Scenes from the NYC Knit Out Fashion Show

top to bottom - the "gang" in front of Purl in Soho. One of the views of the "spread" at NYC Knit out. Lucille and I pose with Lily Chin

We had a great time at the NYC Knit out and only had one scary moment when poor Cathy ended up stuck in a turnstile in the subway while the rest of us had gotten on the subway and thought she was behind us. We all arrived back home safe and sound and while the day was hot and sticky and the crowds at the knit out a bit pushy - we all had a good time!!!! I personally missed the demonstrations - I foolishly waited on lines for free needles - that ran out by the time I got to the Clover counter and fighting the crowds or free patterns and give aways. We all agreed the crowds were a bit rough but the dmonstarions were wonderful and included Lily Chin. The fashion show was alot of fun - especially the dog fashion show! Lily was sporting a gorgoues crocheted dress and as always was very approachable and allowed Lucille and I to get a picture!

We arrived iun the City before 10 and went directly to Knit NY. A GREAT knitting shop and cafe! We refueled, browsed and chatted before heading over to the Knit out. It was a neat shop and had a great selection of books an fibers and several members made great purchases!!

After leaving the Knit out around 3 we headed to a great Cuban restuarant for a long break and relaxing lunch and then headed to Soho to another wonderful shop called Purl. We JUST made it into the store before they closed and were not diappointed. While the shop is tiny it is a neat store and had wonderful books, patterns and luxouriuos fibers!!!

Our visit ended with me convinvced that a "Knit Crawl" would be alot of fun. Perhaps in the winter when everyone is bored and looking for something to do we could go into the city on a Saturday and explore the many knit and crochet shops in the City. So many of them were closed yesterday and I thought it may be something people would be interested in. I will be mentioning at that next meeting which it THIS Thursday, September 21 at Lula's shop at 6:30! I hope to see you there!!!

It has been a long week and very busy with very little time for knitting unfortunately. I did get some time in Lula's Shop and I am in the process of trying to figure out a horrible pattern. As I posted a while ago, Lucille and I went to the Knit Show in PA in July and one of our favorite booths was the Decedant Fibers Booth (see pictures in earlier posting). The yarns are reasonable priced and just the most gorgeous fiber and all hand dyed. I forgot to take a picture of a shrug I fell in love with that was displayed. When I bought the yarn I received the pattern for "free". The pattern has been a nightmare! Lucille and I huddled over it for quite a while and I ended up having to rewrite it because it was so badly convuluded!!! There was not even a flat sketch to help out! ARGH!!!! Lucille said that getting patterns from yarn companies can be a nightmare as they are often more worried about selling the yarn and the pattern is not a huge concern! You learn something new every day! I STILL say Decadent Fibers had fantasic yarn and their employees were wonderful and helpful and I will definitely order from them again but they could use some improvement with their patterns. A flat sketch at a minimum would certainly help you demystify the convuluded writing of the pattern at least! I hold out hope and I have started the pattern and am going to brave it! The yarn is a wonderful red verigated color. I love it and hope to finish the shrug soon and share with all of you!

Meanwhile I am working on a large vest as a surprise for my husband for our anniversary and it is my first chance to tackle cables in a full project and am looking forward to posting that - it is knitted on 17 needles and I will have it done before the end of the month and will post photos!

Guild News!: There is still tons of room for the NYC trip on Sunday! Anyone interested can show up as late as Sunday morning at the Bridgeport train station BY 8AM. For those interested and want a ride to the station - please call me and we will be meeting in front of Lula's at 7:15 and driving down in my suburban! It should be a great trip and we are all excited for it! I will be taking tons of pictures and posting them so you can all see them.

I am working on finding a Saturday for the Big vest class. Everyone wanted a Saturday Afternoon so I am working with Lucille to come up with a date and she has orderd the yarn for the same.

Now the real reason for this posting ...............................

I had a real thought while talking to my cousin and fellow Guild Member Peggi last night. Peggi is a great knitter and has been knitting scarves for a while and with some begging she joined the guild. She has moved onto felted purses. She has done great and after one "Knitting 911" session she has been cruising on these purses!!! She emailed me yesterday that she was suffering from a moment of delusion and wanted to try a sweater vest for her husband. I got right on the phone with her and encourage her and commit her before she changed her mind. She is a great knitter and I KNEW she could do it and had the perfect pattern for her and it turns out that she had pulled the same pattern off of Berroco that I had (Peter Easy - a great vest pattern) . She is petrified and is second guessing and not sure and positive it will take her a decade to complete. She said she was not me -


WWWWWELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLl... I am here to tell you... The awful pictures above is that of a blanket I made. Ok have you syopped laughing yet?????? When I was first learnning to knit from a wonderful woman at our local Senior Center she kept encouraing me and kept telling me not to worry abnout the holes the GAWD awful pattern developing (it was NOT intentional!) I casted on way too many stitches and ended up with the most BIZZARE pattern throughout the blanket - when I wasn't dropping stitches!! She ended up putting a silk border all around it to hide all the awful flaws on the edges. The thing is I DID just kept knitting and knitting and knitting. It was great practice and I just ignored how horrendous it looked! When it was all done I gave it to my daughter who was 8 at the time - she cried!! She LOVED it and has slept with it every night since then (that was three years ago!)- So it goes to show you a few things....

