STITCH 'N BITCH

MAWA’s SnB Group meets on the first Saturday of every month from noon – 4 pm.

WHAT IS STITCH ‘N BITCH?
Stitch ’n Bitch is a phrase that has been used to refer to social knitting circles since at least WWII. In 1998, an internet guestbook called the Stitch & Bitch Café was started where people would go online to exchange stitch stories. In 2002, Debbie Stoller published her first book Stitch ’n Bitch: The Knitters Handbook. Stitch ’n Bitch groups were born and became immensely popular throughout the world. Stitch ’n Bitch groups meet today world wide on a weekly or monthly basis at coffee shops and public spaces to socialize and share knitting advice.

 

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MAWA Celebrates International Women’s Day with Stitch ’n Bitch!
Saturday March 6, 2010, noon-4pm at MAWA
Free! All genders welcome! Snacks will be served!

Our much anticipated 2nd Annual IWD S’nB event! Four master craftswomen will be on hand between noon and 4pm to share their skills in wool dying, crochet, bookmaking and doll making. Come early and stay late! Enjoy good food, good company and some good-old-fashioned fun making art with friends. This event is cosponsored by The Manitoba Crafts Council, The Institute for Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of Winnipeg, The Manitoba Crafts Museum and Library, and The Edge Gallery.

Match Box Books with Nicole Coulson. Beginning with a small painted match box as the “cover”, create its content with bits of painted, drawn or collaged paper, in book form or not. Embellish its exterior, give it personality and broaden the definition of “book”. With a background in photography, calligraphy and bookbinding, Nicole’s work has shown in group exhibitions at the Centre culturel franco-manitobain, La Maison des artistes and the Mennonite Heritage Gallery, as well as in several books and publications.

Crochet with Lynne Schulz. Learn crochet basics by creating medallions and granny squares. The stitches are simple and multiples can be made, to piece together into vests, scarves, capes, bags and more! Lynne Schulz enjoys working with her hands, whether it is gathering and growing her own seeds or hand spinning yarns for her fibre work. She is also a printmaker who has focused on the male nude in her prints and drawings. Currently she works as a welder in a fabrication/job-shop, and crochets during her lunch hours.

Fibre Dying with Kelly Ruth. Kelly will give an overview of two dye techniques commonly used in dying wools for knitting, and cotton for quilting and batik. She will demonstrate the use of fibre reactive dyes and acid dyes, while emphasizing how to safely use the dyes in less than ideal workspaces. If you wish, bring small amounts of cotton or wool to dye for a project you are working on. Kelly Ruth is an emerging artist having spent a decade employed as the dyer/painter for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s wardrobe department. By working alongside many world-class artists during this period, she has learned much of what she has applied to her career as a painter. In the last three years she has exhibited in Miami, Florida, and in Winnipeg at Cre8ery, The Piano Nobile Gallery and the Gas Station Theatre.

Doll Making with Jennie O. Make your own doll-icious lady, gent or creature! Many of Jennie O’s earlier endeavours were “below the radar”. She worked and exhibited in makeshift studios and self-published Latchkey, an all-girl art zine. Jennie’s affinity for community and art led her to Art City, where she was the Studio Director for over four years. Best known for her dolls, Jennie also paints, draws and creates sculptures from found materials. She has exhibited her work nationally and internationally in many venues, including group shows at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Toronto and The Winnipeg Art Gallery.

Caption: Jennie O, Mr. Ketchup Chips Musical Mobile

And that’s not all…. Needles fly through the air, stringy bits lie on the floor, and patterns and skills are shared as uproarious laughter fills the air at MAWA the first Saturday of every month between noon and 4 pm. Please join us for these upcoming Stitch ’n Bitch events:

Pysanka Workshop!
Saturday April 3, 2010, noon-4pm at MAWA

Bohdana Bashuk from the Ukrainian Museum will be at MAWA on April 3 to teach us how to make traditional Ukrainian Easter Eggs called Pysanka. Please bring a small container to take home your egg. Paces are limited. Call Tracy at 949-9490 to register.

Make your own Magnificent Monster!
Saturday May 1, 2010, noon-4pm at MAWA

Sew a little friend with a friend… bring your Mom, Mentor or Munchkin.