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October – The Gaynor Homestead

The Gaynor Homestead

Brendan and Tara Gaynor are the proprietors of The Gaynor Homestead, a small 68 acre farm in Dorchester, Ontario, outside London. The Gaynor Homestead follows a ‘simple, small, slow’ approach to Ontario agriculture traditions and the family works all-year towards producing an annual batch of hand made and locally grown goods. Together with their flock of well-loved Rambouillet sheep (French Merino) and buckfast honeybees, the Gaynor’s produce some of the finest wool grown in Ontario and a delicious assortment of goodies made from the farm.

 

Those interested in joining our mailing list will receive updates and special online discounts on year-end items.

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Vendor Details:

We will be bringing our home grown undyed yarns including: a white worsted weight, fingering weight, and a dyed 2-ply sport weight in a unique multi-colour variety we call Knit-wit. For those who spin their own yarns, we will be bringing our much loved combed tops. And we will also be bringing our honey plus home grown goods including: lip balms, hand creams, vapour rubs, and soaps. All made by us.

We accept cash, Visa, Mastercard and AmEx through our Square terminal.

 

 

 

November – Denise Powell

Denise Powell

Denise Powell is probably best known to TKG members as DoctorKnit, helping you with your knitting ailments. However, she is also an occasional knitting designer with a love for somewhat off-the-wall knitted objects. Join us for a presentation about some of the sources of inspiration she has used and a closer look at a few of the knitted items.

Helmet
Pale Blue Dot

 

Vendor:  Yarn Indulgences

December (2nd Wednesday) – Skills Exchange & Social

Five Exciting Teachers! Five 15-minute Workshops!

You will be able to participate in up to 3 of the 5 classes offered.

Everyone please bring a standard knitting/crochet tool kit, including scissors, tape measure, darning needle, and stitch markers; plus a selection of light-coloured medium- or light-weight yarn and suitable knitting needles.

Homework & Additional Requirements:
Please complete your homework prior to your chosen class(es).

 

1) Alison Rose: Provisional Cast-on
Homework: None!

 

2) Sarah Dawn: Pick up and Knit/Pick up and Purl 
Homework: Bring a stocking stitch swatch, at least 20 sts across and 20 rows, preferably with a slipped-stitch (chain) edging, in a medium weight yarn (Worsted), medium to light colour.  End with Right Side facing and the work still on the needles.

 

3) Denise Powell: Duplicate Stitch
Homework: Bring a small swatch (20 sts X enough rows to make a square will do, larger if you want) in a light to medium weight smooth yarn and not a very dark colour. Also a tapestry needle (blunt point, suitable size for your yarn) and about 1 metre of similar weight and contrasting colour yarn.

 

4) Catherine Osborne: Finishing with a Crochet Hook, including Seaming, Edging & Button Bands  
Homework: Bring a small swatch (20 sts X enough rows to make a square, or larger if you want) in a light to medium weight yarn and light to medium colour, plus contrasting yarn and a crochet hook in a size suitable to the yarn.

 

5) Pat Concessi: The Magic Loop
Homework: Bring yarn and one circular needle at least 36” long  (recommend worsted weight yarn and 5mm needle). Cast on 24 stitches.

 

If you decide not to take a class, we would welcome your assistance in setting up for the Social.  For this year’s December Social, we’d like to highlight Home-baked goodies. If you have cookies, cake, bars, squares, or other treat you’d be willing to bring, please contact a member of the Board. The TKG Board will provide beverages.

 

Vendor Details:

Patrick Madden of Signature Yarns will be bringing his gorgeous assortment of hand dyed yarns from Prism, Blue Heron, and assorted kits, including hand dyed sock yarns, Tencel and Linen Lace yarn, Chenille, Rayons and Chunky Mohair for throws, to name a few. Fleece Artist Thrum Mitten Kits: Reg $35 – TKG Special $28! Surprise specials including assorted sock yarns Reg $16-$20, on sale for $10!
All yarns will be priced at a 20-30% discount for this special evening. Looking forward to seeing you at the TKG!

 

Payment Accepted: Cash • Credit Card • Interac Debit

 

More about Patrick:  Patrick Madden grew up around yarn, having been left as a baby on the doorstep of his local yarn shop and raised in the world of textiles by a kind knitter who sent him to Sheridan College to study Knitwear Design. Patrick then went out into the world for many years, returning in 2004 to work and teach in various Ontario yarn shops. Patrick realized his dream of owning his own business by launching Signature Yarns in 2014, retailing yarn online and at various regional yarn shows throughout Ontario and when guest speaker at knitting guilds. Patrick teaches both hand and machine knitting lessons of all skill levels by appointment at his home in Toronto and is an ardent supporter and advocate of knitting and the Toronto Knitters Guild, where he has volunteered for years in many capacities.

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Please note: This year, the December Guild meeting falls on the second Wednesday rather than the third Wednesday of the month.

