Thursday, October 8, 2015

GBFG Newsletter, October 2015

Greater Birmingham Fiber Guild
P.O. Box 660723, Birmingham, AL 35266-0723
 

www.greaterbirminghamfiberguild.blogspot.com



Newsletter of the Greater Birmingham Fiber Guild 

 

                      President’s Column   
 

                        

                   

Hello Fiber Friends!

 
I trust this finds everyone doing well and digging through their closets for the hand knit socks, cowls and scarves!
 
I have socks on the brain this month! Not only am I still working on my UFO pile of socks, I am also participating in the sock challenge on Ravelry that the Guild is doing! I decided to do one sock toe up and one cuff down......I have never made a toe up sock before and frankly I have been hesitant to do my heel....confusion as to which one to choose mostly! This month the meeting will be devoted to socks and I am really looking forward to it! Knitting socks is very satisfying for me. They are a manageable size and I love the yarns...portable project too!!!! I just have to learn to stop starting so many different ones and learn to take them to completion! In the last month I have completed 2 pair and have 5 more in various stages of completion! Better get back to those needles......4 socks blanks are waiting! Aren't you proud I have shown restraint and NOT started one of those too!!!!!
 
Hope to see you all at the meeting!
 
Karen Ford
 

 



Homewood Show Update

 

If you contributed your work to the Homewood Library show, your work will be available for pick up at the October meeting.  Please contact Mary Kaiser if you can't make the meeting and want to arrange to pick up your work at her house.
 

 



October Program
Knit a Mini Sock
Saturday, October 10

In The Making
 
At our October meeting, we will knit a fun mini sock.  Bring some scrap yarn (20 yds should be plenty) and appropriately sized needles.  Gauge is not important. You can use 4 double points, 2 circulars or 1 long circular for magic loop.  We will be using Stacey Trock's Mini Sock pattern which is a free pattern on Ravelry.  She has graciously agreed to allow us to use it as a group.  We will have copies of the pattern to hand out at the meeting, and the link is included here if you want to look ahead of time.  This will be an opportunity for those who have been intimidated by knitting socks to give it a try without the time and yarn commitment or the need to consider fit.  For those that can "knit socks in their sleep" they will make adorable gifts and/or Christmas Tree ornaments


 
 
A Message from Kathryn


The guild's group forum on Ravelry offers us a tremendous opportunity to communicate with each other about all those fibery things we love to do, and we don't have to wait for the next meeting.  We've recently used it for The Sock Project and the Tour de Fleece spinners, and have had fun in the process.  But we are involved in so much more than these special activities.

I'm thinking in particular of starting a thread for weavers since it is so difficult for them to meet in quite the same way knitters and spinners do.  But knitters, spinners, crocheters, quilters, etc. could each have their own thread.  The threads are a means of communication, to share ideas, ask questions of each other, show off projects.  And they could be especially useful to anyone who is unable to attend meetings over an extended period of time.

If you have any thoughts to share on this, join the discussion on Ravelry which starts here.  Would love to hear from you!
  
Tatting Group
 
Nancy Clemmons was  asked about the tatting retreat she had attended.  She tries  to go to Tat Days in Toccoa, Georgia most years around Labor Day.

Here is the link to the most recent event.  It has all the details, including photos of the projects taught this year.    http://palmettotatters.org/events/TatDays2015/TatDays2015.shtml
Next year will be September 9 & 10, 2016. The theme will be Tatting is Out of this World.

Palmetto Tatters is a very active group of tatters in South Carolina.  The main web page is here: 

Have fun exploring the various links and pages.

She would still like to have a small group to tat on a regular basis.  Maybe after lunch on guild meeting days or in a group at Purl @ the Plaza at the Hoover Library.  It would be good to find a time so those that work could also join.
 

Interesting Fiber Items to Read and Check Out...
 
Janice Weinstein sent this link to some amazing knitting.  The pictures are beautiful and the pattern in free.  


Deborah Naramore sent this information on dyeing:
There’s a duality to natural dyeing that Kristine Vejar embraces: the naturalist and plant pigment explorer; the scientist and careful recipe creator.

  
 


The Guild on the Web

Between newsletters and meetings, keep up with the guild on the web at:
    If you don't want to miss new posts to the guild blog, 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 blog@greaterbirminghamfiberguild.com.
   You can post to the guild's Facebook page yourself! Emily shares information and posts that she receives on the guild's Facebook group page and keep Facebook users up to date on what is going on in the guild.
   Ravelry isn't just for knitters anymore. Crocheters, weavers, and spinners all upload photos, project information, and patterns. Kathryn is managing the GBFG group and has posted helpful information on participating in the Ravelry guild group on the blog, find it at
http://greaterbirminghamfiberguild.blogspot.com/2015/04/gbfg-on-ravelry.html

 

  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 at
dkattus@charter.net 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.
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