May 2009

Visitors and an new member, Carol, were warmly welcomed to the group.

Evelyn and Rex Reynolds visited us to show us new patterns and trends and tempt us to buy yarn. It was their 50th wedding anniversary and they were celebrating by visiting us and then having a family dinner in Canberra. Evelyn showed us what is new and interesting in yarn. She had a hat pattern made on the diagonal from multi-colored yarn that was really lovely.

She also brought along a felted shawl that she had purchased at the Bega Wool Festival. It was knitted and felted [technically this is known as fulling].

Upcoming Events:
The Back to Back Challenge is on May 31st at the Turpentine Tree at Kurrajong. Suzanne is seeking sponsorship, all money raised is for children’s cancer research. Rachel Ward and Bryan Brown will be there judging the apple pie contest.

The Craft and Quilt Fair is on June 10-14 at Darling Harbor. The Guild is collecting new women’s undies and knitted squares for the women’s charity in Ethiopia that runs the Fistula Hospital. The squares will be sewn into blankets for the women. Veronica still needs help running the children’s activities. She will be running a workshop 10.30-11.30 daily 1 to 15 kids per class and needs 5 volunteers per day. They will be knitting little dolls with all materials provided. She would like some people to start the dolls. If you can help you get free admission to the Fair. This year’s theme is “warm in winter”.

Worldwide Knit In Public Day (WWKIP day) will be conducted at several venues:

• Darling Harbour on June 13th outside the Craft Fair
  
• at the 2FD Cafe at Lawson 287 Great Western Highway from 11am onwards
  
• at Martin Place in Sydney, where New Idea will be doing a charity World Record Attempt, 8am sharp. This will be sponsored by Spotlight who will supply a bag with needles and yarn to knit squares for charity. More details in New Idea magazine or on their website.

The Nundle Knit-In is on from Monday May 25th to Friday May 29th with Loani Prior at Nundle.

The Rylstone winter warmer competition is on June 6th and 7th.

Jude Skeers will be conducting a workshop at the Guild [Epping] June 15th and 16th.

Members are reminded that there are still vacancies for the Guild Camp at Kurri Kurri on the October long weekend.

Knitting groups
The knitting group, Up the M4meets upstairs at the Red Cow Hotel in Penrith (opposite Penrith station) from 1-3pm on the first Sunday of the month. Good food and knitting company. Another group meets at the 2FD Cafe at Lawson in the morning of the 2nd Friday of the month and on the 1st Sunday of the month.

Congratulations to Monica whose white Shetland shawl received a first place at the Hawkesbury show and her colored shawl a second place.

A teacher from Wilmot public school contacted Merrin asking for a tutor to teach parents how to knit. It will be 9.30 – 11.30 Thursdays and you will be paid. Please contact the school.

June meeting

Jenny Dunn from Virginia Farm Woolworks showing us some yarns and fibres.

Kris, the Guild’s very own Web goddess, will show us how to use the knitternet. She will show us how to find groups, buy things and find patterns. She will also show us how to use Ravelry and how to use the Knitter’s Guild website and sign in feature. If you want to learn how to use Ravelry and have not yet joined, please join before the next meeting.

Anyone intending to attend the Freeform knitting and crochet workshop with Jenny Dowde in August, is asked to pay next month [cash only] $40 per head [members].

The raffle was won by Vicki.

Next month afternoon tea roster is Robyn, Denise and Robyn. A roster for the second half of the year will be sent around at the next meeting.

April 2009 meeting

Guild Business

• Volunteers are are still needed for the Craft Fair at Darling Harbour 10-14 June. If you help for a 3 hour shift your admission to the Fair is free. Contact Merrin for the details
  
• Workshops [Epping]
  
• May – Aran knitting
  
• August – Moebius
  Details are in the latest newsletter.
• Faye Ellesworthy from the Standards Committee would like contributions for a book to mark the 25th anniversary of the Knitter’s Guild. The book will be Hints and How-to’s. Please pass on any contributions to Merrin.
  
• Congratulations to Kate [one of group members] who is now the Guild Secretary - we wish her well in this executive position. Clare [also from our group] continues as editor of the newsletter.
  
• The biannual Guild camp will be at Kurri Kurri on the October Long weekend, detail are in the newsletter.
  
