Author: KANGWebmaster

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: [email protected] 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: knitatnightguildchari[email protected]
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
 
 

March 2023 Programs

KIK – Spring Celebration!! 
KIND – Fair Isle (pt. 1)
KNIT – Purling Techniques
KNOW – Knitting for Babies
SoCK – All About 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 – Mar 2023

So, despite the groundhog seeing his shadow last month (predicting six more weeks of winter), with the lovely weather and increasing temperatures, I am thinking we may luck out with an early Spring this March! Aside from St. Patrick’s Day, March always reminds me of greengreen everything! It’s a time of rebirth and growth (and pollen)! We start to see pastels emerge and lightweight clothing…sounds like it’s time for shawls and short-sleeves garments!
 
My Finishing February wasn’t too successful…! However, I was able to make some major progress on my “Treats For Ewe” shawl by Alina Appasova (only two more colors to go)! Also, I started and have almost completed a baby blanket called the “My Little Sweet Pea Baby Blanket” by Maria Jane. This has been such a fun and quick knit with lace leaves and vines flanking a cute eyelet section in the middle! And lastly, I started a couple year-long endeavors: 1) Building with Lace which will have me making a different lace panel each month, and 2) exploring sock heels where we will make a short sample heel in a new style each month! Alas, so many projects, so little time!!
 
Your Executive Board met this past month. I would like to take a moment and thank our Secretary/Media Chair, Janet Neberman, for all l that she has done over the last years. She has coordinated events and taken notes at every meeting, has been our liaison with the Houston Fiber Fest and has been engaging the world over social media! Due to personal reasons, she has stepped down from these positions, but we cannot go on without expressing our sincerest appreciation from the Board, KANG and all its members: THANK YOU, JANET!
 
We warmly welcome to the Board, Cass Hall, who has agreed to continue our presence on social platforms as our Social Media Chair! We are seeking a volunteer to fill the Secretary position through the end of this KANG cycle (July 2023). Please email me: [email protected] if you are interested, would like more information, or have a suggested candidate!!
 
The term of some Board members will expire at the end of this KANG cycle. Therefore, the Executive Board and Chapter Presidents are seeking a Nominating Committee—a volunteer group of KANG members representing each chapter who will gather names of candidates for any open positions in the next KANG year. They will present this list to the Board in the last quarterly meeting (May 2023) and the ballot will be voted upon. Open positions currently include Secretary, Charity, and Webmaster. Again, please reach out to me if you are interested, or would like more information on any of these roles!
 
Coming up this month at our local yarn shops: The Social Knitwork will celebrate 11 years of fun on March 4! Swing by to socialize, knit or crochet, and grab some refreshments!! The Modern Skein celebrates 5 years with a party you won’t want to miss! Join them March 10-12 with a special trunk show from Moondrake Yarn. Casapinka will be making an appearance at Yarn Store Boutique on March 24-26 with a featured trunk show by Miss Babs Hand-Dyed Yarn. There are a few classes/workshops that will be held, so reserve your spot and look for more details on YSB’s website!
 
For those going on the Retreat, I will see you there! For all others, until next time!
 
 

Lauren Levy
Executive Board President
[email protected]

Charity Knitting – March 2023 Update

Our charity stock is actually running low, a good place to be at the end of the cold season here in Houston. Our Charity coordinators have been busy collecting completed items, delivering to the needy, and carting the charity yarn suitcase all over town.
 
In February we had a call from one of our previous KANG members, Rima Blanc, who contacted us through member Kate Wilson. Rima had identified a need for some baby items. We were able to deliver 3 blankets, 14 washcloths (cotton & soft for urps and bums) and 4 small hats to Rima’s charity quickly.
 
The suitcase traveled to/from the KNIT group for their Peyton Heart program on Valentine’s day. The suitcase of yarn made it back to charity coordinator, Sarah, for the charity knit-together event at No Label brewing on February 26. The knit-together event had beautiful weather and was well attended. Way to go!
 
There will be no charity knit-together in March as both coordinators will be attending the retreat. However, if you have charity items to submit, please hand those off to a KANG member who is attending the retreat to be collected in LaGrange by Sarah and Marie.  
 
Stay tuned for a charity Knit-Together in April.
 
Thanks for all your charity knitting! Keep up the warm work.
 
Marie & Sarah
 

February 2023 Programs

KIK – Open Knitting 
KIND – Knitting in the Round
KNIT – Peyton Heart Project
KNOW – Upcycling
SoCK – Intro to Spinning

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.