Saturday, 31 July 2010

Feral Knitting Workshop - Lynne Johnson

On Saturday 17th July an all day Feral Knitting Workshop was held with Lynne Johnson as guest tutor. Everyone who attended had a fun time. Lynne has a way of drawing people to use skills they didn't realise they had and everyone produce a work of art without a pattern!

Thank you, Lynne, for your patience and inspiration.

July 2010 meeting

Dates for your diary
  • 24 July: Spotlight knitting party
  • 7 August (9am - 3pm): private sale of knitting, cross-stitch, patchwork and dressmaking supplies in Castle Hill; email pamhoy@bigpond.com for more details
  • 30 October: lace workshop with Smila Smithers at the West Ryde group - see Ally for more details
Kurrajong Back to Back Challenge raised $10,700 for breast cancer research.

Terry is teaching Knitting Level One at Katoomba, Tuesdays 10am-noon, for 8 weeks. Cost $164. Lessons at his home can be arranged.

We received an email from The Yarn Barn in Victoria offering us a sample pack of 27 balls of yarn (9 x 3 balls of each). These will be offered as raffle prizes. A response has been sent thanking them for the offer.

Retail: We welcomed Suzanne's House of Wool today. She had hand-dyed and handspun yarn and fibres for spinning available.

Next month
Afternoon tea roster: Margaret P, Meera V, Bev C, Marilyn B.
More volunteers are needed for coming months. Please speak to Ally.

All day workshop on Mobius knitting with Jude Skeers. Please bring interchangeable circular needles, 8, 10 or 12 ply yarn and 3 or 4 ply yarn. Bring your own lunch.

Wednesday, 7 July 2010

June 2010

GUILD NEWS


Direct Deposit has now been approved for payment of membership fees. Please a copy of the deposit form with your membership form and put a reference of some sort, e.g. your name or member number, on the deposit form.

The Guild Ravlery Group now has 73 members.

Members of the Guild have access to advice from a professional conservator, Tamara Lavrencic, who works for The Historic House Trust of NSW and was the guest speaker at the 2101 AGM. Questions to her can be sent either via Ravelry or the Guild Website or via the post addressed to The Secretary Kate Venn at the Knitters Guild.

The Guild will appoint a Publicity Officer in the next few months. The PO will be responsible for all Guild publicity and to assist with media enquiries.

2011 marks the 25th anniversary of the Knitters’ Guild of NSW. There will be a double page spread regarding this in the next newsletter.

The display at next year's Stitches and Craft Show (June 2011) will be “Christmas in July”. A knitted Xmas dinner, including a turkey, will be featured. Volunteers are needed to knit silver leaves for this display. Yarn will be supplied. please leave your name with Ally if you can help. Members are also asked to supply objects of interest to display.

Because The Knitters’ Guild of NSW has a reciprocal agreement with The Spinners and Weavers Guild of NSW, members of one can attend the workshops of the other for member price. A list of workshops of the Spinners and Weavers Guild van be found at http://nsweave.org.au/



DEMONSTRATION

Jenny and Phil Dunne from Virginia Farm Woolworks were our guest retailers. Jenny gave a talk on needle felting, showing three different gauges of needles .The needles have small barbs at the end that tangle the fibres. The meanings of terms like roving and wool top were explained. Jenny recommends wool top as the best for needle felting .The coarser the fleece the easier and quicker the results will be. Needle felting is quick but not as fine as wet felting. You can make balls, teddies and flowers for brooches. Knitted garments can be decorated with needle felting. The longer you work it the more solid and finer the felt will be. Start with a coarse needle and slowly work your way down to a finer one.

Instructions for making a ball
Put a bell into a pill bottle and wrap the bottle in wool and start poking it with the needle to felt it. Be careful not to hit the bottle as the tips of the needle break easily. Work your way around so as to keep it a sphere. These can then be embellished by felting different coloured tops or commercial wool onto it. These balls are great for cats and small children as they tinkle when they roll.

Items available from Virginia Farm Woolworks
many coloured tops
needles in different gauges
a Wooden Needle Felting Handle which holds five needles ($29.95)
books on needle felting


RETAIL (Jenny Dunne in pink, Phil in background)



BACK TO BACK CHALLENGE
The teams at the Back to Back Challenge at Kurrajong didn't do as well as last year. From sheep’s back to finished jumper took 7 ½ hours this year as the fleece was very sticky from all the rain that we have had. Over $10,000 was raised for Breast Cancer research. The raffle prize was a hand-painted spinning wheel and was won by our convenor, Alison.


