Hearth & Home Wk 12

The Christmas party was wonderful. It was commented that the potluck was one of the best.

Linda L. and Sandy make wassail while Linda P's husband waits patiently.

It was also the last class for the year. The new session starts on Jan. 5, same time and place. An item to look for between now and then is a jumbo bag of pot holder loops from Beverly's. The bag is about $7 each, and you will need 2 bags. These loops will be connected to knit a rug. If you would like to see the company's website, it is www.pepperell.com.

Reminder sign ups for Stitches West are being taken. The cost is $45. No refunds after Feb. 1. The bus is already 1/3 full.

Operation Christmas Gifts for Jake was a success. He kept saying, "Wow, this is too much." Here he wears a knitted football hat by Irene. Pattern was available in class.

Jake models a hat and gloves made by Karen M.

Which one to choose? All of them were great.

Linda reads from the new game, Last Knitter Standing

Team 5 concentrates on a challenge.

We were invited by the dance instructor to join his class in a Greek dance.

Diane made this darling doll to teach her class.

Rosemary's wire basket and beret below.

Sue knitted this sweater that was finished by a yarn shop in Washington.

Sue also made these hats and scarves for her son and his girlfriend.

Louise made these cute hats for gifts.

Claudia dyed this beautiful yarn.

Gloria is finishing up these wire bracelets.

Teri and Irene came ready to trade ATCs. Teri designed 3 outstanding series of Whoville Owls and Irene made a beaded snowy Christmas tree scene. Regretfully, photos were forgotten in the excitement. Here is one that Teri made; sorry it is blurry.

Have a wonderful holiday. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! See you on Jan. 5.

Hearth & Home Wk 11

Happy Birthday December knitters!

If you missed this week, one of our super talented knitter had a huge announcement. We were so excited and delighted that I forgot to write down the details, so here goes from memory. This person entered a contest in Green Craft magazine this summer taking old scarves and recycling them into other items. She entered a belt, a bag, and other things I wish I remembered. After much anticipation, she finally heard from them this week and found out that she won! Not only that, they were so impressed that the magazine wants to feature her work in an article in the Feb. issue! Warmest congratulations to Teri!

Christmas Bash Next Week
What to bring? Potluck item, gift exchange item ($10 value, knit related), Jake's gift, ATC card(s) if participating, for Last Knitter Standing game bring sz 8 needles and ww yarn (have 10 sts casted on and 2 rows knitted -- all garter sts), and any show n tell if you like.

Operation Contact Cheryl
Remember Cheryl, the lovely knitter who made several felted bags? Linda requested for several of us to email her to invite her to our party.

Presidents
Linda is almost done. She offered to help us with the shoes, and she brought a wonderful book to help embroider the presidents' faces. Louise brought more yarn. Trivia question: Which president remained a bachelor?

Stitches West
The bus is already 1/3 full. Linda is taking sign ups. Checks will be cashed on Feb 1 with no refunds after that.

New Session
Next week is our last session for 2011. The new session begins Jan. 5. Linda gave us the handout for the first project with high hopes that we will return. The first project is a felted roll-up pouch for knit notions and a yarn caddy with four separate dividers. You will need 4 skeins of Cascade 220 or Lamb's Pride.

Fundraiser at Meadow Farms Yarn Shop
Sue announced that there will be a fundraiser at Meadow Farms in Nevada City on Dec. 10 to help with expenses from the tragic car accident overseas. They are accepting donations of knitted/crocheted items and baking goods before then and/or would like people to come to buy.

Pattern for Llama or Alpaca Toy Doll
Diane's granddaughter wants to know if anyone knows of a knit pattern for a llama or alpaca toy doll.

For show n tell,  I didn't take pictures of everything; there were so many.

Mother/Daughter beaded wire bracelets (Carol and Jennifer). Carol made the scarf too.

Candi was busy making baby gifts, a dishcloth, and a beret.

Rosemary knitted two matching baby sweaters and finished the cross stitch pillow!

