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A newsletter of the Atlanta Knitting Guild: Bringing Atlanta's knitters together
Next meeting - January 5 - 7:30 p.m.
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President's message
Susan Duralde
Hello Fiber Friends!
A new year is upon us. Whoosh! How did that happen?
And, wow, do we have a lot planned for the next five months. Here are some highlights:
In the December meeting we covered several important items. Here are some of those highlights:
- Bear donations - We hit 88% of our target (671 of 700 sweaters) for calendar year 2016. Thank you to all who helped especially Carol Hassell and Karleen Buchholz.
- Women's Shelter - Over 680 needed items were donated. Thank you!
- A wonderful video - We watched a four minute video celebrating one woman's accomplishments in knitting. This is a joyful, inspiring, feel absolutely wonderful about the value of what you do with your needles, moment. Click here to watch: 550 sweaters- a flashmob celebration
As the past six months have unfolded, I have come to a new and deep appreciation of the energy, talent and passion we have in you. Our volunteer roles are increasing every month. The breadth, depth and variety of activities and engagement opportunities are constantly increasing.
A board member recently lamented that 20% of our members contributed 80% of the bear sweaters. They wondered why everyone didn't make at least one. No, I suggested. Our role on the board is to provide a variety of ways for members to engage, enabling each of you to match your time, talent and passion to something that benefits others.
When you get up for show and tell, you are contributing to the guild - your work inspires and informs others. Personally, I am especially excited when a member is showing for the first time. When you contribute goodies to the hospitality table, you provide a welcoming atmosphere. Providing info for the newsletter, the website, programs, etc., each of these contributions further our education mission.
Our goal is to engage each of you and to provide to you a valuable and valued member experience. Each action you take from the simplest, like making a new friend at a meeting, to the more complex, like running a special event, each of these impacts the value we all experience.
We are making an effort right now to capture as many of these contributions as we can so you can see what I can see - how much is going on, how much energy is in action. It's truly amazing. Over a thousand items have been donated to Knit it Forward. Thousands of yards of yarn have been donated for raffles, Thousands of hours of volunteer time in contributed in the middle of chaotic lives and demanding jobs. I thank each of you for what you have done and what you are doing.
If you are interested in getting more involved, we'll find a way to plug you in! Just call me at 678.596.7525 or drop me an email. click here:
email susan.
Cheers and happy reading,
Susan
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Newsletter Contents
Here's what's inside
Section 1 - Immediate Info for January 5 Meeting
- Hospitality
- Program
- Knit it Forward
- Help wanted for AKG projects
- Requests for help from the community
- A special offer from Hamilton Yarns
Section 2 - Upcoming events
- Invitation to a knit-in on December 27
- Yarn, the film
- Superstars 2017
- Alpaca Farm visit
- Sunshine Committee
- Affiliate News
- Call for Newsletter Submissions
- Lemonade Days
Section 3 - Updates
- Honorarium Fund
- Knit it Forward
- Library
- Treasury - monthly and six month income statement
- Membership
- Minutes from December general meeting
- Purl Power
Section 4 - Stories and event reviews
- Tips and Tricks
- A Tale of Two Roadtrips
- A Favorite Podcast
Section 5 - Happening around us
- Show and Tell Photos
- North Ga. Knitting Guild
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Section 1 - January Meeting
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Hospitality
Patty Malec and Susan Donges
If your last name begins with D-G, please bring a snack (sweet or savory) to share. The Guild will provide drinks. Looking forward to seeing everyone there.
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Programs
Pam Cornutt and Ashley Jackson
In January, Ashley be talking about her year long Design-along (DAL) with the incredible Shirley Paden.
In this class, we learned about garment construction, measuring yourself, picking what emotion you want to convey with the piece, stitch decisions, and much much more.
Shirley's class begins in January/February each year and only a select few are chosen.
If you are interested, join her Ravelry group today and inquire about the 2017 class.
Come and hear about Ashley's experience.
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Knit it Forward
Karleen Buchholz and Carol Hassell
Bears for Georgia Center for Child Advocacy
Click here for information on the Center
GCCA.
Links to patterns are on our website.
Preemie hats and blankets for Northside Neo-Natal ICU
Links to patterns are on our website.
Donations to Atlanta Women's Shelter for abused women
Elizabeth Halberstadt
Thursday, December 8, I delivered all of the items collected and donated by the Atlanta Knitting Guild, Arlene and her customer to the Atlanta Day Shelter for Women and Children. It was a bitterly cold day and the Shelter was packed. There were women and children in the lobby and outside, and one woman had her children and dog with her. For some reason, the Shelter had to close early, so the bus from the mother shelter made several trips to take them to that shelter where they could be nice and warm.
