so easy even a child can do it west coast knitters’...

WEST COAST KNITTERS’ NEWS

Throughout history, professional craftspeople were revered for their skills. It was understood that reaching a high level of skill took time, lots of practice, lots of effort and they were respected for their dedication to their craft. In the latter half of the 20th century, our culture did the skilled person a disservice. All the ef-fort required to learn something was dismissed with the advertising statement “it is so easy even a child can do it.” It is true that children are able to learn anything with a little guid-ance. The problem with the pitch is that imme-diate proficiency is implied which sets the per-son up for failure and actually diminishes the skills of those who are proficient. Most chil-dren and adults, if they cannot do something perfectly in the first attempt, abandon it. The “easy” statement supports that kind of thinking. So sad; that person may have been very good at whatever skill was being attempted if not hood-winked into believing something that could not be delivered.

The “easy” pitch is in terms of technical skills as basic skills are usually not difficult. Some people make an immediate connection with the tools and materials but, for most, there is a learning curve, the challenge of the false starts, and the retries, learning at every step. The pitch does not consider the un-teachable things

continually learned from hands-on experience and keen observation fueled by a passion for the craft. Lots of practice, and continual learn-ing as understood before the latter half of the 20th century, is integral to becoming proficient. But as knitters we already knew that.

Keep Canada Knitting and Crocheting

So easy even a child can do it

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Editor: Paulette Lane 604-730-4628 [email protected], [email protected]

Contributors: Anna Knowlson, Mariela Johansen, Valerie Pollock, Jane Stringer, Bev Gray, Mary Scott

Distribution: Janet Crawford, Stephanie Langley Published 6 times per year. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author.

March 2012

Volume 14 Issue 2

Whole number 79

Overview of January Meeting

Show and Tell 4

Yarn Swapping Part 5 7

Letter from Cara Birkeland 8

Looking for a Knitting Workshop Teacher 8

Canada Comforts and Teddy Bear Pattern 9

Guild Members Charity Knitting 10

Our Back Pages 11

Why I Knit 11

Calendar of Events 12

Derby scarf knitting class 13

Izzy African Comfort Dolls 14

What’s Inside

Courtesy of Anna Knowlson Happy New Year and best wishes for 2012!

Edita Michalek welcomed 45 members and guests. Violette Sadiq, introduced to the Guild by Margaret Ventakaya, is a crocheter learning to knit. Sue Andrews and Noreen Murphy have been knitting for two years and heard about the Guild from Angela at Birkeland's knitting group. They also know Edita. Jane Dunlop, a long-time knitter, heard about the Guild from Heather Mahaffy of Buttons and Treasures.

Bev Gray talked about a friend who has been volunteering as a nurse in Haiti since the earth-quake in 2010. She was a member of the first volunteer group to offer medical aid after the earthquake. She related that the mothers and children line up for medical aid for four or five hours, and never complain or whine about the length of time they have to wait for help. After Bev heard the story, she started thinking about how she could help. She sent her friend the link to the ICROSS web site, www.icross.ca/pattern.htm,

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West Coast Knitters’ News is published 6 times per year. Contributions are welcome and encouraged. If you have read a good knitting book or magazine, have an interesting story to tell about your knitting or travels with your knitting or another knitter's knitting, or how you found the WCK, if you have a knitting tip or learned something from a book or another knitter that enlightened you, or if you have an idea for the newsletter or a complaint, I would like to hear about it. If you have something knitting or fibre related to sell, you can reach all the members with a free ad in the newsletter. If you have a fibre related business, we accept advertising from members or fibre related shops for a nominal fee.

To make a contribution, ask a question or ask for assistance in preparing a contribution, contact Paulette at 604-730-4628 or [email protected]

Deadline for submissions is the 15th of the month previous to publication:

December 15 for the January newsletter February 15 for the March newsletter April 15 for the May newsletter June 15 for the July newsletter August 15 for the September newsletter October 15 for the November newsletter

The Guild meets the first Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm in the Oakridge Centre, 41st and Cambie, Vancouver in the Seniors Room. Annual Membership: $25 per year September to August. Associate Membership is $12 per year to receive the newsletter and registration notification for workshops. [email protected] www.westcoasknitters.org

President - Mariela Johansen

Past President - Bev Gray

Vice-President - Edita Michalek

Treasurer - Lorna Brown

Secretary and Recorder - Anna Knowlson

Membership - Jane Stringer,

Newsletter Editor - Paulette Lane

Distribution - Janet Crawford, Stephanie Langley

Web Editor - Anne Walsh

Members at Large - Elizabeth Purves, Mary Scott, Janet Crawford

Workshops - Holli Yeoh, Irene Martin

Show & Tell - Valerie Pollock

Door Prizes– Eileen Kitamura

Executive -The following members volunteer their time to make the guild better.

showing a picture of the knitted “little people” (Izzy Afri-can Comfort Dolls) and asked if they would be of some good to the group of medical aid people. Her friend was very enthusiastic about the idea. The “little people” would comfort the children they were treating; distract their atten-tion as they were receiving medical aid. Suggested materi-als are acrylic or washable wool. If you want to help out, please bring dolls to the April meeting, or contact Bev for more information. [email protected] Ed– See pat-tern on page 14.

Mary Scott talked about the Canada Comforts Society which provides knitted and crocheted teddy bears to com-fort children in countries in distress. It started in 1986 when a group in Bath, England heard about a temporary refugee camp in Sudan set up for 2,000 tubercular orphans who had been found (some with guns in their hands) wandering in the desert. They came up with the idea of knitting each child a simple teddy bear. The idea caught on rapidly, the ECC (Emergency Care for Children) was formed and 2,000 bears were sent to Sudan for the children in the camp.

A Canadian sister society called Canada Comforts Society was later started in Victoria, BC. They are affiliated with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Canada that maintains the Compassionate Resource Warehouse www.crwarehouse.ca/ where they store new clothing, toques, receiving blankets, wash clothes, and teddy bears until they have enough to fill a container. So far they have sent 300 full containers to a number of countries.

Overview of February Meeting Courtesy of Mariela Johansen

Mariela welcomed members and guests. She said that the quotes re: yarn bombing on the agenda related to February 10 being thought of as “Knit Day” by some in Japan – the words for the date are “ni-to” which are pronounced to sound somewhat like “knit”. She circulated pictures from last year’s efforts, which included hanging knitted octo-puses in the Tokyo subway and covering a statue of Buddha in a shrine.

A letter of gratitude had been received from Ruth Sawat-sky, to thank members for the pair of woollen mitts donated by the Guild. She wrote that extended chemotherapy had left her with very sore and sensitive hands. The mitts give her great comfort and she can hardly bear to take them off.

