Posted by Katrin on 2006-01-01 04:08:02
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My Stitch & Bitch group regularly meets at a coffee shop. It's an indie place, relatively new but fast becoming popular and successful. We meet there at times when it's likely to be less busy (weeknights or weekend afternoons) - the owners are very nice and appreciate the business we bring in. I introduced some friends from a different craft group to the place, and that group has started meeting there too.
Things to look for in a meeting place:
- Enough room to hold the whole group comfortably without encroaching on other patrons' space
- Good lighting and acoustics - you should be able to see what you're working on and hold a conversation without having to yell
- Friendly staff who appreciate your business and don't treat your group as an annoyance
- Nonsmoking space available (your mileage may vary on this one, but I wouldn't bring a knitting project to a place where it would end up smelling like smoke)
- Affordable menu/refreshments
Things you can do to make your group welcome:
- Schedule meetings at a set regular day & time so staff know when to expect your group
- Meet at a time when business there is otherwise slow
- If it's an eating establishment, everyone should buy at least one food/drink item during the meeting (it's impolite just to take up space at a business without, y'know, actually doing business with them)
There's nothing wrong with trying out different places until you happen upon the perfect one to suit your needs. Many coffee shops do have plenty of room to craft without food getting in the way (I often ask for my drink in a to-go cup with a lid to prevent spillage). Places I've found don't work are noisy, dimly lit, smoky bars - for obvious reasons.
And then there was the one time my S&B decided to move, just for a change of scenery...we tolerated the dim lighting, overpriced food and lack of work space - but the final straw was when someone's knitting bag on the floor was soaked with water from an overflowing toilet (and the staff made no attempt at compensation). We haven't strayed from our regular coffee shop since.
Posted by kitchensqueen on 2006-12-02 21:06:07
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If you're looking for a "keepsake" type item, you want something monogrammed with her initials-- maybe a nice satchel (also known asthe "weekend" tote), silver mirror compact, silver bracelet or the like. Or if you want a more "comtemporary" keepsake, maybe a monogrammed knitting bag or laptop bag, or a small scrapbook (blank or filled) or something.
Posted by eight on 2004-07-13 16:21:17
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I went last night, i just dove right in (ok i lingered nearby with my knitting bag until the very nice woman who runs it noticed me) and i had fun. I was hoping maybe a younger hipper group, but hey until i have enough knowlage to start my own, beggers can't be choosers. Everone was really nice and encouraged me to come back next week (I probably will).
Posted by yberry on 2007-04-14 08:43:16
Post Subject: Oh YES!!!
I got them on my last trip to the US and I LOVE them. I take them everywhere, and it makes life so easy, I barely need anything else in my knitting bag...
I really recommend them to anyone who is serious about knitting, and the fact that they are airline safe is a great extra if you travel a lot.
Posted by meexie on 2007-02-18 14:16:41
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While y'all wait for the book to come out, keep in mind that there are lots of references available for those basic questions, like:
knitting.about.com FREE website! Forums, tutorials, skills, articles...all kinds of good stuff.
The Knitting Answer Book - answers to all sorts of questions, and it's small enough to fit into a knitting bag
Teach Yourself Visually: Knitting - lots of big, clear photos showing you what's going on
Knitting In Plain English - clear, simple explanations
Dan, may I ask what kind of book you are writing and how it will be different from what is already out? Will it be a pattern book, an instruction book, or both?
As for how someone could get through an entire scarf without understanding that stockinette curls: I think many of them get confused by blocking instructions, which often tell you that blocking will make things nice and neat and lie flat. Which it does, of course, within reason. Stockinette without a non-curling border is not reasonable, no matter how hard one wishes it to be so.
Posted by peppermintsquare on 2004-06-04 10:41:24
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I made the Windy City Scarf for my sister last Christmas. You can see it here:
http://sheis.youngandwithit.com/make/holiday03.html
(scroll all the way down)
I loved making the scarf and kept intending to make one for myself. Ah, maybe this fall. 100 degree weather does not make one want to knit a scarf!
I also made a cell phone cozy for someone? I don't have a cell phone. Writing this just made me realize that it is in the bottom of my knitting bag and I never sewed up the sides. Woops. I also suffer knitter's ADD.
Oh, and the umbilical cord hat! Which I still need to mail to it's recipient. Gosh, I am a slacker!
Posted by boheme-anne on 2005-02-18 22:00:14
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Geez, I was glad to see I wasn't the only person that has no formal storage. I always say I'm going to make a knitting bag....but my knitting isn't so hot so I didn't make it a priority. Still on a quest for a left handed teacher! Books and computer directions just won't do.
Posted by meexie on 2004-10-19 18:41:52
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Plastic clay. Y'know, Fimo and Sculpey. Which is...stupid, really, because I took lots of ceramics classes in college, so I know how to sculpt the stuff, and it's perfect for my very space limited situation, it's relatively inexpensive, and I could make all kinds of stuff I'd love, like covering mint tins (I got one in a swap that I keep in my knitting bag and it's getting chipped up but I still love it to pieces), making jewelry and stitch markers (like the Amyville sushi stitch markers - I have one of each and am coming up with a project that needs stitch markers so I can show them off), making doll parts, and otherwise doing things as raunchy or cute or whatever as I want to. And every few years, I buy a few packs of clay and make one or two things and then the clay sits around and fossilizes. A friend of mine makes the most incredible art pieces that include plastic clay - like little flames that look like blown glass but are really plastic clay that's been lacquered to heck and back. I see her stuff in a gallery, I get all inspired, and then...nothing. I borrow books on plastic clay from the library and read them like craft porn. I should love this stuff. But I don't.
