February Newsletter: Catherine Lowe presents Change the Way You Think About Knitting

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Read the message about coronavirus (COVID-19) from the PKG Board.

Thursday, February 10th, 2022
Virtual Program starts at 7 p.m.
Our meeting is virtual so we can stay connected to our fiber community.

Catherine Lowe will discuss how her couture methods for hand knitting differ from traditional hand knitting and why couture methods are important for giving knitters complete control over their project outcomes. The development of Catherine’s couture knitting techniques is the result of a shift in her perspective that led her on a journey in pursuit of better fabrication and construction techniques for hand knitting. She will explain the philosophy behind her approach, detail the consequences of its techniques for both the process and the outcome of a project, and suggest how these techniques can be incorporated into any knitting practice to elevate the look and functionality of hand knit garments. Catherine is a designer, teacher, the developer and owner of Catherine Lowe Yarns, and the co-founder of Knitting with Company.

CLICK HERE to join the meeting via ZOOM on Thursday, 2/10

Guild Membership

Since we've been meeting virtually, we've been able to expand our horizons when reaching out to speakers. We have some spectacular guests lined up. Plus, Anna Lorton, our tips expert, will continue to bring clever tricks for all skill levels.

Puddletown will keep meeting virtually on Zoom at least through June 2022. We will continue to follow the WHO, CDC, and OHA guidelines, whatever that entails.

We're happy to have guests at our events. After a meeting or two, we ask that you support our programs by becoming a member.

Join or Renew Now

What are the benefits of Guild Membership? Click here for an overview.
Want to learn more about Business Membership? Click here for more information.

2022 Service Project

Our word choices matter. Charity Knitting is now known as our Service Project.

North by Northeast Community Health Center is the only medical clinic in Oregon devoted to African American/Black health. The clinic provides primary care services as well as health education and promotion through a variety of venues.

2022 knitting will serve North by Northeast Community Health Center. Any type of warm item is welcome—hats, gloves, scarves, and cowls. All sizes and color schemes are welcome. Want to crochet or sew an item? All we ask is that you make it with love.

Warm Heads Challenge

Let’s kick off our year of knitting for the clients of North by Northeast Community Health Center with a large-size hat challenge! Hats are a great service knitting project. They are quick to knit, great for trying a new technique at a manageable scale, and most important, they are super useful. NxNE tells us they have a particular need for large-size hats, so that’s our focus.

What to knit: large (22"-24” around) size hats, as many as you can!

When: Now until February 28.

Click here to learn more details and see the special raffle prizes.

Member Tip with Anna Lorton

Anna will discuss why hats are often an overlooked knitting item, and different ways you can make hat knitting exciting.

Share your tips and tricks! Send a note to info@puddletownknittersguild.com.

Raffle Sneak Peek

Ryberry Yarns minis & PKG zippered pouch
3 mini skeins of Ryberry Yarns Puddletown colorways (grey, blue, green), fingering weight (85% Superwash Merino • 15% Nylon • 87 yards/20 g) and white zippered pouch with blue PKG logo 9" x 6"

The Ravell'd Sleeve by Catherine Lowe
"The Ravell'd Sleeve" revises and brings together in a single volume the four issues of Lowe's acclaimed journal in which she explores the practice and techniques of couture knitting. Click here to learn more.

Yarn Chicken Project Bag
Made by our very own Margaret Weddell, this project bag is sure to make you smile. 8" wide x 5" deep x 11" tall

Show and Tell

Submit your photos! We would love it if you’d talk about your project during the meeting. If you won’t be there or would prefer not to speak, just let us know.

Email your photos to showandtell@puddletownknittersguild.com before you go to bed on Tuesday, February 8th.

Did you have problems joining us in the past?
Our Zoom meetings now have more positive ease! We've upgraded our room size to make sure everyone can get in.

Running late? Please join us. Your entrance won't disrupt the meeting. Pajamas are welcome—no one will see you. Be comfortable.

Mark Your Calendar

Guild Events

Join Puddletown's Virtual Knit Nights

Every Tuesday
Drop-in anytime between 6 and 8 p.m.

Visit the Guild Events page for the current link.

*NEW* Beginning Knitters Small Group

Join us for a virtual small group hosted by Anna Lorton

Come build confidence and make new friends. Bring your questions and lessons learned to share with others.

Every third Wednesday of the month, 6-8 PM

CLICK HERE to join the February 16th meeting via ZOOM

MARCH MEETING:
Faina Goberstein shares The Art of Slip-Stitch Knitting
Faina Goberstein will discuss the many uses of slip-stitches, including color and texture, to create effects that vary widely in their appearance. She will elaborate upon this by introducing the four groups of slip-stitch knitting patterns, how they can be incorporated to achieve different effects, and how they can inspire knitting designs. She will also highlight how the choice of yarn can enhance the results with these patterns. Faina Goberstein is an internationally recognized independent knitwear designer and professional teacher. She is also the co-author of The Art of Slip Stitch and The Art of Seamless Knitting.

Community Events

13th Annual
Rose City Yarn Crawl

An annual Portland experience, the Rose City Yarn Crawl is an event for fiber enthusiasts — knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers, and felters — to explore the many shops in and around Portland, Oregon!

UPDATE! Due to feedback, the Yarn Crawl will be both in person and virtual for 2022. Please check their website here for how to crawl in person and here for all the virtual crawling tips.

The 2022 Rose City Yarn Crawl will run from Thursday February 24th through Sunday February 27th, 2022.

Call for knitters!

Brooklyn Tweed is seeking preview knitters for our upcoming Children’s 2022 collection, BT Littles!

This collection includes patterns for adorable garments (graded for approximate ages 2-12), hats, and toys in a range of skill levels launching in several installments from March 23 - July 13, 2022.

Our preview knitting program allows more versions of BT patterns to be shown on an array of genders, abilities, and body types, which helps folks feel included and enables other makers to envision themselves (or the kids in their life) in those patterns. Preview knitters also receive a free, advance copy of their chosen pattern as well as a yarn discount!

Please visit this Google Form for more information on this round’s patterns and to sign up: https://forms.gle/fCugkozSPDhNvwQKA

We're using Zoom for our meetings and knit nights, but what is it?

Zoom is a virtual meeting program. There's no signup process or fee for you—just a quick registration.

When you click the event's link, you will be prompted to install Zoom if you haven't used it before. If you'd like to test it, you can click an event link at any time. Here's a quick video showing what to expect when you join the meeting.

Guild Leadership

If you'd like to be more involved with programming, special events, or administration within the Guild, we're looking for members to help sustain and grow our Board over the coming years.

For more information visit the About Us page, talk to one of the Board members at a meeting, or email us info@puddletownknitterguild.com.

PKG Gear: Available on CafePress

We've opened a shop at CafePress, so now you can show your love for Puddletown Knitters Guild! With so many items—t-shirts, bags, stickers, and more—to choose from, you're bound to find something you like.

Shop Puddletown Gear

Our mission is to promote a diverse community of knitters of all abilities, to support local fiber providers and artists from farm to needles, to model respect for the local fiber community by actively valuing their time and expertise.