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See you at the Festival this weekend I am all packed up and am on my way to the hotel to set up along with all of the vendors today. I will not be available to answer the phone, but if you need any urgent questions answered, you can send a note to pghknitandcrochet@gmail.com. Advanced registration is officially closed. You can now pay at the door when you arrive. There are some spaces remaining in some of the classes. We’ll have a complete list available for you at the registration tables. Festival hours, schedule, vendors, teachers, classes and all activities are all posted online. Please refer to PghKnitAndCrochet.com if you have any general questions. Thank you. We officially open the doors at 1 p.m. on Friday, and the market opens at 1:30 p.m. See you there! With Warm Regards, Barbara Grossman Vendors hit the highlights in Ravelry thread Thanks to Kathy Zimmerman, Kathy’s Kreations, there’s a thread going on our Ravelry group page where vendors are discussing what they are going to be bringing to the Festival. If you’re a Ravelry member, we invite you to check out (and even join) the discussion here. Thank you, Karabella Yarns Karabella Yarns has just joined in on the Festival fun, sending yarns for the event. Their latest garments will also be on display at our Revolving Trunk Show, and you can find their yarns at several of the vendor booths. Festival totes and tees for sale The $5 tote bags are green for St. Patty’s Day. We also have T-shirts available with such slogans as “It’s too hot to wear my sweater,” “I heart to knit” and “I heart to crochet.” Check out all the merchandise at the registration tables.
Who’s best in the ‘Burgh? We are! We’ve been named a Best Bet by Pittsburgh magazine! Happy National Crochet Month How nice of the Crochet Guild of America to coincide National Crochet Month with our Festival (OK, OK, so they’ve been doing it in March for a little longer than we have been). We’ll be celebrating in part with the wonderful Stacey Trock’s adorable duck class on Sunday afternoon. Wouldn’t this crocheted cutie be the perfect addition to your Easter basket? There are still some spots available — along with just a few other classes that may still have space when you arrive for the Festival. Just make an inquiry at the registration tables! |
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FYI: Festival & Yarn Information Info about submitting books or products for review is here. Info about Festival teaching, sponsorship or exhibiting is here. Info about Festival attendance is here. Info about our Knittreat is here. Become our fan on these social media sites:
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Festival Update is published by P.O. Box 7706, Pittsburgh, PA 15215 / (412) 963-7030 We do not share our mailing list with any third party. © 2013 Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission. eNews designed by Gooch & Gooch, LLC |
Registration deadline is TOMORROW
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Registration deadline is TOMORROW Just a reminder that advanced Festival registration must be postmarked by TOMORROW, March 8. If you register online, the deadline is March 12 by noon, please. If you do not make these deadlines, you can pay at the door. You can download a PDF of the classroom assignment list here. If you’re registered for classes, please check online to see whether you are supposed to do any homework before the class and/or bring any materials. All of your classes will be detailed in the packet that you pick up at the Registration Table. You may also want to download the Revolving Trunk Show schedule PDF file we have just posted here. If you don’t want to download a copy of each in advance, we will have printed copies available for you along with your program when you arrive. Last week, I announced that Hog Heaven Rescue Farm would provide light fare for us both Friday and Saturday evenings. However, they are shorthanded and unable to take on any additional tasks besides the coat check and skein winding. The Four Points has agreed to offer light meals for us in addition to their two restaurants. Similar to the grab-and-go meals they provide during the lunchtime hours, this might be a perfect alternative to a heavy meal in the evening. We’ll also have popcorn, pretzels and free coffee on Friday evening and a cash bar both nights. Please be sure to join me for a cocktail on Friday and Saturday night. It will be a great way to celebrate our ninth year, and a great way to unwind. Don’t forget your donations for the Salvation Army’s Fabric Fair. Last, but certainly not least, don’t forget about bringing a small, handmade gift for the Friday night get-together. See you soon! With Warm Regards, Barbara Grossman A word about our sponsors Our sponsors are great! We are so lucky to have the support from our many friends and companies who help to make the Festival a success. The following companies have sent gifts of patterns, books, magazines, yarns and games for giveaways at the Festival:
If you follow us on Twitter, you’ll soon be seeing photos posted of the various goodies that have come in! |
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FYI: Festival & Yarn Information Info about submitting books or products for review is here. Info about Festival teaching, sponsorship or exhibiting is here. Info about Festival attendance is here. Info about our Knittreat is here. Become our fan on these social media sites:
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Festival Update is published by P.O. Box 7706, Pittsburgh, PA 15215 / (412) 963-7030 We do not share our mailing list with any third party. © 2013 Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission. eNews designed by Gooch & Gooch, LLC |
Barb's back, relaxed and ready to talk fiber!
