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It's our birthday! Break out the hats, balloons, cake and ice cream...we're in celebration mode. Partay!
In a not so faraway land, there was a youngish woman who lived in a brick twin-- and when she wasn't paying attention, she re-discovered her knitting passion, despite a lengthy hiatus.
One day, she decided that she needed a few knitting and crocheting friends to craft with for a couple of hours once or twice a month--while sipping and noshing on coffee and sweets. To her surprise, this fairytale came-to-life with a happy beginning.
We're celebrating our one year birthday! I conceived it in my head in 2012, and finally birthed it in 2013, as soon as Stephanie Campbell, Glenside Library's Head Librarian, gave me the go-ahead.
So, on the First Tuesday of October 2013, I nervously entered Glenside Library's meeting room with my two picnic baskets full of yarn, knitted cell phone purses and a dream, afraid I would enter an empty room.
Smiling faces greeted me with more following behind, and it hasn't stopped since. And that's how the First Tuesday Knitting & Crocheting Club was born. In January 2014, we added the Third Wednesday at Elkins Park Library with the support of Head Librarian, Beth Cackowski.
And to our members, thanks for your commitment to sharing your awesome talents. Okay, I promise not to get mushy. But when knitters and crocheters come together, crafting miracles happen that many can enjoy for years to come.
It's a Felt World After All!
Oh yeah, it's a felt world after all… and as the temperature drops, we'll be grabbing for felted everything and a nice cup of cocoa. Karen felted the beautiful entrelac knitted handbag above. It has a wonderful Art Deco feel that I love. The Entrelac stitch has its own unique beauty--felting it, adds an extra wow!
This exotic felt wrap, styling ever so elegantly on my left--also gives homage to yesterday's fashion as today's treasure.
It reminds me of the second generation 1930s mink stole my Aunt Betty wore on her cold weather visits from Brooklyn. She always smelled of expensive perfume and sweet peppermints. Needless to say, I kept plenty of peppermints in my cheeks and stayed sweetly scented when Aunt Betty and Uncle Jay came to town. (Felt Scarf - above)
(orange cloche - funkshui.com)
And it doesn't stop with hats and scarves, felting was also made for walking in these lightly hand-felted crocheted slippers below.
These delicate slippers are made from
three different yarns in an azure, French blue and citrus mix. The edging is
crocheted with pure wool in mushroom and lightly hand felted. This
process helps keep its shape and is available at: White Noise Maker on Etsy.com.
Crochet felting like knit felting is a great way to add distinctive flair to a lot of goodies we use on a daily basis. If you're anything like me, you're always searching for easy ways to carry your craft paraphernalia. Twitter's @ACuriousGirl13 made this cute crochet hook roll.
I couldn't find this free crochet pattern on the website it directed me to, but I found this non-felted crochet rollup pattern. You can choose your wool and felt away!
Tis the Season to be Felted
In a few weeks, we'll be entering the happy felt season from cozy hats and gloves to striking wreaths and ornaments.
Home Sweet Felted Home
Felt Furnishings take it up a notch, beautifying our nests. I can't get enough of this poppy color in the cloche at the beginning of our adventure and on this ruffled pillow in society's favorite mid-century modern chair--the Eames chair.
I think the accent pillow above was hand-knitted. Now let's take a quick visit to felted furniture land.
You want a rosy disposition? Sit in this head-turning chair made of a ton of felted roses. Look, but you can't sit--that would be my motto if I had this baby in my living room. How would you clean it? But it sure is pretty.
Happy Felting!
(October-Breast Cancer Awareness Month)
First Tuesday & Third Wednesday
Knitting & Crocheting Club
As I mentioned earlier, we're celebrating our first birthday. And yes, the cupcakes and goodies are on their way. We'll have to get over our camera shyness though. But first, we want to welcome our newest members: Yolanda, Shilpu and her nine-year-old daughter Jiya who took to crocheting like a minnow to a stream. Great job, Jiya!
Oops... one got by me!
Happy Birthday, Joquina! Her birthday was 10/13. Don't forget to send her your belated birthday wishes.
And a second Oops, In Our 9/24 blog post, "Show-n-Tell, Not Just for Grade-Schoolers..." the blue shawl that Iman modeled was actually knitted by Karen. Sorry, for the error.
Now, let's recap our fun year, shall we?
Thank you, Glenside and Elkins Park Libraries, for keeping us caffeinated and munching on delicious biscotti.
Hooray!
We've past the 1000 mark! We have 1016 page views on our blog-- firsttuesday-thirdwednesday.blogspot.com.
124 Google+ followers and 32, 473 views. We're also on Pinterest and Facebook .
We have 24 likes on Facebook, but we need more! Send your family and friends our Facebook link so we can reach 100 or more by January 1st 2014. That's our challenge! Can we do it? Let's give it try. It starts with you. Like us on Facebook and then spread the word. And don't Forget Google+
A special thanks to our favorite head librarians, Stephanie (Glenside Library) and Beth (Elkins Park) for not saying no, when I asked to start a knitting/crocheting club.
Thanks to all our members for their dedication, contributions, smiles, laughter and encouraging words.
Audrey created our artistic name place cards for us, and taught Sixteen-year-old Tanya how to knit. Toni inspired us to Show-n-Tell. Linda supplied our first yummy treat in December. Kathy baked up delicious Hamantash, one of my favorite sweets. Sixteen-year-old Samir also showed off his baking skills with a delicious chocolate layered cake. Mary kept us in mini cupcakes. Thank you, Karen for supplying us with larger coffee cups.
We love our coffee!
Thanks, Cheri in advance, for helping me with the member contact list. Iman, thank you for sharing your story. Thanks Sally, for keeping us laughing. Dawn and Karen... you two are the cable queens. Joquina, you make sure we each get a Show-n-Tell turn.
Last Spring, we launched our first Chat & Chew at the Hibachi Grill and had a blast! Speaking of Chat & Chew...
Our Fall Chat & Chew is Just Around the Corner!
On Saturday, November 1, we're celebrating Fall and our birthday at Da Bistro Mediterranean Grill at 11:30 to 2 p.m. Please RSVP by Friday, October 31. Feel free to bring your crochet/knitting and a craft friend. We can chew, chat and craft to our heart's content.
Don't worry, if you miss it, we'll have another celebration in our knitting/crocheting room, soon,
Compassion Afghan for a Dialysis Patient
First Tuesday 11/4 & Third Wednesday 11/19 in November are when we're turning in our 10x10 knitted/crochet blocks. We'll discuss our weaving strategy and set a time at our two sessions.
Our Next Project... headbands for girls and skull caps for boys battling diseases. Elise already made a great start. She finished several at our last First Tuesday session. Great Job, Elise!
Yarn Bombing Anyone?
Elkins Park Library gave us permission to do a small yarn bomb project. We probably have only a month to keep it up, but it would be nice to show the visitors that we're there. Anyone interested in lending at hand, let me know by Friday, 11/7.
See you on Saturday!
