STITCHES South 2011

If you haven't already, now is the moment to pull out your datebook (or iToy) and highlight 14-17 April 2011 for STITCHES South.

You can download the brochure in .pdf form by clicking the link at the bottom right, or you can view it on Flickr by clinking the link in the upper left. In the midst of all the holiday hub-bub, isn't it nice to be able to curl up with the STITCHES South 2011 brochure, read up on all the great classes, pick out a few (or a few more than a few), sign up, and then fantasize all winter about how great the weekend will be? And the beautiful thing about this is that the weekend will be even better than the fantasy. If creativity is one of the big factors in keeping America competitive in the 21st century global economy, then knitters will have no trouble continuing to do their part. XRX asked teachers to come up with more new and unusual classes, and the teachers responded in full. If you see a class description that looks interesting but you'd like more information, extended descriptions are available online when registration opens.

Opening Day begins with Anna Zilboorg, author of Knitting for Anarchists, Magnificent Mittens and Socks, and other books including Fancy Feet: Traditional Knitting Patterns of Turkey and Simply Socks: 45 Traditional Turkish Patterns to Knit. While the objects may be small in size, they are big in color, pattern, and knitting interest. I hope she brings LOTS of samples.

There are several fashion shows this time. In addition to the usual Friday night fashion show, there is a show on Friday at noon featuring Jean Frost jackets and a show Saturday at noon featuring projects from Knitter's magazine. Teachers á la Carte is still Thursday at lunch. This is a great opportunity to meet the teachers in person. If there is a still-open class you are thinking about or a teacher you are curious about, Teachers á la Carte is your chance to go straight to the primary source.

And the Pajama Party returns on Friday night. Glee!

The weekend wraps up with the Saturday student banquet for all you Show & Tell junkies (myself included) and the Cash Grand Prize Drawing on Sunday at 1 PM. And, of course, the Market is open the whole weekend. Do notice that this year STITCHES South falls at the end of tax season rather than after it, so do be sure to file early if you expect a rebate. You never know who is going to show up in the market with something that isn't normally in stock in the local shops. (I know, it is hard to believe there is anything that isn't normally in stock around here, but I've found a few.)

While you are online registering, head over to this link to register to get a digital copy of Knitter's magazine issue 100. You can also sign up to receive your subscription digitally, which is very useful if your bookshelf space seems shrink. Digital copies are also handy if you want to print out and mark up a pattern so that the magazine isn't dog-eared beyond recognition after a couple months' journey in a knitting bag.

Registration for STITCHES South opens Monday 22 November at 10 AM Eastern time. Early bird pricing runs until 10 February. This gives all those dear hubbies/sweeties out there a chance to indulge their knitters for Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Yule or later for Valentine's Day. I suppose they could surprise us for Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Dr. King's Birthday, and Groundhog Day too.

November meeting

While many of us were undoubtedly disappointed that Karin Skacel couldn't join us this month, the show still needed to go on. And it went rather well. :-)

Many of us were still basking in the glow of beads and lace and our weekend of Sivia Harding workshops. Diana wisely invited graduates of the Moonrise necklace workshop to show off their jewelry.

From left to right: Marian, Linda F, Whit, Jane, Sharon W, and Joyce.

There were questions and prizes including Skacel Acryl-no-Ick yarn donated by Needle Nook, a Friday Night Knitting Club bag donated by Needle Nook, and a skein of Twisted Sisters Petite Voodoo (merino & silk) and matching Japanese Magatama beads donated by Only Ewe and Cotton Too and The Bead Bug.

Show and Tell is always, always, always interesting with this group. Always. Even if there is nothing else going on in the evening (which is never), it is always worth going to the meeting just to soak up the inspiration. Tom from Knitting in the Woods (a campground and knitting retreat) was at the meeting. He and his friend Tim were knitting athletic supporters out of Cascade Fixation, a cotton sock yarn with elastic in it. When I mentioned this to Elyse, she pointed out that Fixation is the only yarn she knows of from which you could knit a bathing suit that would stay up.
But back to show and tell. Tom showed off this breathtaking lace receiving blanket he knit for his new grandson who is due in January. The pattern is Tom's own interpretation of Estonia lace right down to the nupps! Art showed off his very first knitting project -- a scarf in plain blocks of color. He mentioned some of his experiences with changing tension, and many of us in the room nodded in sympathy. Margaret had several beautiful projects including a secret sock knit along with the Nautical Knitter that included lace, beads, and Bavarian traveling stitches. I guess if you make it secret, you don't scare people away until after they've cast-on and are committed. And Becky showed a knitted shawl/tablecloth that her mother bought at an antique store. The dealer said it was crocheted, but it is clearly knitted and so needed to go home with someone who could tell the difference. It looks as if it might even be linen! Hard to believe somebody had given it away. This is why you have to pass at least a little of the knitting skill down through your family -- so that somebody will understand and appreciate your accomplishments when you are gone.

Next month should be plenty of fun with the presentation of the bears and the holiday potluck. Show and tell is bound to feature lots of holiday gifts ready to be wrapped!

Grey's Knitted Anatomy?

Sorry I didn't come across this sooner, as it would be perfect for Halloween. Better late than never. Follow this link to an anatomically-correct knitted skeleton by Ben Cuevas.

Thanks to Brenda Dayne of Cast-On podcast for mentioning this in episode 93 and providing the link in her show notes.

Change of Plans

Alas, Karin Skacel will not be coming to Atlanta Knitting Guild this month. We hope to be able to reschedule her and the Artfelt workshops.

We have a great program planned for our meeting on Thursday evening, “Bearly…In Control”. We will have a fun knit-in to help get our bears dressed for presentation at the December meeting. Plus, you never know the surprises Diana & Marian may have in store for us!