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Barb’s back, relaxed and ready to talk fiber! I had a wonderful time in Laguna Beach last week. I am well rested and ready for the final three weeks before the Festival. I even found a sweet little yarn shop while away! I also had plenty of time for knitting on the long plane trips. Please see the review below of the needles I tested. I have just a couple of new announcements this week. First, Festival Headliner Candace Eisner Strick will be on hand during the Trunk Show and at the Kathy’s Kreations booth (Nos. 2 and 3), during lunchtime hours to sign your books. Kathy will have a supply of Candace’s books available for sale. Second, at right is a new photo from Amy Maceyko for her Friday evening class: the Crochet Motif Scarf. We are offering FREE ADMISSION for one person to Amy’s class, with the winner to be selected on Monday, Feb. 25, and announced on our Facebook and Twitter pages later that day. For a chance to be randomly selected as the winner of the free pass to her class, simply send us an email by SUNDAY, FEB. 24, with the subject line “Crochet Motif Scarf.” With Warm Regards, Barbara Grossman Festival registration updates If you still need to sign up for classes at the Festival, please keep your eye on our class pages. The classes are filling very rapidly now. If we have sent you a note with any changes to your registration, please return the message promptly so we can be certain to make any and all changes. At press time, the following classes have been filled: Friday afternoon:
Friday evening:
Saturday morning:
Saturday afternoon:
Sunday morning:
Sunday afternoon: Crocheted Prayer Shawl with Marge Connelly Product review: Kollage Square circular needles Kollage Square circular knitting needles are not new. They have actually been on the market a couple of years, but Barb recently had the opportunity to road-test them on vacation in California last week. Here’s her report: What makes these needles unique, aside from the square needle shape, is the very pointy tips. Personally, I like them. It makes going into the next stitch much easier, and I have yet to split yarn while knitting, purling, doing a yarn-over or slipping a stitch. I have oftentimes struggled with a too-blunt tip on a needle, trying to get it into the stitch, only to get frustrated. The square shape of this needle allows for easier access into the stitch by creating a space between the yarn and the needle. For people who knit very tightly, this is a bonus, allowing greater ease and quicker knitting. The finish on the needles is very smooth, making it glide like my personal favorites, Addi turbo needles. A friend saw me using them and her comment was that they feel like they have a silk finish. Another person who has used them for 2 years said that the finish has worn off of her set. I guess I’ll see what happens after using them for 2 years… Sweepstakes winners announced Edie Vay, from Belle Vernon, PA, was randomly selected to win a copy of Quick Knit Flower Frenzy: 17 Mix & Match Knitted Flowers from Annie’s Knitting. She will pick up the book at the registration desk at the Festival. In addition, Rita Ostapchenko’s name was drawn as the winner of the Soft N Sassy Pom-Pom Wreath kit. She’s from Mars, PA, so it will be just a short jaunt over to the Festival to pick up her prize at the Soft N Sassy booth. Congratulations, ladies! Book review AND new Sweepstakes prize “Sock Yarns are Yummy,” is the first statement on the outside cover of Sock-Yarn Shawls, 15 Lacy Knitted Shawl Patterns by Jen Lucas. I agree, they are! Sock yarns have evolved over the years, why make just socks from them? Not being a sock knitter myself, this book was especially appealing to me, because I love sock yarn. With the self-striping and long changing colorways, using sock yarn for a shawl is a fantastic idea. This little book shows you 15 lacy patterns, for the very beginner to the advanced knitter. Not only are the patterns shown in charts, but the instructions are written out as well. One particularly nice feature of the book is a step-by-step explanation of how to read a chart, making this a perfect companion for a beginner or for those intimidated by charts. The patterns in the book are well organized into three sections: Lace Edges Shawls, Allover Lace Shawls, and Beyond the Triangle Shawls. In each section, Jen shows a step-by-step process, with various ways to make the shawls:
Most of the projects shown can be completed with just one skein of sock yarn; however, Jen features a tip box with some patterns on how to make the shawl larger if you have an extra skein of yarn. She has published many patterns in various magazines, and this is her first book. Kudos, Jen! The book was just released last month. My favorite: Briargate, a two-toned shawl that has an asymmetrical look and a pretty lace edging. This one will definitely make it into my closet. One last note: Jen is shown wearing a necklace at the back of the book, I recognize it from Sassafras Creations, who is one of our new exhibitors. I’ll have to look for it, it seems to be a perfect match for the earrings I have! To enter the sweepstakes, please send an email (one entry per person, please) to pghknitandcrochet@gmail.com by Feb. 26, 2013, with the subject line of “Sock Yarns.” Please include your name and a phone number where you can be reached. The winner may pick up the book at the Festival registration desk next month. |
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FYI: Festival & Yarn Information Info about submitting books or products for review is here. Info about Festival teaching, sponsorship or exhibiting is here. Info about Festival attendance is here. Info about our Knittreat is here. Become our fan on these social media sites:
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Festival Update is published by P.O. Box 7706, Pittsburgh, PA 15215 / (412) 963-7030 We do not share our mailing list with any third party. © 2013 Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission. eNews designed by Gooch & Gooch, LLC |
Happy Valentine's Day (early) from California!
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Happy Valentine’s Day from California!