Zsuzsi Huebsch had passed on a request from Circles of Care and Connection which has set up a knitting and weav-ing group for some refugee families. Donations of wool, natural fibres, and sweaters with beautiful wool that can be unravelled and re-used, as well as knitting needles of all sizes including circular needles, crochet hooks, hand looms would be appreciated. For further information, contact: Orah Chaye, Refugee ECD, Circles of Care and Connec-tion, 604-708-8554.

Jill Smillie, Director of Marketing at Oak Bay Marine Group is looking for an instructor who might be interested



in doing a knitting workshop at Painter’s Lodge in Campbell River and the April Point Resort & Spa on Quadra Island. Contact Jill at 250-370-6509.

There has been two enquiries to the Guild: one concerning an offer to give away McCall's needlecrafts magazines from the 1960’s and another from someone looking for an indi-vidual willing to do major repair work on a sweater.

Upcoming events: Fibres West will be held at the Abbots-ford Exhibition Grounds on March 16 and 17. The Beehive Wool Shop in Victoria (250-385-2727, 1-888-334-9005, [email protected]) is hosting a weekend of work-shops with Sally Melville from March 2 to 4. Topics are an evening talk on why we knit, an essential skills workshop, and sessions on knit to flatter and fit, and stripes that are and aren’t. Knits by the Sea in Tofino is hosting a weekend with Amy Swenson from April 20 to 22 at the Middle Beach Lodge. Topics include: shapes for shawls, gauge, ease, measure, and size, and photography for knitters. 250-725-3700, www.knitsbythesea.com

It was reported that Birkeland Brothers would be closing its doors as of March 1.

Lorna Brown talked about the Dunbar Community Centre Craft Fair, which was been a very suitable venue for the Guild’s annual fundraising sale. She had been informed in January, however, that the organizers of the event have de-cided that, in order to keep the fair interesting, 25% of the previous vendors will not automatically be allowed to return and will have to compete for a place in the coming year. The Guild was one of the vendors included in this group. What this means is that it will be necessary to submit sam-ples of knitted items to be juried in order to be able to se-cure a table in 2012. It would be necessary to have samples of items to be sold in the late fall ready by sometime in April in order to put together a portfolio. Lorna feels that our product is competitive, but that we would probably need to make more of an effort in terms of presentation. Various members made suggestions in this regard, including ways to make the table look more professional, more festive, and displaying our wares to advantage. It was also suggested that perhaps we should focus on a limited variety of items in order to have a more coherent stock that would offer poten-tial customers a feeling of choice and that we should find a way to stress the quality of the yarns being used and the workmanship involved. There was also discussion about the need for a fallback plan in case the Guild was turned down by Dunbar. The smaller craft fairs are not particularly suit-able for the Guild’s offerings because the price points tend to be very low. Lorna invited Guild members to send her suggestions of alternative venues that might be of a calibre similar to that of the Dunbar fair.

Knit Social: Fiona McLean and Amanda Milne spoke to the members about the up-coming Knit City Market & Expo

planned by Knit Social. It will be held on October 13 and 14 at the Croatian Cultural Centre and will feature a market vendor hall, lectures, workshops, and demonstrations. Knit Social is looking for a diverse mix of fibre artists and in-structors of all types, as well as vendors who support these arts. Fiona and Amanda offered the Guild the possibility of having a table at the event, in return for which members of the Guild would staff a “knit doctor” table where attendees could come with their knitting questions. More details about Knit City Market & Expo at www.knitsocial.ca/knitcity.

Bev Gray showed some very adorable sun dresses made by Eileen Kitamura which are going to be sent to Haiti, along with the small dolls being made by members of the Guild. Eileen had found the pattern for the sundresses on an aid for Haiti website. She decided to use up some of her stash of quilting materials to make dresses and dolls.

Mariela told the Guild about an inspiring story she had read in the February 4th weekend magazine of The Australian. It was about a man, now 75 and a great-grandfather, who had lost the lower part of his left arm in an horrible accident about 50 years ago. He was a farm worker and had three small children to support. With the aid of an artificial arm-piece that has a hook at the end, he was able instead to get a job building roads and upgrading highways. Nevertheless, he continued to return to the farm every year to help his fa-ther and his neighbours to shear sheep, an activity he pur-sues to this day. The clincher is that for relaxation he knits by securing one needle to his arm-piece with elastics. He says that his finest work so far is a sweater with Elvis Presley’s face on it that he made for his wife. When asked how he manages, he answers with one word – “determination.”

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February 17 is National Sweater Day.

The World Wildlife Fund has designated this day to encour-age people put on a sweater and drop the temperature in the office or home by three degrees to help the planet.

Did you know…


January Show & Tell—Accessories and More by Valerie Pollock

Wow! It's hard to believe that we are already at 2012. Lately, when I have been writing up the Show and Tell portion of our meetings, it seems to me that there are themes running through the pieces. The January meeting was no exception; there seemed to be a large number of accessories shared. Original designs seemed to feature large as well! So I give you: The Accessories. Of course, there is added value with extra goodies shared in between!

Our first contender was Janis Waller who shared some of the popular fingerless mitts. These ones, made with worsted weight or thicker, in a waffle stitch are so quick Janice could make one in an hour! Knitted flat and seamed, she was able to vary the size a bit with the yarn size, and showed us pairs in red, grey and blue. The pattern: Waffle Stitch Fingerless Gloves by Jill Toporkiewicz, available on Ravelry.

When Stephanie Langley inherited a UFO, passed from friend to friend, in 100 % cranberry cashmere, she decided to complete it. The Rhea Lace Stole pattern, by Kirsten Hpsky, has a very simple two row repeat that Stephanie found boring, so she switched it up from a wide stole to a narrow scarf. The ladder-like lace of the body was comple-mented by more complex lace edging. Stephanie's niece in Romania will be the lucky recipient. The pattern is available on Ravelry.

Holli Yeoh was thrilled to be able to show us two of her patterns in the newly published Knit Noro Accessories (Sixth Spring, Vogue Knitting) and the winter issue of Knit Simple. She had a pair of entrelac mittens, in red/blue/purple Kureyon yarn (featured in Knit Noro Accessories) that she was able to show us, but the sweater that she knit for Knit Simple has become the property of the magazine. This is the beautiful blue alpaca ribbed cardigan that she shared at a recent Guild meeting. Holli also shared a brioche hat in red and dark grey Peruvian Highland worsted. This hat was from the book Knitting Brioche by Nancy Marchant, and was Holli's first foray into brioche knitting. The hat had de-creasing and attached earflaps; in short, not an ideal simple pattern for the first attempt at a new stitch. The hat turned out beautifully in spite of some of the challenges.

Anna Knowlson has been dabbling with creative knitting as well. She has knit caps for the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, and the two she shared with us were offshoots of those hats. She knit a fairly simple cloche-style cap, al-though a bit baggier than a cloche, and then knit a draw-string to thread through holes near the brim. In this way, you can adjust the size of the hat to match your head. She made one in black and red for a woman who returned her lost scarf, and one for herself in green and red.

