GMKG Newsletter February 2010

PURLS OF WISDOM
A NEWSLETTER OF THE GREATER MILWAUKEE KNITTING GUILD

MEMBERSHIP
by Mary K
The guild has 5 new members that joined last
month. Please welcome the following:
Linda S: Linda is a newer knitter and
really loves knitting. She is also a quilter. In
addition, she teaches nursing at UWM and is
working on her PhD.
Linda W: Lenore has been knitting for 6
years. She works at the UWM College of
Nursing as a research and project librarian.
Susan K: Sue belonged to the guild
years ago when it met at the Wauwatosa
Library. She has been knitting for over 40
years.
Diana D is a returning member. She is a
retired teacher, has been knitting for about 4
years and loves to buy yarn. She knits once a
week with a group of friends and is happy to
be back at the guild.
Melinda I is new to the guild but has
been knitting off and on for 45 years. She
states that she finds yarn shops like a magnet
in her travels and loves the Taos Wool Festival.
She loves colors and textures. Melinda works
full time and also enjoys reading, gardening,
hiking, biking, baking and traveling.

Minutes from the January Guild Meeting
Submitted by Judy K -Secretary
The meeting was called to order by President
Mary G-F at 7:20 P.M.
Old Business
Treasure’s report.. Karen Rgave an
update of funds in the guild’s account.
There were no minutes from the December
holiday meeting. Mary reported that 15
adventurous souls braved the snow storm.
The stoic group shared holiday treats and
oooooooed and ahaaaaaaaaed at the show
and tell of completed projects.
Mary asked if there were any changes or
additions to the November newsletter. No
changes were necessary.
New Business
Mary asked if there were any visitors. There
were two, Katherine, a new knitter and
Deana, and former member. Welcome
February’s program: Dana Root will be our
guest presenter. She will teach us knitting
ergonomics which will help relieve the aches
associated with knitting. Please bring a work
in process.
Our guest presenter for March is Susan
Anderson, author of Itty Bitty Hats, Itty Bitty
Nursery and her new book, Itty Bitty Toys.
Knitting magazines were left behind after the
Nov. meeting. A suggestion was made to
establish a magazine library.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:40.
Jeannie G, introduced the Traveling
Woman Shawl as a group project. She and
Margaret Driss, showed their in-progress
shawls, gave tips and suggestions, and
encouraged participation.
Thanks Jeanne, Margaret and Peggy.
Yarn Alert
River Boutique and Yarns moved from its
Hartland location to Brookfield, Wisconsin.
The store is located in the Galleria West
Shopping Center, near Kopps Custard.
The address is 18900 West Bluemound
Road.
Judy K visited the shop and reports
that it is well lighted and spacious with lots
of yummy yarn displays and completed knit
projects for sale. She did not make it out of
the store without making a purchase.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Vicki P January 5
Barbara B January 7
Jackie H January 12
Kathleen WJanuary 13
Pat H January 24
Diana D February 1
Dan J February 6
Margaret D February 9
Melinda I February 18
Peggy B February 19

2010 Board of Directors and Committee
Chairs
Presidents Mary G-F
Any H
Past President Linda M
Treasurer Karen R
Secretary Judy K
Membership Mary K
Charity Knitting Marge A
Newsletter Jeannie G
Website Susan F
State Fair Carolyn M
Karen L
Knitting Doctor Karen L
Historian Nancy K

P ROGR AM S
S u bm i t ted b y J ean n ie G
February :Knitting Ergonomics: Avoiding Aches
and Pains.
Do you love to knit? Do you experience aches and
pains while knitting? Do you want to learn how to
reduce the discomfort? With a little knowledge,
and new discoveries, some easy changes will keep
you happily knitting forever.
Dana Root, a board certified ergonomist and a
licensed physical therapist, has knitted on and off
for many years and practiced as an orthopedic
physical therapist. For the past 10 years she
travels a six state region as an ergonomist.
She will share her passion for ergonomics and her
love of knitting.
The knitter will learn:
Why the body is at risk for knitting aches
and pains.
What knitting methods may cause soreness.
Solutions for reducing knitting discomfort.
Exercises to interrupt knitting movements.
Please bring a knitting project, so you may
practice these new techniques.
The Programs Committee would like to thank both
Peggy B and Ellen J for suggesting
our February speaker. If you would like to be a
presenter or know someone who would, please
give the programs committee the contact
information.
March : Susan Anderson, author of Itty Bitty
Hats and Itty Bitty Nursery will be here with her
new book Itty Bitty Toys.
We will hold a drawing for Susan’s new book. To
enter please knit a hat from one of Susan’s books,
or one of her free hat patterns from her website or
ravelry. For each hat collected in March and
donated to our charity knitting projects you will
receive a ticket for the drawing.
SABLE 2010 Yarn Stash Down
Is your yarn stash taking over your home? Then
make a commitment to knit down some of your
yarn stash in 2010. Perhaps your goal is to knit
one skein or 100 skeins.
Fill out your commitment card and turn it into
Margaret, Peggy or Jeannie today. As you finish
your projects, let us know and we will mark it off
your cards.
Prizes will be awarded to the person who knits the
most yardage from their stash and for knitting the
most skeins from their stash .