• Pam North from the Southern Group will be holding a fair-isle workshop, one day per month over two months, 10am–4pm, Saturday May 16th and Saturday June 20th. maximum participants: 15; cost $70 [members only] includes morning and afternoon tea. To be held at Kogarah at the Old Schoolhouse, contact June Maddick on 9533 2064 for more information.
  
• The Northern Group is organising a bus trip to the Mudgee Muster 29-31 May. Cost: $250 includes dinner and accommodation at the Best Western. Maximum numbers 30.
  
• The Guild website now has a chat room for members only. Email Kris and get a password. There are only two websites for branches of the Guild and they are the Inner City Group and Blue Mountains Group. The Inner City Group has a members only section that we may discuss setting up with Kris.

Changes to calendar

• June - Kris Howard will visit us to talk about the "Knitternet", show us what is available and how to use the Guild website.
  
• September - "Stash Sale": Please bring along any yarn, books or accessories that you want to sell or swap.

knitters wanted
Nick from Nundle Woollen Mill is after people to knit and write patterns, see Merrin.

other events

• The "Back to Back Challenge" is on at Kurrajong at The Turpentine Tree Sunday 31 May.
  
• Spinning classes are available at the Springwood Arts Centre in Ferguson Road. Contact Suzanne for details on 47587049. Classes are held every Tuesday afternoon from 1.30 – 4 and every Wednesday night from 6.30 – 9. Enrolments and a spinning demonstration on Saturday May 2 at the Arts Centre.
  
• The Hawkesbury Show is on at the Clarendon Showground the first weekend in May. Entries for the show have closed.

Next month

retail visit - Evelyn and Rex Reynolds

Afternoon Tea will be provided by Chesne Jones, Ruth, Lynne and Janette

Anita from The Wool Inn visited and lots of shopping was enjoyed.

Show and Tell revealed an interesting array of articles.

Ruth gave a short talk about getting perspective right when quilting and designing pictures for knitting.

The raffle was won by Janette and a second prize was won by Susan. The first prize winner had the choice of a book or a gift voucher donated by The Wool Inn.

March meeting

We had a very interesting meeting with an fascinating talk from our guest speaker, Tracey Greenway, regarding the National Quilt Register.

Visitors were welcomed to the meeting. The use of a karaoke machine was introduced as some members were having difficulty hearing at previous meetings.

AGRICULTURAL SHOWS AND OTHER RELATED EVENTS

Catalogues for the Hawkesbury Show are now available. The Show will be held at Clarendon 1-3 May.

The Blacktown show had very little knitting on display this year. A suggestion was put forward that if members are considering entering Shows, this may be a good place to start. The categories are fairly basic and entry fee is about $3 . Merrin will get a copy of the schedule for 2010.

The annual Back to Back Challenge is on Sunday 31 May at the Turpentine Tree: 1665 Bells Line of Road, Kurrajong Heights. Starting at 8am till they are finished . Suzanne will be part of a team. It is a great day out with stalls and entertainment and things for children to do . Details of how to sponsor a team member will be supplied by Suzanne next month. This year there will be an apple pie bake off as well.

NEWS FROM THE KNITTERS’ GUILD OF NSW

Kate Venn is now a member of the Knitters’ Guild of NSW Committee.

Clare continues in her role as editor of the newsletter.

Reverend Bill Crewes was unable to appear at the AGM as the guest speaker due to unforseen circumstances but is happy to appear to talk to any branch if requested.

The Guild camp will be at Kurri Kurri in October, more information will be in the next newsletter.

The Executive has not met since the AGM. The Secretary, has resigned since the AGM. A meeting will be held next weekend to elect a new Secretary.

A special general meeting will be held to deal with the archives motion. This is a formality to include the archives in the constitution.

The Inner City Guild has a new meeting place at Customs House library [2nd floor] at Circular Quay 2nd floor. Meetings are held on the second Saturday of each month from 11am; please feel free to drop in.

The Guild will be at the Sydney Royal Easter Show on the last Saturday of the show.

COMPETITIONS
Patons are running a competition until April 30. Spend $30 on Patons yarn and go in the running to win $5000 stash. I have the entry form .

