About the Guild

We are on Facebook now. Visit us at Greater Milwaukee Knitting Guild. The Greater Milwaukee Knitting Guild is open to anyone interested in knitting at any level. Our mission is to promote interest, appreciation, and skill in knitting. The Meetings are always the second Tuesday of every month except January and August. Social Hour begins at 6:15 pm. Our “Knitting Doctors” are also available at that time for advice and consultation on your knitting problems. The meeting begins at 7:oo pm followed by the Monthly Program. email us at gmkg@prodigy.net

Friday, December 5, 2014

December Updated Calendar

CALENDER OF EVENTS:

December 9: GMKG Holiday party


Feb 7 Knit Michigan! http://knitmichigan.org
Feb 20-22 Madison Knit In http://www.madisonknittersguild.org/Road-Trip!-
MKGKnitIn2015
Feb 27-March 1! Sheep in the City Getaway! http://just4ewe.com/
Sheep_in_the_City/Sheep_in_the_City/Welcome.html

April 18-19 YARNCON 2015 www.yarncon.com

June 13-14! Fiber on the Farm http://www.fiberonthefarm.com

July 2015: Meg Swanson’s Knitting Camp in Marshfield, Wi. On-line applications will
be available Feb 1-8, 2015 @ Schoolhousepress.com. Lodging and classes @ Holiday
Inn Conference Center

December Christmas Party/ Fashion Show

Show Off What You'v e Made -- December is the Member's "Fashion" Show 

In December we  talk and party and enjoy each other's company.  We also get a look at the things we've all been making over this year or last. 

Carol will emcee as each member walks the "red carpet, with the item to show.  Carol will read the description you have submitted of your item and then you  may give a brief statement of how it came to be. 

Some people have turned in their descriptions and others may turn them in at the meeting.  

Let Carol or Betty know 1) name of your item  2) fiber content  3) yarn weight and yardage 4) pattern source.

There' will be much to share and enjoy. 



Bonus: Piper, proprietor of The Knitting Knook in Fox Point, has donated a $50.00 gift certificate !! that will be our raffle prize at the December meeting.  We hope you will have the opportunity to patronize her shop and say a personal thank you on behalf or our guild.   

Pics from November Meeting with Jo Harris

Jo Harris pulled it off again.  She brought along lots of samples of the patterns she has included in her new book "Double Knitting- Inside Out".  She also showed us how to double knit for great effects.  One on one opportunities were available too.  Her Website is www.toadknits.com

Here are some examples of her work-






Tuesday, November 4, 2014

November Meeting and updated Calendar

Color Is Fun and We'll Learn How !

Mosaic, intarsia, stranding are just words and need not be intimidating.  All are ways to add color to your knitting. Mary Jo Harris returns in November to show us the techniques needed to master color work through mosaic knitting. She explains things thoroughly, is enthusiastic, eager to answer questions.  She is also releasing a new book on just this topic.

For those who want to knit along while Mary Jo presents, she has provided patterns that are at the end of our Members Newsletter.   They are for a headband and a cowl.

Look at the patterns come to the meeting with the necessary stitches already cast on on a circular needle and bring a stitch marker for use when working in the round. In addition, Mary Jo will bring samples of stranded knitting, intarsia, mosaic knitting, double knitting, entrelac knitting, and modular knitting to show you additional possibilities.

CALENDER OF EVENTS:
 
Nov 11: GMKG monthly meeting
Nov 21-23  Knit DeKoven   http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/ogle-design/2996017/1-25#7

Dec 9: GMKG: Holiday party

Jan 22-24  January Thaw Retreat  http://www.sunvalleyfibers.com/january-thaw-retreat/ 

Feb 7        Knit Michigan!     http://knitmichigan.org
Feb 20-22  Madison Knit In    http://www.madisonknittersguild.org/Road-Trip!-MKGKnitIn2015

April 18-19    YARNCON 2015      www.yarncon.com  
April 25 Yarnover http://www.knitters.org/whats-yarnoverJuly 2015:

Meg Swanson’s Knitting Camp in Marshfield, Wi.  On-line applications will be available Feb 1-8, 2015 @ Schoolhousepress.com.  Lodging and classes @ Holiday Inn Conference Center

Bahr Creek Llamas and Fiber Studio

Our October speaker was  Brigitte DeMaster from Bahr Creek Llamas and Fiber Studio.  She shared her story on her round about way into starting a llama farm.  They have now added alpaca's to the operation.  We left the meeting with a better understanding of the amount of care and love that goes into every skein of yarn she makes.  Brigitte brought along examples of her yarn that we were able to enjoy touching and planning to use in a future project.  Betty P is shown with some of the items that were brought in.  Here is their website and some photo's.
www.bahrcreek.com



Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Knit Hats for Service Members

At last nights meeting we went with the knit hat project for service members that Trees From Home promotes as our Fall Charity Project.  The dates to bring them to a meeting will be be posted later.  All you have to do now is go through your wool  stash,  find  dark colors and start knitting a hat.  The link listed will give you some background and patterns.

http://treesfromhome.org./Knit%20Caps.html

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Event Calendar

CALENDER OF EVENTS:

•    Oct 10:  I Love Yarn: Cudahy Library
•    Oct 10-12   Rural Arts Road Trip   http://www.ruralartsroadtrip.com
•    Oct 14: GMKG monthly meeting
•    Oct 18: Fall University Days:  All About Wool, Cedarburg, Wi                         www.wiquiltmuseum.com
•    Oct 24 – 26: Vogue Knitting Live Chicago: Palmer House Hilton, Chicago Ill                   www.vogueknittinglive.com
    Oct 30 – Nov 1: Loominosity:  New Berlin, Wi   www.wihandweavers.org

•    Nov 11: GMKG monthlyy meeting
•    Nov 21-23  Knit DeKoven  http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/ogle-design/2996017/1-25#7

•    Dec 9: GMKG: Holiday party

•    Jan 22-24  January Thaw Retreat  http://www.sunvalleyfibers.com/january-thaw-retreat/

•    Feb 20-22  Madison Knit In    http://www.madisonknittersguild.org/Road-Trip!-MKGKnitIn2015

•    April 18-19    YARNCON 2015     www.yarncon.com

•    July 2015: Meg Swanson’s Knitting Camp in Marshfield, Wii.On-line applications will be available Feb 1-8, 2015 @ Schoolhousepress.comLodging and classes @ Holiday Inn Conference Center

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

I Love Yarn Day and We Love Yarn Bombing


Stop in at the Cudahy Family Library on Friday, October 10 from 10am to 4:30pm.   Prizes will be given away too!   

Check out the Yarn Bombing that Kathy Matthew, Cristel Moecker, Anja Herrnreiter, Judy Humpal, Shelby Schurter and myself knit and installed.  

Here are a few pictures pulled from the Library's Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152702042840944.1073741837.59544755943&type=1

This is our handy work-
Making sure no one gets cold hands

Crickets and Catapillers are ready for winter

Lamp and Chair leg warmers

Anja's Bear keeping watch

Toad Stool neckwear

Trendy chairs in young adult area


October Meeting Program


What's In a Fiber?

Tonight It's Llama!  Of all the variables in knitting, from technique to pattern choice, perhaps fiber is one we seldom know enough about.  Tonight we'll learn about llama hair from someone who has raised and sheared llamas for many years and has lots of tales to tell.  Our guest is Brigitte DeMaster, owner of Bahr Creek Yarn Store and Llama farm.  We'll learn about the animals, hear stories of how she came to love them, and how the hair acts in knitting.  You will be able to feel the sheared hair and touch the very, very soft yarn Brigitte spins herself.  We've also asked her to talk a bit about tools and gadgets available to us with our knitting as well as some other new fibers.  And !!  We will raffle off 2 of the hanks of llama yarn straight from the spinning wheel.  There will be time to browse and we've asked Brigitte to bring things along to let us shop a bit.  Bahr Creek is set on  a dairy farm in the  beautiful woods bordering Cedar Grove, and Brigitte is a warm and welcoming knitter ready to share her love of fiber with us.


