The April meeting has been cancelled because lots of people are away due to school holidays and the Easter weekend. Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 2nd May.
Sunday, April 02, 2023
Monday, March 06, 2023
March 2023 meeting moving to Zoom
Due to the ice and snow weather warning issued by the Met Office, the Tuesday meeting is moving to Zoom. MailChimp newsletter has been sent to all subscribers with the details for the Zoom meeting.
Sunday, March 05, 2023
March 2023 meeting
The next meeting is Tuesday 7th March 2023
As usual there will be 'Show and tell' where you can share your latest finished project or work in progress, and ask any questions to help with troubleshooting if you've got stuck.
Sunday, January 29, 2023
February 2023 meeting
The next meeting is Tuesday 7th February 2023
The theme for the next meeting is knit and natter.
As usual there will also be 'Show and tell' where you can share your latest finished project or work in progress, and ask any questions to help with troubleshooting if you've got stuck.
Saturday, December 10, 2022
December 2022 - Christmas party
7 people made it to our Christmas party on a very cold evening. Rene brought along nibbles and soft drinks, and a beautiful festive tablecloth that was handed down from her grandparents.
Show and tell
The was a theme in the show and tell of everyone trying to use up yarn in their stash, rather than buying more. Wonderfully colourful crocheted blanket made from leftovers from previous projects.
Sunday, December 04, 2022
December 2022 meeting
Reminder that it's our annual Christmas get-together on Tuesday. Please bring along any WIPs and festive knits to share in the show-and-tell, and chat about. There will be some soft drinks and nibbles available. Please consider bringing along your own non-breakable/camping mug or cup.
Our newsletters are now sent using Mailchimp to manage the newsletter mailing list. If you wish to subscribe, please use the sign-up form.
Sunday, November 06, 2022
November 2022 Knit and Natter, Crochet and Chatter
UPDATES
In line with the recommendations from the Knitting and Crochet Guild, the email newsletter has been moved from a manually-managed spreadsheet to using Mailchimp, and moved to using the club email address FleetKnittingClub@gmail.com. There is a sign-up form on the blog to sign up to receive the newsletter. Every newsletter will now include a link at the bottom to unsubscribe.
Fleet Essentials in Fleet stocks Stylecraft and King Cole yarns.
Guild website and 'Across the Needlebed' publication
Some club members are struggling to navigate the Guild's website to find the 'Across the Needlebed' publication. It can be confusing, as there are 2 passwords. There is password for the members' area of the website, and another for the 'Sheep' membership management system to join and renew membership. The October 2022 edition contains knitting a tuck-lace scarf, hand-tooling, a pattern for a Child's tank top. To find 'Across the Needlebed' go to Membership > Members Area > Across the Needlebed.
BSK is closing down according to their Facebook page.
Next meeting is Christmas party … bring your knitted or crocheted party hats!
EVENTS
The Knitting and Crochet Guild has a list of upcoming events.
Local fused glass artist Angela Jane has a studio at Newlyns Farm, outside Odiham, and is running classes to make 3 ornaments and some icicles. £30 per person. If you're looking for inspiration for presents, Liz has a glass coaster that has wire knitting imbedded inside.
19-20 February 2023 CHSI Stitches, NEC Birmingham
12-14 May 2023 Hampton Court Palace Artisan Festival
5-8 October 2023 The Knitting & Stitching Show, Alexandra Palace, London
TIPS AND TRICKS
Sponge bars
If you're not using your knitting machine for a few weeks, then consider removing the sponge bar. The sponge bounces back quite quickly when not compressed against the needles. Keep away from direct light to help prolong the life of the sponge. Smart Co Ltd near Manchester sell coated retaining bars that may last longer, but even then the recommendation is to replace every 4 years. They also have machines available for sale.
Knitting Machine motor/garter carriage
Motor and garter carriages can be very fussy. Okay with Hobby yarn, but that's the most 'bumpy' the motor allows. Two people with garter carriages have the experienced the same issue that the carriage has a habit of dropping stitches as soon as you leave the room!
SHOW AND TELL
Sandra hand knit a white short-sleeve top in King Cole Opium yarn. Just needs to add buttons, and there was a discussion about how many buttons to add. General consensus that for a summer layer piece then one button would look lovely. There were also a couple of tiny baby hats to donate to Frimley Park.