RAVELRY, KNITTING and CRAFT GROUPS

Ravelry is an online community of Knitters with a worldwide membership.

The Up the M4 group on Ravelry has changed its meeting location to the Red Cow at Penrith on the 1st Sunday of each month from 1.30 to 3.30 All are welcome.

A second group is being formed to meet at Two Doors Cafe at Lawson . Details are being finalised.

A craft group meets fortnightly on Wednesdays from 10 am to 2pm at St. Aidan's Anglican Church Hall on the corner of the Great Western Highway and Hat Hill Rd, Blackheath. The next meeting is 1 April. For additional information, contact Carole 4757 1334.

MOVIE DEAL
There will be a special showing of the movie Young at Heart at the Dendy cinema at Circular Quay at 10am on Sunday 22 March. All knitters are invited, entry fee is $3. There will be more showings of special movies, see Kate for details.


Treasurer’s report tabled.

Kate Venn won the raffle.

GUEST SPEAKER:
TRACEY GREENWAY and THE NATIONAL QUILT REGISTER

Tracey Greenaway talked to us for an hour about quilts and the National Quilt Register. She talked on the history of quilts from the earliest examples, through the Middle Ages and finally to the Australian “Waggas”. Her knowledge and enthusiasm were infectious. Tracey brought many examples with her and many members found it very interesting.

Ruth then showed us many example of handmade knitted and crocheted rugs. Merrin had one her mother had made and an unfinished one from the 70's. Tracey encouraged us all to put any quilts that we may have, old or new, on the National Quilt Register for future generations.




NEXT MONTH

Ruth will talk on perspective in quilts and asks that we bring pencil, ruler and paper.

Retail member: Anita from The Wool Inn.

Afternoon tea to be supplied by Carole, Rosie, Penny and Sheila.

February 2009 meeting

New members and visitors were welcomed to the February meeting which was followed by a crochet workshop given by Mavis.

Margaret showed us the results of a workshop on dyeing that she did at Virginia Farm with Jenny Dunn.

News from the Knitters' Guild of NSW:

• two new retail members: The Tuncurry Craft Shop in Manning St Tuncurry and Eaglewood Alpaca at Murrumbateman [between Yass and Canberra], who will soon have an online shop.
  
• Brenda Horne is having a woven knitting workshop at Epping. This is full but the Guild is taking expressions of interest to hold a second. Please contact the Executive.
  
• There is an Aran workshop with Brenda Horne at Epping on March 29
  
• The Guild's October Camp is at Kurri Kurri and is approx $375 per head. It will be held on the long weekend in October. Day rates are available. Applications close in June. Some of the workshops are:
  * Buttons with Phil Bullock
  * Advanced Irish Crochet with Yvonne Fazzolari
  * Turkish Socks with Brenda Horne
  * Socks on 2 Circular Needles with Kris Howard
  * Achievement Certificates with June Maddock
  * Designing Gloves that Fit with Clare Hacker
  
• Craft Show dates for 2009:
  * Craftfest: Homebush Bay, March 6-9.
  * The Guild will be at the Sydney Royal Easter Show on Sunday 12 April.
  * Craft and Quilt Fair: Darling Harbour 10-14 June
  * Stitches and Craft Show: Rose Hill Racecourse, 19-23 August
  
• The Guild AGM is on Saturday 7 March at 11.00 in the Target Theatre, Powerhouse Museum. All members are invited to attend.
  
• The Inner City Group now meets at the Custom House library every second Saturday of the month.

We are going to ask the Guild what we as a group can do for the bushfire victims. Chesne suggested that Wrap with Love would be looking for donations as they have sent many blankets and their yearly needs may not be met. They require a 10 inch square. On Ravelry there is a group called Packages Downunder that is making up blankets as well as collecting handknits such as socks and beanies.

Donna is still collecting for a bulk order from Woolganics, an Australian organic merino company. They have lovely 8ply yarn in many colours.

Our group's list of events will be handed out at the next meeting.

Afternoon tea roster: March - Margaret, Merilyn, Bev and Mirra.

The raffle was won by Carole H.

At our meeting on 21st March, we will have a guest speaker to talk to us about the National Quilt Register. Visitors are welcome.