December 2008 Guild newsletter

POTLOCK!

December is our Annual Potluck. Bring something to share and be prepared to Show Off your projects! Don’t forget your Charitable Donations for the Milwaukee Women’s Center. See you Tuesday, Dec 8th at 7 pm.

Rare Exhibit to come to Midwest in January

The American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota will be having an exhibit Radiant Knits: The Bohus Tradition beginning January 23, 2009 at 6 p.m. The opening weekend will have amazing people presenting various aspects of the Bohus tradition. Kerstin Olsson will discuss her experiences at Bohus Sticking as a designer as , she leads a special 30 minute showing of the exhibit. Kjell Andersson, film producer, will present his documentary film "Bohus Knitting - From Relief Work to World Success" which is a follow-up to his other film "Fragments from a Time Gone By" which will be shown at ASI in early January. After his film showing, he will be available for questions. Master Swedish dyer Solveig Gutafsson will speak about her efforts to recreate many of the stunning Bohus designs and introduce a few newly recreated designs. She works closely with the museum that houses the Bohus collection in Sweden. The American connection is represented by Mary Jo Burke, owner of Stagecoach Yarns, a
small dye studio in Illinois. Poems of Color by author Wendy Keele is the book relating the history of the Bohus tradition and has patterns and photos of the fabulous movement. http://www.americanswedishinst.org/ is the website for more information about the exhibit and this special opening weekend. Their telephone number is 612-871-4907 for reservations. The exhibit is being co-sponsored by the Minnesota Knitting Guild The exhibit ends in March - but don't miss this special weekend with so many original sources. We believe the American Swedish Institute hasn't any idea how many people will be interested in this exhibit - they don't
know the power of knitters! Susanna is teaching workshops Sunday and Monday: if you are unable to attend in Minneapolis these same classes will be presented in Monticello later in the year. Susanna Hansson has been fascinated with the Bohus history and made it her mission to
collect as many of the original Bohus to be presented to a museum at a later date. She has spoken to the Guild and taught and shared her collection with knitters in Monticello in 2008 and will return to Monticello in September 2009 to again share her expertise and collection.


2008-2009 Calendar of Events
December will be our Christmas “potluck” and a “Show
and Tell”.
January Program: Marge Giralte from Giralte Bead and Gem in Cedarburg will bring samples and techniques for incorporating beads into knitting projects. She will have a couple kits available for sale as well as some ideas for your entry in the “Knitting with Beads” contest.

February Program: Trish Anderson, a guru of needle felting both by hand and machine, will conduct a “hands on” needle felting class. Bring your felted wool project or any scarf, sweater, coat or jacket to embellish. The item does not need to be felted. Trish says wool, denim, twill, home decorator fabrics (with no backing) are easiest to work on. Silks, corduroy, polyester and synthetics do not work as easily. The Guild will provide each participant a felting needle, roving and a foam base. Trish will have samples and patterns to use. The idea for this program came about with the donation of roving by Shirley Grede from the Yarn House.March -- Possibly Janet Szabo from Big Sky Knitting
Designs; also waiting to see if we will fit into her schedule.
April -- Our Guild Auction – We had so much fun last
year. Do not limit your creativity for donations. Also, we
want lots of guests for that evening!
May -- Tentatively author Dr. Susan Strawn will have
samples of vintage knitting as well as a slide presentation
based on research for her book Knitting America: A Glorious
Heritage from Warm Socks to High Art.
June – Judging (by all guild members) of the “Knitting
with Beads” contest
July -- TBA
August -- TBA


Milwaukee Women’s Center Wish List
The wish list is for new items
not used.
For Women:
Candles
Lotions/pampering product sets
Cologne (for Women)
Robes (for Women Size medium to XXX
large)
Slippers for women (all Sizes)
Gift Cards, Target, Wal-Mart, Pick N
Save
Pajamas/ nightgowns
For Children and Teens:
Cologne (for teen boys and girls)
Toys (for toddlers to teens)
Board games
Baby dolls & Barbie dolls (Caucasian
and African American)
Toy cars and trains
Art/Craft toys
Handheld video games
Basketball/ Footballs
Portable radio/CD player
Pajamas /Nightgown