January – Eric Lutz

January – Men’s Night

The January meeting will be dedicated to the Men in our lives!  While men are always welcome at our meetings (and yes, we have several male members), we are specifically inviting all Men who knit, and the men we knit for to join us tonight.

Eric Lutz of Rib Magazine will be our Feature Speaker and will be bringing the Rib Magazine sample garments to show us. He’s going to give us some insight into how Rib Magazine selects their colour palette and patterns and how we might chose a pattern and colour for a garment for the men in our lives. You might even pick up some tips if you’re thinking of knitting something for Fathers Day.

We are thrilled to welcome back Rae of Stix & Stones from North Bay as our Vendor.

The January Show and Tell will be dedicated to garments knit by and for Men. You might even be able to convince your man to help you show off that gorgeous sweater, hat, scarf …

All Men will be able to attend at our January 17 meeting free of charge! 

 

Vendor Details:

Stix and Stones is North Bay’s premiere yarn store, providing a wide selection of hand knitting yarns, needles, accessories and classes. Stix and Stones specializes in natural fibres from Canadian sources and small batch indie dyers, some of which are unique only to their store!

We will have yarns from Feisty Fibres (she will be with us to promote her yarns), Artfil Yarns, Sweaterkits Yarns, Georgian Bay Fibre Co, Americo Original Yarns, Alpaca Blanket Yarn, Malabrigo and Sugar Bush. We will also have a selection of knitting project bags and totes that are made locally to us here in North Bay as well as project bags designed by J.Hendry Design Co. Also available are one of a kind stitch markers, yarn bowls, fur pom poms and variety of knitting accessories.

Check out our selection of clearance indie yarns that will be available that night only for 30% off regular price plus a wide selection of our regular priced yarns, ALL of which will receive a 10% guild membership discount with a valid guild card.

Payment options: Debit, all credit cards, e-transfer and cash.

February – Kim McBrien Evans

Kim McBrien Evans of Indigo Dragonfly

Make It Fit!

As knitters, we are 100% in control of the fit of our garments. Literally building sweaters stitch by stitch, there is absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t have great fitting clothing. Let’s take some time to look at what makes a great fitting garment from fabric to finishing, demystify “ease” and how to choose a “size” that incorporates all of those things for YOU.

A measurement session for all participants will follow this talk. If you wish to participate, please bring:

  • tape measure
  • pen or pencil

Please wear:

  • a thin, close fitting top for best results (think about the kind of clothing you usually wear with sweaters: t shirt, thin blouse, tank top, etc)
  • Jeans or pants with pockets in front can be helpful for some measurements

 

Vendor: Indigo Dragonfly

March – Lesley Snyder

Lesley Snyder of Rosehaven Yarn Shop

A handful of colour theory, a dash of texture, and a sprinkle of hand-dyeing colour-play are the main ingredients that keep Lesley’s colour senses satisfied. In this evening of lively talk and scrumptious imagery, Lesley will serve up some of the nuno felted and knitted pieces that she has created over the past decade, along with detailing a few of her influences and inspirations.

 

Vendor Details:

Rosehaven Yarn Shop, located in Picton, Prince Edward County, carries indie-dyed yarns and various yarn labels, including Quince & Co. and Brooklyn Tweed. They also carry fibres for spinning and weaving, and of course everything you need for felting. Check out their online store.

April – Fiona Ellis

Fiona Ellis, Knitwear Designer and Knitting Trailblazer

Bathing Beauty

Bathing, that invigorating act of stepping into pool or sea in the company of others, has a history that drifts back to Roman times, possibly even earlier. How, where, and with whom we swim or bathe—and how it’s viewed by society—changed considerably between ancient and modern times. But whatever the era, these factors all contribute to how people choose to clothe themselves for a swim or a splash. Let’s dive in for a look at the evolution of western swimwear and the shifts in viewpoint that brought about those changes.

Website

 

Vendor Details:

The great pre-Frolic TKG member destash!!  Maybe you have buyer’s remorse about that certain sweater quantity of black yarn you know you will never ever knit up? Maybe you have run out of space in your yarn closet? For this meeting only, there will be no outside vendor; instead, members are encouraged to bring excess skeins from their stashes to sell. Each vendor will have one-half of a table, or space at the front of the auditorium to display their goods, free of charge. Vendors should be prepared to arrive before 6:30 pm, set their own pricing and make change as required, and take home any unsold yarn. For planning purposes, we’d like to know how many members are interested in taking part – if you want to join in, please email Susan Loube at lys@torontoknittersguild.ca.

May – Kirk Dunn

Kirk Dunn

www.kirkdunn.com

 

Kirk is an actor, writer and corporate consultant – but his greatest love is knitting.

 

Kirk has been knitting since 1988 and began designing in 1996. He shares a love of colour and complex design with renowned textile designers Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably. In 1998, Kirk apprenticed at the Kaffe Fassett Studio in London, England.

