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March/April 2012 Newsletter2011-2012 Officers:

Diane Keighley, President (didokat@verizon.net)

Teresa McGonagle, VP (tmm387@comcast.net)

Cynthia Scott, Secretary (cynmscott@hotmail.com)

Jane McKinnell, Treasurer (jdmckinn@comcast.net)

Letter from the President:

Dear Friends,

Hard to believe that our guild year is two-thirds over. We have had wonderful presentations, workshops, and social time over these last 5 months, and just when you thought it couldn’t get any better along comes the auction, retreat, tea party and annual luncheon - so much to look forward to.

The March auction is always fast-paced and just plain fun! It’s a great opportunity to go through your stash, pull out that bag (or more!) of yarn you finally admit to yourself that you won’t really use, or the odd ball (or more) left over from previous projects, then head to the bookshelf . . . well you get the idea. Bring all those to the March meeting, where they will be auctioned off. Your things will have a great new home, and the funds generated benefit the guild. Plus you never know what you’ll find – there’s sure to be something you can’t live without!

Speaking of new homes – our teddy bears will be off to theirs after their tea party at our April meeting. I can’t wait to see how they’ve been dressed and decorated. They are sure to bring a great deal of joy to a child going through treatment at Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

And then May will be here before we know it! Guest speaker, Nancy Bush will join us at our Annual Luncheon at the Boston Common Hotel & Conference Center (formerly the John Hancock Hotel and Conference center – same great place, new name). Nancy is the author of Knitted Lace of Estonia, Knitting Vintage Socks, Folk Knitting in Estonia and Folk Socks. What a great way to wrap up our guild year.

I hope to see you at all of our upcoming meetings, but in the meantime . . . keep knitting!

~Diane Keighley

Upcoming meetings: 2011 – 2012 Calendar

March 15, 2012

The Process of Self-Publishing My Collections of PatternsAnn Weaver, the author of White Whale Vol.1, will share with us the concepts and ideas that inspired her to enter the world of writing and putting into print her wearable knit garments. Sample garments from both self-published books will be on display. Books will also be available for sale (cash and personal checks accepted.)Annual Yarn AuctionOur next GBKB meeting is the March auction! Since we have so many new members this year, we thought it would be good to let everyone know how it works.

1. Go through your stash and find some things you would like to divest yourself of, so that you can make room for new stuff you know you’re going to buy at the Northshore Yarn Crawl (March 15-18)! Bring your yarn, books, cook books, knitting notions, etc. to the March 15th meeting. We ask that you use the item labels included in the newsletter on your yarn lots (see last pages.) Books, smaller items (1 or 2 ball lots) will be used for the buy-it-now and will be priced by the set-up volunteers – no label needed for those.

2. We will have volunteers on the street beginning at 9:00 am to help unload cars and bring your items in for auction if you need help carrying.

3. Items will be assigned a lot number and placed around the room for perusal before the auction begins promptly at 10:30. The buy-it-now area will be closed until the live auction is over. While this is going on, Ann Weaver will share her most recent book with us.

4. Bid, bid, bid – often and high. This is the guild’s only fundraiser and the money is used to supplement your dues which pay our room rental at Trinity Church, insurance, food, beverages, and paper products for our December and April meetings, printing our brochures, etc.

5. When the live auction is over, the buy-it-now area opens with even more goodies! 6. Pay-up and celebrate! You may use a check or cash to pay for your purchases – sorry

we are not set up to take credit or debit cards. Have lunch, visit with friends and knit. 7. Head home with a bargain and a smile

