Brown Owls Launceston - Blanket Squares for the Tassie Fires

Happy New Year Launceston Owls!

As we are all aware, there have been some devastating fires around our beautiful state this year. If you are free on Saturday the 9th February, come and get your yarn on to make some crochet or knitted squares. All squares will be donated to those that have been affected by the fires and made into blankets by members of The Craft Hive (Hobart).  It would be lovely if you could donate the yarn you will be using.

This will be an ace chance to catch up after a very long hiatus, owls - old and new. For those of you that want to get started before the catch up, The Craft Hive is seeking squares that are 8 inches in size and can be made from acrylic, wool or blends. Any colour of course. For more information about 'Woolies for Tassie' check out The Craft Hive Facebook page.


Please RSVP here in the comments section or on the Brown Owls Launceston Facebook page  so that we have an idea of numbers.

We will be meeting from 10.30am at The Tea Room café at the QVMAG Art Gallery.

When: Saturday 9th February 2013
Where: The Tea Room
Address: QVMAG Art Gallery, 2 Wellington Street, Launceston
Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Canberra :: August 19 :: granny squares

Hi Canberra owls
It's nearly brown owls time again already!

Next weekend we're getting together for some crochet! Don't worry if you don't know how - lovely Renae will be teaching how to crochet granny squares!

lovely granny squares by Pip from Meet Me at Mikes

If you'd like to learn you just need to bring along a crochet hook and some yarn. Probably about an 8 ply (dk) yarn and a 3.5mm or 4mm hook are best for beginners.

As always everyone is welcome - if crochet isn't your thing we'd still love to see you and what ever you're crafting on just now. Don't forget we love 'show-and-tell' too!

The important details:
Sunday 19 August
1:30pm
Downer community centre
Please remember to bring $5 for room hire, and something to share for arvo tea if you would like!

Please RSVP in the comments so that we know how many owls to expect.

Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Hobart Brown Owls - June Meeting

Hobart Brown Owls had a slightly more owl-ful meeting for June, thanks to some new owls and some old.

There was lots of yarn work:

Jaci is knitting three scarves (one for each of her two year old triplets..!) and left-handed Lis is learning to crochet:

A blur of crocheting :)

I finished a crochet owl (but forgot the pipe cleaners to make his feet) and continued with the final sleeve of Marcus' jumper, which I started a while back at a different Brown Owls meeting:

Hilary and Liz made felt owls:

Hilary adding the eyes to an owl

Liz sewing an owl body

And Virginia amazed us with her commitment; reaching hexagon 102 of about 750 in a hand sewn quilt for her little boy:

Basting the fabric around the freezer paper

Some of the many finishing hexagons

We ended up with 1 finished (and gorgeous) and two nearly finished owls; and are looking forward to more next time - or maybe a different theme? 

Canberra Brown Owls - crochet wrap-up

Today some of us learned to crochet!



We learned granny squares. (More info on granny squares here!)



And how to read a crochet pattern.



And how to frog your crochet when you've made a mistake.



How to talk and eat and drink tea at the same time as you crochet. (This is perhaps the most important crocheting skill of them all).



We also learned that it took Brown Owl Angie the equivalent of 4.2 days to crochet this colourful warm monster. Clever Angie!



I think there were 15 of us there today! Hooray for sunny September Saturdays! Our next Brown Owls will be October 22 and 19 November. Stay tuned to see what we have planned for you!

Canberra Brown Owls - Crochet on Saturday 17 September

Hello Canberra Brown Owls!

It's been a year since we did any crochet, so due to popular request we are doing it for the September 17 meeting from 2 - 4 pm.

I thought we might offer a couple of options for you - because some have never crocheted before, and some have crocheted a little but want to learn how to read a pattern.

So for beginners we will start you out by doing a granny square like this one, but perhaps less colours, just until you are comfortable.


Photo

Then for those who can crochet but want to learn how to read a pattern, you have two choices.


