Summer Stitch In - in Full Swing

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.