.March 23 – March 25, 2012

The Best Western Plus Cold Spring in Plymouth, MA will once again be the location of our annual March retreat, with our own Bob Jaeger as host extraordinaire. We will gather Friday afternoon, March 23rd to begin a week-end filled with friends, fiber and fun. Before a casual dinner of pizza, beer/wine on Friday night, you’ll have the opportunity to pick out your silk scarf and fiber for Saturday’s nuno scarf class. After dinner it’s a movie and knitting time. Saturday morning we begin with breakfast, morning stretch with Ann Marie Turo, and then on to the fun with fiber time! Learn to use a drop spindle to create your own yarn with Charlotte Russell and Yvonne Dawkins, and create a one of kind nuno scarf with Diane Keighley and Anna Finzi – of course we’ll fit lunch in there, too. After our Saturday workshops, Ann Marie will answer questions and give us tips on how to stay healthy as we age. Before we meet for a gourmet dinner (prepared by chef Bob) Saturday evening, we’ll carpool to Fanci Purls in Plymouth for a little shopping excursion – a chance to stock up on fiber for those new skills you just learned,

and yarn! Sunday morning we begin again with breakfast and a good stretch, then round out the week-end with Intarsia tips and techniques with Cheryl Mariolis. A retreat is just what the week-end is – “a period of quiet rest and contemplation in a secluded place” – although it’s not always quiet, it is restful, informative, an opportunity to learn and a chance get to know each other better. At this time we have a few spots left – hope to see you there!

April 19, 2012

Teddy Bear Tea Party and Contest

May 17, 2012 – Annual Luncheon – Boston Common Hotel and Conference Center

Our guest speaker is Nancy Bush, author of Knitted Lace of Estonia, Knitting Vintage Socks, Folk Knitting in Estonia, Folk Socks, and owner of The Wooly West, an online mail order business based in Utah. Wooly West pecializes in small projects, especially socks, handcoverings and lace shawls and scarves and the patterns, yarn, and tools to achieve them.

Greater Boston Knitting Guild Meeting Minutes: December 15, 2011

This morning a cab ride was a necessity due to the gifts, cookies, knitting projects- all needed for this very important meeting, one of the busiest of the year. The 15 minute ride turned into a 30 minute expedition due to traffic. Only the well organized get to Trinity’s undercroft early for our December meeting! We had two speakers. Our first was Mai from the Women’s Lunch Place. She teaches knitting and crocheting. She has knit from the age of 5, and she knits every day. She buys yarn from Canada which she stores in two yarn closets. I would love to see her stash! Our members came through once again with a large quantity of scarves, hats, gloves, mittens, socks and toiletries for the Women’s Lunch Place.Denise from Plimoth Plantation spoke next. It is quite a chore to outfit 61 plantation guides. When they visit schools, they bring clothing for the children to try on. They need to have knitters to help produce clothing. Plimoth Plantation has its own line of yarn dyed in 17 th century colors. The most popular color is Goose Turd Green.Then we had our cookie contest. Samples were taken from each entry and judged by the Trinity Staff. After lunch, members could sample the cookies, and later on take them home with a copy of the recipe.

First prize: Santa’s Hat Brownies- Susan NalbandSecond prize: Date Balls- Linda DarisseThird prize: Caramel Pecans- Bob Jaeger

Best packaged: Chocolate Coma- Vivian BoltBest Frosty the Snowman impression: Malted Snowman- Melodie DustinBest fruit inspired: Santa‘s Hat Brownies- Susan NalbandMost decadent: Lemon Gems- Mary McGonagleMost colorful: Venetians- Betty WeldonBest tart impression: Swedish Tosca- Pauline BrownBest use of alcohol: Cognac Sugar Plum- Linda Zukowski

Submitted by: Cynthia Scott, Secretary

January 19, 2012

It was a cool, brisk morning. Our members arrived with knitting supplies, prepared to learn new skills and/or to refresh old skills. Our in-house workshops varied in time lengths, taking into consideration individual ability and the complexity of questions asked. Cheryl taught a class in beginning lace which included how to read a chart and problems to avoid. She showed how lace could be used in various projects. Diane Keighley instructed us how to install a zipper in a knitted garment by using a small latch or crochet hook, giving our garments a professional look. Peggy Dixon and Liz Nichols taught us how to take accurate measurements needed for a proper fit. Susan Flier and Anita MacKinnon instructed us how to add pzazz to our everyday knitting including: jogless stripes, cable cast on, simple mosaic, false cables, and small Fair Isle patterns. Lots of information was exchanged. This program shows one of the wonderful characteristics of our guild that I so admire: members helping each other improve their skills.

