The Newsletter of the Ottawa Guild April 2015

TheTangled Skein

March Meeting Recap Demystifying Charts The Knitting Challenge Is Almost Here! The Wonderful World of Knitting Apps In This Issue 3 The Practicing Knitter - Knitting as Entertainment 4 Upcoming Events 4 Meeting Preview 4 Ottawa Guild of Lacemakers 27th Day April 20 4 Artisans in the Park 7:30 PM 5 OKG 2015 Annual General Meeting 5 Annual General Meeting Minutes 5 Nomination Slate for 2015-2016 Executive Committee meeting 6 March Meeting Recap - Demystifying Charts with Amanda Schwabe 7 Upcoming Meetings 7:00 pm 8 The Knitting Challenge is Almost Here! 8 Newsletter Deadlines Stitch doctor 9 Knit and Learn Group 207 WOODROFFE AVENUE 9 Stitch Doctor 9 Advertising Rates WOODROFFE UNITED CHURCH 10 Donna is on ! 10 Calling all Facebook Fanatics! 10 Donna Druchunas Workshop - There is still space! I chose a cover photo featuring a green shawl this month because today, after the 11 Store Discounts wonderful outpouring of rain overnight, I can see hints of green in the grass around 11 Ottawa Knitting Guild Executive Committee Carleton’s campus. It is the barest whisper of spring, but after a Canadian winter it feels 12 The Wonderful World of Knitting Apps like a shout of joy. 13 Knitting on the Internet 13 Knitting in Literature The shawl on the cover is my very first lace piece, knit in 2012. It is the Travelling Personal Ads Woman shawl, knit in laceweight in the smallest size (I think). Somehow I managed to 13 photograph it on the purl sid, but it still looks great. It is the tiniest thing, a shawlette 14 An Adventure in Knitting, Squares 1-5 really, but at the time it felt like the most challenging thing I would ever knit. 17 Show & Tell 25 The End of the Skein That pattern was also my first time knitting from a chart, which makes it perfect for the issue that includes Amanda’s recap of her presentation on Demystifing Charts at the March meeting, plus a great article on knitting apps by Christine. I’ve also featured the first 5 squares of the Knitting Sampler, which has both charts and written instructions so you can choose your preferred method.

If you are reading this on the day it comes out, consider coming to Lace Day this Sunday (see the Events page for more info). I’ll be helping out at the OKG table and we will have plenty of knitted lace (like my Travelling Woman!) on display. Jess Speir, Newsletter Coordinator

The copyright for each article in The Tangled Skein belongs to its respective author. Do not reprint or redistribute anywhere else without the author’s express permission. Cover 2 photo by Jess Speir. The Practicing Knitter - Knitting as Entertainment theKnitting practicing as Entertainment knitter By Laurie Chochinov, President

A few years ago I attended a question and answer session with Barbara Walker, The second thing that I look for in my knitting projects is character. What author of those lovely stitch dictionaries (Treasury of Knitting Patterns Volumes does it require? What will my choice of yarn do to the final result? Am 1 – 4). A knitter in the audience asked Barbara what she did while she was I comfortable with the recommended needle size? Is it a garment knitted in knitting – did she watch TV, listen to the radio, read a book, etc. Barbara’s the round? What would happen if I decided to knit it flat and put in seams? If I answer was that she did nothing other than sit, knit and watch the stitches as invest so much time, will I like the results? they went on the needle. As I work through a project, I find myself reacting much the same way I do to I’m not that kind of knitter. I watch TV when I knit, and always have. In fact, a television series. The first question that comes up is, am I getting bored? Do like the chicken and egg question, I’ve never been sure if I knit because I’m I want to change channels/pick something else up instead? Am I enjoying the watching TV or if I watch TV because I’m knitting. With the advent of the PVR, project enough to finish it? (Do I like the show enough to be interested in how I have actually increased my television watching over the course of a week. I it ends?) Is the ending too predictable, or am I constantly surprised about what record a number of shows which I then watch one after another on Saturday is happening (in a good way, of course)? and Sunday afternoons. For me, the upcoming Ottawa Knitting Guild’s annual workshop weekend I’ve noticed something about my choice of television programs. I don’t restrict is just like the start of a new television season. There are new series that my programming choice to just one type of show. I watch police procedurals interest me enough to try them out - working with beads and investigating with as much enthusiasm as I watch science fiction or historical dramas. I Japanese sweater patterns. There is the possibility of seeing an old friend in watch fiction and non-fiction. I watch one-time shows and others which go on new circumstances (learning about adapting vintage patterns). Finally, there for years and years. There are two things that every program I watch has in is a new season for perennial favourite – sock heels and toes. By the end of common. The first is the content – topic for non-fiction, plot for fiction. The the weekend I will be withdrawing from three days of binge knitting, but I will second is character. If I don’t like the characters that inhabit the world of the have discovered possible new projects to take me through the next year. This television show or I don’t like the narrator of the non-fiction program, I stop will give me something to do as I ponder the age old question – which came watching. first the knitting or the television watching? What a treat!

You may be wondering what this has to do with my knitting. Well, my knitting habits are almost the same as my television watching habits. I usually have at least three projects in some state of development at any one time. They are Correction: At last month’s meeting I mistakenly commented that the coffee all different, much like my choices in television programming genres. I often and tea urns we enjoy at our December and June meetings was provided by have socks, sweaters and mittens on the needles at the same time. But, like Wool Tyme. This was my misunderstanding. The urns have been supplied by my choice of television programming, each knitting project has two things in Victoria Leslie personally. We thank her very much, as they make our events common. much more enjoyable.

The first is the content. What does the project require me to do or to learn? Are there stitch patterns that I’ve used before, or is there something new to try? Will I have to do some texture work? Is required, or can I avoid it? Reminder What is different from the projects I’ve recently completed? The back entrance of the church near the kitchen is to be used for drop off and handicapped parking only and not for parking during meetings 3 Upcoming Events Meeting Preview upcomingDo you know of an event that may interest eventsthe other By Kathy McEwen, Past-President members of OKG? Send the information to newsletter@ ottawaknittingguild.ca and we will include it in this section in Donna Druchunas will be speaking at our meeting this month! She will be telling us about future issues. Please include any links to further information her inspiration in lace knitting with a talk entitled “Lace Knitting with Dorothy Reade”. where possible. Here is Donna’s description of her talk:

April “For years I tried to learn how to knit lace, and was frustrated as I failed each time. I April 12 Ottawa Lacemakers Guild’s 27th Lace Day at the finally gave up because I wanted to have fun knitting and enjoy my hobby. I was able to RA Centre knit cables, , intarsia, and even with no problems, but lace stymied me April 18-20 OKG Donna Druchunas Workshop over and over again. I thought I would never be able to knit lace, until I stumbled onto April 24-25 creativ Spring Show in Mississauga, ON Dorothy Reade’s simple techniques. In this lecture, we will learn about the life of Dorothy April 25-26 DKC Knitter’s Frolic in Toronto Reade, including her travels in Japan, Peru, and Alaska to study and teach knitting and spinning. We will talk about her advice for lace knitters. We will look at the many original May lace stitches she designed, and look at her many shawl designs as well as two unique pi May 8-10 Ottawa Valley Quilters Guild’s Festival of Quilts at shawls that incorporate her circular and diamond motif stitches.” the RA Centre May 16-17 Sheep Shearing Festival at the Experimental Farm May 23 Great Glebe Garage Sale Ottawa Guild of Lacemakers 27th Lace Day July July 4 Artisans in the Park by the Lost Villages Historical The Ottawa Guild of Lacemakers is holding their 27th Lace Day at the RA Centre, 2451 Society Riverside Drive, on April 12th from noon to 4 p.m. Guild members will display some of their work, and experienced lacemakers will be on hand to identify heirloom/antique August . They will also demonstrate the techniques of bobbin lacemaking. This is a family Aug 10 Riverfest, Pinhey’s Point event with a great opportunity for children and adults to try their hand at the art of bobbin Aug 22-23 Twist Fibre Festival, Saint-Andre Avelin, QC lace making.

