September Meeting and AGM

We held our AGM last night. Thanks to Fiona for balancing the books, and everyone else who helps to make the club the success it is. We discussed the year ahead, the speakers we have booked to visit, our 30th anniversary party for next year. It was decided to hold our subscription price as we are managing well.
Liz gave us our challenge for the year, items to be ready for next July, so plenty of time to get your thinking caps on. We are going from one end of the body to the other and have to make an item to be worn on the head. So much scope here, not just for bobble hats, unless they are really spectacular! Hats,
ear muffs,headbands,crowns, tiaras, earrings,

Let your imagination run wild and see what you come up with!

We also had fun knitting some flowers, may be useful for the challenge! Sorry, no photos of these!










The photos this month are of items on loan for the exhibition at Esher later this month. The knitted fabric bowls were done by our own Liz using an embroidery machine to put them together.

September is fast approaching

Where has the summer gone? Did I miss it?

We've had a committee meeting and I've sorted out the programme for the next year. I hope you'll all approve. I will be snail-mailing it to you in the very near future, together with the summer reminder letter that we send to all club members every August to remind you that the new year is about to start, so watch for the postman. Once the members have all had their copy of the programme, I'll post it here on the blog-spot as well.

Our next meeting on 4th September is of course the Annual General Meeting, but those of you have attended before will know it's not a major part of the meeting. In fact if I can it will last about 10 minutes - just long enough to make sure you're all happy with the way the Club is being run and approve last years accounts. Fiona has once again come up trumps and balanced the books and prepared a budget so that I know how much I can spend this year.

So what else have I got planned for our September meeting? Well, we will be having a demonstration of how to knit flowers. So many of you asked how I had made the ones on the shoes I did for the club challenge that I thought you might like to have a go. (There is a picture of the shoes somewhere here on the blog.) There will be other flowers to knit as well, not just that one type, some hand knitted, some machine knitted. I will also be bring along with me some rather unusual items knitted by the Sherborne Knitting Club. They are with me on loan so that they can be displayed at the Stitch and Creative Craft Show at the Sandown Park Exhibition Centre, Esher, from 21st to 23rd September, but I did ask if I could show you as well.

So I'd better get on and prepare the letters to send to the Club members. I hope to see you all on 4th September, 8pm as usual and visitors will be welcome.

July Meeting

Oh dear, somehow this photo got lost, so here is Sheila's surprise cardigan! Look carefully at the fronts and you will see the holding position, leaves a nice pattern. If done in variegated yarn this would give a striped effect.

Also a timely reminder that we don't have a meeting in August, so see you all in September for the AGM.

July Meeting

This evening we all had to produce our items for the Challenge, something to wear on your feet, and what a lot we had. We weren't restricted to machine knitting so creativity flowed. Please look at the pictures below to see all the items, some machine knitted, some hand knitted and some crocheted, but all very commendable. No doubt some of these will find their way as donations to the Marsden for sale.

After admiring all these items, Liz talked a bit about knitting using holding position, a very useful technique for shaping knitting and very easy once you grasp the principle. Can also be used to make braid like edgings and ruffles.

We also admired two knitted items, a beautiful cabled jumper knitted on the chunky machine by Sue, and a surprise cardigan knitted by Sheila H. The last being very appropriate as it is made using holding position, looks

nothing like a cardigan when being knitted, but once finished and sewn together - voila - a cardigan.

July Challenge

Sheila S made these socks using Denys Brunton Magicolour.











Kathy handknitted these booties from a vintage pattern. They come above the knees and are shaped by short rowing.

July Challenge

Sheila H machine knitted adult and child size slippers, then stuck non slip shelf lining on the soles for safety.



























Sheila also knitted these SWAN socks using self patterning yarn.

July Challenge

Fairisle machine knitted mocassins by Miriam.












Machine knitted socks by Phyllis.

July Challenge

Liz's shoes, covered in felted machine knitting and decorated with knit flowers and beads.










Beautiful fluffy baby booties knitted by Margaret.

July Challenge

Fluffy slippers made by Gladys.














Mary Jane bootie machine knitted by Kathy.

July Challenge

Sylvia's crochet slippers















Sue's Chick booties

July meeting coming up

I can't believe another month has gone by. It's almost July and half the year has flashed past. I wonder what has happened to the sunshine. I did think when I set the challenge last September that asking you to make something to wear on your feet for July might mean you would have a new pair of socks for the winter. Unless it warms up soon you might come in wearing them instead.

Our July meeting as you might have gathered is the evening when we bring the things we have made to complete the challenge for the year - this year, something to wear on our feet. I wonder how many of you will have made something this time. I'll also bring along the things I had to show you last month knitted using holding position. Maybe we will get time to look at and talk about them this month.

So I do hope you can make it. 8pm as usual.

June Meeting

As we did not have a speaker for this evening, Liz had intended to talk about holding position and demonstrate some ways to use it. However as with all good plans, things go awry and we ended up discussing various aspects of knitting. These discussions were very interesting and we all learnt a few new things!
As can be seen in the photos below, Liz had knitted a Quillow, so time was spent talking about these, and how to crochet an edging around the pillow. We all admired Chris's felted bags. Chris hand knits these, but similar can be achieved on a machine.
A timely reminder to all members, at our meeting next month we want to see what you have done for the challenge, to knit something to put on your feet. Looking forward to seeing some interesting pieces of knitting!

Liz's Guild competition entry

Liz used some dimensional knitting to create the pattern on this top.

Fiona's top

Quillow

A knitted quillow from Liz. For those not in the know a quillow is a blanket which folds up and tucks into a pillow! Can be knitted in child size to adult size. Definitely a good way to use up stash and a good thing to knit for charity.

Felted bags

These beautiful felted bags are handknitted by Chris.

A bit about Fleet

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!

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.

Anne's creations

Lots of detail here.

A dress and coat.

Some of Anne's Creations

Back of coat.

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!

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.

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!

More members knitting

Nina's garter carriage jumper.

Nina's jumper with cut float weaving.

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!

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.

Another goody

Here's a beautiful garter stitch cardigan using a Busy Bees pattern knitted by Sue.

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.

Knitting Squares

Members knitting multi directional squares, amid much laughter!

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.

Tuck stitch blanket knitted on LK150 by Kathy

This month's knitting!

Tuck lace scarf knitted by Sheila.

Frilly scarf knitted by Sheila. Pattern in Guild newsletter.

Roll brim hats knitted on LK150 by Kathy, on a mission to use up
oddments of handknitting yarns.

Hairpin lace scarf knitted by Sheila on standard gauge machine.

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.

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.

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.

February is here already

The February meeting is almost upon us. Terry Viner is coming to talk to us and show us just what we should be doing to keep our machines in tip top condition. Just in time for spring cleaning!

I know the machine will benefit from a bit of tlc. It's certainly been put through its paces recently, knitting the blankets at the Stitch and Creative Craft show at Sandown.

Do you think I can persuade Terry to clean my other machines whilst he is here? Perhaps not, just a few too many.

If anyone is thinking of coming along to the meeting, you'll be made very welcome. We'll be starting at 8 pm prompt.