November 2009 - Fox Valley Knitters Guild

fvkg.com
PRESIDENTS’ GREETING
Greetings!
I so enjoyed the wonderful Guild retreat at
Stronghold Conference Center in Oregon, IL on
Oct. 23-25. Gretl Kramer did a magnificent job of
collecting prizes and making all feel welcome. If
you weren’t there you really missed a great
time. Of course having our own Leslie Edmonson
there with her Wool and Company ‘traveling’
store was a special treat also. Some of you did
join us for the Saturday program and knitting
together. If you need a break (read sweet treat) I
highly recommend Judy Jasper’s cookie treats –
the recipe can be found later in this newsletter.
We will continue the fourth Wednesday knitting
at the Arcedium. Sandy Andrews has reserved the
space for us through December. This has been a
popular place to knit and those doing a knit-along with Entrelac projects were part of the fun.
I know that we are all thinking of (some have
started) Christmas gift knitting. So I wish you
well with those projects and hope to see you at
our next Guild meeting, November 11.
See you soon,
---Dorothy Gaines
KNIT IN PUBLIC
Midwest Fiber & Folk Art Fair is sponsoring a
little “conspicuous creativity” by setting up
several knit in public dates in the western
suburbs. On Tuesday November 10 it will be at
7 pm at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore in the
Geneva Commons. So come and share your
knitting with others. For more information and
others sites in November check their website at
http://www.fiberandfolk.com/diip.htm
PROGRAM FOR NOVEMBER
November Techniques Fair will include our
talented members sharing their wisdom,
expertise and charm. Members can choose which
workshops they want to attend from 8.00 to 8.30
and from 8.30 to 9.00. Topics will include Fair
Isle, Finishing, The Crocheted Icicle Project, and
Holiday Knitting. Bring some bits of sock yarn
and worsted weight yarn (2 colors) and
appropriate sized needles and your basic knitting
tools.
The December meeting will be our holiday pot
luck with lots of cheer included! Start planning
for the great fun, but always optional, gift
exchange. To participate, bring a wrapped (we
suggest no more than $10.00) knitting related
gift. Treasured gifts have included knitting
books, magazines, calendars, sheepy and handknit ornaments, gift certificates to a LYS, yarn
etc. It is fun to be a Knitting Santa! Also, we
hope you will bring a donation to the local food
pantry! Mark you calendar for December 9!
And, looking ahead to Spring! We are planning a
Saturday field trip to Lorna's Laces in Chicago-home of wonderfully hand-dyed yarns. There
will be seconds available for purchase at a great
savings and a glimpse of a great yarn dyer. Lots
more details to come!
Enjoy your knitting!
---Linda Jones and Christy Becker
DISTANT MEMBERS RENEW
While preparing the deposit for membership dues
I noticed that two former guild members who do
not live in the area have once again renewed
their membership. Thanks to Pat Anderson of
Tucson, AZ and Mary Jo Van Walleghem of
Stilwell, KA. All Guild members thank you for
your continued support of the Fox Valley Knitting
Guild.
--- Diane Evinger, FVKG Treasuer
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RETREAT NOTES
I want to thank all of you who were able to come to the retreat. It was a lot of fun, and I
appreciate the positive comments. You all helped make it a great get-away, and I think everyone
liked the location. We have reserved the same spot for the same time next year. There will be
lots more information about that in the future.
I want to let you know that Terri and Randy Carlson of the Red Brick Road Icelandic Sheep Farm,
our retreat presenters, have a nice website and blog online. Their blog address is
http://redbrickroadfarmsheep.blogspot.com/. They have posted some nice comments about us and
the retreat. We seem to have surprised her with how much of her fiber we bought. Really??? I
have started a pair of gift mittens with the hand dyed yarn I brought home with me, and I am going
to make a matching hat. You can see more of Terri’s beautiful pictures of sheep, the farm, lovely
huge squash, etc. Thanks to Nettie Shults for letting me know about the Carlson’s blog.
