R.I.P. Rainbow Planet

Rainbow Planet Cafe has perished in these horrific economic times... but soon, there shall be a new coffee house/book store to rise from the queer ashes of the past. "Revolutionary Grounds" is its name and we will meet there and be free again.

In other words; Revolutionary Grounds is the new meeting spot for TST once it opens in mid-November. It is in the same spot Rainbow Planet was in. More details soon. Please check out and support local businesses, especially ones that promote open dialogue.

Update

Thank you all for the helpful comments, questions, and general feedback we've received other the past few months. Some of you might have noticed that we didn't post a March newsletter...

Well, have no fear -- we are NOT calling it quits!


One of the biggest issues we've faced (outside of financial) is a lack of time to create patterns, make the projects, and sell them.... all in the same month -- It took us two months to sell half of the potholders from January. It's possible to do it all in a month but limits the size and creativity of new projects and if anything isn't done on time it backs everything else up. I've heard from many people that they'd like more time on projects and that having too many projects overlapping each month becomes confusing.

So what's to be expected now?

We're reformatting the outline for the newsletter and will be including more pictures of new and finished projects and even a few pictures of us in action at our meetings, updates on sales, and information on the organizations we are helping and how we're helping.

Also, the newsletters are going to be quarterly (4 times a year) with more projects to choose from. The next newsletter (The Summer Issue) will be out the begging of June.

While you're waiting for June's exciting new newsletter, please continue to work on potholders, bookmarks, hearts, chemo caps, squares, any other projects from our first two issues -- you can find them under our archive.

To give a quick update on sales: we've raised $25 from the potholders for the Casa Maria Soup Kitchen and $14 from the bookmarks for Read Between the Bars. Not a bad start for being completely volunteer and using donated materials.

Thank you, again, to all of you readers and volunteers, we're having a blast!

February 2008

Schedule
Projects
Local Love
* Read Between the Bars Bookmarks (Knit, Crochet, Knot, Weave and Sew)
* Have a Heart (Knit, Crochet, and Sew)
* Positively Beautiful Blanket Sign Up (Knit only - for now)
Peace Pieces
*Squares (Knit and Crochet)

~~~~~~~~~~

Schedule

Our next meeting date is 7pm-10pm on February 18th, 2008, at The Rainbow Planet Café 606 N. 4th Ave. Bring all of your finished projects then. Potholders and dishcloths are still on sale at Rainbow Planet Café until Sunday, February 17th (or until sold out).

~~~~~~~~~~

Projects

Now is the time of year to curl up in a big soft blanket with a cup of tea and a good book! February is national library lovers and heart health month. So, relax! Read a good book and be good to your heart.

For help with knitting terms, visit this web site!
For help with crocheting terms, visit this web site!

Hey Crocheters, send me your patterns! Until I learn, I’m still in the dark, and I’m having difficulty finding good patterns to use.

~~~~~~~~~~

READ BETWEEN THE BARS BOOKMARKS

Read Between the Bars is a volunteer collective that began collecting books for inmates in the spring of last year. Each bookmark sold with help pay for shipping costs.

FUAX-VEN KNIT BOOKMARK
(It looks woven… but it’s knot!)

Needles: Medium to small
Yarn: Medium to small (thought thin and durable are preferable)

Cast on an even number of stitches with a width between one to two inches.
Odd Rows: p1, slip 1 (with yarn in back) - repeat to end
Even Rows: k1, slip 1 (with yarn in front) - repeat to end

Bind off after you’ve reach the desired length (six to eight inches) and add fringe for a mini scarf look.
OR
Taper down by knitting the first two stitch together and slip, knit, pass the last two stitches on the knit side until you have two stitches left. Then create an I-cord with the two stitches (about four inches long) and add a tassel!

You can also decorate your Fuax-ven Knit Bookmark with a small patch or embroidery.

SIMPLE LACE KNIT BOOKMARK
(This is a great introduction to lace for knitters.)

Needles: medium to small
Yarn: medium to small (thought thin and durable are preferable)

Cast on 9 stitches

Odd numbered rows: purl

Row 2: p1, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, skp (slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over knit stitch and off needle), k1, p1
Row 4: p1, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, skp, p1
Repeat rows 1-4 until you reach desired length (six to eight inches).

Row 6: k2tog, k5, skp
Row 8: k2tog, k3, skp
Row 10: k2tog, k1, skp
Row 12: k3tog

With one stitch left, create a single stitch I-cord (about four inches long) and add a tassel to the end.

