Newsletter No 19 - sent 5 September 2021

 Hi Everyone 

I had hoped that I wouldn’t need to assemble an August Newsletter but as we aren’t returning to actual meetings just yet I feel it’s the best way to keep in touch.

Thank you to everyone who contacted me following the Newsletter No 18 and the email I sent regarding a September meeting. It’s good to know that so many of us are thinking alike and that I’m not the only one urging caution. The decision to not have a meeting in September was a difficult one, but I’m sure it is the right one, especially when you hear about numbers going up and up and people who have been double vaccinated testing positive.  I’ll contact the school a week or so before the October meeting is due and see how things are, and a decision will be made then about whether we can safely meet.

When we can meet again I will be sending everyone guidelines for meeting safely, including any requirements from the school, and collecting phone numbers for track and trace. It will be your personal responsibility to decide whether or not to come to the meeting.  If you’re not on my email list then please get in touch and I can add you.

Gaynor has had a good idea. She has put all the dates we should be meeting on her calendar with the aim of keeping it as her “knitting club time”.  When we can’t meet or she can’t make it for some other reason (such as babysitting!) she will knit or plan a future project.  She might even phone a friend and talk knitting just as we would if we were meeting (although maybe not for the same length of time!).  Would you consider doing the same? Let me know if you’d like to talk knitting with another club member and I’ll pair you up. 

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Exhibition Update

At the time of writing some exhibitions are going ahead, with restrictions. It’s too late now, but I was interested to see that tickets for The Southern Wool Show were not sold out on the day the show opened.

I’ve also just heard about a festival at Farnham Maltings.  Called Sweater Weather it’s for like-minded knitting and crochet enthusiasts and takes place on Friday 10th and Saturday 11th September. Entry is by timed ticket which may need to be purchased in advance.

KCG News and Notes from Sally

Firstly, we heard this morning that the September issue of Slipknot has been delayed.  It’s down to the printers and distributors and outside the control but it will be out as soon as possible. If you can’t wait for it to arrive, there is a digital copy available from the members area of the website.  KCG have also been busy digitizing and uploading back issues which are being uploaded to the members area to either read on line or to download.  There’s still a few gaps but give them time.  It’s volunteers doing this after all!

Guild members have until midnight on Wednesday 8th September to cast their votes for the 2012 AGM.  Each member will have received an email tied to the voting poll and their email address to enable them to vote.  There was also an email sent regarding the AGM which once again is taking place on line.

Some Branches are hosting their meetings on Zoom and it is possible for KCG members elsewhere to join in.  Look at the Sharing Knowledge page of the website for more information.

There are also a number of events and things happening that may be of interest.  Here’s just a few of them:

à The Bedfordshire Regional Day will be held at Leighton Buzzard on 2nd October 2021. Tickets will be available from 1st September

à Oxford will also be having a Regional Day, and Lichfield are planning one for next year.

à The Fabric of Britain TV series is available on the BBC iPlayer. The episode on the History of Knitting, featuring Angharad Thomas of the Collection Team, may be available for a few more days. 

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 I have a note in the folder for this newsletter to say that there is a lovely piece on Radio 4 “You and Yours” about the huge interest in knitting and crochet being taken up and it’s mindfulness quality.  It’s worth listening to.  I can’t remember who told me about it or where it came from, so if it was you, thank you and I’m sorry I didn’t make a note of your name.

Browsing the World Wide Web

Would you like to see knitted glass?  Take a look at Carol Milne’s website.   Maybe it’s me, but I found the hands a bit creepy! There’s a little i in the bottom right corner which, when clicked, brings up more info about each piece.

Do you have problems counting rows?  This page on the UK Hand Knitting Association website may help.

Here’s a Teddy hand puppet pattern from the Knit a Square website.  You can either work from screen or download as a pdf.  There’s a link to a website for where to send a puppet on completion and it’s also suitable for shoe boxes.   

It’s complicated by I’m sure an experienced knitter could work this fancy cast on.  The commentary is not English a picture tells a 1000 words and there are text on screen that are in English. This will lead on to other cast-ons if you look to the right of the screen at the suggestions of what to watch next.