---Gretl Kramer
NOVEMBER VENDOR: ESTHER’S PLACE
Esther’s Place is bringing wild and wooly to the knitter’s guild meeting!
Did you know that one of your knitter’s guild members has a flock of thirty sheep just a half hour
from St. Charles? Natasha Lehrer will be bringing a delightful selection of her wooly wares, fibers,
yarns and gifts for the November meeting. Esther’s Place is our fiber arts studio that specializes in
all kinds of fabulous, classes, retreats and parties! Just a little taste of what’s coming… hand
dyed yarns from local flocks in the region, handspun art yarns, thrummed mitten kits, patterns,
books and fiber galore. We’ll also have lots of great gift items and we’ll even gift wrap too. Check
a few folks off your shopping list and get something yummy for yourself. Please stop by and come
discover Esther’s Place!
CHARITY NEWS
Ruth Anderson received the following thank you note from the Association for Individual
Development (AID):
Dear Fox Valley Knitters’ Guild,
On behalf of the Association for Individual Development (AID), we thank you for supporting
our clients with your donation of 12 scarves for “Scarves for South Street”. By supporting AID, you
help our clients find ability in disability.
For nearly fifty years, we have served children and adults in the greater Fox Valley by
helping them define and realize the goals that they hold in their hearts for themselves. Our
responsibility is to provide educational, vocational and residential services, as well as evaluation,
behavioral health support, children’s services, crisis services, community education and advocacy
activities. In all, AID provides services to over 5,100 individuals of all ages who have
developmental, physical or mental disabilities.
With the economy being what it is today we appreciate more than ever the generosity of
donors like you. We are grateful that you have found AID’s cause a worthy one. We thank you for
supporting our mission to empower individuals with disabilities, mental illness and special needs to
achieve independence and community inclusion. Thank you for your beautiful creations!
Warmest Regards,
Lynn O’Shea
President
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HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE
Thanks once more to all of you that brought refreshments to the October meeting. Your
contributions made a delicious snack during the evening. The Pumpkin Bar recipe was requested so
here it is for your Fall desserts. We're also including Judy Jasper's Butterscotch/Peanut Butter
Krispies that sustained us at the retreat.
---Barb Harris, Hospitality Chair
Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Bars:
4
1 2/3
1
1
2
2
2
1
1
eggs
cups granulated sugar
cup cooking oil (or 1/3 cup applesauce and 2/3 cup oil)
16 oz. can pumpkin
cups flour
tsp. baking powder
tsp. cinnamon
tsp. salt
tsp. baking soda
Cream Cheese Icing:
3 or 4
oz. cream cheese, softened
1
cup butter, softened
1
tsp. vanilla
2
cups powdered sugar
In mixing bowl, beat together eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin until light and fluffy.
Stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. Add to pumpkin
mixture and mix thoroughly. Spread batter in an ungreased 15 x 10 x 1” baking pan. Bake
in 350 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Cool and frost with Cream Cheese Icing. Makes 2
dozen bars.
Cream Cheese Icing: Cream together cream cheese and butter. Stir in vanilla.
Add powdered sugar and beat until icing is smooth.
Butterscotch/Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Treats
Ingredients:
1 package (12 oz) Nestle Butterscotch chips
1 cup peanut butter (I use chunky)
6 cups Rice Krispies
Melt the peanut butter and butterscotch chips. You can do this together or separate. (Make sure
you do not overcook them.) Mix them together real good. Then in a very large bowl, add the
melted mixture to the Rice Krispies. Mix together until well coated. Pour into a 9x13 pan (like a
lasagna pan). Let them settle before eating. I put them in the fridge (but they do not have to be
refrigerated.).
---Judy Jaspers
MEMBERSHIP NEWS
We had 6 new members join up in October:
Linda Almieri from Plainfield
Rose Brechin from Bloomingdale
Corinne Hohmann from Geneva
Susie Schlipf from Elburn
Layla Scola from St. Charles
Marie Sweeney from Bloomingdale
Welcome to our Guild!
---Judy Jasper, Membership
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
This month our member spotlight is Mary Stowe.
FVKG: Your name please.
