News

Charity Knitting – July 2023 Update

Hello charity crafters!
 
We are in our quiet phase of the year. Not too much demand for woolen items when the heat index is over 110 every day.
 
It was wonderful to see the guild’s charity activities figure prominently at our table at the Fiber Art Fest. You all made that happen. While I was working the table there were great questions from festival goers about our charity presence in the greater Houston community.
 
The time has come to pass the Charity baton. Sarah’s and Marie’s two years are up. We have handed off control and the huge stock of charity yarn to Deanna and Julie. It has been a wonderful two years and we thank you all for your help supporting our local homeless and communities in need 
 
Happy knitting (or crocheting)!
Signing off,
 
Marie & Sarah
 

June 2023 Programs

KIK – Knit in Public Day
KIND – Talkin’ Charity
KNIT – Sit ‘n’ Knit
KNOW – SAMI Mittens
SoCK – Stitch Markers

For more information regarding the latest chapter programs, please visit our CALENDAR page! Here you will find exact dates for upcoming guild chapter meetings, including full program descriptions for each meeting.

On the Calendar page you will also find various guild-wide events (charity knit-ins, affiliate sales and the like) and up-coming events in the yarn community / Houston area (FiberFests, conventions, etc.).

Please visit the KANG Chapters page to find your nearest chapter.

From the President – Jun 2023

Last month was a busy one! My family welcomed a new niece to the family and of course, her Auntie Lolo adorned her in handmade and knitted goodies! I managed to finish my Treats For Ewe wrap, written by Alina Appasova. This was an easy and mindless knit that was fun to work on during meetings or in the evenings while watching TV. I mentioned previously that I am working on a year-long “Building with Lace” project by Michelle Hunter and I am proud to say I have kept up with it! I just finished up the fourth panel and will be working with adding beads for June’s panel!
 
As for KANG business, your Executive Board met this last month, and we were joined by the Nominating Committee. To all Members: Your attendance and participation is very important this month! At the Chapter level, members will be reviewing and voting on the following slate of nominations for the KANG 2023-2024 year:
 
President – Lauren Levy
Treasurer – Priscilla Graham
Secretary – Paige Patton
Media – Cass Hall
Membership – Yvonne Kubicek
Retreat – Susan Motycka
Charity – Julie Wheeler & Deanne Nirider
Webmaster – Jayne Jones
Newsletter – Kate Wilson
 
Additionally, it is time to start discussing, nominating, and voting on Chapter Presidents and Chapter Membership Chairs for our annual handover in July! Remember per the Bylaws, each chapter must have a President (or Co-Presidents) to run the meeting and provide feedback to and from the Executive Board to its members!
 
Since June is here, we are gearing up for our New Members & Membership Renewal campaign! Beginning this month, you will be able to renew your membership on the KANG website (https://www.knitatnight.org) for the 2023-2024 year! Online payments are done through PayPal. Prefer to pay by cash or check? This can be done in-person at your local Chapter meetings or come see us at the Houston Fiber Fest any time Friday, June 23rd – Sunday, June 25th! We still need some volunteers from each chapter to help us man the KANG table at different times throughout the weekend. Please reach out to Karen Fern for available time slots at: knitatnightguildKNIT@gmail.com! We will be showcasing programs and projects. Charity donations will be collected. Don’t forget your completed Knitted Knockers for tickets for the HFF raffle!
 
 
Can’t wait to see you at Fiber Fest!
 
Lauren Levy
KANG President

Charity Knitting – June 2023 Update

What a month May was!
 
There was a great Knitted Knockers charity event sponsored by the KNOW chapter late in April. Many knockers were created for the cause.
 
We also ran our silent auction for the 16 skeins of cashmere blend Chinese yarn. There was great participation. Our winner was Roxanne Rump with a bid of $50. Congratulations to Roxanne!! The proceeds go back to the guild to offset the cost of shipping our charity items to benefit Ukrainians.
 
Also at the KNOW-sponsored charity event, Julie Wheeler, who works with Project Linus, took donations for spare stash yarn to benefit the project. There is still quite a bit of yarn left; see the pictures on Facebook if anyone is interested.
 
Finally, we can report that we have received three full stashes of yarn from Houston knitters who have died. The charity suitcase is overfull and we cannot use anymore for the rest of the summer.
 
No charity knit-togethers planned while the weather is hot and sticky.
 