~~~~~~~~~~

HAVE A HEART
(KNIT, CROCHET, AND SEW)

When we say to wear your heart on your sleeve, we mean it quite literally. In honor of this hearty month we’re making heart patches, key chains (or ornaments), scarves, or any other item that can be worn on the body (such as bracelets, necklaces, hats, etc.). All proceeds will go to the Tucson Heart Hospital.

HEART PATCH
(SEW)

This one is super simple!

All you need to do is cut out a heart shape out of any reasonably durable fabric then using the blanket stitch around edge (starting approximately 1/8 of an inch from the edge). Make the stitches no more than an 1/8 of an inch apart, but make them as close as you want. And that’s all!

Add on any other embroidery or needle work that you’d like to make the patch a true piece of heart art.

HEART PATCH/ORNAMENT/KEY CHAIN
(KNIT)

Yarn : any size, color, or texture
Needles : any size
Stuffing: a bit of an old t-shirt or other scrap fabric
(Keep in mind that smaller yarn and bigger needles will make the heart “holey” and may not keep the stuffing in, so it’s typically a good rule to keep the smaller yarn with smaller needles and bigger yarn with bigger needles.)

Cast on 3 stitches
Purl all odd numbered rows up to row 13

Row 2: k1, yo, k1, yo, k1
Row 4: k1, yo, k3, yo, k1
Row 6: k1, yo, k5, yo, k1
Row 8: k1, yo, k7, yo, k1
Row 10: k1, yo, k9, yo, k1
Row 12: k1, yo, k11, yo, k1

Right Side of Heart
Row 14: k1, yo, k6 (turn project)
Row 15: p5 (turn)
Row 16: k4 (turn)
Row 17: p3 (turn)
Row 18: k2 (turn)
Row 19: p6 (to the end)
Row 20: *k2tog, slip stitch on right needle back to left needle (*repeat a total of 7 times - this is an alternate form of binding off ), slip 2, (with a total of 7 sts left) k6, yo, k1

Left Side of Heart
Row 21: slip 2, p6 (turn)
Row 22: slip 1, k5 (turn)
Row 23: slip 1, p4 (turn)
Row 24: slip 1, k3 (turn)
Row 25: slip 1, p2 (turn)
Row 26: k6 (to the end)
Row: 27: *k2tog, slip stitch on right needle back to left needle (*repeat a total of 7 times) when you have a total of three stitches left on your needles (with the middle stitch being in the middle of the heart hopefully) place them all on the left needle.
Row 28: slip 1, p1, slip first stitch over middle stitch and off needle. Place the stitch back on left needle and slip last stitch over first stitch and off needle (your just binding off in the opposite direction). Cut your yarn and loop the end through the last stitch and pull tight. You’ve just made a heart.

For those like me who are aided by charts:

I bet you thought that was easy… well if you’re just making a patch then you’re all done, but that’s not the half of it if you‘re making the ornament/key chain - you’ve got to make one more heart.

After you have two hearts completed, create an I-cord with two to four stitches depending on the size yarn you’re using. You’ll want to make the I-cord six to eight inches long - this is the loop that the heart will hang from. Bind of the I-cord and stitch the beginning to the end to make a loop. Cut the tail of yarn at least three times the circumference of the heart. Here’s what you should have:

Two misshapen hearts (don’t worry - stuffing them makes them look better) and an I-cord loop with a very long tail.

Using a tapestry needle (the jumbo blunt one, used for a lot of knitting projects) “sew” together the I-cord, and the two heart (back to back) together at the top and middle of the hearts. Then work around the edge of the hearts with either a whip stitch (easy) or mattress stitch (not quite as easy, but still easy) making sure to “sew” every other stitch if not every one. The holes left from the yo on the “V” of the heart make an easy target for your needle. Before you finish, with about ¼ of the heart “unsown,” stuff the fabric scrap in the heart. Finish “sewing” and tuck in all the ends. You’ve got a heart!

Tip: You can also fill an ornament with lavender or potpourri by sewing a pocket in the fabric used for stuffing.

