November 2012

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:

Nov. 24 is Small Business Saturday. Support your favorite LYS with a purchase. We also have a list of area yarn shops here.
Save the date for the Handmade Arcade: Saturday, Dec. 8, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the David Lawrence Convention Center. I’ll be there myself with the Knit the Bridge group. Learn more at HandmadeArcade.com.
Speaking of Knit the Bridge, it now has its own Ravelry group. That’s in addition to its official site, Facebook page and Twitter account. Each of these platforms can help you keep up with the project’s latest progress and ways to get involved (and believe me, there are plenty of ways). They can also tide you over until you get the chance to visit the Knit the Bridge Lounge at the Festival!

October Sweepstakes winner