September The Ottawa Knitting Guild will be one of the demonstrators at the event. We will be Sept 12 Kitchener-Waterloo Knitter’s Fair highlighting knitted lace and its various uses in garments and other items. For more Sept 12-13 Mississippi Valley Museum Fibrefest information on the Guild of Lacemakers or the event, go to the web site. We hope to see you there. October Oct 15-17 creativ Fall Show in Toronto Oct 17 Woodstock Fleece Festival Artisans in the Park

For more events across the US and Canada, check out the The Lost Villages Historical Society is holding its annual Artisans in the Park event July Knitter’s Review Calendar. It is a great resource for fibre- 4th from 10:00 to 4:00. This is a (mostly) open air show and sale set in Ault Park on related events. Fran Laflamme Drive, 3km east of Long Sault, Ontario. Artisans set up among the heritage buildings, which have been moved to the park and restored by the Lost Villages Historical Society. The Society is looking for knitters who wish to participate. This is a juried show, and pictures of the products and display are required when submitting an application to participate. Display space is $50 for an outside location and $60 for an indoors location. 6’ tables and 2 chairs are included in the fee.

Anyone interested in participating can contact Bonita Eley 4 ([email protected]) for an application form. OKG 2015 Annual General Meeting Nomination Slate for 2015-2016 guild news Executive Committee The 2015 Annual General Meeting of the Ottawa Knitting Guild will be held Monday, May 11, 2015 at Woodroffe United Church, 207 Woodroffe According to the Constitution of the Ottawa Knitting Guild, each member Avenue, beginning approximately 7:30 p.m. of the Executive takes on a two year term with approximately half of the positions coming open each year. For 2015-2016 the following positions Draft Agenda: have become open for a two year term and the knitters noted have • Motion to open the meeting volunteered to take on the responsibilities: • Adoption of the Agenda • Adoption of the Minutes of the 2014 Annual General Meeting Treasurer – Jennifer Hill • President’s Report Library Coordinator – Gisele Friedrich • Acceptance of the slate for 2015-2016 Executive Committee Member at Large – Terry Nelson (facilitator Amanda Schwabe). Program Coordinators – Tasha Yovelich & Lise Labreque • Other Business Web Coordinator – Gillian Villeneuve • Motion to Close the meeting The following position has come open for a one year term and the knitter Annual General Meeting Minutes noted has volunteered to take on the responsibilities: May 12, 2014 Member at Large – Michelle Demers

The meeting was called to order by Laurie Chochinov, Member at Large. The following knitters are continuing as part of the Executive Committee for the second year of their current term: • Motion to open the meeting - Leanne Thiery-Smith, Seconder Terry Nelson. President – Laurie Chochinov • Minutes of the 2013 Annual meeting had been made available to Past President – Kathy McEwan members prior to this meeting. No errors or omissions were noted. Membership – Jeannie Grundy Motion to accept the minutes – Sandra Smith, Seconder Gen Nielsen. Secretary – Linda Williams • Due to the absence of Kathy McEwan, President, it was announced Newsletter – Jess Speir that the President’s report would be printed in the June issue of the Special Events – Loralei Valade Tangled Skein. • The slate of nominees for the 2014-2015 Executive was presented to the member by Amanda Schwabe: Newsletter Coordinator: Jessica Speir Special Events Coordinator: Loralei Valade Member-at-Large – Jennifer Hill Member-at-Large (1/2 term) – Linda Williams President: Laurie Chochinov Past President – Kathy McEwan Motion to accept the slate as presented – Suzanne Lesage, Seconder Nancy MacMillan. • No new business was raised. • Motion to close the meeting – Gen Nielsen, Seconder Sandra Smith.

For more information on the AGM and Executive positions, see the Ottawa Knitting Guild Constitution 5 March Meeting Recap - Demystifying Charts with Amanda Schwabe By Amanda Schwabe

