Buffalo Gold Donation

Buffalo Gold was EXTREMELY generous with their donations to our Knit-in. Specifically, they donated 2 skeins BuffBoo, 4 skeins Buffalo Cashmere Silk Blend, and a couple of cones of the Buffalo Cashmere Silk Blend for mini skeins for our goodie bags. I was able to touch all of the donations and - oooooo - I really wanted to win at least ONE of these beauties!

And the winners are. . .

First, the Buffalo, Cashmere, Silk blend skeins:

Congrats, Amy Semifero!

. . . and Joy Stout. . . and Susan Martin (Grandbury guild). . . and finally, Sandra Merryman (Grandbury guild)

And then there's the BuffBoo

Karen Scarberry (a Bluebonnet Knitting Guild Member)

And Sherry Maffia (we paired this with the Knit Picks Options donation
Thank you so much for your donation, Buffalo Gold. Your yarns were really well received by all attending!

Mountain Colors Donation

Mountain Colors donated a BEAUTIFUL skein of Mountain Colors McWeavers Wool Quarter and a sock pattern.
Congratulations, Jeanne Oden (another Grandbury knitting guild member)

Mary Jane Robilliard (Simpatico Yarns) Donation

Before Simpatico went defunct, Mary Jane generously donated a Knitting Travel Book.

Congratulations, Sandra Merryman (another Grandbury knitting guild member)!

Knit In Raffle Winners

The guild bought all the raffle prizes that were available.

Congratulations to Patti Stapleton for winning the Rippling Cascade Throw kit. She was very happy she won as the blues were "her colors". Patti is a new guild member and somewhat new to knitting.

Tasha Duvic won the six Comfort Sox basket - it came with the Berrocco #275 Feet First pattern booklet. I think Tasha is a sock knitter. She was thrilled about winning it.

Mindy Price, a member of the Grandbury Knitting Guild, won the Oat Couture Sweater Kit & Bag with Berrocco Comfort yarn.

And the most coveted raffle prize of the day was the Options Harmony Needles from Knit Picks was won by Sherry Maffia. She's a brand new knitter and didn't have a full set of needles. She was a bit shocked with the win as she had won the Knit Picks door prize donation earlier. Congratulations, Sherry! Those are mighty purty needles you have there.

The Knitting Fairy Donation

The Knitting Fairy, who has always supported this guild, was generous once again.

She donated stitch markers for each person receiving a goodie bag and a notions bag as a door prize.
Congratulations, Guild member Joan Kirk!

The Woolie Ewe Donation

The Woolie Ewe sent a BEAUTIFUL pink Namaste Needle Binder (scroll down click on the photos to see inside the bag). I heard a lot of people saying, "I want to win this one!"

Well, Tasha Duvic did, much to many people's disappointment. (FWIW, The WE is her LYS so she was really excited about showing her prize to Sue & Jill).

Berrocco Donation

Berrocco sent some flyers for the goodie bags, and a HandEze Craft Glove. We paired this door prize with two sets of stitch markers made by Christine O'Hara of Spinning Straw into Gold.

Congratulations, Dixie Butler!

The Knitting Nook Donation

The Knitting Nook, donated a wonderful Seasamo Knit Shrug kit.

Congrats, Lisa Anderson!

Trendsetter Interational Donation

Trendsetter donated a wonderful (and much coveted) satchel bag!

Congratulations, Barb LaMunion on winning this fabulous bag.

Classic Elite Yarns Donation

Classic Elite Yarns donated four sock kits and a number of mini-skein samples each attendee received in their goodie bags!

Congrats, Susan Epstein!
Congrats, Mary Anderson
Congrats, Dorthy Blanchard!
We awarded the fourth kit, too, but have misplaced the awardee information! We'll be better organized next year!

Thank you so much, Classic Elite Yarns for your donation!

Apple Leef Farms Donation

Leef Bloomenstiel of Apple Leef Farm generously donated a hand spun, hand dyed, hand knit beret.

Congratulations, Michelle Evans!

Love (1) your shirt!

Plymouth Yarns Donation

Plymouth Yarns donated an afghan kit!

8 skeins of Plymouth Encore Yarn & a Done by Monday pattern book.

Congratulations Maureen Haas!