Photo

One is to download this pattern for the Urban Shells scarf from here. It's a free pattern, and so pretty. The pattern is in US terms, but I will teach you how to translate between British and US terms. It's very easy!

The other option is to find a pattern you've always wanted to make but had no idea how to start it. It might be a ripple rug, or a washcloth, or a lacy shawl! Just so long as it's not tunisian or broomstick lace we should be fine (that's not to say there won't be someone at Brown Owls who knows these things! It's just not me!)

Want some crochet-y inspiration?

http://www.ravelry.com/ (you'll need to join, but it's free, and so much fun!)
http://attic24.typepad.com/ Attic24 would have to be one of the nicest crochet sites!
http://thornberry.wordpress.com/category/crochet/
http://www.crochetme.com/

What you need to bring:


For beginners:
* 8 ply (otherwise known as DK) yarn in one of a few colours. Wool is best - much nicer to crochet. But it's up to you!
* 4 mm, 4.5 mm or 5 mm hook - there will be some spares you can borrow on the day if you come up short.

For those wanting to make the urban shells scarf:
*A copy of the scarf pattern (linked above)
*300 m of DK/8 ply yarn
*4.5 mm hook

For those wanting to know how to make something from a pattern
*Your pattern of choice
*the supplies that pattern tells you to use.

As always, please bring $5 for the hall hire, a small plate of afternoon tea to share if you like, and any crochet projects you want to show and tell!

PLEASE RSVP! We don't like putting out tables and chairs for people if they are not going to show up!

Love
Michelle, Bron, Naomi and George.

Southside Brown Owls

Hey all!

We are super excited about Thursday night this week for the first meet of Brown Owls Southside!

If you are wanting to join our first night with crocheting can you please bring:

1 crochet hook - preferably 4mm (they are really cheap and you can buy a whole pack, all different sizes at Spotlight!)

1 ball of yarn - 8ply please as this is one of the easiest to use. I use pure wool because it is easier to find but you can use anything you like! (Spotlight is doing a ball of wool for $2 if you are a card holder, which I guess most of your are!!!)

If you are busting to know the basics before Thursday please make sure you check out Pips' blog for some lessons!

http://meetmeatmikes.blogspot.com/2010/01/crochet-school-how-to-make-granny.html

Place: Windsor Deli 33 Hornby Street Windsor (behind Chapel Street.)



Phone Number: 95293001 (business phone number)
Time: 7.30pm-9.30pm approx

We are supplying some sweets, treats and tea, but coffee and other drinks will be available to purchase. You are more than welcome to bring something if you wish, but chocolate brownie will be calling!!!

The meet is now full, but please check back for the next meet.

Shannon and I are so excited to be meeting you all and we will see you on Thursday!

Brown Owls Code of Conduct
http://brownowls-members.blogspot.com/2008/12/brown-owls-code-of-conduct-2010.html
Brown Owls Facebook Group
http://brownowls-members.blogspot.com/2010/10/brown-owls-worldwide-club-room.html

Launceston Brown Owls - Crochet Toy Animals

Hi there Launny Owls,

This month's Brown Owls is on Thursday 14th at the Design Centre in Tamar Street at 7.30pm. This month the wonderful Melanie Kershaw will be showing us the art of making crochet toys. Details are given below of all that you will need, or bring along your own W.I.P as usual. RSVP by leaving a comment and the first 20 are in.

Please bring a 4mm crochet hook and some 8ply wool. It would probably be helpful to have several different colours, but there'll be a bunch of wool and some spare needles in a variety of sizes there so don't worry too much if you don't have it. It doesn't really matter what size needle or wool as long it matches up ok (so, a size 2 needle would need 4-6ply wool, a size 3,4,5,6 needle would need 8 ply wool, bigger the hook, the bigger the wool), it's just that a 4mm hook and 8 ply wool is easily handled and is kind of mid-range.

