Come and join us

Posted on

Dear Readers

If you can travel to Nottingham, do please come along to the West Park Leisure Centre in Wilsthorpe Road, Long Eaton NG10 4AA. The centre is about a mile and a half from Junction 25 on the M1. When you come off the motorway, take the exit to Long Eaton onto Bostock’s Lane. After about half a mile, at the junction with Longmoor Road, turn right onto the B6002. The road bears left and becomes Petersham Road. Continue along the B6002 into Wilsthorpe Road and the Leisure Centre is along this road on the left.

This year our show is from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm on Sunday 8th April and Guest Speakers are Clair Crowston at 11.00 am, Marianne Henio at 12.30 pm and Bill King at 2.00 pm. The lectures cost an extra £1 each and numbers have to be limited so it’s best to book in advance. If you can’t then don’t worry, as we usually have tickets to sell on the door. The talks are held upstairs, but there are stairs and a lift, so access is easy for everyone.

Clair Crowston is a popular designer, giving a talk and demonstration on different neckbands instead of rib. Marianne Henio is an up-and-coming designer with a large Internet following and she’ll talk about how her life started in machine knitting and the new directions her machine knitting is taking. Bill King is an incredible fabric designer and his talk is about hand transfer and producing amazing cable-type fabrics on a machine. Bill also takes masses of samples he’s produced for industry and he’s always a source of inspiration. Clair is classic style, Marianne is wacky and modern and Bill always leaves us speechless with knitting you’d never believe had come from a domestic machine.

We’ll have hot and cold snacks and drinks available and last year’s excellent caterers will look after us again. I look forward to seeing all those who can join us. We’ll have the usual lucky dip for free tickets and you could be one of our winners. Send an sae as soon as possible, marked Nottingham in the top left hand corner of both envelopes to Machine Knitting Monthly, PO Box 1479, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 8YX. We’ll pick out the winners before Easter and send out their free tickets at the same time. If you’d prefer to buy your ticket on the door but would like a map then just give me a call.

I’ve had some sad news from Brenda Gould, who publishes Knitting Machine Journal. For a number of personal reasons, she’s unable to continue editing KMJ and August will be her last edition. It means she’ll not have her usual stand at Nottingham this year, so we can’t say a personal goodbye. I know everyone will join me in thanking Brenda for all she’s done to support machine knitting and wish her well.

Finally, let’s all give ourselves a huge pat on the back. In March 1986, the first issue of Machine Knitting Monthly went on sale, so this month we celebrate our 32nd birthday. Some of you have been with me from the very first issue, so each one of us must share the satisfaction of knowing that we’ve played our part in keeping machine knitting alive. My very sincere thanks to everyone reading this magazine for the enduring support you’ve given and long may we all continue to fly the flag for machine knitting.

 

NEXT ISSUE

May 2018 Subscription copies sent out Thursday 5th April

On sale Thursday 12th April

Anne Croucher writes:-

Posted on

We had storm Emma come in last night and there is ice everywhere. It might all melt by tomorrow, but there are trees down, crashed and abandoned vehicles and it would be very dangerous for the exhibitors to travel today to set up in time for tomorrow – though some had set off early this morning to try to reach us. Apparently the Dunkirk spirit is still going strong. Please contact anyone you know might have been intending to travel to the show, just to be sure that the news is passed around asap.

Bournemouth Show is cancelled

Posted on

Friday 2nd March After speaking with all the exhibitors, the school and friends in Bournemouth, I’ve decided to cancel the show. Some exhibitors had already set off, as some roads are clear. However, safety must come first and the dreadful weather across much of the country means we must all stay safe. Please spread the word as best you can and I’m truly sorry this year’s event can’t go ahead.