This message is reaching you while I am recharging in sunny California. For the last 9 years, I have spent my Valentine’s Day with many of you. This year, I get to spend it with the love of my life, my husband, Randy. (It also happens to be our anniversary on Feb. 15!) I’ll be rested, renewed and ready for the final weeks before the Festival when I return. Don’t worry, my team is still in place accepting your registrations and answering any questions you may have about the Festival, which will be here before you know it! I’ve brought a few knitting books along with me to review, along with a knitting project that’s kind of experimental for me: I’m trying out the Kollage Yarn Square Knitting Needles. I’ll have a full report next week. In fact, our newsletter will be hitting your inbox weekly from now through March 15. In the meantime, here are just some items to please take note of as we get closer to the Festival: • If you’re registering for a class, please check online to ensure the class you want is not already marked as full. We try to put it up on the website as soon as it’s full, so we don’t have any confusion with new registrants. • Also (and this is VERY important!), please make sure you include payment with registration. We do not hold space in classes for registered students unless we have received their payment. • Anytime during the Festival weekend, we invite you to make a Fiber Flag to hang in the chain of Tibetan Style Prayer Flags that will be displayed outside of Fiberart International 2013 this spring! Tara Zalewsky-Nease has offered to share this project with us: She will provide the materials for you to make a simple drawing with a black permanent marker on 8.5″ x 6.5″ white fabric. Tara will dye the fabric afterward, and they will be hung at two locations this spring: the Society for Contemporary Craft in the Strip and the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts in Squirrel Hill. To be a part of this big project, all you need to do is bring your imagination. The flags will be on the tables with the Woven Prayer Flags and at the Friday Night Knit the Bridge Lounge Reception. Don’t forget to sign your name and city somewhere on the flag. • Also at our Friday Night Knit the Bridge Lounge Reception, we invite everyone to bring a small, handmade gift, wrapped, to share in a “gift swap.” It can be a crocheted flower, a handmade card, an origami piece, or anything that you have made that is small. It does not have to be knitted or crocheted… it can be a collage, paper craft, wood, needle felted, recycled. It should just be a little token to share (no store-bought items). • During the Saturday Pajama Party with StevenBe, we will have both an Open Mic night and Show & Tell. For Open Mic, we invite anyone who has a knitting or crochet story to share to come on up and tell it as we eat, drink and socialize. For Show & Tell, please bring along any garment or accessory you’ve made recently … or even a vintage piece that you want to show off. • Last, but not least, we thank Last Knitter Standing for donating several games both as prizes during the weekend events (Friday reception and Saturday pajama party), and to open up and play, too! With Warm Regards, Barbara Grossman |
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FYI: Festival & Yarn Information Info about submitting books or products for review is here. Info about Festival teaching, sponsorship or exhibiting is here. Info about Festival attendance is here. Info about our Knittreat is here. Become our fan on these social media sites:
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Festival Update is published by P.O. Box 7706, Pittsburgh, PA 15215 / (412) 963-7030 We do not share our mailing list with any third party. © 2013 Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission. eNews designed by Gooch & Gooch, LLC |
Class updates, knit flowers, free pattern and more!
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Friday Night Festival Fun In addition to the wonderful Knit the Bridge Lounge reception we have planned for Festival attendees on Friday, March 15, featuring the Mochimochi display, we will also have a presentation from Bruce Mazzoni. Bruce will tell us all about the plans for a yarn bombing for the Cranberry Township, PA, Community Days Celebration in July. They have a park full of trees, and eight have been adopted so far for yarn bombing (including one by the Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival!). Bruce and his team are looking for other groups to get involved, as well. If you live in the township, or would simply like to be included in the activity, please let Bruce know at brucemazzoni@zoominternet.net. It looks as if the knitting and crochet bug is catching and spreading like crazy… so much better than the flu bug! With Warm Regards, Barbara Grossman Festival registration updates At press time, the following classes have been filled: Friday afternoon:
Friday evening: Drop Spindle Spinning with Cosette Cornelius-Bates Saturday morning:
Saturday afternoon:
