Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance

Or so says my friend Roz.

These are my boots. You'll notice how nice and dry they are. They are truly the warmest, sturdiest boots I've owned in a long time. The keep my feet cozy, and I rarely slip and slide around when I'm wearing them due to the nice bumpy tread on the bottom. I heart these boots.

These are the shoes I wore to school. They are also the shoes I walked one mile home in during the snow storm at around 5pm when I left my student after his tutoring session.

These are my pants, and very wet wool socks (albeit handmade, wet Socks That Rock. . .but at this point, does it really matter how well made they are and how well they fit?) Do you notice how far up the puddles splashed when I thought I was walking on solid ground? Can you see the mud that splashed up when I was sliding across barely unfrozen muddy playing fields trying to avoid the ankle deep puddles of slush?

This is my head. You'll notice that there is no hat covering it. Not one of the many hand knit hats I have in my coat closet. Not even a polar fleece hat made years ago to keep me warm when skiing. Nope, not a store bought hat that is fashionable, but not really functional. Not even a chemo cap made by Judith for Knit Michigan.

Obviously, I need to be reminded exactly how quickly weather can change in Southeast Michigan.

So, plan ahead. . .well, even that doesn't work so well. I planned for a snow day today and it didn't happen. . .

Hopefully, your knitting is planned and swatched and moving forward as planned.

Send pictures of your UFO pile, or post a list to keep us all updated.
--t

Fat Tuesday

Sally sent an email a couple of days ago reminding me that Lent begins this week. For those of you who weren't with us last year(I don't know how to link, but you can check back to Feb 19 and 20, 2007), we began a Lenten sacrifice that was tradition in the making.

For no particular religious reason, several of us gave up casting on new projects. I was appalled last year to find out that I had over 40 UFOs on the needles just waiting to be completed. Thanks to 40 days of not casting on, I was able to shrink that number significantly--but still, there are UFOs in my pile. I have things that I feel bad about just taking up space in my knitting room. . .things I haven't touched in over two years. . .It's my guess that not all of us are as pure as Harriet, who only works on one project and a pair of socks at a time, and that there are several things languishing in the bottom of our knitting baskets. . .the time has come. Completion is near.

So, if you're going to take up the challenge with us this year, today is Packzi Day. If you have a burning desire to stock up on fatty calories to hold you over for the season--or rather, cast on a few projects you won't be able to do without--now is the time.

I for one, will be casting on three projects today. (And yes, Sally, I did make fun of you for doing the same thing--call me a hypocrite! it's true!) I need to make a hat for a friend who is visiting late in February, I completed a sweater last night and have been waiting to cast on another using the same needles, and will want to at least start my February Sock Down Challenge socks for a Ravelry group. . .so you all know I'll have at least three UFOs. . .but I think I'm down from the 40 last year. I'll take count and keep you posted.

Who else is in? Send pictures or your list and you can keep us all updated.

Knit Michigan

Another successful charity event hosted by our local yarn stores!! Nearly 1000 chemo caps were donated (161 by the Black Sheep! Woot! You all ROCK!) and $25,000 and counting for Michigan cancer charities. Our very own Harriet was a 500 club member and was one of the highest fund raisers at the event--Go Harriet!

I think I counted 12 Black Sheep members as marathon participants, and nearly all members showed up to work in the Learn to Knit room--it was packed! I had a hard time finding a seat when I went in!! Judith put a lot of time and energy into making it so successful.

Many got some great deals at the silent auction--and Kim T made us proud by pumping up some bids during the live auction at the end of the night--she even won a beautiful antique Columbian shawl!

Nearly all of our Ravelry buttons are gone--meaning almost 90 people from Ravelry showed up to represent. We captured 40 of them in our photo--see how many you can name!

Here are some pictures for those of you who couldn't make it. . .












Oh. . .and by the way? I'm still the reigning champion of "Super Silly Knitting"! Gotta love that.