Survey Results

We handed out surveys to help us with planning for next year's Knit-In and had 33 responses.

Is Stacy's Furniture Community Room a good venue? Yes (100%) No (0%)

Suggestions: Signs to direct to elevators/community room

Do you like the Circle's of Learning? Yes (91%) No (3%) N/A (6%)

Suggestions: One response wants them to become Sit n Knit's to learn the method.

Do you have suggestions for future Circle's?

Magic Loop, Knitting on 2 Circ's, How to correct mistakes

Did you like the Notions for Knowledge? Yes (91%) No (3%) N/A (6%)

Comments: Got the answer but didn't get a prize. Could use fewer options for answers

We are considering a few new programs for next year's Knit In and need some feedback.

Would you be interested in participating in a charity drawing? Each person would get a ticket for each knitted item they donated and it would be a separate drawing open only to those who donated.

Yes (79%) No (12%) N/A (8%)

Comments: Would need some rules. An afghan does not equal a dishcloth.

Would you be interested in participating in a Yarn Swap? Bring in your stash you know you will never knit - pick up some yarn you think you'll knit with. All leftovers to be donated to the Women's Prison.

Yes (70%) No (9%) N/A (21%)

We have found there is some confusion between this event and the Knit-Out held in September due to similar names and the closeness of the events. Should we keep this event in October or move it?

Keep in October (76%) Move it (9%) N/A (15%)

Comments: One needs to move. Rename this one.

Currently lunch is on your own. Would it be a better event if lunch was provided?

Yes (52%) No (45%) N/A (3%)

Would you pay an extra $5 for a boxed lunch?

Yes (67%) No (33%) N/A (0%)

Thanks so much for the feedback!

Circles of Learning

Last year was the first time we had Circles of Learning and it was well received.

So this year, Terri Buckerfield taught the Provisional Cast-on (Link will bring up video from Knitting Help.com on how to do it).
Lise Wilson taught Wrap & Turn (link takes you to Lise' blog where she show's you how to do it with a step by step tutorial):

Shelly Hattan taught Jogless Join:
Stripes in the round:
(This only works if you have a minimum of 2 rows per stripe) Knit 1 round of the new color.
When faced with the first stitch of the second round: pick up a loop of the first color from the preceding row and place it on the left needle. Knit together both the first stitch of the new color *and* the picked up stitch of the previous row.
Continue knitting around.
Lisa Anderson taught the Disappearing Cast On (I think this is the link to the method - Lisa to verify)

Lise taught the Russian Join last year and had one of the attendees come up to her and tell her that she remembered the lesson and it had saved her on a lace project.

What really great feedback!

We also had a couple of new knitters and got some good feedback that the CoL's were really informative.

Knit-in 2008 is over!

Wow! The Knit in was really fun this year and attendance was at an all time high of 52 attendees! We had goodie bags, door prizes, notions, and raffles galore.

It was really great to see familiar faces from previous year's Knit-ins and we met some new people, too!

So here's a quick lay of the land photo tour.

When attendees come into the Stacy's Furniture Community Room, they have to check in at the check in desk. This is where participants received their goodie bags and door prize ticket stubs.
This year's goodie bag's project bag was a small Ikea bag. Here's what was in each bag this year.
Visit the Flickr page for details on this picture. Here's the other half - mainly brochures and free patterns.
All the members of the guild brought snacks - and we had plenty!
This year, we put numbers on all the door prizes so awarding them would be random.

(Mary Anderson (l) and Lise Wilson (r) drawing numbers to match numbers located on door prizes)
Lise would draw a number, announce what the gift was, drew the door prize ticket and read the number. We have photos of every winner and I'll post them here as time permits.

Knit-In Update

We officially have 50 people signed/paid up for the ! Thanks! This is a guild record!

So, from this point on, we will still be accepting registrations, but the cost will only be $5 at the door - with the understanding that you won't be receiving a goodie bag.

BUT!

For $5 you will still get a door prize ticket - we have 27 great prizes. You can participate in our new program "Notions for Knitting Knowledge." Learn new knitting techniques. But most importantly, you will be meeting up with other knitters in the D/FW area and seeing the great projects they've been working on.

So, don't let that stop you from coming! You'll still have a great time!

Directions to Knit-in 2008

Hours: 10am – 4pm

Location: Stacy Furniture Community Room on the 3rd floor.