ADDITION TO THE LIBRARY
The NSW Knitters Guild Website Made Easy


SHOW AND TELL
This intarsia blanket was made after being inspired by a Liz Gemmell workshop . Judy brought this to show newcomerswhat the Guild can do for you.





RAFFLE
The raffle was won by Denise.


NEXT MONTH
All day workshop with Lynne Johnson on feral knitting and colour work starting at 9.30am. $40 per member and $50 for non-members. Please bring your own lunch. Morning and afternoon tea supplied.

Retail : Susanne's House of Wool selling hand dyed roving and yarns.

Afternoon tea: Robyn G, Robyn C, Denise and Stanis.
PLEASE NOTE: We need more volunteers for the next six month's roster


photo of our second youngest "member"


Saturday, 22 May 2010

May meeting

Executive Business:

A Ravelry Group is being set up for the Knitters Guild of NSW. It will have threads discussing events but not Guild business, please use the Guild website member login for that.

Next year the Guild is 25 years old. Ideas are being formulated as to celebrations. There will be a competition with prizes. There will be a formal dinner table presentation with all items hand knitted including a turkey. We will need volunteers to knit silver leaves by August. Alison will have more details at the June meeting as nothing is finalized yet.

Group News
A wool winder and a swift are now available during meetings. You are more than welcome to bring your skeins to the group and wind them.

Alison and Kris are setting up an email group for our group; please make sure that Alison has your correct email details.

Diary Dates

Sunday 6th June  - Back to Back Challenge - 1665 Bells Line of Roads, Kurrajong from 8am till finished. One of our group, Suzanne, will be in the team again. It is a really good family day with exhibits, and items for sale.

Monday 7th June  - annual ABC - "Wrap with Love" Knit In  - ABC, Harris Street, Ultimo, from 7am Details can be found here. Other Knit In venues on 7th June are:
* Penrith Library 9.30am - 3pm (tea and coffee supplied). Bring 8 ply wool and needles.
* Springwood and Katoomba libraries 10am-noon
* Springwood Pool

Saturday 12th June - World Wide Knit In Public (WWKIP) Day - Abraham Mott Hall, The Rocks from 1.30 - 5.30 with loads of fun and raffles.

Thursday 17th June - WWKIP - Epping Library, 9am - noon.

16th - 20th June - Craft and Quilt Fair  - Darling Harbour.
The theme for this year's Guild exhibit is "Christmas in July". If you want to contribute or help contact Veronica Moschione.

knitting for charity

Guardian Angel Knitting is a partnership between Guardian pharmacies and the Salvos. Spotlight is selling discount yarn to use in the making of sweaters for the charity. Details in a Guardian pharmacy or here. Knitting must be finished by 31st July 2010.

Local events:

The Red Cow group meets upstairs at The Red Cow Hotel opposite Penrith station from 1.30 - 4.00 on the first Sunday every month.

Penrith library has a Knit In on the first Monday of the month from 10 am.

Retail: Lush Yarn

Marie from Lush Yarn had a large selection of merino and merino/silk and cashmere blends. She was also selling buttons, shawl pins and books. Sadly, Marie will no longer be part of the Lush team; she has chosen to to spend more time with her boys. We wish her well.

Michelle from Lush Yarn will continue the website and clubs.

Workshop (written by Diane)

Lynne Byass gave a workshop on slip stitch colour work; another technique new to me. It is quite simple and effective once you get the hang of it. Lynne brought books and samples for us to look at. Very interesting, thank you Lynne.


Show and Tell



Forthcoming meetings and workshops
Next meeting Jenny Dunne from Virginia Farm Woolworks will give us a demonstration of needle felting. She will also have fibre, yarn and spinning tools for sale.

Vicki needs the money now for the Jude Skeers workshop in August and the Lynne Johnson workshop in July; $40 each please.

The raffle was won by Yvonne.

Thursday, 22 April 2010

April meeting

GUILD NEWS
The executive has asked that convenors all get a copy of each month’s minutes so that all groups will know what is happening in all the other groups in their Guild.

An official Knitters Guild Ravelry group, moderated by Redambition (Isabel) and KatieV (Kate), is to be established. It will be for discussion and announcements only. To join Ravelry http://www.ravelry.com/, it is free and fun to use.

All official Guild business only be available (members only) on the Guild website http://www.knittersguild.org.au/. To join, email Kris Howard through the website who will email you a password.

The Secretary is seeking information about workshops that are being held throughout the Guild.