Linda Hull showed us two versions of a lovely shawl pat-

tern, Askew, by Lisa Mutch. Knit from the smallest bottom point up to the widest edge, Askew curves to the right with the first set of increase rows and then veers off to the left with the second set of increase rows. One side of the easy to knit shawl is stocking stitch and the other side is garter stitch. The original pattern was knit in sock or fingering weight yarn. Linda used Louet's KidLin lace yarn which is an unusual combination of kid mohair and linen. It has a nice crunch to it because of the linen but the softness and warmth of kid mohair. This yarn keeps its shape beautifully. It is easy to knit, even without Addi Lace needles. The col-our is Regimental Red, which is a black/red combination with black as the linen strand. One skein was sufficient for the smaller size that Linda prefers; the larger shawl she shared, in olive green (Three Bags Full shop sample), was knit with almost two skeins. The pattern for Askew available on Ravelry for $3.50.

Linda also showed us an Almost Garter Scarf, by Norah Gaughan (available at the Berroco blog site http://blog/berroco.com/2007/11/25/completed-garter/ . Using three colours of left over Mission Falls 1824 super wash yarn, she started making this scarf but became so intrigued with the technique used that she deviated from the pattern to try all the combinations of the three colours that were possible. You start out by casting on one colour and then knitting one row with the second colour. You then slide the stitches to the beginning of the row, like you would for I-cord and knit one row with the first colour cast on. Now turn and knit one row with the second colour. After using up as much of the first two colours, you then bring in the third colour and con-tinue in a similar alternating fashion. Linda used up almost all the yarn she had and decided to leave it at that although it is a rather short scarf.

A narrower scarf would have been longer! It occurred to Linda that this is a wonderful technique to create a blanket that has the delicious thickness of garter stitch yet is far more interesting to knit and looks amazing.

Carol Stephenson showed us two adorable baby sweater and hat combos. The first sweater, Samantha by Helen Rose



(available on Ravelry) was knit using Berroco Vintage in heathered purple. The sweater has picot/ruffled edging at the neck and hems, and a wide seed stitch button band on the front. Carol left the ruffles off the sleeve hems as they got in baby's way. She paired the sweater with an aviator style helmet (Baby Bonnet) designed by Joelle Hoverson. The second sweater, in a peachy colour was a Debbie Bliss design. The matching hat was designed by Carol herself - she ribbed a little watch cap and added Pippi Longstocking braids to the top.

More designing knitters! Paulette Lane shared the Hemp-ton shell that she designed using moss green Hempton yarn, a hemp, cotton and modal blend. (Modal is recovered cellu-lose fibre.) The square-necked shell is shaped and close fit-ting, worked in stocking stitch with a two inch band of re-verse stocking stitch at the bottom. The straps were the big-gest challenge. Paulette swatched in an attempt to sort out the sloppy edge stitch on the original slipstitch pattern. She eventually switch to a twisted rib pattern which frames the armhole. This pattern will eventually be published, and will include instructions for fitting the shell to your body shape and size. The second garment that Paulette shared was Glo-ria's Diamond Chain Shawl. She started this design at the Guild’s lace design class with Sivia Harding. The shawl is a top down, centre and edge increase triangular knit in natural Kettle Valley Alpaca. The shawl's name derives from Glo-ria, the alpaca who provided the yarn! This pattern is avail-able on Ravelry or directly from Paulette.

Valerie Pollock shared a Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman knit using a hand dyed sock blank in yellow, blue and green. The dyeing part of the project was as much fun as the knitting. It knit up at a very small gauge, and is destined for a wee premature baby recently born to a col-league. Valerie learned from previous sock blank knitting experience that it is better to unravel, soak and hang the yarn before re-knitting than knitting directly from the blank, as suggested in the instructions! Stella Li was responsible for sending Valerie off on a fingerless glove knitting tear

before Christmas. At our November meeting, Stella shared two pairs of Sourwood Mountain mitts by Erica Jackofsky, which inspired Val to make nine pairs of various patterns for Christmas gifts. The last pair (not yet gifted) was shared - the pattern: Does it ever bother you that your life doesn't make sense? by Jennifer Amey (available on Ravelry for free!), the yarn: Hemlock Harrisville Shetland. The tilted lace pattern on the glove is supposed to represent the Police Box that Dr. Who travels in. Finally, Valerie showed the chullo hat that she knit for a friend who will be travelling in South America this spring. She designed the hat last winter (Alexis' Chullo Hat, available on Ravelry), and this time knit it up in heathered green and purples, using DROPS Al-paca. The colourwork hat features earflaps, braid trim and applied I-cord edging.

Guild guest Sue Andrews showed us a scarf that she knit for herself using Noro Yuzen. The entrelac scarf in blues and purples and reds was the first garment she knit herself!

Jane Saborio shared a pair of socks that she is knitting for her brother. Only one is finished at the moment! but the other is in progress. Using the pattern Retro Ribbed Socks by Evelyn A. Clark from Favorite Socks, by Interweave Press. Jane knit the finely textured socks using Regia in heathery blue.

Would you purchase a Gucci vest (wait - no - TWO Gucci vests), even at 75% off, to rip them apart for the yarn? The intrepid Jean Wong purchased a small vest and a large one - quite confusing the sales clerk - so that she could knit her-self a flared, wide-collared coat. In cranberry wool, the tex-ture of the coat and the large, black accent buttons would put Gucci to shame. (For not having designed the garment properly in the first place!) Jean also showed us an exqui-site (both in the design and the execution) hat similar in style to a bucket hat, but with a shortened, snug fitting crown and a soft, wide brim. Knit in black on one side and grey on the other, the hat is reversible. The curved lines of the hat were accented by the double lines of shaping across the crown.


The Fraser Valley Knitting Guild was formed in 2008,

and is a knitting guild for Surrey, White Rock, Langley and Abbotsford. They meet on the fourth Wednesday of every

month at Christ the Redeemer Church, 16613 Bell Road, Cloverdale at 7:30 p.m. Except July, August, and December. http://fvkg.wordpress.com/

Knits by the Sea is a yarn shop on the western edge of Canada in beautiful Tofino, British Columbia. They offer a variety of brand name yarns including hand-spun, hand-dyed British Columbia yarns, locally pro-duced and Canadian made buttons, stitch markers and shawl pins. They offer a variety of classes and lots

of yarn to teach you and inspire you for your next project. Knits by the Sea is a great place to stop in for a visit and find inspiration for your next project. The retreat in April features Amy Swenson. (Ed-see calendar of events)

Stitch Night! Every Wednesday from 6:30 -9:30pm Everyone is welcome. Drop in for a fun evening of stitching, refreshments and fun! www.knitsbythesea.com

Knits by the Sea


February Show & Tell by Valerie Pollock

Y Emmons opened our show and tell with her Muffed and Cuffed coat! The reconstruction of her black frog coat led to new handknit white cuffs and collar, and this transformation begged for a white muff hanging from the neck - not a noose, but a pocket/handwarmer lined with dinaroo fur (kangaroo/dinosaur). This led to a white angora scarf lined with dinaroo fur. Back to the muff. The yarn is Rowan white British sheep breed boucle. The muff has two zippered pock-ets for credentials, cell phone and camera. Hands free! Hands warm! When out and about, walking in the dark, it is a great safety feature to wear white - in style! The hardest part was finding the sequence to assemble three layers of the muff, two zippers and the neck strap. Y is toasty, muffed and cuffed.

