Author: KANGWebmaster

From the President – Sep 2023

Posted on by KANGWebmaster

As we continue to see triple digit temperatures, I am longing for some rain and cooler, autumn weather. The stores are already prepping us with the emergence of oranges, reds, and other harvest colors. As well as spooky season goodies! This is my self-reminder to start on those holiday handmade gifts while there are still a few months to go…!

At least I finished my “Floatini” shawl by Cally Monster, although it still needs to be blocked! My lace project took the backseat this past month, so I will need to play catch up on that project! Meanwhile, some friends and I decided to jump down another rabbit hole, and we took a Peyote beading class at 1960 Beads. I am obsessed with it! Now that I understand the technique, I am thoroughly enjoying making bracelets and learning to make Christmassy bells!!

As you know, the Texas Yarn Trail has been ongoing with our local yarn shops. Have you made it out to all 10 shops? There are just a couple of days left to hit the trail! I managed to go to all the shops in the first weekend. It was a busy trip and wonderful to see the same trail-goers at each of the stores! Be sure to show and share at your next chapter meeting! I look forward to seeing what treasures you found or what projects you will be starting! For me, I managed to find some of the trendy assigned pooling yarn and a stitch marker advent calendar. Some new colorways from Bashful Armadillo and Chaos Fiber Co found their way into my stash and I picked up some kits for future knit-a-longs.

While we are finishing up our local yarn trail, will any of you be heading north to the Dallas/Ft Worth area later this month for the DFW Fiber Fest? This event runs September 14-17th (Thursday thru Sunday) with lots going on from classes and vendors with a focus on various topics: cables, steeking, Fair Isle, felting, brioche, inkle and pin loom weaving, Tunisian basics, stitch markers, and tapestry to name just a few! What will you learn?

Your Executive Board met for the quarterly meeting on Tuesday, August 15th. Even with the summer vacations, it appears things are going well around the guild. Membership numbers continue to increase (don’t forget to renew, if you haven’t already!) and each of the chapters reported they have many wonderful programs coming up this year! We talked about the much-anticipated topic of retreats and workshops! While details are still in progress, if you would like to help with planning or simply be involved, we are recruiting volunteers for the Retreats & Workshops Committee! Contact us at knitatnightguildRetreat@gmail.com!


Have a great Labor Day weekend. Until next time~!


Lauren Levy
Executive Board President

September 2023 Programs

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KIK – Program Planning & Open Knitting
KIND – Guest Speaker: Carol Moseley
KNIT – Knit/Crochet Book Exchange
KNOW – Sock KAL
SoCK – Intro to Cables

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.

August 2023 Programs

Posted on by KANGWebmaster

KIK – Yarn Cozy/Bowl
KIND – 10 Stitch Technique
KNIT – Program Planning
KNOW – Round Table
SoCK – Make a Row Counter

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 – Aug 2023

Posted on by KANGWebmaster

August is here, so Happy KANG New Year! To the members of all KANG chapters: thank-you for your votes in June and July. Your new Executive Board has been selected, and we had a wonderful in-person Handover Meeting at the end of July. A special thank you to our outgoing volunteers and again a welcome to our incoming peers! Personally, I am looking forward to serving as your KANG President another year, and more so, I am looking forward to meeting and visiting each chapter and its members! Reminder that the first quarterly Board meeting will be later this month.

A brief reminder to renew your membership if not already done! Grab a family member or some friends and check out the amazing programs or come sit and mingle with some amazing people around the Guild!

I feel like July came and went in a flash this year! Luckily, I am still up to date with my year-long “Building with Lace” project by Michelle Hunter. The “smocking stitch” was a unique technique and produced a framed diamond shape with little eyelets in the middle. For August, I will learn to knit lacy circles! Meanwhile, I have been also working on “Floatini” by Cally Monster. This has been both an interesting and trying project for me. I am successfully learning how to make German short rows, but I am alternating using a slub yarn and mohair. As someone who likes smooth or soft textures, it takes a tremendous amount of restraint to not pull the “bumps” out of the slub yarn! All in all, I am truly enjoying my colors and will post pictures when the project is complete!

This month, I would like to spotlight Nordic Star Yarns who will be having a trunk show all day, August 1 at Yarn Store Boutique. This local shop will celebrate 6 years with a cocktail party and music. Come out for fun and merriment! Looking for something to do on a Friday night? Check out Kani Kettu’s “Flicks & Strikke Nights” which features different genres such as comedy, action, horror, or drama. Bring a WIP project and enjoy these free meetups with light refreshments every Friday!

Don’t forget that the 5th annual Texas Yarn Trail is coming up at the end of this month! For two weeks, our wonderful Houston and Greater Houston local yarn shops will be open daily starting August 25 with a number of trunk shows and featured goodies! The nine stores from last year are returning with 1 new addition to the trail this year. Plus, you won’t want to miss the new Yarn Trail Mystery Knit Pattern! More details are on their website (https://www.texasyarntrail.com), so if you are able, shop local! I am excited to hear what you find on the trail!


Until next time~!


Lauren Levy
Executive Board President
[email protected]

July 2023 Programs

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KIK – Christmas in July
KIND – Sequence Knitting
KNIT – HFF Show & Share
KNOW – Round Table: Programs
SoCK – HFF Show & Share

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 – Jul 2023

Posted on by KANGWebmaster
Although the summer has only begun, these temperatures have been scorching as of late! This makes working on some projects a bit challenging (yes, looking at you, worsted weight yarn and unfinished poncho).
 
Despite the heat, we had a wonderful turnout at the Houston Fiber Fest at the end of last month!! Were you able to attend? Did you take any of the classes? What goodies have joined your stash? For me, I acquired a few new project bags (you can never have too many!!) and mini skeins caught my eye at this festival! There were so many amazing people who have created such amazing pieces of work! I am feeling motivated to cast-on something new and am looking forward to seeing what everyone will share at their next chapter meeting!!
 
With so many beautiful projects and program samples on display, there was no shortage of conversations at the KANG table. I was surprised at how popular the needle felted kitties were amongst the crowd! I enjoyed meeting and talking with many of you throughout the weekend! To all who joined as new members during the event: WELCOME! For those renewing: WELCOME BACK! Meanwhile, for all the others: don’t forget to renew your membership! 😊 The new KANG year starts August 1st and membership can be paid in-person or mailed via check or online via PayPal or credit card! Invite your friends and family along too! Again, we have five chapters across the greater Houston area. That’s five places to meet deliberately and share knowledge and wonderful programs monthly!!
 
Now that it is July, has anyone started their “Christmas in July” projects? Not yet? Me neither! For some motivation, the KIK chapter will have a program this month to help us along! Meanwhile, I have continued my year-long “Building with Lace” project by Michelle Hunter. In the fifth panel, I am not sure why adding beads to knitting has intimidated me for so long. Adding them to this panel was actually quite simple. This month’s panel focuses on a “smocking stitch”, something completely new to me. I’ll update on this panel next month!
 
Have a fun and safe 4th of July!
 
Lauren Levy
KANG President

Charity Knitting – July 2023 Update

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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

Posted on by KANGWebmaster

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

Posted on by KANGWebmaster
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: [email protected]! 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

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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