Sunday morning: Don’t Rip It, Fix It with Kate Lemmers Sunday afternoon: Crocheted Prayer Shawl with Marge Connelly In addition, Heidi Kozar is unable to teach this year because of a family emergency. We are fortunate to have found outstanding substitute teachers for her classes: Lisa Carnahan, Bonnie Meanor and Nancy Premoshis will teach Heidi’s classes. Heidi has been in touch with the teachers, and shared with me that she is great friends with them and is pleased that they could help out. We wish Heidi the best, our thoughts and prayers will be with her and her family. Spread the word for Knit the Bridge Knit the Bridge aims to have proportional representation of Pittsburgh and Southwestern Pennsylvania communities based on age, gender identity, ability, ethnicity and sexual orientation. Therefore, we need your help to reach these communities by getting the word out to organizations, individuals, and networks that serve many diverse communities. If anyone is interested in sharing more information about this project with their knitting and crocheting friends and colleagues, including the fact that our Festival is going to feature a Knit the Bridge Lounge all weekend long, please check out the info on the project’s web page, Facebook page and Ravelry group. January Sweepstakes winner announced The random Sweepstakes winner of a FREE Robyn Chachula class is Mary Ann Heinauer of Pittsburgh. Congratulations, Mary Ann! Book review AND Sweepstakes prize Quick Knit Flower Frenzy: 17 Mix & Match Knitted Flowers from Annie’s Knitting offers easy, step-by-step tutorials for 17 stash-busting flowers. The instructions are well written and there are inspiring ideas for how to wear the flowers: in your hair, on your favorite shoes, and as embellishments. What sets this book apart is the creative way in which the flowers are embellished and finished, with tassels, beads, floss and buttons. The flowers include Dahlias, Beaded Pansy, Black-Eyed Susan, Larkspur and 13 others that leave us longing for those warmer and longer days, with our own bouquets from the garden. To enter the sweepstakes, please send an email (one entry per person, please) to pghknitandcrochet@gmail.com by Feb. 15, 2013, with the subject line of “Flower Frenzy.” Please include your name and a phone number where you can be reached. The winner may pick up the book at the Festival registration desk next month! Free pattern AND Sweepstakes prize, courtesy of Soft N Sassy Cheryl Geschke, owner of Soft N Sassy in Broadview Heights, OH, and a longtime Festival fixture, is sharing her supercute Valentine’s Day Pom-Pom Wreath pattern with Festival Update readers! Click here for directions… and if you want the chance to WIN THE KIT, simply send an email (one entry per person, please) to pghknitandcrochet@gmail.com by Feb. 15, 2013, with the subject line of “Pom-Pom Wreath.” Please include your name and a phone number where you can be reached. Don’t forget to visit the Soft N’ Sassy booth, No. 6, at the Festival… which is also where you can pick up the kit if you win! |
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FYI: Festival & Yarn Information Info about submitting books or products for review is here. Info about Festival teaching, sponsorship or exhibiting is here. Info about Festival attendance is here. Info about our Knittreat is here. Become our fan on these social media sites:
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Festival Update is published by P.O. Box 7706, Pittsburgh, PA 15215 / (412) 963-7030 We do not share our mailing list with any third party. © 2013 Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission. eNews designed by Gooch & Gooch, LLC |
Swatch, scarf and new Festival info
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Calling all swatches, bits and pieces The Knit the Bridge group is looking for and collecting all swatches, bit and pieces. Some of the crocheters are using these within the panels. There are many meetups listed on the website: www.knitthebridge.com. We’ll have our very own Knit the Bridge Lounge Kick-off reception at the Festival on Friday evening (March 15), with a presentation scheduled for 7:30 p.m., and the official kick-off for the “Knit and Crochet all Night” to begin at 9:15 p.m. Games, prizes, coffee and lots of fun are planned. We’ll provide the yarn, all you need to do is bring your needles and hooks. If you have fabric or notions, bring them, too, for the Festival is once again an official Salvation Army Fabric Sale drop-off location. On Saturday evening (March 16), we will have a Ravelry meetup at the PJ party with StevenBe. We will also be presenting Kathy Zimmerman with a Lifetime Achievement award. Kathy will be featured in our event program… please be sure to stop at her Kathy’s Kreations booth (Nos. 2 and 3) so she can autograph your copy. At the party, we’ll have prizes and giveaways, so wear your best jammies, socks and slippers! We’ll also continue to knit and crochet panels for Knit the Bridge during that event. There is no charge for either evening’s activities; it is included in your day admission. Please be sure to RSVP for them, though, so that the hotel has an idea of how many to plan for. Can’t wait to see you there! With Warm Regards, Barbara Grossman Join us for UPMC Senior Communities Sunday March 17 is UPMC Senior Communities Sunday at the Festival! That means that all seniors, 65 and older, pay only $5 (admission at the door only) ALL DAY Sunday. This discount was graciously made possible by UPMC Senior Communities. Plus, did you know that the Mega Bus stops in Pittsburgh? Plan to come with a group on the Mega Bus and save money to buy even more yarn! Festival classes are filling up Right now, the following classes have been filled:
Please be certain to check the website when filling out your form for full classes, they will be updated there, as well as on our Facebook and Twitter pages, as they fill. You will receive a confirmation if you sign up for classes. Dyeing demos added to Festival lineup We will have demos on Saturday and Sunday showing various dyeing techniques. Wendy Colbert and Amy Reed have been providing dyeing demos in the Fiber Tent at the Martha’s Vineyard Ag Fair for the last 5 years, but we welcome them to their Pittsburgh Festival debut. Wendy and Amy will be showing how to dye with a Crock pot, and how to “paint” on fiber and yarn. They will also have on display items that have been dyed in the past, so you can see the wide variety of options that can be used on fiber. Two winners from Jan. 9 Sweepstakes announced We had two copies of Knitted Farm Animals, 15 Irresistible Easy-to-Knit Friends, by Sarah Keen, to give away in our last issue. The random Sweepstakes winners are Gina Eckert, Eighty Four, PA, and Jane DiMenno, Pittsburgh, PA. Congratulations to you both!