First: Most people appreciate a hand made item. In our world of buying and rushing and just trying to "get it all done" there is nothing more refreshing than a wonderful hand made gift.

Second: It shows that you CAN get better and move to more advanced projects. I hope this proves inspirational to all of the knitters and crocheters out there!! Lucille and I spoke about it today and she said she finds it sooo frustrating the fear and lack of confidence so many of us show her (myself included) . Trying something new is always frightening! Lucille always reassures and says "You can do this!" She is right - it may take time but as we tackle each new project and try new stitches, patterns, techniques and fibers we are not only opening all kinds of possibilities for ourselves with more new projects but we are learning. To me that is the best part of this craft. I hope that has inspired you all to try that pattern you have fallen in love with but have been too anxiuos to tackle!! Remember you CAN do it and when all else fails.... Lucille is always in that cozy shop of hers waiting to help you out!!

I hope to see some of you on Sunday and look forward to seeing you on Thursday, the 21st for the next Guild Meeting!

Keep the hooks and needles flying!!

GUILD NEWS:

Sunday September 17th - NYC Knit Out Trip

Thursday September 21 6:30 at Lula's - Knit Happens Meeting

Thank you to Yarnista and Sqdanzer for your comments. Sqdanzer asked when I was having the vest class. There is a sign up sheet at Lula's for people to sign up if interested and it asks for their preference of a day to have the class. I am looking forward to that. I was sorry not to make the meeting today but on my way to the West Point football game (they won by the skin of their teeth in overtime - - GO ARMY!) and back and even while tailgating I knitted my brains out ( I did NOT bring it into the stadium though!)! My boys groaned when the knitting bag came out but my husband is used to it! I did get a few looks from other tailgaters but tailgating is all about having fun so why can't you sit, visit and knit??? It works for me!!! I am Attempting to finish a cashmere vest for my husband. I started it last Fall and after knitting for days on end while my daughter recuperated from her tonsils and adnoids being removed - I realized I had tiwsted my work!! I was devestated and ended up having to totally undo the entire sweater. Lucille said that is the most common mistake on circulars. I am on straights now! I started it up this past Spring and ended up putting it down and have now come on strong and am determined to finish it! It is my hope to finish it before the really cold weather and that I will be able to post it on the blog as another finished project!

As soon as I get a date pinpointed on the Vest class I will post it and you can sign up at Lula's or by contacting me directly.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. Next weekend will be the Knit out and I am really looking forward to the event and posting pictures on the blog for everyone! Take care and keep the hooks and needles flying!!!

AGENDA FOR SEPTEMBER MEETINGS:

Knit Happens
Naugatuck Knitting and Crochet Guild
Meeting – September 9 and 21, 2006


Discussion of the following:
Vice President needed – responsibilities include aiding in running of meetings, representation of Guild, aiding in planning of trips and events and other general duties
Membership person needed needs to be familiar with Excel. Work with officers to keep membership list updated. Periodic reporting of membership status during meetings and to officers required as well as tracking of name tags and membership cards. Possible coordination for phone calls to members if needed and general tracking of members and membership

CGOA Members needed for Knit Happen’s Affiliation

Members votes needed for logo – please vote so we can finalize logo!

Sign up and checks needed for the NYC Knit Out, September 17th

Sign up sheet (schedule of events attached) for NYS Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhineback , NY October 21 and 22

Christmas Party - $15 limit Secret pal sign up for participation needed by November meeting
Ideas for location

Spinning Demonstration being worked on by Kristin L for future meeting – more news to follow.

Oversized knitted and crocheted edge vest class – 3 hour class on oversize vest as found in knit1 taught by Tammy – sign up sheet for class interest and day and time preference – if interested PLEASE sign up.

Upcoming events and possible field trips:
Boston Knit Out September 24 Boston MA
Rhineback, NY NYS Sheep and Wool Festival (www.sheepandwool.com) October 21 and 22 – please see list of events and sign up sheet
Franklin County Fiber Twist October 28 Deerfield MA
Upcoming Dates:
Next Meetings October 7th and 19
Sunday September 17, 2006 12 noon – 5:00 PM – NYC Knit out
September 24, 2006 Boston Knit out
October 21 and 22 NYS Sheep and Wool Festival – Rhineback, NY
October 28 - Franklin County Fiber Twist
January 2, 2007 – Deadline for Save the Childrens knitted/crocheted hat project

I hope everyone is having a good week! We received sad news yesterday. Darron has had to step down from being Vice President. She has alot going on in her life right now and while she will remain a member of the Guild she could not continue on as Vice President. We were so sorry to hear of it as we love her exuberance and excitement for knitting and crocheting and the Guild. We hope she will be able to make many Guild members and continue to be a familar face!

