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A newsletter of the Atlanta Knitting Guild: Bringing Atlanta's knitters together
Next meeting - May 4 - 7:30 p.m.
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President's message
Susan Duralde
Hi Friends,
Well, we close a year of the knitting guild and begin a new one. In May, we will do the following:
- Show off your Knit A Long projects
- Final registrations for Charles Gandy classes
- Elect a new slate of officers
- Renew our membership for 2017-2018
- Get your input on plans for the coming year
Charles Gandy is coming May 6-7. There is room in each class. There will be a door prize given to one lucky winner in each class. Register today!
It has been a great honor to be your president. Without a doubt, the greatest benefit I've received from my involvement is the depth and breadth of new friendships I've formed while working on board projects. Before I joined the board as Jr. VP of Programs five years ago, I didn't know anyone. Zero. I sat in meetings wondering if anyone would introduce themselves to me. I decided if I wanted that to change, I needed to do something about it.
Now, I count scores of friends with whom I have a strong connection and see many more whom I am looking forward to knowing better. I am continually impressed by the intelligence, character and creativity of our members. If you haven't met many people yet, know that the ground is fertile for the growth of rich relationships. Just get involved. It is easier to connect when you share a goal and work together to provide benefit to others.
I am extremely proud of the progress the board and all the wonderful volunteers have made to the quality and variety of programs and events we have sponsored and the growth we've experienced in members and treasure. Highlights include:
- Roughly double money in cash account
- Increase of membership from approximately 120 to 170 (150 is breakeven)
- Increase of superstar events from 1 to 2
- Special events include YARN, two trips to Wandering Fox Alpaca farm
- An exceptional round-the-world KAL led by Pam Cornutt and Ashley Jackson
- Move of the library with a majority of books' patterns now searchable on Ravelry
- Creation of a database for capturing and sharing best practices and institutional memory, thus improving board collaboration and handoff of work from board to board
- Expansion of newsletter and web content
- Multiple high-quality workshops all participation that exceeded break-even
- Publishing online directory through the newsletter
- Membership data tracking information that tells us more about how we are doing
We still have many ideas on how to continue our growth and further improve our member experience. Some of our efforts this year - Purl Power, directory updates, help desk, mentoring, among others, need additional work or scraping in favor of something that will provide greater benefit to more members.
This takes talent and elbow grease.
Much of the work can be done from home, with a computer and telephone on your own time. The more people we have involved, the more we can back each other up when life intrudes, as it does! So, please consider exploring how we can fit your talent and time into a contribution that works for us and the guild. Perhaps you have a friend with whom you can team to accomplish a job?
We are still searching for a good people - you! - to fill key positions.
Think for a minute about what will happen to your guild experience if no one takes the job. Exactly! Please contact Jill if you are at all interested. jillwc@aol.com.
I am pleased to announce the nomination of officer candidates.
President: Jill Vogin
1st VP: open - assist President, prepare to be President
Treasurer: open - track expenses and revenue
Secretary: open - take notes at all meetings
Sr. Major Workshops: Kendra Fabry
Jr. Major Workshops: Claudia Purgason
Sr. Mini-Workshop: Meg Fisher
Jr. Mini-Workshop: Nancy Barke
Membership: Lee Greenberg
Sr. Programs: Ashley Jackson
Jr. Programs: open - assist senior, prepare to be senior
VP Communications: open - set communication calendar, ensure communication content is consistent across platforms, assist team in completing content as needed
Newsletter: open
Webmaster: Claire Kooy
Facebook: Natalie Greene
Affiliates: open - communicate with affiliates to reserve tables at meetings, find out what news to post in the newsletter on their behalf
Knit it Forward: Carol Hassell, Karen Buchholz, Elizabeth Halberstadt
Photographer: open - take photos of show and tell and major events
Library: Stephanie Johnson, Sandy Crowley
Raffle: Arlette Berlin
Hospitality: Susan Donges and Patty Malec
Sunshine: Jackie Hicks
Past President: Susan Duralde
Please reach out and grab onto a job - an opportunity to make friends.
Cheers to you all!!
