Holiday Week

Hi. There is no class this week.

Extension begins on January 10: same time, same place. Bring felting yarn if you plan to start the backgammon set.

Spring catalogs for new class should be coming out next week, I think.

Wishing you a Happy New Year!

Winter Holiday Knitting

Hope your Christmas week is going well. It snowed today making it a wonderful day to sit inside and knit.

On Christmas Eve day, I went ice skating in South Lake Tahoe and wore the mittens from class for the first time which made it a double whammy of a special day: learning to ice skate and wearing mittens I made myself.

By the way, are you working on any knitting projects during the holidays? My plan is to make two more open finger mittens and two hats by the end of next week. I've started over on one hat three times now.

I'm still waiting for 100% wool yarn to go on sale for the backgammon set. Have you seen yarn on sale lately? I found three in my yarn stash, but the colors don't look right together.

Can't wait to see you all on January 10; I miss you. It seems to early to say "Happy New Year!"

Knit & Crochet Today Program on PBS

Hi. Thought you'd like to know that a new knit and crochet program is already airing on PBS in some areas of the US. Unfortunately not our area yet; you can help get the following show aired in our area through submitting a request at http://www.knitandcrochettoday.com/pbs.html

Here is a copy of part of the article from the site above:
"PBS Station Listings
The Knit & Crochet Today program is now playing on many local PBS stations, with more stations adding our program in the coming months. Check back often, as we will update this list and keep you informed.

KRCB (SF/Santa Rosa, CA) Tuesdays at 9:30am, Starts Sept.
WBCC (Cocoa, FL) - Fridays at 1pm, Starts Sept. 7th
WSRE (Pensacola, FL) - Tuesdays at 1:30pm, Starts Sept. 11th
WILL (Champaign-Urbana, IL) Mondays at 1pm, Starts Oct. 29t
WEIU (Charleston, IL) - Saturdays at 10am, Starts Sept. 8th
KET (Kentucky) - Tuesdays at 11:30am, Starts Sept. 4th
MPT (Maryland) - Saturdays at 8am, Starts Oct. 6th
WTVS (Detroit, MI) - Saturdays at 6:30am, Starts Sept. 8th
KAWE (Lakeland, MN) - Sundays at 12:30pm, Starts Sept.
WPTO (Dayton, OH) - Fridays at 2pm, Starts Sept. 7th
PBS 45/49 (Kent, OH) - Saturdays at 7am, Starts Sept. 8th
OPB (Oregon) - Saturdays at 12:30pm, Starts Sept. 22nd
RMPBS (Rocky Mountain) - Saturdays at 8am, Starts Sept. 22nd
KWBU (Waco, TX) - Sundays at 5pm, Starts Sept. 2nd
MPTV (Milwaukee, WI) - Saturdays at 12:30pm, Starts Sept. 8th

COMING SOON
KTEH (SF/San Jose, CA ) Starts Jan. '08th
WTVP (Peoria, IL) Starts November or December
WNIN (Evansville, IN) Sundays at 8:30am, Starts Nov. 25th
NCAR (Research Triangle Park, NC) Mondays, Starts Jan. '08
NDAK (Fargo, ND) Starts Jan. '08

Adding the Show -- Submit Request
Interested in having Knit and Crochet Today added to your local PBS line-up? Contact your local station, and ask them to add the show, or take a minute to submit your request below." Go to the first link above; there is a short form.

Holiday Gifts Week 12

Half of the festive potluck above.

There was a lot of great ideas for the trim challenge below.

The winners are Teri, Julie, and Barbara. (I'm not sure why Santa is sideways below).

Barbara's beautiful projects above.

Thanks to Louise for taking the following pictures of all our projects.

The Christmas party was festive and fun. There was a lot of good food, wonderful gifts for the exchange, and tough competition on the challenge. It was so nice to be together; I think everyone had an enjoyable time. There is no homework to do during the holidays.

Linda passed around a catalog from Halcyon yarns for our perusal. She said there are some interesting projects in it, and we might want to be on their mailing list.

