TKGV Newsletter 2010.10

Tidewater

Knitting Guild of Virginia O

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President’s Message ...

Oct. 4 Meeting

Dear Guild members,

Meet and Greet, 7 p.m.

Business Meeting, 7:15 p.m.

Program will be

Yarn Dyeing.

We meet the first Monday of the month (except for holidays) at The Lynnhaven House, Colonial Education Center, 4409 Wishart Road, Virginia Beach.

Check tkgv.blogspot.com to confirm the meeting date. We may use the lot of the church next door as overflow parking.

Questions? Please email us at tkgv1@yahoo.com.

I find it mind boggling that we are saying goodbye to September and hello October already. The year has passed too quickly and as always, I am a day late with some piece of knitting or another. I missed you last month; however, I had a wonderful time in Denver engaging in wedding-related planning with my son and STBDIL (soon-to-be daughter-in-law), Mim. I managed a short walk/ride to the two yarn stores within a few blocks of Ben's home, but did not make it to the one store in Boulder that I specifically wanted to visit to play with spinning wheels and weaving things. I might add that I did not get there despite going to Boulder twice!

I understand the September meeting was terrific and a new slate was presented to the membership. Be sure to attend the October meeting and vote on the new slate for 2010-2011. I know the members who have agreed to their nominations are looking forward to serving the guild faithfully. It already is the time for planning for the future year, discussing MSW, the Spring Craft Show, Gathering of the Guilds and of course the myriad activities the guild members participate in, such as charity knitting.

I look forward to the next meeting. Same knit time, same knit station, the Lynnhaven House, on Monday, Oct. 4.

Pam St. Cla ir

S l a t e f o r t h e T K G V 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2 Y e a r :

President: Allison Hunt

Vice President: Trink Dahl Prince

Treasury

Charity Fund: $151.83 General Fund: $3,024.66 Total Funds: $3,176.49

Secretary: Katie Gerwien Treasurer: Kathy Brown

Reminder: Annual dues of $20 are due in November. The Guild will prorate new members to get everyone on schedule. -- Lisa Roberts

Member Birthdays This Month

Cheryl Brothers Oct. 4

Bobbie Reich Oct. 7

Lynn Sachs Oct. 10

Sherri Breslow Hacke Oct. 15

Margaret Faust Oct. 16

Pam St. Clair Oct. 17

Chris Goudeau Oct. 22

Mark Your Calendar s

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

Oct. 4 Meeting – Election of officers and cake for the Guild’s birthday.

Program: Yarn Dyeing by Peggie Meyer.

Oct. 9-10

– The Waterways Heritage Festival, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Oct. 9 and noon-5 p.m. on Oct. 10, at the Old Fire Station and Great Bridge Lodge Park in Chesapeake. Exhibitors and vendors will display and sell crafts including weaving and quilting. For more information, contact the Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterways History Foundation at 757.482.4480 or info@gbbattlefield.org or visit www.gbbattlefield.org.

Nov. 1 Meeting – Installation of officers. Program: What’s in Lora’s Closet? by

Lora Marin.

Dec. 6 Meeting – Holiday Party. And don’t forget to bring your hats for the

Caps for Kids Contest.

Jan. 2011 Meeting – Program: What’s in Sue’s Closet (or Store)? by Sue Von

Ohlsen Please email Trink Dahl-Prince at trinkdp55@yahoo.com if you have suggestions for programs to present at the monthly meetings. All ideas happily accepted.

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Historically Speaking M r s . S t o n e ' s Tr e a s u r y o f Historical Knitting Facts, Tidbits and Patterns

Submitted by Karen Richardson.

From the website http:// escproductions.bizland.com/stonesneatstuff/ knittingtreasury/index.html, which has a treasure trove of historical articles, all public domain.

On Materials for Knitting from T h e Wo r k w o m a n ' s G u i d e , 1 8 3 8

On Needles and T hread: S o m e U s e f u l Fa c t s a n d C h a r t s

NEEDLE SIZE CHART OLD UK SIZE (MM) 24 22 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 00 000

US SIZE METRIC 8/0 6/0 N/A 5/0 4/0 000 N/A 00 0 1 2 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 10.5 N/A N/A 11 13 15

.5 .75 N/A 1.0 1.25 1.5 N/A 1.75 2 2.5 2.75 3 3.25 3.75 4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 9 10

Worsted, lambs' wool, or fleecy wool, is used for stockings, and other wearing articles.