Joan Taylor shared a great pair of Grinchy Christmas socks! She made herself this pair of socks out of self-striping red, green and white sock yarn for a very Christmasy look.

Linda Hull shared a lovely shawl, Ishbel, by Isolda Teague (available on Ravelry), knit up in Habu Tsumugi (100% silk) lace weight yarn. Ishbel is a smaller triangular shawl, with a wide lace border and a triangular section of stocking stitch across the shoulders. This particular garment was not knit by Linda, but by one of the daughters of the owner of Three Bags Full, as a shop sample. The shawl was knit in a curry colour, but Linda brought in several cones of the yarn to share with us some of the more than 20 colours available.

Wendy Emslander shared a beautiful cardigan that she knit for herself in a grey-mauve colour of Ella Rae Lace Merino. The cardigan is the Lace Pattern Cardigan, #19, by Lisa Hoffman, from the Vogue Early Fall 2011. The cardigan has a deep rib with a lacy body and a touch of lace on the sleeves. Wendy learned a sloping cast off and a new button-hole technique knitting this pattern.

Amanda Milne showed us a hooded vest knit in Diamond Galway Worsted in hot pink and lime green for her 15 month-old daughter, Audrey. The pattern is Kira's Hooded Vest by Yumiko Sakuri (available on Ravelry), and featured a wide band of star stitch down the front and across the hood. A very eye-catching colour combo!

Janet Crawford showed us a neck wrap which she designed herself. Knit in sapphire, alternating with a grey stripe, the yarns used were Rare Yarns Serino Slub, which is a blend of Tencel, Alpaca, Acrylic and Merino and Rare Yarns Cocoon, a blend of Merino, Alpaca, silk and mohair content. The loop was long enough to wrap around the neck twice, if desired.

Lianne South had a jacket and a sweater to share with us. The sweater, which she knit in a rusty red Soft Linen, was from the pattern Lush Swingy Jacket by Veronik Avery. When it was complete, Lianne was dissatisfied with the fit and so took the serger to it and adapted for a better fit! The

texture of the sweater is enhanced with some lace. The jacket was knit in Noro green with the addition of Kidsilk Haze to tone down the black in the Noro. The front of the coat was knit sideways, and has a deep ribbed collar with a toggle but-ton fastening. The coat is versatile in the ways that it can be worn.

Nigel Pottle felted himself a beret in a burnt orange wool, and though he lost the ball band and can't give us its exact provenance, it is 100% wool. He got the pattern free as an attendee of the Men's Fall Knitting Retreat in Dumas Bay. The design was developed by the folks at Churchmouse Yarn and Tea, and the pattern is called, quite simply, Felted Shetland Beret (pattern available on Ravelry). The beret has a nice rolled edge, and Nigel felted it in the sink in about half an hour. It was blocked around a dinner plate, as per pattern suggestion.

Holli Yeoh has patterns in a new publication - Noro Knitting Magazine, published by Vogue Knitting. We got a sneak peak at the designs before she sends them off to be photo-graphed. The first, a hat in Noro Kureyon, is in pink/orange/purple/yellow with giant garter stitch bobbles topping a slouchy silhouette. The second design was a turquoise/green/blue Noro Silk Garden cabled vest. Some challenges with the vest included the publisher's request for a longer vest, which caused a few problems. The armhole needed to be shortened, and the repair was a tricky unpick and grafting solution, and Holli was also concerned about the fit around the hips, however it blocked out and has a nice, swingy look to it.

Valerie Pollock shared three machine-knit baby sweaters, one hand-knit baby sweater, and pair number ten of the fingerless gloves she has been knitting since November. The machine-knit sweaters were all knit in Crystal Palace Panda Silk, which is a blend of Merino, Bamboo and silk. Two Devan v-neck cardigans, designed by Holli Yeoh, were knit in (first) olive green solid, with salmon/purple/green varie-gated yarn, and (second) in paler green solid with a pink/green/white variegated to complement. The third machine-knit sweater was Holli Yeoh's Ruby hoodie. The same com-bination of olive green and salmon/purple/green was used for this sweater. All three were knit in the size 2T. The hand-knit baby sweater was Debbie Bliss’ Deep Vee sweater, from the Fall/Winter 2011 issue of Debbie Bliss Knitting Magazine. Knit in light blue Debbie Bliss Angel, a mohair/silk blend, the sleeveless sweater has deep ribbing around the waist, a slight crossover at the front with a garter stitch edging around the armholes and the neck edge. The finger-less gloves were Maia, by Rosemary (Romi) Hill. Knit in leftover yarn in mauve DROPS alpaca, the gloves are garter rib accented with beading and lace. The low twist of the al-



Beyond gauge, yardage, and accurate swatches, you must always keep in mind: Does your substitute yarn match the overall look and feel of the original one?

For example, if your original pattern uses a smooth yarn to highlight the pattern's elaborate stitchwork, you want to stick with a similarly smooth substitute.

Yarn Swapping: Tips for Headache-Free Yarn Substitutions This five-part series was originally published online in Clara Parke’s Knitter's Review in January 24, 2002, and was reprised on February 22, 2011. Reprinted with permission. www.knittersreview.com Submitted by Bev Gray

Part 5: Fine-Tuning Your Swatches If your swatch produces more stitches per inch than speci-fied in the pattern, you'll need to switch to a larger needle. Likewise, if your swatch has fewer stitches per inch than required, you'll need to try a smaller needle. Here's something else to keep in mind. Some knitters have a different gauge on knit rows than on purl rows—with the purl rows often being looser. Look at your stitches closely to see if each row is, indeed, the same height. If not, consider using a needle that's one size smaller for your purl rows. Most patterns are worked back and forth, so it's simply a matter of using two mis-matched needles interchangeably throughout.

If you're working in the round, you won't have to worry about this. Stockinette in the round involves knitting all rows; reverse-stockinette involves purling all rows. Any purl stitches will create purl ridges that conceal any gauge irregularity.

In terms of changing needle sizes to get gauge, most knitters find they need only to go up or down by one needle size to achieve the desired results.

Needle Gluttony? Many beginning knitters cringe at the idea of purchasing multiple sets of needles just so they can reach the right gauge in a pattern. This is understandable because needles are a considerate investment. (To help ease the pain, I've dedicated an entire section to needles, including overviews, explanations of the different types, and comprehensive buyer's guides.)

