Author Archives: Sandi

New Baby Hat Patterns for Knit Out 2020

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We are introducing four new patterns this year. Each is designed and regularly knitted by a Brookside Knitter. Each fits the needs of the hospital where we donate hats.

The first pattern is designed for worsted-weight yarns (#4). Worsted yarn is especially good for winter hats. A specific needle size, gauge*, and number of cast-on stitches are listed. When knit to gauge, this hat will be 4-1/2” wide (9” around) as shown in the photo. Click 2020 Worsted Knit Out Hat for f this pattern.

The second pattern is specifically designed for DK yarns (#3). DK yarn is thinner than worsted. There are some nice DK cotton yarns for summer hats. The needle size,  gauge*, and cast-on stitches differ from the hat above; the finished hat should be just under 5” wide. Click 2020 DK Knit Out Hat  for this pattern.

The third pattern is designed for sport-weight yarns (#2). There is a wide selection of pastel colors and patterns available in sport-weight yarn you can use baby hats. This hat should be just over 4” wide. Click 2020 Sport Knit Out Hat for a copy of this pattern.

The fourth pattern is designed for fingering-weight yarns (#1). This weight yarn is especially suitable for preemie hats. Because the yarn is fine, there is leeway in the sizing. The width should be about 4”. Click 2020 Fingering Knit Out Hat for this pattern.

Measuring *gauge is often forgotten by knitters of charity items. Here is an easy way to get around knitting a separate gauge swatch. Knit one hat. Lay the hat flat. Use a gauge ruler to measure the number of stitches you knit in the middle of the hat. If it matches the gauge on the pattern, you are knitting to gauge. If you have fewer stitches than recommended gauge, your hat will be larger than recommended. Use a smaller needle if needed to obtain correct gauge.

Choose a yarn that is soft and washable. Check yarn labels for weight. Do not use a heavier yarn in a pattern designed for a lighter yarn. Add stripes, change the color or interchange cuffs. Add NO loose things like buttons or pom poms.

Vogue Knitting Live with Janet & Joy

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January 19 was a cold and sunny day. We took the bus from Emmaus with Conversational Threads to Vogue Knitting Live at the Marriott on Times Square in New York City.

First, we stopped at the coat check and ditched our coats for the day. We arrived early—even before the market doors opened—but the market had overflowed into the lobby area, so we were able to start browsing right away.

The whole day was a mob scene of people wearing their creations, booths selling yarn and other sundries, fashions shows and glimpses of knits stars.

We saw designer Caitlin Hunter,

podcasters Eric Lutz of Sticks & Twine,

Miriam & Christina of The Chelsea Purls and

Melissa & Lisa of Espace Tricot,

fashion shows by Rowan and Koigu yarns, and

vendors including Dina from The Knitting Place and

Cindy from our own Conversational Threads .

We browsed, bought, ate, and drank in the day, enjoying every minute.

At festivals like this, some independent yarn dyers will dye a batch of yarn in an exclusive colorway, only available at that show. We purchased some yarn by Life in the Long Grass, a dyer from Ireland, in their special event colorway called Vogue.

2019 Charity Donations

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January 20 Update: 

Thank you to everyone who knitted and donated baby hats and chemo caps at Knit Out. We are very grateful.

This year we received 152 baby hats this year,  a virtual rainbow of colors. The statistics by color: red hats (48), blue hats (22), green hats (22), yellow hats (19), brown hats (15), white hats (8), gray hats (8), orange hats (6), and purple hats (4). There are striped hats, solid hats, crocheted hats, knitted hats, gathered hats, lacy hats, fair isle hats, and, well, every imaginable hat. Here are some photos to illustrate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brookside Knits donates about 40 baby hats each month to the maternity ward at Pottstown Hospital.

Chemo caps are donated to the hospital as we receive them.  We try to find community groups in the Pottstown area to receive other donations.

January 10, 2019

Brookside Knits will once again collect charity donations at the upcoming Knit Out.

Baby Hat with 2019 lettering

2019 Charity Hats

 

Over the past twelve months, we have donated some 40 baby hats a month to the Pottstown Hospital’s maternity ward. That comes to nearly 500 a year, and a good part of those hats are your donations brought to the Knit out.

We enjoy knitting and donating special hats for holidays. If you were a bird on our shoulder, you would find colors change monthly. In addition to the classic baby pinks, blues, and yellows, you would find lots of green for spring and even more green for football season. 

Red is plentiful for baseball season as well as Valentine’s Day and Christmas. Orange pumpkins are possibly the most popular fall hats, and blues join in for patriotic holidays.

Donated baby hats should be soft and washable. They should not have pompoms or buttons that might harm a baby. They should be sized for preemies (4″ across) or newborns (5″ across).

We also collect chemo caps and Knitted Knockers to be donated to the cancer center.

You will find a basket (or two) for your donations as you enter the lobby. Drop them off as you’re waiting to check in. Thank you for caring!

A Fun Day at Rhinebeck!

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It was a great day!

Crazy weather, sunny and warm, then cloudy and chilly and a ten-minute torrential downpour. Thank goodness we were in a building during the rain.

I met so many of the designers and podcasters I know. The designer of the sweater I made and wore, Caitlin Hunter, took my picture.

Everyone wore something they made. It was a great people watching day. We met many of our knitting friends throughout the day.

Among the most popular sweater patterns modeled today were the Zweig (my sweater), the Ninilchik, the Tecumseh, all colorwork sweaters. Colorwork hats were everywhere too. Beautiful creative pieces.

Brookside members pose and their friends pose for a picture after getting off the bus: Eileen, Theresa, Janet, Eileen, Joy, Kathy, Vicki after deboarding.

Brookside members and their friends: Eileen, Theresa, Janet, Eileen, Joy, Kathy, Vicki after getting off the bus.