If you have an idea about what they'd like to make then they can bring their own pattern, but Melanie will bring a few copies of a pattern that outlines several different little animals, like a turtle, rabbit, bear, mouse etc.

Oh, and a wool needle will be helpful too!

Look forward to seeing you there.

And don't forget to "like" our Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brown-Owls-Launceston/145902578767043#!/pages/Brown-Owls-Launceston/145902578767043?v=wall

Georgia, Gemma and Eve

Canberra Brown Owls - Yarnie Gras!

Wanna learn to knit? Or develop those crochet skills you picked up last month? Well we're all about yarn-based crafts for our next meeting (Saturday 19th June). We'll have folks around to help you with both knitting and crochet so let us know if you're a learner in the comments.

All you need to bring is some yarn and an appropriately sized crochet hook or needles. If you’re a total beginner, 8ply yarn and a 4mm hook/needles should do it! You can get a hook or needles from a yarn store, Lincraft or Spotlight, or even BigW - if you’re having trouble or need more info on supplies, let us know!

Maybe you want to try your own yarn-based craft? Finger knitting? Macrame? Weaving? Bring it on! We'd all love to see it.

The details:
Saturday 19 June at 2pm at the Downer Community Centre (off Frencham St) and $6 to cover the room hire. You can bring a plate to share for afternoon tea if you feel so inclined. We’ll bring the tea and coffee and get there early to put the heaters on!

See you on Saturday!

xo George, Naomi, Michelle & Bron

Canberra :: 29 May :: Crochet

Hellooo-hoo Canberra owls!!

Our next meet is very nearly upon us – next Saturday the 29th of May!!!
Due to popular request, this month’s theme is crochet!



Whether you’re a newbie, or an old….ahem, experienced hand with the hook, it will be lovely to get together and catch up.
If you are new to the hook, have a look at some of the vast wealth of online resources, such as this or this. There are even videos like this, if you want to get a flying start.

Even though Prefect Michelle can’t be with us this month, she’s offered to write us up some instructions for a ripple rug, and we’ll bring along some books and other resources for granny squares (who doesn’t love a granny?).



All you need to bring is some yarn and an appropriately sized crochet hook.
If you’re a total beginner, 8ply yarn and a 4mm hook should do it!
You can get a hook from a yarn store, Lincraft or Spotlight, or even BigW - if you’re having trouble or need more info on supplies, let us know!

As usual, please RSVP in the comments - it would be great if you could let us know if you’re a total beginner or an old hooker (awww, come on, I've got to get one crass joke in there!!).



Of course it’s the usual deal with the venue - $6 to cover the room hire, and bring a plate to share for afternoon tea if you feel so inclined. We’ll bring the tea and coffee and get there early to put the heaters on!

See you on Saturday!

xo George, Naomi, Michelle & Bron =)

What's going on up in the North?

The Finnish Brown Owls report about the past two months. February's theme was learning a new skill, tatting. The beginning wasn't too encouraging, but after the idea had matured some time, the secret was revealed:

I hope to show a small finished project some time this year.

In March the Brownie activity was sewing. The Charity of the Month was Unicef, and I made two dolls for adoption. Because I also gave the dolls as birthday presents to blogging friends, I paid the adoption fee to Unicef, securing two real children the necessary 6 vaccinations to save their lives.

 

April's charity project is the Chemo Cap Campaign spreading rapidly all over Finland. I started crocheting and knitting in the last week of March, and yesterday I mailed these 7 caps to the local campaign office:

 

Being a single Brown Owl in this country makes it a bit lonely business, but following the blog posts of you other owls down there on the other side of the world inspires me. If I had a group here, I would definitely include tea and biscuits to the meetings. It would be lovely to chat while working! Should any one of you happen to visit Helsinki some time, we could arrange a meeting as I'm only 50 km away. Just let me know!