 

Kirk has designed several sweaters, afghans and pieces of knitted art. His “Thousand Cranes” sweater design is award winning, his “Symmetricats” pillow design was published in A Needle Pulling Thread, and he recently designed a “Topsy Turvy” pillow for Topsy Farms yarn producers.

 

In 2003, Kirk was awarded a significant Ontario Arts Council Chalmers Foundation Fellowship for Stitched Glass, an installation of three 5’ x 8’ tapestries, knit in the style of stained glass, exploring the commonalities and conflicts between Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Fifteen years later, Kirk is almost finished the final tapestry. With the support of the Toronto Arts Council, Kirk and his wife, Claire Ross Dunn, are co-writing The Knitting Pilgrim, a one-hour play to tour with the installation. The play will explore the development and themes of the piece: interfaith understanding and empathy in today’s polarized world, as well as Kirk’s experience of working on one ambitious piece of art for 15 years. The international tour will launch in 2018/2019.

 

He has been interviewed on CBC Radio’s “This Morning,” and has been featured in A Needle Pulling Thread Magazine, Enroute Magazine, Family Circle Knitting, Vogue Knitting, The National Post, Maclean’s Magazine, The Presbyterian Record, Vogue’s Knit 1 magazine and the online knitting magazine Knitnet.

 

Kirk was the feature speaker at the June 2006 meeting of the Toronto Knitters Guild (formerly the Downtown Knit Collective). His talk was turned into the documentary film Threads of Abraham. A short version of this film is available on youtube.

 

Kirk can be seen knitting on various TTC vehicles across Toronto.

 

Vendor Details:

We are pleased to announce that Emily Foden of Viola Yarns will be returning to the Guild as our May vendor.

Viola hand dyed yarns has been based out of Mooresburg (Southwestern Ontario) for the past 3 years, where Emily dyes subtle colours inspired by the landscape that surrounds her. Over the past year, Emily has been obsessively working on a book in collaboration with Pom Pom Press, due to be released in October. New colour ways, knitting patterns and a peek behind the scenes into the world of Viola and winter in Mooresburg are all in store.

June – Work of Our Hands Show

Ever wanted to strut your stuff on a runway? Hoped to see something you’ve created be featured in the spotlight? Wished you could show off something that you are proud of making? Here is your chance!

The Guild’s June 20 meeting will be our annual Work of Our Hands Show, which will provide multiple opportunities to display and showcase hand works created by our members (knitted crocheted, hooked, woven, etc.) This will be different than the ‘traditional’ fashion show we have held in the past as there will be multiple components and ways to participate.

For those who like to strut your stuff, there is a runway component. An MC will read the information you have provided on your pieces. And models will be available for those who would prefer not to strut their own stuff (if you’d like to be a model please let us know).

Additional to the runway, we will have spots available for showcasing items that typically aren’t showcased in that medium – think your lovely knitted socks, crocheted stuffed toys, mitts, cup cozies… Basically there will be a spot provided for anything hand created that you wish to show off!

So how do you sign up to showcase an item? We are taking submissions by email or at a meeting and ask you to provide us with some information in order for us to plan and prepare accordingly. Group submissions of particular patterns or items are definitely welcome (think L’Enveloppe, Lanesplitter Skirt, or Clapotis).

The deadline for submissions is May 16, 2018. Submit your completed 2018 work of our hands submission form via email to info@torontoknittersguild.ca with “Work of our Hands Show Submission” in the subject line or drop off your completed form at the April Guild meeting.

We are very much looking forward to celebrating our members’ creations. Now it’s your turn to figure out what to create between now and then to showcase!  Time to get making…

If you are participating in the Frolic Make A Long, this is the ideal time to flaunt your stuff!

 

Vendor Details:

Red Sock Blue Sock Yarn is a family run business based in Ontario, Canada and was founded in 2013 by Ashley Ratnam as a way to further share her love of fibre with others. The name of her company is inspired by her daughter’s love of all things Dr. Seuss and the wonderful and crazy adventures to be had.

Red Sock Blue Sock Yarn strives to provide high quality yarns in a fantastic array of tonal solids all the way to vibrant and highly variegated colors. Each skein is hand dyed with care on high quality fibres spun in Canada.

  • We will have the following items: sock kits, gradient kits, a mixture of our comfort sock, singleton, and cashmere sock yarns.
  • Payment methods: we will be able to accept credit cards and cash only. No Interac.
  • Discount will be 10% off everything but we do have to charge tax.

September – Julia Grunau

Julia Grunau of Patternfish, the Toronto-based online knitting pattern store, will give us a Fashion Forecast and report on yarn trends for the coming season for this first meeting of the Toronto Knitters Guild 2017-2018 season.

Vendor: Bobbi Jo of Yarnsomniacs will be bringing yarns of Wollmeise, Rhichard Devreize, Three Irish Girls, Badass Yarn, Colinette, Cottage Craft Angora (the Qiviut), and some Anny Blatt (angora rabbit). She will honour the 10% Guild discount and although the Qiviut is usually excluded, she will include it for the meeting.