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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:

Short Rows Make BIG Statements (Spectra Scarf) with Judi Kirby
Introduction to Fair Isle Knitting with Jane Bigelow

Friday evening: Drop Spindle Spinning with Cosette Cornelius-Bates

Saturday morning:

Tunisian Crochet Entrelac Scarf/Neck Warmer with Misty Ledbetter
Intro to Entrelac with Bev Bortner
Crocheting with Beads with Vicki Fergus

Saturday afternoon:

Painted Skeins and Roving with Laun Dunn
Double Knitting with Bev Bortner
Short Rows Make BIG Statements (Spectra Scarf) with Judi Kirby
Finishing Class with Bonnie Meanor

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!