Mint Hill Stitch In

Blog will Cease on Feb 15, 2011

2011-02-01T09:34:00.000-08:00

“Fans, this blog will cease operations on Feb 15, 2011. Please follow us at facebook.com/cmlibrary, twitter.com/cmlibrary or youtube.com/cmlibrary. For more on news and programming information from Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, please bookmark cmlibrary.org or subscribe to our many RSS feeds. - Charlotte Mecklenburg Library”

Happy Fourth of July Everyone

2010-07-02T08:05:00.000-07:00

These 4th of July Napkin Rings will add some sparkle to your table.

Shelia is now in charge of the Blog

2010-07-02T07:54:00.000-07:00

This is the youngest member of the Mint Hill Stitch In group. She loves to knit and is making progress quickly.

This water bottle cozy was made by Nancy.

Rita is using her seamstress skills to make this skirt from the Edwardian Era. She and her husband are docents for the Mint Hill Historical Society.

Aura has done a wonderful job taking care of our blog, but she will be going to the University City Branch. We will miss her greatly!

April 27 - Mint Hill Stitch In Ladies meet without Shelia

2010-05-19T11:59:00.000-07:00

Shelia was not able to meet with the ladies on this last Tuesday of April.  Mark, our Branch manager set up the room and the ladies quickly got situated.  They even brought refreshments.

   Pat delivered a very special and thoughtful surprise from Natalie one of our regular attenders.  I had no idea that she was also into other crafts.  She is known for her beautiful crochet dolls and afghans.  Take a look at these beautiful wreaths she made using a  two clothes hanger.  She made on wreath for Aura and one for Shelia.  Thank you so much Natalie.

Everyone was engaged in their projects and enjoying each others conversations.  I joined in and talked with Phyllis and Barb who are very good friends and share a love of knitting.  Barb found a pattern for a tube sock she liked and shared it with Phyllis.  The fun yarn they are using creates a unique pattern and don't let the shape of Barb's fool you.  It does not have a heel but it's very stretchy and this size will fit various size feet.

This is Pat's work in progress using Patons Kroy Socks yarn.

Claire's work in progress really belongs to her friend from Greensboro who has not been able to finish it. Claire does not have the pattern  to follow so with the help of another friend she hopes to finish it.  Juliana at work saw the picture and she recognized the pattern which is called Greek Key.  I searched online and was not able to find this pattern.  Sorry, but no picture is available.

This is Nancy's current project and she is making it for a grand niece who lives in Michigan.

Shelia received a donation of crocheted squares from one of our patrons.  Jill is helping piece the squares together using the slip stitch.

Rita hesitated showing me the gnome she has been working on but I convinced her. I'm sure once she finishes it will be unique just like her other creations.  The sweater pattern makes me think of Charlie Brown.

Jan has found something she could continue doing to occupy her crafting time.  This flannel blanket has been finished by crocheting a border.  "This fabric is just right for a little boy," she said.

Jill had fun crocheting the edge on this flannel blankets.  She loves working using Hobby Lobby's so soft Lambie Yarn. 

Jeanne has started another blanket for a daughter's good friend.

Jeanne also brought pictures taken during a recent visit to her family. Thanks for sharing these.

I like making a piece of string into something I can wear. ~Author Unknown

Spring is Almost Here

2010-04-23T08:53:00.000-07:00

The beautiful spring like weather brought a good crowd to work on their works in progress.

This delicious Chocolate Delight dessert not only looked good but tasted delicious. The crochet shamrocks added a special touch to the refreshment table.

Rita continues to work on sewing the walker bags. She is still accepting fabric donations.

Rita finds a solution for everything including keeping up with her glasses.

Janet was seen wearing this beaded creation. She really impresses me with her intricate and detailed work.

Iola is a beginner crocheter and confessed that she knew her edges were not even. I reassured her that this is all part of the learning process and with practice and perseverance she will improve. My advice to her was to count stitches on every row and to be careful not to miss working a stitch on the turning chain.

One of the ladies I talked to told me about this fantastic kit she purchased at Ollie's. The kit includes yarn and numerous cards with projects for all different levels. She did say she thought she bought the last one.

Shelia finished this cotton cloth she found in one the Mason Dixon Knitting book and added the five petal crochet flower. Nice work!

…until we meet again may your creative genius continue to enrich your lives.

March is National Craft Month

2010-03-16T15:19:00.000-07:00

To commemorate March as National Craft Month a display has been set at the Mint Hill Branch Library.

All the items on the display have been created by the ladies who attend Mint Hill Stitch In.

1. It's not possible to capture the intricate detail of these two beaded creations by Janet.

2. Small knitted blanket for Project Linus

3. Max the moonshiner gnome and Mac Gnome his Irish companion were knitted by Rita.  

4. Jill's caps and booties in different sizes.

5. Julie's scarf was knitted using Lion Brand's Homespun yarn.

6. These clowns are the pride and joy of Natalie.

7. Donna's items are a felted mitten, a pair of socks and a beautiful felted purse.

8. This baby knitted bunting was made by Jean.

9. Beautiful hand knitted items by Phyllis.

10. Barb's crochet swirling bag and knitted fingerless gloves.

Stylish gloves and super easy to knit.

11. Iola's magnificent knitted creations.

12. Pat's Helmet liner and knitted baby hat.

13. Loretta's Preemie knitted hats.

This beautiful garden trellis quilt in progress is the work of Barb who has a good reason to smile. It is so beautiful. One of her friends had commented to her that this pattern was not really for a beginner but that did not stop Barb. She is making this quilt to give away to her daughter.

Close up of Barb's quilt.

Barb's knitted fingerless glove fits just right and it is part of the Mint Hill Stitch In display.

Until next time...may all your crafting deliver joy and delight.

Stitch, Learn---Make Friends too

2010-03-01T10:50:00.000-08:00

Just about every month I've had the opportunity to meet a new lady who is passionate about crafts. Rachel has been working on crochet squares which will be used to create a blanket. She is excited about this particular blanket because she will give it to her mother this Christmas. Among Rachel's other interests: painting ceramics, plastic canvas, cross stitch, quilling, etc..etc...

This was Rachel's second time attending Mint Hill's Stitch In and she sat next to another second time in attendance lady, Jill.  We have three Jills now.  Jill #3 recently started knitting and was fascinated watching how fast Rachel's work progressed.

This is the beautiful Ripple Crochet afghan that Natalie made using left over worsted weight yarn. 

Shelia's Yarn Winder continues to gain popularity. It has been tested and tried by Jill who puts it to use every time Shelia brings it in.  She loved demonstrating it. 

This is the spaghetti yarn mess Jill's mother handed her.

Nice cake of yarn made by the Yarn Winder.

Rita continues to work on her Walker bags and she was happy with the fabric donations she collected.

Rita's detailed instructions for the Walker bags.

This is Jed, the moonshiner posing with his flask.

With all the sewing Rita did, I don't think she made much progress on this new gnome.

Neily brought several knitted dish towels and wondered how much she could sell these for. She found the pattern in one of the Mason Dixon books. She was pleased with the price suggestion she got.

This cotton cardigan was knitted by Joe who learned to knit while living in Germany. She shared with me a neat tip too. She likes to finish the edge of knitted rib by doing slip stitches or single crochet across the edge.

See you all next time.

All Things Red and Beautiful

2010-02-15T11:18:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day! Red was all around the community room, a color I count as one of my favorites.

Shelia's Red Velvet cake was not only beautiful outside but inside as well. Look carefully and you'll see a heart inside the cake.

From one stitching friend to another the message reads: All the while you make me smile. You are forever my best friend. Jan's knitted cloth for Tina.

Shelia also received a Heart cloth from someone who appreciates her very much. Sue worked on this cloth and finished it during this session.

Aura's amigurumi Gnomes added to the red theme. She brought them to show Rita, another gnome enthusiast.

More red creations - The hat was made by Jan using the jiffy knitter.

Sheila's crocheted Red rose will decorate her door.

Debbie B. joined Stitch In and worked on her shawl.

Rita would like to receive fabric donations to make walker bags. She recently got together with a friend who is a physical therapist and shared about this need. The walker bags are needed to hold personal items. She prefer sturdy/heavy duty material.

This one features three pockets. There is a piece of wide velcro tape on the back to hold the bag on the walker.

Pretty plaid walker bag.

"More Creative Genius..."

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

So Many Blankets--All Made from the Heart

2010-01-28T09:45:00.000-08:00

The fleece blankets for Project Linus continue to pour in and also the help to put them together. Nancy showed up and lent her hand tying knots along the borders. She was more than happy to do this.

Mint Hill Branch Library has been designated as a drop off location for all blankets.  Shelia who also attends the Project Linus meetings received the labels that are sewn to each blanket.  Phyllis worked sewing them to all the  completed fleece blankets.

There was plenty of sweet stuff and hot chocolate (those are snowman marshmallows) to keep everyone happy as they stitched.