O-go is an innovative new format for tangle free  knitting.  If I’ve understood it correctly you can start the yarn at any of the colours.  As for whether it’s tangle free, I think it’s something you have to try to be convinced.  If you try it let us know how you get on. 

This crochet wind spinner caught my eye. I’ve had a go (see show and tell), but I think I did the last row too tight.

If you were as fascinated as I was by the way she was making the slip knot, then this  demo video may help.  Ophelia also has other videos so look round for them too or click the red subscribe button.

I found a video showing three other ways to make a slip knot, so if you don’t get on with the one above then try one of these from Bella Coco.

What do you do with sheeps fleece when you can’t spin with it?  Lay it down as part of a path of course! This article from the Irish Times tells more.  

Whilst we’re visiting Ireland, here’s a link to Irish Moss Stitch.

I haven’t been able to find anything for machine knitters, so if you find anything of interest do let me know and I can either include it if there is another newsletter or tell all at a meeting.

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My Stay and Home and Keep Busy List/Chart

Crafting of any sort has been a bit slow since the last Newsletter but I have finished the blanket of squares.  I was especially pleased when the edges turned out neat enough not to require a crochet edging!  There’s a picture in show and tell.

I’ve also had a go at the crochet wind spinner mentioned earlier.  Still yarn from the stash, but the choice is getting more limited and so is the quantities.  I’m looking forward now to having a reason to go and buy more!

Just because I haven’t done much crafting doesn’t mean to say I haven’t been busy and occupied.  I have been doing some more sorting out and rearranging of the stashes, as well as some housekeeping on the computer.  It’s amazing how much stuff you download and never look at again.  I’m also not very good at filing things properly and then, because I can’t find what I’m looking for on the computer, I go and download another copy!

Another job has been to go through the paper filing cabinet and chuck out paperwork, much of it from when I was working (and I haven’t done that for 10 years!).  I had to look at each page, not to decide if I wanted it, but some of it would need to be

shredded as it contained personal information.  Part way through the shredding the shredder ground to a halt.  I’d tried to do so much it had over heated, but luckily, once it had cooled down, it still worked so I took it slower and eventually reached the end.  Other papers went into recycling of course!

We’ve also spent time in the garden.  Now the pond has been relined and is leak free it’s time to make it look neat and tidy and a nice place to sit and think (or knit/crochet!).

The Christmas card kits worked really well.  It was good to have everything to hand and be able to show progress immediately, and without spending time looking for things or deciding what to do.  I still have to put the stamped greeting inside, but that can be done when it’s time to write the cards.

We’ve been invited to a wedding in October, so I’ve been thinking about clothes! I’ve a few ideas for makes, but must not leave it too long to make decisions or I’ll run out of time.  But more on that next time.  I must get this Newsletter finished and emailed out!

Show and Tell

Alison has once again had to do plenty of resting and whilst doing so has had plenty of time to knit for her children and nieces.  Here’s some photos she sent. 

 

 These look really lovely Alison. I’m sure the pictures don’t do them justice. I’m looking forward to seeing more of your knitting when we meet again.

 

Gaynor didn’t have any photos to send, but she did send some links and told me that she has been teaching her granddaughter to knit.  Whilst looking around for some easy patterns she found some great website.  The first is some weird but awesome knitted things. The next is for Odd nit where you can browse by knitting level or category amongst other things. Another site to while away time is Fact Retriever where there is almost 50 facts about knitting!

Thanks Gaynor. I wonder if you ever found something for your granddaughter to knit.

Ros has send some pictures of her latest bits.  Like most of us she still has some WIP’s.  The cardi was knitted with two ends of 2.30’s and the ribs are industrial 2x2 and the braid was made on an inkle loom that her some made for her.  It’s her first attempt, but you’d never know it.

 These look  great. I think it will be a long time before I never have any WIP’s!

Candida has knitted a fairisle yoke cardigan. The front was knitted as one piece and steeked. We’d talked about it when we did our one and only Zoom call and suggested knitting a different stick to show the line for cutting to keep it straight.