We had 7 members walking and working in other areas of the Walk and Knit Event at The Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival.  That isn't counting the members who shopped and took classes.





Sheri, Jackie, Kathy and Betty at Walk and Knit
Line Judge Melissa watching for fouls


Cristel, Sheri, Kathy and Betty at handoff

Monday, May 12, 2014

May and June Programs





May -- Come for the party! and help the Christ Child society as we donate items for babies in need.  We will have a social time to have fun together and also hear about the Society from one of its representatives.

Carol and Betty have asked for additional food for the baby shower.   A paper plate with a dozen special tasty morsels will be great.   Any leftovers can be taken home.  Please remember nothing drippy or wet. The list of volunteers we already have are-

Dianna D-- paper plates, napkins and fruit dish
Carolyn M-- cookies, soda and cups
Karen L--Cookies, soda and cups
Pat Hi-- snacks
Betty P--Bar cookies

June -- Jennifer Donze, master knitter, will be with us guiding us further on how to produce polished finished projects.

"Weaving in Tails" is a hands-on workshop about the 2 best ways to weave in tails.  Special note: Please bring along a light colored swatch in plain stockinette made with worsted weight yarn, some bright colored scrap yarn and a tapestry needle.    Jennifer will talk about the planning process for weaving in tails and demonstrate the 2 best ways to weave in tails.

We have enjoyed Jennifer's presentations before and always learn so much.  See you in June!


For those who spin and dye this might make the process a little faster.
Photo of sheep in Ireland.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

GMKG Road Trip

A dedicated group of our knitter/shoppers went to Susan's Fibers in Columbus,  Prairie Junction Yarn Shop in Sun Prairie and Kaleidoscope Fibers in Cambridge on April 26.  They had a great time and sent along some pictures to share.

The first four are in Columbus.





Here they are at Kaleidoscope Fibers in Cambridge.


Wednesday, April 2, 2014

April Meeting and future programs

Here is a quick update on our future programs.
April is the Auction
May is our Baby Shower to benefit The Christ Child Society
June will have Master Knitter Jennifer Donze with us.
July is Elections and The Brown Bag Exchange

GMKG 2014 Annual Auction

Here is more information on what to expect at the Auction.

 News to Use for the April  8 Auction

The April auction is coming upon us soon and I want you to start thinking Spring,
gardening, pastels, picnics, patriotic, grilling, children, coffee, chocolate, stuffed toys, pin
cushions, aprons, pot holders, home-made cards, bakery, flowers and on and on. This
should give you some ideas for items to offer.

I also want to walk you through the evening so you’ll have some idea of what’s going to
happen. First, when you come in the door, there will be two members sitting at a table
to register you. They will have you sign your name and assign you a paddle number for
bidding. If you  want to donate an item you’ll make your way to the front table to hand in your auction item. This should have a 3 x 5 card attached with four things written on it. 1. A description. 2. An
opening bid . 3. The value of the item . 4. Your name.

During the auction there will be two clerks keeping track of the bidding. They’ll write
down how much the winning offer was and which number made it. At the end of the
auction, the clerks will be the cashiers and will take your money. Checks are most
appreciated, cash is great ( but I don’t always know how much I’ll spend). We don’t
have the capability to take credit or debit cards
.
Come one and all. Bring guests- lots of them. Bring your checkbooks. The profits of
this auction will go into the treasury for future programs. So it will be a win/win for
everyone. You’ll get a great auction item and programs at our meetings. Get your
guests to join the Guild too.