Rita's McGnome sports a kilt and a super curly beard.  She keeps coming up with her own original designs and was more than willing to share how she made the beard, one of my favorite parts.  She would like to make them smaller as there are many more hours of labor on this size gnome.  

A different kind of yarn produced a totally different beard look.  The hat was upcycled from a boiled wool jacket.  The pointy boots were constructed the same way.  Rita's gnomes have bendable arms made possible by the wire she inserts as she fills them with fiberfill.  She has not named this one yet.

This is not Shelia's creation but someday she would like to be able to make one. She was willing to pay $40.00 so she could reproduce it . I'm sure she will.

She has learned much working on crochet hats and proudly showed this one she completed.

Janet received a very nice gift from one of her children. On a recent trip to Alaska her husband took a beautiful picture which was made into a puzzle. The short row scarf she knitted made her very happy too.

Finally on my way out I snapped this picture of Jan reading and working with her hands.  There is no reason why you can't do two things at the same time.

Our Stamping Lady - Surprise Visitor

2010-01-27T11:35:00.000-08:00

Carolyn has been working on this garter stitch scarf for a young person she knows. She specifically said this is for a young person, I would not wear this. I'm not young anymore but I would love a fun scarf like this one. It's made using yarn left over from other projects, using the garter stitch. To add whimsy she combines different types of yarn.

Jean is known for her beautiful afghans. The other day, she ran into a friend she had not seen, who shared a reversible cables pattern.

When working with patterns that consist of more than five rows, Jean finds it easier to write down all the rows on her books and to check them off as she completes them.

Janelle, a first time visitor concentrates and follows Jayne's directions to knit. She looked very relaxed and enjoyed her session. Carolyn and Anne sat closed by working on their knitting. This was a good thing they told me to do after their workout at the YMCA.

Ginger another first time visitor came well equipped with yarn as well as stamping supplies.  She found some new friends and shared with some of the ladies her love of stamping.

Ginger's stamping area drew the interest of some of the ladies.

Jan enjoyed very much her stamping experience. Jill followed her steps and also joined in the stamping fun.

So What is T-Yarn and Plarn?

2010-01-13T10:45:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all

Upcycled Owls

2010 has arrived and the trend of being resourceful recycling and upcycling will continue to gain popularity.

According to Wikepedia "Recycling involves processing used materials into new products to prevent the waste of potentially useful materials."  

Upcycling on the other hand involves re-using non recyclable materials and finding a new purpose for them.

One of the ways people are creating upcycled items is by making yarn from T shirts; so T-yarn is simply yarn made from T shirts.  You can learn how to make this type of yarn here.

Fabric can also be used to create yarn.

Take a look at some upcycled items in this site : Sosorosey
She creates upcycled trivets and bowls from pillowcases. Pretty clever lady.

To make plarn you simply use plastic bags. Here's the link showing step by step how to make plarn.

A great resolution this year would be to continue to craft and create using materials we already have around the house. In the process you will join the many who are working to decrease the amount of waste. Some of the Stitch in ladies are already doing this. Rita's gnomes outfits are made from upcycled wool. She gets her wool from Goodwill. Consider using ties made out of wool to create small softies as the one in the picture above.

Holiday Ornament Exchange

2009-12-09T11:19:00.000-08:00

The much anticipated Holiday Stitch In gathering finally took place on this cold December afternoon.  Red was the color that prevailed adding to the festive mood.

These pretty packages contained the 28 ornaments for the Ornaments Exchange. This is our fourth year doing the exchange.

The Refreshment Table

These Red Velvet Woopy Pies were made by Shelia using a cake mix.

To make them you will need:

1 box red velvet cake mix --- 2 Large Eggs
1/4 cup oil

Combine cake mix, eggs and oil until well blended

Shape dough into balls, flatten slightly unto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for around 9 minutes.
Enjoy

This is the work of Sue who has been knitting for around a year. She is loving it and doing very well as you can see.

Julie's cardigan for Anna will sport lady bugs buttons.

I was pleased to see that Phyllis made so much progress with her short row scarf. Click on the words short row scarf for a link to a pattern.
The Holiday Ornament Exchange was the highlight of this meeting. All the participants love this annual tradition and this year the ornaments were great.

Gobble Gobble

2009-12-03T14:34:00.000-08:00

Yummy, Yummy Gobble Gobble Cookies brought smiles to the many ladies in attendance.

Phyllis completed her Swirling Bag.  This link will take you to the pattern available from Knitting Daily.

Another one of Phyllis's creations

Nancy embellished her Project Linus blanket with crochet flowers.

Look really careful and you'll see a cat's face hidden in this scarf made by Shelia for a relative.

Janet is taking a break from making baby items and is working on this cross stitch piece which she plans to make for herself.

Once again it's time to be thinking of hand crafted ornaments. The ornament exchange will again take place during one of our meetings this month. Here's a few links to crochet and knitted ornaments:

Heart Ornament

Gold Christmas Ornament

Popcorn Wreath Ornament

Snowflake Ornament

Knitted Ball Ornament 

Santa Hat Ornament

Sweater Ornament

Knitted Santa Ornament

Knitted Christmas Tree

The Arrival of the Phiaro Scarf to Mint Hill

2009-11-18T11:36:00.000-08:00

I was glad to model for Nancy this gorgeous scarf/shawl called Phiaro. She shared with me she purchased this beautiful alpaca and tencel blend at the Fibre Studio at Yarns to Dye For. The name of the yarn is Ballet. You can purchase this pattern for $3.50 online at the Interweave Store.

The Phiaro as a Scarf

The Phiaro as a shawl

This Christmas color border was done by Iola. She can't get enough of this technique and is delighted to be able to donate this to Project Linus.

Janet's donation of Premie Hats.

She also made these crochet caps for full term babies.

Janet has also made several turbans. Jill loved them. Janet is donating these to the Cancer Center at the Matthews Presbyterian Hospital.

Side View of the turban

Several ladies continue to contribute to the Scarves donations.

Shelia's Prayer Shawl drew the attention of those present. She has been having fun crocheting flowers.

The refreshments kept everyone happy.

The End....:-)

Fall 2009 Gathering

2009-11-09T10:48:00.000-08:00

At least 28 ladies gathered to stitch and enjoy each others company. Our community room was almost filled to capacity.

Delores lined up to get her plate and she browsed through the new books on display.

Savory and Sweet dishes taste even better in good company.

Phyllis's creativity produced this beautiful fall scarf.

Natalie created these whimsical crochet dolls for Nancy.

She gives some of her creations away, but this kitty she'll keep for a little girl in her family.  She reported that the cat's ears were a tad larger and she had to make some adjustments so the creature would stand. He's got personality.      

Rita continues to make progress and creating one of a kind gnomes.  Her favorite place to acquire wool for felting is the Goodwill Store.  The hats are lined and she uses wire to keep them in place.  She uses wool for the beard.  Here's another very cute version of a gnome.  Looks like it would also take less time to construct.  Click on the word gnome.

The gnome's feather is from a guinea fowl.  Rita knows someone in Montawk, Long Island who collects them for her.

Rita also made this turban from a pattern Shelia shared with the ladies.

Pat's collection of chemo caps continues to grow.  She is delighted to be able to use leftover worsted weight yarn and eyelash yarn to make these.

Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success. ~Henry Ford

Pink Day

2009-10-16T11:14:00.000-07:00

Pink, the color that reminds us of Breast Cancer awareness was seen in all around during our October 13 meeting.  

Ashley came bearing gifts from Charlotte Radiology to celebrate October Breast Awareness Month.  The 30 ladies in attendance received a neat nylon bag like the one Ashley is holding along with other free goodies that came inside the bag.  Patterns for chemo caps are available from Shelia for anyone interested in donating caps to the Presbyterian Hospital in Matthews. This pattern is for a knitted chemo cap.  The Loving Georgia Lee Tyler crochet pattern can be made using worsted weight or sport weight yarn.

Some of the delicious treats served were also in pink and enjoyed by all. I especially loved the Pink Fluff. Click on the link for the recipe.

Everyone has appreciated the fleece donation from Delores. The fleece is being used for blankets which will be donated to Project Linus. See Shelia if you would like to make a blanket using this fleece.

The refreshments and books table.

Sheila is new to Mint Hill Stitch In and crocheting as well. She is using a basic crochet stitch to make blanket in Carolina Blue colors.

Rita has been mastering the art of making gnomes and adds her very own unique touches. Each felted boot has a hand sewn edge which is time consuming she reported. She is also thrilled that one of the gnomes has already been sold.

First Day of Fall 2009 Stitch In

2009-09-24T11:39:00.000-07:00

On this first day of fall Mint Hill Stitch In participants numbered 21. It is a fact that many people prefer to knit or crochet when the weather is cool. The weather conditions have not really slowed down Janet. She has been busy making blankets and hats which she wants to donate to the Battered Woman's Shelter in Monroe.

Pat is very much in to making baby items and has found a pattern that came with the yarn she purchased.

