Happy Holidays

Hi. Hope you had a wonderful week. A couple from Southern California spent Christmas with us for several days. The wife and I knitted for hours and enjoyed it tremendously. Last Christmas, she got back into knitting and made 31 hats and 15 scarves that she donated to a women's shelter. What an inspiration.

Have a Happy New Year!

Intarsia & Lace, Ext. 2

This was our last class for the Fall session. We had a nice party, good food, and great items on sale. We ended early due to the unpredictable snowy weather. I hope to see you again in the Spring session.








Spring Knit Class
Knitting cardigans is the theme for the advanced class in the spring. Linda has two options in mind: one cardigan is a surprise jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman using scarp yarn in two sizes (baby and ladies), and the other cardigan is knitted from top down, easy with no sewing involved. Class catalogs will be mailed on Jan 6 and registration will begin on Jan 20.

Announcements
Linda received a card from Ruth, a former student, who has been keeping up on our sessions by reading the blog every week. Ruth plans to attend the upcoming Monday morning class. Welcome back, Ruth!

Louise broke her leg on vacation and will have surgery within a few days. Hope all goes well; we missed you.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a fabulous new year. Happy Holidays!

Intarsia & Lace, Ext. 1

The craft yard sale was a huge success. Teri and Linda L. brought so much stuff, and all were free for the taking. Four other ladies had nice craft items, knit books, and yarn for sale as well. Great idea, Linda L.




Linda, our instructor, brought two books to share. One was unique knit hats from around the world and the other was an art book of paintings that portrays someone knitting.


Note Cards and Calendar
Another success was the bra note cards and calendars. All but one calendar and six note cards (three sets of each) are available for purchase. Teri’s husband donated a calendar for the Knights of Columbus auction and $58 was raised to help buy a wheelchair for a disabled person. Way to go! Contact Linda or Louise to purchase the last available sets.

Next Thursday, Last Class, Dec. 18
Christmas Party: Potluck, Gift Exchange (Optional), and Cottage Industry Sale (Optional)
I hope no one misses it because we had so much good food and fun last year, especially the white elephant gift exchange. If you are participating in the gift exchange, the item should be knitting related valued at $10 or less or handmade and wrapped. Our class is very talented in so many areas, and Linda likes to support our class vendors; the cottage industry sale is an opportunity for anyone in class to bring handcrafted items to sell. The items make nice gifts.

Spring Knit Class
Knitting cardigans is the theme for the advanced class in the spring. Linda has two options in mind: one cardigan is a surprise jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman using scrap yarn in two sizes (baby and ladies), and the other cardigan is knitted from top down, easy with no sewing involved. Class catalogs will be mailed on Jan 6 and registration will begin on Jan 20.

Schedule
Dec 18, Last Class, Christmas Party, Cottage Industry Sale
Jan 6, New Placer School for Adult catalog mailed out
Jan 20, Class registration for Spring classes

Don't get stressed during the holiday preparations; take time to knit.






Sorry some photos turned out blurry.

Intarsia & Lace, Week 12

Cathy, Karen, and Bea finished their oh-so-cute intarsia projects over the break. The patterns are delightful for cat lovers. By the way, a paw print intarsia chart can be found at http://vickidesigns.homestead.com/Paw.html






We came to class eager to start on our decoupage gift boxes, and it was fun to watch everyone. Here are a few tips Linda gave us before we started:

Cut the labels in several sections to use in different places; you can use the back side as well if it has a pattern on it.
Cover the boxes with the ugly parts of the labels first; save the labels you like the most for last so they won’t be covered up.
Put decoupage paste on the back side of the label first, place it on the box, and then put paste on top.
There will be puckers as it is drying.
Plan your corners, how you want to approach it before adding paste. For example, do you want to fold the label around the corner or angle the label around it.
When decoupaging a round box, you will need to pleat it.
Labels from embroidery floss are good for the edges since they are small.
You can use either matte or glossy finish; Linda used matte on her samples.

We also watched another section of Lucy Neatby’s video. She showed us how to cut out (yes, cut out) an intarsia diamond from a knitted piece to change the color of it. It’s amazing.