Which means..... we need someone that will be willing to take on this role for the Guild. The Vice President responsibilities would include aiding in the running of meetings and possibbly running meetings in the event of the absence of the President, aiding in planning of trips and events, representation of the Guild and other general duties. We are also trying to get a member to help out with Membership. It would be best of the person were familar with Excel and would keep the Guild informed of membership as well as keep track of membership cards, name tags for meetings and possible coordination of phone calls/trees if ever needed.

The Guild has come such a long way in such a short period of time and it has involved a tremendous amount of leg work and paperwork. I want to send my deep gratitude to Lucille, Kristin and Joelle. You have been so fantastic and I could NEVER have done it without you! The Guild is intended to be fun and a great way for us all to get together and share a real passion. If we are able to split up the responsibilities that come with running a formal organization we can make the load light and keep it FUN for everyone! It is my hope in the September meetings that some of the memebrs will be willing to help out in ways to spread some of the responsibilities.

I have posted above - the September agenda for the meetings. I unforunately will be unable to make Saturday's (10/9) meeting. My apologies to everyone but my husband and I are season ticket holders to the Army football games and Saturday is their first home game of the season (GO ARMY!). We make an entire day and night out of it with seriuos tailgating and the children come as well. It is a huge family outing and I am looking forward to it! I am hoping it will get chilly enough in the evening to wear my new vest! I am hoping this will be my only Saturday meeting I will miss! I am leaving you all in good hands with Lucille, Joelle and Kristin who will go over all of the items on the agenda. Lucille is also working on a treat she will be sharing with you!


The NYC Knit out is coming up!!!! We have our travel arrangements. Unfortunately - Habu Textiles is closed on Sundays so we will be unable to visit them but Lucille has taken on the itinerary for the day and has a bunch of ideas she is woprking on! Thanks Lucille!!!

WE REALLY need votes on the logo so please make sure you vote either by email to me - in the shop or at a meeting! It is our hope to be able to tell Kim which one is the winnner by the end of the month so she can get a final copy of it and we can start using it!

I am working on getting renowned knitter and crocheter and author - Melissa Leapman to visit us and offer a day full of classes. She is booked well in advance so the earliest we would be looking at would be Spring of 2007. If you are interested - please let us know (there will be a sign up sheet at the Guild Meeting). The more people that participate the less expensive the fee for everyone taking part! So please let us know your interest!

I welcome any suggestions and entries for the Blog. Please - send me pictures of your projects, have a great pattern? PLEASE share it! I have only so many ideas by myself and with your help we can keep the blog diverse and interesting!

Keep the needles and hooks flying!

It has been a crazy week! The children are all in school for full days now and the cool weather has brought all kinds of thoughts of knitting projects I am anxious to start. The crispness in the air does seem to have that effect on everyone I know that knits or crochets and it is similar to an exciting buzz!

With the onset of the Fall season comes the Goshen Fair. On Monday I attended the Goshen Fair - a family tradition and I was especially taken with the handcraft barn. The knitted items were beautiful and as I looked at all of the items I realized that I knew the woman and children (both boys and girls from Naugatuck) that had submitted more than 80% of those items displayed. The mom has seven children and home schools them. I was truly impressed but another thought struck me and that was that we never think to have our items entered and competing in that manner! I know I would be a nervous wreck myself if I were to do it but actually my husband was the one that really got me thinking. Many of the items were extremely traditional - afgans, baby outfits etc. He said to me "You should do that - your pieces are different fresh and colorful - you would win ribbons!". I do not know if I would share in that confidence BUT it would be a fun thing to do. I will be getting together information on that and posting the information on the blog in the future. I think it would be really neat to have a bunch of the Guld members submit their pieces! We truly havce talented members and I KNOW ribbons would be brought home by them for their talent!

I finished the rug made with the wool from Prince Edward Island's own McAuslands Woolen Mill. It is pitured above. It came out beautifully and the colors were inspired by the beauty of the sky water and fields on the island. It is a gift for our hosts that offered their vacation home on the Island to us and it is my hope they will enjoy it for many years to come. The yarn felted beautifully and I am really looking forward to using some more of the wool I purchased for felted bags and other items. The wool is wonderful to work with and even smells good!

The trip is a go for NYC KNit out and we hope that many people will take advantage of the trip. We have secured discount train tickets and we are all looking forward to a great day.

Meanwhile, for those of you that have not seen it, I received and email from Berroco (a wonderful site that is chock full of free patterns and just awesome ideas! - to sign up to receive the weekly emails - www.berroco.com ) The "Doll Bag" is a fantastic bag and I am seriuosly considering doing it for my daughter for Christmas. The colors are awesome and if you have never done Fair Isle knitting I am here to assure ytou it TRULY is easy. You follow a chart and I have to say charts make projects soooo easy - I wish more patterns were done that way! To take a look at the pattern check out www.berroco.com/exclusives/doll_bag/doll_bag.html . It is just a great pattern!

I will be trying to post again this week. Have a knitingful week!