Shelia had a wonderful show and tell. She won a beautiful quilt during the Make a Blanket Day event sponsored by Project Linus. Mint Hill Branch Library is a drop off point for all donated blankets. She will attend the Project Linus meetings which take place on the second Tuesday of the month from 6:30 pm to
8:30 pm at Candlewyck Baptist Church, 7200 Providence Rd. The church's telephone number is: 704-366-2310 These meetings are open to the public.

This is Rita's gnome design and creation. She used recycled wool for the boots and hat. The nose and face were also made with recycled material. For the beard, she cleverly crocheted a base and hooked the yarn strands. He has a name, I'm sure. I just forgot to ask Rita.

Nancy's asymmetrical sweater can be worn in several ways. The Bernat Bamboo wool has a luxurious feel. Her toddler socks were made using self striping yarn.

Nancy loves yarn; she showed me this colorful yarn by Manos del Uruguay.  The price is not bad for the amount of yarn in the skein.

The softness of this silk blend yarn is perfect for the scarf Nancy is making. The colors, rich and warm remind me of the wonderful season of Fall.

Crochet Edging - 101

2009-09-03T14:29:00.000-07:00

The beautiful edge on this pink flannel blanket was stitched by Claire.

This video clearly shows step by step how to make the crochet edge.  You can use flannel or fleece.  This is one of the quickest methods of making a blanket.  Project Linus stipulates the fleece blankets should be done in a single layer in the following sizes: For a child - 36" by 45", For a baby - 36" by 36".

Mint Hill Branch has been designated as a drop off location for Project Linus. Several ladies are enthusiastic about this and have put their needles and hooks to work. We have received approximately 12 hand made blankets.

Zelma who recently joined us demonstrates her pineapple doily creation.

Julie completes one baby blanket and starts another one right away. She said, "Babies just keep coming into the world". This knitted pattern is one of her favorites.

Christmas in July

2009-07-30T14:35:00.000-07:00

The countdown to Christmas has begun, there are approximately 5 months until Christmas.

Delicious spinach salad was served; it was a good choice, green and red make me think of Christmas.

Everybody's favorite made the time spent together sweet.

Everyone fell in love with Aura's gnomes which she made last Christmas.

Rita's sock doll is almost complete. Every part of the sock was used and she was pleased with the way the hands turned out. I found these instructions which walk you step by step in the process.

Rita enjoys very much meeting with her Red Hat Society friends. Hats are very popular at the meetings so she has been making these hats which I'm sure will sell well.

Nancy modeled this shawl made from a luxurious bamboo yarn. The price per skein was at least $20.00.

The picture on the left shows a very
quick and easy pattern Nancy found
online in the Lion Brand Website.
The picture on the right shows one
her creations. Her needles don't
get much rest as you can see.

Good News for Mint Hill Stitch In

2009-07-24T08:25:00.000-07:00

Happy Month of July to all!!

The Mint Hill Stitch In group will continue to meet twice a month as they have done since the beginning because the group falls under the category of Civic Engagement. Most of those who come regularly contribute handmade items to the community which falls in this category. Presently the ladies have been working on the scarves which will benefit the Men's Homeless shelter. In two weeks, fifteen scarves were collected.

Star Shaped Bread and Apple Cake made by Janet in honor of Julie's birthday was enjoyed by all those in attendance.

On recent visit to Target, Rita found cute children's knee highs. She could not resist the pretty bright colors. She followed her sock monkey instructions to create a doll.

Striped body doll begins to take shape.....

Natalie's clowns are what I consider vintage. She found these patterns in the April 2000 issue of Crochet World Magazine.

If the apron fits well use it. This one really fits and it was designed by Rita to to fit a woman's figure.

Mini Crochet Flower Tutorial

2009-07-11T08:16:00.000-07:00

Crochet flowers can be used to embellish hats, blankets, headbands, etc...I like to use this mini 5 petal cards to decorate cards I make. It's a great way to use up your leftover yarn.

A Tatting Demonstration

2009-07-09T11:17:00.000-07:00

I honestly can say that Tatting requires a special gifted person with attention to detail. I tried it once and found it hard. Barb has such a skill and she is good at it. She brought a nice collection of threads that were handed down to her by a family member and plans to put them to use. She demonstrated for us Tatting with a shuttle.

Jean believes this Tatting sampler was made in the early 1900's. She inherited it from her stepfather's grandmother.

You can read interesting facts about Tatting by going to this link. I learned that there are actually two other techniques called Needle Tatting and Cro-Tatting.

The scarves to benefit the Men's Homeless shelter have been pouring in. Here's a sample of some that have been collected.

Gourmet M & Ms were enjoyed by those present.

Crocheting and Knitting in the Company of Good Food and Friends

2009-06-15T10:30:00.000-07:00

What could be better than sweet and savory refreshments, a new project and the wonderful company friends. Barb found just that at the last meeting. The Pudding Cookie Whip is a favorite and Shelia's recipe.

Barb found the pattern for a crochet cross bookmark and she was trying to make up her mind which one to make for her Secret Sister at church.

Rita finished working on her sock monkeys. She named the one wearing the overalls Socrates. It will accompany her on her storytelling events. The smaller sock monkey does not have a name yet. The knitted cap and shorts were also made by Rita.

The blanket Anna is holding was made using the technique called Tunisian crochet, also known as Afghan crochet. Doing some research I found out that Tunisian crochet dates back to the mid to late 1800. Tunisian crochet results in a woven fabric which is perfect for a warm blanket. Anna loves this blanket and she plans to keep it.

Watch this video and see if you might want to try it.

Janet who was using yarn from Herrschners commented not really liking this yarn but she only paid $10.00 for 8 skeins. She is making a baby blanket and will donate it to the Monroe Woman's Shelter. Nancy on the other hand loved the Love It yarn she purchased at the Cottage Yarn porch 40% sale. She is knitting the Tampa vest for a relative.

Some of the ladies are participating in the current service project by making scarves to be donated to the Men's Homeless Shelter. The specifications state the scarves which can be knitted or crocheted should measure 5 inches wide by 4 feet long in masculine colors with not fringe or trim. The yarn used should be worsted or bulky, sport weight yarns can be doubled. Helmet liners and scarves for our service men and women are still being collected. Shelia has been in contact with the Little Flower Retirement Center to get a list of hand made items the residents would like to receive for the holidays.

Market Bags for Sale During the Friends of the Library Book Sale

2009-06-05T09:17:00.000-07:00

This year's Friends of the Library book sale featured hand knit and crochet bags made by our Mint Hill Stitch In ladies.

Fifteen bags sold for a total of $120.00. A special thanks to all the ladies who contributed by donating their creations.

The Friends collected $3,373.83 during this book sale that drew people from surrounding counties. The sale continued the following two weeks with borrowers naming the price of the books sold. Some very generous borrowers offered more than what our books normally sell for.

The bags were cleverly displayed on the bulletin's wall

Shelia's original Cookie Monster and Elmo bags brought smiles and were among the sold.

The Popularity of Lacy Knits and Crochet

2009-05-14T09:12:00.000-07:00

Claire enjoyed working on the Tiramisu Crochet Baby blanket she will give away this September. She was amazed at how fast she got it done. "It's a great pattern and so easy", she said. She began working on her second one for another baby due this year.

Click on the word Tiramisu to access the pattern.

The pattern used by Jan consists of knit 2 together and yarn overs creates lacy a pattern. The large needle she uses also contributes to the lacy effect.

Once Pat discovered the drop stitch technique, she too has been making lacy shawls.

Rita found the original Sock Monkey pattern by Fox River Mills Inc. at the Biltmore Arcade. The kit which costs $10.00 comes with everything needed to assemble one. She will use the sock monkey during the story telling events in which she participates. I had the intention of making a sock monkey following the instructions in a book but did not finish mine. I used a man's sock and the stuffing took a long time. I had better luck designing an amigurumi sock monkey.

Rita always has more than one project going on and she is a very creative seamstress. She designed a lady's and man's apron.

The man's apron was made using a large shirt.

Detail of Rita's Man Apron is a clever design. This would make a great Father's Day gift.

Barb checked out the book Reversible Knits by Iris Schreier and found very rewarding learning how to double knit.

Click on the following link to see Susan B. Anderson demonstrating this technique.

Double Knitting

Shrugs, Eco Friendly Bags and More....

2009-04-28T11:42:00.000-07:00

Rita finished the shrug and was excited to model it. She used Lion Brand Jiffy yarn which she bought on sale at Hancocks Fabrics. This shrug was worked using size 11 knitting needles so it knits up very fast. The pattern is available at the Cottage Yarn in Mint Hill. Now that it's finished she can go ahead and make more bags.

Delores finished the sweater she was working on a couple of weeks ago and assured me she would bring it next week.

I fell in love with the Peek-a-Boo crochet blanket Janet has almost finished. This one will be donated to the Home for Battered women in Monroe. Babies love to poke their fingers through the holes so this one will bring hours of enjoyment.

Janet's Peek-a-Boo Blanket

The bags which will be sold during the May 16 Book Sale at Mint Hill continue to come in. They are beautiful and worked in an array of bright colors. At least a couple have already been claimed.

