Newsletter No 15 - send 29 April

Hi Everyone 

Where has the time gone? It only seems like last week I sent out the 14th Newsletter.

Hard to believe that we have been keeping in touch this way for over a year now.

I’ve been in touch with the school but as yet they haven’t had confirmation that they can hire out school rooms and won’t know until nearer the time if there will be any restrictions.  They have provisionally pencilled us in the first Tuesday of the month (except January and August of course) for the school year starting September 2021.  We’re lucky that all the dates fall within the school term but school events have yet to be finalised so they are unable to confirm the dates, or offer alternatives if the dates we want are not available. It will be July before we know the final dates and they will still be subject to restrictions in place at the time of the meetings.

So with any luck we should be back to meetings in September.  Hopefully everyone who can should be fully vaccinated by then and we’ll all be working out what our new normal looks like. For me, as long as it includes my crafting and seeing close family I’ll be happy!

Club members - Don’t forget to let me know if you want any yarn even if it’s just to “play” with.  I am more than willing to part with some of my rather extensive stash.  No input from anyone regarding charities that might be interested in receiving our produce, so if you know of one do please get in touch. 

I had intended this Newsletter to have a mix of news and articles but once again time has defeated me, but I suspect this short version is better than nothing.

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Knitting and Crochet Guild News

Members of the Knitting and Crochet Guild can now sign in to the members area and read or download a copy of the latest issue of Across the Needlebed. Written with machine knitters in mind, it will also be of interest to anyone who knits and crochets.  Copies of SlipKnot are available for download too.  If you haven’t yet followed up the email about activated your account please do so and also create a new Gift Aid declaration within Sheep itself so that they can claim all they are entitled to.  See page 5 of Slipknot SK170 for more information on this or if you haven’t received the email.

World Wide Knit in Public Day

 

Some of you may remember June 2013, when met t

ogether in the Hart Centre and spent the whole day knitting for the World Wide Knit in Public Day.  Those where the days when we could all meet!

The date for this year is Saturday 12th June At the moment six people can meet outdoors, but that may increase in May if things go to plan. We won’t be planning anything however there is nothing to stop you, or a few of you getting together somewhere public and knitting.  Maybe go to the local park to knit.  As I have discovered, there are so many children and young people that have never seen knitting, so think about taking yarn and spare needles so they can have a try. Cast on a few stitches before you go so they can try straight away!  If you’ve only got an hour to spare, take your chair out into your front garden and knit there for a change.  Fingers crossed for a good day weather-wise, and send me a photo for the Newsletter if you can.

Browsing the World Wide Web

The other morning I was looking at the KCG Face book group whilst I took a coffee break.  One of the members had posted a link to The Guardian.  Why are people so surprised to find men that knit?

Have you got 40 minutes to spare?  A podcast on the BBC World Service The Forum could be of interest.  It’s titled Unravelling the History of Knitting.  It can be downloaded so you can listen to it at your preferred time.

Here’s a website that helps you convert between different gauge knitting machines. The Midwest Machine Knitters Collaborative has other educational and online resources too.  Must go back for another look around!

Last time I was talking about socks.  I don’t think I gave a link to patterns where you start at the heel, rather than toe or cuff.  So here’s one from Ravelry. The thing I’m not sure about on this pattern is the method of casting off across the top of the foot.  Might not be too comfortable but I guess you could also kitchener stitch instead.  If you don’t like that pattern, try a Ravelry pattern search for “socks - other”.  Using the filters narrow the search down to “free” and “knitting” and you’ll find another 250+ patterns including dance socks, yoga socks, toe socks and numerous other variations.

My Stay and Home and Keep Busy List/Chart

Lots achieved this month, especially when compared with last month.  I am still sorting out the extensive stashes and the boxes, bags and drawers full of miscellaneous “stuff” that was  deemed  “might be useful one day”.  I must be realistic and accept that if I haven’t dipped into a large box of fabrics in the last 4 or so years I am unlikely to do so in the foreseeable future!  It’s the same with ribbon and lace.  Will I ever use it? And after all this time I can’t remember what is in the boxes let alone what I wanted it for.  I won’t just dump it; it can find a new home via one  of the local upcycling groups where they repurpose unwanted items or somewhere that has rag recycling.

