January 9th 2012

The start of a new year and our New Year resolution is to have a knitting machine up and running in most meetings.

We began this by starting at the beginning with casting on and hems.

But first we needed to set up the equipment - a bigger task than usual because of the machines and other stuff

Members waiting for the show to begin! On the table at the left you can see that Doris has been busy - Machine Knitting Monthly came out on Saturday, and by Monday Doris had knitted several of the Bill King berets in that issue!

After tea and notices, we then had various members demonstrating how to cast on in different ways, as well as a little help from You Tube!

Here Pat is demonstrating e-wrap on the Knitmaster. We also had Kath demonstrating a weaving cast on and plain hem, Fran on a picot hem, and Lynda doing a frilled edge cast on.

Then we looked at tension swatches:

Here is Fran showing some of hers. We also looked at how different stitches produce vastly different measurements - in the foreground are swatches I have knitted with 4 ply wool at T7 - the same number of stitches and rows. The front two are stocking stitch and fairisle, whilst the other is tuck stitch - a completely different size.

In the show and tell session later, I showed my scarf yarn pattern, which needs to be knitted by hand after the yarn is knitted on the machine:

Click here for the patter n.

And I also modelled my latest cardigan, which I made from a pattern obtainable online [cost$7 or about £4.60] - I do not have a picture of me, but one from the pattern itself!

The pattern can be obtained from http://machineknittingtodyefor.com/ and there is also a handknit option. Please note, I knitted this in 2 ply lambswool at standard gauge T3 throughout [including ribbing] and got good results, although the pattern is for a different US yarn. I also knitted the bottom rib first, and started the back and fronts from the rib [hooking the relevant part on the needles to begin].

December 2011

Written by Lynda Fiendley

Sunday, 18 December 2011 15:21

December 12th 2011

Our Christmas party meeting was a mixture of games, demonstration and showing of knitted items.

Most members got free entry by bringing a knitted bauble:

and I demonstrated how to knit one using plated tuck stitch [well that was the intention, and I managed the plating, which some members are keen to try].

This month's pattern can be found in the Pattern section or download here: Lambswool Cowl

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all Members and Friends!

November 2011

Written by Lynda Fiendley
Wednesday, 16 November 2011 12:43
Monday 14th November This meeting was our annual review meeting, including presentations by members of their knitting. There was also a demonstration [by myself] of putting a frilled edge on a garment. A pattern for a scarf with this frilled edge can be downloaded by clicking here. We also gave out instructions for making a Christmas tree bauble on the knitting machine - this can be downloaded here. Members who bring a knitted tree decoration to next month's meeting will have free entry. The remainder of the meeting consisted of members' knitting: Jane Harrisson was a welcome visitor, as she can only come occasionally, but she made up for it by bringing lots of knitting! A dress A jumper which she wore! and much more, which, sadly, I failed to capture on camera! Kathy also brought lots, of which this jumper is one - the photo does not do it justice, as it is machine knitted in furry yarn Kath brought several items: including two children's cardis and her own jumper Pat had her own crochet twirly scarf a pattern for which can be purchased from http://www.thecrochetchain.co.uk [and you can see June wearing her pink jumper in the background] as well as many other machine knitted scarves from the Guild of Machine Knitters exhibition display I brought a few items too, including a frilled edge cardigan and a hand knitted and crocheted collar the pattern for which is available from this site http://www.annettepetavy.com/shop/ and Brenda wore two items, a skirt and a jumper You can tell how much was on show by this stack which ended up by the knitting machine! Not even half of it Another productive year!
Last Updated on Wednesday, 16 November 2011 13:18

October 2011

Written by Lynda Fiendley
Thursday, 20 October 2011 13:36
Knit and Natter October is the month when we welcome guests from other clubs and places. This year proved to be the best yet, with a sell out crowd in a new and roomier venue at Dunchurch Village Hall. We had a few more traders and demonstrators than previous years, and they started arriving at about 9, whilst our first guests arrived by 9.30. It was a good job we had set up the night before, and were [partially] ready. The morning went by extremely quickly, for me at least, since I was running a Patchwork knitting stall, and we had about ten ladies knitting there. I managed to get round the rest of the hall for these pictures: Doris and Doria manned the door, and were kept very busy for about an hour! The first people arriving in the hall Guest got a warm welcome and a cup of tea or coffee from Brenda and Janet We had lots of donations to the charity bring and buy stall in aid of the Royal Marsden Hospital Club member Judy in action at her spinning wheel Wendy's button stall was a great success Knit n Caboodle were also there Lots of yarn and other things from Sue Woolley and Uppingham Yarns Local alpaca farmers Toft Alpacas were there The raffle prizes were waiting to be collected And after a fantastic presentation by Iris Bishop, Liz Holness [chair of the Guild of Machine Knitters] presented the winning numbers, while people came forward to see Iris' work in close-up. Selected feedback received from people attending: What a wonderful day it was...! Just to say how much we enjoyed today. It is going to be a very hard act to follow. What a success from the knitters' point of view on Saturday - I think the light and airy venue, together with your organisation made it a great day out.........Iris Bishop is such a good speaker... can I say how much my friends and I enjoyed Saturday, it was well worth the drive Thank you - I did enjoy it Iris Bishop is so inspirational and such a wonderful speaker. I could listen to her all day. WE do appreciate all the hard work that you and all the Members of Long Buckby had put in beforehand. The day was an undoubted success.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 15 November 2011 09:17