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If you live near Hespeler - north end of Cambridge kinda near Guelph - join me next Wednesday evening at the library. I'm a spinner and a knitter but love all fibre crafts. Bring your project and let's sit, knit and chat! Don't know how to knit or wish you knew more?? I'm happy to share what I know ... :)

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www.cambridgecentreforthearts.ca

 

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Here's the press release regarding Cambridge's upcoming World Wide Knit in Public Day on June 19.  Please feel free to share it with other knitters.  Would love to make a go of the Guinness World Record! 

From my understanding, there needs to be plenty of volunteers: one volunteer for every 50 knitters!  Please let Sue or Sophie know if you're interested in being a volunteer. Their contact information is at the bottom of the press release. 

For Immediate Release

Cambridge Onboard to Strive for Record

‘World Wide Knitting Day’ Attempts Guinness’s Book Record

Cambridge, Ontario. April 13, 2010…Time to get the knitting needles out and join Cambridge Artist-in-Residence (AIR) Sue Sturdy as knitters from across the region and beyond come together in an effort to break the current world record of 937 simultaneous knitting participants. 

‘World Wide Knit in Public Day’ is slated for Saturday June 19th. Between 8:00 am and 12:00 noon Cambridge will celebrate this artistic form of fibre art including participating in the simultaneous knit-off at 10:30 am which will attempt to go down in the Guinness’s World Book of Records. 

Knitters of all ages and skill sets are invited to Civic Square, in front of Cambridge City Hall, to participate in this unique community event.  It is important to note that those people wishing to participate in the knit-off for the record must register in advance (on-site) between 8:00 am and 10:30 am.

“After a brief presentation at 10:30 am the go ahead to start knitting will be declared. All participants must knit simultaneously with two separate needles for at least 15 minutes,” says Fibre Artist Sue Sturdy, Cambridge’s AIR.

Rain or shine, the event will take place as special arrangements for an alternate indoor location are in play. There’s plenty to do:

§   Gather in Civic Square to socialize, knit and share experiences

§   Enjoy a knitting vendors’ fair inside City Hall

§   Visit the art gallery at the Cambridge Centre for the Arts

§   Experience the tastes of the Cambridge Farmers’ Market

§   Purchase a delicious apple dumpling and coffee at Wesley United Church

§   And, enjoy activities on the outdoor stage including a parade of knitting fashions and knitting games

“There are even prizes for participants - knitters are encouraged to wear a favourite piece of clothing that they have knitted,” Sturdy adds.

The City is also looking for volunteers to help with the event.  As well, knitting organizations or retailers who wish to be in the knitting vendors’ fair should connect right away to be part of this amazing day.

‘World Wide Knit in Public Day’ began in 2005 by founder Danielle Landes to bring together knitters. It has expanded to include events around the world and this year, the program introduced ‘World Wide Knit in Public Week’ (June 12-20, 2010) to enable more groups and organizations to get involved.

More information on the program, as well as the Cambridge Centre for the Arts can be found at www.cambridgecentreforthearts.ca. For information on the KNIT camBRIDGE project go to www.knitcambridge.com

-30-

About the Artist in Residence (AIR) 

Each year an artist is selected for the position of Artist-in-Residence (A.I.R.) at the Cambridge Centre for the Arts.  The artist shares their talents and skills with the community by engaging in various art initiatives that involve participation and arts education. The program is in part funded by the Cambridge Arts Guild.  The 2010 AIR is Cambridge fibre artist Sue Sturdy. Sue will be holding a series of events and programs to explore knitting as a contemporary art form and celebrate its role as a founding industry in Cambridge. One initiative, KNIT camBRIDGE, involves an opportunity for knitters to contribute pieces to be used in the covering of the Main Street Bridge in knitting!

Contacts:

Sue Sturdy, AIR

sturdys@cambridge.ca

519.740.4681 ext 4491

Sophie McCann, Arts Coordinator

Cambridge Centre for the Arts (www.cambridgecentreforthearts.ca)

mccanns@cambridge.ca

519.740.4681 ext 4367

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HOW DO I CONTRIBUTE KNITTING TO THE KNIT camBRIDGE  PROJECT? 

Knitted/crocheted pieces of any size will be accepted but at the moment preference is for: 

1. Pieces 21” x 27” (or as close as possible to this) to cover the 267 handrails on the bridge
2. Pieces 6” or 8” wide by 50”-60” long to cover 303 handrail spaces 
3. Pieces as long as you like that are 8”, 10” or 22” wide
4. Pieces 30” wide, minimum 12” long, maximum 4 ft long to cover columns

You may use any type of yarn, pattern, colour and knitting technique you wish. 

Please drop the pieces off at the front desk of the Cambridge Centre for the Arts, 60 Dickson Street, Cambridge. The Arts Centre can be reached at 519-740-4681 x 4376. 

Please attach a piece of paper to the knitting with your name, address, phone number and email. 

Thanks for being a part of this exciting community project!  Stay tuned for updates on the bridge project and all of the other related knitting events and programs at www.cambridgecentreforthearts.ca 

CONTACT: Sue Sturdy, 2010 Artist-in-Residence at the Cambridge Centre for the Arts 

519-740-4681 x 4491, or email sturdys@cambridge.ca

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It was a gorgeous day at Cootes Paradise, a part of the Botanical Gardens, in Hamilton, Ontario.  Cooler temperatures made us bring our jackets though we didn't really need them.  We walked about 7 kms starting at the Bruce Trail head office and going as far as the Bull's Outlook where we had a lunch that included hard boiled Easter eggs (of course).    

