Hook Rugs, Flip Flops and good Food

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.

Busy Crafters Celebrate National Craft Month

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.

Stitching with Love

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..

Modular Knitting

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.

Help to Understand Gauge Ranges

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.

The Popularity of Knitting

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.

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Samples from Mint Hill Crafters

Holiday Meeting

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.