Susan
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Programs
Pam Cornutt and Ashley Jackson
Upcoming Programs:
The program for May is very important and will be broken into two parts:
1. Knit-A-Long results!! If you participated in our 18 month KAL, even for just a month, bring your results to show!!
2. Elections and directions: This is the only business meeting we have all year. We will elect new officers and discuss needs and interests for the coming year.
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Superstar Charles Gandy
Barb Moore, Dallas Duncan and Kendra Fabry
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Charles Gandy, Master Knitter |
CHARLES GANDY CLASSES, May 6 and 7, 2017!
Saturday, May 6 from 9 a.m. to noon:
Start & Finish: A Class on Cast-Ons and Bind-Offs
What do you do when the pattern says "cast on?" Do you use a long-tail cast-on? A cable cast-on? A knitted cast-on? What about getting fancier, with a provisional cast-on, picot or even a frilled cast-on? This class will getyou started with a review of many of the tried and true ways to cast on, as well as some new and different ones.We will discuss how to choose which is the best. Once we get going, then we will need to finish ... so we will learn to bind-off in exciting and hopefully unexplored techniques: techniques for any creative knitter.
Saturday, May 6 from 1 to 4 p.m.:
Embellished Knitting
Here's a chance to learn numerous ways to enhance your knitted creations through applied embellishments. From frilly ruffles to bobbles to twists and ripples, i-cords, special "finger" cords and even beading, we will explore and create a hands-on sampler showing how these techniques can make your projects unique and knitted with personality!
Supplies & Homework
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| Now, this is embellishment! |
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Sunday, May 7 from 9 a.m. to noon:
Mini Monster
In this class full of creativity and technique, we will make this fun stuffed toy: a mini monster! We will cover techniques such as three-needle attachments, three-needle bind-offs, professional picking up of stitches, knitted-in twists, seaming horizontal seams and more. All you need is a little experience in knitting in the round (double points, two circulars, or magic loop ... your call!).
Supplies & Homework
Sunday, May 7 from 1 to 4 p.m.:
Mastering Mosaics
Mosaic knitting is an easy and fascinating way to do two-color work without stranding. In this fun-filled workshop, we will learn how to read mosaic charts and make them come to life. We will discuss when to slip and when to knit or purl. If you like simple work that looks complicated but is so much fun to work ... then this is the class for you!
Supplies & Homework
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Tips and Techniques
Pam Cornutt
Is your bind off too tight for your beautiful lace shawl?
Try this Estonian bind off (From Knitted Lace of Estonian by Nancy Bush, page 27).
Slip the first stitch, knit the second stitch,*knit these two stitches together by inserting the left-hand needle into the front of them from left to right and knitting them together through their back loops with the right needle, then knit the next stitch; repeat from *until all of the stitches are secured. Cut the working yarn and pull up the last loop to secure the end of the bound off stitches.
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Alpaca Shearing - WARNING!! content for mature audiences only, includes photos of naked Alpacas
Barb Moore
 On Monday, May 10, 2017 AKG members once again headed to member Lynne Davidson's Alpaca farm, Wandering Fox, for shearing day! Everyone enjoyed the trip with muffins and coffee from our gracious host!
To quote member Freida Paige, "
What a day with a different kind of fur baby. The shearing of alpacas to be processed into yarn. What beautiful animals at Wandering Fox Farm. Thanks to
Lynne Davidson
fellow AKG member for inviting us to this event. As I'm sure you can tell, I loved it. Your girls were very hospitable."
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Hospitality
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Members whose last name begins with the letters N - T should bring a snack (salty or sweet), or a dessert for the group to share. The Guild will provide coffee, hot tea, unsweetened iced tea, water, and paper products, as usual.
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Knitting Fashion Around Town
Susan Duralde
The new, upscale area known as the Shops of Buckhead has a small store called Les Copains. The window typically features an interesting knitted piece. Recently, I went in to snoop (not in my price range). I found some very interesting pieces.
Garment 1 had a stitch combination I'd never seen. Below are photos of the front and back of the fabric. Can anyone decode the stitches?
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| Public side of garment 1 |
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Private side of garment 1 |
Garment 2 combined knitting and weaving. Again, you will see photos of the front and back of the piece.