Sydney : Crochet Pub night

Looking to turn your crochet from this

into this?

image via

Looking for other crafty gals to enjoy a drink with? Then join us at the third Sydney Brown Owls catch up for 2010.

Where: Madison Hotel, 52 Devonshire St, Surry Hills (Right near the central station exit)

When: Wednesday, 17th Feb from 7pm

What to bring:
- Your name badge
- yarn or wool of your choice to work with
- crochet hook
- any crochet books you have that others can have a look through

PLEASE NOTE: if you have spare hooks you can lend to other girls please bring them along! Also, if you have any "unwanted" yarn, bring that along too and we can have a bit of a swap.

Please leave a comment if you're coming along!

New Owls Welcome - just read this post xx

Perth Owls Night Meet

Greetings Owlettes of Perth.

Our next meeting will be a little bit different this time. Since the last Saturday of September also means Grand Final Weekend, we decided to move the meeting 2 days earlier. :*)

So if you are free on Thursday the 24th September 2009 do come and join us at the Exomod in Mt Lawley for a little bit of Stitchin' and Bitchin'.

Details are:-

Date: 24th September 2009

Time: 7pm onwards

Craft: Crochet, knitting or embroidery.

Address: 615 Beaufort Street Mt Lawley WA

RSVP by 23rd September 2009 simply by commenting on this post.

See you there ladies. :*)

Canberra Owls crochet!

Yesterday some of Canberra's Brown Owls braved the wintry weather and got together for an afternoon dedicated to mastering the Granny Square.

Our Crocheter Extraordinaire shows us how its done


Hooray - Naomi's first granny square! Now on to the next!


And Emma (wearing her lovely new hand knitted cardi), also working on her first square:

It was Emma's last meeting with the Canberra Brown Owls - she's moving away soon =(
We'll miss you Emma!!! (And the lovely goodies you bake to bring along too!)
But we wish you all the best, and good luck with your move and new job!!



As well as having excellent help on hand, and Pip's handy dandy instructions from the Meet Me at Mike's book, we had a few other books with us too - our faves that we'd recommend if you're on a quest to conquer the granny were the Happy Hooker, and 200 Crochet Blocks.
If you have any other recommendations we'd love to hear! =)

And finally, a quick reminder that the next Canberra Brown Owls meeting will be Sunday 26 July - we'll be learning about English paper piecing (have a look at the fun the Sydney Owls had with this!!)
We'll email soon with all the details! =)

See you next time!!

Bron xo

Canberra Brown Owls - Crochet a granny square!

Photo by LidiaLuz

Our next Canberra Brown Owls meeting will be Saturday June 27 from 2 pm to 4.30 pm at Downer Community Centre. We will be learning how to crochet a granny square! Check out Bron's blog post for some more granny inspiration!

So bring along:

* Some 8 ply yarn in various colours that you like! It can be wool or acrylic, but wool (in my opinion) is a lot nicer to work with when you're starting out.

* 5 mm crochet hook, in either metal, wood or bamboo. Plastic can be a bit slippery to use.

* Your friendly smiles!

* Some yummy goodies to share, but only if you want!

* Show and tell from the last Brown Owls!

Take a look at these before you come. We will have a few Brown Owls helping out on the day with the crochet tuition.

How to Crochet A Granny Square - Original Post
How to Crochet A Granny Square - part 1
How to Crochet A Granny Square - part 2

Pip has put the instructions up online too - they are over here. Please print these out and bring them along - they will help you!

If you already know how to do a granny square, and want to do something a little different, check out this link for a flower brooch. You might like to try that instead.

Also don't forget to RSVP to this post. Looking forward to seeing you all again!

And for your diaries, our next meets will be:

Sun 26 July - English paper piecing
Sun 23 August
Sun 27 September
Sun 25 October
Sun 22 November
December to be announced!

Tea Cosy Please

I have a new red teapot - Yeah!
The next step is a crocheted tea cosy - but I'm struggling to find a pattern. Are there any owls out there that have a pattern they can share with me?

