Carol Hummel

So while looking for pictures to show as an example of tree cozies, I stumbled upon Carol Hummel's website.  She uses yarn in all kinds of artwork.  It's fantastic!  Check out her website, and look at all the funky stuff you can do with yarn!

http://carolhummel.com/

Fall plans, Summer homework!

Hey guys! Thanks to everyone who came to the meeting today. For those who couldn't make it, that's fine, just be sure to read this post! There's a lot of important information about the upcoming Fall semester. We're making some changes to the schedule for the fall. We will have two different kinds of meetings. The first is just like it's been- weekly meetings at Caffe Paradiso for fun, knitting, conversations, etc. The second, however, is going to be a mandatory monthly meeting to meet up and discuss group projects. Which brings me to the second point. We are going to be doing a number of projects. 1:. Mother Bear Project: I've sent out an email to everyone on the mailing list with a copy of the brochure and knititng pattern. If you didn't get it, or you aren't on the mailing list, just email me and I will send you a copy right away. I'd like you to each do one bear over the summer- you can use leftover yarn from other projects, or you can buy yarn specifically for this project. Finish the bear over the summer, and then on Quad Day, bring it to the booth and we will display them with the information on the project. The following day, we will package them and ship them off to the kids. 2:. Tree cozies: Brigitte (the owner of Klose Knit) has requested our help in knitting tree cozies for the trees outside her shop. If you don't know what a tree cozy is, check out this link (http://www.eleganceredefined.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/knitted-tree.jpg). Ours won't be quite so large scale, but you get the idea. The yarn will be supplied, we just need to supply the knitter-power! Other projects can be submitted for consideration to illini.knitting@gmail.com. Brainstorm!

3:. Finally, our attempt at charity projects this year fell to the wayside, so we are making up for it this summer and in the coming semesters! If you've heard of a charity knitting project, or you find one that you'd like to knit for, submit your idea to the above address!

In more fun news, we've come to the realization that many of our members are fond of having a relaxing drink every once in a while. Therefore, we will be having KI Barcrawls next year! There will be mandatory drunken knitting, so cast on a scarf and knit it while you're drunk! We will take pictures periodically to see the progress of a drunken scarf! So, that's about it. Enjoy your summer, and if you can't make it to the meetings next week, I will see you in August! Becki Schneider President.

Saturday knitting!

Hey guys, join us this Saturday at Klose Knit for our monthly Saturday knitting! The weather promises to be beautiful, so there's a good chance we will be able to sit outside and enjoy the warmth of Spring.

Good company, refreshing drinks, and lots of yarn! Don't miss it!

Interested in Joining? Here's how

If anyone is interested in joining the Knitting Illini, it's never too late!  Just send an email to illini.knitting@gmail.com with your full name, your UIUC NetID, and your skill level.  Skill levels are as follows:

New beginner: No previous experience- I want to learn how!

Beginner: I know the bare minimum, but want to expand my knitting skills.

Intermediate: I know more than the basics, but still could learn some more tricks or techniques

Advanced: I feel comfortable with most patterns, and could teach beginners to knit.

Expert: I am a knitting god/goddess.  

If you'd like to sign up for a beginner knitting class, let me know in the same email.  Beginner classes will start up sometime in February and will go for a few sessions.  Classes are $5.00 per session, paid when you arrive for the class.  They will take place during scheduled meetings.  You will be paired up with an advanced knitter who will help you learn the following techniques: Cast On, Knit, Purl, Decrease, and finishing techniques.  You'll be given a pattern for a winter hat, and from there you'll learn the basic techniques employed by almost every knitting pattern.  

If you already know how to read patterns, but you don't have the money/patterns that you'd like, feel free to ask me and I can bring in my pattern binder for you to look through.  I'm a bit of a nut about knitting, so there's A LOT of patterns.  

Any questions, email me at illini.knitting@gmail.com

Yarnbombing!!!

Check out this article from the UK--- yarn graffiti strikes again!  

Yarnbombing

~~Becki

New Year, New Semester, New Meetings

The New Year brings some changes into the club.  Our old haunt, Bar Guiliani, has closed down.  Therefore, we are forced to find an alternative meeting spot.  As a person who prefers to knit in comfort, rather than find a classroom, we are moving to another coffee shop.  Our new meetings will be at Cafe Paradiso, on the Corner of Lincoln and Nevada in Urbana.  It's just down the street from LAR, and the 22 Illini MTD bus makes frequent stops to LAR, so the trek is not so bad for those coming from Campustown/Champaign.  

Our meeting times have also changed.  We will now meet on Tuesday and Wednesday from 7:00pm to 8:00pm.  Our first meeting will be on the Tuesday after syllabus week, on January 27th, 2009.

Another change in this new year is our addition of a charity project.  All members are required to donate $2.00 to the cause, and any who wish to participate in the project will be supplied with the yarn.  The project we have chosen is to knit teddy bears for children afflicted with HIV/AIDs.  I'll post a link ASAP to the project details.  

Happy 2009!

Poll: T-shirt, or Hoodie?

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

Knitting Illini has Begun for the fall!

Hey guys, it's me, Becki (la prez).   Just popping in to add a blog post because it's been neglected.  Feel free to post about anything here.  Questions, links to awesome patterns, problems with projects or just about a particular project you're excited about--- anything!  It's doesn't even really have to be knitting related!  

