Vest & Free Form, 5

Vickie dyed these yarn using Lion Brand brown Fisherman's Wool. One ball used 2 grape packets, another one used orange, another one cherry, then black cherry, lime, and blue kool aid. Bev also dyed wool in kool aid this week and claims she will do it again.
The teddy bear came from a non-profit booth Vickie discovered at Stitches West that will be sent to children infected by HIV in Africa. If you would like to make a bear, it could be one of your projects during the extension. Vickie's husband's company has volunteered to ship it for us.
Tin Thimble is having a class to make this big, beautiful pin cushion. Diana has a sign up sheet; six are needed to have the class.
Fran made this beautiful orange felted purse.
Linda's show n' tell items from Stitches West: Art Felt and a Knitters Shop Finder for travelling.

Wow, we had so much fun knitting, talking, and looking at Show n’ Tell items. Linda had several items to share, and all of the participants of Stitches West shared their experience and showed their shopping goodies. Linda’s Show n’ Tell was a book by Prudence Mapstone entitled, Bullions and Beyond, and a Knitters Shop Finders guide, Irish Yarn samples from Stitches West, her sock monkey collection, and an Art Felt project from Stitches West. Linda shared that this art felt paper is made of potatoes and will dissolve during the felting process leaving a project that looks like real fabric. Ruth brought us a bag of trim last session; this time she was given a bag of baby yarn to be shared with knitters to make hats for a good cause; she will bring the yarn to class next time.

Challenge
The challenge for this spring session is the “Big Night Out Bra” from Knitorama based on the 1920s. This challenge is optional. Linda gave us the pattern, and we are to pick which month we want our bra to represent. A sign up sheet has been made, so think about which month you would like. No more than three should sign up for one particular month, and yet having more than one person sign up for a month is good for a variety of patterns for that month. For example, the bra for January may have a snowflake theme; pumpkins for October. The bra judging will take place during the extension. A calendar may be made to raise money for the class such as a ball winder. For your pattern, the crazier, the better. Linda pondered if this idea would go over with our class; the response was pretty upbeat.

Correction to Big Night Out Bra PatternUnder "Center:" Knit in the Round
Row 1: *K21[26] K2tog, yf, k2tog, rep from * to end.
Yf means the same as yarn over.
Row 2 and all alt rows: Knit (not purl since we knit in the round).
The Band is done in seed stitch.

Extension
Most of the class is interested in having an extension again at the end of the 12-week session. Linda is willing to cover both May and go to the end of June with some nights off for graduations.

Phone/Email List and Class Logo
A few more corrections need to be made to the email list, and it will be finalized. If you did not receive an email from Linda L on Wednesday, check your spam folder. Linda also brought several shirts for the class to choose from; they run small. Decisions on the shirt have not been made yet; orders will take place in the near future.

Stitches West
Stitch n’ Ride was totally worth the experience and the best part of the day especially since we shared it together. We had the best goodie bag from Stitch n’ Ride: a huge bag with a Craftzine magazine, knitting patterns, chapstick, clear zip lock bag, stitch marker, tape measure, and coupons. Stitches West was good, especially if you love to shop or browse. There were over 200 vendors, and we came back with a lot of good ideas. The most surprising and wonderful part of the day was meeting Vickie Howell from Knitty Gritty who was signing autographs. Teri brought an album with great photos from the trip. I would do it again, and I hope you will too.

Upcoming Events
On the Stitch n’ Ride trip, having more class trips in the summer was discussed such as a trip to a sheep farm in Oregon, or taking the train to Reno; Vickie is looking into travel arrangements. Linda also suggested going to Mitchell, Nebraska, which is near the beautiful Grand Tetons, to a yarn manufacturing company.

Fibers is having a Yarn Tasting on March 9 from 1-4 p.m. The cost is $30 per person. Since they would like a small group to attend for the activities they have in mind, the owner is willing to have a Yarn Tasting just for our class. Most of the class showed interest, so Linda will arrange a date. Teri explained that we would be making swatches from new yarn Fibers provide. You will need to bring needles. For more information, see Teri.

If you like baseball and would like to knit with others at a game, please see the Stitch n’ Pitch flyer on the left side of the block under Knitting Events.

There is a sign up sheet for a Pin Cushion class at the Tin Thimble. The instructor is willing to have a class if six students sign up. If interested, see Diana, who also shared that they carried a lot of cute vintage buttons.

I have included photos and information Joyce H sent me from her trip to Peru. The photos are cute and the information regarding the care for the animals when shearing wool was comforting. Joyce was in our class last session and has taken Linda's class in past sessions as well. Joyce says, "We went to Peru in January. I wanted to share this tid bit of information I learned while we were there with your knitting class. We went to an Alpaca & Llama farm. Baby Alpaca wool is the taken from the Alpaca in his first shearing. The next and following shearings is considered Alpaca wool, which is not as soft. The photo is an Alpaca about a year old or more. Notice how long his fur is--it looks like dreadlocks. They try to leave it on the Alpaca as long as they can to get as much of the baby fur for his first shearing. He has never been sheared. The alpaca behind him obviously has been sheared before.

They don't shear Llamas but they do shear vicunas which is a cousin of the alpaca & llama. The vicunas are wild. They used to be killed in the wild just for their fur. Now they are protected and are captured, sheared and released back into the wild. My husband stands next to the black & white llama. Say hi to everyone."

Reminder
Come park n’ knit on Monday or Tuesday evenings.

Knit on and enjoy.