Cotton is employed for curtains, window blinds, bags. fringe, &c.

These materials are always sold by the weight; one pound contains sixteen ounces.

The extense of wools and worsteds varies so materially, that an average price can hardly be stated. It has been as low as at 2s. per pound, and as high as 6s.6d. Cromsons are the most expensive colours, greens and oranges the next, blue is more moderate, and black, grey, purple, and pepper and salt are the least expensive, although excepting white, which is the lowest of any.

Grey and white common worsted contain a good deal of turpentine, and are often preferred by the poor on that account.

Black should be well soaked in strong vinegar, to set the color, and prevent its coming off on the hands while being knitted.

Worsteds are more suitable for men's and women's stockings.

Wools for children's stockings, or for muffatees, ruffs, and other lighter articles of wear, which should be soft and warm.

All worsteds and wools should be carefully wrapped up in the coarsest brown paper, which also contains turpentine, and keeps out the air. They should be often looked to, as the moths are apt to get at them and spoil them.

Worsteds in use should be neatly wound in small balls, about the size of an orange.

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A Little of This and That

Submitted by Karen Richardson and reproduced with permission of the author, who wrote to Karen, “Knitting guilds do wonderful work in giving knitters a ‘home base’ and a place to learn more about their craft, and you can quote me on that!” This article first appeared on www.knitty.com in spring 2006.

SEDUCED BY BEADS

By Sivia Harding I don't know about you, but I was a happy and contented knitter before I knew about beads. Many times I could be found following patterns word for word, knitting late into the night without hardly a thought of tweaking or fiddling with the thing. All that changed when I started to design my own knitting. Shortly after, beads came into my life, two events which I can never regard as coincidental.

Now I can't even think about knitting anything without wondering where I can manage to throw in some beads. I have been thoroughly seduced by beads. I hope that by the end of this article, you will be hot and bothered too. Before long, bead stores will become potential treasure troves that call you in seductively and put all kinds of ideas into your head. Yes, beads are another addiction, but so what? Bead stashes don't take anything near the room that yarn stashes do!

Many knitters are intimidated by beads, thinking that they need to be expert knitters to even try, or that beads are super fiddly to use with yarn. This may be because they have seen those tiny, elaborately beaded vintage purses and other items that are indeed marvels of knitting expertise and probably intense eyestrain.

But you don't need fine yarn and tiny beads to have sparkles in your knitting. You can put beads into anything you knit, once you find the right size bead to fit on your yarn.

Beads 101 - What every knitter needs to know about beads Knitters who walk into bead stores for the first time may be awed by the plethora of bead types, colors and sizes. Here is a quick guide for the non-initiated.

Beads come in different sizes that will fit on different weight yarns. Seed beads, which are the most commonly used beads for knitting, are measured in numbers like 3, 6, 8, or 10. Size 6 (indicated like this: 6/0) will fit easily on fingering or sportweight yarn. The higher the number, the smaller the bead. The number relates to how many beads fit into a certain measured length.

Beads are also classified by millimeter size. 6/0 seed beads are about the same diameter as 4 millimeter (mm) beads. But there is one main difference -- the size of the hole. Seed beads have a much bigger hole, which makes them better for knitting. 4 mm beads, which may be made of glass, ceramic, semi-precious stone or even plastic, will generally have a smaller hole. So get your beads wherever you can -- I love scrounging for them in odd places! But before you plan on using them for a knitting project, string a few onto your yarn to make sure the hole is the right size. It can be a real bummer to get your beads home and find that they won't go onto your yarn without a struggle.

When you go into a bead store, you will find that beads come in all types and sizes of containers, which will vary from store to store. Some stores sell beads in sealed packets or bags, some in vials that look like pill bottles, and some threaded on string and hung together in hanks. (continued on page 5) 4

SEDUCED BY BEADS, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 To give you an idea of how many beads you are buying by weight, there are about 13,440 6/0 seed beads per kilogram (2.2 pounds for you non-metric folks), or 270 per 20 grams. Beads on hanks are usually sold by count, i.e. 50, 100, or 1,000 beads. So, if you are making a beaded shawl that calls for 1,500 6/0 beads, for example, you would need to buy about 120 grams of beads, or about 4-1/3 ounces.

I am giving you very rough estimates here, which brings me to an important point. Always buy more beads than you think you will need. Seed beads, at least the commonly found ones from Czechoslovakia, contain some irregularities and you can expect a few duds in every package. If you can find seed beads from Japan, they will be near perfect, but usually more expensive as well. Hey ... in beads as in most other things, you get what you pay for.

