In case some of you who view this blogspot are not locals the link here should go through to a site that is all about the area we live in. We get a mention on the site as well.
This is the first time I've tried to do the link, so I hope it works!
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Our June meeting
How quickly this last month has gone by! We've had a lot of rain so I hope you've been indoors knitting, instead of outside in the garden as is often the case at this time of year.
Following on from last months visit by Anne Lavene I have been looking at holding position, or partial knitting and seeing what can be achieved using this simple technique. At our next meeting on Tuesday 5th June I will be bringing some things along to show you and talking about how we can also achieve some simple and effective accessories and garments using partial knitting. I'll bring along a knitting machine and demonstrate some of the ideas as well.
I started looking at hold position as a way of patterning on our machines when we couldn't use the punchcard or electronic patterns. I must have known that one day I wouldn't be able to use the patterning on my machine - I was knitting away last Sunday when all of a sudden things started to go wrong. The timing belt on my Brother 965 had broken. So until I can a replacement it will be manual patterning only on that machine.
As a reminder to those club members who can't make the meeting, our July meeting is the time to bring along the items you've made for the challenge - something to wear on your feet. I hope you haven't forgotten. I'm looking forward to some unusual ideas, think outside the box as they say.
Our next meeting is on Tuesday June 5th. 8pm as usual. Visitors and new members are always welcome.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
May Meeting
Our speaker tonight was Anne Lavene, a knitwear designer extrodinaire! This was certainly thinking outside the box! After a brief bit of her history, Anne then went on to show us some of her work and we were certainly impressed. She works on the principle of easy to knit and easy to fit, but all her samples had some unusual touches. All were knitted on just a single bed Silver Reed standard gauge machine. A lot of her business is selling one off designs for special occassions, but she also hires outfits. It would seem her designs are very popular in Scandinavian countries and are displayed in art galleries.
Ann demonstrated some of her techniques and answered many questions during the evening. I think we all went home inspired!
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Our May meeting is about to happen.
I've been so busy that the May meeting has crept up on me. The first Tuesday of the month is actually the 1st of the month as well.
We have Anne Lavene coming to talk to us and show us some of her interesting and unusual designs. Anne only uses a single bed knitting machine so everyone should be able to knit her designs.
As usual visitors are welcome to attend our meeting.
We have Anne Lavene coming to talk to us and show us some of her interesting and unusual designs. Anne only uses a single bed knitting machine so everyone should be able to knit her designs.
As usual visitors are welcome to attend our meeting.
Friday, April 13, 2007
April Meeting
This month we didn't have a speaker, instead Liz was on hand with a knitting machine. She went over a few techniques which Terry Viner had shown us, just to make sure we understood them. And she demonstrated other things by request, some using holding position as dimensional knitting is very popular at the moment, and can be translated to the machine. A lot of laughter, and some learning!
Members knitting
This is a blanket knitted by Sheila using Magicolour. It is knitted using holding position to create a square. Finished with posh tassels!
Important Member
This is a very important member of our club, Phyllis. She is the lady who makes the tea and coffee, we couldn't function without her!
Friday, March 23, 2007
Our April meeting
Time is moving on very fast again. Our April meeting will soon be here. On Tuesday 3rd April we are having a hands on and problem solving evening, so the knitting machine will be there, and bring your knitting needles as well.
I've been having a go at some of the things Gillian showed us last month, and combining it with machine knitting. It's still in the experimental stage, but showing definite possibilities. So many ideas running round in my head, so little time to do them!
Bring the things you're working on, or have finished recently. We'd love to see them.
If you have a specific problem please post a comment, or drop me an e-mail and we can try to sort it out on the night.
I've been having a go at some of the things Gillian showed us last month, and combining it with machine knitting. It's still in the experimental stage, but showing definite possibilities. So many ideas running round in my head, so little time to do them!
Bring the things you're working on, or have finished recently. We'd love to see them.
If you have a specific problem please post a comment, or drop me an e-mail and we can try to sort it out on the night.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Friday, March 09, 2007
Gillian's samples
Two more of Gillian's samples. The scarf is multi-directional squares knitted in variegated eyelash type yarn, making an interesting pattern.