Happy knitting!
Sarah & Marie
Charity Co-Chairs
 

From the President – May 2023

Crocheted-button-flowers
May is here!
 
With schools winding down and pools opening back up, it’s beginning to feel like summertime again! Will you be heading out to the beaches? Don’t forget to swing into Joyfully Stranded if you’re heading to Galveston! Sandra has a wide variety of beads and buttons, as well as a wide selection of artworks: oils, acrylics, jewelry, resin, yarn bowls, stitch markers, soaps, and more! Her sweet dog, Sugar, will keep you company too, if you just want to sit and knit, crochet, or weave!
 
This past month, there were some excellent programs by our KANG chapters. There was a stunning membership turnout for SoCK’s “Prayer Shawls” on Easter weekend. Again, a big Thank-You to Doris and her helpers at Yarn Store Boutique for hosting such a large group! Closing out the month, I learned various techniques for mending my socks and garments at KNOW’s program! Confession: I didn’t know what an egg or mushroom was related to knitting, so seeing different ones in-person was fascinating. Also, seeing how the duplicate stitch is made was astounding! I’ve seen it used in patterns but haven’t tried it out personally… Guess I know what my next pattern will include!
 
So, how many of you made it out to Local Yarn Store Day at the end of April? There were several wonderful events happening all around town at our favorite yarn shops! From classes to trunk shows, to freebies and great company, this was such a joyous event! Although I support various small businesses throughout the year, having a dedicated day to recognize them resulted in squishy goodies coming home with me! In the same weekend, I day-tripped with some SoCK members out to Yellow Rose Fiber Fiesta, held in Seguin. A couple new project bags and a selection of yarn that will become socks followed me home! I am looking forward to show and share at the next KANG meetings!
 
Looking ahead at this month, your Executive Board will meet mid-month! We are gearing up for nominations and voting, so stay tuned for updates! We are also in the midst of preparing for the Houston Fiber Fest in June… more details to come soon! To all KANG members, swing by the table to meet and greet old and new members alike. Did you know that The Modern Skein will be having a plant-based Make-A-Long? This summer-long series uses any plant-based yarns such as cotton, linen, or bamboo. To join this MAL, cast-on anytime starting May 1st using some plant-based yarns purchased from TMS and finish a project of your choosing before the end date to be entered to win a gift card to the shop! Check out their social media and newsletter for more specifics!
 
 
Until next time…
 
Lauren Levy
KANG President

Charity Knitting – May 2023 Update

We received a small collection of Chinese yarns from the donation early in April. We’d like to auction the collection. Proceeds will go to KANG, offsetting money we have used to send boxes of charity items to Ukraine these past 12 months. Images of the yarn are posted on our Facebook and Instagram accounts.
 
Bidding will open on the 29th of April and close on 5th May. Winner will be notified by email and announced on Facebook, Instagram, and in our June newsletter.
 
If you want to bid, please submit your name and amount to the charity email account: 
knitatnightguildcharity@gmail.com with a subject line of “Silent Auction Bid“.
 
*Note: if you would like your name to remain anonymous on our social media sites, please indicate that in your bid email.
 
Happy Knitting (and crocheting)
Sarah Hartman & Marie Knappenberger 
Charity co-chairs
 

May 2023 Programs

KIK – Tips & Tricks
KIND – Yarn Tasting
KNIT – Knitted Edging
KNOW – Grafting
SoCK – Knitted Knockers

For more information regarding the latest chapter programs, please visit our CALENDAR page! Here you will find exact dates for upcoming guild chapter meetings, including full program descriptions for each meeting.

On the Calendar page you will also find various guild-wide events (charity knit-ins, affiliate sales and the like) and up-coming events in the yarn community / Houston area (FiberFests, conventions, etc.).

Please visit the KANG Chapters page to find your nearest chapter.

April 2023 Programs

KIK – Beaded Eyeglass Chain
KIND – Steeking
KNIT – Guided Help
KNOW – Repairing Socks
SoCK – Prayer Shawls

For more information regarding the latest chapter programs, please visit our CALENDAR page! Here you will find exact dates for upcoming guild chapter meetings, including full program descriptions for each meeting.

On the Calendar page you will also find various guild-wide events (charity knit-ins, affiliate sales and the like) and up-coming events in the yarn community / Houston area (FiberFests, conventions, etc.).

Please visit the KANG Chapters page to find your nearest chapter.

