Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Guild Newsletter, April 2015


Newsletter of the Greater Birmingham Fiber Guild 

 

        President’s Column   
 

                        

     

 

Hello Fiber Friends!

I hope everyone is enjoying our beautiful weather! As I write, the birds are singing, the deck door is open and the Corgis are snoring!!! I guess next will come the sneezing...oh well!

Now is the time to start thinking cotton/bamboo instead of wool! I do have a hard time giving up my wool projects for the warmer weather. I think more of socks, and spinning. I am trying to resolve to knit some cotton or bamboo cowls to wear with my cotton shirts before it gets really hot! Several of us drove to Alexandria to a charming knit shop, Yvies, last week, and I did indeed buy yarn for 2 cotton cowls. 

I have to say our meetings have really energized me! The attendance has been phenomenal! I believe we have the largest membership in the history of the Guild right now! Good job spreading the word! I was so excited to see the 2 "new" spinning wheels acquired after the talk on antique wheels! Way to go!!!

I am looking forward to dusting off my crochet skills with Jana showing us how to make a dishcloth out of cotton at our next meeting. It should prove to be a lot of fun!

I hope to see you all at the meeting this month!

Karen Ford             
 


April   Meeting
Saturday, April 11
10:00am - noon
  St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church
2061 Patton Chapel Rd
Birmingham, AL  (205) 822-4480



 




 April Program: Introduction to Crocheting

Presented by Jana Ford 
 
 
This month, guild member Janna Ford will share her crochet skills with us in an Introduction to Crochet program.  After a brief introduction, Janna will help us all get started on a crocheted washcloth, using several of the most common crochet stitches.  Please bring a crochet hook size “I” and a ball of Sugar’n’Cream cotton yarn (available at Michaels and Walmart) in any color you like, and Janna will get us started!

 

 
Attention All Spindle Spinners

 Materials engineering professor, Uday Vaidya, has asked us to help introduce new engineering students to the concepts of spinning and weaving again this semester. Textiles play a big role in modern industry, from the Kevlar used in soldier's helmets to strong and flexible parts for the aeronautics industry. Dr. Vaidya's students will engineer better components by fully understanding how yarn is made, and we will get to introduce curious, intelligent people to the concepts of spinning and weaving. You can read about last semester's class on the blog at: http://greaterbirminghamfiberguild.blogspot.com/2014/11/spinning-and-weaving-with-uab.html 
If you are comfortable spinning on a spindle and might be able to arrange your schedule to spend an upcoming Friday morning at UAB, please contact Mary Spanos. We don't have a date for our class yet, but as soon as we know we will send out an email to all interested spinners.
                               

Interesting Fiber Items to Read and Check Out...

Some interesting uses for sheep wool:  http://ag.ansc.purdue.edu/sheep/ansc442/semprojs/2004/uses/wool.htm 

46 interesting facts about knitting:  http://facts.randomhistory.com/knitting-facts.html#.VQfHqSbTQb0.facebook

Check this out to see an unusual use for knitting:  http://www.more.com/its-wrap-knit-wit

Another interesting article about crocheting: http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/bs-hs-geometry-and-crocheting-20150130-story.html


 

The Guild on the Web

 
Between newsletters and meetings, keep up with the guild at www.greaterbirminghamfiberguild.blogspot.com . If you don't want to have to visit the blog to see if anything new has been posted, you can choose to receive new posts by email. Go to the blog and look for "Follow by Email" on the right hand side of the page. Type your email address in the window and click "Submit."
    If you want to have something posted on the blog, send it to
web@greaterbirminghamfiberguild.com

 

 
Craft Book Series

 
Thought it might be fun to suggest different series that deal with fiber crafts.  This is series of books dealing with crocheting.  More series to follow.                
betty hetchman
Protagonist: Molly Pink, a bookstore event coordinator
Setting: Tarzana, California
Number of books: 9
First in the series: Hooked on Murder
When bookstore event coordinator Molly Pink stumbles across the dead body of a crochet group’s leader, her complicated past with the woman makes her a prime suspect.
But while Molly’s fending off a detective with a personal grudge and navigating the pitfalls of crochet group politics, the real killer remains at large. And it’s up to her to catch the culprit — before she winds up in a tight knot.
Why we love it: Molly is the character we all want to be — not only does she crochet, but she also gets to work at a bookstore every day.
   
             


         Study Groups Meet Monthly

  • Spinning Study Group:  4th Wednesday of the month from 10 am to 2 pm at St. Peter’s Church in Hoover.  Please check out the GBFG Blog  for cancellations or schedule changes.
  • Nancy Clemmons is interested in sharing her love of tatting with others by teaching one or more in her home. Please contact her if you are interested.
  • More groups may meet in the future.  Watch the newsletter for more information and let a board member know if you are interested in a study group.
 


Newsletter News...
 
Each month, I am planning to have items coming from YOU, our Guild members. These will include short book reviews related to any fiber art; a tip you have discovered and used that make your fiber art a little bit easier to execute; any fiber related articles; and a fiber question you would love answers or suggestions from other guild members. Please send your ideas, suggestions, book recommendations, questions to me (Deborah Kattus ) by the 20th of the month to go into the following month's newsletter.
Email me
and put GBFG Newsletter in the subject line.


 


Greater Birmingham Fiber Guild
 
The Greater Birmingham Fiber Guild is comprised of individuals dedicated to the dissemination and preservation of fiber arts.  Meetings are the second Saturday of the month, 10:00-12:00 (no meeting in July). Visitors are welcome.  The Guild offers programs almost monthly, focused workshops several times a year, and equipment rental (see below). 
 
 2015 Officers and Board 
 
Karen Ford – President
Mary Kaiser – Program
Debbie Scott – Workshops
Emily Levitan - Membership
Nancy Lavender – Treasurer
Janice Weinstein - Secretary
Mary Spanos – Website
Deborah Kattus - Newsletter
Janelle Zorko Schultz - Past President

 

 
Rental of Guild Equipment & Materials

 
The Guild has available, for rental to members, the following:
There will be a $30 deposit per DVD (Lucy Neatby) and $100 deposit for the drum carder. Deposit for Laura Fry's materials still to be determined.
The rental fee for all items is $5 per month rented.
Equipment can only be checked out at Fiber Guild monthly meetings and a check-out list will be posted inside the door of the cabinet. Deposit checks will be held by Nancy Lavender, treasurer, until returned in original condition. 
Copyright © 2015 Greater Birmingham Fiber Guild, All rights reserved.
You are getting this email because you are a member of the Greater Birmingham Fiber Guild or are somehow affiliated with the organization.

Our mailing address is:
Greater Birmingham Fiber Guild
P.O. Box 660723
Birmingham, AL 35266

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