January 2009

A quiet meeting - lots of knitting and chatting.

Donna has organised a bulk sale with Woolganics to save us money. Australian grown organic wool 8 ply available through Donna a $6 per ball. 50 grams 104 metres. This will be available in February as well, cash up front please.

Vicki to organise 2009 calendar [still under production].

Members are reminded that membership must be renewed by February 20th or a late fee will be incurred.

February 6 is the closing date for the next newsletter.

Please see Ruth if you have some antique or new knitted or crocheted quilts to display. Ruth is putting together a display with the Salvation Army with a view to put these quilts on the National Quilt Register.

Dates of interest:
Craftfest, Sydney Olympic Park: 6-8 March
Castle Hill Show: - 20-22 March
Hawkesbury Show: 1-3 May

The raffle was won by Carol H.

December meeting

The final meeting for the year was attended by Ainsworth Books - distributors for Interweave Press and other publishers of knitting books. There was a great deal of interest in the stock on show and many happy purchases made.

A Christmas party was held with more than enough delicious goodies for everyone to share.

Members are reminded that annual renewal fees are due now. If fees are not paid before February then a rejoining fee will also be charged.

Dates for 2009

The Knitters Guild of NSW will hold its AGM on 7 March at the Powerhouse Museum with Bill Crews from the Exodus Foundation as the guest speaker.

Craftfest is 6-8 March at Sydney Olympic Park.

The Craft and Quilt Fair is on 20-22 February in Newcastle.

The Craft and Quilt Fair is on 10-14 June at Darling Harbour.

WorldWide Knit in Public [WWKIP] Day will be held in Darling Harbour on 14 June.

The Stitches and Craft Show will be held on 19-23 August at Rosehill Gardens.

Opera in the Domain is on 31 January and there will be a knitting group present from midday until the opera is finished.

The Blue Mountains Group Workshop calendar will be finalised at the meeting on 17 January. One suggestion was a workshop on the unspoken rules of RAS judging with some one from the Guild standards committee.

More names are needed for the Afternoon Tea Roster for 2009, especially for the second half of the year.

The Guild Standard's Committee is seeking hints for knitting and crochet to be published in a book - further details in the latest newsletter.

Springwood School of Arts in Ferguson Road runs a spinning class on Tuesday afternoons for all levels. They will be running them again in 2009 and are seeking expressions of interest for a night class.

If you have any suggestions for books for the library please let Lesley know.

There is an anonymous survey on the Guild website seeking feedback on what is wanted on the website. All comments will be made anonymously. Click here to go directly to the survey.

The raffle was won by Anne.

November meeting

November's meeting was once again well attended.

The branch AGM was conducted and the new positions are as follows:
Convenor - Merrin re-elected
Treasurer – Rosie re-elected
Secretary - Diane
Hospitality (meet and greet) - Lesley, Vernetta and Lois
Workshop Co-ordinator - Vicki
Afternoon Tea - Yvonne
Blog/Web mistress - Lynne
Library - Lesley

The Library will now be open from 3pm to 4pm only, to try and prevent books being mislaid. About 60 are still missing. There is a new book borrowing register as well.

Our Retail Guest was Bev from Belisa Cashmere and she sold many scarf kits and cones of her lovely Cashmere fibre.
She mentioned that her lace knitting cones have lubricant on them (part of the industrial processing) so for anything knitted for the Easter Show the fibre should be wound into skeins and washed before being made into garments. This would resolve any queries as to its content and fulfil requirements that the item not be washed before display.

The next meeting on the 20th December is the Xmas party and the Ainsworth Book sale. Please bring plenty of small change for books as it is cash only.

Membership is due by February or you will be charged a $10 renewal.

The raffle was won by Robyn, a first time visitor, and a second prize, donated by Belisa Cashmere, was won by Anne.

Kate Venn is nominating for a position in the Guild Executive.
East Timor Sisters project is having a sale at Mid Mountains Community Center of Weaving on Sunday Nov 23.
High Tea at Maggie and Al's Restaurant Dec 6 , booking essential.
Welcome to Mavis who is now a member.
Laminated signs, saying “Blue Mountains Knitter's Guild” with the Logo, have been made for us to hang when exhibiting. They were used at the “Love Lawson Festival”