Candida tells us that she is now knitting 4ply on a 3mm circular needles and doing short rows and wrap and turn for the first time. She got a book on that, and also watched Youtube.

 

Before I finish—here’s my photos.  One is of the squares I’ve knitted and sewn into a blanket and the other is of the crochet wind spinner. This isn’t the full length, and I took a close photo for more detail!  Ends and a hanging loop still to do and it might need a bit of steam too. Done in the right colours this could make a good Christmas decoration or  tinsel substitute.

   

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

 

Newsletter no 18 - sent 1 August 2021

Hi Everyone 

So, nothing has changed and I can’t yet give you any definite news about meeting up!  At the beginning of July I received an email from the school in anticipation of being able to hire out the school premises with the relaxation of restrictions.  I completed  and returned the form for hiring the school room we use. They acknowledged receipt and said they would be putting the lettings calendar together within a couple of weeks and would contact us if there are any clashes with school activities. 

Since then I’ve heard nothing so I’m in a bit of a quandary.  Are they definitely hiring rooms again? Is everything ok and we can meet? What would we need to do to be able to meet? And anyway, do we want to meet given the way numbers are going up again? Would we want to meet if there were cases in school? The school term starts on 2nd September and the first potential date we could meet is Tuesday 7th September.  So I can only guess that the situation will be reassessed as term starts and we’ll get very little notice one way or the other.

I sure you’ve all played your part and have had your jabs unless advised not to for medical reasons (yes, there are some people who are not able to be vaccinated or where medication makes they ineffective). It is so important we remember that having the vaccinations does not prevent us from getting the virus and passing it on; it just means we are less likely to need hospitalisation should we get it. I suspect that, like me, many of you have heard from your GP’s indicating that we will need boosters come September.  If that doesn’t tell us that we can still get the virus then we obviously aren’t getting the same message!

I also think that we will need to put in place additional “precautions” when we do meet.  Many of us haven’t had any of the coughs, colds and sickness bugs that go round regularly. Let’s face it,  we probably haven’t seen anyone to catch them from.  So it would be sensible to ask that if you do catch something, even if it is mild, please stay away from meetings until you are no longer infectious.  Many of us are on a hospital waiting list or have immune suppressed family members. Procedures and operations won’t happen if we have any sort of infection and after waiting so long we don’t want them  to be delayed further because of something like a cold!

Our health and the health of others is something that we need to take seriously, not just for meeting up again, but for all aspects of  our daily lives.  It’s going to be a long time before we get back to how we were pre-pandemic, if we ever do.  Instead we must get used to a new “normal” and work with it.  That’s enough - lectures over!  Just take care and stay safe.

Let’s talk dates.  These are very provisional at the moment and are the ones I filled in on the application for hire form.  Provided the school is hiring out rooms, and provided they don’t clash with a school activity the we COULD potentially meet on

Tuesday 7^th September 2021,
Tuesday 5^th October 2021,

Tuesday 2^nd November 2021,

Tuesday 7^th December 2021,

 Tuesday 1^st February 2022,
Tuesday 1^st March 2022,
Tuesday 5^th April 2022,
Tuesday 3^rd May 2022,
Tuesday 7^th June 2022,
Tuesday 5^th July 2022

Put them on your calendar in feint pencil only. They could still change. I won’t be making any bookings for speakers or demonstrators for a while, but I’m sure we’ll find plenty of knitting and crochet topics to talk about when we meet.

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Exhibition Update

I’ve been keeping a close eye on exhibitions that are scheduled during August.    I’ve heard through my contacts that many of the exhibitors scheduled to be at The Festival of Quilts at the NEC have withdrawn and we can probably guess at the reason why!   The Knitting and Stitching Show organisers for Alexandra Palace and Harrogate which is  scheduled for the autumn are asking that we register our interest presumably so they can judge whether it will be worthwhile going ahead and what restrictions might be needed. The exhibitors list looks a bit short but that could yet be expanded.  The Creative Craft Shows (Exeter and NEC) have info on their website about extra precautions being taken.  Lists of exhibitors look a bit short here too. 

