Blue Moon Coffee Cafe: March 30 5th Saturday Outing

We're trying something a little different this Fifth Saturday and hope you can join us!

If you're new to the group, just a quick explanation about Fifth Saturdays: Any time a month has five Saturdays, we plan an informal get-together, where we can talk and crochet - usually at a place where everyone can enjoy a beverage and a snack.

This time, we've decided to gather in a place that offers wi-fi and are asking anyone who has a laptop or other wireless device to bring it along so we can have show n tell about our favorite crochet-related spots on the web - our own CTC internet cafe! This meeting would be a great time to show others some of the cool things you've found on Ravelry or to ask other members about how to do things on Ravelry.

Here are the details.

• Place: Blue Moon Coffee Cafe at 3822 E. Lake Street Minneapolis. If you're coming from St. Paul on Marshall/Lake, it's about 10 blocks after you cross the Mississippi. (If you open their web page, click on the Contact Us link then click on the Get A Map button for more detailed directions.)
• Time: Saturday, March 30 1pm till approximately 3pm.

If you don't have a wireless device, you're still welcome to come and ask questions or just sit and crochet and chat.

Meeting Highlights: Everything About Yarn, Part 2

We need a new bumper sticker:  Start seeing yarn!  Because that’s what we need to do.  Many of us notice the color or feel of yarn in the skein and never see the structure of the yarn itself.  We don’t notice fiber or ply or type of twist.  And that’s what we really need to see if we are to predict how a particular yarn will behave in our projects.  Don’t make an impulsive yarn purchase for your project; matching the yarn characteristics to the yarn the designer used will improve your chance of success when substituting yarns.

Here’s some things to remember about yarn:

• Z twist yarn works best for right-handed crocheters or knitters using the continental style.
• S twist works best for left-handed crocheters or knitters using the American style.
• There’s a great difference in thickness of yarns of the same weight; if possible, compare wraps per inch.
• The scale is your friend.  Compare the weight of your swatch to the weight of your yarn to better estimate if you have enough.
• Don’t be afraid of doing the math.  There are ways to estimate yarn requirements by weight and by yardage, but you’ll have to do some math.
• All size 10 thread is not created equal.  It can be S or Z twist, tightly or loosely plied, mercerized or not, stiff (for good stitch definition) or rather limp (for drape).
• Read, read, READ the label!  Some manufacturers put a lot of info there and some do not.  The label should tell you the fiber content (even the breed of animal) and might even tell you how the yarn was spun (woolen or worsted—fluffy or smooth).
• Pay attention to fiber content, as this can give you an idea of whether the yarn will naturally drape or not.
• Online retailers can be good sources of information about particular yarns.  Ravelry yarn comments can be quite helpful, and the links to how others have used particular yarns can inspire you.

At this meeting, we had a chance to examine various yarns more closely.  We all have stashes of yarn.  Go through yours, pull out some samples and attach them to cards.  You can compare yarns by weight (worsted, DK, fingering, etc.), fiber (wool, cellulose or artificial), and twist (single- or multi-ply, cabled or chained).  As you become more familiar with the yarns you have and how they behave, the easier it will be to choose yarns that will do what you want them to do.

March is a five-Saturday month.  We are planning an “internet café” meeting where we can share Ravelry tips and favorite online resources and will post a blog entry with details soon.

Our next meeting will be Saturday, April 11^th at Prospect Park United Methodist Church.  Carla will lead us through a tapestry project—a simple soda can sleeve or a more challenging cat purse design.  Hope to see you there!

Project Gallery March 2013

Jean made these baskets using the Bavarian technique.  If you like color work, front and back posts, and don't mind doing a lot of treble crochet, consider this technique.  The post stitches make an interesting texture on the front of the project.  Wouldn't it be interesting to try felting these baskets?  Would the finished product be textured?  How would the colors work out?  Explore the possibilities!

This picture doesn't do Joy's neck warmer justice.  It's rectangle that buttons in front and snugs up behind the neck.  The fringe spreads out in a most attractive way.

In April we will study tapestry crochet?  Don't know what tapestry crochet is?  Here's June's oblong tapestry basket.  Tapestry uses all single crochet stitches, with each stitch covering the second color, which is carried along until needed.  Once again, this might be interesting to felt.





Amigurumi is popular with crocheters.  Lisa made this little hedgehog.  The fuzzy "hair" has a bit of sparkle in it.

Lisa made a hat and scarf out of a self-striping yarn. The hat is crocheted "flat" and the fluffy loops are crocheted on after the hat base is done. The yarn color changes make it look as though many different skeins were used, but actually, the effect comes from a single variegated yarn. How different the subtle color changes appear in the matching scarf. When you see the hat and scarf together, you know they are indeed made from the same yarn.

Tired of pastels for baby gear?  Maxine used this more muted pink/yellow/green colorway in Plymouth Encore to make a baby hat and cocoon.  You can't see it here, but the cocoon is held together with a pink crocheted cord.  Once the baby outgrows the cocoon, remove the cord and use the fabric as a burp pad.

June made this hat and scarf out of a self-striping yarn.  Click on the image to take a closer look at the black ball fringe she added to the edge of the hat--a real wow factor (we were impressed!).  Be warned, though--those little balls bounce against the forehead with every step, which June says can be annoying.  Yeah, maybe, but how cool an effect!

Everything About Yarn, Part 2: March 9 Meeting Preview

All About Yarn proved to be too large a topic for just one meeting.  Therefore, we will continue the discussion at our March meeting.  We will have the same yarn samples available for your perusal.  Carol and Julie will attempt to answer any and all questions regarding the whys and wherefores of yarn. 

We will meet at 1PM at Prospect Park United Methodist Church on Saturday, March 9, 2013.  This is the first meeting at our new meeting time:  1PM.  As usual, we will start with a short business meeting, to be followed by Show & Tell.

If you attended the February meeting, please bring all the handouts your received at the last meeting (in hopes of saving on printing).  For those of you who missed the meeting, not to worry, as we’ll have some copies of the handouts available for you.  We will be doing the hands-on activities for which we didn’t have time in February.

For this meeting you will need:

• A short ruler (a measuring tape will not do)
• Several samples of yarn that is labeled “worsted weight” (4).
• A sample of yarn that is at least 75% wool (the better to practice a spit splice)
• A magnifying glass if you have one
• A protractor (not necessary, but useful)

You’ll need something on which to take notes, as there’s a lot to learn.