Author: Holly

Holly knits with grit and believes a happy life is a well balanced one.

June Fashion Show

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These were the words.

Get ready to strut your stuff at the year end Fashion Show. 

To participate in the show you must be a Guild member and you need to model ONE item you knit during this Guild season that you want to show off. We will organize the show based on categories, ex: accessories, sweaters, etc.

We, the Knitting Guild of Greater Buffalo always hope that one activity or another, one lesson or another, one member or another has motivated you to learn something new, be more courageous in your knitting, or to become inspired in ways you might otherwise not have before.  With our progressive location, fully packed meetings, and programs for varying levels of knitters, our theme this year was to GROW.  Ending each season with a fashion show is our way for you to show off your new skill, beautiful garment, or just to share with others a project that you have completed.

See our beautiful models below, all knitting Guild members, and their works of accomplishment.  I think their smiles say it all in how they feel about their projects.

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Yarn Fest, May 2017 and a Public Shout Out to Gina!

~ Holly ~ 1 Comment

Please enjoy these beautiful pictures of Yarn Fest, 2017, the kick-off to this year’s Special Events Weekend, taken by one of our Guild members who also happened to be a vendor at this year’s event.   Check out the enthusiasm of the participants and shoppers, alike.  Allow these photos to be a walk down memory lane of yet another successful Yarn Fest due to key organizer, Gina Passantino.  And, allow this to be a very public shout out of THANKS to Gina for all the behind-the-scenes work in organizing this highly popular ‘yarn gala’ each and every year.

Our April Meeting ~ Thank you, Jenna

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Do you remember the topic of our April meeting?

We want to acknowledge and thank Jenna, member of the Buffalo Knitting Guild and owner of 716Yarn for her generosity of time and talent when she stepped in as presenter to teach the Guild back in April.  Her focus was  on the different techniques of dying yarns and the subsequent result in a knitted garment.  From self-striping to ‘splatter’ dying and all kinds of creativity in between, Jenna explained these processes from a dyer’s point of view.  With each different dying technique, Jenna also had examples of these yarns knitted mostly into socks to show us what the end result would look like.

Jenna talked on how she enjoys experimenting to create new, unique features of dying.   One could easily get caught up simply in the names of her original yarns.  She explained how dye lots or color combinations can be custom ordered through her.

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A Peek at Yarn Auction Prep

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It is about one week prior to our Annual Yarn Auction.  Preparations are underway for what we hope will be another successful event.  The idea has always been to donate yarn to the Knitting Guild knowing that one person’s ‘trash’ is another person’s treasure.  The donated yarns are bundled and become a ‘lot’.  These lots are organized, numbered, hauled to the meeting place and set up on display the night of the auction.  The information regarding the yarn is collated, recorded, and available at the meeting.  The prepared list coordinates with the lots, so the member can know ahead of time what she/he might bid on.

An idea to prepare yourself BEFORE the auction might be to review your queue of knitting projects, check to see what yarns you might need to knit those items and write yourself a list.  Or, of course there is always impulse shopping.

Here is a peek at the preparations that occurred this last Sunday.

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Success for both Teacher and Student at our Mini-Classes Meeting

~ Holly ~ 1 Comment

It was totally my joy. Thank you for asking.

I would like to say Thank you to Barbara for sharing her time and talent with me and the other double knitting students.  I know it is not easy to put our hectic lives aside, but she did it and did it well for the good of all of us. Thank for teaching me/us to double knit!

The reviews are rolling in and as usual, people just loved our mini-class meeting.   Here are some shots of the variety of classes we offered and the tables filled with resources, focused knitters, and learning of all kinds.