Charts can be great tools that streamline the Note: The instruction symbols don’t always take up additional times the pattern tells you to work them. knitting and design process once you know how to the same number of squares as the stitches used. Then, continue on with the instructions remaining in use them. They give an at-a-glance overview of the Instead, they usually take up the number of stitches that row that are outside the red repeat box. stitch pattern. They can cram more instructions into which remain after working the instruction. less space. They show how stitches interact, how It might help if you place a marker between your the pattern grows, and how the columns of stitches Reading Cable & Lace Charts stitches in the place where the red line indicates. should line up, which makes it easier to double That way, you can more easily find where you are check your work. They show the directions of cables These are my favourite charts because they really in your pattern by comparing your knitting to your and decreases. But first, you need to know how to give me a sense of what my knitting should look like chart. Sometimes, you’ll need to shift your stitch read them. before I even get started. markers to keep them in the place indicated in your chart; this can happen if a needs a stitch How to Read a Chart For example, when I’m working a cable chart, I can on the other side of your marker. Just move the stitch see how wide each cable column will be. I can see marker so it’s between the indicated instructions. ~ Each box contains an instruction. (Note: One box rhythms, like how the big cable crosses every other does not necessarily equal one STITCH, but one time the little cable crosses. Reading Colour Charts instruction, like “k2tog” or “p1”) In lace charts, I can see how the yarnover holes Colour charts are relatively easy to read because ~ The chart shows a picture of the instruction as if should line up in the fabric. Do they all flow in a usually, one square does equal one stitch. Most from the Right Side of the fabric. If you’re supposed straight diagonal line? Are the decreases stacked colourwork is done in stockinette (where all the to end up with a knit on the Right Side, but you’re directly on top of one another, or do they move Right Side stitches are knit), so all you need to do is working across the Wrong Side, then you’d purl. The across the fabric in a diagonal or zigzag? The chart knit the stitch in the colour indicated by the chart. Key will tell you what to do. For example, RS: knit, tells me so I can avoid mistakes. WS: purl. When you come across a square that contains both You can also use your charts to show you where a colour and a symbol, that usually means that ~ Use the Key to interpret the symbols. Every chart to put your lifelines. If you always insert a lifeline you’ll work that symbol’s instructions in the colour will come with its own key. after working Row 1, for example, then you know indicated. For example, work a k2tog with blue. that if you need to rip back to your lifeline, you’ll ~ Charts are read one line at a time, as one line be finished Row 1 and starting Row 2. (Tip: Insert a Understanding No-Stitch Squares equals one row of knitting. Start at Row 1, which is lifeline after completing a complex row and before at the bottom of the chart, and knit each instruction working a simple row, like a purl row. It’s quite Sometimes, the Key will show a grey square or an X in order across the row, starting at the right edge difficult to work a decrease into stitches witha symbol and call it a “grey no stitch” square. All that (where the row number is) and moving towards lifeline through them. And make sure you don’t knit means is that there’s no instruction there, so skip to the left for Right Side rows. If the fabric is knit flat, your lifeline together with your stitches!) the next square that contains an instruction. then every other row will be a Wrong Side row, and those are read from left to right (start where the Reading a Motif Repeat Those no-stitch squares are there as place holders row number is) and have to be translated to WS because paper charts made of square grids really instructions. Check your Key. Often, there will be a red box around a section can’t show the fabric bending when stitches are of symbols. The red box indicates a repeat in the removed by decreasing. In real life, the fabric would When you’re done the instructions for Row 1, move pattern, and it’s worked in the same way that a just get smaller, but on the chart, the designer has up to Row 2, and so on. written pattern repeat is worked. Start with the to grey out that part of the chart’s grid that’s no stitches outside the repeat box in that row, then longer useful. ~ When you’re knitting in the round, the begin the instructions inside the repeat box and numbers on the chart will all be at the stop when you reach the second red line. Go back Continued on page 7... right side, and every round to the first red line and repeat that sequence of 6 will be read from right to left. instructions inside the box again, and however many Continued from page 6... Starting with Row 1, write each instruction as a App for Android symbol, moving from right to left on a RS row. ~ Knitting Chart Maker (for creating simple charts Tips for Marking Charts to Keep Your Place on your smartphone) Move to Row 2 and write from left to right, if working Mark each row or round in your chart as you finish a WS row from flat instructions. Don’t forget to Software for Creating Charts it. There are so many tools you can use, from the translate them into their opposites so you’re drawing (These are the professional ones, but I haven’t tried very simple to the very cute: what they’ll look like from the Right Side. (If you’re them all.) ~ a cookie sheet with magnetic strips (I have a charting a pattern that’s already written for in-the- ~ StitchMastery (this is what I use) student who duct-taped hers to the dashboard on a round knitting, write the symbols for Round 2 from ~ Knit Visualizer long car trip, which I thought was brilliant.) right to left and skip the mental calisthenics.) ~ KnitBird ~ a chart keeper ~ Intwined Pattern Studio ~ highlighter / pencil Write all the rows in the chart, and then adjust as ~ sticky notes / arrows / re-useable coloured tape necessary to line things up vertically as well. Don’t Other Options ~ Charteze magnetic strips erase what you’ve already done, but make a new ~ Excel or OpenOffice Spreadsheet. You can use chart beside the first one if you need to. The easiest letters or numbers or symbols, or you can even buy Make a copy of your chart first if you don’t want to way to line things up is to check the placement of a knitting symbol font like StitchMastery’s write on the original pattern. yarnovers or the alignment of decreases. If you’re ~ Good old graph paper and pencil charting a written pattern with edge stitches, then Creating Your Own Charts: Why? sometimes the internal repeat won’t look like it Online Chart Tools lines up, but the outer edges will be straight. That’s ~ Colour Chart Maker at www.tricksyknitter.com Working from written instructions doesn’t give you usually good enough, and it’s probably why the (This is Megan Goodacre’s website; she’s one of our a good visual of what you’re about to do. Who wants edge stitches were necessary to the pattern. members and a local designer/author.) to spend hours trying out a new lace pattern, only ~ www.chart-minder.com to discover that you’ve lined up the stitches wrong Keep practicing until you get more comfortable ~ www.stitch-maps.com but didn’t know it because you didn’t know what it with the process. Start with simple stitch patterns. was supposed to look like? That’s no fun. Charting it Use whatever symbol makes the most sense to Have any of you tried making your own charts since out first can give you more familiarity with a stitch you for each instruction. Knit stitches are usually our meeting? I’d love to hear how it went. pattern before you even begin knitting. empty squares (since they’re the most common instruction), but sometimes it can help to draw You can also use charts to translate a flat stitch them as vertical lines. Purls can be dots or dashes. pattern into circular instructions, to play with cable Decreases can be slanted lines that lean in the placement and spacing, to rearrange or expand direction of the decreased stitches. (For example, stitch pattern repeats, and to plan increases and k2tog leans to the right, and ssk leans to the left.) decreases before trying them out. Write your own key so you don’t forget what you Upcoming Meetings meant. (Ask me how I know this.) April 20 How to Make Your Own Charts Donna Druchunas Charting Apps & Software Grab some graph paper and a pencil and eraser. May 11 Here’s a handy list of some cool tools you can use AGM and Knitting Challenge Winners Check your pattern for clues: how many stitches to make your own charts, mostly for your computer are in the stitch pattern? How many rows are in or smartphone. I haven’t tried them all, and I don’t June 15 the pattern repeat? Count out that many squares necessarily like all the ones I’ve tried, but this is a Yarn Swap on your graph paper as a starting-off point. Position good starting point. your pencil at the bottom right corner and get ready: App for iPad ~ Knit Companion (for reading and marking charts in PDF patterns) [Editor’s Note - see Christine’s 7 article below for more on Knit Companion!] New Members The Knitting Challenge is Almost Here! By Jess Speir, Newsletter Coordinator If you’re a new member, welcome! Here’s a brief overview of what you can expect: Knitting Challenge submissions are due at the meeting on April 20th, so I hope you are almost done! The Library is open every meeting except during Vendors’ Night (an event we have each October that’s more like a vendors’ fair than a meeting, There are two main categories, and three sub-categories, shown below. You where you can buy local and other knitting goodies). Feel free to decide whether your submission is “Large” or “Small”. Each member gets sign out books using your membership card. They’re due back at the next one submission per category/sub-category combination (e.g. Large From a meeting. Pattern, Large Design Your Own, etc).

Once our Membership Coordinator has entered you into the database, All entries should include a copy of the pattern(s). If you’re adapting you’ll get a membership card and access to the Members-Only area of our a pattern, be sure to include notes on your changes. If you’re designing website, www.ottawaknittingguild.ca. You’ll be able to choose your own your own pattern, you’ll need to submit your written pattern. username and password, since the website will recognize you as a member by your email address. There, you can find a list of all the members, back If you have any questions about the Knitting Challenge and what’s eligible, issues of the newsletter, The Tangled Skein, and more. just ask one of the Guild Executive members.

It will take about a month to receive your membership card, to be entered into the database, and to begin receiving The Tangled Skein in your email. Make sure to add “[email protected]” to your safe list in your contacts to prevent the newsletter from going to your Junk folder.

Your membership card also entitles you to discounts at certain local yarn shops. Don’t forget to ask when you check out!

At each meeting, you can expect some announcements, a speaker, a break, a door prize, and Show & Tell. The Show & Tell time is for any and every member to demonstrate what they’ve been working on. We hope you’ll feel welcome to stand up and share, too, right from your very first meeting. To participate, just fill out the little slip of paper at the membership table when you first come in. Then, Laurie (or whoever is chairing the meeting) will call you up to the front with a group of other knitters. Suzanne will take a photo of your knitting for the newsletter, and you’ll have a chance to share a bit about your project.