But here's the truth. While cooks need just a few knives to do all their work, knitters need needles. Lots and lots of nee-dles. We need to have options and choices so that we can find the right size, tip style, and even material that will work best with the right yarn—which will, in turn, help us match the right yarn to the right project.

You'll be grateful you did. Even duplicate sets of needles in the same size come in handy, especially if you like to have more than one project going at a time.

While your well-loved needles are waiting their turn, why not put them in a vase? They're prettier than flowers, you never need to water them, and they'll last forever

President: Mariela Johansen [email protected] Vice-president: Edita Michalek - [email protected] Membership: Jane Stringer - [email protected] Newsletter editor: Paulette Lane - [email protected] General information or comments: [email protected] Comments can also be posted on the guild website,: www.westcoastknitters.org

Guild Contact e-mails

paca made the addition of the beads with a crochet hook challenging at times, as the yarn constantly split. Another challenge came at the point of adding the thumbs which are knit first and then added at the appropriate place in the top-down construction. The thumbs fought against the stretch at the base of the thumb. Since the needles naturally fall at an


angle to form a square, the first few rounds after the addition of the thumbs was a bit of a struggle. The result, though, is a lovely and warm pair of fingerless mitts.


My name is Jill Smillie and I am the Director of Marketing at Oak Bay Marine Group. We run a series of workshops at our properties in Campbell River (Painter’s Lodge in Camp-bell River and April Point Resort & Spa on Quadra Island) and I was hoping to find someone who would be willing to lead a knitting workshop.

Our workshops are Sunday through Tuesday or Tuesday through Thursday in May and early June. We offer every-thing from bridge to yoga to watercolours and ballroom dancing. Guests stay at either of our resorts and attend the workshop on site. We hope to see approximately 10 hours of instruction for the program.

We pay our instructors a base of $200 + $25 for every stu-dent. We also host the instructor at our property for the du-

ration of the workshop. We need to see at least 7 students registered to offer the program, but we’ve seen as many as 60 people registered in our bridge workshop! We advertise the programs through newspapers, inserts in the newspaper, e-newsletters and ask our instructors to promote via their own networks.

If you are or someone you know is willing to lead a pro-gram like this, please let me know. .

Thanks for your help!

Jill Smillie Director of Marketing Oak Bay Marine Group 250-370-6509 www.painterslodge.com/

Looking for a Knitting Workshop Teacher

Birkeland Bros. Wool will be closing as of March 1, 2012.

Birkeland Bros. Wool would like to thank you for your patronage over the last 73 years. We have enjoyed helping, laughing, and sharing your wool dreams. You are not only our customers - many of you have also become our friends.

This decision has not come easily. My grandfather founded the business, and my father took over until his retirement due to illness. About 15 years ago, parallel to a nursing career, I started to expand Birkeland Bros. Wool into its current for-mat of supplying a wide variety of products for crafts and fibre arts.

A wonderful community has formed around our business, and it has been much fun, and you as customers have contrib-uted to 2011 being one of the most successful years in the history of Birkeland Bros. Wool.

Nevertheless, health reasons have forced me to re-assess my options and consider drastic changes. With pride about what my family, our staff, and you as a community have achieved, and with sadness that all good things will have to transform at some point in time, I have decided to close the doors of Birkeland Bros Wool, and focus on new horizons.

We wish you continued happiness in knitting, spinning, weaving, felting and many other wool dreams.

We have loved being part of your life.

Sincerely,

Cara Birkeland 3rd Generation Owner, Birkeland Bros. Wool Ltd.

Letter from Cara Birkeland


Last November I attended a seniors’ knitting group in the Cambie Community Centre in Richmond. Sylvia Hatfield, President of Canada Comforts Society, spoke of the work the Society has done since the late '80s. Items made by knitters and sewers consist of teddy bears, blankets, dish-cloths, blanket squares, baby items, children's clothing and the list goes on!

Containers are sent by the Compassionate Resource Ware-house, which is situated in Victoria. Over 300 containers have been shipped since 2000 to more than 78 countries, and all containers have reached their intended destinations. Only items that are requested are sent. Canada Comforts Society and Compassionate Resource Warehouse are run

entirely by volunteers. Both are registered charities and depend on word of mouth. The Society does not have a website.

As our Guild supports charity knitting, I feel that this char-ity might interest Guild members. Some of you have al-ready contributed dishcloths, which are used as wash cloths and are very much appreciated. There is always a huge de-mand for teddy bears. So far 45,000 have been sent! The pattern is below if you would like to make them. I will also arrange for the finished bears to be delivered to Canada Comforts Society.

Please contact me if you have any questions. [email protected] 604-276-2570

Canada Comforts Society by Mary Scott

Several charities who send supplies to help children in third world countries are asking for knitted teddies as they have found that children who have a Teddy to cuddle get better quicker than those who don't have one. Each child keeps his/her own Teddy to take home, so a continual supply is needed. Patten first published in WCKG Newsletter 2003, Volume 5 Issue 4.

Teddy Bear Pattern

Instructions

Use worsted weight yarn such as Patons Canadiana. There should be at least 20 stitches to 4 inches. Use size 10 nee-dles (3.5 to 4.5 mm) A dense gauge is important so the stuffing does not poke through; the children will eat it!

Cast on 10 stitches of the main colour. The main colour is usually tan, brown or white or any colour you like. Knit 10 rows. Change to trouser colour and knit 30 rows. Make another leg in the same way.

Knit across all 20 stitches and work 16 rows. Change to sweater colour and knit 20 rows.

Change to main colour for head and also change to stock-ing stitch. Work for 5 1/2 inches and then change to sweater colour... continuing to knit remainder of Teddy in reverse order to make the back.

To make arms and paws for the Teddy, stitch down the sides of the head with the appropriate colour wool. With sweater colour pick up8stitches either side of the neck (16 stitches in all) and knit 20 rows. Change to main colour and knit 10 rows for paws.

Sew up Teddy, leaving opening in crotch. Stuff Teddy with toy or pillow stuffing. Then draw a thread around the neck. Sew diagonal top corners for ears.

Scarf: Cast on 75 stitches. Knit 4 rows. Cast off. Or cast on 4 or 5 stitches in soft yarn and knit for 18 inches. Cast off work in ends. Tie the scarf on Teddy and sew to back of neck.

Embroider a happy face.

Notes: Finished bear is approximately 10 inches/25 centi-meters high.

Face embroidery should be raised enough for blind chil-dren to read the face. ABSOLUTELY NO BUTTONS OR BEADS PLEASE.


Guild Members Charity Knitting Project Linus

Mary Scott—[email protected] or Wool and Wicker in Steveston.