Entrelac Basics – Taught by Marja Coons-Torn

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Excitement is in the Air; February Agenda included

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SPRING SEMINAR

Of course, by now you have received and have read about our exciting Seminar weekend.  There is a Page called Spring Seminar on our website for easy access as well as a Page specifically on Seminar Registration for your perusal.  I have attached the Registration form in PDF on BOTH of these Pages of our website for your convenience.  And, [HERE] it is again.   “In PDF” means you can click on that link, the form pops up, and you can print up that form to send in with your payment.  It’s meant to be easy.  Make sure when you send in your payment, you make very clear what specific classes you are interested in.  Do not send in payment without this indication.  And, as our website indicates, an email confirming your class(es) will be sent to you.  If you do not receive a confirmation email, there is a glitch in your registration.  This full circle communication is very important keeping all parties in-the-know, so be looking for this after your payment and of course, write to us if you have any inquiries.

FEBRUARY MINI CLASSES

You know that THIS Thursday, February 2nd is our evening of mini classes.

Continue reading “Excitement is in the Air; February Agenda included” →

Potpourri

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Sometimes, a post is just rambling thoughts on knitting like how knitting has hit our political scene, the realization that people are constantly working behind the scenes for the Buffalo Knitting Guild or simply connections to the fine programming we have.  Let this serve as such.

As a follow-up from our purposeful efforts at honoring our four-legged friends, we are wondering if any of you saw this:

Here is the article on how and why people are knitting these colorful, large blankets for these magnificent creatures.

Last night the class lists were distributed to the teachers for our February mini-class lessons.  Your teacher will be preparing your homework (if any) and getting in contact with you regarding the specifics for your class.

Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been?
I’ve been to London to look at the Queen.
Pussy cat, pussy cat, what did you there?
I frightened a little mouse under her chair.

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January Meeting Reminders

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We thank everyone for their understanding in the rescheduling of our January meeting.  We specifically thank the Hyatt Place for their flexibility in offering their space on a different night, we thank the speakers who are willing to change their schedules, and we thank the membership who seem appreciative of the postponement rather than the cancellation of our meeting.   That tells us our programs are of interest to the group.

Oh, and look what a little extra time at home has brought to reality; cold snap collars knitted by one of our members [follow the link for the pattern].

Let the rest of this post serve as reminders:

  • The delay of one week  does have a silver lining as it will give us a bit more time to collect what our furry friends need along the non-knitted items:

Wish List Items:
Pooper scooper, long-handled preferred
Paper towels
Dishcloth(s) (do not need to be new)
Hand and bath towels (do not need to be new)
Pillowcases and sheets (do not need to be new)
Dog biscuits (small or medium size)
Pet carriers (medium size)
Stuffed animals (6″ or larger)
Cat Toys – NO catnip, please
Collars and 6′ Leashes
Non-Clumping Cat Litter
Bleach
Newspapers
Liquid Laundry Detergent with bleach
Gentle leaders
Kongs
Hand sanitizer
Advantage flea products, Frontline flea products
Note: The Erie County SPCA especially always needs fleece blankets and infant sized receiving blankets

  • Please know that the patterns we will be using are posted on our Resource Page for easy access.  You could either print up the pattern or simply use your phone during our meeting for easy access of the directions.  (There will not be any patterns printed or passed out at the meeting due to cost.)  There will be tables set up for people who are knitting for dogs versus people who are knitting for cats just to make it more fun.  Also, please know that you can bring in an already knitted object to be added to our donations.

In looking ahead, the weather looks pretty clear for next Thursday; in fact temps are supposed to rise by then to be in the glorious 40s, a typical Buffalo winter.

On another note, classes are filling for February’s meeting and sign-ups for classes will be available during the meeting.  Do not forget about our Guild notebook of Newsletters and information for your perusal convenience.  And, Sue is available for help sessions from 6:30 – 7:00pm if you are taking on the KAL and have a question about your project.   We will also continue collecting yarn donations for our Yarn Auction, as always.

We look forward to seeing everyone Thursday, January 12 and once again, we thank everyone for their flexibility as that is what helps to make The Knitting Guild of Greater Buffalo a successful Organization.