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| Public side garment 2 |
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The shop keeper was kind to let me take photos. We struck up a conversation. She explained that there are only two of these shops in the US. They are known for their unique knitwear. Apparently Valentino and Versace have designed for them. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of the finished garments, I didn't want to overstay my
welcome
. But, they were lovely. Just for a life-style of the rich and famous. And perhaps and inspired knitter or two in the guild who can do a cool knock-off?
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Trauma Bears: Karen Buchholz and Caroll Hassell
Year to date total: 70
Annual Goal: 700
I delivered 32 bears on Thursday, April 13, to the Tucker location of Georgia Center for Child Advocacy. I was given help with directions by a policeman and a fire fighter and then I met the very nice receptionist at GCCA. She oohed and awed at each bear and she was so excited with putting the hats on the bears whose hats had fallen off. She told me the Fire and Police also request some of the bears for their children in need. The AKG bears will always have a home for a child and teenager.
Over the years, I have delivered or went to four of the different locations for the GCCA. When I arrived, there was a very young boy waiting for his appointment. This was the only time I actually saw a person who will receive one of the AKG donations. Words can not express what that meant to me. It reminds me of that story of the little girl throwing one starfish back into the ocean.
Thank you to every one of you who has been able to donate in some way to the different Community Service Projects and activities that the Atlanta Knitting Guild has supported since its formation.
Preemie Project - Elizabeth Halberstadt
I attended the Volunteer Appreciation Tea at the Special Care Nurseries at Northside Hospital on Wednesday, April 19. It was a great experience as I saw some of the Staff and Volunteers that I have previously met. We were taken on a tour of the Special Care Nurseries and actually saw - from a distance - some of the babies.
It was a very informative and inspiring experience. We were able to see the babies using some of the blankets, hats, quilts, etc. Our guide, Kathy C, explained the different equipment, set up of the individual "rooms", and some rooms are set up for 3 babies as some families have triplets. The Nursing Staff, encourages the parents, mothers and fathers, to hold their baby to their naked chest, including the babies naked chest as this provides a bonding experience, warmth and even helps the mother to produce more breast milk!
Kathy stated that at this time, Northside Hospital does not need the really tiny hats. Apparently, this is one of the most popular items to make. They do need hats, but in larger sizes. What they could really use is more blankets if anyone would like to make or has the time to make one.
Northside Hospital throws the Volunteer Appreciation Tea every April. If anyone is interested in attending or would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thank you to every single person who has ever helped and continues to help with the various Community Service Projects the Atlanta Knitting Guild has supported since it's inception.
Elizabeth Halberstadt
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From our Librarian...
Stephanie Johnson
AKG members may check out up to four books and one CD/DVD per month. All items are due back the following month.
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Minutes
Sandy Crowley
.Did you miss our lass meeting? Minutes from the May meeting may be found HERE.(LINK TO A PDF)
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Treasurer's Report
Lee Greenberg
We will publish the report in a week. Life got in the way. Thank you for your patience!
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If you are a member or know of a member who has news that should be shared with our membership please send notices to
newsletter@atlantaknittingguild.org. This would include, but not be limited to, birth of a child, illness, death of an immediate family member, etc.
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News from our friends at the North Georgia Knitting Guild
Sandra Huff
Please note our new location :
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News from SEFAA
Visit the
SEFAA website for more information on these and other upcoming events!
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Atlanta Knitting Guild Board
AKG Officers 2016-2017
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Susan Duralde, president
Jill Vogin, first vice president
Sandy Crowley, secretary
Lee Greenberg, treasurer
Pam Cornutt, Sr. vice president of programs
Ashley Jackson, Jr. VP of programs
Barb Moore, vice president of workshops, major (Superstars) 2016
Dallas Duncan, vice president of workshops, major (Superstars) 2017
Susan Nease,,co-VPs of workshops, (mini)
Elizabeth Halberstadt, VP of membership
Ashley Jackson, Social media/communications
Diana Baber, past president
Whit Robbins, chair emerita
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Standing Committees 2016-2017
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Knit it Forward (Karleen Bucholtz - Trauma bears; Elizabeth Halberstadt - Preemie hats)
Susan Donges and Patty Malec, Hospitality
Stephanie Johnson,
Library
Shannon Parris, Drawing
Welcoming committee (Open)
Affiliate liaison (Open)
Dallas Duncan, Photographer
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