T I D E W A T E R K N I T T I N G G U I L D O F V I R G I N I A

Purls of WisdomAU G U S T

M E E T I N G

Monday, Aug. 6Help Clinic, 6:30 p.m.

Meet and Greet, 7 p.m.Business Meeting, 7:15 p.m.

Program will beKilling Acrylic.

Westminster Canterbury3100 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach

Check tkgv.blogspot.com to con-firm the meeting date. Questions?

Email us at tkgv1@yahoo.com.

August 2012

A Message from Our President

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

2 Member Birthdays, Calendar, Super Raffle, New Member3 Charity Knitting, Get Social 4 Q&A with Suzie Wilkins5 Men’s Knitting Retreat 6 Meeting Minutes

There was a lot of yarn at the July meeting to be sold or traded. I hope everyone found a few treasures as well as an opportunity to move their stash along. I know I was able to do both. Our August program is “Killing Acrylic.” That is all I am go-ing to say. If you want to know more, be there August 6. I recently returned from vacationing in the Asheville, N.C., area, which I knew had a reputation as an arts-and-craft center. That is an understatement because what I saw was more than I expected. The craftsmanship of the potters, weavers, woodcutters and jewelry makers blew me away. Gorgeous! Gorgeous! Gorgeous! Of course the yarn shops I visited weren’t bad either -- in fact, down right dan-gerous to the budget. Much to my husband’s surprise and delight, Asheville has been labeled the #1 beer city in the USA for the last three years. Our deal was that for every yarn shop I visited, he got to go to a brewery to sample. Amazingly, the yarn shops all had a sitting area where he could hang out and play with his phone while I “looked.” And when he tasted beer, I would knit. We got a few stares, but who cares, we were both happy. Asheville is a great place for the whole family with something for everyone. I just want to report that the huge VT knee sock I knit for my son fits. I have decided that my knit challenge for the duration of the Olympics will be to start and finish the second sock. If you have seen the first sock, you will know why this will be a challenge. Have you decided what your Olympic challenge will be? In closing, I want to recognize and congratulate our very own great newsletter editor, Sonja Barisic, who is a 2012 Pinnacle Awards winner for her outstanding public relations work at St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children. High five, Sonja. Debbie Henderson

T R E A S U R E R ’ S R E P O R T

Submissions for the September issue of the newsletter are

due August 15. Email Editor Sonja Barisic at

snbarisic@gmail.com.

Our current bank balance is $3,109. Beverly Boler

Mark your calendars, please, for a fantastic celebration. As the premiere dealer for Buffalo Gold yarn in the area, we have been granted the honor to host an exclusive Trunk Show for them on July 28. The shop will be opening a little later than usual that day and staying open late. We'll have goodies to fondle, prizes to give away, and nibbles to share. We'll also have some surprises in store, in true KnitWits fashion. Please plan to join us for fun, yarn and roaming buffalo! We've also brought in some yummy new indie brands for you to check out, as well as giving you some extra incentive via the world of technology! Check out Facebook and Ravelry to get all the details!

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yarn Ş patterns Ş notions Ş classesall in the company of friends.

945 Providence Square Shopping Ctr Ş Virginia Beach757-495-6600 Ş knitwitsyarn.com

Mark Your CalendarsGuild meetings start with Meet and Greet at 7 p.m., followed by the Business Meeting at 7:15 p.m. The Guild also offers a Help Clinic, starting a half-hour before the meeting.

July 28 – Buffalo Gold Trunk Show at KnitWits. Information: 495-6600.

Aug. 6 – Guild Meeting. Program: “Killing Acrylic,” led by Sue Von Ohlsen.

Nov. 8-12 – Men’s 2012 Fall Knitting Retreat, Cleveland, S.C. Information: Rusty Boyd, smalltownknitguy@gmail.com. Also see flier on page 5 of this newsletter.

Nov. 13 – TKGV knitting technique classes led by Nancy of Nancy’s Knit Knacks. Details coming.

March 7-10, 2013 – TKGV Outer Banks Knitting Retreat. Hampton Inn, Corolla, N.C. Details coming.

D O N ’ T F O R G E T T H E S U P E R R A F F L E The super raffle for a large basket of high-quality yarns from Joanne Fischer’s stash will continue through the October Guild meeting. Proceeds will go toward education expenses for the March 2013 knitting retreat.