The Guild is holding a Moebius workshop 22 May and a baby jacket workshop May 29-30 at the Epping Community Centre.

Tutors are required for country groups. If you can help, please contact Kate Venn.

Free patterns are needed for the Guild website; if you have one that isn't a breach of copyright please contact Kris.

Sally Ogilvie has put together a list of charities and their requirements for knitting. This list is available on the Guild website. If you know of one that isn't listed, please let Sally or Kris know.

Epping Group is holding “the Biggest Morning Tea” on May 17th Monday at 10 am and will include a tea cosy competition.

Please check the Guild website for events held by other groups and feel free to visit them.

If you do not or have not received a newsletter, hardcopy or email, please contact the newsletter editor.

The largest Guild group is the Inner City with 61 members, we are second.


DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
National Alpaca week: 1-9 May. Many farms will be open to the public. Details are here www.hbmalpaca.com.au. Please contact Deb on 0408 868494 if you want to display alpaca garments or fibre or demonstrate knitting or spinning with alpaca.

Entries for the St Ives show will close on 7 May.

The Lawson Quilt and Fibre Arts Show is on 15-19 September. If you wish to enter items for sale or display, please contact Cheryl Adams 47591823.


GROUP NEWS
Our July workshop is with Lynn Johnson on feral knitting/colour work. Those attending need to pay Vicki $40 next month.

Merrin stood down as Group Convenor. She was thanked for all her hard work. Alison was nominated by Kate and seconded by Donna and elected unanimously as our new Convenor and will take over from next month.

OTHER NEWS
Sally Olgivie, PomPom on Ravelry and the face behind Winterwarm in Sydney and Sydney's Knit in Public Day, is in hospital having broken her hip in a fall. You can send get well wishes via her blog or Ravelry .


TODAY’S WORKSHOP
Bess and Anita from The Wool Inn tutored a workshop on crocheting the Hungarian rug. It is a great way to use up a stash of wool. The pattern is on Ravelry as the Wool Eater Blanket but it is easier if shown the techniques. Anita and Bess are happy for anyone to drop in at the shop if they need help. Quite a few of us made it to the 4th round and got the hang of it. Thank you both for your time and patience.






NEXT MONTH AT BLUE MOUNTAINS GROUP
Retail – Lush Yarns
Workshop - slip-stitch colour work; will be facilitated by Lynne. Please bring two balls of different coloured yarn and needles to go with that ply.
Afternoon tea will be provided by Maree, Vicki, Anne and Laurel.

RAFFLE
Two prizes:
Wool Inn Voucher won by Clair C
Lantern Moon Needles won by Marta (visitor)

Friday, 26 March 2010

March meeting

Visitors, Angie, Kay and Laurel, were welcomed.
GUILD NEWS
Merrin is now president of The Knitters Guild of NSW
GROUP NEWS
Merrin is stepping down as our convenor. We wish to thank her for her years as convenor and secretary and wish her well in her new role.
Merrin visited the Southern Highlands group and has a copy of a very clever one piece slipper pattern from them. If you would like a copy please see Merrin.
There are two extra raffle prizes this month as Evelyn and Rex Reynolds donated two balls of wool at the last meeting.
More names are needed on the afternoon tea roster.

SHOW RESULTS
Blacktown Show
1st prize – Shawl – Merrin
Castle Hill Show
1st prize – Aran – Merrin
2nd prize – Handspun other than wool – bamboo – Suzanne
1st prize – Garment made of alpaca fiber – Suzanne
1st prize – Specimen of handspun alpaca – Suzanne
1st prize – Handmade article made from handspun yarn – Suzanne
1st prize – Specimen of fine handspun wool – Suzanne
Annual Show champion Spinning K1-K5 – Suzanne
Well done to the both of you.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
  • 11 April – Up the M4 Ravelry knitting group are meeting at upstairs The Red Cow, Jane St Penrith, 1:30pm.
  • CANCELLED 14-18 April – The Stitches and Craft Show; Technology Park, Redfern. Sally will be collecting for Winter Warmers (hats for children in Afghanistan) at the Show Sunday 14th April only. Sally will also represent Winter Warmers at the in Show August at the Rosehill Racecourse.
  • 17 July – workshop – Lynne Johnson – Feral knitting – all day; $40 for members; money must be paid at the April meeting.
  • 21 August – workshop – Jude Skeers – Moebius knitting – all day; $40 for members; money must be paid at the April meeting.
  • 17 September – The Lawson Public School P&C Art and Craft Show; submissions of work in knitting, crocheting, quilting and/or felting for exhibition and sale are invited. Please contact Cheryl Adams 47591823 if interested.
  • 16 October – Members’ Annual Stash Sale; clean out your cupboards and bring unwanted fibre, yarn and books.
RETAIL VISIT
Anita from The Wool Inn showed us this year’s Jo Sharp designs. They are quite versatile. Cardigans that can be worn two ways, bustiers and coats. We can try them on and look at them in her store until the end of March.