March Meeting
This month we were lucky to have a visit from Gillian Lamb, who demonstrated multi-directional knitting. Although the evening was mainly about hand knitting, this technique can be adapted for the machine, or hand knitted pieces can be incorporated with machine knitting. Gillian brought a lot of samples to show, and I hope the photos do them justice. A large part of the evening was spent with us trying to hand knit the joined on squares, some of which weren't quite squares! This method of knitting is good to use up yarn oddments, and yarns of different textures, and the results aren't always predictable, but can be stunning. There are a lot of books on this subject which we looked at, and I'm sure it inspired us to greater things! Maybe next
month someone will have tried this technique!
The photos below show some of Gillian's samples and the club members having fun knitting!
A sample of joined squares incorporated with knitting.
This is a sample of multi-directional knitting using different yarns, the ends are used to embellish with surface crochet.
This month's knitting!
Machine Knitting Live
Saturday 3rd March was the day for this exhibition. Liz was there helping on the Guild stand, and doing a great job.All our favourite suppliers were there too. Plenty of patterns, yarns and goodies to tempt all to part with their money! Nice to see new ideas too. Even some hand knitting ideas, particularly liked Fiona Morris and her scarves. This is only held once a year at Bournemouth but with dwindling resources for us machine knitters it is nice to be able to support it, and judging from the number of people there, they feel the same.
Thanks to Ann Smith of Machine Knitting Monthly for organising the exhibition, and her helpers, it must involve a lot of hard work, but we all enjoyed ourselves.
Friday, March 02, 2007
March is here already
Gosh, another month gone by! It's time for me to tell you what's happening at our March meeting.
On Tuesday 6th March Gillian Lamb is coming to show us some multidirectional knitting. This is a technique for knitting a garment that often has only 2 ends to sew in when you've finished and very little making up. It is used mainly by hand knitters, but were working hard to translate it into machine knitting. If you're coming along, bring a pair of knitting needles and some yarn with you, so you can have a go. Gillian will be showing us some garments and samples knitted using the technique. The methods works for everything from knitted garments, to accessories, footware and it is also a much more interesting way of working squares for blankets.
I'm looking forward to a really interesting evening.
Friday, February 09, 2007
February Meeting
This evening we were visited by Terry Viner, a rather larger than life figure, no offense! His sense of humour had us in stitches, not of the knitted variety!
Terry's subject was cleaning machines, and we were in for a treat.
In front of him, one punchcard machine, which was rapidly taken apart, with piles of screws on the table(a good idea to put them in a pot so they don't go walk abouts). No such problems for Terry. Once the machine was in pieces, out came the long brush and the fluff inside was soon banished. Oiling and checking needles was part of the process too. Simple, we thought! Then the job of putting it together, again no problem for Terry. Voila, one clean, oiled and perfectly working knitting machine! Don't think I'd be so confident doing it alone at home!
After a short break Terry taught us some tricks with the ribber and the transfer carriage. Talk about making life easier. Terry's background meant he understood the workings of the machines and accessories and could work out simpler methods to do things. Well worth listening to!
If anyone out there gets the chance to see Terry please make the effort, you will learn something.
Also this evening people were shown the article about the club in the local newspaper. This article has since been repeated in a local free paper, so lots of publicity for us.
Terry's subject was cleaning machines, and we were in for a treat.
In front of him, one punchcard machine, which was rapidly taken apart, with piles of screws on the table(a good idea to put them in a pot so they don't go walk abouts). No such problems for Terry. Once the machine was in pieces, out came the long brush and the fluff inside was soon banished. Oiling and checking needles was part of the process too. Simple, we thought! Then the job of putting it together, again no problem for Terry. Voila, one clean, oiled and perfectly working knitting machine! Don't think I'd be so confident doing it alone at home!
After a short break Terry taught us some tricks with the ribber and the transfer carriage. Talk about making life easier. Terry's background meant he understood the workings of the machines and accessories and could work out simpler methods to do things. Well worth listening to!
If anyone out there gets the chance to see Terry please make the effort, you will learn something.
Also this evening people were shown the article about the club in the local newspaper. This article has since been repeated in a local free paper, so lots of publicity for us.
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