I also have to accept that I must let a lot of the items I kept to make a good display at exhibitions go. Not the knitting yet, but the things that supported them so a display looked good. They are just taking up space. I will never take the lead on a stand again so why am I keeping all this stuff “just in case”.  And if I did I am sure I can find something else that I could use instead. I must now resist the temptation to change my mind and take things out of the piles to go.

So I’ve made a start but still have lots more to do.  In moving things around and going through things I did discover a few yarns I’d forgotten I had, including a couple of cones of black DK acrylic and a few whole and part balls of DK in an assortment of colours.  There was also some part balls of aran and something that looks like it could be chunky. I’m thinking that for those I may have to strand up finer yarns to give me enough to make something, but we’ll see.  What I do know is that some will be used for weaving; some for crochet and some for knitting of course.  Results of my progress next time hopefully and if not the time after.

I’ve been using some more of the 2/16 cashmere.  Weaving again, but using it two strands together for both the warp and the weft. So whilst I have emptied four cones I’ve also taken some off at least four more.  The two strands together made a good thickness for scarves and the part cones have enabled me to try out different colour combinations. The photo on the right doesn’t show that the stripes are two different colours.  The scarves have turned out to be really soft and one is a bit longer than the other so they can be worn in different ways.  I’m sure I’ll be making a few more as I’ve plenty of yarn left to play with but before I do that I’ve a few other things I want to do.

       

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Show and Tell

Gaynor has been in touch.  She asked  Have you ever spun wool with a drop spindle?  If so, can you give me any tips etc. and did you knit it up?   Unfortunately I missed the spinning demonstration back in the days when we could meet.  If anyone has any advice for Gaynor then I’m happy to pass it on.

Nina has been in touch.  She said: I forgot to take a photo of this jacket before I gave it to my daughter, so I've borrowed it back.  It's knitted in a Foxstones yarn something I've had in my stash for a long time.  It's a mix of Mohair, wool and acrylic, 4 ply.

Just a simple jacket drawn out on my knit radar, drop shoulder and edges at the front allowed to roll.  Made up with the purl side as right side to get curl on the edges. Nice colour Nina.

Karen has sent me a couple of pictures.  The socks are her own pattern and the yarn is Marriners sock yarn called Cosy Toes.  Karen used the shade called Flamingo and tells me that the yarn seemed finer than sock yarns she’s used before so could be ideal for wearing in the summer.

 Karens mittens are from this book from Arnall-Culliford Knitwear. The book was a present. As you’ll read, you’ll get to learn a different technique every month. This time it is the folded hem technique which we all know will flare out if we don’t get it right!  Karen commented that the way they made the thumb is interesting too.  The yarn is  Schoppel Zauberball which she just happened to have in her stash. 

Karen says these fit very well,  She’s knitting a second pair using the remaining Marriner sock yarn.

 

Sally sent me an email with a photo.  She said: I finally finished a garment!

A light-weight summer cardigan in Bramwell Duo Magic. I've been fortunate to have kept working full-time from home over the last year, and work has been very busy, which has left me a bit brain-drained on the weekends. I've been working away on this cardigan for months. It started with the simple intention of getting some practice with using the Knit Leader, and using up the seemingly endless cones of Duo Magic (it really is magic how many garments you can get out of a cone!). Unfortunately the lack of brain focus resulted in 3 left fronts, 2 backs, and 1 sleeve when I started sewing up, so there was a lot of frogging and re-starting. Then, after having sewn it all together, I lost focus again whilst steaming, and steamed the rib stretch out of one of the cuffs! At some point I will build up the focus to knit a new cuff and sew it on the end of the offending sleeve. Until now, it functions as a cardigan so I'm going to wear it regardless!

 

And lastly, here’s something I’ve finished - hand knitting!  It’s DK acrylic and size 6-9 months.  Yarn and pattern from inherited stash.  Knitted for a niece who had a baby just a few days before Christmas so it should be just right for late summer/autumn. The pattern called for the hems and neckline to curl naturally as knitting does.

 That’s your lot!

And finally:

 Until we meet again

 

Keep Calm

and carry on

Knitting or Crocheting!

 

Hands, Face, Space

 

Keep Active, Stay Positive - We will meet again