MS: Mary Stowe
FVKG: Where do you live?
MS: (near) Lombard, IL
FVKG: How long have you been a member of the Guild?
MS: Since (almost) the beginning.
FVKG: How long have you been knitting?
MS: I have always been a knitter.
FVKG: Tell us about one of your favorite Knitting Designers. Why do you like him/her? What
patterns have you knitted? Where can we find more information about this designer?
MS: Elizabeth Zimmerman’s KNITTING WITHOUT TEARS changed my life! It is a good read even if
one is not a knitter! She has several other good books in print, including an autobiography called
KNITTING AROUND. She gives one courage to step out and try…
Inspiration from: Alice Starmore was (is) my inspiration. Her Fair Isle techniques are always there
for me to fall back on. Her colors can’t be beat!
Sidna Farley was also an inspiration who developed some far out items before the knitting craze
took over. Her “Gloves for Rosie” are still fun to make long after Sidna has passed away.
FVKG: Project Spotlight – tell us about a knitting project you are proud of. Please supply the
yarn/pattern/designer information. Details please!
MS: Project worth repeating over and over: an inconspicuous article illustrated in black and white
toward the end of an old KNITTER’s MAGAZINE submitted by Medrith Glover, an “EZ” follower has
given me countless “Circumnavigated” sweaters – a unique style with wonderful pockets and fun to
make.
(Note from FVKG: You can find this cardigan on Ravelry, and there is a link to purchase the
pattern.)
FVKG: Knitting Tip/Advice – Please share some words of wisdom with the rest of us!
MS: Some “rules” for Fair Isle knitting:
1. Knit in the round.
2. Use only two colors at a time, one in each hand.
3. Carry yarn usually no more than 5-8 stitches in back of work.
4. Use a magnetic board to hold your place on the chart.
5. Fear not! It is not as hard as it seems! Try a cap first.
FVKG: Tell us about an inspiring experience at the Knitting Guild. Did you see a project or
technique that you just had to learn?
MS: Way back about 1989 Carol Anderson was one of our first Guild guests. She introduced us to
some charming boy and girl Ethnic dolls which I made for several of my grandchildren (wonder
where they are now?).
FVKG: Tell us about a Knitting conference you attended? What did you do? Who did you
meet? What did you like/dislike about it?
MS: I took a workshop with Sidna Farley who inspired and mentored me during her camps for the
few years she had left. She was a wonderful teacher and a great comedian!
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“FALL INTO KNITTING” DISPLAY INSPIRING LIBRARY PATRONS AREA WIDE!
With the onset of cooler weather, fall conjures images of warm cider, cozy fireplaces and leaves
falling in an array of vibrant shades! …And knitting, as our guild has been sharing with our “Fall into
Knitting” display. From beautiful socks to shawls, sweaters, hats, scarves and purses, the color was
fantastic and the work inspiring! In September, it toured the North Aurora Messenger Library, in
October it graced the Big Rock Library and in November it is at the Gail Borden Library in Elgin.
Please check into the library this month to see all our member’s wonderful work. It was so
wonderful; in fact, I think we might have inspired a few librarians and their patrons to pick up
knitting! Your items will be at the next meeting to pick up. Thanks for all your participation. I hope
next time we’ll even have more participating.
---Natasha Lehrer, Gallery Chairlady
FVKG Fall Into Knitting Wall Display
FVKG TREASURER’S REPORT
November 1, 2009
Beginning Balance
Income:
Membership Dues
Nametags
Retreat
Regular
$3,454.20
Retreat
$20.75
Total
$3,474.75
$660.00
$80.00
$710.00
Expenses:
Rent (Oct & Nov)
Program
Bank Charge
Hospitality
Retreat
$(100.00)
$(75.00)
$(12.00)
$(9.12)
.
$(477.03)
Ending Balance
$3,998.08
$253.72
$4,251.80
---Diane Evinger, FVKG Treasurer
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TIP OF THE MONTH: Slip Stitches Continued
Another valuable use of slipping stitches is to create a wonderful edge--a nice finish for a scarf or a
great surface for picking up stitches, e.g. along a heel flap. Two good egdes for scarves are:
1. For every row, slip the first stitch as if to knit, pattern across to the last stitch and purl the last
stitch. I find this the best technique to use for your heel flap!
