April 2013

One of our members, Mandy gave an excellent talk about her experience in her early career in South Africa working for Empisal and going to exhibitions and demonstrating the machines. Mandy also told us a about her machine knitting business and the lengths of knitted fabric created with yarn similar to a fine Grigna and Hobby.

The lengths of fabric were created from whole cones and then using dressmaking and cut and sew techniques, garment pieces were cut from the fabric once steamed and pressed. The pieces were sewn together using overlocking machines. The final garments were cordinating collections of jackets, tops, skirts, dresses and shorts, all fine knit and with beatiful soft drape and weights suitable for the climate.

Animal designs were handpainted onto some tops using fabric paints but I didn't manage to get a good photo. Here are a few samples of what I did manage to capture.

Very neat crocheted edging

 

A variety of skirts

The dress was darted and shaped and crochet edging all around the neck and armholes 

Oh yes... Sandra actually knitted a tension swatch!!! Amazing... as she never usually does one and has stated so many times. No picture though as she didn't bring it. So we all laughed, enjoyed the moment and asked her to bring it next time. We really need it for the blog photo so we can capture it as its so rare!

 

Competition this time round...
3rd Sandra with a beatiful Busy B design knitted in pink Shamal
2nd Valerie who converted a hand knit pattern for  her chunky machine and is knitted in King Cole Opium
1st Phyllis with a lovely babygro garment knitted in a boucle yarn with 1 strand of cotton

 Close up of the buttonband detail

Joan has been making some handy bags that can hang over chairs and also some embroidery

March 2013

March saw a lot of topics covered at the meeting. Valerie had a moment of fame with her other club Woodley who were featured in MKM on page 10. Members talked about visiting other clubs and inviting  clubs to visit ours. Shirley brought in some yarn from her New Zealand visit that contained a mix of merino, possum and silk. She also saw a waistcoat on display that was based on an Iris Bishop fairisle pattern.

Valerie was the main speaker for the evening. She shared samples made on her new embroidery machine and talked about her plans to create a knitted cube with a bell inside for a baby gift. 

Next Valerie showed a necklace made with large beads. It had a cord hidden in the knitted rope to hold the beads in place.

Fringe twisting was demonstrated using a wooden gadget and was very effective. It required good finger control to manage the knots at the end.

  
Then Valerie showed arm knitting next using a knitted cord and it was much fun to watch. She shared her experiences about determination in mastering the art and went on to instruct Phyllis while at the meeting. By the end of the evening and with some assistance Phyllis was doing it too.   

Competition this month
Beginners
3rd - purple necklace, Mary
2nd - rust raglan sleeve sweater, Jennifer
1st - pink cotton top, Stephanie

Advanced
1st grey top , Marcia

Other items of knitting

February 2013

 This month we had a session about buttonholes and bands. Sandra demonstrated on the machine.

Hints and tips on buttonholes and bands with plain knitting.

• If knitting bands in two or more parts knit button band first so you can calculate where to place the button holes on the corresponding band.
• For round neck jackets and cardigans, do neckband first then button and buttonhole bands 2nd. The front bands run from top to bottom of garment in one neat piece either side and look more professional.
• To calculate the number of stitches to pick up and hang evenly
• ( band side rows + welt rows / 5x3) this means total rows divided by 5 then multiplied by 3 are number of stitches to be picked up
• Hang each end of side for band to be knitted on machine leaving a bowing of about an inch in centre. Then pick up middle then middle of each half, then middle of those, keep hanging the centre stitches so eventually you can pick up the remaining and the result looks evenly spaced 
• For a 1 stitch buttonhole transfer stitch to either side and leave needle in work
• 2 stitch buttonhole, transfer stitches to each each side then knit a row and hang yarn below onto 1 empty needle, knit another row and transfer the new partial stitch to right needle then pick up lower thread under new stitch and hang on empty needle   
• Knitting machine finished buttonholes look best knitted on single bed using waste yarn as pictured below in the 3 pictures
• The session didn't demonstrate vertical bands or cover them in detail to add tips in here 
• A good reference with pictures is the pink Brother Knitting Techniques Book section 18 page 79-84   

Half way knitted band, the stitches are picked up when the other side is at the point for buttonholes

Close up of machine finished style

Finished sample band and after waste yarn is removed

 Then we had the usual show and tell competition

Beginners items, iPad cover and socks

Marcia and Sue's items both knitted on e6000 Passap
 the purple item won the experienced group

 

January 2013

Some of the club members attended a weekend workshop with Ann Brown on 12th & 13th at the Yateley W.I. hall. It was a busy and enjoyable weekend lots of knitting, laughter and snacking in the kitchen.

 

 

The year started with the AGM where the previous years business and meetings were reviewed and agreed. Sue followed with a talk about her visit to Australia. She had visited a mid year AGM and three different clubs around the Sydney area, for Designaknit, e6000 Passap and one for japanese machines.

Gosford Club

e6000 PASSAP Club

Back to the club meeting and this months experienced knitters competition was won by Valerie.

Lovely hat from Stephanie for the beginners competition!!

Some of the members catching up on Xmas, AGM and schedule for the coming year  

 

December 2012

Some happy faces at our Christmas meal. Hope you are all enjoying the festive season.  Wishing you all a healthy and happy New Year !

Next club meeting is on January 9th which will also be the AGM followed by a talk from Sue about her Australian knitting adventures.