M e m b e r B i r t h d a y s T h i s M o n t h Ruby Roberts Aug. 9 Sonja Barisic Aug. 24

Helen Prestipino Aug. 16 Gloria Bownas Aug. 25

Carol Cowan Aug. 28

W E L C O M E N E W M E M B E R : A M E L I A ( M E L T W I N I N G )

NEW CLASSES & NEW YARNS The Yarn Club has started a new series of classes and workshops to keep you out of the heat. Please check our website for de-tails or pick up a calendar at our shop. Classes include Seaming and Techniques, Wet Felting, Nuno Felting, Set-In Sleeves, Make It Another Gauge-Math for Knitters, Longitudinal Socks, Knitting and Crocheting with Beads, Brioche and Fingerless Gloves on DPNs. The crazy garden yarn from Pagewood Farms is here. We also received beautiful roving and pencil roving. Spinners delight, these colors rock! Have you seen the silk scarf felting kits? WOW! The possibilities are endless. For those who might be hesitant to jump out on their own, Hazel will be teaching a class on how to create masterpieces with this kit in her Nuno Felting Class. Acadia from The Fibre Co. arrived this week. Check out the Quaking Aspen free pattern on Ravelry. Every color combination works wonders.I love this shawl. Madtosh has done it again. We received our sportweight shipment and the DK and Pashmina are on their way. We are still working on the Vodka Lemonade and Color Affection KALs. It’s not too late to jump in. Tosh is the perfect yarn to keep you knitting quickly for the Ravellenic Games. Tilli Thomas Artisan Sock ROCKS! With 440 yards per skein, this yarn is for much more than socks.Try it in a Color Affection or Fickle Knitter’s St. Tropez. Also coming in are some of those great yarns and amazing square needles I picked up at TNNA. Shibui has shipped and so has Zen Garden. Yippy! Ahhhhh ... The holidays are just around the corner!! But wait! Have no fear! Fun new yarns from Berroco are arriving weekly. We are getting in the full line this winter to spice up those cold and cloudy days.These yarns are perfect for quick holiday gifts. Stay cool and knit happy, Andrea.

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240 Mustang TrailSuite 8Virginia Beach, VA 23452

C h a r i t y K n i t t i n g U p d a t eBy Chris Goudeau Please remember those in need when you are looking for a project to start. Here’s a recap of the local or-ganizations asking for knitted/crocheted items: Pet blankets – Virginia Beach and Norfolk animal shelters Baby blankets – Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society 8” squares – Hugs from the Heart (hospice patients) Hats and scarves for Veterans – American Red Cross Caps/blankets for kids – St. Mary’s Home, Project Linus, Newborns in Need

Bring your items to be donated locally to the next meeting and we’ll see that they are distributed. Remem-ber to sign the Charity Knitting log each month when you attend our meetings or email me at cgoudeau@cox.net.

Find us on Facebook. Read our blog.

To find us on Ravelry, sign with your free account, go to the Groups tab and search for Tidewater Knitting Guild of Virginia.

Get Social with The

Knitting Guild of Virginia

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GET TO KNOW A KNITTER: SUZIE WILKINSThis month, Linda Johnson interviews fellow Guild member Suzie Wilkins.

Q. When did you know you were a knitter? What project/class/thoughts made you think "I'm a knitter?” A. I knew I was meant to knit when my husband told me I always hit the pause button to look at an actress’s sweater or knitted items while watching movies. Then I realized I  purchased a lot of things that look like handmade items. I then strolled into the knitting store a few doors from my office and signed up for my first class. I immediately fell in love with all of the colors and textures. I  was hooked!  Q. What do you enjoy knitting? A. I enjoy knitting sweaters and shawls the most. For several years I worked with baby alpaca and made about 100 scarves. Then I moved on to hats. My first sweater was a vest and it had a major moving cable pattern. I almost swore off sweaters  right then and there but when I was finished I was SO proud of my accomplishment. And that is such a wonderful feeling, starting and finishing a project with a pleased outcome. Guaranteed satisfaction.  

  Q. Do you knit the same pattern more than once? If so, what's one of your favorites? If not, why. A. I use to do scarves and hats repeatedly. I sometimes love something so much that I intend to make a garment  more than once, even buying the yarn to do so. In the end, by the time I finish my sweater or shawl my mind has moved on to the next project. When I "visit" my stash, I rethink those yarn  projects.  Q. You're fleeing a band of marauding zombies. You can only pack one medium-sized knitting bag. What's inside? A. Wow! What a  question -- have you seen my stash? I mean seriously, that would not be a pretty sight!  I guess I would take some of my newest  loves: Artyarn, specifically Rhapsody glitter light, and older loves, Blue Heron -- I have so many colors! Some Malabrigo, Manos and a few Maryland Sheep and Wool prizes. And of course my signature needles! Fortunately I have very large medium-sized bags.  Q. When you're not knitting, what do you enjoy doing? A. When I'm not  knitting (and I don't get to do enough of that!) I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I also have a passion for helping others create their own sense of style.  I enjoy working with people in their closets to determine what are the best looks for them and what items they should add to their wardrobe. We are happier when we feel our best inside and out. And  it's just not as hard as we think. Not to mention wearing all of our gorgeous knitted items in the best possible way! Basically organizing and creating a beautiful space all around us is what I love to do. Shall we start by creating our own knitting rooms?

