Back in the Saddle Again

The blog site has suffered my attention. With my Dad getting cancer and all my travels up to Canada to be with him and mom, I have let other things go. My father passed away on July 24th and I miss him terribly. My father has been very pleased with my efforts to help others learn to knit; for he has spent his life serving and teaching others. One of the reasons that I love knitting so much is because of his mother, Florence, that I never knew in this life. She passed away when my father was a teenager. Her family came to Canada from Denmark and Dad would tell me stories of her talents. I have always felt close to Grandma Florence and I like to think that she is always watching over me. I feel a passion to carry on some traditions of my Grandmother, and therefore I knit and play the piano. Thanks to my Dad who taught me to serve others and is now back with his family that has passed on - I must carry on and get back to work. Thank you all for your love and support.

I am thrilled that our knitting guild is growing. We are a wonderful bunch of friends that love to spend our time knitting for those we love. I am so pleased at everyones progress in our group. The items being knit are truly amazing. Keep up the good work.

We are now having our meetings the fourth Tuesday of the month at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints building in Kalispell.

For December we are having a party at my home, the tuesday before Christmas. We will all bring something delicious to eat and a wrapped "knitting gadget" for a gift exchange. And don't forget to bring your knitting projects! See you all at 7pm. Call me if you need directions etc.

Wendy

Knitting Classes at FVCC

There is still time to sign up for a knitting class at the college.
"CHOOSE YOUR OWN PROJECT CLASS" that runs for 6 weeks. You can sign up for a Wednesday evening class OR a Friday morning class. The wonderful aspect of this class is that everyone is making something that they have chosen. You will be taught many techniques that are needed for everyone to complete their projects and perhaps be inspired to try something you see another student doing. Call the continuing education department at FVCC if interested. This is the perfect class to stretch your skills and abilities and get the help you need to complete the project in 6 weeks.

April 10th Guild Meeting

Spring is in the air! What a great time to learn a new knit stitch and make a dishcloth for you or a friend. For all those interested in our lesson this month bring a skein of worsted weight cotton yarn and a pair of size 7 US (4.5mm).If you want to learn the new "MOCK CABLE STITCH" but do not want to make a dishcloth, any plain colored worsted weight yarn will do. After the lesson there will be lots of time to work on knitting your dish cloth OR another knitting project. The new stitch that we will be learning can be used for sweaters, blankets, pillows etc....

Sock Knitting Workshop

We had lots of fun at the sock knitting workshop. 11 people participated in learning to knit a sock with a garter stitch short-row heel. At the guild meeting in February we had some of these knitters get together for a picture to show off their wonderful new socks.

March Guild Meeting

Spring is such a good time for cleaning and sorting. At our next meeting we will be having a yarn sale. Get out any yarn that you have had stored that you would like to sell or trade. PLEASE have your yarn in clear plastic bags for easy viewing and a PRICE TAG of what you would like to sell it for. We will also have a giveaway table! Make sure that all items have your name on it as well!!! You may also sell other related knitting items like needles, books, patterns, and magazines. Please have everything marked with your name and price.


We hope to see you all at the 2nd Tuesday of March for our regular knit-in at our guild meeting.

Our current charity knitting project

Our knitting group wanted to do a service project. We chose to knit baby booties for the LDS Humanitarian Society. This is a good way of saying thanks for the use of the church building that we meet in monthly. These are some of the booties knit by our members. These booties could end up anywhere in the world where there is a need. It gives me a warm feeling in my heart to know that somewhere there will be a small child or baby wearing these booties that were knit with love and hope in doing good to others.

Naomi's Knitted Slipper

This slipper is knit in any size. For all sizes except baby sizes use two strands of worsted weight yarn and size 10.5 US needles. For baby sizes use one strand of worsted weight yarn and size 5 US needles. DIRECTIONS Below are for WS rows only. On all alternating RS rows knit all the stitches across the row. After completing the correct number of ridges proceed to the finishing information.

Adult large. Cast on 29 sts; k9, p1, k9, p1, k9 work until 27 ridges.
Adult med/lg Cast on 27 sts; k8, p1, k9, p1, k8 work until 25 ridges.
Adult medium Cast on 26 sts; k8, p1, k8, p1, k8 work until 24 ridges.
Adult small Cast on 23 sts; k7, p1, k7, p1, k7 work until 22 ridges.
Age 10/12 Cast on 21 sts; k6, p1, k7, p1, k6 work until 17 ridges.
Age 8 Cast on 20 sts; k6, p1, k6, p1, k6 work until 15 ridges.
Age 6 Cast on 20 sts; k6, p1, k6, p1, k6 work until 14 ridges.
Age 4 (wide) Cast on 19 sts; k5, p1, k7, p1, k5 work until 12 ridges.
Age 3 Cast on 18 sts; k5, p1, k6, p1, k5 work until 10 ridges

*remember to use a single strand of yarn and smaller needles for the following sizes:
Baby 1-2 Cast on 26 sts; k8, p1, k8, p1, k8 work until 18 ridges.
Baby 0-1 Cast on 23 sts; k7, p1, k7, p1, k7 work until 12- 15 ridges.

FINISHING INFORMATION:
AFTER KNITTING FROM THE ABOVE DIRECTIONS - IN ALL SIZES AS FOLLOWS:
Knit 6 rows in st st. (knit on the RS, purl on the WS).
7th row: (K2 tog) repeat across row.
8th row: purl across
Cut yarn 12-18 inches long. Thread needle and pull through remaining sts. Pull tight and sew up to instep, matching up the rows. Sew heel seam.
OPTION: Make a tassel or pompom for an accessory on the top of the slippers.
For baby sizes crochet a 22 inch chain and thread through top edge to tie.

February Guild Meeting

This picture was taken at our very first guild meeting in August 2006. We are continuing to grow and welcome everyone who loves to knit.

Our Guild meeting in February is on the 13th (the second Tuesday of the month) from 7-9 pm. For anyone that has not met with us before, we meet at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints on Whitefish Stage road in Kalispell.




At present we are the Flathead Knit Wits but bring a group name suggestion if you have one.

Our planned knitting program for this meeting will be Knitted Slippers by Naomi. Naomi has been knitting slippers for her family for many years. It is a great project for knitters to use up their worsted weight yarn. Sooooooo....if you are going to learn to knit these slippers bring your worsted weight yarn (single strand for baby sized slippers and two strands together for adult sized slippers). You will also need knitting needles in size 5 US for baby or 10.5US for adult. Do not forget to bring your current knitting project to work on. We love to see what everyone is doing. See you all there!

The Beginning

When I moved to Kalispell, I was pleased to teach knitting at FVCC. In meeting so many new knitters, they wanted a guild to get together and knit monthly. So we began in August of 2006 to meet the second Tuesday of the month. This blog shows the projects we've done, and the things we will be doing, and hopefully some new members will find us and join.