HEART SCARF
(CROCHET)

There is a great heart pattern here. Make a bunch of hearts and join them together like this to make a scarf:

~~~~~~~~~~

POSITIVELY BEAUTIFUL BLANKET
(KNIT - for now, CROCHET AND SEW LATER)

Taken from the Positively Beautiful Myspace:

Mission:
Positively Beautiful exists to reclaim the identities of people living with HIV/AIDS. Through makeup, hair, and fashion we help to erase identifying physical side effects of the HIV virus and medications. It is one more step in draining away the power HIV/AIDS has on our daily lives. HIV is not our identity. Positively Beautiful is about living.

What It's About:
Positively Beautiful is a day dedicated to Living with HIV/AIDS. In the United States HIV/AIDS is no longer a death sentence– largely due to the availability of effective medications. However, these medications have profound side effects that cause visible physical changes. On March 26, 2007 a group of Tucson, AZ friends and locals came together and found an answer. Through the art of makeup, hair, and fashion, Positively Beautiful is focused on erasing these distinctive side effects for women living with HIV/AIDS in southeastern Arizona. These women are mothers, daughters, sisters, lovers, artists, professionals, grandmothers, fighters, wives, and women first. HIV/AIDS is not their identity. These are Women Living with HIV/AIDS – These Women are Positively Beautiful.

Positively Beautiful & New York:
In 1988 the State University of New York (SUNY) began one of the most decisive studies in the fight against HIV/AIDS: The Women's Infant Transmission Study (WITS). Through this study and the advancement of treatment, transmission rates between mother and child have taken a sharp decline, and is now a virtual impossibility.
After the success of the first Positively Beautiful, not only are we continuing the program here in Tucson, Az; but we're going one step further and taking it to SUNY in May.

On March 30th, Positively Beautiful will be having a benefit show and auction to raise money to get to New York - Tucson Stitch Together is designing a blanket for the auction. The blanket will be made from dual-colored knit squares of different women’s profiles. After the squares are complete, they will be crocheted together and a border will be added. To finish the piece, a backing will be sewn on to secure the whole blanket together.

Due to the size and specificity of the piece, you’ll have to sign up to be a part of the creation. Knitters will have to know how to cast on, knit stitch, purl stitch, intarsia (using two colors of yarn), slip stitch, knit 2 together, and be able follow a picture chart. All you’ll need is needles, the yarn and pattern will be given to you.

To sign up, email us at: tucsonstitchtogether@gmail.com

~~~~~~~~~~

SQUARES
(KNIT AND CROCHET)

Got a little bit of yarn you don’t know what to do with? Now you do.

We are ALWAYS excepting 4” x 4” of knit or crocheted squares to make a “patchwork blanket” to be given to a charity of choice when we receive enough squares to create a blanket. It doesn’t matter the color, style, or bulk - we’ll match them all up.

Please bring all of your projects to the next TST meeting (listed above) or drop them off at The Rainbow Planet Café. Thanks and see you all soon!