 

Top left, Suzie Wilkins models a tank top she knit in Blue Heron, combining several patterns, and her “Summer Flies” shawl. Bottom right, Wilkins shows off the back of the shawl; the free pattern is on Ravelry.

August sale: SILKWORM APPRECIATION DAYS!

Silk is the perfect year-round fiber, so any yarn containing silk will be on sale for 20 percent off. Sale includes, but is not limited to: Elsebeth Lavold SILKY WOOL, Debbie Bliss ANGEL, Manos LACE and SILKY BLEND, Juniper Moon FINDLEY, Louisa Harding MULBERRY and GRACE HAND-DYED, Cascade HERITAGE SILK. Hope to see you soon! 

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Thirty-One Gifts’ motto is CELEBRATE, ENCOURAGE & REWARD. August is a great time to celebrate friendships, to encour-age those who come into your home with kind words and hospitality and in turn you will reward yourself with close friendships. Thirty-One Gifts offers exclusive products for women that are beautifully designed with many fabric choices from flashy and sassy to reserved and classy. Items include skirt purses, various thermal totes, a wide variety of organizing bins and totes (great for holding knitting projects and yarn) and Mini Zipper and Zip-Up Pouches for your knitting notions. What a better way to get your knit-ting and yarn organized then with Thirty-One products!

So Much To Cheer About In August!August Monthly Customer Special: For every $31 you spend, you can choose any item from the Spirit Collection for 50 percent off! Just shy of $31… personalize something for a special flat fee of $5. Colors include: Gray, Black, Maroon, Navy Blue and Orange. Thirty-One is excited to offer a brand new Spirit Collection Color to the mix, Purple AND… Introducing Icon-It … In addition to personalizing your bag with a name or phrase, add an icon too! During August get both for just $5. Icons are: Football, Baseball, Basketball, Soccer Ball, Crown and Flower. Three new embroidery threads are: Maroon, Burnt Orange and Forest Green. Remember, all personalization counts toward your $31 total. No party required; orders can be placed at anytime. Visit my webpage to view the complete catalog and monthly special, or place an order. If you have questions or would like to receive the monthly specials flyers via email, please contact me. Mention my ad when ordering - 5 percent of sales will be donated to the Guild.

TKGV MEETING MINUTES, 7/2/12 The president opened the July 2012 meeting at 7:12 p.m. by welcoming the guest and a charter member. The minutes of the June 2012 meeting were approved. The treasurer gave the treasurer’s report advising the Guild’s bank balance is $2,967.15. The president advised she will discuss proposed changes to the TKGV by-laws at the August meeting. We will vote on the proposed changes to the by-laws at the September meeting. The president solicited volunteers to run for 2013 TKGV Board positions. Please contact the president or vice president if you are interested in running for a 2013 TKGV Board position. The president advised the Guild seeks volunteers to write articles about other members or to volunteer to have an article written about them in the Guild’s newsletter. In addition, the Guild seeks articles about book reviews, new knitting techniques and the like for the newsletter. The president advised we are offering a super raffle item at the July, August, September and October meetings. The item is a large basket of high-quality yarns from Joanne Fischer’s stash. The proceeds from the raffle will go to the education expenses for the March 2013 knitting retreat. The president advised we will hold a knitting retreat March 7–10, 2013 at the Hampton Inn, Corolla, N.C. A committee will meet on July 20, 2012 to organize the retreat. If you are interested in working on the retreat organization committee, please contact the president. The president advised the Guild will hold another judged knitting contest in May 2013. The same rules as 2012 will apply with the additional category of original work and the requirement of the submissions being completed since the May 2012. The vice president and other Guild members assisted members with answers to “Ask the Experts” knitting questions. The August program will be led by Sue Von Ohlsen on how to “kill” acrylic yarn, i.e. how to block acrylic projects. After the Guild enjoyed the show and share time, the Guild enjoyed the Ways and Means Committee’s raffle of yarns based on a red, white and blue theme. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted,

Katie Gerwien Secretary, TKGV