From the President – Apr 2023

What a month!
 
March was full of amazing encounters, several firsts, and fascinating classes! I had a blast attending my first KANG retreat! Despite the rainy weather, Camp Lone Star was covered in bluebonnets and facilitated wonderful camaraderie and socialization.
 
The classes were quite enjoyable and to the surprise of many, I learned to use double-pointed needles (DPNs) for the first time while making a knitted basket! I still find the German Twisted cast-on to be one of my favorites, but I learned the Chinese Waitress cast-on and bind-off techniques! I am also proud to say I started AND finished a lovely coaster using a Pinhole cast-on and I-cord bind-off—both firsts for me! Personally, I cannot wait for the next Retreat and look forward to any workshops that are in the planning stages!
 
To round out the month, I presented the “My Little Sweet Pea Baby Blanket” at my sister’s baby shower, along with some other knitted goodies for baby!
 
I had the pleasure of attending not just one but THREE of Casapinka’s classes that were offered at Yarn Store Boutique. I felt like a kid in a candy store when I sheepishly asked for Bronwyn to sign one of her patterns that I am working on! I’m still grinning from ear to ear! Now, my poor wallet might go missing for a while as it recovers from all the lovely Miss Babs Yarn that came home with me too!
 
I would like to thank Paige Patton for coming forward to volunteer as our new Secretary for the remainder of this KANG cycle. We warmly welcome her to the Executive Board.
 
I would also like to thank the volunteers from KIK and SoCK for coming forward to assist us on the Nominating Committee. As I mentioned last month, and per the Bylaws, we still need at least one member volunteer from KIND, KNIT, and KNOW!! Please email me: knitatnightguild@gmail.com if you are interested or would like more information! Elections are right around the corner!!
 
Looking at the month ahead, April looks a little calmer. With Easter on the horizon, pastel colors are appearing everywhere (my favorites!!). Although not directly fiber related, there is the Montgomery Country Funky Junque Market on April 1st from 9a-4:30p (today). For those able to make it out to Seguin, the Yellow Rose Fiber Fiesta will again be having a 2-day event on April 28-29! Don’t forget to support your local shops on April 29th for Local Yarn Store Day!!
 
Until next time, Happy Easter!
 
Lauren Levy
KANG President

Charity Knitting – April 2023 Update

Hello Charity Knitters!
 
March has been a month of collecting for the charity committee. First, we were contacted by a person whose Houston-based relative passed away and left 3 large boxes of yarn and a pile of knitting, crochet, and rug making tools. The Charity yarn stock/suitcase has been refilled with some fabulous yarns; some skeins still in their wrappers. The tools are heading to a fiber art club at a local school!
 
At the knitting retreat, Sarah and Marie collected another 10-15 lbs of charity knit items. Our stock of completed items was very low, so this is much needed in the event that we get a call from an organization looking for handmade items. KIK chapter, do you want your fabulous IKEA bag back? 
 
The KNOW (Knitters Out West) Chapter will be sponsoring the next Charity event. They will be making Knitted Knockers. Come on out and work with the KNOW chapter to create knockers for breast cancer survivors. Approved knocker yarn is available but if you want to bring your own, check the website (link above and see the Charity section of the website). The Knitted Knockers organization is very particular about which yarn is used for knockers.
  
When: April 29th 1-4 PM 
Where: Spring Creek BBQ on I-10 and Westgreen
What to bring: your knitting tools and your appetite and a couple of bucks (if you want to come early or stay late and support our hosts, Spring Creek BBQ)
 
Charity silent auction:
We received a small collection of Chinese yarns from the donation earlier this month. We’d like to auction the collection. Proceeds will go to KANG offsetting money we have used to send boxes of charity items to the Ukraine these past 12 months. The yarn will be available for you to look at and touch at the Knitted Knocker event on the 29th; images will also be posted on our Facebook and Instagram accounts on the same date.  Bidding will Open 29 April and close 5 May.  Winner will be notified by email and announced on Facebook and Instagram; and in our May/June Newsletter.
 
If you want to bid, please submit your amount to the charity email account: knitatnightguildcharity@gmail.com
Please set the email subject to: “Silent Auction Bid”  
*Note: If you would like your name to remain anonymous on our social media sites, please indicate that in your bid email.
 
Happy Knitting (and CROCHET!)
 
Sarah Hartman & Marie Knappenberger
Charity Co-chairs