Welcome to Your Virtual Knitgroup

Hey knitters! I’m buzzing to share a new virtual space at goBrunch, built just for our love of yarn! It might sound a little out there because it’s brand new, but trust me, it’s the next best thing to being in the same room!

This virtual hangout is totally free, no hidden fees or pesky ads! I built it because, well, creating it was a blast and honestly, I think we all deserve a space better than Facebook or Zoom, right? The main room’s comfy enough for nine knitters and the media room has eight cozy chairs, but as our group grows, we can add even bigger spaces!

Here’s the best part: your feedback matters! Let me know what you think of the space, any ideas you have to make it even more awesome, or hey, even invite me to join your knitgroup (that would be super fun!).

Here, I’ll walk you through how easy it is to log-in and enjoy:

This virtual hangout works best when you hold your phone sideways (landscape mode). It’ll give you a much better view for all your chatting and knitting fun!

You can totally personalize your experience. Pick a username, anything you like, no need for real names or emails here. Please note: don’t use a sentence for a user name. It makes it hard to keep track of who’s who. Once you have chosen your user name click on “Let’s Go”

Next you’ll see a camera icon and several faces. Scroll through the various choices and click on the one you want. Or if you want to use your own picture, click on the camera icon to upload it from your device.

Once you’ve chosen your avatar (that’s your fancy online self!), just click “This is me” and you’re in the lobby, ready to chat and knit!

Welcome to the Lobby, knitters! This might look familiar – it’s actually inspired by the old general store my parents ran back in Smalltown, Ontario (say hi to my roots!).

As we grow you will be able to see Knitgroup schedules, upcoming events and other interesting happenings here.

Think of it as our virtual meeting spot. Here’s a quick rundown:

  • Using the tool bar at the bottom of the room, make sure your mic and camera are working if you want to use them (there’s a handy check here).
  • Those big blue circles are seats! Click one to plop your avatar down and get comfy.
  • The bar at the bottom lets you control your mic, camera, and other cool tools.
  • Ready to explore? The circle with an arrow above the doors leads to the main room, and others will pop up as you navigate. Have fun wandering around!

To easily move between rooms, utilize the “ALL ROOMS” tool. This handy tool, located in the toolbar at the bottom of the room, shows a list of all available rooms. Simply click on the button labeled “All Rooms” to view and join any room with just one click.

Please be aware: Your toolbar will have fewer items than mine, as I am the administrator. 

This window displays all the available rooms in this space. To enter a room, simply click on the “Join” button indicated by the pink arrow.

Alright knitters, welcome to our main hangout spot! Feel free to explore the other rooms too – there’s a whole virtual world of yarn waiting for you.

Managing the Chat Box in the Lower Right Corner

Is the chat box obstructing your view? You have two options:

  • Minimize the Chat Box:

    • Click the semi-circular tab with the down arrow at the top of the box.
  • Reposition the Chat Box:

    • Click and hold the 4-way arrows.
    • Drag it to a different location on your screen.

Discovering How to Send a Private Message in goBrunch

I’ve been using goBrunch for a while and just today discovered how to send a private message! Here’s how:

  1. Open Friends List:
    • Click the small arrow on the left side of your text box (see first image).
    • Your text box will display a list of friends.
  2. Send a Direct Message:
    • Scroll down to “Direct Messages” (second image).
    • Click on the person you want to message.
  3. Return to Room Chat:
    • Scroll up and click on “Room Chat” (third image).

It’s pretty straightforward!

Remember those pre-pandemic library or LYS knitgroup days? The camaraderie, the shared projects, the laughter? We all missed it! Sure, Facebook and Zoom helped, but they couldn’t replace that cozy, in-person feel.

Fellow Fiber Nuts, I’m excited to announce a new virtual hangout on goBrunch. It’s like a yarn shop you can visit anytime! Video chat, share projects, learn new techniques – it’s all there. Think of it as your own virtual knitgroup, anytime you want. Head over to go.brunch/artemisnorth and join the fun!

Please drop me a note and tell me what you think:

itsme@artemisnorth.com

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Adding friends and discovering features:

Adding Friends and Discovering Features

  • Explore Rooms: Click around to find hidden “eggs” and learn features.
  • Adding Friends:
    • Click on someone’s circle.
    • Click the Plus (+) sign to add them as a friend.
    • Click again to see a clock icon.
    • Receive a notification if they accept your request.
  • Interacting:
    • Click “GIF” on someone’s circle to send a gif.
  • Use Tools:
    • Explore Circle Cam and Presenter Cam.
    • Learn to share screens and Google Docs.
    • Link to: Learning to Use Sharing Tools in Virtual Knitgroup.
  • Drama-Free Zone: Relax, chat, and knit positively.
  • Comment Section: Share thoughts or interesting finds.
  • Explore More: Check out all the features on Artemisnorth.com and provide feedback!

To learn to use all of the sharing tools check out this post:

Learning to Use Sharing Tools in Virtual Knitgroup