Shelia models Nancy's knitted bag.

Pat's Crochet Market Bag

Another project which is in the finishing stage is Julie's baby girl lacy bottom cardigan. She is giving this one as a gift for a friend's baby.

Barb is also almost done with her market bag. She used fine cotton thread and size D crochet hook and as result the bag is much smaller. This bag can be rolled and stored in a pocket. It's a very clever design. She likes it so much, she will make one for herself.

Barb's almost completed crochet bag

Barb's bag features a pocket in which she can keep it for easy storage.

Spring Time Colors

2009-04-18T07:15:00.000-07:00

Spring time colors are all around us and are also seen in the yarn colors being used. Jill’s pretty manicured hands even matched the scarf she is working on. She found this fluffy yarn at Hobby Lobby on special for $1.99 a skein.

The crocheted and knitted bags which will be sold during our upcoming book sale have started coming in. Phyllis shared how she kept running out of yarn, so she used three different colors in this one she is modeling. She found this pattern in the Knit Simple magazine.

Nancy's crocheted bag is also very colorful and with lots of room.

Nancy found a large skein of Sugan 'N Cream cotton yarn which she has been using to make another bag. She wants to make sure she won't run out of yarn.

Pat's shawl for her daughter turned out very pretty. She said her daughter thought it was too lacy and delicate. She made another one for her to suit her style. I'm sure someone else will love this one.

The stripes appear on this beautiful sweater as Delores knits. This yarn was pricey she reports, over $12.00 a skein so the completed sweater will cost around $50.00.

This bunny cake made by Shelia was enjoyed by all those present. He matches all the pretty colors I saw during this meeting.

It Feels so Good to Complete a Project

2009-04-01T14:29:00.000-07:00

Barb's quilt to is almost finished and she is happy with the result. The technique used to create this beautiful scene is called Interpolated technique. She said the fabric has a 24 inch repeat and was found at a Walmart. If you look carefully, it appears that the fish are moving, a visual effect created by this technique.

If you'd like to read more about the Interpolated technique, check out this blog.

Some projects are quick, some like Julie's cross stitch for her friend Jan can take a couple of years. She started in 2007 and it's finally been completed. She used swarovsky heart crystals to embellish this cross stitch creation. Gold thread was also used to outline parts of the design.

Jacky, a first time attendee has a passion for charity and plans to use yarn left over from other projects to make blankets for dogs. She will be donating her crochet blankets to the Animal Rescue Mission.

Phyllis has been crocheting market/book bags which will be sold at the upcoming book sale at the Mint Hill Library. The book sale is scheduled for May 16 starting at 10:00 a.m. Shelia shared some patterns with the ladies which are very quick to make.

This is the bottom of Julie's knitted bag.

Rita is donating to the book sale her very own bag creation which she named Supermarket Commando Bag. It is quite large, sturdy and padded.

Iola continues to have fun making dishcloths and I especially like the lady bug cloth.

February Yarn Give Away at Mint Hill

2009-02-25T17:52:00.000-08:00

The last meeting of this month will always be remembered. Everyone was surprised by Cecile who brought beautiful yarn to give away. She indeed touched us. She is currently just crocheting/knitting for newborns in need and is happy to give yarn away she knows she won't use. She mentioned that it would really bless her if the yarn was used to bless someone as well.

She has been making baby hats and mailing them to Newborns in Need. Click Here to get to the website.

It's Heart's Month

2009-02-09T11:28:00.000-08:00

I've always liked hearts, that is hand crafted hearts. I've sewn hearts, appliqué hearts, quilted hearts and knitted hearts. Lately I've been crocheting, so I set out to look for crochet hearts both in books and online.

I found a book in my library Get Hooked: Simple Steps to Crochet Cool Stuff by Kim Werker which had a heart pattern.

Using a large crochet hook (size H)and worsted weight Sugar and Cream cotton yarn yielded a coaster size heart. Instead of a card give a heart coaster that will bring joy for years to come to a special friend.

Some of my Heart Creations

Machine Stitched Heart of the Past filled with Potpourri

Quilted Heart with Message of Love

Happy Valentines Day

January Show and Tell

2009-01-27T16:27:00.000-08:00

Delores is one of our regular attenders and I believe her specialty is children's sweaters. Last month I saw her knitting a black and white sweater I have named the Penguin sweater. She has finished it and is planning to sell it. She also brought other children's sweaters, some were worn by her grandchildren.

Kangaroo Detail on Sweater

On this month's first meeting Shelia informed everyone about the Valentines for the Troops program. Jan who is always ready to craft, knit or cross stitch took the time to make some beautiful cards. Thank you, Jan. I'm sure these will touch someone's heart.

Jan's one of a kind Valentines for the Troops

Iola has found very rewarding knitting dishcloths. A special handmade or natural soap wrapped in a washcloth/dishcloth is the perfect gift anytime of the year.

Hummingbird Detail on Dishcloth

I searched and found these neat patterns.

Scrubber cloth

Shell crochet dishcloth

Checker dishcloth

Little ruffle dishcloth

On a Cold January Afternoon

2009-01-14T14:43:00.000-08:00

I spoke to Rita first and she was working on something different. She's a very good seamstress and has designed a gown she will wear during the Red Hat Society Convention which takes place this year in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Satin Rosettes made by Rita

Jill and Jan have a friend in common and they both worked on what they will give her for her upcoming birthday in February. Their friend is a flute player in the Charlotte Symphony.

Jill's Embroidery

Jan's Cross Stitch Bookmark

Phyllis brought her sister Delores who is trying to start a prayer shawl group in her church. She was glad she came and encouraged to begin this new venture. We hope she comes back.

Speaking of shawls, I saw three other ladies working on shawls; Pat, Claire and Jill. Claire shared with me she had looked everywhere how to do a half double crochet and had not been successful.

This video demonstrates clearly how to do the half double crochet.

Our refreshment table was graced by a snowman unlike any other I've seen. The carrot nose was knitted by Shelia.

Donna brought her knitted market bags and shared her patterns.

December 2008 Holiday Gathering

2009-01-06T09:40:00.000-08:00

Many ladies gathered to enjoy good food and each other's company on our last meeting of 2008.

Shelia made sure everyone present took home a goody bag. Once again this year the ladies brought Christmas ornaments to exchange.

Shelia received a very special gift from the ladies who appreciate all she does to make our meetings special.

Shelia's Money Wreath

The Season of Giving and Sharing

2008-12-08T09:14:00.000-08:00

Just about every week I see a new face during Stitch In. Sue P. is fairly new and she has thoroughly enjoyed coming to our meetings. This week she brought along her friend Sharon. Sue continues to work on scarfs as she tries new techniques. The garter stitch scarf made in the Panther colors pleased her and she decided to learn how to work cables by making another scarf.
Here's a link I found online showing a beginning cables technique.

Sue's garter stitch scarf

Speaking of scarves, Neily completed the multi directional she was working on. She also brought another short row scarf she made following a Lion Brand Pattern. On the latter she used Tweedly Dee chunky yarn from Moda Dea. She is also using left over yarn from other projects to make the Flame Stitch afghan.

Neily's Multidirectional Scarf

Short Rows and Garter Stitch makes Neily's stylish scarf

Anna is working on her own afghan design. When finished she will give her creation to Project Linus.

This year sure has gone fast. Just like last year Janet was seeing working on a beautiful cross stitch winter scene.

The refreshments were not only tasty but beautiful.

Holiday Ornament Exchange

2008-11-13T18:39:00.000-08:00

This year's Holiday Gathering will bring smiles to all those who participate in the ornament exchange. I'm excited and already planning on my creation. There are a great number of patterns available online. Here are some links:

You'll love this cow ornament, Shelia.

Santa Hat Ornament

Snowman ornament

Mini Sweater ornament

Mitten and stocking ornaments

Christmas lights

Snowman Ornament

Knitted ball ornament

Snowflake Star ornament

Candy Cane Cozy

Hope everyone has fun making their ornaments.

Fall and Holiday Stitching

2008-11-01T13:55:00.000-07:00

The terrific fall weather we have been having brought a good crowd to this month's last meeting. Twenty happy ladies in attendance worked on their projects. All those present received a knitted candy corn made by Shelia.

Neily, Mint Hill's Branch Manager who just retired joined us. She has begun a multi directional scarf and is using the pattern Donna V gave her. Here is Karen Baumer's version of this neat pattern.

Phyllis purchased a pattern called Tropical Tee from Cottage Yarn. Phyllis's speed crocheting is a skill I'm working on. She can crochet a hat in 2 hours.

Jeanne's raglan pullover knitted on the round for one of her grandchildren turned out nice. She shared that the pattern she used was thirty years old and back then she had paid $2.00. This was quite expensive but she has made countless sweaters and is glad she owns a copy.

Julie completed the birth sampler for Gabriel. She will be taking it to Michigan next week. She is also working on christmas knitted stockings.
Janet who also loves to cross stitch also finished her project which she worked on during the cruise to Alaska.