As for Southern Wool, which is to take place at Newbury Racecourse at the beginning of September, their website says lots of measures will still be in place and entry will be by timed ticket only. With about a month to go it’s only the first time-slot that is sold out.

I hope you’ve got a smart phone as shows are requesting you download your ticket to your phone to show rather than printing a paper copy to take with you. Nothing that I saw mentioned having to show proof of vaccinations or negative test but it could still be added. 

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Thank you to the very few who responded positively regarding the possibility of us taking part in the Fleet Christmas Tree Festival.  I have taken an executive decision on this and not applied as there is too few people willing to join in and knit tree decorations to make it viable.

Browsing the World Wide Web

I found another yarn company—Hooked is based in Portugal.  All their yarn is made from recycled materials, however some are not recommended for young children because of the short fibre length.  You can order direct from them but before you do check out whether you would need to pay duty, VAT etc. now we are no longer part of the EU.  Alternatively you can order this yarn from Deramores where there is free shipping within the UK if you spend £25 or more.

On the subject of yarns, Marriner have been introducing new lines to their range of yarns.  Take a look, but be careful as I’m sure you’ll be tempted to buy.  (I have resisted so far!) Free postage on orders over £25 here too.

Another You-Tube video for you; the link was originally posted by someone on the KCG Facebook group.  It’s just short but it is so “us” and about craft supplies. 

For those of you who use Instagram, check out madewithlovebytomdaley  Tom has knitted himself a pouch to keep his gold medal in and by the looks of it lots of other things too.

Whilst we talking celebrities, take a look at this outfit worn by Lewis Hamilton.  It takes a confident man to wear something like that.  Not sure we’d see anyone wearing it on our high street! 

Missing being able to visit the V&A?  Take a look at their website.  They have a section about some of the knitting held in their collections as well as interviews with knitwear designers and textile artists.  There are also some 1940’s patterns that can be downloaded for free.  You might even recognise the tea cosy pattern!

Do you get a gap when you bind off mid-row that you’d rather not have?  Circle of Stitches shows a method to avoid it. 

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Sally sent some links that came to her in her position as Branch Coordinator of the Knitting and Crochet Guild.  Don’t forget that the Guild posts regularly on Instagram as well as Ravelry and Facebook. You don’t have to be a member to view them but they’d love for you to join.

The first link is to a knitted dress—a look alike similar to what celebs are wearing now and the second to a designer bikini.

Paris Fashion Week catwalk shows happened at the end of June.  Many of the designers offered digital shows and they can be found by following the link.

Bucket Hats are back according to Vogue. Scroll down to see their suggestions.  There are plenty of YouTube tutorials on line as well as free pattens such as this crochet one by Darsi Stitches.

My Stay and Home and Keep Busy List/Chart

Who’d have guessed it – those tops and the adjusted dress that I talked about last time really have come in useful! I must admit to staying inside out of the sun and in the coolest places I could find as much as possible. I am not a sun worshiper!

But before the temperature rose I had been continuing, very half heartedly, to sort through my craft stash. I made the decision that I had to get rid of the things I’d sorted so far as I had no room to do anything more.  I also come to the conclusion that it would be impossible to sell the vast majority of it, especially as I wasn’t prepared to go through the process of photographing and advertising, then posting it out to anyone who wanted a small bit of it. So my next thought was who could I give it to.  Too much for local charity shops and they probably wouldn’t want it anyway.  But I knew just one place that might like it.  Tools with a Mission  Their website showed they were accepting all the things I had to get rid of and there was a local collector just a few miles away.  I made contact and arranged to take the things to them.

There were things that I hadn’t touched in probably the last five years if not longer.  I might have looked at them in passing whilst looking for something else, but that was all.  It included bags of ribbon, lace, tapes etc, not just knitting yarns. I had to ditch most of the elastic as it had lost its elasticity!  If I’d not even contemplated using it for that length of time what was the point in keeping it?                                  

