Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

There will be no meeting on Dec. 30th.

Have a wonderful holiday season and enjoy the snow!

Next meeting: January 14th, 2009 at 6:30 at Bagels & Brew in Castlegar. See you there.

Some of Gwen's recent projects

Here are some of my more recent completed projects. Members, please contribute your own photos - email them to me at gfvernham@gmail.com.



This one I call the Starburst doily, cannot remember where the pattern came from - probably from one of those Leisure Arts leaflets Zellers sells.

Hexagonal Crocheted Lace Tablecloth, 39" diameter point to point. It is made of many individual motifs that I crocheted and put together during the long bus rides to and from work at Syncrude in Fort McMurray.

"Delightful Nosegay" doily, which I gave as a hostess gift to a friend in Fort McMurray. The pattern is from the now out-of-print magazine "Crochet Fantasy". The Japanese designers always had the best patterns! I collect issues of this magazine, and also of Decorative Crochet. I also collect vintage crochet and knitted lace patterns.

A pair of socks I made for my sister. The pattern is from one of my many Regia pattern books. The cuffs are ribbed with baby cables.

My daughter at about 11 months old, wearing a knit hooded poncho I made for her. This is an older Pingouin pattern.

Front view of the "Devan" cardigan I made for my daughter Amelia from sock yarn. You can find this pattern at Knitty.com.

Back view of the Devan cardigan, with intarsia balloon. This sweater is now having a second life with my new nephew Jacob. Sock yarn (Regia 75% wool, 25% nylon) lasts forever!

Rumours, countdown to Christmas...

Dear Knitters, Crocheters, and fibre-lovers,

It's already November 2nd, so get those needles and hooks moving if you want to be in time for Christmas!

The rumour is...
Jean's Material Things in Castlegar will now be stocking a selection of quality yarns. Check it out and support our LYS (local yarn shop).

The Castlegar Knit and Crochet Guild had a display on the Arts and Culture table during the Open House at the Castlegar Rec Centre, Oct. 29th.

My latest project is a knitted skirt for my daughter, made from a lovely hand-dyed (fall colourway) merino wool sock yarn by Lorna's Laces. It is my own design, with a ribbed waistband, stockinette main body, and it will have a lace edge.

The next project will be a crocheted lace dress for myself. The pattern is by Lily Chin and can be found in the Interweave Crochet pattern library. Check it out at this link: http://shop.interweave.com/Lace-Dress-Crochet-P868C30.aspx
I think I will substitute a black, glittery fine wool for the cotton called for in the pattern, because cotton has no "memory" and tends to look shapeless so quickly. Or, maybe one of the new cotton + elastic yarns available now.

What are you working on?

November meetings:
See the new Calendar gadget on our web page, to the right, for event listings. (bear with me - there seem to be some technical problems with it.)
The "Second Wednesday" Meeting will be held Nov. 12 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm at Bagels n' Brew in Castlegar. (The location will now be a Rotating Location - meetings used to be held at Arby's).

The "Last Tuesday" meeting will be Nov. 25 at the Castlegar Public Library, 6:30 - 8:00 pm.


Respectfully,

Gwen Vernham

Save the dates: Nov. 7-8, 2008

I've just received a brochure in the mail for the 2nd annual BC's Creative Expo, to be held Nov. 7-8, 2008 at the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre (Canada Place).

The Expo will be showcasing Scrapbooking, Quilting, Sewing, Knitting, Needlework, Fibre Arts, Beading, and Crafting.

There will be exhibits, hands on classes, educational seminars, free stage shows, contests, and door prizes.

Special rates for out-of-town visitors will be available at the Days Inn on Pender Street.

Visit the website for more information: www.bcscreativeexpo.com

Email Gwen if you are interested in a group field trip to this event.

WELCOME BACK!!!

Well, it's September, and autumn is in the air. If you're like me, you can't wait to begin those scrumptious new knitting projects!

Please join us for the September Welcome-Back Meeting at the Castlegar Public Library on Tuesday September 30th, 6:30 - 8:00 pm.

Bring a friend or two or more, bring items for show-and-tell, and bring your summer vacation stories.

I was at the Hills Garlic Festival this afternoon and there was so much amazing stuff to see, hear, touch, feel, and taste! Wow! The West Kootenay region is truly the best place on earth to live.

Questions?
Gwen 250-304-2625

break for summer, re-convene in September

Hi Ladies,

I will not be able to attend the July and August meetings. See you in September! If you like please feel free to keep meeting. Interest was low last summer, so we could also call a formal summer break and re-convene in the fall.

 

All the best, enjoy the summer,

 

Gwen

The Successful Knitters in the Highlands of Bolivia

This month's issue of Cast On, a magazine published by the Knitting Guild Association, has a fascinating article about a women's knitting co-operative called Artesanias Minkha. "Minkha" means women working together in the Quechuan language. They have a website, check it out.

www.minkhasweaters.com

 

 

more knitting events

More knitting-related events this year:

 

Gibson's Landing Fibre Arts Festival, August 20-24, Gibson's Landing, BC

http://www.gibsonslandingfibrearts.com/welcome.html

 

BC's Creative Expo, Vancouver, BC, November 7-8, 2008

http://www.bcscreativeexpo.com/index.html

 

 

If anyone knows of other events worth checking out, please let us know!

