Mother Bear Project for October

Thanks again to everyone who made it to last month's meeting. Just a note to address something that came up in the meeting - new participants are always welcome to join anytime! And remember rule #1 - you don't have to read the book. Everyone is welcome to just come, talk, and knit.

In preparation for next month's guest speaker, Dulcie Campana, I encourage everyone who's willing and able to make a bear for the Mother Bear Project. The pattern is in October's book Knitting for Peace pages 110-116.
Here is a link for the pattern online:
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/na_knitting/article/0,2025,DIY_14141_4826306,00.html
There is also more information available on the Mother Bear Project's website: http://www.motherbearproject.org/

The other bit of news is about our fundraiser for the library which will be for the month of December, partnering with the Friends' Bookstore to sell handknit bookmarks. The guideline for the bookmarks is to be approximately 2 inches wide by 7 inches high. I'd love for these bookmarks to be as unique as our members so have fun with it - add a tassle, bead, or charm if you want to.
Here is a link I have found for a few bookmark patterns: http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/directory/bookmarks.php
Please bring in the bookmarks by November's meeting (Nov. 13th) so I can get them to the Friends' store for the holiday season. Thanks again to everyone for your support of these great charities! Happy knitting! See you October 9th!

The latest news

Thanks again to everyone who was able to make it, and a BIG thank you to Tami for facilitating! We also have another batch of Charmed Knit hats to send out. You all are such speedy knitters!

Next month's book is Chicks with Sticks (It's a Purl Thing), and it is a funky young adult novel with a knitting twist. It also has a few patterns in the back of the book. Here's the author's website: http://www.elizabethlenhard.com/

We'll also have a guest speaker for our October meeting - Dulcie Campana of the Mother Bear Project will be joining us. The Mother Bear Project is discussed in October's Book Knitting for Peace. I'll have more info about all of that during September's meeting.

Can't wait to see you all Sept. 11th - 6 to 8 p.m. in the Community Room!

For August: KnitLit (the book) Inspired Show-N-Tell

KnitLit offers many stories of how knitting can touch lives and goes beyond needles and yarn. For August's meeting, I'd like to spend a little time sharing some of our knitting stories, maybe recently remembered while reading KnitLit. Maybe there is a sweater that was knit for a child or some yarn that was spun with great care - whatever it is, bring it to the August meeting for a time of Show-N-Tell.

Also, KnitLit has a website with more information about their contributors and a great resource for charity knitting sites: http://www.knitlit.com

See you August 14th - 6 to 8 p.m. in the Community Room!

Photo of our first package to Warm Woolies

Here are our hats! Aren't they lovely? Check out what other people are sending on the Charmed Knits blog: http://charmedknits.blogspot.com

The Votes are In!

Thanks again for everyone who attended last night! I will never forget the story of the boy who left his handknit sweater in the mailbox. :)

Here are the results of the voting:
September 11th: Chicks with Sticks (It’s a Purl Thing) by Elizabeth Lenhard
(6 copies in the RCL system)

October 9th: Knitting For Peace: Make the World a Better Place One Stitch at a Time by Betty Christiansen (3 copies in the RCL system)


November 13th: Knitting Under the Influence by Claire LaZebnik
(5 copies in the RCL system)
If you are concerned about the numbers of copies available, I recommend putting in a request with the Ask a Librarian desk. I have also sent an email about having someone from the Mother Bear Project as a guest speaker for November. If you know of any other contacts, please let me know.

We had great success with our knit-along - 13 hats so far! You all are prolific knitters! As long as there are more coming, I'll keep sending them.

Next month's book is KnitLit: Sweaters and Their Stories…and Other Writing About Knitting by Linda Roghaar and Molly Wolf. It's a collection of short stories, a quick read for the summer.
Here is its website: http://www.knitlit.com/

It won't be long till August 14th! We'll have a guest facilitator, Tami, for the evening. She's a little shy about her knitting but just ask her about what she tried for her first sweater! Happy knitting!

Voting at July's meeting for the next three books

Hello all -
It’s time to pick our next three book selections for September, October, and November! Each person will have a chance to choice his/her top three books.
Note: Voting does not exclude books, so titles may come up again in future ballots. I wanted to give you a chance to check out the books before the meeting.

Here are the contenders:

- Chicks with Sticks (It’s a Purl Thing) by Elizabeth Lenhard

- Knitting For Peace: Make the World a Better Place One Stitch at a Time
by Betty Christiansen

- Knitting Nell by Julie Jersild Roth

- Knitting Under the Influence by Claire LaZebnik

- Mindful Knitting: Inviting Contemplative Practice to the Craft
by Tara Jon Manning

- The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber

There are synopses available on the Ramsey County website's catalog

Fitting Article from Pioneer Press about Harry Potter and knitting!

This one is too fitting for our next meeting. It's called "Knit if you love Harry Potter." Take a look!
http://www.twincities.com/ci_5989429?nclick_check=1

It talks about Charmed Knits and has a few quotes from the author.
Can't wait to hear your feedback on this one!