Delores is currently working on a sweater with a penguin motif. The yarn she is using, called Comfort felt wonderful and she shared she bought it at the Peace of Yarn for $5.95.

Sue P. is a beginner knitter and is excited about the scarf she is knitting for her husband using the Panther's colors.

Anna brought the album which shows the Pysanky eggs she had entered to compete in the 2008 North Carolina State Fair. Pysanky is the Ukrainian art of egg decorating. She used goose eggs and won 3rd and 4th place in this category. She is currently working on the Treenah scarf which she will give to her mom this Christmas.

Nisa Knits Update and More...

2008-09-20T08:07:00.000-07:00

We are quickly approaching the Nisa
Knits Hats goal of 100. The response is really something to brag about. A heart felt thanks goes out to all the wonderful ladies who have taken the time to make them.

Barb found a neat pattern for flip flop socks in the book Knitted Socks by Anna Tillman. She is making a pair for her granddaughter who wears flip flops year round.

Phyllis worked on her Knit Stitch Cloche. The Dictionary Site defines a cloche as a woman's close fitting hat with a deep, bell shaped crown and often narrow turned brim. She found her pattern in the website a Crystal Palace Yarns website This site is an excellent source of free patterns in all categories. Crystal Palace yarns can also be purchased at this site.

Anna who crochets and donates her creations to Project Linus is currently crocheting a pineapple doily which she would like to enter on the North Carolina State Fair next month. The fair runs from October 16 through October 26. We wish Anna good luck.

Sarah stopped by to tell everyone about the GuidePosts Knit for Kids charity program. She has made kids' crochet pullovers using the pattern provided by this organization. Once you donate an item to this cause you will receive their newsletter.

Rainy Days and Tuesdays

2008-09-11T14:23:00.000-07:00

Rainy days and Tuesdays never keep anyone from coming to our scheduled Stitch In meetings. We even were under a tornado watch an we had a great turn out. Seventeen cheerful ladies came to stitch and have a good time. The refreshments were delicious and contributed to everyone's good mood.

Julie finished a baked potato pouch made with the whimsical potato fabric she got from her friend, Janet. The instructions claim that using this pouch will enhance the quality and taste of a potato cooked in the microwave. The cooked potato will come out as one that has been baked in the oven. Janet shared that the potato fabric was purchased online at: Keepsake Quilting

Here are the instructions I found to make one.

Several of the ladies present worked on hats for the NISA service projects. The hat total has gone up to 82. The hats collected will be sent to benefit children in Afghanistan and Iraq. Iola combined yarns and used the loom to make one her hats. You can get better results using a loom to knit if you use bulky weight yarns otherwise the hat will be loopy.

Claire worked on the Carnaby Street Jacket found in Annie's Attic book using sport weight Red Heart yarn and size H hook. The neat thing about her pattern is that the jacket is crocheted in one piece and joined at the sides and sleeves. Claire plans to keep this one for herself.

Shelia has been working on something different. She cut out 1" strips from black and white plastic trash bags to make a unique hand bag. Similar bags can be made using plastic grocery bags. I tried to make one crocheting plastic shopping bags and found it a little tricky. She said that the advantage of using the trash bags is that you end up with longer strips.

Janet was seeing working on a new cross stitch projects.

Summer Knitting

2008-08-20T14:38:00.000-07:00

The hot summer days have not slowed down the ladies who are participating in the service project NISA Knit Hats to benefit the children from the mountain regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Fifty eight caps have been collected so far. Different techniques have been used; crochet, knitting and loom knitting. Sewn or store bought hats will also be accepted. Nisa is a non-profit organization in the state of North Carolina which states Education is their mission. Their goal is to collect 2,000 hats. The collection dates run from May 1 through September 2008.

Hats should be sent to: Nisa Knits Hats!
PO Box 481444
Charlotte, NC 28269
Their telephone Number is: 704-819-3076

Our Stitch In Group has been contacted by Geocities to knit more helmet liners and knit or crochet more scarves for our service men and women in Iraq. Crocheted helmet liners are no longer accepted. The revised helmet liner pattern is pretty much the same; some minor changes were made. A new pattern for the knitted or crocheted scarves is also now available on the website. The new requirements state that the yarn label which specifies the type of yarn used must be submitted. Only 100% soft wool (worsted weight) in black, charcoal, brown, tan, olive drab can be used. No blue or green camo will be accepted.

On a recent visit a young lady by the name of Anna who donates crocheted afghans to the Project Linus brought a beautiful star afghan she's been working on. She puts so many hours on her work and finds joy giving them away.

A Very Happy Granddaughter

2008-07-18T10:35:00.000-07:00

Julie shared this picture of her granddaughter wearing the sweater she knitted this summer.

The original pattern was crochet but Julie modified it until she was pleased with the pattern.

Sample Projects From Library Books

2008-07-14T11:49:00.000-07:00

I have completed the crochet tablecloth which I found in the book Vintage Crochet: 30 Gorgeous Designs for Home, Garden, Fashion, Gifts by Susan Cropper. I fell in love with most of the projects in this book so I ended up purchasing my own copy.

I enjoyed very much making the Picot Tablecloth. I did get a little help from a friend but once I figured out the pattern, it was not hard to memorize it. Paton's Grace mercerized yarn worked very well. One skein yielded 6 crochet squares. This yarn is available at Michaels Arts & Crafts.

One of my favorite books for projects that require one skein or less is 101 Designer One Skein Wonders. I found the blanket buddy pattern on page 207 and learned a new technique while knitting the bunny's head. To create the pocket which will be stuffed with fiberfill stuffing you will purl as follows: *P1, slip 1 purlwise; repeat from *. I recommend any type of chunky weight acrylic yarn if this buddy blanket will be given to a child to love. I used Bernat Softee Chunky.

Summer Stitch In - in Full Swing

2008-06-28T11:04:00.000-07:00

The summer months have arrived and some crafters will put their knitting or crochet projects on hold due to the heat. Consider working on small projects such as dishcloths, facecloths, market bags or baby items. Our group will continue to meet during the summer on our normal schedule of the second and fourth Tuesday of the month.

Here is a link for the Baby fern stitch cloth.

http://dishclothboutique.20m.com/kpatterns/babyfernstitch.html

Update on the Baby Fern Stitch Cloth:
Neily decided to make the Baby fern stitch cloth and she shared that the pattern is asymmetrical which means that the borders are not identical. The pattern that follows results in even borders:

Baby Fern Stitch Dishcloth
multiple of 12 stitches plus 9

Using size 6 or 7 needles and one ball cotton yarn, cast on 45 stitches

Row 1 K3, p across, k3
Row 2 K3, p1, k1, p1, *k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, sl1, k1, psso, p1, k1, p1, end k3
Row 3 K3, p across, k3
Row 4 K3, p1, k1, p1, *k2tog, k1, yo, k3, yo, k1, sl1, k1, psso, p1, k1, p1, end k3
Row 5 k3, p across, k3
Row 6 K3, p1, k1, p1, *k2tog, yo, k5, yo, sl1, k1, psso, p1, k1, p1, end k3

Repeat these 6 rows to desired length
Knit 4 row, bind off, weave in ends.

The Mint Hill Stitch In group is currently working on sewing, crocheting, or knitting hats to benefit children of the mountain regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Pat has been busy working on this service project and has already donated several hats. The hats are for boys and girls in sizes from newborn to young adult. Knitted or crochet hats can be made of any color or yarn. The hats will be collected from now until September 2008.

I was thrilled to see the crewel embroidery girl Jill has been working on completed. It turned out beautiful!

Nancy is almost finished with a beautiful baby cardigan which she worked on a circular needle.

Hook Rugs, Flip Flops and good Food

2008-05-30T09:37:00.000-07:00

I met Dolores during the first May meeting. She had a good time and talked her friend Ann into coming with her. Dolores who started knitting as a child is teaching Ann to knit. It's always nice to see new faces join in and share their stitching knowledge and projects. Dolores knits beautiful children's sweaters and she shared pictures of some she has made.

Two new faces working on very unique hook rugs attended this meeting, Bonnie and Cass. Cass showed me the machine she uses to cut the wool strips that she uses on her rugs. They both designed their own rugs. The picture shows Bonnie working on hers.

Nancy who usually knits for babies worked on the shawl that stays in place. She made a few modifications on the edge and used what she calls vintage yarn from her stash. Nancy also shared a scarf pattern for veterans. You can find the link here.

I fell in love with Nancy's knitting bag which she got last summer on clearance at Harris Teeter.

Shelia's daughter Ashley modeled one her completed flip flops. She used a crochet hook to attach
eyelash yarn.

The refreshment table done in red, white and blue offered a delicious selection of food.

Knitting & Crocheting Warm Projects

2008-05-30T09:22:00.000-07:00

The ladies I met during this month's first meeting are all working on projects which will warm a little one's body and a mother's heart.

Jeanne has been busy working on a nice size baby blanket. She is knitting it for her husband's future great niece or nephew who lives up north. I loved the blanket's border which consists of a checker board pattern. The body of the blanket is also made up of knit and purl blocks.