Ann Croucher posted at 11.00 am this morning (Friday) in her Facebook Group The Bournemouth show is cancelled. We had storm Emma come in last night and there is ice everywhere. It might all melt by tomorrow, but there are trees down, crashed and abandoned vehicles and it would be very dangerous for the exhibitors to travel today to set up in time for tomorrow – though some had set off early this morning to try to reach us. Apparently the Dunkirk spirit is still going strong. Please contact anyone you know might have been intending to travel to the show, just to be sure that the news is passed around asap.

Thursday 1st March (The first day of Spring!) We spoke to the school this morning and everything is ticking over as usual. The roads in and out are okay and the forecast for Saturday is five degrees, chilly with a thick cloud cover and a little rain in the afternoon, so we’re still optimistic. We haven’t had an update from the area about the progress of Storm Emma, but we’re keeping a close watch.

Anne Croucher posted at 11.23 am on Wednesday in her Facebook Group “If you are coming to the Machine knitting LIVE! do in Bournemouth this Saturday and are worried about the snow, there isn’t any around here. It is too warm for it I think – the year the country looked like an iced biscuit when viewed by satellite, we were the bit at the edge which had been missed. The road to the school is a main thoroughfare anyway, and close to the hospital. so it would be amongst the first roads to be treated if there is ice, but that is a rarity too. The ground is simply too warm here.”

Wednesday 28th February At 11.00 am we’ve just spoken to friends in Bournemouth. There’s no snow and any frost there may have been overnight is gone. The sun is shining and the sky is blue. It’s cold, but there’s no frost to be seen on roof tops and the roads are running smoothly.

The ‘beast from the east’ has definitely blown in and the weather has disrupted travel in some parts of the country. At present our Bournemouth Show will go ahead this Saturday and we’ll keep the website updated for your reassurance.

 

 

 

Andrea from Andee Knits writes:-

Posted on

I am currently keeping everything crossed that the red weather warnings around the country are lifted before Saturday so that all the exhibitors can make it to the show.  The Beast from the East is due to hit me here in Somerset this afternoon and we are all being advised to be warm and indoors by 12.00 noon before it hits!   Hueemonster the Van is loaded to the hilt with Yarn, Spares and Books and we really hope to see everyone on Saturday as planned!

Lift to Bournemouth wanted

Posted on

Hi Anne, just wondering if you know of anyone not too far from Old Windsor who is going to Bournemouth on Saturday? I’m desperate to go and I’ve arranged for someone to sit with my Aged P. Will pay petrol if anyone is willing and I can meet someone not too far away, but I’m just not sure my car will make it all the way to the show. Here’s hoping, Clare

Your prayers have been answered Clare and we’ve had the offer of a lift for you.

Bournemouth Machine Knitting LIVE! 2018

Posted on

 

This year the show takes place on Saturday 3rd March from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm at Bournemouth School for Girls in Castle Gate Close, Castle Lane West, Bournemouth, Dorset BH8 9UJ. Tickets are available and cost £5 in advance or £6 on the door. The school refectory opens and staff provide hot and cold refreshments throughout the day.

Fiona Morris is our Guest Speaker at around 11.00 am. She’ll be talking for the first time about her journey into knitting, her adventures into machine knitting and her latest exciting project.  Marianne Henio, together with Carbery and Ringwood club members will organise and present a fashion show in the afternoon around 2.00 pm. Many of Marianne’s designer garments will be on show for the first time and she’s available all day to chat about her work. 
Look out for Andee Knits, Anne Croucher and the Knit Clinic, B Hague & Co, Bill King, Carbery MKC, Dave and Jason Hampson from The Wool Cabin, Elaine Cater, Fiona Morris, Guild of Machine Knitters, Knits ‘n’ Bits from Wendy Piper, Machine Knitting Monthly also with Anjo Designs, Marianne Henio, Nina Miklin, Ringwood MKC, Rob Fountain, Sue Castro and Uppingham Yarns.
Buy advance tickets now in the shop and save £1!