Stacy Furniture 1900 S Main St Grapevine, TX 76051-4093

It has been requested by Stacy Furniture if all possible, that we park on the sides or back of the building, not the front.

Directions from Granbury

1. You are at Granbury, TX
2. Go North on TX-144 <>
3. Turn right onto BUS US-377 (W Pearl St, TX-426-Loop) 0.4
4. Continue onto BUS US-377 (E Pearl St) 1.5
5. Take US-377 N ramp 0.2
6. Continue onto US-377 N 25.1
7. Turn right onto SW Loop 820 Frontage Rd 0.2
8. Take I-20 E ramp on left 7.5
9. Take Exit 437 (I-35W, Denton, Waco) on right 0.4
10. Take I-35W N (Denton) ramp on left 7.0
11. Take Exit 52B (TX-121 N, US-377 N, DFW Airport, Belknap St) on right <>
12. Take TX-121 N (DFW Airport) ramp on left 19.3
13. Take TX-114 W (SPUR TX-103, William D Tate Av, Main St) exit on right 0.2
14. Take SPUR TX-103 (Main St) ramp on right 0.2
15. Continue onto TX-121 N Frontage Rd; street becomes Highway 114 S Access Rd Frontage Rd (W TX-114 Frontage Rd) 0.9
16. Turn right onto N 11th St (S Main St) 0.1
17. You are at 1900 S Main St, Grapevine, TX 76051-4093

Direction from Fort Worth

1. You are at Fort Worth, TX
2. Go Northwest on Throckmorton St 0.3
3. Turn right onto W 7th St 0.3
4. Take SPUR TX-280 E ramp on right 0.4
5. Take I-35W (US-287 N, US-377 N, D/Fw Airport) exit on right 0.1
6. Take I-35W N (US-287 N, US-377 N, D/Fw Airport) ramp on left 0.8
7. Take Exit 52B (TX-121 N, US-377 N, DFW Airport, Belknap St) on right <>
8. Take TX-121 N (DFW Airport) ramp on left 19.3
9. Take TX-114 W (SPUR TX-103, William D Tate Av, Main St) exit on right 0.2
10. Take SPUR TX-103 (Main St) ramp on right 0.2
11. Continue onto TX-121 N Frontage Rd; street becomes Highway 114 S Access Rd Frontage Rd (W TX-114 Frontage Rd) 0.9
12. Turn right onto N 11th St (S Main St) 0.1
13. You are at 1900 S Main St, Grapevine, TX 76051-4093

Directions from Arlington

1. You are at Arlington, TX
2. Go East on W Abram St (FM-157) 0.6
3. Continue onto E Abram St 2.1
4. Turn left onto Sh 360 Frontage Rd (S Watson Rd Frontage Rd) 0.1
5. Take TX-360 N ramp on left 12.7
6. Continue onto TX-121 N 0.4
7. Take TX-114 W (SPUR TX-103, William D Tate Av, Main St) exit on right 0.2
8. Take SPUR TX-103 (Main St) ramp on right 0.2
9. Continue onto TX-121 N Frontage Rd; street becomes Highway 114 S Access Rd Frontage Rd (W TX-114 Frontage Rd) 0.9
10. Turn right onto N 11th St (S Main St) 0.1
11. You are at 1900 S Main St, Grapevine, TX 76051-4093

Directions from Lewisville

1. You are at Lewisville, TX
2. Go East on W Main St (FM-1171 E) <>
3. Turn right onto S Mill St (FM-3504) 1.0
4. Bear right onto BUS TX-121 S 3.4
5. Take TX-121 S ramp on left 0.2
6. Continue onto TX-121 S 4.2
7. Take TX-114 W (TX-121 S, Ft Worth) exit on right 1.5
8. Take SPUR TX-103 (Main St) exit on right 0.2
9. Continue onto W Highway 114 N Access Rd Frontage Rd 0.8
10. Turn left onto S Main St 0.3
11. You are at 1900 S Main St, Grapevine, TX 76051-4093

Reminder: Knit-In 2008

WHEN: Saturday, October 25, 2008, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

WHERE: Stacy Furniture, 1900 S Main St # 1293; Grapevine, TX 76051; (off Highway 114)

Bring your knitting and join us for a day of fun and relaxation with members of the other guilds in North Texas. The cost will be $10 to cover the cost of the meeting location, goody bags, snacks, and door prizes. There are a variety of eating establishments in the area for lunch, including a restaurant in Stacy Furniture.

