4th Saturday Meetup: June 28

It's summer time and that means travel, so at this month's meetup, you have the option to sit and crochet or go exploring with hook in hand!



Our meetup this time will be at Bruegger's Southtown (in Bloomington) - we've had meetups there before, it's a great spot - but with an extra twist this time. You see, the date of this fourth Saturday, June 28 2014 is also the start  date for Yarn Venture, a two-day yarn shop hop that takes place in southeastern Minnesota. We're starting our meetup at 8:00 AM this month so that if anyone want to meet at Bruegger's and car-pool you can. Or you can stay at Bruegger's and crochet.

So with two options like this, there's bound to be one that works for you. Just to recap:

• Meet at Bruegger's Southtown at 8:00 AM to check if anyone wants to carpool to points south (Northfield, Cannon Falls, Zumbrota, Rochester, Winona) for Yarn Venture
• Join us anytime between 8:00 AM - noon at Bruegger's to crochet and visit 

(Of course, if you want to bypass Bruegger's and go directly to the yarn shop hop by yourself or with friends, that's an option too.)

Hope to see you!

Meeting Highlights: Crochet Skills Workshop

There was a lot of excitement around the Textile Center for the opening of the Green Line light rail. It added to the fun and excitement of the Crochet Skills Workshop at our June 14 meeting. 

Julie announced a change to the meeting format.  In an effort to increase the time spent on crocheting and learning meetings will begin with the topic of the month and wrap up with business items and sharing projects. 

We're also making only one project gallery picture of all projects so that more meeting time can be devoted to the the educational topic.  This picture shows all the projects brought in this month. 

This month members had a chance to practice new skills and techniques and learn a lot.   The table topics were: reading crochet charts, "plastic bag yarn (plarn)", crab stitch, standing stitches and foundation stitches.  We were reminded of the time every 15 minutes so most members had a chance to visit all of the tables.  Thank you to all of the members who agreed to help teach and host a table.

Crochet Skills Workshop: June 14 Meeting Preview

It's summer (finally) and everything just feels lighter and more carefree. In keeping with this idea, instead of offering one intense topic during the education portion of this month's meeting, we thought we'd offer a chance for everyone to practice crochet techniques in an informal setting.

The format will be a little different - after the business portion of the meeting, we'll break into small groups concentrating on a specific skill, each group with a different leader. Then at several times during the meeting, we'll give everyone a change to play "musical chairs" and switch to another table to learn about and practice a new skill. You'll get a chance to pick two or three of the following skills to add to your bag of crochet tips and tricks!

• Crab stitch, aka reverse single crochet: a great trim for both crocheted and knitted items
• Foundation stitches: a nice alternative to the twisty, snaking chain stitch traditionally used to start crochet projects
• Reading crochet charts: a fabulous skill to know, especially when you find the perfect pattern but it's not written in English
• How to make plastic bag yarn (plarn):  a low-cost material for durable market bags and household items
• Standing stitches: a great-looking way to start a new row or round, especially with color changes

To get the most out of the meeting, bring several ounces of yarn in a weight you're comfortable using and appropriate hooks. As always, a light to medium solid color yarn is recommended for learning new stitches and techniques - for most of us, it's just easier to see! (Unlike the dark maroon yarn in the picture, it's just happened to be what was on the hook when the photographer had her camera handy.) You can bring plastic bags if you want for the plarn table, we will have some on hand but the more the merrier.

The meeting will be on Saturday, June 14 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the Textile Center of Minnesota (3000 University Ave SE, Minneapolis) with Open Crochet from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

If you're working on the CAL (Crochet-A-Long) sweater, remember you can bring your project in with any questions that you might have. And if anyone hasn't started yet, here's a link to the pattern (Mesh Raglan Pullover).

One word to the wise about this meeting date. June 14 is the same date as the Grand Opening of the Green Line Metro light rail so the Textile Center will be extra-busy with many extra activities planned. There will be lots of people around and it promises to be a fun and exciting time but you need to plan accordingly; consider carpooling with friends and allowing extra time for travel and finding a suitable parking spot.

We hope to see you at the meeting!