Note Cards and Calendar
The knitted bra note cards and calendars are in! Louise and her daughter did a fantastic job on them. Everyone was pleased with the high quality. Linda shipped the knitted bras and some note cards to St Louis for a knit shop’s grand opening this weekend, and Teri’s husband took a calendar to be auctioned off last night; she will let us know how it did. Extras can still be purchased. And, we all thank Louise for doing an outstanding job!

Next Class
Our next class is one of the extensions given to us free of charge. It would be great to have everyone attend. We will continue decoupaging gift boxes, knit, and have our yard sale. If you have craft items or books you would like to sell, exchange, or give away, bring them next week to class. Put your name clearly on the items you want to sale, and please take home any item not sold, traded, or taken.

Linda L’s house was featured on Good Day Sacramento this week. A slide show of her living/dining room makeover can be seen at href="http://www.realestateshows.com/show.php?id=354539&traffic=0

Craft Fairs, Dec 6
Two craft fairs are happening this weekend: Placer High School Craft Fair and First Congregational Church in Auburn Craft Fair (1-4 p.m.). Contact Julie for information and/or directions on both events just in case I have the date and time wrong.

Charity Knitting Tea, Dec 9
Pam is hosting their Second Annual Red Rose Society Christmas Tea on Tuesday, Dec 9 at 11:30 a.m. If you are interested in charity knitting or crocheting for our local community, come and join the fun. For more information or to RSVP, call Pam at 889-9062.

Class Christmas Party
Last year’s party was so much fun with good food and fun gift exchanges. Sign up for the Christmas Party potluck if you haven’t already. The categories are Cheese/Meat/Eggs, Fruit/Vegetables, and Baking Goods. For the White Elephant gift exchange, the item should be knitting related valued at $10 or less, or it could be something you make or buy. Please bring it wrapped.

Schedule
Dec 6, Placer High School Craft Fair and 1st Congregational Church Craft Fair
Dec 9, 2d Annual Red Rose Society Christmas Tea
Dec 11, Free Extension 1, Knit or Continue Decoupage Boxes, Yard Sale
Dec 18, Free Extension 2, Christmas Party, Cottage Industry Sale

Happy knitting or decoupaging!

Intarsia & Lace, Week 11

Charts
We learned how to make our own chart this week. Linda showed us the steps involved in making the chart and explained the difference between knitting graph paper vs. regular graph paper. It is very important to use knitting graph paper because the boxes are in the shape of rectangles like stockinette stitches. If regular graph paper is used, the boxes are square and the project will be shorter than it should be. Bea explained that when she made her BOO project a year ago, it was much shorter than she anticipated because she used the wrong graph paper. It is hard to find knitters graph paper, so Bea made multiple copies for the class. There is a knitters graph paper chart in the back of Vickie Howell’s book, Knit Aid which is the reason Linda put it on our class supply list.

For making the chart, here are the following steps:
1) Enlarge picture and enhance with Sharpie pen by outlining it.
2) Trace on to tracing paper.
3) Photo copy it.
4) Put it behind the graph paper with tape.
5) Using a light box or window, take a pencil and draw all lines. There is a light box we can use in class. Detailed lines of embellishments are not drawn in.
6) Square off by keeping the boxes that are 50% shaded and erasing any less than that.


The steps are hard to see in the photo, and the bottom two should be switched (wrong order).

Tips
Karen figured out a way to keep yarn from tangling. Because of this tangle free method, she now enjoys intarsia. Have her show you; I’m glad I did.
She also shared that she uses a restickable glue stick on a long strip of paper to help line up the chart; it is easily moved from row to row. She even brought extra strips for us.

We watched more sections of the intarsia video by Luci Neatby. This time we learned how to weave in the tails in the correct direction and how to rescue different types of mistakes made without cleansing the whole thing. It is a timesaver and worth watching.

Next Class
Finally, we will use our collected yarn labels. The project is so cute; the labels are used to decoupage gift boxes. Here is a list of items you will need to bring: yarn labels, cardboard gift boxes or other forms such as picture frames (Beverly’s or Ben Franklin), scissors, sponge brush, cookie sheet with wax paper to dry on, and a small jar to take home glue if you are not done.


Charitable Knitting
A copy of directions for a helmet liner was made for anyone interested. The helmet liners are for the marines in Afghanistan or Iran that will be collected in class and shipped in one package in January. The liners need to be gauged carefully to fit inside the helmet and knit with Cascade 220 wool or equivalent so it will not melt under fire. The colors worn are tan, brown, black or charcoal; the marines strongly favor tan. When you bring the finished liner, please donate $1 for shipping.