One of the volunteers at the front desk kept looking at me because I had to make several trips to and from my car to deliver over 680 items. She was very surprised. When she asked the lady who took the items to the back if they still needed travel size toiletries, one of the women who was staying at the shelter said, "I do!"
Most of the items were hygiene related. Some people donated snacks and one person donated some bottled water.The volunteer was very excited to see the snacks and food that were donated and she was extremely happy to see the notebooks, pencils and pens that were also delivered. There was even some crafty things for children. There were donations of clothing, some of them very beautiful and in very good condition. There were three pairs of socks that were the softest socks I have ever touched! Also donated were multiple types of bags and purses and some plastic grocery bags.
Thank you to everyone who was able to donate something and thank you to the people who took a copy of the wish list for the Atlanta Day Shelter for Women and Children! The generosity and diversity was inspiring and awesome!
I will also make one last 2016 trip to Northside Hospital to deliver their items. It was a great year! Judy said if the hats that were too large for the infants, especially those knitted from cotton, could be used for the cancer patients.
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Help Wanted for AKG Projects!
Can you give a few hours?
Many Hands make light work!
Mini Workshops Jr. VP
We need one person. We would like to host three more workshops before May. Our ideas exceed the hands available. Responsibilities: Contact teacher. Book SEFAA for the class. Write a one paragraph description of the class for publication in all media. Send an email with the description to the communication committee to publicize the class. Announce and describe the class at the monthly meeting. Submit a form to Treasurer to pay SEFAA and the teacher.
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Yarn, the movie, Movie Day Hospitality Chair and Committee
We need 5-7 people. This committee is in charge of what happens in the theater on the event day, Feb 25. Duties include set-up/break-down; designing and installing decorations (the event space has tables); determining door prizes (these will be donated in advance), raffle items/sale; distributing prizes (people must be present to win); collecting tickets; manning the AKG table where memberships are sold and info about the guild is distributed; capturing key moments in photos; ensuring a positive, welcoming experience.
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Community Request for Help
Machine Knitting & Christmas Stocking Repair, Pet Sweater
Machine Knitting:
Cicely Peace-Edouard would like to hire someone to help with personalized training on her new knitting machine. Can anyone help? [email protected]
Christmas Stocking
Marilyn Surinam would like help repairing Christmas Stockings before Christmas. She is willing to pay. Perfection not necessary. Call her at 4/316-8444.
Custom pet project
I have a small project for a pet, but it needs to be custom. Nancy Smith 7/476-3888.
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Call for Newsletter Submissions
Drop us a line!
We need to know what you are doing and seeing. Please send in any of the following at any time to Diana Baber and Susan Duralde.
(BTW - someone sent me a description about a new zipper. I cannot find it anywhere on any of my devices. Could you please resend? Thank you, [email protected])
1. Photo of a holiday knitting project, who it is for and the pattern/yarn
2. Brief description of a class you've taken, something knitting/crochet related that you saw and it caught your eye, etc.
3. A picture of a cool tool you just discovered, what it is, what it does, where to find it
4. Whatever you'd like to share
Don't worry about being polished. We will edit.
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A Special Offer from Hamilton Yarns
Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton
Chalice Cowl Kit in Silke
This one-hank cowl is a quick knit and a perfect stocking stuffer!
I would like to show all of you my appreciation during this holiday season by offering 25% discount on my Heaven's Hand Silke and free Chalise Pattern!
Please use this coupon code when you check out: HOLIDAY KIT
The pattern will be added to your order automatically.
Offer good while supplies last until December 20
Happy Knitting!
Cornelia
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Section 2 - Upcoming Events
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Knit-in December 27
Jill Vogin
We are having a morning knit in for anyone who would like to join us on Tuesday, December 27 from 10:00 to 1:00 at Panera bread on Mount Vernon in Dunwoody. It would be a great time to do some charity knitting since the holidays will be over. We will have bears, patterns and yarn there. Even if that's not your thing please feel free to join us and bring your latest project.
Please let us know if you think you will be joining us, so we can make sure that enough seats are available for everybody as well as being able to notify you if plans change. RSVP to
[email protected]
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Yarn - the film
A major event for all fiber lovers!!
Come be a part of a unique and hugely important AKG event!!