The second Friday of each month at Wool and Wicker ( 120 - 12051 Second Ave. Richmond), to fold and pack up do-nated blankets. These blankets are all new, machine wash-able and dryable. Some are knitted, others are crocheted, some quilts have also been donated. All sizes are accepted but larger than 36"x36" up to crib/lap size are the most practical. The Variety Club picks up the blankets and dis-tributes them

New, handmade, washable blankets given as gifts to seri-ously ill and traumatized children, ages 0-18. All sizes and styles of blankets are welcome, including quilts, tied com-forters, fleece blankets, crocheted or knitted af-ghans, and receiving blankets in child-friendly colors. http://sites.google.com/site/projectlinuscanada/

Guild Sale for Nova House

Lorna Brown—[email protected] Items are collected all year: Hats, flap caps, mit-tens with and without fingers, socks, children's garments, animals/dolls/toys to sell in the Fall. Whatever is not sold at the sale is given to Nova House or one of the other charities. Nova House, a transition house for abused women and chil-dren. CHIMO Crisis Centre in Richmond is responsible for funding and managing Nova House. CHIMO relies on do-nations from groups like the WCKG and caring individuals to keep this essential service operating. www.chimocrisis.com/02programs/02novahouse.html

Aunt Leah’s Independent Lifeskills Society Journey with youth to self sufficiency

Mariela Johansen—[email protected]

Throws or Afghans for the resident’s to wrap themselves in while watching TV. Baby blankets and newborn sweaters for teen Moms are also appreciated.

Aunt Leah’s Society helps prevent children in foster care from becoming homeless, and mothers in need from losing custody of their children. To support them on their journey of self-sufficiency, we provide supported housing, job train-ing and coaching on the essential skills. www.auntleahs.org

Union Gospel Mission, Seaman’s Mission

Margaret Venkataya—[email protected]

Meet at Margaret’s home in Richmond to knit toques on the second Tuesday of the month from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Everyone is welcome.

Margaret also collects used postage stamps for Union Gos-

pel Mission. Please leave the stamps on the envelopes or cut a half-inch margin around the stamps. Thousands of dollars are raised for the Mission from donated used postage stamps.

Union Gospel Mission offers hope to hungry, hurting and homeless men, women and children in Metro Vancouver. www.ugm.ca/our-work

Loneliness, danger and separation from loved ones are just some of the problems seafarers face. Around the world, night and day, The Mission to Seafarers provides help and support to those in need. www.missiontoseafarers.org/

Purple Cap Campaign for the Period of Purple Crying

Deadline is October 26, 2011. Newborn-size purple caps will be collected at the October Guild meeting.

Purple cap knitting campaign aims to raise awareness about the Period of PURPLE Crying. Purple caps are distributed to new parents in birthing hospitals across BC along with the PURPLE DVD and booklet during the week of November 22 in celebration of National Child Day, November 20. http://clickforbabies.org/ www.purplecrying.info http://dontshake.ca

St. Paul’s’ Hospital Obstetrics

Bev Gray – [email protected] St. Paul’s currently has enough newborn and baby

items. A request will be made when more items are needed.

Canada Comforts Society

Mary Scott—[email protected]

Knitted items for the needy of the world are required: cloth-ing, hats, scarves, blankets, washcloths for cleaning newborns.

Blanket sizes: Baby: 40in x 40in Crib: 45in x 60in Single Bed: 60in x 72in

http://artofyarn.livejournal.com/21218.html www.crwarehouse.ca

Canada Comforts Drop-Offs:

Vancouver: Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House, contact Nancy 604-879-8208 - 800 E. Broadway (east of Fraser St)

N. Vancouver: North Shore Neighbourhood House 604-987-8138 - 225 E. 2nd Street. Leave items in the laundry bag in the Exec. Director’s office

Surrey: Charlotte Phillips 604-531-8712 3838 156B St. (close to White Rock)

Victoria yarn donations: Beehive Wool Shop, 1700 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC 250-385-2727, 1-888-334-9005


Welcome New Members Courtesy of Jane Stringer

For the Guild’s 20th Anniversary, this space featured previously printed articles from the Guild newsletter. With only six issues in the year to share some of the treasures, I decided to keep this going for a few more issues. The article below is from March 2002, Volume 4, Issue 6.

Our Back Pages

Why I Knit… by Jane Stringer

I knit because I can’t not knit. Knitting has been my life-long friend and I hope to still be knitting as I breathe my last. My husband used to tease me that I was still knitting even when I wasn’t; I just can’t keep my hands still. I prac-tice knitting without looking in case my eyesight fails, do my hand and wrist exercises to keep deft. As I age and gradually become limited in my physical activities, knitting plays an ever-expanding role in my life. It is a major social activity as it has become so popular recently there are many knitting groups to choose from.

Since I have become widowed, I have had to look for other travel companions. Where better to find congenial ones than on a knitting tour or retreat? As I don’t indulge in other costly activities, I indulge myself in yarn, and feel very little guilt. (Having no husband helps here.) My kids occasionally cast a jaundiced eye at my ever increasing mountain of yarn, but so what. As I find that others fre-quently don’t place a high value on my productions, I tend to knit whatever I want. Exciting new projects always beckon – that gorgeous lace tablecloth, the tricky new af-ghan, that complicated jacket. Bring them on!

As a child growing up in Philadelphia, back when life seemed simpler and family's mostly lived near each other and when neighborhoods were complete with the butcher, the baker and the "yarn shop". Every other weekend was a big event for me; Friday night sleeping at my grandparents house and Saturday morning accompanying my grand-mother to her yarn shop....taking the bus and then entering that magical tiny shop on Castor Avenue where Thelma and her sister sat behind a long counter and all the knitters were lined up in rows sitting on the window ledge waiting their turn. My grandmother was a knitter and it was her pleasure to knit sweaters, suits with jackets and skirts and coats for all of us in the family. I don't remember fancy or exotic yarns, just good mohairs, boucles, wool, and, yes, acrylics but I do remember colors, each one glisten-ing like a jewel and all on shelves behind Thelma and her sister.

After patiently waiting our turn, it finally came. They meas-ured you with that long tape measure of theirs and then they wrote the pattern for whatever garment you were going to knit. You picked out the color of the yarn and then you sat there on that ledge where you had to knit a few inches so that they could measure your gauge to fine tune the pattern. And then they sold you enough yarn to go home and knit a por-

tion of the garment, for instance, the back up to the armhole.

Next Saturday came and back we went on the bus to the yarn store to the ledge to wait our turn again while they wrote the next portion of the pattern. They held the amount of yarn they thought you would need to complete the gar-

ment and you paid little by little, portion by portion until the garment was complete. What I do remember is that every single garment fit each and every recipient ex-actly as it was meant to, never too big, never too small, always just right. No knitting books, no pattern books,

just two women (sisters) who were superb knitters, great at math, and had learned from their grand-mothers how to knit and how to write patterns. And in neighborhoods all over Philadelphia and other

cities everywhere there were yarn shops just like that where knitters lined up on the ledge striving to

knit a garment picture perfect, portion by portion.