The backgammon and dice cup patterns were reviewed emphasizing the short row “wrap” so there are no holes on the game board. Liz sent an email today on how to work the short rows; here is the link, http://www.stitchdiva.com/custom.aspx?id=143. We will start on this project on January 10, and we are not to begin before then please. The pattern calls for five different colors of yarn; Linda used only three colors of Cascade 220. One of the colors will take almost the whole skein of yarn with about 1 yard to spare; the dice cup and points will not take a skein of yarn. Noelle pointed out that the discs can be made from one I-cord cut into pieces. For those of us who do not know how to play the game, Linda and Teri will teach us on January 10 – no gambling will be involved. :)

Round #2 Trim Challenge
I can’t remember when this second challenge will take place; it is either the 10th or 17th.

Extension
See you at the extension on January 10. By the way, it may be extended to 3 weeks instead of only 2 (January 10, 17, and 24). It is open to new students as well. Remember to bring yarn to start the backgammon set.

I forgot to mention a very happy birthday to all December knitters. Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s season.

Linda L.’s Holiday Wassail Recipe sent by email today.

1 Gal. Apple Cider/Juice or 3 cans frozen concentrate
1 Can Orange Juice (frozen concentrate)
1 Can Lemonade (frozen concentrate) or Fresh Lemon Juice
1 Cup Brown Sugar
3 Cinnamon Sticks
Water

Combine in a spice bag or a large tea ball: 1 Tablespoon Whole Cloves
1 Tablespoon Whole Allspice
1 teaspoon Nutmeg

Mix all together in big pot and hang spice bag over side. Add lots of Water to taste. Heat to a simmer for 10 minutes or more. Longer it simmers the better it gets! Serve hot.

New Announcement regarding 12/13 Party

Hi Knotty Knitters!

One new addition: there will be a gift exchange at our Christmas Party on Thursday night, December 13. If you would like to participate, bring a wrapped gift of about $7 in value.

Other Things to Bring
Bring an appetizer or dessert to share and your own drink. We will have a hot drink for you--Wassail.

Linda will be awarding a prize for the Trim Challenge, so bring in your project if completed!

Bring in all completed projects from this semester for a display & photo op.

Bring yarn to share if you are making the moppet slippers and a fringe maker.

Please help us out by passing this info along to other class members who may not get this message. I hope all of you are being blessed as you prepare for Christmas and that you are able to find some time to relax and knit! Am I just dreaming? Knit On---Linda L.

Also, I asked Vicki to bring in some polished rock items to purchase such as necklaces, zipper pulls, key chain, etc. Excellent prices and great stocking stuffers, so don't forget extra money if you are interested. See you Thursday. Irene

Holiday Gifts Week 11

Bea and Candi's lovely cornucopia
Jolly stockings by Barbara, Bea, and Pat
Beaded pouch by Sharon
The moppet slipper in progress by Linda P

As Snoopy wrote, “It was a dark and stormy night…” but the rain did not hinder many of us from coming to knit. Just in time for Christmas, stockings are starting to appear. Linda L. brought us a copy of the updated phone list and more delicious mandarins. We received the improved checkerboard and pouch patterns, and Linda P. showed us one of the vest patterns we might want to order ahead of time.

Regarding the star stocking pattern, the yarn is not stated. Use either chunky yarn or two strands of worsted weight.

Extension
The extension has been approved for January 10 and 17. There is no registration and no fee. Wow! However, we must show up. If the attendance is low for these two classes, no extensions will be granted in the future. Attendance is very important. By the way, do not stay home because you did not knit a thing during the week.

Last Class
Next week is our party. Bring either an appetizer or dessert, plus your own drink. Linda will furnish the paper products.

Other things to bring are all your projects for group photos, scrap yarn to share for the moppet slippers, a fringe maker, and your trim challenge. In case you do not finish the trim challenge by next week, there will be another judging on January 17.

Reminder
The Placer High School sales event is this Saturday. Info is on last week’s blog.

Take good care. Happy knitting!