There were so many people at this month's meeting that it was hard for late-comers to find a place to sit! A big welcome to all our visitors; we hope to see you again next month.
Congratulations to Raelene on being made a life member of the Guild for services rendered. It is a well-deserved accolade. Raelene was presented with a certificate of recognition from the Blue Mountains group by our convenor, Merrin.
Our workshop, taught by the competent and, as always, well-prepared Raelene was on entrelac knitting using a method devised by Brenda Horne. It is made entirely of garter stitch and is not knit on the bias, therefore no starting triangles are needed. Raelene showed us many examples of entrelac, ranging from the ubiquitous colourwork [on the bias] to a beautiful shawl knitted in combination of stocking stitch and lace knitting. We then learnt the thumb method of cast-on and knitted out first square. Using the easy-to-follow notes prepared byRaelene, we moved on the second and third squares. By the end of the workshop, some had completed more than half the sample piece and by the end of the afternoon had completed it entirely.
A second workshop in entrelac will be held next month; this time using stocking stitch on the bias.
Anita and her helpers from The Wool Inn in Penrith were at the meeting to tempt us with all sorts of interesting goodies.
The raffle this month had three prizes; these were won by Diane, Yvonne and Lesly.
Members are reminded that the closing date for articles for the Exhibition in Friday 11th April.
Sunday, 16 March 2008
Monday, 18 February 2008
February 2008 meeting
Some important points arose during the meeting:
No workshop was held this month. "Show and Tell" continues to offer a wide variety of knitted objects, from fingerless gloves to lace knitting.
This month the raffle prize of a $25 gift voucher from The Wool Inn [Penrith] was won by Mira.
A delicious afternoon tea was provided by Margaret, Vernetta, Lesley and Mira - thank you. The members rostered for afternoon tea next month are Yvonne, Ann, Alison and Margaret.
- membership fees are now due - if you have not already done so, please forward this year's fees to the membership secretary
- the annual general meeting of the Knitters' Guild of NSW will be held at the Powerhouse Museum on Saturday 1st March; all members are invited to attend; only financial members will be eligible to vote
- a cloth badge was attached to the most recent newsletter for members who have paid their fees; the cloth badge is to be attached to a shirt which has a collar if representing the Guild [e.g. at the Easter Show or at the Craft Fair]
- an exhibition of members' work will be on display at the Epping Creative Centre in April, all members are invited to exhibit; refer to the centre pages of the latest newsletter for further information
- a scarf exchange is to be held at the Blue Mountains Knitters' group; interested persons should complete the form and give it to Rosemary by the March meeting; the finished scarves will be due at the July meeting
- We will be having a workshop on Fair Isle Techniques presented by Liz Gemmel in May. The workshop will run all day and lunch will be provided. The cost of the workshop will be $25. Only those who pay in advance will be able to attend the workshop. Places are limited so get in early. See David for more details.
No workshop was held this month. "Show and Tell" continues to offer a wide variety of knitted objects, from fingerless gloves to lace knitting.
This month the raffle prize of a $25 gift voucher from The Wool Inn [Penrith] was won by Mira.
A delicious afternoon tea was provided by Margaret, Vernetta, Lesley and Mira - thank you. The members rostered for afternoon tea next month are Yvonne, Ann, Alison and Margaret.
Tuesday, 1 January 2008
Calendar 2008
Please note: This schedule may change. Please check back regularly.
19 JANUARY
workshop: Judging – What does it take to win a competition?
bring: your best piece of knitting
16 FEBRUARY
Workshop: Raelene’s 'No Pattern' Cardigan
bring: the cardigan project from 2006
15 MARCH
Retail: Display from Wool Inn
Workshop: Entrelac Part 1
bring: 8 ply yarns + suitable needles. Leftover lengths of yarn are fine.
19 APRIL
Workshop: Entrelac Part 2
bring: 8 ply yarn + suitable needles and your work from last month
17 MAY
Retail: Display from Evelyn & Rex Reynolds Yarn
Workshop: Fair Isle techniques with Liz Gemmel.
bring: 4 ply yarns, suitable needles. Leftover lengths of yarn are fine.
Please note: This is a full day workshop commencing at 10am, there is an additional charge of $25 for the whole day portion, BYO lunch.