For those of you who are just joining us, we offer 3 session knitting lessons for beginners.  Those of you who signed up for the first set of sessions got the opening discount, but from here on out sessions are $5/session, with three sessions to teach the pattern.  If you make it to all three sessions, that's $15 total--not a bad price for beginner lessons! The pattern is a simple knitted hat, like a winter stocking cap or skull cap.  You'll learn how to knit and purl, the difference between garter stitch and Stockinette stitch, how to cast on, the difference between knitting on straight needles and knitting in the round (with a circular needle), and how to decrease stitches, as well as finishing techniques.  This pattern is simple and easy to follow, and we'll be there along the way to help you through any snags.

There's information on the website about all sorts of stuff:  http://illini.knitting.googlepages.com.  Make sure, if you're typing in the address, that you DON'T include "www." at the beginning, otherwise the page will not load.  :)

Happy knitting everyone!

Tit Bits Stuff

First of all, thanks so much to you guys who are making these boobs for mastectomy patients. If you have trouble, blog about it here! Leave a comment or email me and I'll add you right away.

Anyway, while working on the first tittie, I found that using the raglan increases throughout instead of the kf&b leaves a smoother, nicer looking turnout. This is done by knitting first into the stitch below the stitch you're going to be knitting, and then knitting that original stitch. Wow, even I'm getting confused reading that.... If you don't know how to do a raglan increase, try looking it up online, or ask around in the group for help.  If you're really stuck, I can help out on Thursday this week, or you can visit either Klose Knit or Needleworks and someone there should be able to help you.  If you have any questions, don't hesitate to comment or email me.


Becki

T-SHIRTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The T-shirt design is in, and the shirts are on sale now! The last day for orders is Nov. 8, so don't wait.

Just click this link and place your order now!

Becki

Welcome new members

New members, welcome.

This blog is set up for you to post questions, comments, and conversations! Use it to your full advantage. To sign up for posting, email me at TwstdStitches@aim.com.

Becki

Quad Day

Hi guys,
I hope your summer is going well. I just thought we should start planning for quad day. I believe quad day is the 21st (the tuesday before classes start). I was just wondering who whould be willing to take a shift. :)

volunteering

i know how much free time we all have, but the following was sent to me by a coworker... i was thinking we should do something for it next year (even if i'm not around... *tear*):-
For all you knitters out there, here's a simple project that you can make that
would make a homeless kitty very happy.

Instructions for making mats for the cats at the Humane Society.

Mats may vary in size and shape from 6" square to 20" square, or
rectangular or whatever shape. Yarn must be machine washable and
machine dryable (no wool). The mats may be knitted or crocheted, any
color, any number of mistakes (!), any pattern. A lady from my quilt
guild uses a garter stitch with a small needle to make the mats firm
and thick.

There is a continuing need for mats.

--think about it... you can try out a new pattern or idea before jumping into a whole complicated project, and feel good about yourself when you donate it

Knitta Please!

Hi everyone,

I thought this might be interesting to you guys. It's a group of people in Pittsburg (I think) who get together and make 'knit grafitti'. It's goofy, but I think it's kind of fun.
:) Allison

Helena's shirt

And then there were two.

FRONT:

BACK:

FRONT:

BACK:

T-Shirt Idea

Just throwing this one out there. If anyone has drawings/photos/phrases, post 'em!

I figure this would be on the back, and then "Knitting Illini" would be on the front small at the top.

Thoughts, questions, suggestions, just comment.

Becki

PS-- Also, if you go to www.cafepress.com and search "knit", there are a lot of ideas there.

K.I. Quad Day Pins

As requested, I'm putting the pattern for the K.I. pins up so people can start making them for Quad Day in August.

You can use scrap yarn, or you can buy a skein and make a whole bunch out of it.

For mine, I used a leftover skein of sportweight yarn on US 2 needles.

Materials:
few yards Sport Weight Yarn
1 set US 2 needles
1 extra large safety pin
needlepoint needle (yarn needles work too)
contrasting color embroidery floss (or another color yarn, Sport)

CO 15 sts.

K 20 rows st st.

BO 1 st. and weave in end, leaving sts. on needles.

Take a large (almost diaper pin sized) safety pin and carefully unwind the metal so the loop is open. Slide the sts onto the safety (all the way around to the other side) and then rewind the loop. (It's okay if it doesn't look as perfect as before you unwound it.) Close pin.

For the KI, you'll need to thread the embroidery floss onto your needle and attach the yarn to the back side of the knitting. Stitch the letters on and secure the ends.

Viola! Knitting Illini Pins! If you need help figuring out the KI part, just ask, and I'll help you out, but I'm confident you all can figure it out! Good luck!

Binding Off.


Becki

For Nicole

Since I have no life, and I feel like doing Nicole a favor, I've copied her Facebook pictures of her Grandma's blanket and put them here for everyone to see.

(NOTE: This has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that Nicole doesn't usually get around to posting things online... ever... heehee, what can I say, I like to tease!)

Binding Off

Becki

Techniq. Difficulties

Well..I am not sure why the pictures did not post..I will work on it. :)