Is IT A BIRD? IS IT A PLANE?

No, it's an umbrella swift that is now visiting the Ithaca Stich and Bitch meetings. Bring your hanks of yarn for it to wind!
It had a workout last Wed, wound 4 hanks in just a few minutes.

xmas ideas for knitters

1. DPNs (double pointed needles) for sock knitting in various sizes 1,2 ,3 ,4 . Buy your knitter 2 sets of 5 in one size so they can knit both socks of a pair at the same time.
2. Skeins of yarn from your local yarns store- find alpaca, cashmere, merino yarns at your local yarn store in beautiful colors and textures.
3.Tote to haul their knitting around to our stitch and bitch sessions.
4. Roll up yarn storage for needles- they look like travel jewlery bags made to hold various types of needles.
5. Pretty stich markers with beads or other decorations.
6. Gift certificate for the local yarn store so they can pick out their own patterns, yarns and supplies

Have fun shopping!

International Tote Exchange2

The International Tote Exchange2 ended Oct 31 and after and extra 4 weeks of anticipation I received my tote exchange from my secret pal in Singapore. The idea of the exchange is that you list your color, fabric preferences and you are paired up with someone to knit for and someone who knits for you (2 different people). Then you furiously knit away to meet the deadline and sendoff your tote.
Here is a picture of the tote I made.




























Here is a picture of the tote I received.

Wine Tour & Yarn Shop Crawl

Today started out as lovely day for a road trip...blue skies, puffy white clouds, nearly 60 degrees. Gretchen, Katie and I met up at Gimme and made our way out to Watkins Glen where found Sue at Finger Lakes Fibers, our first stop.




We found out from Nancy, one of the employees, that the store was only recently opened in July. It's a really sweet place with loads of locally spun yarns like Schaeffer, Bel Canto and our very own Kathy Halton's creations! We spent a lot of time wandering around just feeling everything. I think each of us walked out of there with at least one purchase.



The next stop was Graceful Arts Fiber Studio in Burdett where Karey, the owner, spins and hand paints her own yarn. The shop is located in her house and is just packed with many of her own yarns as well as some interesting commercial stuff. As promised, she had a pot of peppermint tea waiting for us upon our arrival.



In addition to spinning and painting yarn, Karey is also into tatting, a method of creating a very sturdy kind of lace. She gave us a little demonstration while we were there using two little shuttles that zip back and forth creating knots that when pulled together make circles, ovals and teardrops. I'm convinced it's some kind of magic and the finished product looks absolutely amazing! She teaches tatting in her studio so if you are ever in the mood to "tat" just drop her a line.


After a tasty lunch at the Grist Mill Cafe, also in Burdett, we ventured out for some wine tasting. Since it was a Saturday, most of the wineries were quite busy with large tour buses and stretch Hummers parked in the lots. However, Silver Thread, our last stop, was located down a long gravel road off Rte 414 and didn't accept buses! The winery grounds were beautiful and peaceful with a fantastic view of the lake from the back deck.


So basically we drove, we groped (yarn), we ate and we drank. All in all, a wildly successful Stitch n' Bitch early autumn road trip!

Fiber Festival Survival Guide

Well there has been some chit-chat of a road trip to the Finger Lakes Fiber Festival in Hemlock, NY on Sept 16-17. I just wanted to suggest reading the Yarn Harlot's "Sheep & Wool Festival: A Survival Guide" first!

The article is featured on knitty.com.
Here is an excerpt: Within moments of your arrival, you may experience, dizziness, nausea, the general sense that your stash sucks and the urge to buy a sheep even though you don't spin and live in an apartment. This is normal. (You might want to resist the sheep one though, and limit yourself to their fleece unless you have a really great plan for your balcony.)

Roxanne

A case of extreme knitting

Yes, we have discussed some extreme knitting projects before like the Gimme Cozy competition and the felted skirt extravaganza, but has anyone of us really thought of ceremonial knitting? As in a wedding ceremony?

If this idea piques your interest, then you must check out The Knitted Wedding at the Cast Off site.

If you can believe it, one of my non knitting friends gave me this link. How cool is that!

And look at that picture of Natasha. What a hottie!!!

A Fresh Start

Ah...fall is in the air. Nights are getting cooler. Thoughts of warm wool socks, cozy sweaters and funky yet practical hats lure many a knitter back to their stash after a brief summer hiatus. Stitch n' Bitch is starting to pick up again. New faces, new projects, new wacky stories becoming part of the rich oral history of an ever changing group.

Lots has happened since the early days when my dear friend Karrie and I hung up a poster at Wownet Digital Cafe advertising the very first Stitch n' Bitch and three people showed up. To our amazement, more stitchers showed up week after week and many of them actually stuck around! We've had knitters of all levels and abilities, crocheters, quilters, rug hookers and embroidery artists visit us. Children, grandmothers and dogs have joined our circle. Conversation topics have run the gamut from politics, marriage, and pop culture to piercings, road trips, and of course, sex!

All this and two solid hours of undisturbed knitting with no dishes in the sink calling out to me...how can I resist?