Detail of checkerboard edge.

Tina continues to enjoy prayer shawls and she was working on her fourth.

Julie's original pattern for granddaughter Anna's sweater was supposed to be done in crochet. She tried and tried to follow the pattern but was not happy with the result. Finally she gave up and worked on her own pattern stitch to achieve the look. She was happy with the result and I'm sure the choice of yarn color will win Anna's heart.
Anna will be delighted when she receives this sweater from Julie.

Granddaughters are special and Nancy finds joy knitting for hers. She was working on her second sun dress using 100% cotton yarn.

A Dedicated Group

2008-04-23T10:33:00.000-07:00

April Fool's has come and gone and our Ladies have been busy knitting/crocheting, cross-stitching, embroidering, etc..etc...They don't fool around and are very committed and determined to complete their projects.

Julie finished her knitted lacy baby blanket. she will have time to make other unique gifts for her future grandson who is due at the end of May. She shared with me that this pattern was a challenge and she found herself undoing some rows to correct mistakes. We love the result of her hard work.

Barb brought along a quilt which was a group effort. She said that the participants each pieced six of the same block to share one with each lady in the group. What makes this quilt so special is the personalization and the sentiment expressed in the written message.

Claire likes to crochet and she is doing a super job on her Via Condotti jacket, using an F hook.

Jill B is taking a break from crochet and working on crewel embroidery.

Pat is currently involved knitting baby blankets to be donated for charity. She also contributes knitted baby pockets. The organization which distributes these donated baby items is called Julie's Mission.

Donna V. is well known for her knitted scarves. She shared with the group two neat patterns: the braided cable scarf and the reversible cable scarf. The latter one looks the same on both sides.

An interesting visitor stopped by the April 22nd meeting. His name is Flat Nathan who was created by Nathan Munsch a student at Quail Run School located in Inverness Lawrence in Kansas. Jan S. has been taking it everywhere she goes.

A Record Breaker Stitching Meeting

2008-03-27T14:11:00.000-07:00

The parking lot at the Mint Hill Library was nearly full this past Tuesday. One borrower made a comment to me and said, "Pretty soon you'll need a valet service." The community room was packed, 21 in attendance including me.

I was glad to see Martha who joined us for her second time. She was working on a beautiful pineapple afghan and at the same time instructing a first time attendee. Martha brought several issues of crochet and crafts magazines that date back to the 50's. Some of the titles included: Coats & Clark's Quick Tricks, The Workbasket, Crochet Digest and Pack-O-Fun.

We are still receiving red scarves to be donated to children in the community. The response of all who have participated has been inspiring. There is still time to turn those in during the month of April.

There was some wonderful stitching going on during this meeting as you can appreciate in the following pictures. Click on the colored text to view the picture.

Janet has been working on a beautiful butterfly quilt for her daughter's birthday on April 5th. Janet also worked on her cross stitch lighthouse scene.

Brenda, a newcomer, brought a crochet pillow she was working on. Her friend is a basketball fan, so she cross stitched his name on the pillow.

Barb completed her crochet market bag.

Busy Crafters Celebrate National Craft Month

2008-03-26T13:27:00.000-07:00

March has been declared National Craft Month. Our terrific ladies came to celebrate and learn from one another. One of the questions that people ask me every now and then is: "Do you have to know how to crochet or knit to come to Stitch In?" My answer is always the same: "No, not at all." Books are a big help, but there is nothing like getting one on one training. I see this happen quite often during our meetings.

Phyllis, one of our regulars brought her own projects to work on and she also took time to teach Pam how to crochet. Pam learned about Mint Hill Stitch In while shopping at Michaels for the book Vanna's Choice, Color it Beautiful Afghans. Deidre, another new face will bring something to work on next meeting.

I spotted Chris working on a garter stitch scarf . Garter stitch is created by knitting all rows. Chris used a large knitting needle to create a lacy effect.

Jill B. continued to work on her Paint the Town Red scarf which she will donate to children in the community. Speaking of red scarves, several more were turned in. Mine has been completed but requires blocking due to the zig zag pattern I chose.

Julie shared the system she uses to organize the DMC floss by project. She purchased this system at Hobby Lobby at a great price.

The refreshments served were delicious and included a grasshopper cake, pistachios, green cupcakes made with Shelia's Amish Friendship starter.

Everyone made progress in their current projects as you can see by the pictures that follow:

Shelia worked on a baby blanket for charity.

Here's a sample of crochet scarfs for our Service men and women.

A basket weave scarf pattern in progress.

More red scarves.

A wool scarf for a service man or woman.

Paint the Town Read Service Project Takes Off

2008-02-29T09:27:00.000-08:00

Several and one of a kind scarves have been turned in by the ladies who are participating in the Paint the Town Read reading program. I'm amazed by the creativity of all who have put their skills to work. The scarves collected will be donated to children in the community.

Jill, who knitted one of the red scarves showed me she had checked off five books she had read on the painter's chip and was excited to receive the Paint the Town Read sign. She will also receive a ticket to attend the party which will take place at Imaginon on April 18, 2008 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

These beautiful scarves will make children in a Charlotte community feel very special.

Click on the sentences to view pictures.

Jill's Paint the Town Read painter's chip.
Jan's lacy red scarf in progress.
Phylli's Novelty Yarn scarf.

Stitching with Love

2008-02-14T14:05:00.000-08:00

Regular attenders and new friends gathered on February 12 to enjoy each other's company and to share their stitching secrets and skills. We broke a record since those present numbered 20. Wow!! It's exciting to see the group grow and friendships flourishing. The refreshments provided by Shelia brought smiles to all who partook. Her skill in cake decorating cannot be matched. She made the beautiful mini heart cakes. The candy favors warmed everyone's heart.

Geri Sponaas Mint Hill Branch Youth Services Manager stopped by to let everyone know about the Paint the Town Read! literacy program which begins February 14. She explained the contents of the painter's kit and encouraged everyone present to participate in this fun reading program . The program runs through April 18, the date of the Red Read Party which will take place at Imaginon, 300 E. 7th street, Charlotte, NC. Time: 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

The Mint Hill Stitch In group is doing its part to promote the Paint the Town Read by knitting/crocheting red scarves which will be donated to children in the area. Shelia has already finished a red scarf. For links of scarf patterns read the previous post.

Jill and Jan were excited and eager to show their completed projects and works in progress. Jill finished the adorable cross stitch coaster which she plans to give to her father. She has loved horses all her life and brought a quilt stitched by her mother (Jan). This horse represents one of the many she owned.

Janet is currently working in a beautiful cross stitch creation. She likes to work using 14 count cloth.

Julie shared with everyone the news about her grandson who is due this summer. Julie is known for her beautiful lacy knitted work. She has been working on a beautiful lacy blanket.

It was very nice to see Joan working on the crochet edge of her baby fleece blanket..

Helmetliner Update

2008-02-08T10:46:00.000-08:00

The response to the Mint Hill Stitch In Operation Helmetliner has been overwhelming. The patterns for both crochet and knit helmetliners were made available online and at our Branch. As many as 100 patterns were taken from the display by our borrowers but the majority of the donated helmetliners were made by members of the Mint Hill Stitch In group.

Some of the ladies knitted as many as eight helmetliners showing their heartfelt support to our service men and women. The deadline for this service project is Tuesday February 26. As of Friday February 8 eight scarves and 19 helmetliners have been completed. We thank all who
participated in this endeavour to benefit the men and women who are defending our country.

This is Julie working on a helmet liner. The display at the entrance of the Mint Hill Library drew the interest of borrowers and visitors.

The Mint Hill Stitch In group will join the Public Library in Charlotte Mecklenburg promoting the Paint Your Town Read (pronounce the word read as the color red) by knitting or crocheting red scarves to be donated to children and teens in our area. For more information about the Paint Your Town Read visit: www.plcmc.org/paintthetownread. This program promotes reading just for the fun of it and encourages families to participate to discover how reading together can enrich their lives.

Click on the following links for scarf patterns:
Easy Broken Rib scarf
Garter Stitch Zig Zag scarf
Cable Scarf
Easy Scarf for Beginners

Helmet Liners Service Project

2008-01-03T04:57:00.000-08:00

The Mint Hill Stitch In participants are currently knitting or crocheting helmet liners. The recipients of these helmet liners will be the men and women who are serving our country. The patterns are available at the Mint Hill Branch Library located on 6840 Matthews Mint Hill Rd.
Our telephone number is 704-545-3932
The knitted instructions are available online at this site.

There is also a crochet version at this site.

All the community is encouraged to participate and help will be available.

Join us for a time of learning and service as we support our troops. We meet the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Knitted version of the Helmet Liner

Holiday Gathering

2007-12-30T17:40:00.000-08:00

Our December meeting turned out to be Merry and Bright in every sense of the word. Many gathered to stitch, exchange ornaments and play Holiday Bingo. Our special visitor was thrilled to join this meeting. Wendy from Wendy's Fast Food Restaurant came and participated by leading the bingo games and also handing out the exchange ornaments. She also gave away coupons for Wendy's popular Frosty Desserts.