21 JUNE
Workshop: Natural Dyeing
bring: Uncoloured yarn [natural, not synthetic]. We’ll dye small batches. A plastic bag to take dyed yarn home in as it will not be dry.
19 JULY
Workshop: Crochet
bring: 8 ply yarn + suitable crochet hook
16 AUGUST
Retail: Members "Stash Busting" Sale
Workshop: Intarsia
bring: 8 ply yarns + suitable needles. Leftover lengths of yarn are fine.
20 SEPTEMBER
Workshop: Lace Knitting
bring: Lace weight yarns, 3mm – 5mm needles
This is a full day workshop commencing at 10am.
18 OCTOBER
Retail: Display from Virginia Farm
Workshop: Spinning
bring: If you spin, bring some fibre and your spindle or wheel. Today is very hands on, everyone gets to try it.
15 NOVEMBER
Annual General Meeting
Retail: Display from Belissa Cashmere
Workshop: Finishing
bring: things you haven’t finished along with suitable yarn and needles.
20 DECEMBER
Christmas Party
Retail: Display from Ainsworth's Books
bring: A small amount of food to share.
19 JANUARY
workshop: Judging – What does it take to win a competition?
bring: your best piece of knitting
16 FEBRUARY
Workshop: Raelene’s 'No Pattern' Cardigan
bring: the cardigan project from 2006
15 MARCH
Retail: Display from Wool Inn
Workshop: Entrelac Part 1
bring: 8 ply yarns + suitable needles. Leftover lengths of yarn are fine.
19 APRIL
Workshop: Entrelac Part 2
bring: 8 ply yarn + suitable needles and your work from last month
17 MAY
Retail: Display from Evelyn & Rex Reynolds Yarn
Workshop: Fair Isle techniques with Liz Gemmel.
bring: 4 ply yarns, suitable needles. Leftover lengths of yarn are fine.
Please note: This is a full day workshop commencing at 10am, there is an additional charge of $25 for the whole day portion, BYO lunch.
21 JUNE
Workshop: Natural Dyeing
bring: Uncoloured yarn [natural, not synthetic]. We’ll dye small batches. A plastic bag to take dyed yarn home in as it will not be dry.
19 JULY
Workshop: Crochet
bring: 8 ply yarn + suitable crochet hook
16 AUGUST
Retail: Members "Stash Busting" Sale
Workshop: Intarsia
bring: 8 ply yarns + suitable needles. Leftover lengths of yarn are fine.
20 SEPTEMBER
Workshop: Lace Knitting
bring: Lace weight yarns, 3mm – 5mm needles
This is a full day workshop commencing at 10am.
18 OCTOBER
Retail: Display from Virginia Farm
Workshop: Spinning
bring: If you spin, bring some fibre and your spindle or wheel. Today is very hands on, everyone gets to try it.
15 NOVEMBER
Annual General Meeting
Retail: Display from Belissa Cashmere
Workshop: Finishing
bring: things you haven’t finished along with suitable yarn and needles.
20 DECEMBER
Christmas Party
Retail: Display from Ainsworth's Books
bring: A small amount of food to share.
Thursday, 22 November 2007
November meeting and AGM
Our new executive:
Convener - Merrin
Secretary - Cheyne
Treasurer - Rosemary
Volunteers
Workshops - David
P.R. - Rosemary
Hospitality - Yvonne
Library - Lesley
Blog - Lynne
Congratulations to all incoming executive and volunteers, thanks for taking on these roles. A big thank you to the outgoing treasurer [Merrin] and convener [Kate] - you both did a tremendous job in your respective roles, thank you.
After the official business was ended, a workshop on grafting [Kitchener stitch] for stocking stitch and garter stitch was held - thanks, Raelene, as usual you were helpful, thorough and easy to understand.
Show and Tell brought many beautiful items from knitted lace to a colourful no-pattern cardigan.
The raffle was won by Merrin, second prize by Cheyne.
The December meeting will be a Christmas party; everyone is asked to bring a small plate of food. Ainsworth Books will also be present for some retail therapy - please bring cash only as Ainsworth Books does not take debit/credit cards.
