September Meeting

Wow, did y'all miss a good time!
Sheryl, I'm sorry I didn't see your post about the Tunisian cables. I would have been VERY prepared. Can we put it on the agenda for October 18th?
Sheryl and I had a good time, but.......
what is going on? What can we do to improve and grow our chapter? Is the date wrong? The meeting place? The members? What can we offer to make your guild membership a more rewarding and enjoyable experience? What can we do to make people WANT to come?
We are ALL Westside Crochet Gang. So what do YOU want from YOUR guild experience?
I know that Jessica is studying for her Masters Certs and I would like to start. So is that something that would interest anyone else? Maybe we become the first chapter is Houston to have everyone Masters or Instructor Certifide? Yes, No?
We need feedback. Input, Input, Input!

Meeting Tomorrow

Hi all! Debra wants to learn about tunisian cables. I finally have done cables that I love and am willing to share the knowledge. If you want a quickie lesson tomorrow, bring a smooth, light-colored yarn and a hook a couple sizes bigger than the yarn calls for. I used an I on dk weight and it worked great.

No hurt feelings if you aren't interested - I'm bringing my Market Spice Tunic to work on.

See you tomorrow!

New Stuff!

The very kind UPS driver brought me several presents yesterday. First is the long anticipated Denise Interchangeable crochet hook set. I took mine home last night and put them through a serious workout. I am thrilled! The hooks, like their knitting needles, are smooth and comfortable on the hands. The joins are smooth and the cable is not annoying like so many flexible hooks. Individual hooks can be purchased so that double ended hooks can be created; there are 4 stoppers so that a single flexible hook is created. You can also take the hook off and put another stopper on to hold the stitches for future stitching.

I have just begun playing with them but I would definitely recommend them. The hooks can also be used alone as a regular crochet hook. There is a small thumb grip and the head is inline, more like a Susan Bates than a Boye. We have 3 sets at the shop and they retail for $40.00. The hook sizes go from F/3.75mm to a 19/15mm. I feel more tunisian projects in my future!

Speaking of that, Interweave Crochet for fall comes out the end of this month - the preview should be on the website this week. CAL anyone?

Also new is Kim Werker's book Crocheted Gifts. This is a compilation of projects from many designers we all know and love, as well as some fresh new crochet voices. The book is beautifully photographed, styled and presented. However, none of that would matter if the projects were not things I would like to make and give. There are gifts for women, men, babies, and the home; most are small, some are big; some for beginners-intermediate as well as for the more advanced crocheter. The projects span the seasons so this is not just a "holiday" book but the kind of resource you will go back to over and over again for those "go to" gifts that will cement your reputation as the best gift giver in the family.

Audio Mystery CAL

And now for something completely different....

Just saw this post through the Crochet Partners list. I think it sounds pretty interesting so I signed up.

It's a mystery audio scarf crochet along hosted by The Stitch Stud, Charles Voth. Here are the details.

* It's FREE!
* It's an Audio Crochet Along. This means that the hints (stages of instructions) will be given to you in an audio format. Okay, Why? is what I hear some of you asking/wondering. Well..it's just to try something different. Come on & give it a try.
* The mystery lies in having to wait for the different stages of instructions, and not knowing what the scarf will look like.
* If you have basic to low-intermediate skills you will be comfortable.
* Once you attempt a stage with audio instructions and post your successes/attempts/confusions/whining you will receive a symbol chart AND text version of that stage.
* There will be a variety of lengths in wait times between stages depending on the amount that will be crocheted.
* You will receive a full version of the pattern in PDF format at the end of the CAL.
* This group will be closed after the final deadline and the pattern will subsequently be available for sale to the general public.
* Sign-ups start now and will end Sept. 12. The CAL will not be available after that date. We should be done be mid-November, roughly.
* Supplies: 800 yards (200 gms) of 3-ply (lightweight) sock yarn. (Symbol #2 from yarnstandards.com) If you use a multi-coloured yarn, you'll want the colours to be similar in value, no dramatic dark/light contrasts, so that the lace is visible. 3.5mm (US E/4) Hook.
* Gauge: you'll find out more if you sign up.
* Finished Dimensions: 9.5 x 44 inches
* By joining this CAL, you are agreeing to not share any part of the pattern in any format with any non-group member. The pattern will be available for sale once the period of exclusivity is over.
* To access the files and group discussion, you will have to join Google Groups. If you already have gmail or other Google Membership service, then you can use that login and go here: http://groups.google.ca/group/scarf-cal
* will use North American terms in audio version, charts are not term specific, text will have both UK and North American versions.
* stitches used: chain st, slip st (thru both loops), single crochet, double crochet, double-treble stitch, triple-treble stitch.