Shelia treated everyone present with very special gift bags which warmed up everyone's hearts. Thank you Shelia for making this meeting so special. We really appreciate all you have done to make Stitch In such a special time to everyone this year.

The refreshments were provided by members of the Mint Hill Stitch In

This year's gathering brought smiles to all present and prizes were awarded for the winners of the Bingo game.

In addition to the prizes awarded all present took home a book donated by the Library.

Modular Knitting Workshop

2007-11-16T11:09:00.000-08:00

A Modular Knitting workshop was held on the first November meeting during our Mint Hill Stitching Session. Aura has been learning all about this exciting technique from the book by Iris Schreier Modular Knits. Here Shelia demonstrates how to attach equilateral triangles using two different colors of yarn.

By connecting triangles a beautiful scarf suited for a beginner begins to take shape. The bright colors are achieved by using Noro Kureyon Yarn. I purchased Noro Yarn at the Cottage Yarn in Mint Hill. This yarn does require handwashing and I've been told it does soften after washing.

This is Aura modeling her finished Modular Knitted Scarf. The pirate next to her is Barnacle Bill and it was created by one of Aura's friends.

Fall 2007 October Meeting

2007-11-16T09:53:00.000-08:00

Charlotte Harkey one of the owners of the quilt shop Quilt Patch Fabrics joined us during the October 23rd meeting. Her store operates on 1017 Stallings Rd in Matthews.

Charlotte brought several quilts she has made and shared tips for constructing quilts as well as tips for organization. She has put together a ring binder in which she documents details and pictures about every quilt she has made. All the information is kept inside medium size sheet protectors which are available at office supply stores. Everyone enjoyed Charlotte’s visit and many were inspired to give quilting a try. She had fun too sharing about her passion and will try to come back sometime next year. If you’d like to visit her website the address is: www.quiltpatchfabrics.com

Charlotte's Well organized Pattern Book

Modular Knitting

2007-09-28T16:47:00.000-07:00

I am now able to record the television show Knitty Gritty which airs on the DIY network. (The Do It Yourself Network). The featured technique on this show was modular knitting which in my opinion is for intermediate/advanced knitters. It took me a good part of the afternoon to master it. It definitely helps to use a row counter. Unfortunately the book Modular Knits by Iris Schreiver is not available at the library.

To get the instructions for these coasters go to the Do it Yourself Network.

If you are ready for a challenge give modular knitting a try. It involves using short rows, slipping stitches and doing SSK (slip, slip, knit)

Click on the word coasters to view the completed coasters. One ball of Sugar and Cream Cotton yarn will yield 4 coasters.

Beautiful Stitching done during our Meetings

2007-09-22T13:31:00.000-07:00

One Skein Wonders - 101 Yarn-Shop Favorites

2007-09-22T11:58:00.000-07:00

Striped and Scalloped Cap and Easy Mittens

I recently checked out of my library One Skein Wonders - 101 Yarn Shop Favorites and it has become one of my favorites. The book is for knitters/crocheters of all skill levels. The projects are done in various yarn weights. If you are looking for a quick one skein pattern you will find some in the section In the Thick of It: Bulky-Weight Yarns.

I chose to make the Striped and Scalloped Cap using noro yarn
Noro is 100% wool and comes in vibrant colors. You can purchase it locally at the Yarn Shop in Mint Hill. The second project I've completed are the Easy Mittens on page 134. This pattern was actually submitted by Baskets of Yarn in Charlotte, NC. I have not been to that shop but will have to investigate its location. I did modify this pattern since the small size is not small enough for me. The mittens can be completed in two days. This is an excellent choice for those on your holiday list.

Update: Baskets of Yarn is located in Charlotte. Here's the link to their website:

Baskets of Yarn

Knitting and Crocheting Kits

2007-09-03T12:56:00.000-07:00

Shelia has found a creative way to use the Janway bags used for children's book kits. She put together knitting & crocheting kits. More and more people are expressing an interest to start knitting or crocheting but do not have their own supplies. The kits contain laminated instruction sheets, needles and yarn. These kits will be available for people who may want to give knitting or crocheting a try but do not have any supplies. Great idea, Shelia.

During our last session, Sandy insisted on taking Shelia's and Aura's picture doing their favorite thing (Knittting).

Click on this sentence to view picture. Aura had just stopped by to take some pictures and she had nothing to work on so she is holding Shelia's cap.

Stitchin' Meeting a time for sharing patterns & more

2007-08-30T10:58:00.000-07:00

The ladies who come to the Mint Hill Stitch In not only share their patterns and crochet or knitting knowledge but also share about each others loved ones, favorite things to do, etc...Two of our ladies were doing just that by sharing photographs.

Everyone has been busy this summer working on a variety of projects. Santa's cross stitch is well under way and should be ready for Christmas. The lady who was working on this beautiful piece said I should not take a picture yet but I could not help myself. Santa will soon have his eyeballs stitched, I'm sure.

To view more pictures click on each sentence.

Sandy's kitty cotton blanket beautiful in the Camo yarn.

Tina's garter stitch shawl.

Julie's beautiful knitted afghan with yarn donated. She said this pattern is tricky so she's had to undo rows several times.
Garter stitch baby cardigan.

Garter stitch cloche in progress

Christmas in July

2007-08-12T18:09:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe the hot days of summer will come to an end soon. July or any other month in Summer is the time when some crafters start to think about projects/gifts they would like to complete before the Holiday Season. Knitting projects do take time so it's not too early to start planning gifts. I have already completed two scarfs. I am in the middle of baby garter stitch cardigan.

The July Mint Hill Stitch In meeting's theme was Christmas. Shelia shared an adorable Knitted candy cane ornament with all the ladies. She said it can be made in an afternoon. This would be a perfect package decoration too.

Right is Right

2007-07-14T19:15:00.000-07:00

"Right is right." When knitting something in the round (like a hat or socks), remember that the yarn attached to the needle should always come from the right needle - as opposed to the left. This is particularly important to remember when you pick your work back up (after an interruption).

Knitting in the round is my choice when knitting hats. The finished product is seamless and knitting goes much faster. For more tips on knitting in the round go to: http://www.littleturtleknits.com/circknitting.htm

Help to Understand Gauge Ranges

2007-07-14T18:20:00.000-07:00

I recently checked out the book Teach Yourself Visually Knitting Design by Sharon Turner. It is a great book both for the new knitter and the experienced knitter. I fall somewhere in the middle and have so much more to learn about this wonderful craft. I would definitely recommend this book to better understand the mathematics involved in designing knits. The first chapter especially has helped me understand gauge ranges. On page 7 there is a Standard Yarn Weight System Chart which lists the different yarn weights by category name with the recommended needle size to use. Let's say you prefer to knit with Medium Worsted yarn. The right needle sizes for this yarn weight in U.S. size range is 7 - 9.

Have you ever looked at a pattern in a book which requires a specific yarn but does not give information about the yarn weight (whether the yarn is sport or worsted weight?) The master patterns provided for shawls, hats, bags, sweaters, socks, etc... give detailed information about the approximated yardage needed, how many stitches to cast on based on the gauge of each different yarn weight. Knitting books stress the importance of making a gauge swatch, this one does too. Do take the time to make one to insure that your finished product will fit.

One of our library's borrowers shared with me the name of this website: http://wiseneedle.com

This website provides helpful information about yarn by manufacturer's name and fiber content.

Knitting Tip from May Meeting

2007-05-24T08:46:00.000-07:00

Why is my knitting curling?

For scarves, shawls, afghans or anything that you want to lay flat, stockinette stitch is not a good choice because it always curls. Garter stitch, which is made my knitting every row, works much better. Other options are K1 P1 ribbing or seed stich. Any stitch with an equal number of knits and purls on both sides of the fabric will not curl.

You can ad a border to the edge, such as seed stitch or ribbing, which will prevent the curling but the whole border may flip to the front or the back of the piece. Another option is to line the entire piece with a woven fabric or knit a second layer.

Tea Party to Honor Mint Hill Stitchers

2007-05-15T07:54:00.000-07:00

The tea party held to honor all those who contributed to our last two service projects and to welcome new friends took place on May 8. These two projects benefited our community and we had an overwhelming participation. Following the guidelines of the Warm Up America organization four beautiful afghans were put together. You can see pictures of these afghans in previous articles written in this blog. Thanks to everyone's effort we donated these afghans to the Mint Hill Police Department and to the Mint Hill Fire Department.

The second project consisted in knitting or crocheting infant caps. Nearly sixty caps were made and donated to Presbyterian Hospital Matthews. Knitting or crocheting thse tiny creations can be addicting. Everyone sure did enjoy making them.

We are very thankful to the many businesses who contributed to our tea party by providing refreshments and beautiful flowers.

