A Very Good Cause

Diana mentioned this in the most recent newsletter, but it bears having a link here, too. XRX is currently having a fundraiser to help Sue Nelson, who is a member of the XRX editorial department and someone many of you have probably met at STITCHES. Sue has been fighting ovarian cancer. She has exhausted the current treatment options, but has been accepted into a trial at Colorado University. Because the trial is experimental, insurance coverage is iffy. Plus, Sue will need to fly back and forth to Colorado, as well as sometimes stay there for extended periods of time.

To raise money to help Sue and her family pursue this course of treatment, XRX is raffling off The Great American Afghan. This is The Object Itself that was knit and photographed for the book. A chance costs $10. The winner will be drawn sometime after 6 PM on Friday 8 April 2011. Follow this link to learn more. Follow this link to go straight to the online store where you can buy a raffle ticket.

Thank you everyone for your compassion.

Gangsta Knittas

"Yarn bombing" is part of a movement to humanize and beautify the urban environment. Follow this link to learn more.

Thank you to Linda F. for the link!

Malabrigo Merriment

Okay, so maybe Habu and Japanese patterns are interesting, but just not your particular thing. Maybe you'd rather roll in colorful wooliness south of the border? As an alternative activity on Wednesday 13 April, you could instead go to The Whole Nine Yarns to meet Tobias Feder, owner of Malabrigo Yarns. Tobias will be able to autograph books and he'll bring along a trunk show of lovely, sensual Malabrigo goodness. Many of you have been smitten with Rasta this winter, so here's your chance to thank Tobias personally for making yarns that look like Tiffany stained glass.

How Do You Habu?

At our February meeting, Rhoda showed off some finished garments and kindly explained how to read Habu Textile patterns. Habu is a Japanese company, so their elegant minimalist patterns are written in a schematic form. The nice part is, you don't have to read Japanese. But the schematic is a little different, so Rhoda walked us through the basics.

If you've caught the Habu bug and would like to try more, then you will want to clear your calendar on Wednesday 13 April. Habu Textiles founder Takako Ueki will be teaching workshops at Knitch. In addition to the workshops, students will also enjoy a private trunk show of Habu Textiles garments. This is a chance to try on the garments and experience for yourself the clean lines and unique textures. For more information, follow this link to Knitch's class & event listings, then scroll down.

Happy 35th

Congratulations to long-time Atlanta Knitting Guild member and affiliate Needle Nook. This weekend the shop celebrates 35 years in business! There will be door prizes, free giveaways, and a trunk show amidst the celebration this Saturday and Sunday. And we've also heard that Arlene is recovering very well and getting around like a real a pro now that she has new knees. So while you are out running around in this beautiful spring weather, drop in on the party at Needle Nook.

March Bear Challenge

In January you had a chance to try knitting in the round. In February you got to try cables. For March, we have a pattern that involves short rows.

Short rows are a wonderfully useful technique in which only part of the fabric grows taller while another part does not. Short rows are most often encountered in sock heels, but you can also use them to shape sleeve caps or bust darts. In this month's pattern, short rows are used to shape the bottom of a pair of trousers. This is a great little knit for those permanently-seated bears. Jean has even incorporated a little hole so the bear's tail can peek out.

And a reminder, Jean could really use dressed bears for the table at STITCHES South in mid-April. If you have a bear and can dress it by the April meeting, or even just bring it to STITCHES, that would be very much appreciated! Jean and Debra are continuing to keep track of bear donations, so just be sure when you drop off you finished bear that your name is listed for the contest. As always, bear pattern can be downloaded from this page of the AKG website.

Combat Knitting

Here's a link to a wonderful Washington Post article about US service personnel knitting in Afghanistan.

(Link courtesy of both Woofgangpug and the Bard.)

Craft Show Gathering

The American Craft Council is hosting a major show this weekend at the Galleria. Ya'all already know how to find the Galleria, because that's where STITCHES South is! The show will feature more than 200 craft artists in a wide variety of media, not just textiles. Admission is $13 per person or $20 for a 3-day pass. Friday night after 5 PM, admission is just $5.

But here's the cool deal. If you show up for the Friday night Stitch 'n' Bitch and bring your yarn and knitting needles, then admission is free after 5 PM! There will also be a group of us teaching the uninitiated how to knit. This is a chance to show our knitting pride! See you there!

Claudia Hand Paint Trunk Show

Atlanta Knitting Guild has a new affiliate: Eat Sleep Knit. Erin was at our meeting this month, and I'm sure everyone made her feel very welcome. Those of us in Cobb County know this as the "secret" shop with weird hours in the industrial park. Erin has primarily built this as an online business, hence the peculiar location. She has chosen to specialize in hand-dyed and hand-painted yarns. And if Eat Sleep Knit carries a particular yarn brand, she carries that yarn in a full range of weights and colors.

It is also nice that Eat Sleep Knit has joined at this particular moment. This Wednesday the 9th, Eat Sleep Knit will be hosting Claudia McLean of Claudia Hand Painted Yarns from noon until 2 PM. Claudia will be bringing a trunk show of multicolored knitted goodness. Now is also a good time to mention that there is a Shawl the Love contest sponsored by Claudia Hand Painted Yarns. Information on categories and prizes is available here.

Here are the directions:
Eat Sleep Knit
1600 Wilson Way SE Suite 9
Smyrna GA 30082
770-432-9277
Take I-285 to Exit 15 and go north on South Cobb Drive.
Get over in the left lane immediately.
At the first light, turn left on to Highlands Parkway.
Staying in the right lane, drive about a mile.
Turn right on to Wilson Way SE. (This is after you pass the lake on the left.)
Drive to the "end" of the street -- it is a really weird loopy not-quite cul de sac. You can pause at the end of the road to get your bearings.
The 1600 building will be ahead of you and slightly to the right. (If straight ahead is twelve o'clock and directly to the right is three o'clock, this building is at about one o'clock.)
Suite numbers ascend left to right.
If you have a GPS device, the front door is N33° 50.006′ W084° 30.492′. (My Garmin was okay with the address until I got on to Wilson Way SE.)