Note Cards and Calendar
You may still sign up to order the bra note cards and calendars. Louise will have the order for us at the next class, Dec 4. Linda showed us a darling picture of a bra made for July of two fish with bullions; it is whimsical, colorful, and fun. It is not part of the note card set, but it may make it to the St Louis show along with the ones Linda is shipping off this week.

Also Linda L’s house will be featured on Good Day Sacramento on Channel 31 the morning of Dec 4. Her daughter nominated her for an interior decorating makeover for being stuck in the 70s. There will be before and after shots of her living and dining rooms.

Yard Sale
If you have craft items you would like to sell, exchange, or give away, bring it on Dec 11. Place your name on the items you want to sale, and please take home any item not sold, traded, or taken. The dates were incorrect in last week’s blog.

Christmas Party
At the next class, there will be a sign up list for the Christmas Party potluck. The categories are Cheese/Meat/Eggs, Fruit/Vegetables, and Baking Goods.

For the White Elephant gift exchange, the item should be knitting related valued at $10 or less. It could be something you make or buy.

Schedule, Three more classes to go.
Nov 27, No Class, Thanksgiving Day
Dec 4, Class, Yarn Label Project
Dec 11, Class, Yard Sale
Dec 18, Class, Christmas Party and Cottage Industry Sale

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Intarsia & Lace, Week 10

Students are getting ready for the holidays by knitting presents, and books were brought in to share with the class.








Charts, Measure, Lock
A dice pattern was given to us tonight so you can drape a pair to go over your rearview mirror. A diagram was drawn on the blackboard to show us how it should be assembled.

Linda demonstrated how to measure how much yarn is needed to do a small fill in intarsia by CO 10 stitches, and then knit 10 in another color. Cut the ends off the yarn we just knitted, undo it, measure the yarn we just unraveled with a ruler, count how many stitches we will need to fill in the pattern, do a mathematical formula, and add 12 inches of yarn to that for extra take up. It’s not as bad as it sounds here.

She also showed us how to knit the tail into your knitting so you will not have to finish ends when you are all done by knitting the tail in every other stitch. So, every other stitch take tail up, knit a stitch, take tail down, knit a stitch…

Tips
Don’t forget to lock the yarn so there are no holes in your project.
Before knitting, precount the stitches in the row and place the numbers at the bottom of the chart along with the color it corresponds with. Linda showed us on the blackboard.

The intarsia video by Lucy Neatby explains the reason we should not strand yarn and that stranding yarn is not intarsia. Several examples of the wrong way we might knit a diamond were demonstrated and how it will come apart in the long run. For a good piece of intarsia work, do it right – no stranding please.


Next Week
Linda will show us how to design our own chart. Also, the big label project reveal is next week! She will actually show us what we will be making and letting us know what other items we will need to bring to class for the label project which will be after the Thanksgiving break, Dec. 4.

Note Cards and Calendar
Orders and payment for the bra note cards and calendars were taken in class. Calendars are $12 each, and the note cards (6 in each set) are $10 each. If you would like the whole set of note cards, order 2 sets. A bonus card of all bras plus envelopes will be included in a set of note cards. A minimum of 25 sets is needed for Louise to put in an order. She is ordering 50 of each set this weekend, so it is important to get your order and money in right away.

Garage Sale
A huge garage sale is taking place in Colfax this Friday, Nov 14. Contact Karen for info.
Diane’s daughter is having a clothes sale this Thursday through Saturday in Loomis.

Candy Classes
Cathy is teaching cooking classes with Adult Ed. A candy making class will be held on Nov. 18. Learn to make peanut butter cups, almond joys, peppermint patties, chocolate suckers, and much more. On Dec. 2 and 9, she will be teaching how to make gingerbread houses. Classes will be held at Chana High School. Enroll soon.

Schedule (Dates were incorrect; corrected on 11/21)
Nov 20, class
Nov 27, no class
Dec 4, yarn label project
Dec 11, garage sale
Dec 18, Christmas party and vendor sale

Just received my Stitch n' Ride newsletter from Capitol Corridor. Vickie, Teri, Linda L., and I are in it. Wow!