The Mint Hill Stitch-In meetings take place on t he second and fourth Tuesday of every month from 12:00 p..m. through 2:00 p.m. at the Mint Hill Branch Library.

(click images for larger views)

Beautiful tea pots and tea cups were provided by Mint Hill Branch Staff

Sandy working on knitted mouse cat toy

All in attendance received a potted Impatient plant, courtesy of Martin's Nursery

Delicious pound cake baked and decorated with edible flowers by Shelia

Beautiful flower arrangement graced the refreshment table

Another view of the refreshment table.

April - Mint Hill Stitch In - Meeting

2007-04-14T10:44:00.000-07:00

The "Pot Luck" yarn swap took place which gave members the opportunity to either donate or swap yarn. This means that they will have some more space at home to put the new yarn they purchase. It was called "Pot Luck" because you could swap any type, weight or color yarn.

This project designed by Norma Zager is suitable for various types of yarn.
Check out these wonderful websites:

This site will delight and inspire you.

A website featuring nostalgic patterns.

An excellent website for those interested in selling or buying hand made items.

Knit Wiki - An Online Knitting Encyclopedia

2007-04-14T07:57:00.000-07:00

I have added a link to Knit Wiki on the main page of this blog. The button is on the right hand side.

Knit Wiki is a community run knitting encyclopedia. To access this valuable source just click on the knit wiki icon. Knit Wiki is fairly new since it was created on February 2007. This online encyclopedia contains patterns, techniques, historical information, etc..contributions made by members. The creators would like all who love to knit to contribute by posting and sharing pictures of their own creations, patterns, tips or anything that would help other knitters. To participate you do have to become a member. On the main page click on the upper right corner create an account.

April's featured article is "The Baby Surprise Jacket" designed by Elizabeth Zimmerman in 1968. The unique feature about this baby all in garter stitch baby garment is that all parts (front, back and sleeves) are knitted in one piece. The pattern itself is not free; the person who wrote the article said she used the instructions from the Knitting Workshop, the book written by Elizabeth Zimmerman.

March Stitch In Meeting

2007-03-26T11:18:00.000-07:00

The Mint Hill Stitch In Meetings are now being held once a month on the second Tuesday of every month due to programming restructuring at the library. Some of the ladies asked if they could still meet on the last Tuesday of the month and their request was approved. They just love to stitch together. This day is now referred to as the "Unofficial Day" of Stitch In. Shelia or Neily won't be present on that last Tuesday of the month.

Our community room was nearly full to capacity with ladies of different ages. It's exciting to see the group grow each month and also see young girls participating. Thank everyone for the delicious refreshments. Shelia gave everyone a St. Patrick's card with a coupon to be used at the Yarn Cottage in Mint Hill. I've already used mine to buy size three double points since I lost two needles here at the Library. What a mystery; I still have not found them.

We continued to receive baby and preemie caps which were delivered to the Matthews Presbyterian Hospital. The total number or caps knitted/crocheted totaled fifty five. A big thanks to all who contributed.

Shelia announced the yarn swap which will take place on Tuesday April 10. She will make suggestions of what to do with leftover yarn. I am guilty of accumulating yarn which I purchase on sale and end up not using. This can become a problem since yarn does take lots of room so I'm trying to do better in this area.

More pictures - to view click on the words:

Young Crafters

March newsletter

Shelia's shawl

Shelia holding one of the baby caps to be donated

Neily holding one of the baby caps to be donated

Cross stitch work in progress

Delicious refreshements

Mint Hill Stitch In February 2007 Meeting

2007-02-21T17:25:00.000-08:00

We had a dynamic Stitch In Meeting this month with great attendance. Several ladies brought a friend since it was "Bring a Friend Day." We also celebrated Valentine's Day and enjoyed wonderful refreshments and received neat favors. Shelia, this meeting was awesome; you made it special. The ladies enjoyed each other's company, shared tips and Shelia helped a brand new knitter get started casting on. Shelia's mother is now hooked on knitting and reports finishing some of her projects.

To view these other pictures click on each sentence.

Baby caps
Crocheted rectangles donated for Warm Up America Afghans
Valentine's Day Favor
February Newsletter
Prayer shawl completed by Shelia
The refreshments
Yummy treats
A knitting lesson

Technorati Tags:knitting, crochet, embroidery, cross stitch

Flickr Tags:knitting, crochet, embroidery, cross stitch

Baby Caps

2007-02-21T17:15:00.000-08:00

The Mint Hill Stitch In facilitators invited its regular attenders to knit baby caps to be donated to the Matthews Presbyterian Hospital. The response has been very great and many stitchers have turned in their beautiful work. Babies come in different sizes and we have collected baby caps in various sizes.

A big "Thanks" and our appreciation to all those who spent time knitting these precious caps. The caps will be delivered during the month of March.

Sandy found this site with a Head Circumference chart very helpful.

Technorati Tags:knitting, crochet, embroidery, cross stitch

The Popularity of Knitting

2007-02-21T16:44:00.000-08:00

I get really excited when I find out a new knitting books has been added to our Library's collection. With the popularity of knitting there is a demand out there for new knitting books. I did a search and found that the Public Library of Charlotte Mecklenburg lists 300 knitting books. New ones are being added every few months and the newest books have the most requests. Our collection has great non-fiction and fiction books. It's interesting that both knitters and non-knitters are reading the Fiction books. It would be interesting to find out how many readers who read the fiction books make the decision to learn to knit.

One of our new books "The Friday Night Knitting Club" by Kate Jacobs currently has 126 requests. Wow that is pretty neat!; if I had written this book I'd be thrilled. It's interesting that we only own two titles by this author. Her other book is a children's picture book "A Sister's Wish". The knitting genre is popular, there is no doubt about that.

Flickr Tags:knitting, crochet, embroidery, cross stitch

Technorati Tags:knitting, crochet, embroidery, cross stitch

Knitting Therapy for all Ages

2007-02-12T17:43:00.000-08:00

It's never to late to learn something new, especially knitting. People of all ages are discovering and experiencing the joys of knitting.

A friend of mine shared with me today about her success in teaching her mother to knit. She went on to say she was glad her mother had not given up. It took a few lessons and she reported that her mother is truly enjoying this learning experience very much. Her mother is excited about this new nourishing skill and has already completed a project and is making plans for future projects. My friend also shared that she herself has noticed that when she knits in the evening before going to bed she actually sleeps better.

The following article written by Stacey Palevsky talks about why knitting can be beneficial and make a positive impact in someones life. To read the article click on the words Benefits of Knitting.

Benefits of Knitting

Samples from Mint Hill Crafters

2007-01-06T17:31:00.000-08:00

Library Donates Blankets

2007-01-06T08:48:00.000-08:00

This is the article which appeared in the Mint Hill Times during the month of January 2007. I would like to thank all the wonderful ladies who contributed donating the knitted or crocheted rectangles. It was neat to be part of this community project. The result of putting them all together was fabulous. The Lieutenant of the Mint Hill Police Department received two of the afghans and the dispatcher of the Mint Hill Fire Department received the other two. They will distribute the blankets to members in the community. I' sure that the recipients of these beautiful one of a kind afghans will be touched.
Thank you, Tim Long for writing the article.

If you would like to receive more information about the Warm Up America program visit this link: http://warmupamerica.com/home.html

Holiday Meeting

2006-12-13T17:40:00.000-08:00

December's first Stitch In meeting featured an ornament exchange. Some of the ladies handcrafted beautiful one of a kind creations. We played the game "Tricky Santa". The game goes like this: Each participant draws a number. The person who gets #1 opens the first wrapped gift. Everyone gets a good look; the person holding #2 can steal gift #1 if she really likes it or proceed to open another gift. The game continues with everyone taking turns stealing or just picking another gift from the table.

Shelia, one of our facilitators gave all those in attendance goody bags filled with small gifts (snowman soup, rice crispy snowman, a mini snowman scene ornament, a clementine orange, candy etc...) She sure made everyone feel special. She's been a perfect elf, everyone will agree with me.

To view the next pictures click on the words.

This is the ornament that I opened.

Mini sweater and Stocking

Aura holding the handcrafted ornament which was stolen from her.

Julie was the lucky one to keep this quilted ornament crafted by Sandy.

Frances holding the beautiful painted ornament crafted by Shelia.

Sandy looking happy after stealing jingle bells ornament.

Pictures of the Warm Up America Afghans

2006-12-08T16:59:00.000-08:00

So many rectangles were donated and as a result three beautiful blankets were assembled. The blankets consisted of knitted and crochetted rectangles which were joined by crochet.

Warm Up America Afghan

2006-12-08T16:56:00.000-08:00

The Mint Hill Stitch In service project for 2006 consisted in stitching rectangles
(7" x 9" ). Several ladies donated crocheted or knitted rectangles which were joined to produce this beautiful afghan.

The response was great and we had enough rectangles to put together 3 blankets.

The beautiful blankets created are sure to warm up the heart of someone this winter.

Thank you so much for all those who took the time to make these one of a kind blankets possible.

Thank you also to the ladies who worked hard to join all the pieces.