We also have a group on for chatting and sharing, so feel free Newsletter Deadlines By Jess Speir, Newsletter Coordinator to join us there if you haven’t already! We’ve recently started using our Facebook page more often, too, so be sure to “like” us. There are only two newsletters left this year! The upcoming submission deadlines are: April 22 May 25 Every spring, the Guild hosts a weekend of workshops with a well-known knitting teacher. Please consider contributing to the Tangled Skein. It can be as simple as a knitting quote or joke to an original pattern to a long-form article, Feel free to ask lots of questions. We’re glad you’re here! whatever you like. As long as it is knitting- or Guild-related, all submissions are welcome! Send all your submissions and questions to [email protected] 8 Stitch Doctor By Elizabeth Payne

Bring some waste yarn and needles, or bring your knitting and pattern, to the Stitch Doctor from 7:00 pm until 7:30 pm (before the Guild meeting) in the Friendship Room, off the main corridor near the back of the church. If you are having problems and/or you are interested in some new, improved ways of doing things, or you have suggestions for other knitters, come and meet informally to enrich your knitting experiences and gain new confidence to tackle new projects.

April – A request has been made to provide instruction on how to approach knitting Entrelac. This method of knitting involves knitting rows of rectangles that are oriented at 45 degrees. One needs only to knit, purl and pick up stitches to knit Entrelac.

Instruction and written directions will be provided to cover basic techniques, how to determine tension and size and enough to understand how to interpret an Entrelac .

Because time is very limited in these sessions, if you miss something or need some clarification, see the Stitch Doctor during the meeting break.

Should you have questions about your projects or suggestions for topics, please bring them forward at any time.

Knit and Learn Group By Elizabeth Payne Advertising Rates Come join us to knit together on the first Thursday of each month at the Full Year Single Issue Nepean Museum on Rowley Street off Meadowlands, a few blocks west of Merivale Size Member Non-Member Size Member Non-Member Road, from 10.00 A.M. to noon. The meetings through the spring of 2015 will be Business card $60.00 $80.00 Business Card $7.50 $10.00 held on May 7, and June 4. Quarter Page $120.00 $160.00 Quarter Page $15.00 $20.00 Half Page $240.00 $320.00 Half Page $30.00 $40.00 This group provides Guild members, no matter their level of knitting experience, with an opportunity to informally knit together, exchange ideas, knitting experiences Full Page $400.00 $480.00 Full Page $50.00 $60.00 and friendship, and has the added advantage of obtaining information and help from experienced and Master Knitters.

9 Donna is on Knitty! By Jess Speir, Newsletter Coordinator

Did you know that our April speaker and Spring Workshop teacher, Donna Druchunas, is the author of the regular column Ethnic Knitting Adventures on Knitty? Unfortunately as of the latest issue she is discontinuing the column, Knitting Challenge but you can find all her previous articles by searching the Knitty archives. Her latest column is particularly interesting for anyone signed up for the Sunday submissions are due in APRIL workshops (now full, sadly) as it is on Lithuanian knitting. Past articles include two on Japanese knitting (here and here) so check those out and maybe you Categories: Large & Small will be inspired to sign up for the Saturday workshop! Donna will be here in just Sub-categories: From a Pattern, Adapted over a week - I can’t wait! from a Pattern & Design Your Own

Calling all Facebook Fanatics! And the winners will be

The Executive is looking for one or more volunteers to take over most of the announced in MAY OKG Facebook page. Currently the job of updating the page falls to various Executive members, and not all of us are even on Facebook! We need someone to post regular knitting-related content from the web, and just generally liven the place up a little. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, let us know by emailing [email protected].

Donna Druchunas Workshop - There is still space!

Join Donna Druchunas for a weekend of knitting and learn about Victorian Knitting, reading Japanese Patterns and knitting Lithuanian Socks and Beaded Wrist warmers. Donna is a knitter, teacher and designer who specializes in socks, lace knitting and Lithuanian methods. She has written books on lace, ethnic knitting, stories in stitches and sock knitting.

Chose a half-day workshop, come for a day or reserve a space for the full weekend. The choice is yours. Full payment is required on registration. The Sunday workshop is full but there are still a few spaces in the Saturday and Monday workshops. Please email Kathy at [email protected] if you are interested in one of these last spaces.

Registration forms, along with detailed class information, can be found at the end of this newsletter. Print off a copy, fill it out, and send it to Kathy McEwen (with payment!) at 43 Starwood Rd, Ottawa ON, K2C 1Y9. Registration is now open to the general public.

10 Store Discounts

The Ottawa Knitting Guild thanks the following vendors who are offering discountsto our members. Remember, you should have a current membership card with you when you request the discount.

Crazy Dog Yarns Etsy Shop – free shipping for Ottawa-based shoppers; contact Janet Fougere ([email protected]) EmieCreations - artisanal greeting cards; 10% off all items; also a Stampin’Up demonstrator, 10% off all Stampin’Up products; contact Emilie Poncelet ([email protected]) Knitacious – knitting notions; 10% off all items; contact Nancy Moynihan [email protected]( ) Les Lainages du Petits Mouton – 10% off all purchases; 295 Boulevard Saint-Jean, Pointe-Claire, QC The Real Wool Shop – 10% off all yarn, knitting/crochet accessories including books; 142 Franktown Rd, Carleton Place, ON Wabi Sabi – 10% off all regular priced yarn; 1078 Wellington St W, Ottawa, ON Wool ‘n Things – 10% off all regular priced yarn; 1439 Youville Drive, Unit 2B, Orleans, ON Wool-Tyme – 10% off all regular priced yarn; 190 Colonnade Rd S, Unit 2, Ottawa, ON Yarn Forward – 10% off all regular priced items except for classes; 581 Bank Street, Ottawa and 474 Hazeldean Road, Kanata

Ottawa Knitting Guild Executive Committee We would love to hear from you! If you have any suggestions, comments, thoughts, or questions, then feel free to send any of us an email. We love our Knitting Guild and are committed to making it wonderful.