WORKSHOP
Vicki taught us how to use our strange-looking Tunisian crochet hooks. They look like a crocket hook on the ned of a straight knitting needle. Each participant was given individual attention so that we got the hang of this strange technique. It makes quite a thick fabric that would be ideal for towels and face washers. Thank you Vicki for an interesting and informative workshop.

NEXT MONTH
Anita will be teaching us how to make a very special Hungarian rug. You need to bring 5 different colours of 8 ply yarn and a 5mm crochet hook . To finish the rug you need approx 20 balls of yarn. Anita recommends yarn made of wool for this rug and has kits of colourways in the store for $80.

Afternoon tea will be provided by Lynne, Susan, Merrin and Rosalin.

SHOW AND TELL




RAFFLE RESULTS
Wool Inn voucher - Annette
skein of wool - Merrin and Judy

We start them young at the Blue Mountains group!

Monday, 8 March 2010

February 2010

GUILD NEWS
Merrin circulated copies of Guild correspondence relating to the AGM and elections. Included was the letter of resignation from Jenny Chioatto in protest of the way the Executive treated nominations. Nominations were called for last year to be with the returning officer by January 28 2010. On the form it stated that nominator and nominee must be full financial members. The dispute is about WHEN you must be financial. It states at the date of nomination on the form. When the nominations were put to the executive it was decided that four were not valid due to lack of membership renewal by January 29th. The returning officer is entitled by law to notify those with irregularities so that they may be fixed. This did not happen. The Executive voting on this matter is considered to be a conflict of interest. We have submitted as a group a letter of our concern over this matter. It is hoped that 2010 will be one of review to clear up any anomalies so that this will not happen again. All are welcome to come to the AGM.

The Knitters' Guild of NSW AGM will be held on March 6th 2010 at the Target Theatre in The Powerhouse Museum at 11.00.

All members of the Guild are encouraged to use the official Knitters Guild website. To access all forums contact Kris Howard and she will get straight back to you with a password. The address for the website is http://www.knittersguildnsw.org.au/


GROUP NEWS
Congratulations to Susan and Damien on the birth of their son, Benjamin.

Vicki is taking names for the July and August workshops. Monies will have to be paid in advance. Limit for Jude Skeers workshop is 10 and the Feral Knitting workshop is 15.

Suzanne will purchase a ball winder and swift for members; use at group meetings.

Additions to the library: Knitting Fashion and Glorious Knitting.

The Blacktown Show was on the same weekend as the February meeting and Merrin entered knitting.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
  • Castle Hill show entries close Friday 26th February , the show is on 12th-14th March.
  • The Stitches and Craft show which was to have been held in February has been postponed. It will now be held 14th-16th April at the Technology Park at Redfern.
  • The Craft Expo will be on at The Dome, Olympic Park;  11th-14th March.
  • Textile Fibre Forum; Orange; 11th-17th April. Many retail stalls will be there. Fleece and yarn, books and buttons, etc.  9-5 each day. There are still vacancies in Liz Gemmell's class if anyone is interested.
  • Berry Muster - first weekend in July
AT THE FEBRUARY MEETING
We had a visit from Rex and Evelyn Reynolds. They showed us the latest in sock wool. Evelyn showed many of the hand knitted blankets she had made over the years. She has the yarn and pattern to make log cabin square blankets on which she is now working.


Lynne presented a workshop in Double Knitting that was fun and educational. As always Lynne explained it all very clearly. Many of us had never heard of this technique before. (report from Diane)

There was a great variety in Show and Tell - socks, blankets, lace in progress, scarves and garments from mitred squares.

The raffle was won by Robyn.

NEXT MONTH
  • Anita from The Wool Inn will visit and will bring some garments from Jo Sharp.
  • Vicki will conduct a workshop in Tunisian crochet. Please bring a Tunisian crochet hook and yarn. The hook will need to be a couple of sizes bigger than you would normally use for that yarn. That is, for 8ply bring a 6mm hook. Tunisian crochet hooks are avaialbe from The Wool Inn.