I made a date to take things to TWAM but there was still plenty to sort through. Having a target date helped my decision making!  To further help I decided that I would only keep what I could stash away in set areas.  Once they were full that was it.  If there was something else I wanted to keep then another thing already there had to go!  I was also determined not to retrieve anything that was already set to go out. Don’t get me wrong, I still have more yarn than I can use in my allotted lifetime however long that may be, but it is down to a more manageable quantity now.

By the time the day came there were piles of boxes and bags everywhere.  When my husband loaded the car it was touch and go whether there would be room for me too! There was just a small space left so maybe I should have found a few more things instead of going along for the ride! 

I still have more sorting out to do, and there will be lots more to get rid of, but at least now I have space to sort through it. I also asked if they take instruction books and patterns and got a positive response so once they have been sorted I know where I’ll be taking them!  And the more I sort into the “to go” pile the easier it becomes to say goodbye to it.  I’m becoming more decisive too so instead of keeping it because I might want it one day I am letting it go because I can always borrow or buy a more up to date similar item.  Giving things to TWAM or any of the other charities that take our surplus craft materials is a much better idea than it going to landfill! 

I do get the odd wistful, but thankfully fleeting, feeling of there might have been things I should have kept but the overwhelming feeling is of relief that it has gone. It feels good now when I look into my craft room (and everywhere else I’d piled my stash into) rather than the feeling of helplessness and not knowing where to start.  It has also helped me be strong when I see crafts and yarns on sale.  I must not be tempted those offers, no matter how good a deal it may seem.

I needed a rest once the boxes and bags had gone, so I spent a couple of days on card making.  I have got into the habit of starting on my Christmas cards in the summer when I can sit in the cool and move about little. I have so much card making stuff now that I wanted to make this years cards from the supplies I already have.  After a while of  looking for ideas on the internet I made my decisions and set about making up my own kits so that everything was together when I started to assemble them. So now I’m ready to start sticking and stamping when time permits.

When the weather turned so very hot I did little in the way of crafting so no ticks on my chart this time.  I have knitted more squares and only need 6 or 7 more to complete the lap blanket.  I am not keen on the sewing together part of any project so I made sure to join the inner squares together before I started the outer ones!

I did finish the large granny square knee blanket I was crocheting and there is a picture of that in the Show and Tell.  Perhaps next time I will have something more to show you!

Show and Tell

Not much for the show and tell this time.  I guess the weather is to blame as it’s been far to hot to play with yarn!  However Gaynor has been in touch.  She said:

Many thanks for your newsletter.   I agree with your thoughts about getting out and about at the moment and thought I would let you know that you are not the only one feeling reclusive at the moment.  I think this might be true for many many people.

I really enjoyed the links to Sandringham and crochet etc.  It’s lovely to see just how creative people can be and how much time they work on their projects.  Talking of which, I enjoyed seeing your transformations and knitting too.  Thank you for your efforts putting together the newsletter.  I, for one, really appreciate it. 

I have knitted in wire several times over the years.  It requires patience, the right thickness wire etc.  Some are too stiff to manipulate enough and others too fragile and break easily.  Having said that, I enjoyed the process and outcomes.  There are so many different coloured wires on the market now too.  Again, you need to be selective.  Being thin wire also means it can scrunch out of shape easily but it also means it can be manipulated into other shapes for a 3D effect.  Ends of wires can be an issue too.  They need to be hidden well to stop them inflicting wounds.

Thanks Gaynor.  I know just what you mean about the ends!

 The only other item I have is the crochet blanket that I finished this month.  It’s odd balls of chunky yarn that were in my stash.  I wasn’t sure that the colours would work together, but separated by the navy they look just fine.  Anyone know a local care home or day care centre that might appreciate a few knee blankets?  I have a few going spare!

 

That’s all for this time!  I’ve run out of time and ideas for now!  So suggestions and ideas welcome for the next Newsletter.  I have my fingers crossed that we can meet again, safely, before too long.

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

 

 

Newsletter No 17 - send 28 June 2021

 Hi Everyone 

 Here we are again! The end of the month has crept up behind me and suddenly its time to put another newsletter together!  Where is the year going?

