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.
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.
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