So, see you all next year?
--t

Hat update

Knit Michigan is looming near. I feel lost if I don't have a chemo cap on the needles and the needles aren't with me. As of Tuesday night we have 49 chemo caps, as a guild. Not including mine. I think I am going to raise my goal to 40. Scary. We should be able to meet a 100 hat goal. I would like to turn them in at the end of our day at 3pm. We can lay them all out to be admired by all. We have good sign up and any one wanting to come in for an hour or so that isn't signed up is more than welcome.

We are going to host a Ravelry round up at Knit Michigan so talk about it alot and pass it on. No idea how many to expect. Could be huge this year.

I have a list of things to try to keep supplied this year. I am going to bring my large coffee maker, cream and sugar. Chris H. has offered to bring a coffee cake. If anyone has ideas or suggestions feel free to shout them out. Thank you to all who have offered help.
Hats are calling, Judith

Brrrr!!

Has anyone been cuddling up under their knitting these past few days? The socks I'm working on don't seem to be warming me too much, I'll need to get busy on a sweater or something larger!

We had a HUGE group at the Coffee Beanery last week, we keep growing and growing. I so enjoy everyone's friendly attitudes. When we were talking about our guild and comparing meeting locations, Judith mentioned how much she likes how we don't seem to have a clique of people who stick together. . .I agree! It seems like every time I turn around I'm learning something new about someone and finding a way to connect. You just have to love that!

Rumor has it that another group may be meeting at the Coffee Beanery during the daytime on Thursday or Friday. For those of you who can't always make it to knit with us in the evening, this may be a perfect way to get your social knitting fix! As I find out more, I'll post it here.

You've probably noticed the changes to the blog. . .more are coming! Kate has done some fabulous work designing a new logo. . .and it will be appearing soon on a blog near you! We've also planned to order some embroidered knitting totes. Details will be coming soon, so start saving your pennies!

Upcoming events:
Knit Michigan--February 2, 2008 We're nearly half-way to our goal of having 100 chemo caps to donate. . .keep up the good work!

Chelsea Spinner's Flock Fleece Fair--February 16, 2008 Kim will have the details of this event for the next meeting, it's a bit of a drive, but great fun!

Secret Pal Bag swap--March-May 2008 Details will come at the March guild meeting, but start thinking if you'd like to swap a knitted bag with a guild pal. . .who better to appreciate your hand knitting than another knitter?

Dexter's Pioneer Crafts Art Fair--March 15, 2008 Again, details to come at a guild meeting soon!

2nd Annual Retreat--April 25-27, 2008 At our January meeting, there were several who thought they might not be able to sign up in time before all of the spots were filled! There was a mad rush to register! We have all spots filled for the dyeing workshop, but have reserved extra space for others who want to join in on the fun and do a mystery knit-along or a shop hop. . .a $75 deposit is required to hold your spot by the February guild meeting. . .more fun than you can stand in one weekend! Check out The Hankerd Inn website for pictures! This is a great time to relax and connect with other guild members. . .and we have fabulous goodie bags planned for those who attend this year! You'll want to make sure you get one of these limited edition surprises!

Swap and Sale--May Guild meeting. . .start to think about what you may want (or need) to destash! We'll also have dinner catered by the Coffee Beanery if you'd like to eat and shop all at once!

Janurary Meeting and Announcements

New Meeting Location!
effective immediately for our Tuesday Jan 8, 2007 Meeting
I feel like we've been in a sweat lodge for the last few months meeting at the Community Center. . .in response to all of the hot flashes and personal fans brought to the meetings, we've chosen a new (and cooler)location. Meetings will now be held at:

Fifth Third Bank
1833 Coolidge
Berkley, MI 48072

The bank is located on Coolidge near 11 mile. . .on the West side of the road. Great, well lit parking, comfy chairs and no jazzercise music playing during the meeting!

The meeting agenda will include learning a new cast on and bind off--bring worsted weight yarn in two colors, and needles to match, as well as info about Knit Michigan (see Judith's post below), our upcoming Retreat at Hankered Inn (you may want to bring your checkbook so you can leave a deposit to reserve your space as they are limited). The retreat is planned for the weekend of April 25-27, check your calendars and save the date! As well as fabulous raffle prizes this month!