Free pattern AND Sweepstakes prize, courtesy of Robyn Chuchula The wonderful Robyn Chachula, Crochet by Faye, is sharing her Trefoil Scarf pattern with Festival Update readers! But before you break out the crochet hooks, check this out: We are offering a FREE ADMISSION for one person to one of Robyn’s classes: Beyond the Basics on Friday PM OR Crochet Sweater Repair Kit, Saturday PM. The drawing for the winner of the class will be selected in one week: Jan 30, with the winner notified and posted on Facebook. Simply send an email (one entry per person, please) to pghknitandcrochet@gmail.com by Jan. 29, 2013, with the subject line of “Crochet by Faye.” Please include your name and a phone number where you can be reached. Robyn will also be available at the Crochet by Faye booth (No. 56) to sign any autographs and books when she is not teaching. OK, now about that scarf pattern: Visit CrochetByFaye.com/TrefoilScarf.pdf to download the PDF! We are pleased to welcome a new exhibitor this year: The Knitting Guild Association (TKGA) will join us and will be our official “ER” for anyone who has any mistakes that need to be addressed. We also welcome our 2013 Festival sponsors: |
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FYI: Festival & Yarn Information Info about submitting books or products for review is here. Info about Festival teaching, sponsorship or exhibiting is here. Info about Festival attendance is here. Info about our Knittreat is here. Become our fan on these social media sites:
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Festival Update is published by P.O. Box 7706, Pittsburgh, PA 15215 / (412) 963-7030 We do not share our mailing list with any third party. © 2013 Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission. eNews designed by Gooch & Gooch, LLC |
Reflecting, and looking ahead
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Reflecting, and looking aheadLooking back at the year, I must say that the patterns of 2012 were very creative. Many of the projects were small and easy to accomplish, assuming you know the techniques used. Among my favorites were Leftie, Wingspan and the Spectra Scarf, all of which I have and promise to wear at the Festival. They each feature a variation of the short row technique. This year, we are offering three Festival classes with teaching short rows, two of which are the Spectra Scarf and one with Heidi Kozar: Shapely Short Rows. Much of the appeal of these patterns is the yarn. Yarns have evolved so much over the last decade, even within the last five years. With the long changing colorways of Kauni Effekt, to the beautiful beaded yarns (ArtYarns), embellished yarns (Pagewood, BeSweet, TSC and our good friend StevenBe), to the recent explosion of alpaca, all of which can be found at the various booths at the Festival. The textures and colors are fantastic, and it might even be fun to pull out some of your favorite old patterns and try the new yarns with them. I applaud all of the indie dyers, designers and yarn companies who work hard and have fun producing these beautiful works of art. I love them all; perhaps I should look into reviewing yarns as well as books! I look forward to what 2013 will bring. There are many alpaca farms cropping up in back yards everywhere. In fact, I have had many recent requests for booths at the Festival from local alpaca farms, and I’m pleased to announce that we have three vendors this year featuring alpaca: Stramba Farm, Annadele Alpacas and Highland Alpaca. It is the perfect yarn for those who have a wool allergy and need some additional warmth. Baby alpaca is one of the softest yarns, it’s the only socks we wear in the house during the cooler months. One last note: When sending in your registration form, whether by mail or electronically, please be certain to make a copy for yourself. I have had numerous requests from pre-registered folks who forgot to write down what they were taking, and would like a copy sent to them. All registrations sent in with class requests will receive a confirmation via email; however, you will not be sent any tickets in advance or a list of the classes for which you’re registered. You will be notified if the class/es you selected are full. All classes will be marked FULL on the class pages on the website as they fill, by the way. You may pick up your registration envelope at the door when you arrive. Our doors will open at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 15, a half-hour prior to the market opening and class start times. On Saturday and Sunday, the doors will open at 8:30 a.m. See you soon, and stay tuned for newsletters every other week from now until the Festival with updates. With Warm Regards, Barbara Grossman Call for Festival volunteers In previous years, many of you have asked to volunteer the weekend of the Festival. We have volunteer opportunities for those who would be interested in:
Please let us know if you are available to assist in any way. Volunteers are given free admission all three days, plus a gift or a discount toward a class of their choice. When responding, please include your phone number and email address, what day and what time of day would best suit your schedule. Other than the Teach Me 2 Knit or Crochet classes, all other volunteer shifts are for two hours. Lion Brand Yarn joins as a Festival sponsor Lion Brand Yarn is a new sponsor this year. They will have some fun gifts for us, and we look forward to a sneak preview of their garments at the Revolving Trunk Show. They will also be supplying us with yarn for the Knit the Bridge project. Follow the Festival Pinterest page We want to be where our attendees are, and it seems these days more and more of them are on Pinterest.com. So follow us on our Pinterest profile, where you can find boards devoted to our sponsors, teachers, events and more. We’ll keep it updated in the coming months so you can find even more to love, comment on and repin! Dec. 19 Sweepstakes winner We had an overwhelming response to Randy’s review of Boyfriend Sweaters by Bruce Weinstein. But there was only one copy to give away, and that we did to Beth Pomerantz, Pittsburgh, PA. Congratulations, Beth… and Randy, who received many, many compliments on his insights and critique!