How do you get the beads knitted into the yarn?

This is where the fun starts. There are two main methods, with lots of variations for each one. Basically, beads are either strung onto your yarn before you start knitting or hooked onto stitches with a crochet hook as you go. There are lots of variations for either method, and knitters can be opinionated about which is the "right" way. My feeling is that any way you can imagine beads going in, around, or onto yarn is a good way to try. Let's face it guys, we are still in the experimental stage of learning what is possible to do with beads and yarn. Knitting with beads is still very much in its infancy, and it is entirely possible to imagine ways to knit with beads that no one has ever thought of before!

That said, here are some basic techniques that have worked well for myself and many other knitters.

Slipping pre-strung beads into place as you knit The most common way to knit beads into fabric is to start by stringing them onto your yarn and slipping them into place as you knit.

I like to use dental floss threaders for stringing because they are cheap and easy to find in drug stores. Dental floss threaders are what people use to thread floss around their braces and bridges. It is semirigid plastic and is made up of an open loop and a "joined" part, and it acts as a big-eyed needle.

To use it for threading beads onto yarn, pass the knitting yarn through the loop of the threader and pick up beads with the working end of the "needle". Then slide the beads over the loop and onto the yarn.

Here's one easy way to knit with pre-strung beads: 1) On the right side of the work, knit to the stitch where you are going to place the bead.

2) Bring your yarn to the front and slip the next stitch purlwise.

3) Slip a bead as close as possible to the right hand needle.

4) Bring your yarn to the back and continue knitting, leaving the bead in front of the slipped stitch.

This results in beads that float in front of slipped stitches on the right side of the knitted fabric. My example uses knit stitches, but you could just as easily be purling, or for that matter, slipping the beads into place from the wrong side of your work. Slipped beads can lie in front (or in back) of a slipped stitch, sit between stitches, or be knitted into the legs of the stitches themselves. Your imagination is the only limit with this technique.

Hooking beads as you go Hooking beads onto individual stitches "as you go" is an outstanding method for those who hate to take the time and trouble to string loads of beads onto yarn before starting to knit. It is also great for spontaneous or (continued on page 6) 5

SEDUCED BY BEADS, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 accent beading, and also for yarns that are too delicate for the punishing strain that results from carrying a heavy length of pre-strung beads on the yarn. Beads are hooked on with a crochet hook small enough to fit through the hole of your beads. I have written many of my beaded knitting patterns using this technique and it remains my personal favorite.

Hooking beads onto stitches with a small crochet hook does not require juggling skills, although it may seem that way the first few times you try it. Since this method is so easy to learn from watching a demonstration, and so difficult to learn from words, here is a blow-by-blow description of my hooking method as it has evolved through hooking thousands of beads: 1) Impale the bead onto a crochet hook small enough to fit through the hole of your bead.

2) Insert the hook into the stitch loop where the bead will sit, making sure that the hook is facing you.

3) Pull the loop through the bead.

4) Replace the stitch loop onto the left needle if necessary.

People are usually a bit afraid that they will drop the stitch when they try this technique. Be aware that the stitch loop does not need to come off the needle at all for the bead to go on. Even if it does come off the needle, as long as the loop has the crochet hook in proximity, you should be safe from it slipping into oblivion. And once the bead is seated securely on the loop, it isn't going anywhere. Once you feel secure about the process, you will no doubt be taking all sorts of liberties (like I do).

Everyone goes through a period of discomfort when learning a new skill. If you try the hooking technique, please don't get discouraged if you can't seem to get it the first time. Just persist and and you will be a hooker in no time.

Use your imagination Don't stop with the above two techniques. Here are a few more, just to spark your imagination.

1. String beads on and slide one between every two or three cast on stitches. I used this one in my design Variations on a Frill to add weight to the edges of this very open, lacy stole. You can try this with bind offs too, but it may look a little different. I am sure you can come up with many variations of this one if you play around with the possibilities.

2. Leave increasing (or decreasing) numbers of beads between select stitches across the row, creating swags of beads that can hang very attractively off the bottom edge of a piece. Many knitted beaded purses have been made with this technique, and I used it on my Beaded Drawstring Purse pattern.

3. Hook beads onto picot edges for a really easy and attention-getting finish for scarves and shawls. This is especially nice on the edges of Moebius scarves as it highlights the crossing point.

