Needle Tatting - August program

Needle Tatting supplies, tools, and information

Sue O. prepared an extensive program on needle tatting for the August meeting. She brought supplies for members who were willing to try the technique and information if members wanted to learn more. Sali A. won one of the needle tatting sets shown at upper right.

Left column: Sue O. shows the sample that she was going to demonstrate.
Members were given a copy of the pattern. Sue O. demonstrates the
technique of casting the stitches on the tatting needle. Jeni V. was willing
to try using the tatting needles. Right column: Members watch Sue O. as she
explains the process of needle tatting. Sali A. (who won the drawing for
a set of tatting needles) watches as Sue O. walks Sandy W. through the
process of needle tatting. 

Magic Circle Crochet - July Program

July program
2017

Cinde P. showed the members present how to start a circular crochet project without a hole. The Magic Circle method can also be used by knitters to start a project.

Cinde brought enough crochet hooks for everyone to try the technique.

For those who missed the meeting and want to try the Magic Circle, several videos can be found on YouTube.

CroHooking - June Program

Sue O. explained the difference between Tunisian crochet and Crohooking

Many of the Guild members crochet, but few were aware of how to use a CroHook. At the June meeting, Sue O. presented a program on the process. It creates a fabric that is reversible, similar to Brioche knitting. The CroHook fabric is more flexible than Tunsian crochet.

starting a CroHook project

members gathered to learn more about how to CroHook

Some videos on the technique can be found here or here.

Sue said the hooks may be difficult to find - search for Cro Knit hooks, Double-ended crochet hooks, or Cro Hooks.

From Fiber to Fabulous - May Program

(click photo to enlarge)

Following the May meeting, Sali A. demonstrated the process she completes to take wool from a processed fiber to a finished project. Sali dyes the wool, uses a blending board or a drum carder, prepares batts or rolls of fiber to spin into yarn. She often uses the yarn to make colorful crochet items.

Sali presented a similar program in March 2016. That post can be seen here.

Reclaiming Wool - March Program

Nancy S. introduced the concept of reclaiming wool from old or thrift
shop sweaters at the March meeting. Members were encouraged to look
for non-serged seams. She also explained how to make a simple niddy noddy
out of PVC pipe. Nancy uses the reclaimed wool to knit items for charities.

Directions for making and using the Niddy Noddy can be found on this previous post.

October Meeting Fund-Raiser

Christy P. provided the Guild with a clever fund-raiser.

Those who attended the October meeting had an opportunity to enhance their yarn and pattern stash and help the Guild, too. Christy P. brought multiple boxes and bins of single skein yarns and hundreds of pattern books. After the meeting, members could "shop" and provide the Guild with a free-will donation for the items that they took.

Piles of yarn and books quickly appeared at each member's chair as they selected the yarn to take home.

A preliminary tally of the free-will donations was well over $250.

Christy P. was over-joyed that she was going home with only ONE box of yarn

Christy, the Guild is appreciative of your generosity and a creative fund-raiser. Thank you!

Blocking Program

Alice B., Brenda H., Jeni V., and Jane W. watch as Colleen J. explains
the importance of measuring items throughout the blocking process.

Colleen J. demonstrates how she blocks her knit items
with blocking wires and pins. She uses a board that is
typically used for laying out sewing patterns. At home,
Colleen covers the board with plastic and places it on her
ironing board. The grid on the board helps her measure
the item being blocked.

Jeni V. and Jane W. watch as Colleen demonstrates how she inserts
the blocking wires into the item being blocked. 

Using Ravelry

Guild members Cheryl O., Colleen J., Rachel B., Jane W., Linda W., Jeni V.,
Maia R., and Vicky B. learn how to get more out of the Ravelry website
 from Brianna F. following the April meeting in Lander
April 2016

While most of the Guild members are registered users of Ravelry, everyone learned more of what the website has to offer. Brianna F. explained how to search for patterns and yarn, how to add tags to project pages, how to add photos to project and forum pages, how to organize their projects, libraries, and favorites and much more.

Thank you, Brianna for an informative program.