Updates: Ginger adds more luxury yarn to our raffle and Claudia signs up our first sponsors! Thank you to Trendsetter Yarns (Gold), Classic Elite (Bronze) and Malabrigo (Bronze)
This could be:
- A fantastic community event
- A wonderful way to bring in new members
- Our biggest money maker ever!!
What: A documentary about fiber artists taking yarn to the next level. Trailer available at
www.yarnfilm.com
When: Saturday, Feb 25 at 10:30, Tickets go on sale in January 2017
Where: Lefont Theatre, Sandy Springs
Cost: $5 for AKG Members, $10 for non-members
Other: There will be a major raffle of fabulous yarn (value = $5000, thank you Ginger Giddens!) and door prizes.
How?
We need sponsors! please see the attached sponsor package and share with your LYS and any designers and guilds you are a part of.
Yarn Sponsor Invitation. See
Help Wanted in Section 1 of the newsletter for roles we are working to fill.
It is hard to overstate how important this event can be to AKG
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Alpaca Road Trip
Barb Moore
Join us as we caravan to our member Lynne Davidson's alpaca farm in January. We will gather at 10:00 AM on Saturday, January 14, 2017, at the Georgetown Shopping Center on Chamblee-Dunwoody Road across from Takorea restaurant. Plan to bring a lunch and your knitting as we will tour the farm and then have a picnic lunch and visit while knitting. Lynne has agreed to bring out her yarns should you wish to shop as well! Coffee and water will be provided at the farm. We will most likely return by 4:00 PM.
Should you wish to join us please contact Barb Moore at 770-393-4672.
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Superstars 2017
Barb Moore, Dallas Duncan and Kendra Fabry
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 willlearn 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!
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!).
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!
Check the website for a sign-up sheet.
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Sunshine Committee
Caring for our members
Many suggested we start a committee to send cards to members who are ill, have lost/gained someone important, have done something special in the knitting world, etc.
We are extremely fortunate that Jackie Hicks has volunteered. She works in the greeting card business! How lucky can you get? This is a passion for her. With her ready stock, she will help us meet the mission and watch our budget as well.
Here's the trick - none of us read minds. So, if you think someone needs a card, please let us know.
You can email Susan at [email protected]. Tell her the nature of the request.
Also - please let us know if this is private or if it can be publicized in the newsletter. We will never publish anything personal without permission from the person or responsible loved one.
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Introducing--The Craftys
A new award program
I'm part of a team that launched The Craftys - awards celebrating the best in crafts.
We realize that many amazing craft projects are rarely seen outside of the creator's living room. For the past three years, The Craftys have celebrated people who make unique and beautiful things, from a knitted wedding dress to a Times Square dresser and plenty of other beautiful objects.
We'd love to see you and your fellow knitters participate in The Craftys, either by nominating the work of The Atlanta Knitting Guild members or by suggesting the creations of a another deserving esigner. Nominations are open until January 9, 2017.
This year our judging panel includes singer Lisa Loeb as well as HGTV's Laurie March and Mark Montano, author of "The Big-Ass Book of Crafts." The awards ceremony will be in New York City in February of 2017.
Looking forward to seeing your nominations.
Neil Gladstone
[email protected]
co-founder of The Craftys Awards
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Lemonade Days
Barb Moore
At our last AKG Board Meeting we voted to support a presence at Lemonade Days/Brook Run Park, Dunwoody to enhance and increase awareness and membership in our guild. You may find out about this event online at http://www.dunwoodylemonadedays.org We will be in the Country Store on Saturday, April 22, 10AM-6PM and Sunday April 23, Noon-6PM. We will have 2 hour shifts with two AKG members present.
PLEASE, Please, consider working a 2 hour shift (or more). It is so much fun! We will display lots of Yellow outfitted bears (I secretly hope to have 30~50). Hats & Blankets (don't have to be yellow), and other items we knit for charity. Bring your knitting!!! To volunteer see Barb Moore or call her at 770-393-4672
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Affiliate News
Needle Nook Yarns
Spring Fling 2017 announces dates.
Spring Fling yarn and craft show will be held on March 31, April 1 & 2, 2017. The location is the Perimeter Marriott Hotel near Perimeter Mall. We are looking for craft people to sign up and sell their wares at this show. Anyone who is crafty qualifies for a booth. In the past we have had yarn shops, indie dyers, quilters, woodturners, tote bag makers, jewelry makers, knitting guilds, hand dyers and more man the booths. If you are interested you can go to
www.needlenookatlanta.com
for a sign up form or call 404-325-0068 for more information.
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In Honor of...
Highlighting donations made in honor of a member
Our current total is $600.