Sylvia knit an Angel pouch, and finished a crocheted a granny square blanket in 4-ply.
Carole knitted a 1ft baby blanket in white that's just needs to be blocked.
Liz has been weaving a scarf using ladder yarn and a wool.
Janet knit a cute cardigan for friend's daughter with lovely contrast buttons.
Saturday, October 29, 2022
November meeting
The next meeting is on Tuesday 1st November.
As usual there will be 'Show and tell' where you can share your latest finished project or work in progress, and ask any questions to help with troubleshooting if you've got stuck.Sunday, October 09, 2022
October 2022 - AGM and catch-up
The meeting started with the existing committee resigning, and new committee volunteering and being voted in. There was discussion about themes for the meetings for the club year, and charity ideas.
Programme for 2022-23
René suggested we have a Challenge this year, as we've not had one for a few years due to covid.
Ideas:
• Dress a bear
• Stash-busting cushion covers. Carole shared that she's given up stash-busting projects, because the remainders breed!
The 2022 project is: stash-busting something for your hands. You can make more than 1.
Charity
The club used to make things and take up to the Friends of Royal Marsden charity shop but the shop closed a few years ago.
Ideas for 2022 charities to support:
• The Mission to Seafarers are asking for knitted hats etc. https://www.missiontoseafarers.org/at-church/knitting They have a freepost address on their website, so scroll down to find it. There is a downloadable pattern on there too. There's also a pattern on this page https://www.missiontoseafarers.org/at-church/knitting/hat-patterns. Looks like it's hats and fingerless mittens that they want. No scarves, close fitting and no bobbles on the hats as they need to be able to wear a hard hat over the top and fingerless mittens so they can wear them when working and still grip tools.
• The Sailors Society based in Southampton (https://sailors-society.org/). Follow up: They don't have anything on their website about knitted hats so presumably they aren't collecting them anymore.
• Project Linus - making small blankets for toddlers. https://projectlinusuk.org.uk/patterns-and-tutorials/knitted-blankets/
• Checking with local nursing homes if they want twiddle blankets/muffs/blankets for beds.
• Yateley club are sending stuff to Spotlight at Basingstoke (blankets)
• Homeless night centre at Camberley https://camberleyallnightcafe.co.uk/volunteering-is-easy/
• Trussell Trust Food bank at the back of the church. Ask if they want Christmas presents to give away, such as hats/gloves.
• Knit-a-square - making for refugees overseas.
• Christmas angels - knitted or crocheted. Get left out and about.
○ Pattern: https://www.livingstones.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/christmas-angels-knitting-pattern.pdf
○ Information: https://www.christmasangel.net/info/
Meeting themes
General consensus that it's nice to have things arranged. Suggestion to alternate between knit-and-natter/crochet-and-chatter and a specific theme.
Suggestions:
• Uppingham Unusual Yarns
• Making buttons
• Weaving in ends
• Knitting in the round techniques
• Linkers
• Dyeing
• Spinning
• Trunk show from Guild collection (perhaps things for hands to match challenge?)
• Christmas 'do' (6th December). Non-alcoholic drinks and nibbles. No peanuts or pistachios.
• Melissa Warren - dip-dyes things. Previously was a speaker at a Guild of Machine Knitters event.
Events
• Craft and chatter at Fleet library tomorrow (10-12 noon Wednesdays).
• Branch of Knitting and Crochet Guild meets on the 4th Wednesday in Ash. 10am onwards.
• Yateley Craft group - alternative Tuesday mornings.
Show and tell
Cashmere scarf that was 2 threads twisted into a cake, skein, washed twice, knitted, washed, blocked. Result was the yarn was now very soft.
Socks in Tutti-frutti yarn
Pink raglan cardigan for tall 7 year old.
Blue jumper, flat rib.
Yellow top with lace pattern in a silk, alpaca and something else blend that is super soft.
Friday, September 30, 2022
October meeting
Reminder that the next Fleet knitting club meeting is on Tuesday. It will start with our AGM which will include voting in the new committee, and discussing topics or themes for meetings this year. We will have a knit and natter, or crochet and chatter, depending on your crafting preference. Plan to try having the tables laid out this time, so people have a surface for their work in progress.