If you wish to join the CAL but are not a google member, please send me an email at stitchstud@gmail.com with ScarfCAL in the subject line.

You can find some FAQ's in my ravelry group, (http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/stitch-stud--his-bride-podcast/780611/1-25#1) or you can email me if you have questions before signing up.

Here are some answers from the Ravelry FAQ's:

"The CAL runs from Sept 12 till the end of November…only to give LOTS of opportunity for everyone to keep up, not because it would actually take that long to make. My crocheting speed is average and the project took me about 25 hours total…I’m hoping that people use this project to take a break from other things they are doing…for entertainment’s sake. If most of the group wants me to speed things up, I will do that; otherwise, I’ll send advanced hints to speedy crocheters who want to get it done to move on to other things."

"The audio instructions will be posted as an MP3 file, which is what most non-mac-made podcasts are. Using the mp4 format causes too many problems for PC-users. Because it’s a “closed” CAL, the files will only be available to group members, and can’t be hosted on i-tunes. The 800 yards does seem like a lot, but one of the motifs in this scarf uses some interesting stitching which uses up a tad more than a basic double-crochet scarf. The other thing is this is almost laceweight yarn. If you use 4-ply sport weight instead of the 3-ply fingering weight the scarf will be wider and longer. In that case, or if you don’t have 800 yards, you will be able to work the scarf to a shorter length…and I’ll explain that during the CAL."

"With my podcaster hat on, I was thinking about creative ways to make my podcast more interactive and came up with this. I don’t know how easy or difficult it’s going to be. I’m not going to be simply reading the text version in a robotic voice…I hope to be a little more spontaneous and with more flow to the instructions. We’ll see how it goes. Part of doing it audio first and withholding the text/symbols is to raise the bar a little, make this a little competitive/fun (for those who like that kind of thing), but I completely understand that it’s not everyone’s bag to hear the audio or race against others, so that’s why I’m using all formats…so that everyone enjoys themselves at some point along the path…and then, what if you hate my voice!? At least it’s free, and you can simply wait for the non-audio clues. :) "

New Blog of Note

CGOA has a new blog. Check it out!
http://cgoanow.blogspot.com
For those of you interested in the Texas Crochet Meet-up in San Angelo, They have added a special guest speaker on Friday afternoon at 4; a professor from the wool and mohair lab.
Sounds interesting.
I'm seriously considering attending the meet-up because I feel its important the Westside be represented.
If you can't make it, please support Sheryl's effort to get a Houston meet-up coordinated in January. She could probably use help in organizing, scheduling, ideas, contacts, etc. I will be putting this on the agenda for the September meeting. I think its a lovely idea and I'd love to see Westside spearhead this and show that even though we are a casual, non-conformist group-we can "Git 'er Done"!
Also on the agenda will be:
Charity crochet
Moving forward-where do we want to go
Holidays?

Other news:
Sheryl has agreed to share with us her review of Kim Werker's newest book. This book looks lovely. I got to thumb through it last Thursday and I know MY opinion; can't wait for her review. For those who don't know Sheryl (yeah, there might be some), she is a multi-published crochet and tunisian designer, Master Crocheter, and CGOA Professional Crocheter. Her insight will be invaluable.
We have another member, Jessica, who has plans to take on the challenge to get her Master Crocheter designation and her crochet instructor designation (the same in knitting, but we won't talk about that-hee,hee)-lets all remember to encourage and support her.
If anyone else has their certs, or is planning on getting it, or is working on it, please share with the group-we want to expose-er-support you.
If you haven't signed up yet, check out Yarntopia.net. Our LYS has completely revamped their blog and has exciting things planned for the fall and winter. Lets show them some crochet love!
Peace out, Y'all!

Me Again

I posted this on Ravelry and also sent an email to Saundra from H-Town Crocheters to get some feedback:

Why don't we plan a joint gathering of Houston area guilds? I'll certainly help [aka donate door prizes : )] and also volunteer to teach a tunisian crochet class as the program - or not depending on interest.

We could find a central location and pool resources (if needed) to cover the cost of a place to meet. If we found a restaurant with a room, we might not have to pay anything, just eat their food. Maybe each guild could contribute something - a prize, or something.

We could plan it for January which would give us plenty of planning time and this also falls between the gathering in San Angelo & DFW Fiber Fest.

What do you all think?

Lost but not forgotten

I really haven't forgotten about you all, in fact, I have my crochet mojo back. Head on over to my blog to see my latest FO.

I promise not to schedule grandkids or vacations for September 20th. I'm looking for project ideas for Yarntopia. What's everybody interested in learning/doing? I'm kind of feeling like a challenge of some kind. I'd like to get everybody psyched for a fall CAL.