Class Notes: Knitting Beyond the Basics: 3d Trimester, Wk 1

Welcome to Gloria and Claudia! It was our first class of the 3d Trimester, and we were excited to receive most of the patterns for the 3d session in advance.

Present Project
Linda showed us how to make yarn out of plastic shopping bags. Some of the ladies brought a mat and rotary cutter for us to use. It really helps in making a straight edge and cutting quickly. Approximately 32 bags are needed for the project. You do not have to cut all the bags at once. A knitted cast on is used since stitches will be picked up on the bottom, and we will start with straight knitting. Knitting in the round comes later.

First, straighten bag on mat

Second, fold in half

Cut bottom of bag and top handles off. Then cut into 1" strips using a rotary cutter and a straight edge (ruler). (Scissors without a ruler is fine too.)

Link 2 strips together by looping one into the other. Then link one strip at a time onto one end of the first two strips to form a chain.

Laurie cutting plastic bags into strips.

Project after Spring Break
We will begin a simple moebius scarf on Apr 8. The hardest part is learning the cast on. It takes quite a bit of yarn of any kind but novelty is not recommended. Bring long (40" or 52") circular cable needles.

State Flower Challenge
Flowers needing a knitter are Massachusetts (arbitus), Montana (bitter root), Nevada (sage brush), New Hampshire (lilac), New Mexico (Yucca), Oklahoma (mistletoe), Connecticut/Pennsylvania (mountain laurel), Vermont (red clover), and West Virginia (rhododendrum).

Schedule
Mar 18, Class, Plastic shopping bags
Mar 25, Class, Plastic shopping bags
Apr 1, No class, Spring Break
Apr 8, Class, Moebius knitting begins

Linda is not sure where to have class in the Fall. She is deciding between Placer School for Adults and Auburn Rec Dept. She would like your input. The theme for the Fall class will be Color using new techniques in a sampler and revisiting old ones.

Other News
Diane's daughter is having a few sales this month on clothes and accessories. See her website on the left of this blog under "Our Web Sites."

Creative Urges, a shop next to Monkey Cat, will give Linda's students a 10% discount on supplies bought for our projects. They have a small amount of knitting supplies, beads, and a lot of buttons.

Babetta's in Fair Oaks says: "March is National Crochet Month, and Good Day Sacramento wanted a place to feature some of Sacramento’s fiber lovers and asked if I’d like to have them at the shop next Tuesday to feature crocheters and yes of course knitters are welcome too. I said YES! We’d like to invite any of you that can make it over to Babetta’s at 6 am on Tues, Mar 16, to come and sit and crochet or knit. We’ll be giving everyone that shows up a free beverage from the coffee shop. Let’s show Sacramento how cool 'Yarn Lovers' are!" Please RSVP them if you are interested: Babetta's Yarn and Gifts, 4400 San Juan Ave, Fair Oaks, 916-965-6043.

The dates for Stitches West 2011 have been set for Feb 17-20 (not the last week of Feb as I thought).

Nancy knitted these beautiful gloves. Great job!