2. For every row, with yarn in front slip the first stitch as if to purl, pattern across to last stitch,
bring the yarn to the front and slip as if to purl. Knit the first and the last stitch on the next row.
This is the technique used on the very popular Brooklyn Tweed Noro Scarf. (If you haven't knitted
one or a dozen--Google it right now!) This technique is used on the second row of each ball.)
---Christy Becker
OCTOBER PROGRAM NOTES
Our October program was a very informative session on cast-ons and bind-offs presented by
Elizabeth Prose, an avid knitter and instructor from the Madison Wisconsin area. Elizabeth shared
her notes with me to put in the newsletter since several people asked about the patterns for the
examples she showed as part of her talk.
Elizabeth presented seven different cast ons and their uses:
1. Backward Loop Cast-On. Good for a loose and stretchy edge, also works when needing to
cast on in the middle or at the end of a row but it can get sloppy looking (her example of
using this cast-on was a child’s neck down cardigan
2. Long Tail Cast-On. Good for most edges, stretchy, gas two sides (purl bumps), Elizabeth
example was Kate Gilberts’s Sunrise Circle Jacket which is available for $6.00 as a PDF
download http://kategilbert.com/p_sunrisecircle.html
3. Knitted Cast-On. Also called lace cast-on. Very stretchy. Can be used for casting on at
the beginning of a row. Her examples included The Lady Eleanor Stole from the Scarf Style
book and the Birch Shawl from Rowan 34.
4. Cable Cast-On. Very firm. Can be used at the beginning of a row. Good for buttonholes.
Fickle Fingers Scarf by Gayle Roehm in Interweaves knits, winter 2005 or as a download for
$4.50 at http://www.interweavestore.com/knitting/patterns/fickle-fingers-scarf.html
5. Provisional Cast-On. Her preferred method is with a crochet chain. When picking up
stitches it leaves you one stitch short and ½ stitch over, Examples were toe up socks
and a sweater named Flow by Norah Gaughan in Berroco: Norah Gaughan Vol 2
http://berroco.com
6. Crochet Cast-On. Looks like a bind-off. Elizabeth used it on her Einstein Coat from Sally
Melville’s The Knitting Experience: Book 1: The Knit Stitch
7. Tubular Cast-On. Very stretchy with a rounded edge. Works well with 1 x 1 rib or
double knitting. A good project for example is Reversible Cabled Brioche Stitch...by
Saralyn Harvey from FireFlower Knits free at
http://fireflowerknits.wordpress.com/2007/10/23/reversible-cabled-brioche-stitch-scarf/
And seven cast-offs:
1. Pull Over Bind-Off. This is the traditional bind off. Easy to work in pattern but also easy
to work too tightly. Examples: The Einstein Coat and the Fickle Finger Scarf.
2. Purl Two Together Bind-Off. More stretchy than pull-over bind-off. Can be used for lace.
Cannot be done in pattern and leaves a chained edge on public side of work. Example:
Ishbel Shawl (part of a collection available at http://ysolda.com/store/whimsical-littleknits/
3. Three Needle Bind-Off. Used to bind-off two edges together (such as shoulders, but not as
stable as a sewn seam).
4. I-Cord Bind-Off. Gives a rolled edge. Must be worked loosely. Example: Moebius Scarf (Cat
Bordi)
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5. Picot Bind-Off. Decorative edge, elastic but tends to flare. Example: Harmonia’s Rings