Just an overall upbeat and exciting atmosphere. Craftsy people are just the best!

I bought very little, one gradient yarn pack for the yoke of a sweater and a large project bag from Nancy at Tika Bags. But just looking at all the yarn was so interesting. I did splurge and had a hot apple cider donut and then later a cold fresh apple cider. Yum!

The animals–all varieties of sheep, llamas, alpacas, goats–were wonderful. One llama was very friendly and liked having a selfie taken with him. He kissed Joy’s cheek while she was taking a selfie. All such beautiful sweet animals that give us fiber for our craft.

Just had to share my thoughts on this memorable experience. One of my highlights. Rhinebeck is tops for me!

Thanks again to Conversational Threads for a most enjoyable bus trip.

Janet Kakareka contributed this article about her experience at the 2018 New York Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY.

Upcoming Events for Knitters

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New York State Sheep & Wool Festival, October 18 – 21, 2018

Dutchess County Fairgrounds, 6550 Springbrook Avenue, Rhinebeck, New York

The four-day Sheep & Wool Festival includes livestock events, a sheep herding dog demonstration, canine frisbee, and a wide variety of craft workshops and demonstrations. Start with the festival home page to find links to essential information, events, schedule, workshops, and vendors.

Registration opens at 12:00 noon on June 18, 2018. Tickets may be purchased online: one-day $9.00 or weekend $17.00 (+ small transactional fee). Workshops are priced separately; full details for these may be found here.

Conversational Threads in Emmaus organizes a one-day bus trip on Saturday, October 20, that is popular locally. The cost is $49 for travel, snacks, and bus driver gratuity; festival tickets will be available for purchase on the bus. Read their description here and make your reservation early if you want to join the bus ride.

Lehigh County Open Gate Tour–October 21, 2018

Lehigh County Open Gate Tour, Hosted by Kraussdale Alpacas, 5169 Kraussdale Rd, East Greenville, Pennsylvania 18041

Sunday, October 21 at 10 AM – 5 PM

Proud to be part of the Lehigh County Open Gate Tour. Come visit the alpacas and learn all about their care and history! See fiber demonstrations on the use of the soft warm alpaca fleece. Browse the alpaca shop and enjoy some light refreshments.

PLAA Fall Fiber Arts Festival–November 17 – 18, 2018

Leesport Farmers Market, 312 Gernants Church Rd, Leesport, Pennsylvania 19533

Join us for the 2018 PLAA Fall Fiber Arts Festival on November 17 & 18. Featuring premier quality vendors from PA and surrounding states, this event offers fiber products and equipment from first steps to finished products!

The two-day event has something to inspire every fiber enthusiast. Hands-on classes are available both days with pre-registration required. Live demonstrations on site will showcase the many creative avenues fiber can take you down.

Event hours: Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm and Sunday 9 am – 4 pm.

Vogue Knitting LIVE: New York City

Where: New York Marriott Marquis, 1535 Broadway (between 45th & 46th streets), New York City

When: Friday, January 25 – Sunday, January 27, 2019

Who: The featured speakers this year are Stephen West, Andrea Mowry, Anna Maltz, Lavanya Patricella, Julie Weisenberger, and Nathan Taylor. Visit the Vogue Knitting Live website for details.

Brookside Knits Goes to the Library

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Brookside Knits went to the library for World Wide Knit-in-Public Day.

Five members–Sandi, Janet, Carol, Laura & Beth–each spent several hours at the Pottstown Regional Public Library. They were joined by members of the public, the library staff, and the Friends of the Library. Visitors asked about knitting groups in the area and how to learn to knit.

Beth, Winnie, Carolyn & Laura at the Pottstown library

Carol, Laura, Janet at the Pottstown library

Sitting around the table, members and visitors worked on small knitting projects, exchanged ideas for new projects and yarns, and talked about upcoming events and what they were knitting. Projects included a prayer shawl, socks, shawls, baby hats, and a sweater.  We had a grand time and are looking forward to 2019.

Supporting our Vendors

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We are so very fortunate to have such wonderful vendors for the Pottstown KnitOut. Each and every year they bring a vast variety of yarn and knitting supplies. The owners and others who work their tables are always knowledgeable and very friendly and helpful.

If you would like to continue to support our vendors during the rest of the year, they can be reached through their shop websites or Etsy shops. The right-hand column of this page provides links  to most of our vendors.

We would also like to thank Alyssa and Ed from the Center for Alternative Therapies for volunteering their services at the Knit Out.

Glimpses of Your Knitting

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Glimpses of the 2018 Knit Out

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This year’s Knit Out filled the senses.

The sounds of friends sharing their projects, the new ideas and skills they learned in workshops, and their memories and plans.

The smell of coffee in the morning and the taste of grilled chicken, crispy salads, and hot soup at lunch.

The sights of works-in-progress and finished works, your projects and your neighbors’. All sorts of crafts–knitting, yes, but also crocheting, beading, punching, quilting. Modular shawls, mitered afghans, pieced works, lace stitches, fair isle patterns, cabled cowls, fuzzy pompoms, textures and colors of all sorts.

The feeling of awe as we watched Show and Share. One such piece was the beautiful Faroe Island-style shawl above, knit in one piece with a center, back panel and wings that spread out like a snow angel. Small pattern adjustments allowed the shawl to stay in place at the shoulders.

We are putting together a slide show for you all to enjoy of glimpses of your work and ours.

No Swap Table This Year

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To make room for additional vendors, there will be NO swap table this year. Old yarn may be taken to Salvation Army stores, Liberty Thrift, and other thrift shops.

What we WILL have this year is room for one new vendor, room for a second massage therapist, and a table and podium layout that will make it easier to hear announcements and Show and Share.