Monday Morning Knitters Holiday Schedule!

It's that time of year, Knitters, and as the holidays heat up, Monday Morning Knitters will be taking a few well-deserved breaks to celebrate with loved ones (and of course knit, wherever you are!).

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

We will meet on the following Mondays from 10-11:30 at the Atlanta Bread near CSU:

Nov. 28

Dec. 5

Dec. 12

After Dec. 12, we will be taking a break till Jan. 16. Check back here for more info on some exciting changes coming up soon!!

Also, SAVE THE DATE! Fair Isle knitted hat workshop at The Charleston Museum--Saturday, January 28!

Happy Holidays!!

Overflowing with Thankfulness: Red Scarf Project

In January of this year (OK, wow that was officially a long time ago!), I announced to my Monday Morning Knitters that I very much wanted to send a scarf to the Orphan Foundation of America for their Red Scarf Project. I explained what it was, handed out the guidelines from the website to any interested parties and that was that.

Today, I packed up SIX red scarves to take to the post office! I am overflowing with gratitude for the effort and hours of knitting that my generous knitting friends donated for this project.

For many years, I have wanted to participate in knitting for this, and my Monday Morning Knitters helped make it happen! Thank you all!

Autumn Knitting = Shawl Workshop!

There's something about autumn, isn't there? The way the sun slants through the trees at a different angle, the cooling of the air (only a little bit here in South Carolina, but we can tell the difference!), the changing colors of the trees, the cheering of football fans every Saturday; all these things help make autumn an enchanting time for me.

And with those first cool evenings giving us a taste of cold(ish) weather yet to come, I hear of more and more of my part-time knitter friends picking their needles up again after a summer's hiatus. Those of us who knit year-round also start searching for something warmer to knit. There's just something about autumn that reminds you about the mittens or scarf or hat that you wished you had made last winter.

Take, for example, the practical yet stylish shawl. Several years ago I made my first winter-weight wrap, and I realized why knitters down through the centuries have made and worn shawls for both warmth and beauty.

This November 12, coinciding with the opening of The Charleston Museum's new exhibit Coat Check, I will be teaching a shawl workshop featuring two different vintage patterns that have a timeless quality. It's that whole warmth and beauty thing, I think. See for yourself. Here is a photo of one of the shawls, a little number whose pattern was first published in 1864.

See what I mean? And it's warm and soft and cuddly, too. But, hey, you don't have to take MY word for it. Come join us November 12 from 9:30-12:30 and make your own. The only thing I have to warn you about is this: The second shawl pattern is also quite stunning and you just might have a hard time picking only ONE to knit!

I LOVE Yarn (but then you knew that, right?)

1492-2011: 510 years of knitting

Thank you, Christopher Columbus, for "discovering" America, so I can get together with other knitters on Monday morning, October 10...Columbus Day...and knit. You rock! And if you're ever in town, we'd love to see you at the Atlanta Bread near CSU at 10 am :) lol

...and now for something completely different!

One of my favorite things about knitting is meeting new people, finding out what they like to knit, how they learned and what else they do when they aren't knitting. Take Becca for example...I first met her at the World Wide Knit in Public Day at the Charleston Museum in June (she was knitting an adorable giraffe) and since then our paths have crossed several times, much to my satisfaction.

The last time I saw her, at the Big Yarn Sale, I noticed the cool spider pin she was wearing and she told me that this was part of what she does when she's not knitting...and there just happened to be a class on October 28th where one could learn to make a spider brooch of his or her own! I admit that glass working is one of those things that I've never done but have always been fascinated by, so I checked out the Blue Heron Glass website. Seriously, ya gotta love a list of classes that insists that you wear close-toed shoes! This may even cure my craving to learn to weld!

Go to the Schedule of Classes and scroll down to Spiders on the Loose to find out more about the pin workshop, plus there are other things you could learn like stained glass or glass bead making and even slumping. I don't know what that is but it sounds like fun! They also have a Ladies Night Out party--a refreshingly different choice!!

Doll Knit-Along: One Week Away

The 19th Century Doll Knit-Along begins one week from today at the Charleston Museum. Sign up soon so you won't miss out. These dolls are so stinkin' cute! I know I ought to be planning to knit one to give to a child in my life, but if mine turns out half as adorable as the ones knit up by the Museum volunteers, I'm going to want to keep it. And name it Fred. Just saying.

Half Off Class Fees at Michael's: Today Only!

If there's a Michael's store near you and you've been thinking, "Man, I really want to take that class they're offering, but I don't know...", then today's your day!

Today only, if you register for classes at Michael's, you get 50% off the regular class price! See store for details and list of classes.

And I happen to know that the Michael's in North Charleston, SC has a really awesome Knitting Instructor who will be hanging out this afternoon...knitting :) Be sure to mention this blog if you see her!

Knit-Along!

Many knitters already know the benefits of participating in a Knit-Along (KAL), and, knitting as long as I have, you would think I would have this down pat. Last year I did cast on for a sweater on a shared birthday with a knitting friend who lives in Colorado, but we were knitting different patterns, and her sweater turned out wonderful and mine is finished but hanging in neglected shame in my closet.

This year, however, I have another knitting friend in Atlanta who came up with an idea to have a KAL with me and my 14yo knits-better-than-me daughter. I was charmed by the idea of knitting a bag with a buddy in the next state, despite it being a project destined for felting, something I've purposely avoided thus far. And then she GAVE us the yarn for the project and, well, how could I say no? It's been so fun, to do, too. Despite our starting a bag made of wool/mohair July 1st and knitting through the two warmest months in a summer of record high temps, that is. Some things you have to chalk up to Hazards of the Hobby.

Having a project that you share with a friend is one way to make knitting less isolated and thus more fun. Finally you have someone with whom you can complain about the pattern/yarn/stitches and they don't glaze over with incomprehension! You might, like I do, have the chance to attempt a technique you have been hesitant about, allowing the peer pressure of the KAL to stretch your ability. You have little built-in deadlines that keep the project from languishing when the initial excitement wears off a bit. And if you're competitive, it gives you a chance to knit to the next deadline first for bragging rights. Just don't brag too much, because these are your knitting friends, after all.

If you've never participated in a KAL, I highly recommend it. And if you're looking for a KAL with some history thrown in, I've got just the thing. I signed up for a

19th-Century Doll KAL, to be held Saturday, September 17 at the Charleston Museum. The project is based on a hand-written pattern in the museum archives, and includes a special showing of items from the Museum's knitted and crocheted collection. My daughter is so excited about this she intends to make two. I did mention that she knits better than I do, didn't I?

Purse knitting workshop

History. It's where we all come from.

Knitting. It's what most of us wish we were doing right now.

Combining the two is easier than you think. The Charleston Museum is offering a knitting workshop featuring a modern take on a vintage design. A miser's purse was a popular choice for the smartly dressed Victorian gal, and if the purses in the Museum's collection are any indication, everyone had their own unique style of knitting (or crocheting) one. Since I don't crochet, I wrote knitting patterns for this venture. Three of them! All similar, but different, like the purses in the Museum. And I can't wait to see what the knitters who get hold of these patterns come up with!

If you can cast on, bind off, knit and purl, and you'd like to spend a morning with some awesome knitters at America's first museum, you can register HERE or call 843.722.2996, X 235.

Advance reservations are required. $20/members, $25/non-members.