Look forward to seeing you at the meeting - Tuesday 4th October, 8pm at Fleet Methodist Church, 72 Reading Road South, Fleet GU52 7TF
Wednesday, September 07, 2022
September 2022 - Autumn knit and crochet catch-up
First meeting of the club year. 8 people navigated the cooler damp autumnal weather to join in a post-summer knit/crochet and catch-up. Topics included issues interpreting charity patterns (some are easier to understand than others!), and comparing experiences of knitting on circular needles with straight needles.
Shows and events
The next Unravel show at Farnham Maltings is happening at the weekend 9-10 September https://farnhammaltings.com/artists-and-makers/craft/festivals/unravel
The Knitting and Crochet Guild collection will be open on Tuesday 13th September as part of Heritage Open Days 2022 https://kcguild.org.uk/events/heritage-open-days-2022
The Knitting and Crochet Guild convention takes place 16-18th September https://kcguild.org.uk/events/convention-2022
The Craft 4 Crafters Show is taking place at the Bath & West Showground from 20 September to 1st October https://kcguild.org.uk/events/craft-4-crafters-bath-west
The Knitting & Stitching Show takes place at Alexandra Palace 6th to 9th October 2022 https://kcguild.org.uk/events/knitting-stitching-show-london-6-9-october-2022
Show and tell
Most people were working on active projects during the evening. There were 2 crocheted blankets brought along for show and tell. There were several comments about the beautiful consistency of the stitches, and the vibrant colour, so there is a close-up included below.
Sunday, September 04, 2022
September meeting on Tuesday 6th
The next Fleet Knitting Club meeting is on Tuesday 6th September 2022. We usually start the club year with the AGM, but with both the outgoing Chair and the incoming Chair on holiday, this first meeting will be a knit/crochet and natter, and a show and tell, to catch up with your crafting and creations over the summer.
We meet on the 1st Tuesday of each month (not Jan or Aug) at Fleet Methodist Church, 72 Reading Road South, Fleet GU52 7TF. 8pm -10pm.
As has been mentioned a few times over the last year the membership subs will need to go up this year to cover the cost of hiring the hall. The subs have stayed at £15 since 2003. I think the new subs will be £25 for the year (for all 10 meetings) or £4 per meeting.
Saturday, July 09, 2022
July 2022 - Summer party
In lieu of not being able to have our usual Christmas party meetings for the last 2 years, we made up for it by having a little summer party with a few slices of cakes and some non-alcoholic fizz.
It was Liz's last meeting as chair, after many years of sterling work, and we provided a small token of our great appreciation with a hand-made card made by Jean, and a National Garden gift voucher. The new committee for the next club year is shaping up nicely, with René as chair. Liz brought along the original club notebooks that contain logs of what happened in the meetings prior to starting the online blog.
Shows and exhibitions
Creative craft show in Farnborough. 2-4 September (Farnborough Creative Craft Show 2022 | The Creative Craft Shows). Tickets £10
Southern wool at Newbury is also on the weekend of the 3-4 September (Southern Wool Show - Home).
Show and tell
Included a crochet blanket using a double knit acrylic, and a child's purple cardigan using yarn from Poundland.
Friday, July 01, 2022
July Meeting on Tuesday 5th July
Our July meeting is on Tuesday (5th July, 8 pm, Methodist Church). Is this going to be the last ever one?
I have sent an email to those of you who paid a subscription pre-pandemic. Please read it and respond as it is important.Nobody has yet volunteered to take on the lead position. We do have volunteers to act as treasurer and to handle PR and our on-line presence, but they can't do everything between them especially as they both work full time. So if you want to see the club continue, and to make it to it's 45th year (and on to it's 50th), volunteer now and help keep it going.
I am sure we will have plenty to discuss so we have put this meeting down as a knit and natter. Come along and spend an evening knitting (and crocheting) and nattering. Bring along things you've recently made too and show them off.
I do hope there is a good turnout for this meeting. In light of the soaring covid numbers, please wear a mask when you are inside the building and sanitize hands too. Thank you.