Nothing much to report as not a lot has changed really.  We’ve still got a range of restrictions placed on us, and I for one don’t feel that confident to mix with a load of people I don’t know well.  I suppose you could say I’m still feeling quite reclusive! I know some of you don’t feel quite the same as me, and that’s fine too. We must do things at our own pace, and not be pressured by others.  We also need to remember that despite having had our jabs we can still catch the virus and spread it to others.  It may not affect us quite as badly as it would if we hadn’t had the jab but it can still affect us.  There is also a growing number of people who can’t have a second jab, through no fault of their own, who remain at risk.  So stay safe and respect others. 

But enough of this - let’s quickly get on with some less contentious matters -knitting, crochet and other yarn crafts.

Sally has been able to download and save everything on our blogspot, right back to the very first post. So we are now truly in the digital age.  She will also have a copy of everything I have in due course so if my copies get corrupted or lost there will be another copy elsewhere. And it will be so much easier to pass things on to those that take over from the current committee. (Now that’s another thing I’m working on! - anyone willing to take a turn at leader??)

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.Christmas!  In the last day or so I’ve seen mention on line to the Fleet Christmas tree festival. Think back a few Newsletters to No 11 when we knitted and crocheted decorations for our virtual Christmas Tree.   If we are going to take part in the 2021 Christmas Tree Festival in Fleet now is the time to apply. The Festival is 3rd - 5th December with trees set up in the few days prior to that.  Maximum tree size is 5 ft, and it doesn’t have to be a traditional tree.  Anyway, club attendees, take a look at the page linked and let me know if you’re willing to join in with this and help Fleet Knitting Club take part.  It’s a good way to let everyone know about our club and to recruit new members.  If we are to continue we need new, and younger, members to join us.

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Sally, our Knitting and Crochet Guild branch co-ordinator, has sent us information from the Guild as well as links to other articles and programmes that may be of interest to you. 

Un-Convention September 2021 - The Guild are once again running the convention online.  Dates are 11th and 12th September 2021.  More information will be available on their website from 15th July.

The latest episode of the Sky at Night (Space Boom Britain) included a section on knitting with tungsten filament! The programme is available on BBC i-player for another 11 months. Part of the programme information is: 

"About 80 miles west of Stevenage, and at the other end of the business scale, Chris visits Oxford Space Systems, whose CEO Sean Sutcliffe explains that while microsatellites are opening up the industry to more companies, they pose challenges of their own because of their size. These satellites have tiny spaces on the rockets that launch them, but need quite sizeable antennas and receivers to communicate with people and machines on earth. This is OSS’s business – to provide novel engineering solutions in packing up and unfurling these structures. They combine the latest materials science with knitting and origami to produce antennas that extend to hundreds of times their packed length and receivers that unfurl like beautiful hi-tech flowers." 

Crochet is high fashion again! According to Glamour crochet tops and knitted vests are due to make a comeback in the summer. 

It’s too late to enter the Heavy Metal Knitting World Championship 2021, but not too late to view entries on line at the festival on 9th July. 

The Science of Knitting for Pain - Betsan Corkhill has done some pioneering work and scientists, clinicians and psychologists around the world are realizing and accepting the health benefits of knitting.  Recently Betsan gave a video talk for the My Live Well with Pain Footsteps Festival.  This talk is now available on YouTube.  Find out more on Betsan’s Stitchlinks website.

Fitbit test has revealed knitting to be the most relaxing hobby.  We don’t need tests to prove this! It’s something all knitters know.

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Exhibition Update

Southern Wool are planning for the show to go ahead on 4th & 5th September. Other organisers are also making plans for their shows to go ahead.  All will have restrictions in place which may be no tickets sold at the door (advanced booking only), as well as restrictions to the amount of time you can spend at the show/timed entry. So don’t assume anything - check before you travel.

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Which would you rather have  -  flowers or …………?

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Browsing the World Wide Web

Can garment be taken back to fibre for recycling? Of course they can! They do now, but most of it is used for insulation and mattress stuffing.  It’s not turned into more garments.  But it could be soon! Watch this video to see how.  Hopefully the technology will improve and it becomes cheaper. 

One Norfolk knitter as been busy for the last couple of years!  The BBC reported on her recreation of the Queen’s Sandringham estate.