Book review… and TWO chances to win Knitted Farm Animals, 15 Irresistible Easy-to-Knit Friends, by Sarah Keen, is a sweet look at all of the animals in the barnyard. Knitters of all skill levels will fall in love with this roundup of furry and feathered critters, including a pig, sheep (of course!), cat, llama and mama duck, with ducklings. Each animal is beautifully photographed in the book’s colorful gallery section. The knitted patterns, sprinkled with fun farm facts and jokes, are easy to follow, with photos showing each toy from a variety of angles. This is a perfect book for small, easy projects. I have several little critters, knitted and felted, that make it into the Easter basket every year. I have TWO copies of this darling book to give away. To enter the sweepstakes, please send an email (one entry per person, please) to pghknitandcrochet@gmail.com by Jan. 21, 2013, with the subject line of “Knitted Farm Animals.” Please include your name and a phone number where you can be reached. Thank you, Pat Catan’s Pat Catan’s Craft Centers has graciously sent FOUR huge boxes of yarn for the Festival, to be used for all of our charity projects onsite all weekend, including Knit the Bridge! |
FYI: Festival & Yarn Information Info about submitting books or products for review is here. Info about Festival teaching, sponsorship or exhibiting is here. Info about Festival attendance is here. Info about our Knittreat is here. Become our fan on these social media sites:
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Festival Update is published by P.O. Box 7706, Pittsburgh, PA 15215 / (412) 963-7030 We do not share our mailing list with any third party. © 2013 Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission. eNews designed by Gooch & Gooch, LLC |
Here's to a bright 2013
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Here’s to a bright 2013 I have received many pattern books and books to review lately. One of the books is by a fellow I was previously unaware of, Bruce Weinstein. Bruce has written Boyfriend Sweaters: 19 Designs for Him That You’ll Want to Wear. The book’s cover immediately caught the attention of my husband, Randy. He flipped through and made several comments. He continued to read it more intently, and made more comments, to which I replied, “Why don’t you write the review?” So in this issue, you are in for a treat! Randy has written the review of Bruce’s new book. See below for his take. Perhaps Bruce will join us at the Festival one day. Another recent pattern book that I particularly liked is 12 Knitted Mitered Squares to Mix & Match, MODULAR MIX by Edie Eckman. I think every one of us has a handmade quilt, afghan or granny square blanket in our homes. This pattern book shows you how to build mitered squares, one by one, to create a beautiful afghan. It is, hands down, the greatest-looking afghan I have seen. I am keeping the pattern book as a gift to myself — and one day, I’ll make this afghan. During this Season of giving thanks for our blessings received, we give thanks for the time we did have with two special people we have recently lost: Judi Anne Worthington, a longtime Festival exhibitor (Knit ‘n Needle), and Festival friend Karrie Steinmetz, known to many as “KnitPurlGurl.” We are missing you both, but you remain in our hearts. Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for a Healthy and Happy New Year to you and your loved ones. With Warm Regards, Barbara Grossman Track your panel on ‘The Bridge’ If you’re participating in the Knit the Bridge project, did you know you are able to actually track where your panel will be on the bridge when it is completed? Click here for more details on how to print out a special label to identify your panel(s). Dec. 5 Sweepstakes winner Geri Gribben, Fredericksburg, Va., is the winner of Knitting from the Center Out: An Introduction to Revolutionary Knitting with 28 Modern Projects, the first book by Festival and Knittreat alum Daniel Yuhas. Congratulations, Geri!
Randy’s book review… AND Sweepstakes prize! Title: Boyfriend Sweaters: 19 Designs for Him That You’ll Want to Wear Author: Bruce Weinstein Publisher: Potter Craft Reviewed by: Randy Grossman, CFP® In following Potter Craft’s press release announcing Bruce Weinstein’s new book, Boyfriend Sweaters, indentifying Bruce as “an authority on men (since he is one of them),” Barb has reached out to me as her resident authority on men to provide a review of this book. To substantiate my credentials as an authority (besides being one of them), I submit the following: I am a knitter, husband, father, grandfather, shotgun shooter, bird dog owner, ex-pro football player, tobacco chewin’, cigar smokin’, fruitcake bakin’, vegetarian, Bar Mitzvah boy from Philadelphia. I figure that covers enough bases to qualify me as an authority on a large segment of guys — from a guy’s perspective, that is. I often page through the new books that come in for Barb, but I took particular interest in Bruce’s Boyfriend Sweaters, which is understandable, given that I am one of them. I found the book to be very enjoyable. The designs are very appealing and, truth be told, there is only one that I wouldn’t be pleased for Barb or my Mom to make for me (hint, hint). In addition, what really set the book apart and special for me are Bruce’s essays, some of his thoughts and experiences, that he shares with the reader. In his essay “The Curse,” Bruce writes about the risk of knitting for a boyfriend. I’ve got to tell you if a guy dumps you because you made him a sweater, the hell with him. Basically, he saved you the wasted time and effort to dump him — better to discover a “dropped stitch” sooner than later, and that’s all he was! So don’t use good yarn on the first sweater, just in case, and keep it simple. Bruce’s Over-sized Turtleneck on page 28 might fit the bill. In his essay “Merino, Silk and Duck Confit,” I agree with Bruce there’s something satisfying when you’ve made a good trade. In “Knitting with Scissors” (yes, you read that right), I learned a valuable lesson that I can’t wait to impress someone with! And finally, “My Father’s Sweater”… is what it’s all about. Thank you, Bruce, for a wonderful book for them, and thank you, Grandma Hilda, for introducing Bruce to the love that knitting is all about. Barb asked me to close with a reminder that a copy of this book is up for grabs as a sweepstakes prize. To enter the sweepstakes, please send an email (one entry per person, please) to pghknitandcrochet@gmail.com by Dec. 31, 2012, with the subject line of “Boyfriend Sweaters.” Please include your name and a phone number where you can be reached. Here, Kitty, Kitty… Etsy.com does sell the most creative things. Designed by “scooterKnits,” this stylish mistletoe topper is, unfortunately, sold out … but as they say, a picture’s worth a thousand words. Merry Christmas!
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FYI: Festival & Yarn Information Info about submitting books or products for review is here. Info about Festival teaching, sponsorship or exhibiting is here. Info about Festival attendance is here. Info about our Knittreat is here. Become our fan on these social media sites: We are a proud member of |
Festival Update is published by P.O. Box 7706, Pittsburgh, PA 15215 / (412) 963-7030 We do not share our mailing list with any third party. © 2012 Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission. eNews designed by Gooch & Gooch, LLC |
Free pattern, book review and more!