Honorees include:
Margie Steiner
Rebecca Ewing
Barb Moore
Donors include:
Arlene Jacobson
Brenda Mazzocchi
Maxine Watkins
Susan Duralde
Whit Robbins
Ginny Lester
Anonymous
Thank you to our donors!
These funds will be used for an event or capital expenditure that benefits all the members. Gifts can be make for any reason to honor any guild member.
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From our Librarian...
Stephanie Johnson
An exciting change is coming!
We are working to make the library content really useful. We are adding an AKG site to Revelry, which will have our library. When we're ready, you can go to the site and search every pattern we have and then decide which book you want to check out. You will be able to send a message to Stephanie from the library. She can then bring the book to the next meeting for you. Presto! You have the pattern you need! Thank you Jolie Elder for this idea!
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
Sandra Crowley
Did you miss our last meeting? Minutes from the December meeting may be found HERE.
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Purl Power
We couldn't do it without you!
Thank You to all of you who have helped so far this year. In January's newsletter we will have a roll call of all those we know about.
And a very special thank you to Ginger Giddens who has added $1700 yarn donations in addition to the $3200 worth already donated. Expect to see a major raffle at Yarn, the movie in February.
Thank you to these people hard at work securing sponsors for the movie Yarn.
- Claudia Purgason
- Jolie Elder
- Melanie Burns
- Shannon Parris
All our bear and preemie knitters!!
All our Women's Shelter donors!!
All those who bring goodies for Hospitality each month!
If we missed your name, send an email to [email protected]. Your contributions are important to us!! We are very sorry if we missed you. Always be sure to sign in your contributions at the welcome desk.
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Section 4 - Stories and Events
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Tips 'n Tricks
Pam Cornutt
Have you ever knit a Fair Isle sweater and wanted some waist shaping? I have and I did NOT want to compensate that complicated pattern! But I did want to decrease the bulk around my waist. What is a knitter to do?? Change needle sizes!! I knit up (it was a bottom up sweater) to about three inches below my natural waist. I then went down one needle size (from US#5 to US#4) and knit for two inches. Down another needle size (US#4 to US#3) and knit for two inches. Then I went up a needle size (US#3 to US#4) for two inches. Then back to my original US#5 and off I knit. This allowed me to make the waist area smaller without having to compensate a complicated Fair Isle pattern :-)
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Wedding Shawl
Jackie Hicks
Three and a half years ago when I picked up knitting as a way to help pass some of my new empty nester time, I had no idea what all I could do. I was mainly thinking about hats, scarves and mittens. Ravelry and YouTube opened my world and I was hooked.
Last Christmas my son proposed to the love of his life and I knew I wanted to make something for her that was special, an heirloom. I had seen it on some other forums, people making wedding shawls and I had already dabbled in lace work. My future daughter-in-law loved the idea and we went to work picking a pattern together. It was hard to do. She sent me very complicated options or crocheted patterns. I offered back some other patterns. This went on for a few months. And finally, we agreed. It was knitted lace work, not too complicated, but definitely detailed. It actually had a gothic look to it, which I felt was young and hip(Pattern: Drops Butterfly Dance). Perfect. Then the color. She wanted a Marsala color, which had burgundys and reds and purples. She was very specific. We ended up meeting at a local yarn store where she could pick the perfect color (Yarn: Three Irish Girls, Adorn Sock, Mulled Wine). Done. I was off to work to complete the masterpiece.
I took my time, placed life lines just in case I made a mistake. Every stitch was knit with care and much love. Towards the end, I noticed I wasn't going to have enough yarn, and I had purchased the last two hanks
at the LYS. After much searching, I ended up contacting Three Irish Girls directly and they had me send a swatch of what I had so they could closely match up the hand died yarn. After a couple week delay and sweating a few bullets, I received my yarn in the mail and I was off to finish. I ended up making very few mistakes if any, I was proud of myself!! I made a point to give it to her after I showed it off at the October AKG meeting. When we did meet and she saw it for the first time, she was in awe and just loved it. Even though she chose not to wear it during the ceremony, which I had expected , she did wear it afterwards during picture taking and partly through the reception. It was beautiful on her, it was perfect for her. She told me afterwards that she would have worn it more but people "kept confiscating it to look at it." It was a beautiful day and when she wore the wedding shawl, it took my breath away.
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A Tale of Two Road Trips
Diana Baber
October was a crazy busy time for knitters. Or maybe a normal time for crazy knitters. Somehow, Debra Davis and I managed to take TWO road trips to attend fiber events separated by 900 miles and two weeks. Sound like overkill? Well, maybe. (And we missed taking classes with Brooke Nico! Boo hoo !)
