Summer's the perfect time to have a cold one on the patio - with your knitting! Join the bitchybees at our bi-montly pub beer knitting!

And this time we'll be outside under the brew tent (I promise, I've already reserved it!), so keep your knitting needles crossed for the continued good weather!

EDIT TO ADD JULY 25TH @ 2pm: Everything has been ordered. Thanks for everyone who got in on this with me.

hey gals (and guy),

just to let you know that i'll be bringing my swift and ball winder this friday (the 11th). also, since i have to miss next friday's knit nite, i'll hopefully be coming next tuesday (the 15th). i can bring my swift and winder then too, if needed.

sounds like the knitting Olympics challenge will be fun - hm, to think of something now...

cheers
Ursa

edited to add that i am not able to attend tomorrow (tuesday), due to family stuff. maybe another time.

Iona & her travelling band of knitourists met up with some of the Sidney knitters this past weekend. The Sidney group told them all about the Knitting Olympics which they invited us all to participate in. So here is the info that they sent to Iona.

Your mission if you choose to accept it:

While the athletes of the world gather in Beijing to compete in their chosen sports another group will be striving for their own personal best achievement. The assignment is simple – pick a project that represents a challenge to you, begin when the Olympic flame is lit on August 8, 2008 and finish before the flame is extinguished on August 24.

Now, the Knitting Olympics are meant to provide you with an opportunity to stretch, to try something new, to say “Wow! I did that.” These games are not meant to cause sulking, ranting or the tossing of wool. The only tears are to be tears of joy. So, choose your project accordingly. Only you will know what will be a challenge for you. Perhaps it will be learning a new technique. Perhaps it will be a question of quantity – how many preemie caps can you knit in 17 days? Perhaps it will be a question of mileage – how much of that stash can you knit down?

You don’t knit? No Problem – as the Olympics encompass a wide variety of sports so too the Knitting Olympics welcome all manner of people who make things. So, grab those needles, oil up that spinning wheel, get that loom ready , pick your project.

Team Spirit and Training - Every Olympian needs a team and the Knitting Olympics are no exception. Find your fellow athletes and get a team together. Team Toe Up is organizing itself and there are rumours of teams of spinners, of needlefelters, of lace knitters and all kinds of handicraft athletes in training.

While you are not to cast on for you project until the flame is lit that doesn’t mean that you don’t have training to undertake! Decide on your project. Gather your materials. Swatch! Do you need to take a class or read up on a technique? Now is the time for preparation.

Good luck! & don't worry, this message will not self destruct :-)

 Hi, We had good time in Sidney. If you want to read about our adventure here is a link to my Blog. http://walkingthepathlibrarian.blogspot.com/

Enjoy,

Iona

Ok after much suggetion and checking over schedules I came to the conclusion that there is no possible way of getting everyone's schedule to match up  Sooo . . . 

Here are three dates and very rought plans for day trips. If you want to come send me a message on raverly (luv2craft) with the date of the day trip you want to attend and your e-mail address. As the dates gets closer I will send out information via e-mail.

Here are the justed day trips thus far:

July 5th Sydney / Sydney Spit. The idea: Visit the yarn shop(s) in Sydney and poke around the shops along Beacon Ave. Then take the ferry to Sydney Spit for knitting in the park.  Or possbile the other way around (Sydney Spit then wander Beacon Ave). Since 5th is this weekend details are a little loose right now, but hopfully it will be organized.

July 13th : Beach Afternoon at French or Crystal beach. And on the way we can go to the yarn shop in Sooke!

July 28th:  Train to Nanaimo: For those of you who have free time on Mondays! Take the uplander train to Nanaimo, knitting along the way, and spend time in Nanaimo and then take the train back.

Again if you are interested send me a message on raverly (luv2craft).

Hope to hear from you

Iona

Hello All,

A crochet hook was left behind at the Canada day knit out yesterday. It's a 3 "made in England" hook.

If you attended the Knit out on Canada day from 3:00 - 6:00 pm and are missing a crochet hook. Don't worry I have it! Just comment to this post and I will bring it with me to the next knit nite!

Iona

Celebrate Canada Day with a Knit Out at Beacon Hill Park! It all starts at 3pm!

Bring a camp chair, a picnic blanket or just pull up some grass! Don't forget the sunscreen, lots of water and snacks! If you want, bring stuff to share and make it a picnic!

It'll be like the knit out last Sunday... It's a drop in basis and you can come and go as you please. I think some of the knitters will be staying late and then heading to the inner harbour for the fireworks at 10:30pm.

We'll be knitting right next to "the Stage In the Park" - the Cameron Bandshell. If you're facing the stage, it's directly to your left behind the hedge. This area is near washrooms, shaded by trees and has a picnic table or two also that we can use. Plus, the Beacon Drive-In is not too far away.

To access the spot, if you get to the Beacon Hill Children's Farm, face away from it (facing north) and cross the street. Head left towards the mini-putt and go past it for a few minutes. It's very close to "Fountain Lake" just off Douglas St too.

The Cameron Bandshell is a big landmark in the park, so don't be afraid to ask questions if you get lost. Or for those who want my cell number, you can private message me here if you have an LJ account (or on Ravelry - I'm YarnOverHere).

I hope my directions helped. I tried to do a google map for you guys, but there's too many trees on the map to see the bandshell properly. Any questions? Leave a comment!

See you Tuesday, Canada Day for a knit out at Beacon Hill Park!

Canada Day is THIS TUESDAY and due to Khona closing early on Tuesday for this stat holiday (they will close at 6pm), we've had some ideas floating around for what to do. My first thought was to re-locate for the one day at a park for park knitting. However, seeing that it's Canada Day, perhaps beer knitting instead? But my worry was there not being any room left for such a late notice for reservations (who's kidding who - it's Canada Day, it's going to be busy!)

Also, there's the fireworks in the inner harbour at 10:30pm and we thought maybe we can do a knit out with that...

So... What's your thought? Are you going to be in town for the knit nite? Let's do a quick brainstorm cuz we're less than a week away! Everyone is welcome to do the following poll... Or feel free to leave a comment! The poll is now closed. Thank you for participating.

Poll #1210911 Canada Day Knit Out
This poll is closed.
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

Which Knit Out Location Would You Prefer For Canada Day? Thanks for your input!

Or Perhaps You Have A Different Idea. Let us know! (Got A Backyard You Want To Host Us With? Or Maybe A Different Park Suggestion?)

Please don't mind the crappy cellphone camera pic. It's all I had with me...

Thanks to all who came out the Fiber Fest @ Saxe Point! It was a lovely sunny day for knitting by the seaside, albeit a tad windy! Here are some more ( pics of all the fun )

EDIT: I added the UNPLYING PHOTOS