President Special Events Website Coordinator Laurie Chochinov Loralei Valade Emilie Poncelet [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Treasurer Program Coordinator Membership Coordinator Gen Nielsen Belinda Tully Jeannie Grundy [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Secretary Newsletter Coordinator Members-at-Large Linda Williams Jess Speir Jennifer Hill [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Terry Nelson Librarian Past-President [email protected] Kate Cook Kathy McEwen [email protected] [email protected]

11 The Wonderful World of Knitting Apps articlesBy Christine Rainey their own unique a PDF viewer, JKnit can also translate written Smartphone apps aren’t just for Angry Birds any features - here’s a patterns into a series of interactive “events” on more. In fact, my phone and tablet contain a little information your device, which may take some set up time, virtual stash of knitting applications that make my to help you start but looks as though it would make the knitting a knitting more portable, and help me remember your research and breeze later. JKnit Lite is a free limited version, what I’ve done, learn new skills, and even shop for determine which is while JKnit Pro is $11.99. my actual stash! the best for you. Knitamus - Website & Ravelry Group On my own phone I have: a row counting app (Knit Counter Lite), a ruler app (since I never have a I was attracted to Knitamus measuring tape when I need one - (I’m using Dava Knit Companion - Website & Ravelry Group because of its clean and simple ruler, which I read may not be so good on newer design. It can be a little less than phones)), an app that helps me determine yarn KnitCompanion seems to be one intuitive when you first start, requirements (I use Knit Handy, but you might also of the biggest players in the but once you get going it makes like Crochet Handy), the Craftsy app to keep up charting app game. Its major row counting and movement a on my online knitting courses, and, of course, the selling point is that you can take breeze. It keeps track of how you Etsy app for some direct stash building. However, some time at the beginning of are moving through the rows, the app that I absolutely couldn’t live without is your project to bring different and then uses that information when you repeat my knitting-chart viewing and tracking app. pieces of the pattern together, a section. Knitamus is also connected to Ravelry, meaning you won’t have to virtually flip between which means you can start or update a project About a year ago, I finally learned to knit from pages as you go. But if you don’t want to do the on Knitamus and have it appear on your Ravelry charts, and I haven’t looked back. However, one set up, there are now hundreds of patterns on account. Knitamus is one of the more expensive of the first challenges I encountered was that I live Patternfish.com fully set up for KnitCompanion options; you can try it for free for five projects, and in a paperless household - we don’t have a printer, use. then subscribe for $2.29 for one month, $12.99 for and I’m terrible at keeping track of pieces of paper. six months or $22.99 for one year. Personally, I found KnitCompanion a little complex, Enter the world of chart keeping apps! Not only but there is lots of support on their website ranging Another one of the do I not need paper anymore, these apps keep from basic tutorials to “KnitCompanion University”. great things about my place for me, highlight my working row, let And the complexity allows you to use it in a lot these apps is that me bring whole libraries of patterns on the road, of powerful ways. I think I may graduate to Knit they are always zoom tiny text and symbols, and allow me to leave Companion when I start taking on even more changing - updates myself notes and reminders across a pattern. All of complex knitting projects. There is a free limited and new features these features help keep me calm and cool while version to try and full access costs $1.19 for 30 come around and I knit lace, intarsia or whatever nutty project I’ve days or $11.99 for a year. of course new apps taken on. and technology JKnit - Website & Ravelry Group keep coming to the There are many dedicated knitting-chart viewing marketplace. So, next time you see me poking at and tracking apps available for iOS/Apple Products JKnit is linked with the knitpoint. my tablet or phone at a guild meeting, feel free to now (and I’m sure there are good ones for Android com online knitting pattern store, stop by and I’ll be happy to show you the latest in products too). Some popular ones and any pattern you buy there my knitting “app stash”. include Knit Companion, JKnit and the comes in both a .pdf and JKnit one I use, Knitamus. Each of these have format. In addition, you can use *All prices presented are in Canadian Dollars and email or Dropbox to import PDF accurate in the iOS App Store as of March 11, 2015 12 patterns to JKnit. Beyond being Knitting on the Internet Links submitted by Lynne Moore, Article by Jess Speir, Newsletter Coordinator

I’ve been sent a few links lately to some interesting knitted-related blogs and articles, so I thought I would group them together so you can check them out! If you have any more you would like to share with your fellow guild members, send them to [email protected]. Maybe we can make this a semi- regular feature.

46 Interesting Facts About Knitting This article comes from a site called Random Facts, which has “Fact Lists” of random trivia on a weird variety of subjects. The facts are all sourced from books or other websites, which is unusual for the internet but great to see! Some of the facts won’t be surprising to long-time knitters, but a couple of my favorites are:

“38. For the first four or five hundred years of knitting’s history, the most common knitting materials were cotton and silk, not wool.” “42. In 1566, King Eric of Sweden owned 27 pairs of knitted silk stockings imported from Spain. Each knitted pair cost the same as his valet’s yearly salary.”

One Hundred Years Ago This blog is written by a women named Barbara, from Yorkshire in England. She has spent the past few years sorting and cataloguing the publications held by the UK Knitting and Crochet Guild. On her blog she posts a magazine or newspaper article from 100 years ago to the day, as a way of marking the centenary of WWI. Many are knitting-related, and they are all an interesting look into life on the Home Front in England during the war. You can find the blog and all the archives at onehundredyearsago.blogspot.ca.

One of her recent posts was a pattern for knitted gauntlet mittens from Women’s Own in 1915, called “the correct pattern to be worked for the men at the front”. You can find that posthere .

Knitting in Literature Submitted by Diane Susak

“[The Chief Constable] was, perhaps, not unwilling to get some of his own back, since she had once more been advancing with earnestness a theory which he could not help regarding as being far-fetched and for which he could see no evidence at all. As a result, [Miss Silver] became a little remote and addressed herself to the requisite number of stitches for the first of another pair of stockings in the sadly uninteresting grey wool which is the schoolboy’s universal wear.”

from Through the Wall, by Patricia Wentworth (1952)

Personal Ads

Members of the guild can post one-time personal ads for free; recurring or business-related ads must pay standard advertising rates. Non-guild members looking for knitters to teach knitting or to help with particular projects can also post one-time ads for free. Submissions to the Personal Ads section will be included at the discretion of the Newsletter Coordinator.

Please send all personal ads to the Newsletter Coordinator at [email protected] 13 An Adventure in Knitting, Squares 1-5 By Jess Speir, Newsletter Coordinator

This is the first installment of actual patterns for squares from the Knitting Sampler afghan, originally published in Knitters Forum by Cindy Nicholls (for more the introduction to this recurring feature, please see our March 2015 issue). The squares were originally published in sets of 5, for a total of 50 squares, so that is how I’m going to publish them too.

Cindy’s squares were knit in Pingouin Chunky 75% acrylic / 25% wool with 75m per 50g. Each square was approximately 8.5” wide by 9” high in that yarn. At first she photocopied the swatches for the illustrations but then she switched to photographs, so the illustrations improve dramatically after this first set. Most squares also have accompanying charts as well. The squares all have some sort of edge stitches to allow for seaming later.

I’m currently on a ‘yarn diet’ so as much as I’d like to knit these along with the publication, that will have to wait a month or two. I might catch up in the summer. Is anyone else interested in knitting along, or do any of you have finished afghans from when they were originally published in the 90s? I’d love to see the final result in whatever form it exists!

I’ve transcribed the pattern from the scans so that they are easier to read and fit onto fewer pages. I’ve done my best to maintain Cindy’s formatting throughout. You will find the image of the square to the left of the transcribed pattern text, and the associated chart to the right.

