The Purpose of The Shenandoah Knitting Guild is to promote the continuing education of persons interested in improving their knitting skills through meetings, workshops, and networking with other knitters locally, regionally, and nationally.

Daytime Meetings are held at the First Christian Church, 75 Merrimans Lane, Winchester, Virginia at 10:30 a.m. on the second Friday of each month. When the Frederick County schools are closed due to inclement weather, the meeting will be postponed until the third Friday of the month. Our next meeting day is February 12. Members will bring knitting items to swap with other members. Each year this is a popular program and members get to clean out unwanted items and pick out new things from the Swap Meet tables. We will have snacks and drinks. If you want to join our group, we will welcome you warmly.

Guild Activities

Each month our members meet to learn new techniques, share stories and inspire each other by sharing our current projects during Show and Tell.

An informal gathering called Sit and Knit is held on the fourth Tuesday of each month, starting at 10:30 am. at the Never Enough Yarn shop in Winchester VA. Our next scheduled meeting will be January 26, 2010. Never Enough Yarn holds its own Sit and Knit gatherings every Sunday from 1 p.m. until closing at 5 p.m.

Community Outreach

The Guild members enjoy helping out in the community. One of our on-going projects is “Sweaters and Hats” for two daycare centers, Winchester Day Nursery and Fremont Street Nursery. There is free yarn available to anyone who wishes to participate in this voluntary effort. Many of the Guild members are happy to be a mentor/instructor to new knitters. You may contact Pat Hays - 540-888-4348.

Membership

Dues of $20.00 are paid at the start of each year. If you join mid year we will adjust the amount of the dues. We have a monthly newsletter which may be postal mailed, accessed through the web site, or sent directly as a pdf attachment to an email.

News

In January members brought examples of their favorite knitting resources such as pattern books, knitting how to books, magazines, and discussion of how to find a knitting show on television.

In December we went to Fremont Street Nursery in Winchester to give away the sweaters that our members had been knitting all year. Below, a caregiver holds one of the children with her new outfit. For our meeting we had our annual potluck social and each member brought a handmade gift to exchange. It was interesting to see the many talents of our members as the gifts were unwrapped. Below, our feast was shared and enjoyed.

Fremont Street Nursery and Potluck Social.

Our November meeting was a field trip to Fibersmyth yarn shop in Woodstock. We met to carpool at the church at 10:30 a.m., had lunch together at the Cup and Crumpet which is run by family members of Fibersmyth owners and in the same old farmhouse as the yarn shop at 135 Lora Drive. Fibersmyth's web site is: www.fibersmyth.com

Fibersmyth yarn shop in Woodstock.

At our October meeting Dee Dee Heuer brought her folding 48 inch by 30 inch blocking board and told us her blocking methods. She recommends you finish the garment, wash it, and then pin it damp to the board with double pointed u-shaped pins that are made especially for blocking. Dee Dee uses long thin metal rods to help keep lace in place when blocking. The Guild will be at the Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival with a table to display knitted items and promote the art of knitting. Please stop by and say Hello. The Festival is held at the Berryville Fairgrounds in Clarke Co. Virginia on Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25 from 10 until 5 p.m. Admission fee is $5, children under 12 free. The web site for the festival is www.shenandoahvalleyfiberfest.com

In September we had a Fashion Show of members showing their knitted items on the "red carpet" runway. After the fashion show we had a surprise baby shower for member Catherine Kelly and her daughter Moira who are expecting a new arrival to the family around Thanksgiving.

New member Margie Aronhalt shows the first vest she ever knitted.

In August members shared ideas for gifts for the holiday season. Below Dee Dee Heuer shows us her lacy scarf.

In July eighteen members attended the meeting to learn how to use beads in our knitting. Susan Marquardt of Winchester Virgina, volunteered to show us how to string the beads onto the yarn and how to add them as we knit.

In June members had their potluck salad luncheon at Pat Hays' farm in Gore Virginia. It was a nice summer day for our shared lunch with many yummy salads and desserts. The lambs were about 2 months old and still nursing their mothers.

Show and Tell at the June meeting: Virginia's striped sweater and Jackie's infinity patterned felted wall hanging.

In May we had a field trip to the Potomac Beads Company on the old Walking Mall in Winchester, 115 N. Loudoun Street. After touring and shopping in the fabulous bead store, we walked a short way to the yarn shop Knit 1 Purl 2 and then met again at the bead shop for more shopping. After we finished our shopping, we had a nice lunch at a restaurant with an outdoor plaza. The weather was beautiful and the group had a lovely time.

Potomac Bead Company and Knit 1 Purl 2 yarn shop.

In April Pat Hays demonstrated how to knit Short Rows. It is useful for turning heels on socks, making a shoulder slope properly, raise up the back of a neck opening or to add length to the back of sweaters or vests.

Our March 13 meeting had nineteen members attending. Our program was Knitting Back Backwards. This technique is used in small projects and Entrelac when you would like to avoid purling.

Catherine's daughter Moira models the outfit her mother knit.