We moved ahead with wonderful books and patterns and fabulous designers and yarns from the simplistic to the ex-otic, with knitting publications and knitting events. It is so fabulous it’s unbelievable to think that for many generations it was the way it was. When I look back I do think we gained so much but there are some things I definitely miss about those days.

Family Heirlooms by Ronni Lynn Spoll, Knitter Of The Year 2001

Noreen Murphy, 155 East 48th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5W 2C7 604-879-2441 [email protected]

Holly Rodgers, 34 West 19th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Y 2B2604 737-2558 [email protected]

Sue Andrews, 374 East King Edward, Vancouver, BC V5V 2C5 604-681-7305 [email protected]


March 16-17—4th Annual Fibres West—Fibres galore plus spinning, knitting, weaving, felting, basketry, embellishing and more. Classes, free lectures with admission, $8.00 for adults, $6.50 for students and seniors (65+), children 12 and under free. Friday 9:30 am-6 pm, Saturday 9:30 am-5 pm. AgRec Building on the Abbotsford Exhibition Park Grounds, 32470 Haida Drive, Abbotsford, BC www.fibreswest.com

March 23-24—Creative Stitches & Crafting Alive!—Sewing, scrapbooking, quilting, knitting, needlework, beading and paper crafting, with hands on classes, educational seminars, free stage shows. $10 Admission. Tradex Building, 1190 Cor-nell Street, Abbotsford. Friday 9 am-6 pm, Saturday 9 am-5pm.855-723-1156 http://creativestitchesshow.com/

April 1—2nd Art of Fashion Show and Sale—Sponsored by fibreEssence and the committee for Wearable Arts Vancou-ver. Juried show for creators of wearable art clothing to show and sell their work, dresses, coats, jackets, vests, sweaters, shawls, hats, bags, and jewelry. The event is a fundraiser for the Seymour Art Gallery. 20% of sales will go to the Gallery. 2-4:30 pm, refreshments served at both locations: Artemis Studio Gallery, 104C-4390 Gallant Ave and The Seymour Art Gallery 4360 Gallant Ave, Deep Cove, North Vancouver

April 17–29—4th Annual Cherry Blossoms: A Textile Translation—Sponsored by fibreEssence. Original textile art based on the cherry blossom theme. Tues-Sun 12-5pm Silk Purse Gallery, 1570 Argyle Ave, West Vancouver www.silkpurse.ca

April 20-22—Amy Swenson Retreat—Knits by the Sea—Shapes for Shawls in two parts and GEMS: Gauge, Ease, Measure, Size. EARLY BIRD RATE for GUILD MEMBERS. Amy Swenson is a knitting and crochet designer living in Toronto. Patterns available on Knitty, Ravelry and www.indigirl.com/, Middle Beach Lodge, Tofino, BC www.knitsbythesea.com

May 13-24—Lakes & York Knitters’ Tour with Jean Moss—First five days in the beautiful Lake District near Winder-mere and the last six days in the historic city of York. Workshops will be given by Martin Storey, Carol Meldrum and Jean Moss. Luxury accommodation, visits to off-the-beaten-track yarn producers, places and people that knitters, textile and fibre lovers will relish including the Rowan Mill. Holmfirth, Wordsworth's house at Rydal Mount and Castle Howard. www.jeanmoss.com/tours.html Ravelry Travelers with Jean Moss group. May 12—-Surrey Sheep to Shawl—Cheer on local spinning and weaving teams as they participate in this traditional competition. Watch as raw sheep’s wool is carded, spun, and plied into yarn, then woven into a shawl, all in four hours! Demos of sheep shearing, wool displays, try weaving on heritage looms or spinning on spinning wheels. Kids can weave a bookmark, or make sheep crafts and pictures. 11:00 am–4:00 pm Drop in by donation Surrey Museum, 17710 - 56A Ave-nue, Surrey, BC 604-592-6956 www.surrey.ca/culture-recreation/7848.aspx

May 25-27—14th Annual Okanagan Knitting Retreat—Knitting Foundations...Skills to build on—Sorrento Centre, Sorrento, BC. Choice of four workshops: Fibre Foundations with Paulette Lane, Lace Foundations with Myriam Dostert, Fair Isle Foundations with Celeste Culpepper, Colour Foundations with Janet Armstrong. Optional Friday workshops are a reprise of workshops from previous retreats. Visit www.janetarmstrong.com for full details and online registration. Contact Janet Armstrong at 250-545-2474 or [email protected].

May 25-June 3—10th Annual Saskatchewan Stitches Conference—Creative classes with renowned fibre and needle work artists that attracts knitters, crocheters, sewers, quilters and rug hookers from across Canada, plus guest instructor Lily Chin. St. Peter's Abbey at Muenster, Saskatchewan , www.hausofstitches.ca/ Follow Haus of Stitches on Facebook.

June 1-3—Willow Weekend 2012—Explore the wide range of techniques that are willow basketry. Three distinguished willow instructors, Jo Campbell-Amsler, Katherine Lewis, Judy Zugish, each specializing in her own aspect of willow weaving, are gathering in north central Washington for a weekend filled with presentations and workshops. Entiat Grange, 14108 Kinsel St., Entiat, Washington. Claudia Mullek 509-784-1877, [email protected]

June 2-16—14-Day Scotland, Shetland & Norway Cruise—Cruise out of Holland to Scotland, Shetland and Norway onboard the beautiful Rotterdam with one of the world's leading Shetland lace experts, Joan Schrouder. Join Craft Cruises as we set sail out of Rotterdam to some of the most scenic cruising areas in the world on a Norwegian coastal voyage that includes Shetland and Scotland. Enjoy the backdrop of dramatic landscapes as you learn new knitting skills and shop for trendy European yarns. Contact Shannon at [email protected] www.craftcruises.com

June 22 - 29—Fiber week—Olds College and Shuttleworks Ltd—An annual celebration of the fibre arts—Spinning, weaving, knitting, felting. Check website for workshops and instructors. Registration open March 1, 2012. Olds College, 4500 - 50th Street, Olds, AB.1-800-661-6537. www.oldscollege.ca/programs/ContinuingEducation/fibreweek/index.htm


Calendar of Events


Guild Friendly Yarn Shops offer 10% discount on yarn to guild members.

Show your membership card before making your purchase.

