You get a 10% discount at each participating shop during the crawl, a chance to win the shop prize at each shop you visit, a portion of the pattern for the crawl (visit all 8 to get the full pattern), and if you make it to all 8 shops you leave the completed section of your passport to be entered in a prize drawing for the overall prize.

Participating shops are

The Clay Purl - Nashville

In a Yarn Basket - Bloomington,

Mass Ave - Indianapolis, Nomad Yarns – Plainfield

Scotland Yarn - Shelbyville

Shabby Sheep and Ewe - Columbus

Sheep Street - Martinsville, and Starstruck Cat Studio - Greenwood.

The event takes place from February 21^st to March 2^nd.

Joyce Mallette gave the program on attached i-cord.  A tutorial can be found here.  She gave a tip to start the i-cord with 1 stitch instead of 3 and yo twice on the first row to make a nicer beginning, and then S2KP at the end to 1 stitch instead of binding off 3. 

Lastly, we need more volunteers for Tip of the Month.  Please let me know if you’d be willing to do one of these for us. 

January Meeting

I hope everyone is warm and dry after last week's storm!  

Joyce Mallette will be doing a program on attached i-cord.  People who want to participate should knit a rectangular swatch of garter or stockinette stitch, and bring 2 DPNs about 2 sizes smaller than used for the swatch, and contrast yarn.  Time is 7:00 at the Epworth United Methodist Church as usual, 6450 Allisonville Road

Pre-meeting dinner will be at 5:15 at Logan's Roadhouse, 4825 E. 82nd Street.  598-1347

Map: http://goo.gl/maps/C5gNM

Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

 

Mandie

October Guild Meeting Minutes

30 knitters attended this month.  We had a number of new guests in attendance (welcome!  We hope you will return again.)

Sign up sheets for Book Reports and Tip of the Month were passed around.  We still have several available times so if you didn’t get a chance to sign up for one, reply back and we can get you in.  Both are expected to be short (5 minutes or so) and informal.

Ann Wright (President) shared the new guild business cards with members and called for shop news.  Ellen McKinney shared that Village Yarn Shop in Zionsville has drop in knitting on Tuesday and Thursday knitting and mentioned the 12 weeks of Christmas patterns that they are working on.  Kathy Treaster shared that she teaches lace techniques at Village on Thursday afternoons from 1-3.

Barb Bettegnies introduced her guest Mandy who owns Groovy Girl Yarn Shop in Kokomo.  (http://groovygirlart215.blogspot.com/)  They can be found at Kokomo Yarnies on Ravelry.

We ran a survey for interest on teacher workshops (which can also be voted on online here:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1WuK0qDmfPxAJE1ldSdEMf_cjonz8rwhdowGQeTPQ-p0/viewform

You do not need to be a member to vote, so if you have a friend who would attend a workshop in Indy feel free to share. 

Preliminary results put Cat Bordhi well in the lead.  Cat does not generally travel and do workshops currently; however she will be in Indianapolis in May 2014 to attend the TNNA convention and is willing to extend her trip to teach us.  Ann appointed Barb Bettegnies to chair the special events committee so we can hopefully make that happen this spring.   The board is tabulating remaining votes for future workshops, some teachers book 2-3 years away.

Barb Layton has volunteered to organize pre-guild meeting dinners for the rest of the guild year.

Ann asked for suggestions for charity knitting. 

• Ellen suggested the Schuyler Blanket Project http://schuylersblankets.wordpress.com/ which provides blankets to bereaved parents, started by a local mom and knitter.  We could send squares as a group or we could also sponsoring a blanket and assembling it together.  Information on square requirements can be found on the web site above.

• Beth Soper reports that 21 sweaters for the older children/teens were completed last year and will be delivered to Zimbabwe this fall.  There is a need for around 60 younger children’s sweaters.

• Debbie Ford-True shared information on the Tit-Along being run at Mass Ave Knit Shop, making soft prosthetic breasts for mastectomy patients.  The pattern can be found on Knitty http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall05/PATTbits.html.  Debbie is willing to bring finished boobies to Mass Ave if anyone wants to bring them to guild meetings.  The following info comes from the Wishard contact. 
• They do not need the A or B cups, so make the 3 larger sizes.
• Also consider doing some sets, as some women have a double mastectomy.
• The pattern has an option for 1 piece, which I love as no sewing it together when you finish knitting. Also, go down a needle size on the back side (per the pattern) as this makes a flat back side that will be concave when completed and it will not irritate the incision.
• Please go ahead and fill them with polyester fiberfill and leave a long trail for us to close it after we add the weight.
• No need to knit I-cord or add the button for a nipple, the women don't care about that.

• Bears on Patrol, collecting stuffed bears for children in scary situations was also mentioned.

Ann asked for input on the desire for social knitting time outside of regular guild meetings.  The board would love for someone to organize that so if you have an idea, feel free to suggest it.

Mandie Harrington did a book report on Knit One Knit All by Elizabeth Zimmermann  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/knit-one-knit-all---elizabeth-zimmermanns-garter-stitch-designs, published posthumously by daughter Meg Swansen and grandson Cully Swansen.

Beth and Anne Reaves did a wonderful program on double knitting.  (Anne if you can send me a copy of the handout I can put it on the blog).

The meeting was wrapped up with knitter’s show and tell, where lots of gorgeous items were displayed.

Happy Knitting!

October meeting

Join us for next Tuesday's Guild meeting at 7pm!

Our main topic will be Double Knitting presented by Anne Reaves and Beth Soper

Please bring 2 contrasting colors of worsted weight yarn and appropriate needles (generally 6-8). Cast on 30 stitches in one of the colors using a fairly elastic cast on of your choice.

We'll also have some information about several possible nationally known teachers we might bring in over the next few years that are very exciting and we need your opinions!

Message from the President

Greeting to all,

I would like to extend a warm welcome to all current members and visitors to the Indianapolis Knitting Guild’s blog!  Hopefully this note will find it’s way to you and inform you of the current news, and all kinds of information to entice you to join us each second Tuesday evening of the month, at Epworth United Methodist Church 6450 Allisonville Rd., Indy,46220, where we meet to learn, support, entertain, and enjoy the company of other knitters. 

We are an open group of “fiber fiends”, oops “friends”, who desire to welcome every lover of knitting. We are represented by every skill level, every age level, and we desire to expand our membership and widen our circle.

We feel we have something special to offer, whether you knit, crochet, spin, weave, or all of the above.  

So come on out and join us for some fun, make new friends, or greet old friends; we will be happy to see you!

Ann