Bring along your latest endeavor or the project you are most proud of for a special show and tell time. It’s a great chance to meet members of the hand knitting guilds from Arlington, Dallas, Granbury and Grapevine and talk with others that share a passion for knitting!

There are a limited number of seats available. Registration is due by October. 15. Registration can be completed by sending your registration form and check for $10 to the address below OR by PayPal to bluebonnetknittingguild@gmail.com and email the application in to reserve your seat.

We look forward to having a wonderful day of knitting and meeting new friends!

Click here for the application form.

Bluebonnet Knitting Guild Outreach Program

What: NASH FARM FALL ROUNDUP

Activities will include stick pony barrel racing, stick pony buckin’ broncs, hayrides, petting zoo, pony rides, blacksmith demonstrations, arts & crafts, historic plowing demonstrations and hot dogs and hamburgers for sale from Grapevine AMBUCS.

Location: Nash Farm, 626 Ball Street • Near Historic Downtown Grapevine
When: October 11, 2008
Time: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Parking: Side streets and Additional parking is across the street at Cannon Elementary

Our tent will be located at the Ball Street and the driveway of Nash Farm, between the driveway and the garden.

2008 Knit-In Update #2

The contents for the goodie bags are coming along. We won't be sharing with you what's in them on the blog so it'll be a surprise!

Raffle:
We have a drawing for a Rippling Cascade Thro’ Di.Ve
afghan kit in blues and a set of Knit Picks Harmony Options Needles!



Door Prizes:

Lots of local and national yarn suppliers have contributed to our raffle this year. Here's just a quick list of who has donated prizes so far:

1. The Knitting Nook
2. The Shabby Sheep
   
3. The Woolie Ewe
4. The Knitting Fairy (Alissa Barton)
5. Pisgah Yarn & Dyeing
6. Texas Fiber Mill
7. Buffalo Gold
8. Berrocco, Inc.
9. Bernat
10. Patons Yarns
    
11. Lily Yarns
12. Crystal Palace Yarns
13. Oat Couture
14. Mountain Colors
15. Lorna's Laces
16. Trendsetter Yarns
17. Plymouth Yarns
18. Coats & Clark
19. Spinning Straw into Gold
20. Knit Picks
21. Starbucks
22. Pie Knits

That's the list just now. More to come!

We also have our Circles of Learning again this year. Come learn more about the jog-less join, provisional cast on, wrap & turn, and the disappearing cast on.

Of course we'll also have Show & Tell, so bring those projects you're wanting to show to others! It's great fun to ooooh and aaaaah over everyone's stuff!

Again, it's time to register for this really fun day. Currently we have 47 people registered.

October 2008 Newsletter

The October Newsletter is published and can be found here. You must subscribe to the Yahoo! group and be able to read Adobe Acrobat files to be able to have access to the file.

The Great American Aran Afghan Project

We had the first sign ups for our Afghan project at the August meeting. Here's a list of who signed up and a link to what they signed up for.

1. Mary Anderson: Marian Tabler square. (Note to Mary: A blog mentioned that the written out pattern is wrong. You'll need to follow the charts.)
2. Karen Scarbery: Ginette Belanger square.
3. Terri Buckerfield: Dana Hunt square.
4. Patty Medley: Carol Adams square.
5. Dixie Butler: Georgia Vincent square (photo does not have the bobbles).
6. Cindy Hailey: Ann Strong square.
7. Joan Kirk: Ann McCauley square.
8. Lisa Anderson: Barbara McIntire square.
9. Shelly Hattan: Ada Fenick square.
   
10. Toni Tharp: Susan Rainey square.
    
11. Elizabeth Herman: Janet Martin square.

So that's who has signed up. We do plan on having 20 squares, so if anyone hasn't signed up, feel free to look at the Rainey Sisters site to try to figure out what they want to knit (no duplicates, please) and just email the Yahoo! group. I'll add your name to the above list!
In January, after everyone has had a chance to sign up we will open the option for folks to do a 2nd square.