NO. 1 Cast on 32 sts. Row 1: K3, p2, k10, p2, k10, p2, k3. Row 2: Kl, p2, k2, p10, k2, p10, k2, p2, kl. Row 3: K1, p2, k2, p2, k6, p2, k2, p2, k6, p2, k2, p2, kl. Row 4: K3, p2, k2, p6, k2, p2, k2, p6, k2, p2, k3. Row 5: K7, p2, k2, p2, k6, p2, k2, p2, k7. Row 6: Kl, p6, k2, p2, k2, p6, k2, p2, k2, p6, kl. Row 7: K9, p2, k10, p2, k9. Row 8: Kl, p8, k2, p10, k2, p8, kl. Row 9: As Row 5. Row 10: As Row 6. Row 11: As Row 3. Row 12: As Row 4. Repeat Rows 1-12, twice more, then work Rows 1-10 again. Cast off. (46 rows)

14 NO. 2 Special Abbreviations: C2L (Cross 2 Left) slip next st onto cable needle and hold at front of work, knit next st from left-hand needle, then knit st from cable needle C2R (Cross 2 Right) slip next st onto cable needle and hold at back of work, knit next st from left-hand needle, then knit st from cable needle

This swatch introduces the use of a very simple cable and square brackets []. Work what’s inside the brackets, a total number of times given by the number which immediately follows the brackets; in this case each C2L or C2R in brackets is worked 3 times.

Cast on 32 sts. Row 1: K4, * [ C2L ] 3 times, k3; rep from * twice more, kl. Row 2 (and all alt rows): Kl, p30, kl. Row 3: K5, * [ C2L ] 3 times, k3; rep across. Row 5: Kl, C2L, * k3, [ C2L ] 3 times; rep from * twice more, k2. Row 7: K2, C2L, * k3, [ C2L ] 3 times; rep from * twice more, kl. Row 9: K2, C2R, * k3, [ C2R ] 3 times; rep from * twice more, kl. Row 11: Kl, C2R, * k3, [ C2R ] 3 times; rep from * twice more, k2. Row 13: K5, * [ C2R ] 3 times, k3; rep from * twice more. Row 15: K4, * [C2R ] 3 times, k3; rep from * twice more, kl. Row 16: As Row 2. Repeat Rows 1-16 rows twice more. Cast off. (48 rows)

NO. 3 It’s interesting to note that this is a reversible fabric. Cast on 35 sts. Row 1: K2, [p7, kl] 3 times, p7, k2. Row 2: Kl, pl, [k7, p1] 4 times, kl. Row 3: K3, [p5, k3] 4 times. Row 4: Kl, p2, [k5, p3] 3 times, k5, p2, kl. Row 5: K4, [p3, k5] 3 times, p3, k4. Row 6: Kl, p3, [k3, p5] 3 times, k3, p3, kl. Row 7: K5, [p1, k7] 3 times, pl, k5. Row 8: Kl, p4, [kl, p7] 3 times, kl, p4, kl. Row 9: As Row 2. Row 10: As Row 1. Row 11: As Row 4. Row 12: As Row 3. Row 13: As Row 6. Row 14: As Row 5. Row 15: As Row 8. Row 16: As Row 7. Repeat Rows 1-16 twice more. Cast off, purling all sts (“purlwise”). (48 rows) 15 NO. 4 Special Abbreviations: M1 (make one), lift horizontal thread lying before next st and knit it without twisting; m2 (make two), lift horizontal thread lying before next st and knit one through back loop then knit one through front loop; ssk (slip, slip, knit), slip one stitch knitwise then slip a second stitch knitwise then insert the tip of the left needle from left to right into the fronts of the two sts and knit them together from this position. NOTE: The Make One given above is the decorative version, which creates a hole. Make One is normally worked through the back loop, twisting the stitch to close the hole and thus rendering it less visible. The version used in this pattern is not as open and loose as would be a .

Cast on 32 sts. Row 1: Knit. Row 2: K4, p8, k8, p8, k4. Row 3: Kl, p2, k2tog, k3, M2, k3, ssk, p6, k2tog, k3, M2, k3, ssk, p2, kl. Row 4: K3, p10, k6, p10, k3. Row 5: Kl, pl, k2tog, k3, Ml, k2, Ml, k3, ssk, p4, k2tog, k3, Ml, k2, Ml, k3, ssk, pl, kl. Row 6: K2, p12, k4, p12, k2. Row 7: Kl, k2tog, k3, Ml, k4, Ml, k3, ssk, p2, k2tog, k3, Ml, k4, Ml, k3, ssk, kl. Row 8: Kl, p14, k2, p14, kl. Row 9: K2tog, k3, Ml, k6, Ml, k3, ssk, k2tog, k3, Ml, k6, Ml, k3, ssk. Row 10: Kl, p30, kl.

Repeat Rows 1-10, three times more, then work Rows 1-8 again. Cast off. (48 rows)

NO. 5 This swatch introduces two of the basic principles of lace knitting: balanced increases and decreases and symmetrical decreases. There is one decrease for each , and the number of stitches in each row remains constant. The k2tog slants to the right while the ssk slants to the left; used in pairs they mirror each other.

Cast on 31 sts. Purl one row. Row 1 : K2, * ssk, k2, yo, kl, yo, k2, k2tog; rep from * across to last 2 sts, k2. Row 2: Kl, p29, kl. Row 3: K2, * ssk, kl, yo, k3, yo, kl, k2tog; rep from * across to last 2 sts, k2. Row 4: As Row 2. Row 5: K2, * ssk, yo, k5, yo, k2tog; rep from * across to last 2 sts, k2. Row 6: As Row 2.

Repeat Rows 1-6, six times more, then work Rows 1-4 again. Cast off. (47 rows)

16 Photos by Suzanne Lesage unless otherwise noted Write-ups by Jess Speir showMarch and tell Show & Tell

Marianne Kellock (above left) Bulky Socks (Free Socks for the Family by Bernat via Mary Maxim) (above right) Italian Greyhound Sweater, by Graceleb Yarn: Schoeller Stahl Big Print Yarn: Worsted weight from Michaels A basic pair for her. “Since the yarn was larger, I knit the small size and omitted some rows in the chest”. The sweater has a nice long snood. The dog doesn’t go out in the winter, (below left) Winter Set so the sweater is really for the spring. Yarn: Noro Silk Mountain A hat, cowl and mitten set, all with the same yarn. The Hat pattern came from (below right) Caerwent Socks, by Anneh Fletcher Yarn Indulgences, based in Kitchener. The Cowl pattern is Bridger Cowl by Kris Yarn: Turtlepurl Striped Turtletoes Basta, free on Ravelry, and the mittens are the Soft Mitts, free from the Fleece Yarn purchased at Vendor’s Night. The pattern is interesting which makes the Artist website. socks go quick.

17 Kathy McEwen She spent the last 2 months in an RV touring Texas and intended to just knit a couple of shawls and lots of socks. She lost her socks-in-progress and sock needles on a cruise at the start of the trip so she had to knit shawls the whole trip! She brought 5 shawls from the trip to show us and “hopefully won’t be showing any more shawls for awhile”.

(above left) Rose Garden Yarn: Red Sock Blue Sock DK

(above right) Exploration Station, by Stephen West Stephen West’s latest KAL, it has a bunch of different stitches and lots of I-cord. This shawl is the only one she actually planned to knit on the trip.

(centre right) Hugs & Kisses, by Natalia Sha The pattern has lots of hearts in the lace. Made with mystery sock yarn.

(below far right) Follow your Path, by Faith Pembleton Made with a lovely silk/wool blend yarn, it is very soft.This shawl is to go to her step- mother-in-law. “I hope she likes it”.

