Cut and Sew

Last night at the May meeting Liz updated everyone about the Knit in Public event on 8th June from 10 am till 4 pm at the Hart Centre, Fleet. The blankets are coming on really well, Liz has been improvising the joining methods for the odd sized pieces by picking up and knitting fillers between them and pulling them together much like a puzzle. We will publish more photos of the blankets and from the Knit in Public event after saturday

 Then we had show and tell. Here are some of the beautiful items completed this last month

 

 Liz showed us how to finger knit




The main event was Frances Perkins our speaker for the evening who demonstrated 'Cut and Sew' techniques and brought along some samples

Start by marking the neckline placing with contrast yarn markers shown here in green wrong side facing. The neck outline has been sewn with an overlock or zigzag stitch prior to cutting, to hold the fabric and stitches in place and is then cut with sharp scissors. Usually the shoulders would be joined prior to this so the whole neckband could be made in one but for this exercise just the front is being made

Hold up to the machine to decide the stiches for neckline, make a note plus add 2 for either end join later.

Do a weaving cast-on with waste yarn and knit a number of rows, then a row with cord to ease removal later. Then do about 3 rows of main yarn for one of the enclosing flaps

Next mark the row with a 1x1 row of slip stitches by putting alternate needles to pattern position setting to slip and knitting across. Every other needles is knitted and slipped which gives a lovely marking line on wrong side. This is a great tip for marking to enable picking up some rows below in same yarn colour and doesnt show on right side for making ridges, pockets and many other uses and effects. 

Knit the rows for depth of neck. On this demo Frances made some eyelets for a picot edge then knitted  more rows for neck depth other side.

Pick up from the previously marked row and knit across.

Take off on waste yarn but don't cut the main yarn

Using same needles just used for band except for the two extra at each end pick up front piece right side facing . Do outside first then middle then in betweens until all is evenly picked up and use 3x2 tool

Pull all the needles forward so main front is behind the latches and all latches are open. Pull out the 1 extra needle either end and pick up the neckband wrong side facing. The extra end needles are for the end of band either side

Picked up and ready to close latches and knit through

Close latches and carefully but firmly push the needles back so they knit through

All done

Pick up the other flap from below next to the knitted in cord. This time though knit it across with the main yarn you didn't break off earlier. This can be tough to do manually and it helps to pull needles forward first then knit across using a whole number looser. Then do another loose row maybe even 10 depending on your preferred cast off method. Cast off.

Remove waste and here is the front side completed

Wrong side facing all complete

June and time to meet again

Our June meeting is on Tuesday (4th June) at the usual time of 8 pm.  It seems to have come round quickly again.

Frances Perkins is coming to demonstrate a neckband that is suitable to put on a cut and sew neckline.  She's also promised a few hints and tips as well.  Hand knitters often think they can't cut into their knitting but they can and the results are just as successful as those achieved by machine knitters.  It's a great technique to learn and could be an alternative to unpicking.

We will also be finalising details for the Knit in Public event on 8th June from 10 am till 4 pm at the Hart Centre, Fleet.  We've got yarn ready and some needles for passers by to have a go.  And of course there will be a machine for poeple to try and well. 

Plus of course there will be time for a bit of show and tell.  We all like to see what others have knitted.  It can give us inspiration and encouragement.

Do come and join us for one or both events.

The Blankets

The 'blanket evening' went very well. A lot of people turned up with some ready knitted squares to join together. We sat around a huge table and decided who was doing what and split into various groups. One group brought yarn and needles and continued to knit more squares. Another group sewed squares into strips. A knitting machine was assembled ready to knit too.

Nina brought in a linker and joined together all the machine knitting strips. At the end of the evening Nina had assembled almost the whole machine knitted blanket except for the finishing. On the hand knitted front we had assembled most of the strips for a double bed size blanket. So we had acheived almost 2 double sized blankets between us.

Finishing and some strips still need to be sewn together so Liz may bring it to the Knit in Public event she has organised at Hart Shopping Centre, Fleet Road, Fleet on Saturday 8th June 2013. Some volunteers and a bit of delegation is needed to get them both completed and donated to a worthy cause. We will keep you posted both on the finishing and where they end up.

The next group of photos are from the show and tell

Fleet Knit in Public

We're planning to go public! 

Come and join us in the Hart Shopping Centre, Fleet Road, Fleet on Saturday 8th June 2013.  We'll be there between 10 am and 4 pm so plenty of opportunity to drop by and stop a while.  We will be knitting, plus showing off a knitting machine and teaching anyone that is interested how to use a pair of needles or crochet hook.

Knitting is becoming a popular pastime  again.  It is no longer something that only old people do.

May equals blankets

The May meeting is coming up fast and will be on Tuesday 7th May.  We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible as we are aiming to complete at least two blankets during the course of the evening.

We already have some hand knitted and crocheted squares plus some machine knitting strips so we stand a good chance of getting them all sewn together.  There are enough machine knitted strips to complete one blanket, but we don't yet have enough squares for the hand knitted one, so I hope you've all been busy and knitted a few. Wouldn't it be great if we can complete three blankets!

Bring all your completed squares with you, plus some yarn and a pair of needles in case we need a few more squares or some pieces to fill in the gaps. Please also bring either a crochet hook or a sewing up needle so that you can join in the construction process.

Plans are also coming on for our Knit in Public event arranged for Saturday 8th June at the Hart Shopping Centre and we will update you about that as well.

We'd also like to see anything else you've knitted recently, so bring that along as well.

We'll be starting the club meeting at 8 pm as usual and visitors are always welcome.

Birthday Meeting

This month our speaker was a club member who showed us how to make more of our tension swatches and samples. By adding some iron-on interfacing to the back of the samples they were ready to cut and sew and attach to other materials to make cushion covers, bags, or used as applique in regular sewing projects or stitched together in a multitide of ways to create fantastic new fabrics and textures.

April meeting was our 35th birthday. Shirley made a tasty cake and some sausage rolls to go with our teas and coffees.

There was some interesting items in the show and tell.

A huge jacquard cloth of the Periodic Table of Elements for a backdrop on a stall at a designer maker show

3 designs drawn freehand and scanned into an electronic machine

A beautiful circular shawl

 Hand knitted boot tops, the latest trend seen at the Olympia knitting and stitching show

 A cute cotton top

Very tiny little hats

April meeting

Oops, I almost forgot to post about what we doing in April.  It seems to catch me out every time when the meeting is early, like this time on the 2nd of the month.  And to cap it all it's Easter although you'd never believe it with the weather we are having.

Still - to the meeting.  This year our club has been meeting for 35 years.  I bet the ladies that first met never thought it would still be going after all this time.  And there are still a couple of ladies from the original group that come along.  So it will be cake with our tea and coffee instead of the usual biscuits.

Jean will be talking to us about how to use the tension swatches you've finished with to make patchwork cushions and bags, and other things as well.  You could of course knit especially for it as well.  And there will be yarns for sale so bring along your purse.  The money raised will go to charity as usual.  Plus plenty of time for a show and tell and to sort out any problems you may be having with your knitting.

Look forward to seeing you there, and visitors always welcome.

An Inspiration

The talk given by this months speaker, Designer Ros Wilson was so inspiring. Ros explained how she started designing and writing patterns from her own frustration about the lack of scaled fit for real women in knitting patterns. The talk was well structured and delved into the background of designing to suppliers schedules and seasons that may not be obvious to the novice. It covered all the key points to consider ourselves when creating a similar business. Ros urged us to have a go, it was something we could do if she could.

Enjoying the presentation 

 Beautiful show and tell from members

A little but very expensive in (UK terms) Possum token from NZ