Nottingham Knitting Show 2018

Posted on

If you can travel to Nottingham, do please come along to the West Park Leisure Centre in Wilsthorpe Road, Long Eaton NG10 4AA. The centre is about a mile and a half from Junction 25 on the M1. When you come off the motorway, take the exit to Long Eaton onto Bostock’s Lane. After about half a mile, at the junction with Longmoor Road, turn right onto the B6002. The road bears left and becomes Petersham Road. Continue along the B6002 into Wilsthorpe Road and the Leisure Centre is along this road on the left.

This year our show is on Sunday 8th April and Guest Speakers are Marianne Henio, Bill King and Clair Crowston. The lectures cost an extra £1 each and numbers have to be limited so it’s best to book in advance. If you can’t then don’t worry, as we usually have tickets to sell on the door. The talks are held upstairs, but there are stairs and a lift, so access is easy for everyone. We’ll have hot and cold snacks and drinks available and last year’s excellent caterers will look after us again.

Look out for Andee Knits, Arnold Bennett – the button man, Sue Booth, Clair Crowston, B Hague & Co, Bill King, David and Jason Hampson from The Wool Cabin, Elaine Cater, the Framework Knitters Museum, the Guild of Machine Knitters, Knits ‘n’ Bits from Wendy Piper, Machine Knitting Monthly also with Anjo Designs, Mapperley Knit & Natter Club with demonstrations and displays, Marianne Henio, Nina Miklin, Nottinghamshire Spinners, Weavers & Dyers, Rob Fountain, Erica Thomson and Uppingham Yarns.

Each one teach one

Posted on

Dear Readers

This month’s Slice of Life rang lots of bells and made me smile. Fran hooked a couple of teenagers and I may well have added my three-year old grand-daughter to the list of knitting machine enthusiasts. There’s always lots to do when she comes, as I’ve loads of paper and pens, books and crayons. She sits on my knee at the desk and we flip from stickers to dinosaurs and stamps to Play-doh as we while away many happy hours.

The last visit included mummy, daddy and her other granny, so we were all sitting round chatting when she announced that her bunny was cold and needed a scarf. I was ‘volunteered’ to make one, so we went up to my knitting room and she pounced on a luscious ball of multi-shade bright lime and emerald yarn with lots of shiny green knobbles. (Smooth DK? Not a hope!) I found a short pair of knitting needles and we went back to join the others. Having cast on six stitches and knitted a bit to start us off, I sat on the floor with her between my legs and we managed two rows. She held the ‘sticks’ and lassoed the yarn round the top of the needle, until dismay set in. She stood up. pulled it off the needles and with her hands about eight inches apart, announced she needed it ‘this long’, not just a tiny square!

For years I’ve had a Mattel toy knitting machine tucked away in a corner, which was holding much promise as we opened it up. There were balls of lemon, mauve and pink yarn sitting neatly on the top, soon destined to become a scarf for dolly. Instructions? What self-respecting machine knitter needs a manual? Having used one of those little French Knitting machines for years, I worked out a way to cast on and, with an easy turn of the handle, we were soon knitting. Round and round she turned and out of the bottom popped the knitting. We changed colour twice and, in no time at all, made a very fetching scarf to keep dolly warm. Slightly in danger of strangling herself, she pulled the rather short strip tight round her neck and waltzed through to the adults. She pushed the hand knitting out of sight behind a cushion, with the style of Joan Lafferty and announced: “I’ve made a scarf for my dolly, but this is proper knitting on a machine and I can do it”. It was huge fun and if ‘each one can teach one’ we’ll soon have a full-scale revival on our hands!

Do come and join us on Saturday 3rd March at Bournemouth School for Girls in Castle Gate Close, Castle Lane West, Bournemouth BH8 9UJ. There will be lots to see, try and buy and do bring a hand-knitting with you. We could try conversion tactics or, at the very least, have a really good knit ‘n’ natter!

 

NEXT ISSUE

April 2018 – our 32nd birthday issue

Subscription copies sent out

Thursday 1st March

On sale

Thursday 8th March

Ask your newsagent to

Reserve a copy now!