(below, near right) Oaklet, by Megan Goodacre

18 Beth Sneyd (above) The “Duder” Scarf Yarn: Natural-coloured black Shetland wool Elizabeth Payne She “made it for my husband. It’s so soft and warm!” The wool is from Vendor’s (above) Shrug Night. She wanted to make her military husband something that wasn’t green Yarn: wool for him to wear with his civvies. He really likes it! “What you can do with a rectangle!” The shrug is a double crocheted rectangle, closed partway up the short ends to make armholes. The (below) Spiral Staircase Shawl pattern is easy, just measure your wingspan and the depth from your Yarn: “The Witching Hour” sock yarn neck down to the desired length on your back, then knit or crochet a The yarn has a silver thread running through it that gives it a little sparkle. She rectangle of that size! is “still trying to figurre out how to wear it” but she loves it. (below) Hat, pattern from the Ultimate Hat Book by Vogue Yarn: wool She wanted a hat to go with her jacket, and needed a tall hat “to balance out my round face”. The hat is finished with an I-cord edge.

19 Madelene White (above left) Cowl Her first time knitting in the round without twisting her stitches at the beginning! (above right) Cowl The cowl has a nice curl on the edges A easy vintage lace scarf pattern that she turned into a cowl. Her first time doing lace. (above middle) Cowl Yarn: Red Heart acrylic Her first time knitting with two colours. The pattern was for a scarf butshe Tasha Yovetich made it into a cowl. The pattern uses a 2-below stitch to create the colourwork. (below right) Autumn Blush, by Joji Mocatelli Yarn: Madeleine Tosh Worsted (below left) Scarf “I loved the picture on the pattern and I loved knitting it - it was really fun!! It Yarn: Sakura Silk Blend made my brain explode. It will be a gift for a colleague who is retiring because Her first time doing a drop stitch scarf. It “makes a very pretty pattern”. it isn’t long enough for me.” A highly recommended pattern.

20 Natalie Servant (right) Shawinigan Scarf, her own design Yarn: Indigodragonfly Merino Nylon Sock Part 3 of 12 in the Canadian Art Deco Knits series. The building that inspired the pattern was not on her original list of buildings to photograph, but it jumped out at her. “The building was originally the Montreal base for a whole host of related Shawinigan, Québec companies”.

Jeannie Grundy (below left) Brioche Stitch Baby Cardigan, by Lion Brand Yarn: Cascade Avalon cotton/acrylic She had just finished Natalie Marchant’s brioche stitch book and found a little (below right) 5-Hour Baby Sweater brioche baby sweater on the Lion Brand website. Since her co-workers keep Shown after 4 hours and 55 minutes of knitting, and she was nearly done! having babies she thought she might as well cast on! She had to go down The pattern is free on Ravelry and a quick knit. two needle sizes to get , and “even though the website showed the pattern in a cotton yarn, it really should be in wool”. The cotton is just too heavy for such a dense stitch.

21 Jennifer Hill (left) Afghan from Kaffe Fasset’s Winter 2014- 15 KAL (photo by Jennifer Hill) Yarn: Rowan Pure Wool Worsted Kaffe Fasset made 4 different colour sets for the KAL and she chose the brown set since it matched her decor.

(right) Ikat Wrap Yarn: Paton’s Decor, She “used directions from Laura Byrant’s Craftsy class on ‘Colour Patterning with Hand- Dyed Yarn’”. The class teaches how to use variegated yarns in a different way; you have to figure out how long each colour repeat is in the yarn. “If you don’t like math, forget it”.

Lise Labrecque (left) Pinch Hat, by Cecily Glowick MacDonald Yarn: 50/50 wool/acrylic and 100% wool yarns (knit together) “I made this set [hat & cowl] to add some colour to my all-black cross-country ski outift!! Both were fun & quick knits.”

(right) “For Cold Days” Dickie, by Satu Gröhn “I modified the dickie to make it fit more snug on the neck. I cast on 102 stitches vs 122.” For really cold days you can pull the neck part up over your face.

22 Laurie Chochinov (above) Tam (Dreaming of Shetland, by Donna Druchunas) Yarn: Jamieson Shetland Christine Mattson “I really love fall colours” and she wanted to knit “that particular (above) Lopi Sweater, Design #35 from Alafoss Lopi No. 18, by group of trees”, so she knit a Donna Druchunas tam in her own Védis Jónsdóttir colour palette of Shetland yarn. She had all but one colour already Yarn: Lopi Alafoss wool in her stash and finished it in time to show Donna at the workshops It took her a month and a half to knit, and the sweater used much next month! less yarn than called for, which she finds slightly worrying. It is incredibly warm.

Claudia Howard (right) Cheshire Cat Shawl, by Anna Dalvi, part of her Fairy Tale Lace book Yarn: Possum/merino blend from New Zealand She and her husband went to New Zealand a few months ago and she bought the possum/merino blend yarn as a souvenir. Possum is a very short fibre so there are no 100% possum yarns. The possum “gets all over the place, up my nose and in my mouth and all over” but it is very warm! She also brought home another possum/merino yarn that she may just cuddle instead of knitting it up! That yarn is “totally Sheila’s colours”.

23 Jess Speir (above) Citron, by Hilary Smith Callis Yarn: Grace & Jacobs Hand Dyed Lace The original pattern, free on Knitty, is for a smaller shawl but you can purchase the pattern written for any size and yarn weight (Citron Grand). I figured out the pattern of increases and made mine larger based on the original. The denser sections have double the stitches which is a LOT of knitting! I finished it just in time for Spring and St. Patrick’s Day. I bought the yarn in York, England, on a backpacking trip, and the colourway is named Lime Juice, so its perfect for this pattern! Sheila Weinfurter (above) Toe-Up Tiger Socks (Toe-Up Socks by Wendy D. (right) Thwicked, by Anna Hrachovec Johnson) Yarn: Lion Brand Fun Fur & Cascade 220 Yarn: Hjertegarn Safari The pattern was published on the Her first toe-up socks. She thought she could knit until Mochimochi Land blog on Halloween, she had no yarn left but she stopped at the calf because and I had a ball of fun fur in my stash of otherwise the socks would fall down. She used Judy’s unknown origin (I certainly never bought Magic Cast On and it took her about 6 tries to get it it!) so I used it to make this little guy. right! The yarn was a present in the mail from a friend, He just sits on my desk with no other a former OKG member, who moved North. Her friend purpose except to make me smile. And “doesn’t do orange” and said “every time you wear the to tease the cat. socks you’ll think of me”.

24 yourThe End of thewords Skein Last month, we asked you the question:

What is the strangest knitted home decor item you’ve ever seen?

Editor’s Note: It seems you haven’t been struck by odd home decor items much, since I didn’t receive many submissions! Or maybe the truth is that you feel any knitted item must have value to the one who made it, and so no one item should be called out as “strange”. Either way, I’ll try to come up with some friendlier questions in the future.

The weirdest (to me) home decor pattern I’ve seen was knitted toilet-paper covers that looked like rolls of sushi. I’m not saying I didn’t like them, but they were definitely unforgettably quirky. Amanda S.

