Join us on Tuesday January 6, 2015 for our monthly meeting.  Learn I-cord, I-cord selvedges and I-cord bind-off.  Bring yarn and double pointed needles.  Meeting starts at 7 p.m.

Monday October 20: Franklin library from 10-noon

Friday October 24: Urbandale Library from 10-noon

This is a busy week to kick off October. 

Friday October 10 is the Urbandale Library knit and chat from 10-noon in the conference room

The weekend is Bridges of Madison County time.  Heartland Fiber has moved across the square in Winterset, so stop in and check it out! (reminder that highway 169 is closed so go south on I-35 to highway 92 then to Winterset)

Monday October 13 there is a garage sale in Altoona.  Lots of knitting yarn, coned yarn, looms and weaving items.  It all starts at 9:30 a.m. at 6925 NE 12th Ave. in Altoona. Here is a map link.

Tuesday October 7 we will have guest speakers from local hospitals to speak about chemo hats, purple hats and all the donations we make and the hospital's needs.  Join us and bring any donations you have made for them.
Chris will also be collecting for the Public Library Knit one, buy too charity auction.
Hope to see you there!

Come on down to Blank Children's Hospital on Saturday October 4 from 9-noon for a knit-in for Click for Babies Purple Hats.  This is an initiative to teach new parents about shaken baby syndrome.  The purple hats we knit go to new parents to remind them not to shake their baby.

This coming weekend, Saturday and Sunday September 27 & 28,  is Alpaca Days at C&M Acres in Maxwell.  The guild will have a presence to knit and spin and talk with interested visitors.  The hours are 10-3 both  days.

Here is a link to the map to the alpaca farm.  Google Map: http://g.co/maps/j9b58
It takes about 45 minutes to get there. 
Here are directions from I-80 at Merle Hay.Merge onto I-35 N

Take the IA-210 exit, EXIT 102, toward Slater/Maxwell.

Turn right onto Highway 210/IA-210. Continue to follow IA-210.

Turn right onto South St.

Take the 1st right onto 657th Ave.
      -.657th Ave becomes 330th St.

Turn right onto 663rd Ave.

33707 663RD AVE is on the right.
The weather should be real nice, so come knit awhile.

Besides the usual library knit and chats we have Alpaca days, a picnic/park knit chat and the Blank Hospital click for babies knit in.  So get your needles ready!,

Here is a quick overview. Mark your calendars!

Monday 9/8: Knit and chat that the Franklin Library from 10-noon.

Wednesday 9/1: Knit in at blank hospital for purple hats for click for babies

Friday 9/12: knit and chat ay urbandale library 10-noon

Friday 9/26: charity knot chat at urbandale library 10-noon

Saturday and Sunday 9/27-28: Alpaca days at C&M Acres just south of Maxwell.

More details to come as each event gets closer or check our calendar!

On Tuesday September 2 at our monthly meeting we will enjoy a recap of Marianne and Nancy's trip to Norway.  They took the bi-annual trip organized by Arnhild.  They spent 2 weeks touring the country and will regale us with their stories.

Also, we will have a review of items entered into competition at the Iowa State Fair.  Guild members will bring their entries and tell us about the experience and show off their beautiful work.

Photos of some of the entries are available on our Flickr page:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dmkgknittingguild/sets/72157646200030299/

A list of this year's state fair winners is available at:
http://www.iowastatefair.org/competition/results/holstine-knits-up-the-competition-at-iowa-state-fair/

We hope you can join us for our meeting.

Friday August 22 is the monthly Charity Knit  & Chat at the Urbandale Library.  We will meet in the Conference Room from 10-noon.

It is a good time to be knitting purple newborn hats and working on mittens, hats and scarves for the annual  mitten trees.  Small projects which are good to work on at this time of year!

Hope to see you there!

Join us on Tuesday, August 5 for our monthly guild meeting. This month Cindy G. will talk about yarn. This is our medium and it is always good to know more about it.

Also Janeen will have the first baby blanket sampler block pattern (included with your newsletter mailing) and will discuss the pattern and how to interpret and figure out multiples of a pattern in a stitch dictionary.

The fourth Friday charity knit and chat will happen July 25 at Urbandale Library in meeting room A. We meet from 10-noon.

It is a great time to be thinking of and working on mittens, purple hats and other smaller items to prepare for the coming winter needs of out community.  Come join the group for knitting fun.

Upcoming  Knit and Chats to join in.

Friday July 11 from 10-noon at the Urbandale Library.  Meeting room A

Monday July 14 from 10-noon at Franklin Library conference room.

Good time to get together to finish up State Fair entries.

On Tuesday July 1 we will have our monthly meeting. This month's program will be a knit & chat. Bring any State Fair entries you are still working on and get help or a few hours of knitting on them.

Also remember that July 1 is the last day to register for fair entries. Visit their website:  http://www.iowastatefair.org/competition/categories/

On Friday June 27 join us at the Urbandale Library in the conference room for the monthly charity knit & chat. We meet from 10-noon.

It is time for the Sheep festival on June 14-15.  The Guild will again have a presence at this event.  We will wind yarn, have a yarn sample display with swatches and such, meet the public and of course, knit. We hope you can join us.

There is a new location this year, at the Jasper County Fairgrounds
Colfax, Iowa.  Here is a map to the location.

They also have many yarn and fiber related classes happening all weekend.
Check out their website for details, registration and more information.
http://iowasheepandwoolfestival.com/

Join us Friday June 13 at the Urbandale Library for a knit & chat. We meet in the conference room from 10-noon. Hope to see you there!

