Thursday, June 24, 2010

Guild of Machine Knitters AGM


We had been asked if we would like to have a table at the Guild Day and AGM to display our work. We were one of 6 clubs invited to have a table.

We were also helping with the running of the day, mainly with the tea and coffees but also with the clearning up after.

It was a fantastic day. Over 100 people turned up. The AGM part of the day is over very quickly but it's nice to hear what they have been doing and it's not boring really. There were talks by Ruth Lee and Iris Bishop. The talks were very different, but equally interesting. There was also a fashion show at the end of the day, with members showing garments they had made. It's really nice to see what everyone had made. There was time in the breaks to look at the club displays, as well as the patterns brought along by designers, Fiona Morris, Beryl Jarvis, and Ann Brown. Iris Bishop also brought her patterns along and Ruth Lee put on a display of her work. Heathercraft were there with their yarns and spares.

We were all very tired at the end of the day, but despite the hard work it was very enjoyable. Next year the AGM will be in the Staffordshire area, so I doubt many of us will be able to get to it. But if it ever comes down this way again I'm sure I'll be there.

Our 2010 Competition Entry




The Guild of Machine Knitters run an annual competition for machine knitters. Once again we decided to have a go in the category for clubs or groups of 5 or more knitters. This category is for the Sherborne Vase.

The theme of the competition this year was "The Jewellery Box". Nina covered the box and made the tray to go inside. She also knitted some of the pieces of Jewellery. Items were also knitted by Liz, Sylvia, Sheila, Sandra and Marcia.
Unfortunately we didn't win, or get a Highly Commended, but it's not the winning, it's the taking part that counts. We were pleased with our entry.





Our June Meeting

Oops, who forgot the camera this month! Sorry no photos.

We spent time discussing what we would be putting on our stand at the Guild of Machine Knitters AGM that was to take place on 19 June in Basingstoke. I left the meeting with lots of garments and the decision to see what looked best when we put the things out. I also took along the current blogspot book (we print out the pages of the blogspot every so often for those that haven't got internet access). More about the AGM in the next post.

After a show and tell, when Nina showed us a white jacket she had knitted for a wedding and lots more chatter, we had coffee/tea and biccies and then I set the machine up to show our beginners some of the techniques that had been described over the last few months. Hopefully it will mean they can get the knitting to stay on their machines. It was more of a refresher course really as they have all used machines before, just been away from them for a while and forgotten what they knew.

I look forward to seeing how they get on next month.