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A NOTE FROM THE GUILD OFFICERS
Happy Summer Everyone! Whether you celebrate the start of summer from the summer solstice (officially on June 20 at 5:44 pm) or with observance of Memorial Day and/or July 4th, I hope, like me, you are appreciating the sunshine and longer days of this time of year. Gardens and lawns are flourishing (especially after getting some much needed rain) and it's a balm to my spirit to spend time outside in the warmer air.
This time of year I am drawn to knitting projects that don't require much concentration so I can better enjoy being outside. Not having to focus on complex cables or intricate lace charts allows my mind wander while swinging in the hammock and listening to birds singing or watching chipmunks cavorting among the bushes. What do you enjoy working on during the summer? Or do you find your time absorbed with other pursuits like gardening, mowing, or biking or being on the water? However you spend the next few months, I hope this note finds you taking advantage of the pleasures of a Maine summer!
Rachel
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Calendar/Announcements
* Cumberland Fair is cancelled for 2020
July 11 - Virtual guild meeting 12:30-3:30 (contact Rachel or Autumn if you need additional detail/invite) We were hoping to meet outside again but the weather report wasn't promising!
Keep your eyes peeled for additional emails regarding upcoming in-person or virtual visits. Since our in-person gatherings are so dependent on the weather, we might try to plan some impromptu events in the near future.
Sample knitters/crocheters wanted: KnitWit Yarn Shop is looking for people to create samples for the shop. Yarn and patterns are provided and you will be paid by the yard for your work. The first project needed is crocheted animals, but other projects will be following soon. Contact Jenn Fleck at KnitWit if you are interested. Info@knitwitportland.com
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Dues
Dues are $20 per year. Our fiscal year restarts in September, so please bring your payment to an upcoming meeting if you'd like to renew. Your support will allow our group to add more classes, vendors, and field trips to our calendar. Please continue to spread the word about the guild to increase our membership, which will benefit us all! If you need more Guild business cards to distribute, ask one of the officers for more.
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A JOYFUL REUNION - AND BIG SUCCESS FOR OUR WARM UP AMERICA EFFORTS!
A small group of guild members gathered for a joyful (and safely spaced) reunion in the sunshine on June 13! The day started off as a collection event for the Warm Up America rectangles, but the result was so much more. What a pleasure it was to see everyone's smiling faces.
Upon arrival at the Windham Public Library, a colorful trail of knitted rectangles guided knitters to the meeting spot. For the next surprise, April led us all in a few fun rounds of BINGO, with gorgeous hand-sewn bags as prizes.
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Bingo Master April - Thank you!
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Rachel & Julie amongst the decorated trees
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Here's a note from Yvonne with the final count for the first collection event:
Kristen P and I thank all contributors as our first shipment to WarmUpAmerica (WUA) went out on June 15th 2020. We mailed out 180 fabulous and unique rectangles!
The Guild recently received a large donation from a well kept stash and members now have yarn to begin our second round of donations
Deadline: Dec. 5th, 2020. 
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Knitting for a cause:
We are still accepting rectangles for Warm up America (see article above; we will keep collecting until December 5th).
Warm up America is a non-profit organization that helps distribute knitted items (blankets, hats, mittens) to homeless people across the country. For this specific project, they are looking for knitted 7” x 9” rectangles that can later be assembled into afghans.
So they are easily cleaned, it is important these squares be knitted with acrylic as the primary fiber, and they suggest worsted weight.
Need ideas for your knitted squares? Here is the website for Warm Up America, with 8 easy designs suggestions:
Every square counts! They come in from all over the country and get made into blankets of various sizes by a team of volunteers. With so many talented knitters in the Guild, we should be able to give them plenty of squares to work with.
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Here is the block that Rachael designed for Warm Up America.
Gauge is 5 stitches = 1" with worsted weight yarn on size 7 needles.
Cast on 36 stitches.
Work set up row (RS row), then work rows 1-4 until piece measures 9".
Bind off.
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The farm stand is open for the season:
Wed, Thurs, Fri 11-6:30 and Sat 9-3
Windham Farmers Market Saturdays 8:30-12:30
Follow on Facebook or visit the website for news, recipes, and other updates!