If you happen to be in the Bridlington area, don’t forget to go and see the Gansey Girl.  She’s been knitting working at her knitting since 2015!

Here’s one for those that crochet. Explore the largest crochet work by artist Ernesto Neto.  It’s on view at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston until 26th September 2021 if anyone gets that way!

Take a look at this YouTube video made for the Leicestershire Industrial History Society at the Framework Knitting Museum. It shows a Framework knitting machine in operation and explains how it worked.

Another YouTube video.  This time an explanation of merino wool production and processing by The Woolmark Company.

My Stay and Home and Keep Busy List/Chart 

More ticks on my chart at last! As the weather warmed up I was wearing a simple top that is basically two squares joined for shoulders and underarm and hems all round. I felt it was simple enough for me to copy and make up in one of those pieces of fabric in my stash, especially as I’d found more fabrics hidden away in boxes in my workroom. I’d found dressmakers pattern paper too, so I was set to go! I choose a piece of stretch fabric and in no time I had a top to try on. OK it isn’t the best in the world, but it will do nicely in the garden on a hot day. Having had success with one, I cut out a further three in different fabrics, including one in a white and blue  spot cotton which I edged with blue bias (from the stash again!) rather than turning a hem and using a stretch zig-zag stitch as I’d done on the others.

It became a production line and rather than completing one garment before starting on the next I worked the various stages on all of them at the same time. I was getting towards the end of the machining when I started getting problems. The threads kept getting tangled and breaking. So I went back to basics - changed the needle, cleaned the machine, threaded up with a different reel of thread. No, still no luck; the machine was just not stitching properly. I walked away and next day I checked everything again and still I couldn’t see anything wrong yet it was still not stitching. I decided that the bobbin was low in thread so I’d take off what was left and wind a new one.  Maybe that was causing the problem, although there was no reason why it should be.  As I did so the thread kept sticking to my fingers and I immediately had my answer - static!  It really isn’t something you expect here in the UK but it has been occurring more frequently.  Luckily I had some tumble dryer sheets handy so I wiped everything down including the garment stitching area, and tried again. It really did work! I’d been struggling for a good few hours and now within seconds the problem was solved. This is a new one for me, especially when sewing, but something I won’t forget in a hurry. I can recommend that if tumble dryer sheets aren’t something you’d normally have at home, then get a box. There’re not expensive. I put mine in a zip bag so they don’t dry out as I don’t have a dryer! 

These are the finished tops, ready to wear next time the temperature goes up a bit! The scraps have gone in the bin. And next time I find yarn clinging to my hands as I work I’ll try another sheet to see if that works—maybe pop one in the bag with the yarn too!

    

Whilst I was in a sewing phase, I took out a dress I made last year but that I hadn’t been too happy with. It was very plain and, if I’m really honest, a bit of a snug fit for a hot day and a bit shorter than I was comfortable with. I pondered how to alter it, bearing in mind that I didn’t have any more of the original fabric.  Going through my fabric stash I found a piece that I felt could be just what I needed.  I found the original pattern, and from that cut a piece to lengthen the dress by a few inches and I took the dress itself and, with nothing to loose, cut it in half, straight up the front and back. I cut a strip of fabric to stitch into the middle.  An hour or so later the dress was all back together again.  I did think about adding patch pockets, and pinned them in place on the front but decided that it was “a bit too much”.  I now have a dress to wear at home on a hot day!

I’ve also finished the weaving that was on the loom.  Both yarns from my stash.  The purple multicolour was a 100g ball of DK  and the black a cone of DK.  There was  an obvious difference in  thickness between the two yarns despite them both being marked as DK.  Of course this scarf hasn’t used all the 500g cone of yarn but I’m working on that. I found some odd balls of DK in the stash and am knitting squares to alternate with black squares. Not enough yet, but I’ll get there.  And in between knitting squares I’m crocheting a large granny square knee blanket from the bits and pieces of chunky yarn I found in the stash and playing yarn chicken with it! With any luck there will be something for you to see next time.