Traveling Sock













yes, it's true. Stephanie Pearl-McPhee may travel more, but our locally knitted sock has traveled farther. . .Harriet sent this picture to us from her recent trip to Italy. . .

Night Notes Concert Series
Sally has sent us more info about the chamber music series that welcomes knitters. Every concert I've been to has been great, it's a nice change from spending the night at home. . .join us!

Hi from sally,
I just wanted to let all you knitters know that there is a Nightnotes
concert on Friday Jan 11th at 8:30 pm at Hagopian Rug store.
Refreshments are served at 8pm. If you call the Detroit chamber Winds at 248
559-2095 and tell them that you are a knitter, the tickets will be $5
off, meaning the ticket will cost $15. You must do this before the concert
date, as at the door they will charge you $20 if you say you are a
knitter. This concert features a French horn soloist(who happens to be my
husband, the principal horn of the Detroit Symphony) and a very fine
clarinetist and pianist. who both play in the DSO also. It should be a
fun concert and I hope to see some of you there...Karen and Joan, if you
happen to be sending out a newsletter, it would be great if you would
include this....please forward this message to any interested knitters
that you know...thanks so much, sally p

In case you're wondering what's on Sally's needles, here's a peek at her latest WIP














Knitting on TV!!
Chris asks us to check out Create TV and Shay Pendray's Needle Arts Studio for programming that highlights knitting and crocheting--I've seen several of her episodes and they're really interesting.

A Bit of Bragging
Okay, so they're not even my kids, they're Coralee's grandchildren. . .but I made the sweaters that the twins are wearing. . .isn't it a cute photo?








A Challenge (or two or three)
A Ravelry group that I'm in (Stash Knit Down 2008) has issued a challenge to not only knit from stash, but to knit a mile from Jan 5-Feb 19. While it sound like A LOT of knitting, it breaks down into reasonably small chunks each day. Why not give it a try? Imagine how much space you'll have for new yarn acquisition if you knit up 1760 yards of yarn! (really, it's not that much, only about 8 skeins of worsted weight yarn) However, it may make you look at your stash in a whole different way and help you make progress on clearing up some of those older purchases!

Suzanne has invited members to join her in a sock KAL (knit along). Explore your stash of sock yarn, (or race out and buy some new) and cast on a sock a month along with Suzanne. There are plenty of free patterns on the net--I'm sure these will entice you. . .Monkey, Baudelaire, Broadripple and I think Kate has cast on Bellatrix. One Raveler mentioned creating her personal sock club by choosing 12 patterns to go with 12 skeins of yarn she has in her stash, putting a "sock kit" in a lunch bag and stapling it shut. When she finishes one pair of socks, she gets a new sock kit with a mystery skein of yarn and pattern to work on. It seems like a great way to use up stash and keep yourself entertained.

And don't forget the Chemo Cap Challenge. . .if we each make 2, that gets us to around 80 caps, if we each make 3, that gets us over 100. . .they don't take that much time, and will be greatly appreciated. Judith will be collecting hats for Knit Michigan, and Scarves for SOS at each meeting.

See you Tuesday!
--t

Chemo caps

Happy New Year. Now the holidays are over. I got cleaned out. All hats, mitts, dishcloths and scarves. Gone. I don't owe any Christmas presents. So that's good.
A good time to assess the stash, find out you have plenty and get knitting. Starting with chemo caps and THE baby blanket. Am I the only one who always has a baby blanket going?
Madame President has thrown down a challenge. 100 chemo caps by Knit Michigan. Long pause. I say we can do it. We knitted and donated 125 scarves in 2007. The Knit Michigan website states 200 chemo caps were donated last year. Our goal is half of that. We are awesome.
We have a need for more volunteers to work the Learn to Knit Room. You may not have to teach anyone a thing, it could just be a chance to sit and knit. Go to market. Shop. Have lunch. Spend the day with knitters, knitting.
If you have questions about your chemo cap or a pattern to share, Tuesday Jan 8, will be our last guild meeting before Knit Michigan. I will still be collecting scarves for SOS. I have knit 5. See you soon, Judith