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I'm sitting at the Melville Cafe in the U of W School of Architecture building.  It over-looks the Grand River and historic downtown Galt: Galt being one of the three towns that make up modern day Cambridge, Ontario.  

This is a small town. Traditionally, the economies in Galt and Hespeler were based on textile mills. Preston was more based on their large grain mill which still operates to this day.  Unfortunately, most of the textile industry is gone.  What industry still exists is mostly assembly work (sewing together) of fabric made over-seas.

Sue Sturdy, artist in residence at the Cambridge Centre for the Arts, wants to bring fibre back into the minds and hearts of modern residents.  

(photo credit: The Record)

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Okay, I wasn't exactly HAPPY. There was none of this "thank GAWD you're letting me go" bit.  I didn't exactly jump for joy.  In fact, I sat there for a few minutes actually trying to argue my case. But it was useless. There were only 11 positions to distribute amongst 20 internal candidates. Some of us had to go.

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I know, I know. It might not sound so bad but I have a few pressing knitting projects on needles that are calling, bleating, to me: "knit me, knit me." There's sock #1, a gorgeous lace scarf using hand-spun kid-silk yarn (not mine), a random scarf that's the perfect project for knitting whilst watching tv, and a couple of forgotten Works In Progress that need serious attention.  Why, oh why, should I learn to use a drop spindle now? 

Part of it is just random timing. My local yarn shop - Yarn Indulgences - had a drop spindle class that I signed up for without thinking of the long-term consequences.  Oh sure, our spinning teacher warned us that spinning was addictive. But did I listen? Apparently not. 

Regardless, here I am still thinking that I'm not a spinner; I'm a knitter, damn it. And yet, here I am showing off my first real ball of my hand-spun yarn. 

Now to ply. ;)

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Thanks to @nigelpkay, a group of us twits enjoyed a Guelph Storm game. Meanwhile, I took the opportunity to catch up on my sock knitting and got most of the foot done. :)

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I'm just home from the KW Knitters' Guild meeting where I always have great conversations & learn good things: tonight @Knittydotcom (aka Amy Singer - yes, THE Amy Singer) was our guest speaker.  

Opening (yes, OPENING) for Amy, was acclaimed ukelele performer and singer: @Ukulelezo (aka Zoe).  Zoe strummed and charmed her way into out knitters' hearts. By the time she finished, we were like unspun roving in her hands.  Oh, and Ukulelezo / Zoe is in a contest that closes tonight so if you read this in time, vote for her here - though the site seems a bit fussy and I'm not sure it recorded my vote or not. 

At any rate, tonight I learned more about knitty.com than I had ever known before.  Mind you, I was always only one step away from the fame of knitty publishing as an old friend ACTUALLY has her Winecozy pattern published in knitty. OMG! Someday, someday, I hope my star may shine so bright ... :)  

knitty.com is a ground breaking, oft-times back breaking, enterprise.  It proudly offers FREE patterns to 100s of 1000s of knitters from all around the world. All that  knitty.com asks in return is that you click on the advertising on the site.  Simple.  And, if you find a supplier that rocks your world, tell them that you learned about them from knitty.com.  All patterns are carefully edited and any pattern corrections are made to the live site and will show up as PINK.  Magic: no errata pages required! 

Also, whilst sitting & listening to Amy Singer, I was working on MY FIRST SOCK and I TURNED my first HEEL FLAP.  This is without a pattern, thank you very much. I must give credit to my hero, and knitty-published author, @yarnharlot, aka Stephanie Pearl-McPhee - what? does everyone have an alias these days???  At any rate, this being my first pair of socks, I'm using the heel flap method as suggested in Knitting Rules! I  requested, and gratefully received, coaching from a Guild member beside me - we're friendly that way. But, I did it.  I TURNED my first heel whilst listening to Amy Singer. Zowie! ;)

-- 

www.twitter.com/wendyhoomo
~ "wendyhoo" on Ravelry

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These mittens were knit using Elizabeth Durand's Basic Mitt's for Children found on http://afghansforafghans.org/mittens.html. The pattern is free. She asks only that you knit a pair for charity. 

Since charity starts at home, I knit my first pair for my son who's constantly losing his mittens - naughty kitten. <sigh>  Next, I'll make a pair for Lutherwood's Wall of Warmth. Visit the Cambridge (Ontario) office if you need a warm pair of mitts, hat or scarf. :)

What I like about this pattern is that both mittens are the same: makes it easier for young 'uns to get 'em on!  Oh, and FYI, I knit these a size bigger and lightly felted them. 

Easy pattern that knits up perfectly! Thanks Elizabeth :)

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Today was a beautiful winter day for both me and the family ... though we went our separate paths for most of it.  Hubby and the 5yo went to the local ski hill and then skating. It was a gorgeous day for it: sun was shining and the snow was crunching. It even seemed to warm up ... at least my nostrils stopped sticking together from breathing in the ice cold air. Isn't that the weirdest sensation? Is there even an expression for that?

But I digress; it was that kind of day. 

Blue Faced Leicester Our very popular BFL, this is a white top, that is very lustrous and soft. It is beautiful with a long 5 inch staple length, definitely worth trying!  Blue Faced Leicester is a longer stapled wool (the individual fibers are longer) which is fine enough for next-to-skin wear and very hard to felt. It is considered very easy to spin, and is easy to dye with acid dyes (including food coloring and drink mix). It is extremely popular for fine to medium yarns for anything from lace to socks to light sweaters, and insulates and wears well enough for outerwear too.

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