Submitted by: Cynthia Scott, Secretary

Note from the Editor:If you have something of interest to share, a story, free pattern, picture, recipe or article related to fiber or a fiber experience, anything you think the membership would enjoy, please email it to me at lindadarisse@hotmail.com for publication in the newsletter. I know you’re probably thinking that this doesn’t apply to you but everyone in our group is talented and experienced and has much to share. Write a paragraph or two about a special garment for a special person, a fiber tour by air, sea or land, a local yarn shop story, a look back at history, either yours or the GBKG, or highlight an informal knitting group in your local area, anything you’d like to share. Or you can outline a process you went through and I will put it into paragraph form for you.

The following is a MacAusland Mills follow-up email from Jackie Fee:

Hi Linda,Just had to let you know how much I enjoyed reading your very thorough description of the operation of the MacAusland Woolen Mill on Prince Edward Island. We were there for the first time the summer of 2010, researching my husband's mother's birthplace in Souris, and made the trek to the opposite end of PEI to visit the mill. You certainly captured the quaintness of the place. If I had stayed another 5 minutes I would have been organizing yarns/blankets, sweeping floors and doing general tidying up, which I'm sure would spoil the entire experience and charm of the old mill. Good I couldn't linger!! I have worked up a cardigan sweater and scarf in their denim color yarn. With four of us in one car and limited trunk space, a few skeins of yarn were all we had room for. I've attached photos. The sweater is worked in a Garter Stitch Rib of K4, P4. Feel free to post if you want. Please note I have misspelled MacAusland on the sweater titles. Thanks again for the all-inclusive write-up! Jackie Fee

McCausland Sweater by Jackie Fee

Thanks for sharing, Jackie

And special thanks to everyone who contributed to this issue of the newsletter.

~Linda Darisse, Editor

Community Outreach Program:

Please join Hat Tricks, our new hat of the month club. At each monthly meeting, we will meet during the lunch hour, provide a pattern, start the hat and go over the directions and techniques. The completed hats will be dropped off at the next meeting and will be on display. Our plan is to offer increasingly difficult techniques and styles for hats knitted in the round. February’s Hat was a child’s hat using the techniques for jog-less stripes, picking up stitches for earflaps and making i-cords.

March’s hat will be a basic stockinette hat worked in two colors featuring stranding. For supplies, the pattern calls for 2 balls bulky weight (93 yards/ball) for main color and 1 ball bulky weight for contrast color, 16” #9 circ needle (or double pointed) to make an adult hat. If you prefer, you may use worsted weight yarn and a #7 needle (or the size that works best for your own gauge) to make a child’s version.

~ Susan Flier

Three Days in the Foothills of the Green Mountains by Rosann Palermo

Every year for the past seven I have taken a knitting adventure somewhere in New England or Upstate New York with one of my friends from college. Sometimes we pick a town and create our own yarn crawl; other years we select a class. It’s amazing what you can find on the Internet and in the back of knitting magazines.

This year we found ourselves in the dining room of one of the most famous authors of the 20th century in the foothills of the Green Mountains. We spent three days at Naulakha, the former home of Rudyard Kipling, learning how to make Celtic sweaters. The workshop was hosted by Mostly Merino’s Margaret Klein Wilson, and lead by Beth Brown Reinsel. It was a perfect weekend getaway not unlike going to your favorite aunt’s summer house as a child where you could kick off your shoes and have a huge

slumber party with all your cousins.

Our trip started like most others, with both of us driving from opposite ends of the Mass Pike. Luckily, I was not due at the estate until 4:30 so there was plenty of time to explore. En route I was able to make stops at WEBS and Northampton Wools. A side trip to Harrisville could also have been on the agenda if I had not overslept that morning.

Upon arrival we were greeted by the property manager and shown to our corner room complete with sleeping porch and period furniture. The views were picture perfect from every window. It was shaping up to be a good weekend; no televisions, limited cellular service, fresh coffee brewing and cocktails at the farmhouse.

