Knit Out a Success

The Knit Out On the Courthouse Lawn as part of Swedish Days in Geneva, IL, was a huge success. Even though the weather was steamy, all of the knitters who attended enjoyed the festivities. We especially liked the fastest knitter, blind-folded knitter and two-headed knitter competitions. What's a two-headed knitter? It is two knitters, each with one hand tied behind their back, having to work together to knit a swatch.

For more details, you can read an article on the event at the Daily Herald linked below.

http://www.dailyherald.com/search/searchstory.asp?id=65939

Knit Out on the Courthouse Lawn

Attention all Chicagoland knitters! Wool and Company, a yarn shop in Geneva, IL, is hosting "Knit Out on the Courthouse Lawn" this Wednesday as part of the annual Swedish Days festival. The announcement from their website is copied below.

This festival is a midsummer’s day and night dream for anyone who delights in good food and drink, music and live entertainment, and free activities that are fun for kids as well as adults! Originally a celebration of Geneva’s Swedish roots, the festival has transformed into a celebration of sun and summer! Join us downtown in Geneva for a rousing parade, nightly entertainment, including a Custom & Classic Motorcycle Show, Art Show & Craft Show, an old-fashioned carnival, and of course, great shopping in our historic business district. More information at the Geneva Chamber of Commerce web site.

At Wool and Company we have organized a Knit Out on the Courthouse Lawn. On Wednesday, June 22nd don't miss our first ever Knit Out on the Courthouse lawn. It runs from 11am 'til 3pm on the South Lawn of the Old Courthouse on 3rd street. We will have competitions at 12, 1pm and 2pm with drawings and prizes in between. Some of our vendors have been very generous and we have some lovely gifts to give out. Bring your knitting project and your lunch, or enjoy some of the delicious fare available at the many vendor booths on 3rd street. If you don't yet know how to knit, that's OK, we will teach you the basics. If you want to bring small children, the Creation Station on James Street, is offering Puppet shows and then a take and make puppet session. Toooo cooool!

Name That Herb

Recognize the herb pictured below? I wouldn't have been able to identify it prior to this afternoon. It's fennel, which belongs to the Umbellifereae family and is closely related to parsley, carrots, dill and coriander. It is also an excellent source of vitamin C.

The entire fennel plant is edible, but the seeds are what is typically found in your spice rack. According to McCormick's website, fennel seeds are an important ingredient in seasoning blends of the Mediterranean, Italy, China, and Scandinavia. Fennel seeds may be roasted prior to incorporation into seasoning blends to intensify their flavor. Fennel is used in curry blends, Chinese five spice, mirepoix, and herbes de Provence. Fennel is also used to flavor fish, sausages, baked goods, and liquors.

A fellow gardener passed these plants on to me and suggested I use the bulb sliced in a salad. I'll give it a try and report back tomorrow.

Corinne

Knit Out DC

If you live in the Washington, DC, area make sure to mark Sunday, October 23rd on your calendar. The fifth annual Washington, DC, Knit Out and Crochet 2005 will be held on the National Mall in front of the Natural History Museum on that day. I have not personally attended the event, but have heard from many knitters that it is not be missed. According to the event's website at http://www.knit-out.org the day will include:

Learn to knit and crochet — Free lessons, and we have kits to get you started

Fashion shows — See wearable art from knitters and crocheters, local shops, and yarn companies

Charity corner — Start, finish, or bring a project to work on; help assemble charity blankets

Exhibits — See and touch the latest yarns from local shops and the industry

Show & share — Bring your latest creations and tell about them

Doctor is in! — Get advice on new techniques and problem projects

Meet and join — Make new friends in the knit/crochet community, learn about local groups

I'd love to hear from anyone who has attended in the past.

Anne

It's a Baby Strawberry

The first season strawberry plants are in the garden, you are supposed to pull all of the flowers. This allows the plant to put all of its energy into growing a strong plant with sturdy roots, not fruit. While I was away from the garden for a few days, this baby strawberry snuck in. It can't hurt to let just one grow, right? And that one strawberry will taste so sweet.

I took the photo about a week ago and unfortunately, I will be unable to provide a newer one. Or give a detailed description on how sweet and juicy it was at picking. At least I can't, but perhaps I can track down the bird who ate it and ask for his opinion.

Next year there will be netting to protect my precious berries, that's for sure.

Corinne

What's New at The Daily Knitter

Time for Baseball, Barbecue, and Boucle

Working on your tan and your knitting.

Try embroidery with Maggie


Our latest exclusive pattern is a one button cardigan.

More buttons with the Monica pillow

Another new exclusive pattern.

Search the Free Patterns for new additions


Over 75 free knitting patterns have just been added.

View the latest Book and Product reviews

Size 35 needles plus a movie marathon equals an afghan.

Check out the latest posts on the Daily Knitter Message Boards

Get and give knitting help.

Much needed rain

The forecast here in Chicagoland has not changed for the past 7 days...hot and humid with scattered thunderstorms. We need rain so badly, but each day seems to pass without so much as a sprinkle. I am getting tired of lugging watering cans to my garden plot and turning on the lawn sprinkler every other day. I read this morning that high pressure is sitting over Lake Michigan and not letting any moisture through. Ugh!!

Even though the forecast was scattered thunderstorms yesterday, I did go ahead and book a non-refundable tee time at a local golf course, Mill Creek in Geneva. And guess what. Yep, it stormed. Thirty minutes following completion of the sixth hole was spent sitting in my golf cart under a lightning shelter. Regrettably, it was mostly lightning with a brief shower in the middle. Plus, the rain gauge at the garden only registered a trace. But the lesson is that if you want it to rain, please play golf. It surely will interrupt your game at least a little bit. Or I hear washing your car is just as good.

Corinne

Off to the races

Several of The Daily Knitter editors made a trip to Arlington Park racetrack this weekend. What a treat to watch the horses and do some people watching! Thankfully we arrived just after a rainstorm passed through. We saw amazing lightning from the Metra train on the way, but I did have to listen to several passengers argue over whether a train was a safe place during a tornado. I assume a tornado could take a train off the tracks, anyone know for sure?

Speaking of trains, what a super way to arrive at the track. Only 35 minutes from the city on the Metra Northwest line and you are right outside the gate.

I discovered Arlington Park is a great way to spend the day even if you are not a gambler. The grounds are beautifully landscaped and you can get much closer to the horses than I would have imagined. There are covered and open air spaces to watch the races; many ladies were working on their tans. We also saw plenty of families who had brought picnic baskets to enjoy on the lawn area.

On a knitting related note, I did mention the outing to my mother today and she reminded me of our family trips to a different racetrack when I was a kid. She reminded me that my sister and I would sit with her and watch the horses leave and enter the track, while my father was upstairs betting. And what did she do to keep busy, since she is not a gambler? Knit, of course!

Men are knitting, too

One of The Daily Knitter readers brought to our attention a great article on men knitting that appeared in The Detroit News. The article is titled "Knitting fad doesn't discriminate - More Detroit-area men and boys count stitches for health reasons and for fun." It focuses on the history of men knitting, as well as several stories of current male knitters. A great article, make sure to check it out at the link below.

http://www.detnews.com/2005/metro/0503/25/D01-128659.htm