Thursday, September 10, 2009

2009 MN Knitter's Days!!

25th ANNUAL

MINNESOTA KNITTERS’ DAYS 2009

October 16, 17, 18, 2009

Dear Knitters,

Welcome to Minnesota Knitters’ Days! This is a special year as we welcome an instructor from our past “Days”, we are excited to have Cheryl Oberle return as our guest instructor this year!

We will gather at The Villa Maria around 5:00 in the front lobby for registration and move into our rooms before dinner. All meals are in Marian Hall in the lower level; our rooms are located on third floor along with our classroom called “The Lakeview Room” starting Saturday morning. If you can not make it for dinner Friday evening, let me know 2 weeks before camp begins. (They require an accurate count for meals.)

We will conduct our Annual Chinese Auction on Friday Evening. Please bring a wrapped item to auction that is related to knitting of a value of $5-$8. This “knitting related” item need not be a hand knitted gift, camper’s choice. Every year we have a wonderful variety of items and everyone seems to have a hard time choosing the item they prefer. It’s a fun evening getting to know everyone in our group.

Please bring projects for Show and Share scheduled for Saturday evening. We would like to see what everyone is creating, for new ideas and inspiration. This is just for fun, no contest! Every year we have a “knitting garage sale” of sorts…..so feel free to bring items to sell. We will find a space for display.

Feel free to bring snacks to share, no alcoholic beverages are allowed at the Villa. The Villa is smoke free.

The Villa’s phone number is (651) 345-3457, if you need to be contacted during the weekend. The caller should be prepared to give the receptionist a name and number so you may return the call. Address is: 29847 County 2 Blvd., Frontenac , MN 55026 . There is a website www.villamariaretreats.org. Feel free to go visit.

Attn: Dinner is at 6:00 Friday evening cafeteria style until 6:30 . If you will be late let me know and a plate will be make up for you. Saturday breakfast is 8:00 , Lunch at noon , Dinner at 6:00 . Sunday brunch is 10:00 .

Cheryl will have her yarn and kits available at camp, visit her website at www.CherylOberle.com to see her selections. E-mail her if there is something you maybe interested in seeing, she has some limitations as to what she may transport to camp. Bring your personal copies of Cheryl’s books for her to autograph for you.

Anne Bosch of Blackberry Ridge will be with us again this year. Let her know what you may want to see, visit her website at www.blackberry-ridge.com to check out what she has to offer. Then e-mail her with suggestions and/or questions that you may have.

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Student Supplies: Sport, DK, or Shetland yarn in at least two contrasting colors (bring twenty colors if you like!), 1-2 oz each color, wool is best, and 16" circular or double-pointed needles, size 2- 4 . We will be working on a small circular projects so if you prefer to do the pull-out loop or to work on two circulars bring what you need for those techniques in the suggested sizes (class does not include those techniques but if you are already proficient in them and want to use them that is fine!). Bring a colored pencil to mark chart. Also, a magnetic board, or “post it” notes, a tapestry or sewing-up needle, contrasting color scrap yarn, basic knitting supplies, scissors, pencil and paper.

Homework (Pre-class preparation) **

Cheryl is offering 3 different projects that you may choose:

For the Neck warmer: CO 124 sts with a needle 2 sizes smaller than what you want to use for your project ( St St gauge of 4-1/2 to 6 sts per inch depending on the yarns you choose) and work in K1 P1 ribbing for 1-1/4- 1-1/2 inches. This is flat knitting...do not join in the ribbing! We'll join in class and go on from there so you'll need the circular needle then. The neck warmer is good for those of you who want to try a steek as well as color work on your project. We will also discuss different ways to finish this piece to alter the size and style of the neck warmer, make it a hat (or a tea cozy!)

For the mitts ( I suggest a St st gauge of 5-1/2 to 6 st/inch for these) CO 48 sts,, JOIN, and do 3 inches of K1, P1 ribbing on needles 2 sizes smaller than for desired gauge.

She also has a small hat (baby - toddler size) size project for those of you who want to just do the circular color work.... 4-1/2 - 5 sts / inch. Cast on 74 sts on smaller needles, JOIN and work K1, P1 ribbing for 1 inch. A 16 inch circular would work for this project.

We are going to explore actually cutting steeks. Bring an old sweater that is from your “rag pile” or knit a swatch ahead of time, that we may “sew and cut”. There will be a sewing machine available to share at camp.

**If you have any questions on the yarn and/or projects, please e-mail directly to Cheryl at: Cheryl@cheryloberle.com

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