Black Sheep Knitting Guild

Knitting Night at ChiaoGoo

A group of knitters from our guild visited the ChiaoGoo Warehouse in Troy, Michigan for an exciting evening. The owner, Leon, was a great host. His assistants Juli, Ashley and Fan greeted us warmly and offered us mini roll up sandwiches and cookies.
Talk about feeling like a kid in a candy shop! Seeing bins and bins of knitting needles was enough to warm us up on a chilly, winter night.

Leon presented a slide show of a very interesting history of the company and how the needles are made. He also shared pictures of his family here in Troy and in China. His business continues to grow as knitters discover how great ChiaoGoo needles are.

A highlight of the evening was a raffle and a chance to win needles/accessories.
It was a special night and we can't thank Leon and his staff enough!

Looking forward to the next Knit Night at ChiaoGoo!

Leon and his nephew, Fan.

Juli

We all enjoyed Leon's stories!

Happy knitters...

Learning about the company...

Every knitters dream!

Needles, needles, and more needles!

Cute notecards...

Love the packaging!

Juli and one of the raffle prizes!

Leon and a bamboo needle holder.

Anita was one of the lucky winners!

Sue was the big winner—
an interchangeable set of her choice!

Fan and the raffle winners.

The raffle winners with Leon!

Leon and his favorite needle!

Happy New Year!

Our first meeting of 2019 was very busy. We said goodbye and thank you to our former president, Kate, and introduced our new president, Merritt, along with our new Vice President, Barb.

Merritt welcomed our guests and then members shared any new finished projects. The skill level and talent in our guild is very impressive!

Order forms for new BSKG t-shirts were handed out. Remember to turn your order in by January 31.

We kicked off the Sneaky Sheep project. It’s a bit challenging but will be fun. Kim W. presented on how to design your own hat pattern. She had several great resources and handouts to help us get started. At our February meeting bring in your design to participate in the exchange.

The make-n-take was natural moth repellent sachets. We filled small muslin bags with rosemary, lavender and a bay leaf. The room smelled like a spa! Handouts were provided for anyone interested in knitting a bag for their sachet using the double knitting technique.

A special gift for Kate.

Who is behind this beautiful shawl?!

Harriet models her latest project.

Karen shows one way to wear her poncho.

Cute design on a sachet bag!

Kim has some great ideas!

Amazing patterns to try.

How to design your hat.

Brown Bag Gift Exchange

At our December guild meeting we had a trunk show by a few of our new members. Thanks for sharing!

We also had a show and share of any projects knit from the last retreat swag.

The fun began when we had our annual Brown Bag Swap! Participants brought in a gift in a bag and got a chance to pick a bag or steal a bag when their number was called. The items that got the most "oohs" and "aahs" were of course also the ones that got stolen the most. There were cute lambs, lovely yarn, stitch markers, and a lot of other goodies!

Julia delivered the pies that were ordered from Achatz. Thanks, Julia!

Vickie's rainbow hat...

Madelyn, Celine and Vickie model their knitting.

New member trunk show~amazing!

This little guy made his way around the tables!

Linda happy...

Linda sad!

Almost done!

Gift tags and special holiday offer.

November 'Baa'-zaar

November BAA-ZAAR
by Kathy Stasys

It was a cold and windy Tuesday night in Huntington Woods. Black Sheepers sought shelter in a trailer that had magically appeared by the side of the library. And, lo, it was filled with warmth, and friends, and yarn! Taking up the challenge, many found the perfect skein to fend off the chill in the air so they could wend their way to the bowels of the library....okay, the basement.

Once inside the cozy confines of the BSKG meeting area, our members prepared for the coming holidays by eating, buying, chatting, and knitting. What a perfect way to get yourself ready for the next few weeks of eating, buying, chatting, and knitting.

Awe and wonder....what to select?

Clutching yarn and notions and contemplating the next worthy item to select.

Cubes of soft and colorful yarns entice .

And yet more yarn!!

What says November like yarn....and pies!

BSKG members sampled several pies from
Achatz Pie Company. Pies ordered!
Great fund raiser just in time
for Thanksgiving.

Just like the homemade ones we can
all make. Sure.

After wiping off sticky pie fingers, guild members shopped in our own members "pop up" stores.

Donated yarns raised funds for
Knit Michigan. Buying more yarn
never feels so good as when you
are also doing good.

Sure, you can knit this pattern.

Tanya always creates
beautiful yarn colors
and pattern designs.

These should warm up
a cold winter night.

Did you know Tanya has a

new job? And no, it's not

selling socks.

Ask her about her new

teaching position.

She's happy!

Julia's colors burst with
vibrancy. Any one of these
colors will keep your toes
toasty this winter.

Julia

Tanya

Kitty

Big BSKG News!!!!!!

Barb C.
the Black Sheep's
new Vice-President!!!
yeah!!!!

Kate and Merritt are
pleased with Barb as
the new addition to
the BSKG leadership.
Aren't we all?

And so the cold November winds blew outside the Huntington Woods Library, but the BSKG members were too busy knitting, selling, buying, eating, and visiting.