Perth Owls do the Granny...

well almost. Since the Brisbane Owls did the Granny last month, Perth Owls decided to join in the fun. Thanks to Miss Craftapalooza for being so patient with some of us. She is a lefty and had to teach us righties how to crochet. It was not easy but she did it.

There are not many pictures because we were having so much fun laughing and talking that I forgot to take photos.



See that blue wonky Granny? That's mine. I am please to say that when I came home, I tried it out again and I did manage to do a Granny. Yippie.

Keep an eye out for a call for the next meeting on the 30th May 2009. We are going to learn how to Screen Print with one of the talented Owls. So stay tune.

xx,
Twittering Owl (Feli)

Perth Owls Meeting Reminder...

Just another friendly reminder for Brown Owls in Perth. Places are still available but filling up fast so make sure you RSVP by 11.59pm today. :)

Date: 2nd May 2009

Time: 2-4pm

Venue: Baby Goose, 945 Beaufort Street, Inglewood.

Theme: Crochet. So bring a crochet hook, what ever yarn you have and $2 for tea and coffee.

[image via skymagenta]

Since the Theme this month will be Crochet, the Prefects have decided that we would crochet Granny Squares!! Yippiee!!

I will be printing basic crochet instructions for the day just in case but maybe you would like to read up on Pip's post on How to Crochet Granny Squares HERE, HERE and HERE before going to the meeting.

Pip also directs us to a few websites that she has found on the subject.

• Purl Bee (Crochet Basics)
• Purl Bee (Granny Square Project)
• Attic24
  

Can't wait!!

xoxo,

Twittering Owl (Feli)

Brisbane Meet - Crochet Class Requirements

by creative breathing on Flickr

Hi Ladies,

I have emailed everyone that showed interest in their comment that they wanted to join the crochet -along class at our meet this weekend, but thought I would put the info on here too just in case you don't see your emails..

Ok, so you will need to bring:

1 x 5.5mm crochet hook

8ply yarn (this can be acrylic or anything you might have lying around, bring a few colours if you want)

$2 for photocopying/paper costs for the instructional handouts

a smile

from Flickr pool here

xEm

Sydney Owl's Second Meeting: Crochet

The Sydney Owls met last week for our second get together. We had a great space surrounded by books in the upstairs area of Burkelouw Books in Leichhardt.

Corrie was very patient teaching the beginners as we all busied ourselves with crochet projects. Some Owls were already quite skilled with their hooks and some of us struggled to produce a granny square! As expected we all had a great time and enjoyed each other's company.

Thanks to our Sydney members for making our get togethers a success and something we all look forward to.

Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 6th may. Stay tuned for details.

Sydney Brown Owls - April Meeting

[Image from bekahjah's flickr stream.]

Sydney Brown Owls are meeting again on April 1st. We'll be breaking out our hooks and wool this month with crochet basics. Along with our in-house experts, we hope to have Shirley and C's mom join us to help out. There could be a little knitting action too. If you'd like to join in the fun, be sure to bring a basic crochet hook and ball of yarn. As always, you're welcome to bring your own craft to work on.

Please RSVP in the comments, if we'll see you on April 1st at:
Berkelouw Books
Upstairs area
70 Norton St
Leichhardt
Telephone - 61 02 9560 3200

From the city you can take the following bus routes: 436, 437, 438, 440.
Get driving directions.

Wednesday 1st April
7pm until 10pm

Marion has setup on a Google Calendar for us which I'll be inviting you all to join. It includes details on each meeting, as well as local craft shows and sales. If you'd like to add an event to the calendar, you can let the prefects know.

Finally, (long post, I know) Lisa sent out details of our Sydney members' blogs. If you haven't received the mail, please check your spam folder. Some of the girls had a little trouble and we want to make sure everyone's getting the Sydney Brown Owls latest scoop.

Happy Crafting!