Convener - Merrin
Secretary - Cheyne
Treasurer - Rosemary
Volunteers
Workshops - David
P.R. - Rosemary
Hospitality - Yvonne
Library - Lesley
Blog - Lynne
Congratulations to all incoming executive and volunteers, thanks for taking on these roles. A big thank you to the outgoing treasurer [Merrin] and convener [Kate] - you both did a tremendous job in your respective roles, thank you.
After the official business was ended, a workshop on grafting [Kitchener stitch] for stocking stitch and garter stitch was held - thanks, Raelene, as usual you were helpful, thorough and easy to understand.
Show and Tell brought many beautiful items from knitted lace to a colourful no-pattern cardigan.
The raffle was won by Merrin, second prize by Cheyne.
The December meeting will be a Christmas party; everyone is asked to bring a small plate of food. Ainsworth Books will also be present for some retail therapy - please bring cash only as Ainsworth Books does not take debit/credit cards.
Saturday, 3 November 2007
October meeting
We had a visit from Jenny Dunn from Virginia Farm Wool Works - some retail therapy was involved! Jenny also gave us an inspirational talk on needle felting and dyeing.
Some lovely items were displayed in Show'n'Tell: David's "Henry VIII" is progressing well. Perhaps some photos at the next meeting! Lynne's lace wrap was much admired. The surprise jacket from the front of the last Guild newsletter was shown by Jo - very cute and so small!
The raffle of a gift voucher from The Wool Inn [Penrith] was won by Lois.
Members and guests are reminded that next month's workshop will be on grafting [Kitchener stitch]. Please bring two samples of stocking stitch [2in x 2in - 5cm x 5cm] and two samples of garter stitch to the workshop with you. Make sure all four samples are still on the needles [i.e. four needles - one for each sample]. You will also needs a wool sewing needle and some yarn.
Members are also reminded that next month is our annual general meeting - the position of treasurer is vacant; please consider putting yourself forward - it is not a time consuming task but some mathematical acumen and computer skills would be helpful!
Some lovely items were displayed in Show'n'Tell: David's "Henry VIII" is progressing well. Perhaps some photos at the next meeting! Lynne's lace wrap was much admired. The surprise jacket from the front of the last Guild newsletter was shown by Jo - very cute and so small!
The raffle of a gift voucher from The Wool Inn [Penrith] was won by Lois.
Members and guests are reminded that next month's workshop will be on grafting [Kitchener stitch]. Please bring two samples of stocking stitch [2in x 2in - 5cm x 5cm] and two samples of garter stitch to the workshop with you. Make sure all four samples are still on the needles [i.e. four needles - one for each sample]. You will also needs a wool sewing needle and some yarn.
Members are also reminded that next month is our annual general meeting - the position of treasurer is vacant; please consider putting yourself forward - it is not a time consuming task but some mathematical acumen and computer skills would be helpful!
Monday, 17 September 2007
September meeting and lace workshop
It was a long but fruitful day for those who attended Raelene's workshop on lace. Is that knitted lace or lace knitting? Is there a difference? Yes, but you had to be at the workshop to find out! We learnt a provisional cast on and a crocheted cast on. We then knitted several repeats of Feather and Fan before beginning the knitted-on border - a six row pattern that kept increasing and decreasing in stitch numbers - concentration was definitely required! A sample was blocked - it's amazing how big that handful of knitting becomes! And the best thing about traditional lace (apart from it's beauty) - little or no sewing!
The long-awaited scarf exchange took place - some beautiful, interesting and colourful scarves were swapped and admired.
Diane Schebli won the raffle: a $25 gift voucher from the Wool Inn - thanks Anita.
David's work in progress - Alice Starmore's fair isle pattern: Henry VIII - was much admired! Has he really only been knitting again for just over a year?
There has been a change to the calendar: the November meeting will have a workshop on grafting - both stocking stitch and garter stitch; thanks, Raelene, we are all looking forward to it so that we can join our lace pieces together! Members wishing to attend the workshop are asked to bring two small pieces of garter stitch and two small pieces of stocking stitch on the needles; please do not cast off! You will also need a wool needle and a length of the yarn that was used to knit the samples.
The October meeting will feature a talk on dry felting by Jenny Dunn and a display from Virginia Farm Woolworks.
The long-awaited scarf exchange took place - some beautiful, interesting and colourful scarves were swapped and admired.