The classes and most of our meals were enjoyed at the Kipling family’s dining room table. Along with ten other people, we spent three days learning, laughing and relaxing while Beth showed us the techniques used in her Celtic Dream Sweater. She started the session by leading us through the construction of a doll sweater so we could practice some of the trickier aspects of the construction on a small scale before embarking upon our own Celtic Dream Sweaters the second day. The second and third days were the perfect balance of class work and time on our own to practice. I still have not finished my sweater but each time I pick it up I remember how much fun I had that weekend.

An integral part of the weekend was the balance of time for one’s own thoughts with time for coming together as a group. To foster this, Margaret planned some meals to be prepared on site by the property’s resident cook, Laurie, and for others to be on our own. Laurie is a fantastic cook. Each meal showcased a different selection of fresh eggs, fruit, vegetables and a selection of other local fare. Leftovers were carefully packaged up for late night refrigerator raids. Every detail was tended to for us; she even corked a few bottles of wine for easier access by over-knitted fingers, the wine being enjoyed in the servant’s quarters after a late night dinner. We giggled like school girls over the difference between our own lives and the lives portrayed in the first edition of Emily Post’s Etiquette book we found in the library.

While there is plenty to do on the property including hiking, lawn tennis, croquet, or pool, we decided between class sessions to embark on our own adventures off-property. Saturday is farmer’s market day in Brattleboro. The farmer’s market in town has more than just the expected farm fresh vegetables. There are food vendors from local restaurants selling everything from fresh ice cream to vindaloo. Those of us who traveled a distance and did not want to risk destroying fresh vegetables in our luggage, including two from Labrador, opted not to buy the fresh vegetables. Instead we concentrated on the wares from local handcrafters selling soaps, honey, yarn, roving, and jewelry .

After three days in the foothills of the Green Mountains it was time to return to Massachusetts with my new skills and partially completed sweater which I will work on a little at a time while I wait for the next class schedule from Mostly Merino.

Photo by Roseann Palermo

Free Knitting Pattern from Lion Brand Yarn Lion Brand® Alpine WoolChance of Flurries Hat Pattern Number: 90178AD

SKILL LEVEL: Easy + SIZE: One SizeAbout 19 in. (48.5 cm) circumference. Hat will stretch to fit a range of sizes.

MATERIALS

LION BRAND ALPINE WOOL (Art. #822) #174 Olive 1 ball (A) 1 balls #099 Vanilla 1 ball (B) or colors of your choiceLION BRAND double-pointed knitting needles size 9• 822-174 Lion Brand Alpine Wool: Olive 2 Balls (A)• 822-099 Lion Brand Alpine Wool: Vanilla 1 Ball (B)• Lion Brand Double-Pointed Needles - Size 9 • Lion Brand Double-Pointed Needles - Size 10 • Lion Brand Split Ring Stitch Markers • Large-Eye Blunt Needles (Set of 6) • Pom pom Maker

GAUGE:16 sts = 4 in. (10 cm) in St st worked in the rnd (k every rnd). BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE. When you match the gauge in a pattern, your project will be the size specified in the pattern and the materials specified in the pattern will be sufficient. If it takes you less stitches and rows to make a 4 in. [10 cm] square, try using a smaller size hook or needles; if more stitches and rows, try a larger size hook or needles.

STITCH EXPLANATION:K2, p2, Rib (worked in the rnd) Rnd 1: *K2, p2; rep from * around. Rep Rnd 1 for K2, p2 Rib.Color Dot Pattern Rnd 1: *K1 with A, k1 with B, rep from * around. Rnd 2: With A, knit. Rnd 3: *K1 with B, k1 with A, rep from * around. Rnd 4: Rep Rnd 2. Rep Rnds 1-4 for Color Dot pattern.

NOTES: Carry B along WS of work, do not cut between rnds.

HATWith smaller needles and A, cast on 72 sts. Divide sts onto 3 needles and join, being careful not to twist. Place marker for beg of rnd. Work in K2, p2 Rib until piece measures 5 in. (12.5 cm) from beg. Next Rnd: *K34, k2tog, rep from * once – 70 sts. Change to larger needles and work in Color Dot pattern until piece measures about 9 in. (23 cm) from beg, end with a Rnd 1 or 3.