Join guild members at the Franklin Library for knitting and chatting on Monday June 9 from 10-noon.  We meet in the west conference room. See you there.

Due to the threat of bad weather, we will meet at the church tonight.

The June meeting is a busy one. Join us for our annual picnic, garage sale and board elections.

We will meet at American Legion Park in WDM at the corner of 4th and Vine. Dinner starts at 6:30. Bring a dish to share. The guild will provide tableware and beverages.
MAP: Click the link at bottom of post to get a map to site!

This is also a chance to de-stash a bit and/or buy new yarns. Our garage sale is an opportunity to sell yarn and knitting related items and maybe pick up some new yarn related items. Please bring cash for this.

We will have a meeting and vote for a new board for the guild. Come elect your new board.

June is also time to renew your membership. It is still only $15 and the new year begins in July. This year we will start having a July meeting.

Looking to relax and knit a bit after the family gatherings for Mother's Day?  Then come to the Franklin Library Monday May 12 from 10-noon for a Knit & Chat.  Hope to see you there!

Thursday May 8 Knit and Chat at the South Side Library from 3-5.  This will be the last South Side gathering.

Friday May 9 Knit and Chat at the Urbandale Library from 10-noon.

During the May meeting we will nominate members for Board positions.  The elections will be at the June Meeting. Each position is for 1 year. There are 5 positions available; President, VP-Program, Newsletter Editor,  Treasurer, and Secretary. If interested, please attend the meeting and let the current board members know. 

The program will be on remembrance Poppies and how to knit them. Bring red, black and green yarns and appropriate needles to knit some samples.  Some patterns will be provided. 

August 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I.  After the war the Poppy was used as a symbol of remembrance of those lost to war. The first use of the poppy was in 1920. The original inspiration comes from the poem by Canadian physician Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae. He was inspired to write it on May 3, 1915, after presiding over the funeral of friend and fellow soldier Alexis Helmer.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
      Between the crosses, row on row,
   That mark our place; and in the sky
   The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
   Loved and were loved, and now we lie
         In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
   The torch; be yours to hold it high.
   If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
         In Flanders fields.

Get your charge cards at the ready! It is time once again for the Mid Iowa Yarn Shop Hop happening Wednesday April 23 through Saturday April 26. 

There are 7 stores participating this year. There will be discounts, drawings and prizes.
Here is list of shops involved. Check their websites for more info.

Hill Vintage & Knits
432 East Locust
Des Moines
515.288.CATS
http://hillvintageandknits.com/

Stitch
315 E 5th  St, Suite #121
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
(515) 288-0655
http://www.stitchdsm.com

Knitting Next Door
704 SW 3rd Street
Ankeny, Iowa 50023
(515) 963-0396
http://www.quilterscupboardiowa.com/knitting-next-door---ankenys-best-yarn-shop.htm

Heartland Fiber Co.
107 N. John Wayne Drive
Winterset, Iowa 50273
(515) 468-8593
http://www.heartlandfiber.com/

Rose Tree Fiber Shop
2814 West St.
Ames, IA 50014
515-292-7076 
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rose-Tree-Fiber-Shop/122782017779322
http://www.rosetreefibershop.com/

The Yarn Basket & Quilt Shop
512 N. Adams
Carroll, IA 51401
712-792-2890

I do believe Spring may be here; warmer temps, light rain and no snow! Yipee!

If you are looking to get out and about and want to join other knitters, come to one of these events over the next 7 days. Bring an unfinished project, start a new Spring project or work some charity items. These are great opportunities for social knitting.

Thursday April 10 from 3pm – 5pm meet at the Des Moines Southside Library (map)

Shauneen did a wonderful presentation on color ideas. Jam packed!

The handout with links and information are available on our Google drive. Click the "Program Handouts" link above to find program handouts.

Program:   Color Ideas

A talk about color and color choices to include a discussion about Mary Jane Mucklestone, Kaffe Fassett, and palettes.

No homework. Just bring your ears and your participation to the discussion. If you have color samples to share, bring those along.

The March meeting will be Tuesday March 4 from 7-9 at Grace Lutheran Church at 52nd and Urbandale.

The program is Intro to Brioche.

Bring:
Yarn:
1 or 2 colors of worsted weight yarn

Needles:
A size larger than recommended and 2 sizes down for sample
dpns or circ for 2 color brioche if interested in trying that

Tools:
Stitch holders, darning needle, ruler, and scissors.

Should be a fun program!!

It is time for the monthly meet up at the Urbandale Library to do charity knitting. We meet in the conference room from 10-noon. There will be charity yarns available and you can drop off items you want to donate and we will deliver them to our charities. We look forward to seeing you there!

Join us at the Wildwood Lodge in Clive this Saturday February 8 from 9-4 for out annual retreat.  Coffee will be provided, bring food or treats to share if you like.  There are plenty of restaurants in the area for lunch as needed.

We will  have "classes" in infinity scarf creations (10 a.m.), Celtic heart necklace (1 p.m.) and internet surfing of knitting sites  (2:30 p.m.) see the newsletter for materials and homework.

hope to see you there.

Due to the inclement weather, we are canceling the guild meeting tonight.  See you at the retreat on Saturday.

The Idunn KAL (ie Ragga's Sweater) will have another meet up this Saturday February 1 at Shauneen's home.  Nancy is ready to steek!!

Come join us and work on your sweater.

Join guild members at the Urbandale Library on Friday January 24 for 10-noon to knit for charity.

Then on Saturday work on the Idunn KAL at Judy's house from 10-noon.