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There’s so much to tell you! First, I’d like to wish you a Warm and Happy Holiday Season, beginning this week with Hanukkah. The newsletters will begin to come more frequently to keep you apprised of additions, announcements and changes, with lots of info to share. On the heels of the last newsletter, I received the latest edition of Knitter’s magazine. In it is the gorgeous Mummy Swirl skirt from our very own Festival headliner: Candace Eisner Strick. I have the pattern and yarn for the Sasha skirt from Louet that was published 6 years ago and never did get around to making it, but this one is more my style, so it may end up in my closet by next summer! Candace has been kind enough to share a free pattern for us all this month: see end of this newsletter. With each upcoming newsletter, we’ll highlight our new exhibitors, coming from as far away as Colorado, North and South Carolina, Texas, Rhode Island, New York, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and, of course, our local favorites, too! Check them out here and see if you can identify how many new vendors we have coming. And on a sad note: I received word last week that Carole Klein passed away. She and her husband, Stanley, have been exhibitors at the Festival as Rainbow Mills, but they have been sharing their work and passion through other venues for many years. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/postgazette/obituary.aspx?n=carole-lynn-klein-lubove&pid=161113558&fhid=17241. With Warm Regards, Barbara Grossman Come see the magic of Mochimochi at our Friday night reception
Anna Hrachovec makes her Festival debut in a big way: We’re displaying TWO of her Mochimochi-themed installations, which have previously only been seen at such events as Vogue Knitting Live and at the Lion Brand Yarn Studio: Mochimochimochimochimochi and Mochimochi Land (pictured). Anna herself will be on hand to talk about the demos and with her books throughout the weekend. She’ll also give a brief presentation at the Friday evening Knit the Bridge kick-off party. We’re covering it all, from the teeny tiny Mochimochis to the grand Knit the Bridge project! Please be sure to RSVP for our Friday evening party. More details are here. Book Review AND December Sweepstakes: Knitting from the Center Out Along with this year’s Festival Headliner, Candace Eisner Strick, Daniel Yuhas was one of my first teachers at the first Bedford Knittreat. It was also Daniel’s teaching debut. He joined us afterward to teach at the Festival, and became a quick favorite with his unusual and mathematically challenging classes and projects. Knitting from the Center Out: An Introduction to Revolutionary Knitting with 28 Modern Projects is Daniel’s first book. He sent one to me with a lovely inscription and thank you for believing in him! He sent another autographed copy for one lucky winner in this month’s sweepstakes. We miss not having him at the Festival as a teacher, but his recent move to Oregon prevents him from attending. Here’s my review: As the title implies, Daniel’s book is a collection of patterns that start from the center and work out. Is it revolutionary? Not in the sense that it’s breaking new ground: Knitting out from the center has been around for ages, from antique bonnet caps to center-out lace blankets from the Azores Islands. Rather, Daniel uses the term “revolutionary” in a different sense: Each spin around the needles is one revolution, so, “center out knitting is quite simply, revolutionary.” The patterns in this book range from easy to challenging. He explains how-to in every chapter, making it easy to learn for all levels. Once you understand the logic and the rhythm to knitting this way, the possibilities are endless. You might even find yourself creating your own circular designs. With I cord, tubes, cones, domes, circles and ruffles, Daniel has covered all the bases. There are project patterns that include hats, mittens, toys, blankets, shawls, floor mats and sweaters, with a variety of different stitches used, a project for every age. The book is well illustrated, and shows various figures within each finished project: hexagons, polygons, octagons, pentagons… he even includes an explanation of the numerical sequencing. Don’t be intimidated by all of the mathematical references, though. Daniel breaks it all down and makes it as easy as one, two, three. My favorite is the Dahlia Blanket. Congratulations, Daniel! An A+ on your first book. To enter our Book Giveaway sweepstakes, please send an email to pghknitandcrochet@gmail.com by Dec. 15, 2012, with the subject line of “Daniel Yuhas.” Please include your name and a phone number where you can be reached. November Sweepstakes winners Janice Reeping of Somerset, PA, is the winner of the bag of Louet Gems Sportweight yarn, in the Crabapple colorway. Carla Lowers of Leechburg, PA, is the winner of Easy How-to Techniques for Simply Stylish 18″ Dolls by Andra Knight-Bowman. Congratulations, Ladies!
Free pattern, courtesy of Festival Headliner Candace Eisner Strick In the spirit of the holidays, we want to share with our readers a free pattern … and Candace has just the one! She’s generously shared her Pretty Picot Shoulder Scarf directions with us. This dainty little shoulder scarf has a subtle hint of sparkle in the pretty picot border. MATERIALS
GAUGE: 20 sts and 45 rows= 4″ in garter stitch on #6 needles FINISHED MEASUREMENTS: Center Back Length: 9 1/2″
ABBREVIATIONS
SCARF NOTES
SCARF With #1 needles, cast on 6 sts. Work the following 4 rows:
Work the following 5 rows once:
Repeat rows 2-5 seventeen times, then rows 2-4. Work the following row: Break yarn. EDGING String 131 beads. With RS of scarf facing, attach yarn with the strung beads Bind off in picot as follows:
TIE String 25 beads. Cast on 50 sts. Knit 2 rows. Bind off in picot as for edging.