Jazz it up without knitting a stitch You can also add beads to your knitting without knitting a stitch. A couple of possibilities are sewing beads onto your finished knitted items and attaching beaded fringe or tassels. This is great for beads that are too (continued on page 7) 6

SEDUCED BY BEADS, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 big or heavy to be knitted in, or beads that are too small for your yarn. Beads are wonderful embellishments in any form. Every item you make will be totally unique with the added magic of beads.

More sources of inspiration There are quite a few designers (myself among them) who are designing with beads. Look for patterns in your local yarn store or on the internet.

One online store, earthfaire, specializes in beads, yarn, patterns, and kits for beaded knitting. Ellen Sandin, owner, is constantly adding new items to her repertoire. A great place to start with beads, especially if you don't have a bead store in your vicinity. Earthfaire carries the finest Miyuki beads from Japan.

Look in beading magazines for ideas and new techniques to steal over to the knitting camp. All's fair in art and craft!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sivia Harding is batty for beads! She lives in Vancouver with her husband and Mooshie the famous cover cat.

Images and text © 2006 Sivia Harding. Contact siviaharding@shaw.ca.

Charity Knitting: Caps for Kids Contest

The holidays will be here before you know it. And that means it’s almost time for the annual Caps for Kids holiday contest. Hats are needed in all sizes to donate to local children's charities. Please bring your completed hats to the December meeting. Twenty-five-dollar gift certificates for a local knitting shop will be awarded in the following categories: most creative, technical merit, best in show and most hats knitted. * * * * * Reminder: We continue to tally the number of items knit and donated to any charity by a Guild member. Be sure to let Jackie Scott (jackieknits@cox.net) or Debbie Henderson (hendersonjb@cox.net) know of your charity items so they can be counted. Include “charity knitting” in the subject line of your email. Also, a sign-in list is available at every meeting for you to register your charity count.

A NOTE FROM YOUR EDITOR ...

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

Sonja Ba risic

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR OCT. NEWSLETTER: SEPT. 15

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

Perhaps you saw us on "The Hampton Roads Show" on Fox43 on Monday, Sept. 20. (You can find the show archived online at www.fox43tv.com.)

We had a nice group of knitters there working on our yearly project of shawls for breast cancer patients. We will once again be knitting squares for afghans so if you are interested in supporting that effort please let Sue know and she will provide the yarn and pattern. If you can't knit you can still help by sponsoring another knitter by agreeing to pay a dollar or two for every square she or he can knit in October. We raised $3,500.50 last year doing this project so we hope to surpass that amount this year. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and we are funding research to find a cure. Please help! Thanks!

Autumn is our favorite time of year, because it gets colder and you can start wearing – and working with – handknits again. That's why we've had so many woolly goodies on order this season. We should have them all up

by the first part of October. We've done restocks of the popular Marble Chunky from Kertzer and added its Baby yarn Ş patterns Ş notions Ş classes DK cousin. There's some soft and sparkly stuff from all in the company of friends.

Gedifra, along with Rowan – including the fabulous Amy Butler line – plus Cascade and Skacel goodies.

945 Providence Square Shopping Ctr Ş Virginia Beach New in pattern-wise, great little books from Leisure 757-495-6600 Ş knitwitsyarn.com Arts. If you knit prayer shawls, or shawls in general, check out the books on the counter. Spiral-bound to lie flat, the patterns range from simple to lacy to cabled and all over the place. They're available for both knitters and crocheters. Also, check the binders for beautiful and intriguing stuff from Jolene Treace, Sivia Harding, Lucy Neatby and more.

And sock knitters: you know we've been clearing out the old to make room for the new (check the clearance baskets).

The new will include THIS exclusive program: Yarns On Stage. Coming at 10am on Oct. 16, we will be showcasing the special work of several indie dyers including … oh heck… you'll have to check it out (http://www.yarnsonstage.com/ yarns-on-stage.htm) for yourselves. It'll be first-come, first-served, and no advance pull-and-holds will be accepted. This yarn is specifically dyed for this program only and once it's gone, it's gone. It's an exciting way for you to try hard-to-find and previously not available yarns – and who knows what might end up being added to the wall-o-sock yarn after this?

Come Sit and Stitch with us.

Now open later on Thursday evenings.

Coordinated Colors Yarn Shoppe 4909 George Washington Hwy. Yorktown, VA 23692 757.874.3939 www.coordinatedcolors.com

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