Crown Shaping Note: Continue working in Color Dot pattern throughout crown shaping, adjust sts as needed so that A and B alternate on every other rnd. Next Rnd: With A, knit. Next Rnd: Working in Color Dot pattern as established, *k5, k2tog, rep from * around – 60 Next Rnd: With A, knit. Next Rnd: Working in Color Dot pattern as established, *k4, k2tog, rep from * around – 50 Next Rnd: With A, knit. Next Rnd: Working in Color Dot pattern as established, *k3, k2tog, rep from * around – 40 Next Rnd: With A, knit. Next Rnd: Working in Color Dot pattern as established, *k2, k2tog, rep from * around – 30 Next Rnd: With A, knit. Next Rnd: Working in Color Dot pattern as established, *k1, k2tog, rep from * around – 20 Next Rnd: With A, knit. Next Rnd: Working in Color Dot pattern as established, *k2tog, rep from * around – 10 sts. Next Rnd: With A, knit. Cut A, leaving a long end. Weave end through remaining sts, gather together and fasten off.

Submitted by: Christine O’Neill

Winning Cookie Recipe - Most Colorful:Venitians (Seven Layer Cookies)

1 8 oz tube almond paste3 sticks butter (soft)1C sugar4 eggs, separated1 tsp almond extract

2C flour, sifted1/4 tsp saltgreen & red food coloring1 (12oz) jar apricot preserves8oz semi-sweet chocolate

Grease 3 pans (10x13x1 inch). Line with wax paper and grease again. Beat almond paste in a large bowl with fork. Add butter, sugar, egg yolks, and almond extract. Beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in flour and salt. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold into almond mixture. Remove 1 1/2 C batter; spread into one pan. Remove another 1 1/2 C batter, add green food coloring and spread into second pan. Add red food coloring to remaining batter and spread into 3rd pan. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes, until edges are light brown. Cakes will be 1/4 inch thick.

Remove cakes from the pans immediately onto racks. Cool thoroughly. Place green layer on upside down jelly roll pan. Heat apricot preserves; spread 1/2 over green layer. Slide the yellow layer on top; spread remaining preserves. Slide red layer on top of yellow layer. Cover with plastic wrap and weight down with a wooden cutting board or heavy object. Refrigerate over night.

Melt 4 oz of chocolate over hot water. Spread to edges of cake and let dry. Turn cake over, repeat frosting. Trim edges. Cut into 1 inch squares.

Submitted by: Betty Weldon

Reminder: GBKG Website by Ingeborg Endter

The Greater Boston Knitting Guild has a group on the photo site Flickr.com. Anyone can look at the photos just by going to http://www.flickr.com/groups/gbkg.

If you have photos you'd like to contribute, you need an account (a login and a password) on Flickr. You can sign up on the main page at Flickr.com. Once you have an account, join our group at our group page. From there you can add photos to your account and then also add them to the GBKG group. I'd be happy to conduct a little tutorial in using Flickr and uploading photos. Please contact me at inge@iejj.net if you are interested in learning how to do it. It’s a way to share and have fun with your knitting photos!

Discount for members:

For a list of shops and businesses that offer a discount to members, go to http://www.bostonknitting.com and click on Member Benefits.

Label for Yarn Auction (please use half a page when copying):

LOT # _________________________________

YARN NAME/BRAND:___________________________________________________

FIBER CONTENT: _______________________________________________________

YARDAGE: _________________________ WEIGHT: __________________________

GAUGE: __________________ RECOMMENDED NEEDLES: ___________________

GBKG Websitehttp://www.bostonknitting.com

5th ANNUAL WEEKEND KNITTING RETREATat the BEST WESTERN COLD SPRING MOTEL, PLYMOUTH

Host: Bob JaegerDriving directions: http://www.bwcoldspring.com

March 23 - 25, 2012Weekend Itinerary:

Friday: 2pm Check in anytime after 2pm3 – 5pm Reception5:30 - 7 pm Pizza Party with beer and wine8pm Movie night!