Knit and Crochet Show, September 2008

Hi everyone,

 

Latest TKGA / CGOA news:

 

Check out the Knit & Crochet Show at www.KnitandCrochetShow.com , a conference that will be held this fall in Portland, Oregon September 11-14. There will be many interesting classes and lots to see. Well-known, published designers such as Melissa Leapman, Lily Chin, Annie Modesitt, and others will be conducting workshops. Topics include: cable knitting, designing larger sizes, lace crochet, entrelac techniques, advanced finishing techniques, various felting techniques, as well as several ethnic styles of knitting and MANY more. And there will be shopping!

 

Anyone interested in going as a group, please let me know. Room rates at the convention hotel (Doubletree Hotel Portland - Lloyd Center) are $120+tax for single/double rooms and $130+tax for Premium rooms. Each additional person is $15.

 

I have received a full program and schedule of events in the mail for anyone who wants to see it.

 

By the way, TKGA is The Knitting Guild Association, www.tkga.com, and CGOA is the Crochet Guild of America.

 

All the best,

 

Gwen

Re: Upcoming Events in May

Hey Gwen!!!!
Good for you!!! Good luck in the marathon, I know you will do great!!!
Arlee

Upcoming Events in May

Tonight's meeting at the library was small but lively. Thanks ladies for coming out!

Wow, Donna brought her latest finished sweater. Absolutely beautiful.

Arlee will be a grandma (again), soon! Congratulations.

 

Next events will be:

 

Saturday May 10th, 7-9 PM: Wine & Cheese / Tea Social at Gwen's house (2095 Pass Creek Road, 304-2625)

 

Wednesday May 14th: Meeting at Arby's restaurant, 6:30-8:00 PM

 

Tuesday May 27th: Meeting at the library, 6:30-8:00 PM

 

 

Other news:

I have created an online group on Facebook for our guild named, of course, the Castlegar Knit and Crochet Guild.

 

Willow sent a link to this event to our Facebook group: WorldWide Knit in Public Day, June 14

http://www.wwkipday.com/

Any takers? We should do something here in Castlegar.

 

And also to her site on Etsy: http://woolbywillow.etsy.com

She does needle felting, among other things! Our members are multi-talented.

 

 

Wish me luck: this weekend I am running a half-marathon in Vancouver. Next time you see me I may not be walking very fast!

 

All the best,

Gwen

 

 

 

 

Meeting night Tuesday, March 25 at the library

Please join us Tuesday evening, March 25 from 6:30-8:00 pm at the Castlegar Public Library.

Bring a friend, bring your work-in-progress, and something for show and tell if you have it!

 

Check out the photo of Karen's completed tatted placemat on our website. If anyone has photos of their completed projects, please submit them and I'll post them.

 

For those of you on Facebook, I have created a group there.

 

All the best,

 

Gwen

 

304-2625

Karen's tatted placemats are finished!

Congratulations to Karen! Her patience is amazing. She made FOUR of these placemats. Now that is dedication.

Next Meeting Jan. 29th at the Library

Please join us at the Castlegar Public Library January 29th, 6:30 - 8:00 pm.

Bring a project and any new show-and-tell items!

Jan. 9th meeting

The first meeting of 2008 saw Barbara Archibald, Inga and Sandra Lamont, and Jinny and Lei from Asia enjoying a lively discussion about the addictive qualities of knitting.   Jinny and Lei are from Korea and Macau, and have just learned how to knit.   During the Christmas vacation they spent many hours sitting by the warm fire knitting scarves and hats.  In fact, Inga had to tell Jinny on New Year’s Eve to put her knitting down so that we could celebrate!!!  These two young women have gone from garter stitch to stockinette stitch to making cables.  They have learned how to knit on two needles, circular needles, and now, finally, four needles.   Their English has improved dramatically as they have mastered reading abbreviations such as k2 tog, use a cn, and SK2P.   Jinny wants to knit 7 hats, one for each day of the week, and Lei is currently working on a cabled vest with a hood.  It is truly amazing how knitting can take on a life of its own!  Gramma Inga is supporting their knitting addiction by providing beautiful yarns and encouragement to try new techniques.  Jinny and Lei are considering offering a workshop at Selkirk College for International Students on the Joys of Knitting.  Way to go Girls!

 

Barbara has been knitting socks for her adult girls.  At one point during December she had to physically put her knitting away as she had sewing and quilting gifts to finish and mail away.  I have been working on a mohair shawl, a pattern shared by Donna.  It is taking me over 20 minutes to complete each row.  I am on row 107 with only 14 more rows to go.  

 

Inga worked on adding the labels from “Threads of Love” to the preemie booties and hats that Jean Hitchens and friends have been creating.  She also invited us to her house to share a lemon sauce cake.  

 

Thanks to the staff of Arby’s for allowing us to fill the restaurant with our laughter.  We appreciate the opportunity to get together and knit.

 

Submitted by:

Sandra Lamont