Monday, June 13, 2022
World Wide Knit in Public
We met up with knitters from around the area for the World Wide Knit in Public Day. There were more of us than in the picture as others came and went during the afternoon. It was great to sit and chat with likeminded people on a lovely sunny afternoon.
Wednesday, June 08, 2022
World Wide Knit in Public Day - Saturday 11th June
At the meeting last night we talked about and agreed to take part in the World Wide Knit in Public Day which is on Saturday 11th June. We talked about meeting either in The Views or Calthorpe Park.
Having taken all this into account, our best option will be to hold our Knit in Public in The Views (rather than Calthorpe Park) from about 2pm on Saturday. If you happen to be first to arrive then find somewhere to sit and start knitting! Stay as long as you like and bring friends and family. I will post about this elsewhere, so we may have more people joining us.
Looking forward to seeing some of you on Saturday.
p.s. Don't know Fleet? The Views are on Harlington Way, behind the
Harlington Centre. Access is from Harlington Way/Victoria Road
Car Park, plus a footpath in Victoria Road, and Baker Way
Footpath/cycle route.
Sunday, June 05, 2022
June meeting - Tuesday 7th June
With all the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations plus a family wedding this weekend, I almost forgot to post about our upcoming meeting!
We will be taking a more in-depth look at the items that have been loaned to us by the Knitting and Crochet Guild (https://kcguild.org.uk/). There will be some that we can touch, but other items need extra care and we can only look at them as Sally shows them to us.
Looking forward to seeing lots of you on Tuesday, 7th June, 8pm.
p.s. no volunteers yet to take over running the club. Unless someone steps forward the July meeting will be our last. Such a shame after over 40 years.
Sunday, May 08, 2022
May 2022 - Sock heels and cuffs
The trunk show from the Knitting and Crochet Guild's collection had arrived. Sally laid out some of the items from the trunk show on a table, covered by a clear plastic sheet, so everyone could take turns during the evening to have a sneak preview of the trunk show talk/presentation next month.
We continued the discussion about socks, mostly focusing on heals and cuffs. Liz shared some interesting spiral-bound books that had each page split into 3 sections, so the reader can choose a different cuff, heel and toe for their desired sock.
We are still looking for new volunteers for the committee, and a new chairperson. Only 2 people have volunteered for the committee so far. If there are no volunteers soon then the club's last meeting will be in July. If you are willing to volunteer, please contact Liz or Sally.
Show and tell
Friday, April 29, 2022
May 2022 meeting coming up soon.
Don't forget it will be Fleet Knitting Club meeting on Tuesday, 3rd May. It will be easy to overlook it, coming straight after the bank holiday weekend.
Sally tells me that the Knitting and Crochet Guild trunk show has just arrived, so I'm hoping we can have a sneak preview on Tuesday, and followed by a proper look and examination of the contents at the June meeting. We'll also be talking a bit more about socks as it's a big subject and there are so many different techniques involved. Don't forget to bring along items for show and tell as well as a project to work on whilst we talk.
For those of you that haven't made it since we restarted, don't forget about the change of venue. The Methodist Church is easy to find and we'll be there from 8pm.
Looking forward to seeing you on Tuesday.
Sunday, April 10, 2022
April 2022 - Casting on to knit in the round
Top-down socks
From Newsletter No 22 - sent 18 December 2021
Knitting 2 colour stripes in the round
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXsItKHmmNk
Top-down sock knitting discussions and tutorials
https://www.winwickmum.co.uk/2014/05/basic-sock-pattern-and-tutorial.html
https://curioushandmade.com/the-sock-series-stretchy-cast-ons-for-handmade-socks/
Which yarn for knitting socks?
What is the best yarn for knitting socks? – Wool n Stuff
There was a long discussion around the different needles suitable to sock knitting, and personal preferences. Each material has it's own strengths and weaknesses. Each brand of circular needles has their own technique for joining the flexible cord to the needle tip, so try several until you find the one that works best for you.
KnitPro - Knitting Needles, Crochet hook & Accessories
LYKKE Crafts - Make Happy! - Knitting Needles and other Crafting Tools
Knitter's Pride - Knitting Needles, Crochet hook & Accessories (knitterspride.com)
Show and tell
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