Baad Anna’s, 2667 East Hastings, Vancouver BC V5K 1Z5 604-255-2577 Beehive Wool Shop, 1700 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC V8W 2G7 250-385-2727, 1-888-334-9005 Black Sheep Yarns, 88 Grant Street, Port Moody, BC V3H 0B6 778-355-9665 88 Stitches, #602-21183-88th Ave, Langley, BC V1M 2B5 604-888-6689 Gina Brown Yarns, 3424 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6R 2B3 604-734-4840 Homecraft Importers, 2348 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6K 1P1 604-738-2614 Knitopia Wools Company, #1411 Hillcrest Mall, 1457 Johnston Rd, White Rock, BC V4B 3Z4 778-294-5440 Maiwa Handprints Ltd., #6 1666 Johnston St., Granville Island, Vancouver, BCV6H 3S2 604-669-3939 Needle & Arts Centre, 910 Island Highway, Campbell River, BC V9W 2C3 250-287-8898, 1-888-588-7834 Pagan Yarns, 112 Hilchey Road, Campbell River, BC V9W 1P4 250-923-2780 Penelope Fibre Arts, 16055-8th Avenue, Surrey, BC V4A 1A1 778-292-1282 Shan's Needleworks, Suite 101-624 Columbia Street, New Westminster, BC V3L 1X6 604-526-2637 Three Bags Full, 4458 Main Street, Vancouver, BC V5V 3R3 604-874-WOOL/604-874-9665 Unwind Knit and Fibre Lounge, #8, 1161 Sunshine Coast Highway, Gibsons BC V0N 1V4 604.886.1418 Urban Yarns, 4437 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6R 2H8 604-228-1122

June 24 - July 1—Playing With Colour On Salt Spring Island—Week-long all-inclusive workshop dyeing yarn or fi-bre with both commercial and natural dyes. Experiment with colour and techniques to bring out the best in hand-dyed yarns. Tuition, dyeing supplies, accommodation, meals $950 ($850 for returnees) + $40 for yarn kit. If sufficient demand, an additional session June 15-22. Welcome to attend both sessions. Alice Trueman, [email protected] 250-538-0211

July 16-22—Fibre Arts Week in Pincher Creek the beautiful foothills of Southwest, Alberta at the Bloomin’ Inn to work with industry-leading instructors and learn new techniques to perfect your skills. Incredible classes, fibre arts demonstrations, interesting lectures every day for one fibre-intensive week. Visit www.fibreartsweek.com regularly for updates, or register to be updated by email, [email protected]

August 4—Pic-Knit—Pack a lunch and join a summer picnic of knitters, crafters and suppliers. Watch demonstrations, get tips and learn tricks, shop at the Fibrearts Marketplace. Drop in by donation. 11:00 am-4:00 pm. Surrey Museum, 17710 - 56A Avenue, Surrey, BC. 604-592-6956 www.surrey.ca

October 25-February 24, 2013—BAM Biennial 2012: High Fiber Diet—Bellevue Arts Museum: Creative approach to the fiber medium, considering both traditional expressions of fiber art and the fringes of the medium, where concepts of art and craft merge. Intended to recognize the innovative and extraordinary work being produced by contemporary Northwest makers (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, British Columbia), and to celebrate the region's distinctive character. 510 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue WA www.bellevuearts.org/exhibitions/upcoming/bam_biennial_2012


Published on Friday 14 October 2011 02:03

SHEFFIELD’s menfolk will be swapping footballs for yarn balls when they get the chance to knit their very own derby day scarf.

John Lewis in Barker’s Pool is holding a men only knitting class from noon to 2 pm tomorrow, ahead of Sunday’s big match.

Knitting experts will teach participants how to cast on, cast off and make blue and white or red and white scarves.

Men of all ages are invited to go along to the Haberdashery department on the ground floor for the free class.

Bev Hodgkinson from John Lewis, said: “Derby Day is such a massive occasion for the city and we wanted a unique way to celebrate.”

Derby scarf knitting class From The Star www.thestar.co.uk

Lady Zoe Laurier, wife of Sir Wilfred Laurier, Canadian Prime Minister from1896 to1911. was known to be a dedicated knitter. On their 50th wedding anniversary, Sir Wilfred gave his wife a pair of solid gold knitting needles.

Solid Gold


Izzy African Comfort Dolls suggested by Bev Gray

Materials:

Small amount of yarn in several colours, face should be dark. Appropriate size needles for the yarn, straights, circulars or double points

Tapestry needle Polyester fiberfill

Directions:

Begin at the feet and knit a rectangle, changing yarn colour for each body segment. The head is stuffed and the neck is formed by pulling in with a gathering thread. When the body is stuffed, the feet are formed by pulling in with a thread. The arms and legs are defined by stitching through all layers after the doll is stuffed. The number of rows in each part of the doll can be increased or decreased depending on the individual design. Finished height of the doll is approximately 13

cm or 5 inches.

Pattern for flat knitting

Cast on 32 stitches Working in Stockinette Stitch, throughout: Work 4 rows for feet Change colour. Work 14 rows (or desired #) for pants.

Change colour. Work 12 rows (or desired #) for sweater. Change colour. Work 8 rows for face. Change colour. Work the hat or hair: For hair work in garter stitch (thanks to Grace Endo for the idea). For hat continue in Stocking Stitch. Work 4 rows. *Decrease 5 stitches evenly across the row. (27 sts) Purl across the row.* Repeat between * 2 more times. (17 sts) (K1, K2tog) 9 times. Pull yarn through remaining stitches. Finishing: Sew sides together. Leave the bottom open for stuffing. Embroider face.

Stuff head. Baste a single strand of face colour yarn through the first face row. Holding both ends of the yarn, gather the knitting to form the neck. Knot to hold in place and secure the ends. Stuff the body. Baste a single strand of foot colour yarn through the top foot row. Holding both ends of the yarn, gather the knitting to form the ankles. Knot to hold in place and secure the ends. Stuff feet and sew bottom. With matching yarn, define legs

and arms with small backstitches through all layers.

Pattern for circular knitting

Cast on 32 stitches join to form a circle. Knit 4 rounds for feet Change colour. Knit 14 rounds (or desired length) for pants.

Change colour. Knit 12 rounds (or desired length) for sweater. Change colour. Knit 8 rounds for face. Change colour. Work the hat or hair: For hair work in garter stitch, knit one round, purl one round (thanks to Grace Endo for the idea). For hat continue in knit. Work 4 rows. *Decrease 5 stitches evenly across the round. (27 sts) Purl across the row.* Repeat between * 2 more times. (17 sts) (K1, K2tog) 9 times. Pull yarn through remaining stitches. Embroider face. Stuff head. Baste a single strand of face colour yarn through the first face row. Holding both ends of the yarn, gather the knitting to form the neck. Knot to hold in place and secure the ends. Stuff the body. Baste a single strand of foot colour yarn through the top foot row. Holding both ends of the yarn, gather the knitting to form the ankles. Knot to hold in place and secure the ends. Stuff feet and sew bottom. With matching yarn, define legs and arms with small backstitches through all layers.

At the January meeting, Bev Gray spoke about knitting these Comfort Dolls for the children of Haiti to distract their attention as they were receiving medical aid. Suggested materials are acrylic or washable wool. If you want to help out, please give your comfort dolls to Bev at the April meeting. This pattern was first published in 2010 WCK Newsletter Volume 10, Issue 12.

so easy even a child can do it west coast knitters’...

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