 

Knitting squares

The first few squares I knitted were in brightly coloured yarn and were made by casting on three stitches and knitting one row.  Then on every following row I increased by knitting into the front and back of the second stitch on every row until one side measured 9”, my chosen length.  I then knitted one row plain, followed by knitting the second and third stitch together on every row till I was back to three stitches, knitted them together and fastened off.  Now you’d think this would result in a pretty square, square, but not quite. The decreasing edges were longer than the increasing edges but I’m hoping that it won’t notice when all joined together and blocked.

This pattern from Knit-a-Square is similar to the ones I’m knitting. Alternatives are the Any Yarn, Any Needle Afghan square or Gramma’s Discloth.  There are also similar ones with patterns on them if you search.

I decided that I wanted the black squares to be knitted differently to the coloured one so I went for a mitred square and instead of trying to work out how many stitches to cast on and decreasing I opted to start with just a couple and increase in the centre till the sides were the length I wanted.  This is sometimes called a “reverse” mitre. So for these I also cast on 3 stitches and knitted one row. Then on every alternate row I knitted into the centre stitch three times, so front, back and front again.  The alternate rows were all knit. This increase looks slightly different on opposite sides of the work. This YouTube video from Christy Hills shows the method of increase I used.

Once I’d got a straight edge that measured 9” I could cast off.  Not just any cast off, or it could be too tight and make the cast off edge shorter. I went for a really stretchy one from Arnall-Culliford Knitwear. 

These mitred squares patterns from KAS  and  Strings and Sealing Wax are similar to mine.

There are loads of free patterns on the internet, many more intricate and patterned than the simple ones I’m knitting but these will do nicely to use up the yarn from my stash. 

No matter how hard I try my knitted squares never turn out quite square! Once they have been joined I’ll decide if it needs an edging. The blanket may be finished before we can meet again.

Show and Tell

Janet has been busy knitting for various charities and organisations. Some things are donated and others sold and the money raised is passed on.  Here’s just a sample of the things she’s made over the months including some all packed up ready to pass on.  They are all lovely Janet. 

 

  

Alison has also been in touch.  She tells me that she hasn’t been too well since last August and her needles and yarn have kept her going. Alison sent photos of some of the items she’s finished knitting.  There’s a jumper for her husband, various small cardigans for baby niece, a cowl for her eldest child and a summer cardigan for her youngest.  There’s also a cushion cover for her mum who liked the one Alison knitted for her sister back in 2020. 

 

      

  

   

Alison has also been watching a podcast on YouTube by Fruity Knitting and tells us that it has become a bit of a family joke, although she has noticed they’ll quite happily watch too if they are in the same room!  I dipped into a few of the over 100 episodes which are around 90 minutes long each and will certainly be going back to look at others. I hope you’re well on the road to recovery now Alison.

Karen found Shetland yarn in her stash.  Some from Jamiesons of Shetland and some from Jamiesons & Smith.  She sorted it by manufacturer and found sufficient to knit one hat from each brand of yarn. Based on knitting patterns she had, Karen worked out colour and pattern placement. 

Both look lovely. Despite both being the same ply and using the same size needles, the yarns knitted up differently. These pictures were taken whilst the hats were being blocked (over a pudding basin supported on a jar of mayo of course!)

      

Carole has been busy.  She sent me photos of a hand knit v-neck jumper worked in WI Soft and Silky 4ply that is back in stock after almost a year.  It is a lovely soft yarn and the colour range has been improved, however, be warned, it does not knit to a standard 4ply tension and is more dense so takes more yarn.  This yarn is exclusive to Hobbycraft.  The round neck jumper is a variation on the one from last month. Carole added a bit more colour and a bit more definition to the yoke by changing the purl stitch to garter stitch.

     

Carole is going to be busy for the next few weeks.  Her nephew and his wife have just announced the are expecting twins for October so she is knitting another shawl and her daughters sister in law is expecting a baby (just the one) in September so another shawl will be required!  Carole is hoping she has enough  yarn in her stash for all this knitting as the yarn she is planning to use is currently out of stock.

That’s it for this month.  Do keep the pictures coming. They inspire others to have a go.

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