Diane Schebli won the raffle: a $25 gift voucher from the Wool Inn - thanks Anita.
David's work in progress - Alice Starmore's fair isle pattern: Henry VIII - was much admired! Has he really only been knitting again for just over a year?
There has been a change to the calendar: the November meeting will have a workshop on grafting - both stocking stitch and garter stitch; thanks, Raelene, we are all looking forward to it so that we can join our lace pieces together! Members wishing to attend the workshop are asked to bring two small pieces of garter stitch and two small pieces of stocking stitch on the needles; please do not cast off! You will also need a wool needle and a length of the yarn that was used to knit the samples.
The October meeting will feature a talk on dry felting by Jenny Dunn and a display from Virginia Farm Woolworks.
Sunday, 29 July 2007
July meeting
Congratulations to Merrin on a well-run meeting in the absence of our leader, Kate, who was sick at home.
Members were reminded that the Begleys in Victoria are not accepting any more donations of jumpers for AIDS orphans; however, Denise, who represents Operation Christmas Child, is accepting the jumpers for inclusion in the shoe-boxes.
After the general business of the meeting, some members offered their favourite knitting tips. One, learnt from Liz Gemmell, is to weigh a finished article if you need to knit a second article and can't remember how much yarn you actually used. Of course, this only works if knitting in a similar yarn; one can't compare 8ply mohair with 8ply pure wool. An extension of this idea would be to weigh the first sleeve to determine if you have enough yarn to complete the second sleeve. Also, if knitting small items, like babies' jumpers, using odd balls, weigh the original garment to determine if you have enough yarn to complete another! You can mix and match odd balls of yarn to create the right weight! Digital kitchen scales are ideal for weighing yarn as they weigh as little as 1 gram.
Another tip: use corks from wine bottle (some non-alcoholic wines also use corks) as point protectors for your needles and to keep the knitting from sliding off the needles while travelling. One member has been using the same cork for over 30 years!
A workshop was held on the use of two circulars for knitting in the round. Each participant who didn't bring two circulars was given two to practice with - great preparation, Margaret. The technique, while relatively simple, was much easier to understand when practised rather than observed. Margaret also gave a demonstration and practical help to anyone wanting to try knitting in the round on one circular, also known as the magic loop method. Thank you, Margaret, for simple and clear instructions on both methods.
Many interesting items were shown during Show 'n' Tell, including a pair of knee high socks knitted on two needles that have been on the needles for over thirty years! No raffle was held due to unforeseen circumstances.
Our condolences to Merrin on the recent loss of her father.
Members were reminded that the Begleys in Victoria are not accepting any more donations of jumpers for AIDS orphans; however, Denise, who represents Operation Christmas Child, is accepting the jumpers for inclusion in the shoe-boxes.
After the general business of the meeting, some members offered their favourite knitting tips. One, learnt from Liz Gemmell, is to weigh a finished article if you need to knit a second article and can't remember how much yarn you actually used. Of course, this only works if knitting in a similar yarn; one can't compare 8ply mohair with 8ply pure wool. An extension of this idea would be to weigh the first sleeve to determine if you have enough yarn to complete the second sleeve. Also, if knitting small items, like babies' jumpers, using odd balls, weigh the original garment to determine if you have enough yarn to complete another! You can mix and match odd balls of yarn to create the right weight! Digital kitchen scales are ideal for weighing yarn as they weigh as little as 1 gram.
Another tip: use corks from wine bottle (some non-alcoholic wines also use corks) as point protectors for your needles and to keep the knitting from sliding off the needles while travelling. One member has been using the same cork for over 30 years!
A workshop was held on the use of two circulars for knitting in the round. Each participant who didn't bring two circulars was given two to practice with - great preparation, Margaret. The technique, while relatively simple, was much easier to understand when practised rather than observed. Margaret also gave a demonstration and practical help to anyone wanting to try knitting in the round on one circular, also known as the magic loop method. Thank you, Margaret, for simple and clear instructions on both methods.
Many interesting items were shown during Show 'n' Tell, including a pair of knee high socks knitted on two needles that have been on the needles for over thirty years! No raffle was held due to unforeseen circumstances.
Our condolences to Merrin on the recent loss of her father.
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