Cowl by Sivia Harding, available for purchase at
http://www.siviaharding.com/patterns/harmonias_rings_cowl/
6. Kitchener Stitch Bind-Off. Looks great with tubular cast-on. Stretchy with rounded edge.
Example: Reversible Cabled Brioche Stitch...by Saralyn Harveyfrom FireFlower Knits free
at http://fireflowerknits.wordpress.com/2007/10/23/reversible-cabled-brioche-stitchscarf/
7. Sewn Bind-Off. A technique from Elizabeth Zimmermann. Very Stretchy. Example: toeup socks.
---Linda McEwan
2009 FVKG MEETING DATES
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November 11
December 9
We meet the second Wednesday of each month in the Fellowship Hall of the St. Charles Episcopal
Church at 994 North Fifth Ave. in St. Charles and start at 6:30p
KNITALONG UPDATES
New Knitalong Planned
At the Knitting Retreat, a bunch of us were talking about starting a Knitalong in January for Vivian
Hoxbro kits. Many of us have these in our stash, and would like to get started on them. I have
two, the Nihon Kimono and Bumblebee cardigan (both shadow knitting). I made her cable cardigan
in 2008.
Now we just need to decide on where/when. I work during the day, so evenings work for me. How
does the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month sound? We can decide on a place after we decide on
dates.
If you are interested, let me know. Either in person at Guild, or send me an email at
judy.jasper@comcast.net. Let me know what days in the month work for you.
---Judy Jasper
Central Park Hoodie Knitalong
The Central Park Hoodie Knitalong is up and running with 14 enthusiastic knitters. Each lady
has a different color yarn and there are quite a few variations on the type of yarn too. It's not
too late to join. Rosemary Anderson has been very helpful answering our many questions. The
Borders Bookstore has made us feel welcome and it's a good place to knit. We're still meeting
on Weds. mornings starting at 9:30 and finishing up around 11:30. We're looking forward to
seeing these beautiful sweaters in the months to come at Show & Tell. Please call if you need
further info.
---Barb Harris, Hospitality Chair
Cell # 630-710-4652
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Special Yarn Shops
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Esther’s Place 201 W. Galena St. (Route 30), Big Rock
Phone: (630) 556-WOOL (9665) - Web: http://www.esthersplacefibers.com/
Fine Line 6N158 Crane Road, St. Charles Phone: (630) 584-9443 - Web:
http://www.finelineca.org/
Fishbed Knitting Emporium, Inc. 320 N. River Street, East Dundee
Phone: (847) 844-YARN (9276)
The Fold 3316 Millstream Road, Marengo
Phone: (815) 568-5320
Gene Ann’s Shop
117 East Station St., Barrington
Phone: (847) 842-9321 - Web: http://www.geneannsyarns.com/TheShop.htm
Gifted Purl 120 West Main St., West Dundee
Phone: (847) 783-4650 - Web: http://www.giftedpurl.com
Knitche 5150-B Main Street, Downers Grove, IL 60515
Phone: (630) 852-5648 – Web: http://knitche.com/
*Needle Things 426 South Third Street, Geneva
Phone: (630) 232-0015
Never Enough Knitting 119-121 North Main, Wheaton
Phone: (630) 221-1007
Sheep’s Clothing 257 Indiana Ave., Valparaiso, IN
Phone: (219) 462-1700
Stitches in Time 300 W. Washington, Oregon, IL
Phone: (815) 732-4599
Wool and Company 23 South Third St., Geneva
Phone: (630) 232.2305 – Web: http://www.woolandcompany.net/
*These shops are special because they offer discounts to FVKG members.
FVKG Board
President: Dorothy Gaines & Gretl Kramer
Vice President/Programs: Christy Becker &
Linda Jones
Treasurer: Diane Evinger
Secretary: Sandy Andrews
Hospitality: Barb Harris
Membership: Judy Jasper
Newsletter: Linda McEwan
Website: Christie Stotko
Gallery Show: Natasha Lehrer
The Agenda for Each Guild Meeting
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6pm—set up
6:30pm—gather to knit
7pm—Meeting begins:
Introductions of new members/guests
Announcements/reports
Show and Tell and Door Prizes
7:30pm—Break
7:45pm –Program
9pm—Lights out
Newsletter comments, suggestions or article ideas?
Please contact me at lmcewan@foxvalley.net or at (847) 697-1513. Thanks!
---Linda McEwan
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