~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~

JANUARY 2008

Introduction
Schedule
Projects
Local Love
* Soup Kitchen Pot holders (Sew, Knit and Crochet)
Peace Pieces
* Project Linus (Crochet)
* Chemo-Caps (Knit)
* Squares (Knit and Crochet)

~~~~~~~~~~

Introduction

Hello everyone! Thanks for joining us with our first edition, of what we hope will be many, of Tucson Stitch Together. Each month we will have a new edition of our newsletter which will include give a brief overview of the works we’ve done, current projects, and showcase several different patterns (in a variety of fiber arts, but primarily in knitting, crocheting, and sewing) for and/or from local and worldwide non-profits and other charitable organizations. It’s a little short for now, but the more work we get done the more extensive the newsletters will get. If you have any questions or even want to learn a fiber art, please join us at our next meeting - we’re full of answers and love to teach new people. If you can’t make the meeting scheduled but still want to help out or have any other questions you can email us at tucsonstitchtogether@gmail.com.

Schedule

At our first meeting on Monday, December 17th, 2007, we decided to keep the TST business meetings to the third Monday of every month and to be held at different coffee house locations throughout Tucson.

Our next meeting date is 7pm-10pm on January 21st, 2008, at The Rainbow Planet Café 606 N. 4th Ave.

Projects

January is National Soup Month here in the U.S., but because it’s a little hard to stitch up a hot steaming bowl of soup to give out at the local soup kitchen, we’re going to put all the love, warmth, and comfort you get from soup into our projects for this month.

SOUP KITCHEN POTHOLDERS
(SEW, KNIT AND CROCHET)

Throughout the month of January, The Rainbow Planet Café has agreed to help up sell potholders with 100% of the proceeds going to the Casa Maria Soup Kitchen.

Pot holders are essentially a 6” x 6” to 8” x 8” swatch of any design (though thicker tends to be better) so this project is perfect for beginners. They’re also very fast to make! And you’ll want to get a fiber that is heat resistant - most patterns recommend cotton or other natural plant fibers. If you’re going to be sewing potholders you’ll want to add a thin layer of cotton padding (or even an old towel cut to size) between the fabric. Make sure to add a loop on one of the corners so they can be hung up.

So here’s your chance to flex your hooks and needles to show off all your skills. You can drop of your potholders at The Rainbow Planet Café (606 N. 4th Ave.) any time in January. There will be tags at the café to attach onto your potholder which will include “Tucson Stitch Together”, your name (if you choose to give it), and a price in increments of 5 ($5-$20).

PROJECT LINUS
(CROCHET)

This pattern comes from the Project Linus Web Site.

This is a good blanket for hospitals since there are no "holes" for medical equipment to get tangled in. Thanks to Cindy Adams, Cactus Needles Knitting Guild for the pattern.

Size :Approximately 30" x 30"
Materials needed: 4 skeins chunky yarn: 600 yds total, Size J crochet hook

To use different yarns and hooks, or to change the size, just make the foundation chain the desired length by having a multiple of 3 plus 2 chains.

Directions:

Chain 83.

Row 1 (right side): In 5th ch from hook work (sc, hdc, dc); *sk next 2 chs, in next ch work (sc, hdc, dc); rep from * across to last 3 chs; sk next 2 chs, dc in last ch. Ch 2, turn.

Row 2: In next dc work (sc, hdc, dc); * sk next 2 sts, in next dc work (sc, hdc, dc); rep from * to beg 4 skipped chs; sk next 2 chs, dc in next ch. Ch 2, turn.

Row 3 (right side): * In next dc work (sc, hdc, dc); sk next 2 sts; rep from * to turning ch-2; dc in 2nd ch of turning ch. Ch 2, turn.

Repeat row 3 for desired length. At end of last row, do not ch 2, do not turn. Finish off.


© Project Linus. All Rights Reserved.

CHEMO-CAPS
(KNIT)

This pattern comes from the Kraemer Yarn Shop. For more information and other patterns please check out the Chemo Caps Web Site

Sizes: child's (ladies small, ladies large)
Materials: 2 skeins of a soft dk weight yarn such as Wildflower DK, by the Plymouth Yarn Co. Set of double pointed needles: size 5, and 1 stitch marker. Use different sized needles if needed to yield the desired gauge.
Gauge: 5.5 stitches = 1 inch.

Cast on 96, (104, 112) stitches. Divide them evenly between 3 of the double pointed needles. Place marker, and join being careful not to twist the stitches.

Work in stockinette stitch (knit every round) for 12, (12, 14) rounds then work in eyelet pattern until total length is 6, (6½, 7) inches, ending by working a knit round other than 2 or 10.

Eyelet pattern:
Round 1: k5, [k2tog, yo, k6], repeat to last 3 stitches, k2tog, yo, k1.
Round 2: knit.
Round 3: k4, [k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k4], repeat to last 4 stitches, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo.
Round 4: knit.
Round 5: knit.
Round 6: knit.
Round 7: knit.
Round 8: knit.
Round 9: k1, [k2tog, yo, k6], repeat to last 7 stitches, k2tog, yo, k5.
Round 10: knit.
Round 11: k0, [k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k4], repeat to end.
Round 12: knit.
Round 13: knit.
Round 14: knit.
Round 15: knit.
Round 16: knit.
Repeat these 16 rounds to form eyelet pattern.

On the next round, begin decreasing as follows, beginning with decrease round: 3 (2, 1).
Round 1: (knit 12, k2tog) repeat around.
Round 2: (knit 11, k2tog) repeat around.
Round 3: (knit 10, k2tog) repeat around.
Round 4: (knit 9, k2tog) repeat around.
Round 5: (knit 8, k2tog) repeat around.
Round 6: (knit 7, k2tog) repeat around.
Round 7: (knit 6, k2tog) repeat around.
Round 8: (knit 5, k2tog) repeat around.
Round 9: (knit 4, k2tog) repeat around.
Round 10: (knit 3, k2tog) repeat around.
Round 11: (knit 2, k2tog) repeat around.
Round 12: (knit 1, k2tog) repeat around.
Round 13: (k2tog) repeat around.
Cut the yarn leaving a 12" tail, thread it through the remaining stitches, draw up tightly and secure. Weave in all ends.

SQUARES
(KNIT AND CROCHET)

Got a little bit of yarn you don’t know what to do with? Now you do.

We are ALWAYS excepting 4” x 4” of knit or crocheted squares to make a “patchwork blanket” to be given to a charity of choice when we receive enough squares to create a blanket. It doesn’t matter the color, style, or bulk - we’ll match them all up.

Please bring all of your projects to the next TST meeting (listed above) or drop them off at The Rainbow Planet Café. Thanks and see you all soon!