Saturday: 7 – 8am Breakfast 8 – 8:30am “Morning Stretch” with Ann Marie Turo, OTR/L

8:30 – 11:30am

Nuno Scarf with Diane KeighleyDrop Spindle with Charlotte Russell

11:30 – 12:00 “Chair Yoga” with Ann Marie Turo, OTR/L noon Lunch 1:00-4:00pm Nuno Scarf with Diane Keighley

Drop Spindle with Charlotte Russell4 – 4:30pm Health Question Answer Session with Ann Marie Turo,

OTR/L4:30 – 6:30pm You must vacate the classroom for dinner preparations!

Private time in your room perhaps or join a carpool to Fanci Purls.

6:30pm Bob’s Fabulous Buffet Dinner Sunday: 7 – 9am Breakfast

8:30 – 9am “Morning Stretch” with Ann Marie Turo, OTR/L9 – 11am Intarsia with Cheryl Mariolis11am Check out by 11am

There will be lots of spare time to knit and chat, so don’t forget your works in progress!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Reservations are required by March 5th!

Make your check payable to GBKG.Mail to: CC Fitzgerald, 105 Woodchester Drive, Weston, MA 02493

Name: __________________________________________________________________

□ $345 per person double occupancy all inclusive!My roommate’s name is: _____________________________________________

□ Please select a roommate for me.

□ $370 single occupancy all inclusive!

Price includes lodging, workshop instruction, workshop supplies, yoga instruction, all meals and snacks.

WEEKEND KNITTING RETREAT

Ann Marie Turo, OTR/L, owner of Integrated Mind & Body, LLC in Boston, is a Board Certified Occupational Therapist. Ann Marie combines her skills as a therapist, Pilates, yoga, Reiki master and Breast Cancer exercise specialist. She draws upon a variety of modalities to provide holistic quality instruction to individuals with specific medical and non-medical conditions.

Ann Marie will be instructing three sessions during the knitting weekend retreat. Women's Stretch (Sat 8-8:30, Sun 8:30-9)A half hour stretch class designed to improve total body flexibility in preparation for an exciting day of knitting! Please bring a mat and wear loose fitting clothing. Health Question Answer Session ( Sat 4-4:30)Open forum, questions and tips to keep us healthy as we age. Chair Yoga (Sat 11:30-12:00)Don't like to get down on the floor or can't get down on the floor due to medical issues or you just want to learn some quick yoga poses to practice while you take your knitting break! Join this Chair Yoga practice in a chair. Learn gentile yoga poses to improve body, breath awareness, relax your mind and reconnect with your creative self.

Diane KeighleySaturday morning and Saturday afternoon: half the group will take the workshop in the morning and half will take the workshop in the afternoon.

Nuno Felted Scarf Workshop – We will create a unique scarf using the nuno felting technique, where small amounts of wool roving are layered with silk chiffon fabric. During the felting process, the wool fibers migrate through the weave of the fabric, entangle and pull the cloth along as they shrink. The result is a highly textural fabric that resembles ruching. The following materials will be provided: merino roving, silk fabric, bubble wrap, tulle fabric, rolling rod, and fancy yarn. NOTE: You must be able to stand for 2-3 hours.Please bring: 2 beach size towels (bath size if you don’t have beach towels) from home.

Charlotte RussellSaturday morning and afternoon: half the group will take the workshop in the morning

and half will take the workshop in the afternoon.Charlotte Russell has been spinning for about 50 years and has studied with many of the

best teachers. She taught spinning in Boston before retiring to Plymouth. In this class you will learn the basics of spinning and spinning on a drop spindle. Instructions, tools, and supplies will be provided, however if you have your own spindle, please bring it as it is a good idea to learn with your own equipment.

Cheryl Mariolis

Sunday morning: Intarsia: tips and techniques for using Intarsia to enhance

your knitting. Intarsia is the method for knitting interlocking areas of color to form a

single thickness of fabric. In this workshop we will be knitting a swatch that will carry us through the basics of intarsia - from blocks and diagonal shapes to curved shapes, like flowers and leaves. We will also review duplicate stitch.

Please bring: DK or worsted weight yarn in a variety of colors (pick one or two background colors and then small amounts of 6 more colors), needles appropriate for your yarn, a large-eyed yarn needle.