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

March 2014 Meeting with Susan Forbes

Susan Forbes gave us lots of information on the effects of processing on different fibers.  She brought lots of Noro Yarn from Knitch along with books and her own dyed yarn and knit and dyed yarn blanks.  Beautiful colors and textures.  See Susan at  http://www.fairyyarnmother.com.





February 2014 Round Robin

 Deb prepared a number of Intarsia samples for us to work on.


Karen taught us how to thrum mittens. 

Anja showed us how to cast on from the middle also known as the disappearing loop method. Not pictured is Betty, who showed us how to work jogless stripes. 

Pat and Anna gave us MANY ideas for knitting lace!  

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

March 2014 Meeting and Future Programs

Our next meeting is Tuesday, March 11.   Our Program will be-

Luscious Fiber -- Beautiful Color!!

Learn "All About Fiber" at our March meeting. Midwest fiber artist Susan Forbes will talk
with us about natural and man-made fibers -- wool, silk, alpaca, bamboo and more.
Susan, (also known as the Fairy Yarnmother) creates beautiful fibers out of
combinations of these fibers and designs hand-dyes in colors that are subtle to brilliant.
This is an opportunity to get questions answered about how fibers behave and how to
use them.  Betty and I were wowed when we saw these wonderfully designed fibers.
Susan also brings a large array of colorful yarns -- both her own designs and commercial
yarns -- so that you can see touch and purchase, if you choose.  We will build in time for
looking and shopping
.
Our April meeting will our Annual Fundraising Auction
.
May is our Annual Baby Shower. We donate all of our knitted and purchased baby
items to a local charity. Games, prizes, punch and treats will rule the day.

In June  Master Knitter Jennifer Donze returns with concrete examples and clear explanations to make
knitting polished and satisfying. Specific topic information will come in the next
newsletter.


Saturday, February 8, 2014

February Program and Upcoming Meetings


February Round Robin
See --Listen -- Try....
...knitting techniques explained and demonstrated by your fellow guild members.
Stimulate your curiosity or get questions answered about 4 important knitting patterns
and skills.
1. Karen L. will show -- Thrumming for mittens
2. Anna P. and Pat H. will show -- Lace Knitting tips and techniques
! ! They ask that you bring needles and a little DK or Worsted weight
yarn if you want to try the lace techniques they will show.
3. Deb P. will explain -- Intarsia and effects of Color choice
4. Betty P. and Anja H.will share -- methods for achieving a Jogless
appearance in Circular knitting. Bring two colors of yarn and 4-5 double point
needles or circular. We're presenting techniques for jog less stripes in the round
and casting on from the middle - disappearing loop method.
See samples and/or try your hand on the needles our "instructors" provide. Each
session is planned by the individual presenter, so expect variety and enthusiasm, and
getting to know each other better.
The chairman will divide us into 4 groups and each group will be assigned to one of the
"technique tables" to start the rotation. After 15 to 20 minutes, she'll will ring a bell and
all groups will move at once to the next station. Everyone will have a chance to see and
hear about each technique.

Our March meeting is unconfirmed at this time.

Our April meeting is our Annual Auction.  Time to start getting your purchases and donations together so that we can get off to a rousing good time.  Proceeds will go to Speakers and program needs.

May will bring our Third Annual Baby Shower.  We will be knitting all things baby needs such as sweaters, blankets, booties, hats and toys.  Games and snacks will be provided.  All of our items will be donated to the Christ Child Society.



Mary G. who has presented a program in the past for us on Nordic Knitting is
going to host a Walk and Knit event at the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival this year.
She has asked the Guild if we would like to help. She has sent me some links of the
event in Estonia last year. Check them out and we can talk about this briefly at the
meeting so as not to detract from our program.
http://marygtheknitter.blogspot.com/2013/05/kai-ja-koo.html
http://marygtheknitter.blogspot.com/2013/05/results-of-kai-ja-koo-2013.html
https://skydrive.live.com/?id=9BA161B4F45E9FA!
901&cid=09ba161b4f45e9fa&authkey=!Ao0Bn-QInjd-FbU