I had a look at Ravelry and found a few that puzzled me, like lampshades, or an olive oil bottle drip catcher that would quickly become sticky). There were also chair socks - why would someone want to use these when easy-to-find felt pads allow people to enjoy the natural beauty of the wood? Jennifer H.

The most surprising home decor item I’ve ever seen was a knitted door stopper - it never occurred to me to knit something like that! Of course, I immediately put it in my favorites on Ravelry; just because it was odd doesn’t mean I might not knit it someday. I’ve also seen lattice jewelery hangers, teeny tiny keychains, and of course full sized armchair covers! One of my favourites was the lace shelf edging; a bit of pretty that had no other purpose than to show off the knitter’s talent. If you can cover it or adorn it with some kind of textile, you know there must be a knitter out there who has done it with knitting. Jess S.

Next month’s question is:

Do you prefer knitting with charts or written instructions? What is your favourite way of keeping track in your chart or written pattern?

Send in your answers to [email protected] by April 22nd, 2015

25 Guild Use Only – ENTRY NUMBER: ______(Write entry number on both the entry form and the bag)

Ottawa Knitting Guild Challenge 2015 “Home Decor” Entry Form

NOTE: A COPY OF THE PATTERN USED MUST BE ATTACHED WITH THE ENTRY FORM

Name:

______

Phone Number: E-mail:

______

Address:

______

Category (An entry form is required for each challenge submission -- please circle the applicable category for this submission):

Large Item * From a pattern * Modified from a pattern (modifications must be identified) * Own design

Small Item * From a pattern * Modified from a pattern (modifications must be identified) * Own design

Name of Pattern:

______Ottawa Knitting Guild Workshops A Weekend with Donna Druchunas- April 18-20, 2015

All workshops will take place at the Victoria Suites Hotel, 377 O’Connor Street, Penthouse Salon

Join Donna Druchunas for a weekend of knitting and learn about Victorian Knitting, reading Japanese Patterns and knitting Lithuanian Socks and Beaded Wrist warmers. Donna is a knitter, teacher and designer who specializes in socks, lace knitting and Lithuanian methods. She has written books on lace, ethnic knitting, stories in stitches and sock knitting. Chose a half-day workshop, come for a day or reserve a space for the full weekend. The choice is yours. Sign up early!! There is a maximum of 20 students per session. Reservation is on a first come, first served basis, with registration opening for Guild members as of November 17th, 2014 at the OKG Guild Meeting. Full payment is required on registration. Registration is open to the general public on January 19th. Registration includes morning & afternoon coffee/tea breaks. Knitters should bring their lunch as there will not be enough time for lunch at a restaurant in the area. The Ottawa Knitting Guild will be hosting a dinner with Donna on Saturday night. Please check the box on the registration form to indicate your interest.

Complete the registration form and return it with payment (please make cheques payable to “Ottawa Knitting Guild”) at an OKG meeting or by mail to: Kathy McEwen, 43 Starwood Rd, Ottawa ON K2G 1Y9. For further information please contact: Kathy McEwen ([email protected]).

Here are the classes that will be offered:

Explore Japanese Knitting: Sweaters, Saturday, April 18th, 9:00- 4:00 (6 hours)

Japanese knitting books are hot right now. Although the patterns are written entirely in Japanese, they are not impossible for American audiences to read. Very light on text and very heavy on charts and schematics, with a cheat sheet of translations, any adventurous knitter can enter the world of Japanese knitting. In this class we will learn how to read Japanese patterns, focusing on the charts and schematics. Because Japanese patterns usually are written for one size -- small or extra-small -- we will also learn how to resize the patterns for larger American bodies. In addition, we will learn a few interesting Japanese stitches and techniques that can be used to add an extra level of finesse to any project.

Experience Level: Advanced. Knitters should have experience knitting several sweaters from patterns.

Lithuanian Beaded Wristwarmers, Sunday, April 19th, 9:00 – 12:00 (3 hours)

Beads add a fabulous touch! Knowing just the basics of knitting, you can easily create colorful designs with beads. Using only garter stitch and learning how to read and work from beading charts, in this workshop, we will make beautiful jeweled wrist warmer cuffs that are inspired by those popular in Lithuania. We will also learn beautiful crochet trim stitches - with and without beads, for trimming the wrist warmers. Experience Level: Beginners welcome! If you can do the knit stitch, you can make these beaded wristers.

Lithuanian Sock Heels and Toes, Sunday, April 19th, 1:00-4:00 (3 hours)

Working from instructions Donna has translated from vintage Lithuanian knitting books, we will knit several types of heels and toes that I have never seen used in contemporary American knitting patterns. We will also look at different types of sock construction used in Lithuania in the 19th century, and discuss the history and cultural development of Lithuania, with a focus on influences on knitting patterns and techniques used in the country. We will learn how to knit an unusual heel that also has a gusset, a stair-step heel, and several variations of heel stitches for heels with flaps. We will also look at several ways to shape toes including two unusual spiral designs with decorative decreases. I will have a selection of hand-knit socks from Lithuania to examine up close. Students will also receive a collection of colour work and lace charts for sock stitches that are popular in Lithuania.

Experience Level: Intermediate, need to know how to knit with double-pointed needles, and have made at least 1 pair of socks

Victorian Knitting, Monday, April 20th, 9:00-4:00

Have you ever found a beautiful pattern in an antique knitting book with bewildering instructions that gave you a headache? In this class, we will look at several Victorian knitting patterns and discuss how to interpret the instructions for today's knitters. We will discuss gauge, sizing and materials and will look at a glossary of knitting terms that compares those from Victorian times with modern terminology and techniques. We will also learn how to chart lace and texture patterns to make them easier to work with. We will go over the basics of charting using graph paper and pencil, and we will also learn about a variety of charting fonts, spreadsheet tools, and software programs for Mac and Windows

Experience: Intermediate. Knitters should have basic knitting skills plus experience with knitting lace and reading charts. Ottawa Knitting Guild Workshops with Donna Druchunas Registration Form April 18-20, 2015

Location: Victoria Suites Hotel, 377 O’Connor Street, Penthouse Salon

Name: ______

Email: ______

Phone: ______

Guild Member: Yes  No 

Complete the registration form and return it with payment at an OKG meeting or by mail to: Kathy McEwen, 43 Starwood Road, Ottawa ON K2G 1Y9. Please make cheques payable to “Ottawa Knitting Guild”

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Workshop Check Guild Use Guild Use Selection Registered Waitlisted Exploring Japanese Knitting: Sweaters (6 hrs) Saturday, April 18th, 9:00- 4:00 Lithuanian Beaded Wrist Warmers (3 hrs) Sunday, April 19th, 9:00 – 12:00 Lithuanian Socks Heels and Toes (3 hrs) Sunday, April 19th, 1:00-4:00 Victorian Knitting (6 hrs) Monday, April 20th, 9:00-4:00 Amount Due

I will join Donna and other knitters for dinner April 19th, 2015 (time and location will be determined later) Yes □ No □

Workshop Costs

½ Day Workshop OKG Members $45 Non-Members $55 1 Day Workshop OKG Members $90 Non-Members $110 2 Day Workshops OKG Members $165 Non-Members $195 3 Day Workshops OKG Members $235 Non-members $270