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With Gratitude
Last month the guild received a generous donation of several dozen totes of yarn. The collection of yarn, needles and patterns was a gift from the family of Cathy New who passed away several months ago.
After hearing that the guild was supporting the Warm Up America blanket project this year and also Winter Special Olympics in past years, Cathy's family offered us these materials. In the words of her daughter-in-law Allison, "She was an avid knitter and crocheted, and loved making special gifts for her family and friends. She would be happy knowing her collection of supplies will be used for a good cause."
Many totes of yarn were brought to our June meeting members were able to pick out new yarn to continue making rectangles for the Warm Up America effort. These donations will be available at our other meetings over the coming months so we can all help give new life and purpose to Cathy's yarns. There were also several knit and crochet afghans that were started but not completed so if anyone would like to finish them so they could also be donated please contact one of the guild officers. Thank you again to the New family for their generosity. Let's see how many WUA pieces we can make before December!
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Knitting Opportunities
We know that once a month isn’t enough knitting time! Here are some local times and places to drop in and knit. Email us with others you may know about or any changes.
- Lighthouse Knitters' Guild of Maine - First Saturday of every month (except holiday weekends) 12:30-3:30pm at the Adult Education building at the Windham High School
- Windham Public Library - Tuesdays 1-3 pm, free
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Riverton branch of the Portland Public Library Thursdays 6:30 - 7:30 pm, free
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Westbrook Community Center - Fiber Arts room open 9am to 2pm M-F and 9am-noon on Saturday. Free use of cutting tables and sewing machines and time to hang out with other creative individuals.
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Prince Memorial Library in Cumberland, Sit & Knit – Wednesday 6-7:30 pm
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Rosemary’s Yarn Shop, Rte. 302 Windham – Sundays 5-7 pm, Wednesdays & Thursdays 10 am -12 noon, free
- Update: Scarborough Library Weekly Knitting Group -- Now meeting online! If a new participant, please email askspl@scarboroughlibrary.org to gain access. Meets each Saturday from 10am to noon. Does a project have you in a knot? Get advice from avid knitters. Find ideas to get you started on knitting projects for gifts. Or just bring your yarn and needes and enjoy the comradery of this great group! Please note that youth knitters are welcome but must be at least 7 years old. An adult must also accompany and participate along with the child.
- South Portland Public Library KnitChat! occurs Tuesday evenings at 6pm and Friday mornings at 10am.
- Pints and Purls occurs on the last Wednesday of each month from 7-10pm at Foulmouthed Brewing, 15 Ocean Street in South Portland
- Panera Bread at 75 Topsham Fair Mall Road in Topsham, ME, every Tuesday at 4:30
- Fiber and Vine, Norway, Maine - Tuesdays 3-6pm
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SHOW AND TELL
(June)
Click on the images to see a larger version (some browsers).
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Special Offers
Halcyon Yarn
Halcyon Yarn in Bath has partnered with us! We are now part of their Guild Rewards program.
Make sure you mention Lighthouse Knitters Guild when ever you make a purchase at Halcyon Yarn and they will support the guild with 5% of all purchases at the end of the year.
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Advertising Opportunities
Do you own your own business, or know someone who does? Here is an opportunity to advertise at really low rates, and help our Guild grow. Our newsletter is shared with membership and on our website.
Annual rate is $50.
And you get a 20% discount on your advertising rate ($40 annually) if you offer our Guild members any discount on your products and/or services.
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2019-2020 Officers
Interim President - Rachel Herald
riveryarn@aol.com
Interim Vice President - Autumn Nye
autumn.nye@gmail.com
Secretary - open
Treasurer - Jackie Lambert
jackiewlambert27@gmail.com
Program Coordinator/Public Relations – Yvonne Michaud
ymicha@msn.com
Don't forget to follow us on Ravelry and Facebook (link below) for news and photos. Please contact one of us if you have ideas to share or other special requests, or if you would like to volunteer to teach a lesson at an upcoming group session!
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