Very festive, Sandy's dishcloth

Sandy also knitted a wire basket and another pretty dishcloth.

Judith finished this beautiful dishcloth. She is making a smaller one to match in a 1/2 linen stitch.
You can see a little of it to the right.

Linda B. made several dishcloths with a lady bug and frog designs.

Karen made two beaded wire napkin rings and finished Jake's gift below.

Happy knitting!

Hearth & Home Wk 10

Wow! Cynthia finished her cross stitch bag! It is lined too!

It is wire knitting week. Several ladies started their wire projects, and it was fun watching them try to keep their wire from tangling. One tip that Linda did not mention until the end is just pull on the wire while it is in the packet instead of taking it out of the package. This keeps it from tangling. Also use a knitted cast on. The hardest part about making the basket is the cast on and the first row. After that, it goes very fast. If you plan to add beads, put them on before starting the basket.

Linda demonstrated the cast on for the president's shoes and leggings. And, for anyone who wanted a pattern for an 18th century coat, Linda wrote one out. This week's presidential trivia is: Who was the first president born in the United States? President Cleveland was the answer to last week's trivia (had surgery secretly on a yacht).

We received several handouts. Three of the handouts were copies to replace the patterns that were cutoff, a wine bottle sweater, coffee clutch, and woven wire basket.

Reminder: there is no class next week on account of Thanksgiving. We will meet again on Dec. 1 continuing the projects we have been working on. In the new session in January, we will knit pillows and rugs. Start saving t-shirts and pantyhose (knee highs are okay too) for the rugs.

Three weeks from tonight is the last class, Dec. 8. We will have a Christmas party with a potluck, gift exchange, Jake's gift, knitting game, and an ATC exchange. Sign ups were passed around.

Linda is accepting reservations/checks for the Stitches West trip in Feb.

Sandy's panel

Vickie's projects. The one on the left is a felted oven mitt that she feels came out too small. She recommends doubling the pattern for a better fit.

Diane's hand warmers.

Jennifer's scarf that she designed herself.

Linda B.'s sequinned scarf and Penny's dishcloth

Claudia dyed these bags of wool with different natural plants.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hearth & Home Wk 9

A special thank you goes to Linda L. for taking the class notes and photos this week.

Linda demonstrated one of the cast ons, and oven mitts was the main project.

Next week we will begin on the wire basket, wire napkin rings, or wire bracelet using metal needles and wire. The supply list is on last week's blog.

Presidential Challenge
More Cascade 220 is being ordered for the presidents and should be here in a week or two. Sandy won last week's trivia. This week's trivia is something like: Which president secretly had surgery on a ship at sea so a financial crisis would not start in the US?


Leftover Yarn
Linda asked us what we should do with the left over finger puppet yarn from last season's challenge.

Reminders
The Salvation Army is still collecting mittens, gloves, and hand warmers for the homeless.
Sandy is still collecting comfort dolls for missionaries in Africa.
The date for the new session is Jan. 5.

Stitches West
Linda is accepting sign ups and checks for this fun trip. The cost is $45, and the check will not be cashed until Feb. Anyone outside of class may sign up starting Jan.

Christmas Party
Dec. 8 is the last class for the Fall session and our Christmas party. There will be a gift exchange, potluck, and a knitting game. We will need to bring size 8 needles and yarn for the game.

Operation Christmas Gift
This is a special gift basket that we are preparing for Jake, the nice custodian at ARC. A sign up sheet was passed around so we will not duplicate the gifts. Bring the gift wrapped, and Debi will bring a basket for us to put them in.

Happy Birthday November knitters!

Judith and Sandy-Wine cozys

Kelly-Hand towels

Rosemary- Pillow cross stitch

Vickie-Oven glove, VHS coaster, VHS/yarn bag

Sandy-Kitchen hand towel

Pat- Scarf

Debi-Kitchen gloves

Pat- Her mother crocheted this dress for her doll. 
Bag was for taking her glass jar of grape juice to school.

Penny-Ohh, do you like my ruffles?

Penny-fuzzy scarf

Knit and be happy!