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FYI: Festival & Yarn Information Info about submitting books or products for review is here. Info about Festival teaching, sponsorship or exhibiting is here. Info about Festival attendance is here. Info about our Knittreat is here. Become our fan on these social media sites: We are a proud member of |
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Festival Update is published by P.O. Box 7706, Pittsburgh, PA 15215 / (412) 963-7030 We do not share our mailing list with any third party. © 2012 Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission. eNews designed by Gooch & Gooch, LLC |
November 2012
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Festival registration opens today! Whew, I have finally completed all of the details (almost) for the Festival in March, and registration is officially open! I say almost because additional names and photos will be added to the website pages as sponsors continue to come in. Also, the link for hotel reservations has not been confirmed yet; they promise to have it by the end of the month, but there is plenty of time to make your hotel reservation. I am excited about the new classes, new vendors, returning vendors (including Brooks Farm Yarn from Texas), extended market hours, and the addition of a Friday evening class time. Don’t forget, we have a new date: March 15, 16, 17, 2013! Perhaps over the Thanksgiving weekend, you can visit www.pghknitandcrochet.com and begin to make some class selections. Because we have redesigned the site to reflect all this new information, please make sure you refresh your browser if you’ve visited us recently. The home page should now display a “Countdown to the Festival”… and from the home page, you can go to our registration and other pages. Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude and thanks. In that spirit, I would like to say a special thank you, to all of you who have guided me with your recommendations, encouragement and kind words. Thank you to the teachers, who give their time and spend hours of preparation to share their knowledge and offer you the very best classes. Thank you to all of you who have supported the Festival and Knittreats along the way. Without your continued support, we wouldn’t have our annual gatherings. I am so thankful to my family, for the many friends I have made along the way, and for all that I have learned in the process. And on a humorous note, I have to share this cute holiday link from Lion Brand, which at the end includes a cartoon panel that made me laugh out loud. Happy Thanksgiving! With Warm Regards, Barbara Grossman Festival gift certificates available The Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival is once again offering gift certificates for purchase in any denomination. They can be used for admission or toward classes at the Festival. Not only are these certificates fantastic stocking stuffers or a great gift exchange idea for your December guild get-together, they can also be used as a thank-you to a friend, a treat to mark someone special’s birthday, anniversary, etc. Some attendees even buy one for themselves so that, with admission and classes paid for in advance, their cash and checkbook were freed for Festival shopping! To purchase a certificate or to learn more, email pghknitandcrochet@gmail.com today. Kudos to Kathy Kathy Zimmerman, a friend of the Festival and owner of Kathy’s Kreations, made the cover of the Winter/January 2013 issue of Interweave Knits magazine. It’s her “Plaits and Links” green cable cardigan, and it’s just gorgeous!
November Sweepstakes from Louet Yarns We had a delightful time at the annual Bedford Springs Fall Knittreat, you can see the photos on Facebook here. We have a bag of Louet Gems Sportweight yarn, in the Crabapple colorway, remaining from the Knittreat that we are giving away as our November sweepstakes. That’s five 225-yd. skeins, a total of 1,125 yds! Please check out Louet North America’s website for great pattern ideas for this yarn. To enter this sweepstakes, please send an email to pghknitandcrochet@gmail.com by Nov. 30, 2012, with the subject line of “Louet Gems.” Please include your name and a phone number where you can be reached. Book Review AND Bonus Sweepstakes: Easy How-to Techniques for Simply Stylish 18″ Dolls™ I can’t tell you how many times I have received calls and emails asking if I knew of any knitting or crochet patterns for dolls. Well, I do now! I just received a copy of Easy How-to Techniques for Simply Stylish 18″ Dolls by Andra Knight-Bowman. This book is just in time for the holidays, with the projects being so small, they can be made in an afternoon or a short weekend. The child or grandchild in your life is sure to be excited to have a new outfit for her doll. There are seven adorable outfits and seven timeless techniques in this pattern-style book. Not only is it a sweet book for patterns, but a helpful book for beginner knitters, with simple, step-by-step techniques that include working on double-pointed needles, on circulars, striping and even a bathrobe with embroidery. Each outfit is cute as can be, and maybe a matching outfit for the doll’s owner would be a thrill, too. The American Girl® dolls feature matching outfits, why not these! My favorite is the “3 Needle Nettie.” The instructions for each outfit are well illustrated and easy to follow, making the book a nice gift for the young knitter also. Now all we need is a crochet pattern book for dolls. Now, to enter our sweepstakes to win a copy of this lovely book, please send an email (one entry per person, please) to pghknitandcrochet@gmail.com by Nov. 30, 2012, with the subject line of “Simply Stylish.” Please include your name and a phone number where you can be reached. You may enter once for the Louet yarn (see story above) and once for the Simply Stylish book, but please make them separate emails because these are two separate drawings. Thinking local You know that old adage “Think global, act local”? Well, here are three opportunities to do exactly that:
October Sweepstakes winner Dale Anna Young of Ellwood City, PA, is the winner of our October sweepstakes. She receives a copy of SUPER-SCARY MOCHIMOCHI: 20+ Cute & Creepy Creatures to Knit by Anna Hrachovec. Congratulations, Dale Anna! Stay tuned: Anna Hrachovec will be making a guest appearance at the Festival with a Mochimochi Land display. Details to follow soon.
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FYI: Festival & Yarn Information Info about submitting books or products for review is here. Info about Festival teaching, sponsorship or exhibiting is here. Info about Festival attendance is here. Info about our Knittreat is here. Become our fan on these social media sites: We are a proud member of |
Festival Update is published by P.O. Box 7706, Pittsburgh, PA 15215 / (412) 963-7030 We do not share our mailing list with any third party. © 2012 Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission. eNews designed by Gooch & Gooch, LLC |