Wednesday, December 22, 2004

hat.jpg
For the very first time, I’ve participated in a SWAP! Last year, in January, I was at a meeting of the Windy City Knitting Guild, and it was the beginning of the fun. You took a numbered bag, that had yarn inside and the mission was to make the owner of the bag a HAT! I picked #27 – and this is what I made.

Last night was the Long-Awaited Exchange over at the Sulzer Library’s beautiful Community Room. I had yarn belonging to a lady named Connie (who unfortunately wasn’t present). So Laura Kochevar, our esteemed president, accepted and modeled the Bucket, then it was her turn to find out who was the recipient of Connie’s creation – which she had in tow… And, now what are the odds here, Connie had MY yarn! Here’s what she made me:

hat2.jpg

WOW – it is FABULOUS! AND, I was a total dork! I actually forgot what yarn I put in the bag! Connie added some scrumptious knobby colorful carry-along yarn and fancied it up so much that I DIDN’T EVEN RECOGNIZE IT! Brava!

hat3.jpg
Here’s the original yarn, some really DULL variegated mohair and TWO little Chenille Flowers Connie added to spice things up later, if wished.

It was great fun seeing all the masterful creations that popped out of those bags. Here’s the whole group that participated:

hat4.jpg

I wish I would’ve taken close-ups of all of the hats – they were outstanding! My favorite: Joy Davis’s mitered corner banded hat made from various variegated yarns belonging to Corinne Niessner. When you flipped the band to the inside, she’d knitted in the words “Blessings in 2005″…

Non-Hat News: in the Show’n’Share segment, Maureen Moran modeled her perfectly fabulous Elizabeth Collar made from baby yarn and angora. This creation is designed by the wonderful Kate Gilbert (of Clapotis fame) and you can get the pattern HERE, another marhvelous Gift Idea for under $10.00!

Merry Christmas O Warm & Wonderful Ladies of the Windy City Knitting Guild! Many thanks for all the Goodness of 2004 – the meetings, the workshops, the Snacks, the sharing of craft and most of all the Warm & Friendly Folks!

Monday, December 20, 2004

  Monday Morning Mirth  

xmasdecorations.jpg

Company’s comin’! You know what that means – time to pull out those Christmas Decorations!

DECK THE HALLS!
with

1. New lights for the vanity console in the bathroom so people can see their hands as they clean up.

2. New Faucets for the vanity console so people can wash their purdy faces and not splash all over themselves like those funny bathroom units you tried in France.

3. And, drumroll please!? A new Christmas Wreath of a toilet seat to wrap the season’s best in full glory…

Weekend, December 18 – 19, 2004

the Ghost of ChicKnits Christmas Past!
this list first seen in 2002

If you are a Professional Procrastinator like me, chances are a couple of people slipped between the lines of your Christmas List…

There is still hope – that is, if your friend is a knitter/wannabee knitter,
like YOU!

****************************************


ChicKnits
Top 10 List
of Last Minute Gifts

10. Make a pretty *Coupon for Knitting Lessons* from you…

9. Make a *How-to-Knit Kit* out of 2 – double pt needles (wrap a rubber band around one end so stitches don’t popoff) and a small ball of yarn and a little homemade coupon *Knit Lesson* (from you!) One set of Double Pts. will make 2 Kits!

8. Dig in your stash and find enough yarn (combine more than one if you need to) and make a *Scarf Kit* with the yarn needles. OR, call it a *Hat Kit* and felt a hat together…

7. Get a Spray Bottle, Heavy-Duty Straight Pins and a couple of nice cotton towels, include directions, wrap and call it a *How to Block Kit*.

6. Get an inexpensive 4’x6′ Indian Type Rug and label it *the Ultimate Blocking Rug* including directions.

5. Make a coupon for *Learn Finishing Techniques* if you know how to Mattress Stitch, Three-Needle Bind-off, and Chain Stitch. Three lessons at your pleasure…

4. Make coupon good for *Seam the Newbie’s Sweater* because this is a daunting thing for most people to do and that’s what friends are for.

3. Really suck it up and Make a LARGE coupon good for *Total Finishing of the Sweater of Your Choice* which would include blocking, seaming, banding, buttons, etc. Of course, this is worth millions and lifetime devotion so be very very careful…

2. Get a wonderful *Steamer* like this if you don’t have one get one for yourself as well) for finishing – it is a million times better than an iron and will send your finishing into orbit!

1. Break the bank($35.00) and make a person a coupon for *Membership in the Fiber Art Shop’s Online Video Knitting Classes* – you register, pay and pass the password on the coupon. These are very cool…