We started in Rhinebeck, NY, at the New York Sheep and Wool Festival (www.sheepandwool.com). The show, more familiarly called Rhinebeck, is world famous and rightly so. Hang around there long enough and you'll see all your favorite knitting designers and bloggers--Clara Parke, The Yarn Harlot, the Mason-Dixon Knitters, and anyone else who loves crisp Fall weather and knitting with wool. (All right, there are alpacas and llamas and goats, too.) Rhinebeck is an agricultural show, not a polished marketplace with fancy-schmancy hors d'oeuvres and cocktails in the bar. It's a rugged, hilly, walk-til-your-feet bleed series of barns and buildings. Many of the vendors are small farms and indie dyers, but there are also some national favorites like Miss Babs. 
Rhinebeck is almost a cult experience. The colors of New York in October are legendary, the weather is crisp and cool (wear layers), and the food is amazing. Let me just say: apple cider doughnuts, falafel, lamb, lamb, and more lamb, Artichokes French, hot apple crisp with ice cream--the list goes on and on. And fiber folk everywhere--taking classes (I took one on rug hooking, with a cast on my hand!), wearing hand-knit garments, squealing over meeting old friends and making new. One thing I observed was the presence of many younger fiberholics and families. And they are fearless, knitting and designing without worrying whether they're breaking rules.
We also took a bunch of side trips while we were in the area, including having lunch at the Culinary Institute of America and visiting Franklin D. Roosevelt's home in Hyde Park, NY. But that's for another report.
And then later in the month, we ended up at SAFF (the Southeast Animal and Fiber Fair, www.saffsite.org) in Asheville, NC, along with about half the knitting guild. Our little group included Whit Robbins, Sandy Crowley, Nancy Williams and Kathleen Pickens, but we saw many others that we knew from Atlanta, from Gainesville, from the South Carolina Knitting Guild, and from all over the east coast.
SAFF has a similar feel to Rhinebeck--it's an agricultural show with many indie dyers, spinners, weavers and crafty folk in general, as well as vendors you know, like Miss Babs and Brooks Farm Yarn. But it's on a somewhat smaller scale, with the fiber market confined mainly to two buildings with animals, food products, classes, and events like Sheep to Shawl and Fiber Arts and shows in other buildings. If you want to bring home a fleece to spin, this is your place! And it's way more level, a little easier to walk. (Or drag a cart full of yarn, not that I did this. I swear.)
At SAFF, there are places to sit with friends, knit, and watch the world go by. (Well, Rhinebeck has places to sit too but they're mostly outside. On a cold day, knit at your own risk with your fingerless gloves.) The food's okay at SAFF, but isn't what they write books about. There was a fabulous food truck this year and they might become a legend. The vendors tend to be like old friends and greet visitors and ask what you ever did with that green alpaca yarn you bought last year. It's like going for a weekend with all your best friends and schmoozing over yarn.
Here's my advice about both shows. If you think you want to go, plan early. It's hard to find a hotel or motel anywhere near Rhinebeck during October because all the "color" tourists are in town. And Asheville's no better for the same reason. Make your hotel reservations early, even if you end up canceling later. You'll be happy you did. And check out the classes at both places. The other thing is this: many folks who go to Rhinebeck knit a Rhinebeck sweater for the occasion. And people will stop you and ask for the pattern and the yarn. Be prepared.
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Yarn Thing Podcast
Susan Duralde
There are lots of sources of knitting expertise. One of my favorite podcasts is Yarn Thing hosted by Marly Bird. Marly is warm, funny and asks some probing questions. Her podcast is a great way to find out who's doing what in the worlds of both knit and crochet.
I first came across Marly at a STITCHES class on design. Here is a 30-something mom who picked up crochet and went straight to design! Then she learned to knit, and design. With her boundless energy, she quickly found herself as the creative director at a yarn company, a podcaster, a published designer, teacher, and fiber ambassador.
I haven't a clue how she does it all so well.
Live every Tuesday and Thursday at 10 Mountain Time, 12 EST
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Section 5 - Happening Around Us
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| Photos from our December meeting: |
If you are a member or know of a member who has news that should be shared with our membership please send notices to
[email protected]. 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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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
Barb Moore, Lemonade Days [email protected] Jamie Hicks, Sunshine Coordinator [email protected]
Dallas Duncan and Kendra Fabray, vice presidents 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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