Old hat?

I now have them wearing my knits with pride and here’s what I do. Using 4-ply I cast on in rib and knit three circular rows, two rows in rib, four rows in stocking stitch then four rows in rib. I adjust the depth depending on the size and style I’m knitting. This can be done with 1×1, 2×2 or any rib combination and I use this for sleeves, body and round neck. For some reason this makes all my knits ‘with it’ as they say. I’m happy as well because they keep their shape and give the rolled hem the ‘with it’ look my children like. Best wishes Noreen Parks

Old hat?

I now have them wearing my knits with pride and here’s what I do. Using 4-ply I cast on in rib and knit three circular rows, two rows in rib, four rows in stocking stitch then four rows in rib. I adjust the depth depending on the size and style I’m knitting. This can be done with 1×1, 2×2 or any rib combination and I use this for sleeves, body and round neck. For some reason this makes all my knits ‘with it’ as they say. I’m happy as well because they keep their shape and give the rolled hem the ‘with it’ look my children like. Best wishes Noreen Parks

Knit For Peace

Knit for Peace is a charity that matches knitters with good causes. We know that once people have the knitting habit they want to keep going : not just for the health and wellbeing benefits, but also because they enjoy creating beautiful knitted items. It’s easy for an enthusiastic knitter to run out of people to give their knitting to, so Knit for Peace takes in donations of knitted items and then sends them out to where they are really needed. There are hats for premature babies, dressing gowns for old people plus knitted clothing and toys for women and children in women’s refuges.

Combining these two great initiatives seems to make sense! Knit for Peace relies on voluntary effort and they have recently celebrated that with Volunteers Week. One of their volunteers, Thea Scott, is holding a Knit for Peace Knit in Public Day event in Broadstairs. She has linked this to the Dickens festival by looking out knitting references from his works such as the Little Dorritt row counter and Betty Higden recycling knitted items as a social enterprise. ‘Dickensians’ in costume are planning to join the knitting group, the event is also a celebration of Thea’s 70th birthday – and there will be cake!

The hub and meeting place for the event is the Methodist Church, York Street, Broadstairs, CT10 1PB from 1.30 to 3.30pm on 13th June. Full info is here: http://www.wwkipday.com/broadstairs-kip-peace/

They hope others will be inspired to make their Knit in Public Day event one that benefits Knit for Peace and the website has a number of patterns, many of which are suitable for those just beginning to knit and for expert knitters. Some, such as the Twiddlemuff or fast Teddy Bear will be achievable in a day. If there isn’t an event set up nearby, knitters could just get a group of friends together in a café, a park (if the weather holds) or any public place and start knitting together.

Passap Patterns

I have a list you published some time ago of the techniques and their Duo equivalents and the Electronic pattern book is available here: http://machineknittingetc.com/passap/knitting-machines.html

Tech 256 corresponds with the Duo setting: BX<-/BX. Pushers on back bed in rest position to start. Deco on 4. Knit 2 rows with yarn, 2 rows without to drop stitches on front bed. The back bed needles knit for 2 rows, slip for 2 rows. To start with all stitches have to be transferred to back bed as stated in the pattern. From comparing the Electronic patterns with the patterns in the Deco book, I have found that:-
Pattern 1008 = Card 39
1010 = 119
1011 = 68
1012 = 140
1014 = 130
1017 = 259
1018 = 160
There is not a Deco equivalent for Pattern 1028 as it is a 16 stitch repeat. Other possible patterns for the Duomatic are those marked F in the punchcard book as the technique used is a variation of this setting. I also found that the garment shown in the magazine is Pattern 1012, not 1010. I hope this information might be useful for other Duomatic users. Your line-up for the coming months sounds really interesting and is something for us all to look forward to. Kind regards, Sue Pritchard

All change at Woodley MKC

Our other major change is our name. We did a poll of members one evening and only three came from Woodley. All the others came from different towns and villages in Berkshire, so we decided to change our name to Berkshire Machine Knitting Club. The major benefit of the change of name is to try to make it more inclusive to other areas of Berkshire. We thought this was the way to go, since we are now the only machine knitting club in the county.

The change of name will also help us get free advertising in surrounding towns’ publications, to help increase the awareness of machine knitting and hopefully get ourselves known to new and existing machine knitters. Best wishes from Valerie Thorn

Craft Conversion

I hope to have fun days for everyone to come and try their hand at whatever they wish – be it machine or hand knitting, sewing, tapestry, weaving, spinning and other crafts. All materials and yarn will be on sale, as well as the latest Silver embroidery machine and demo knitting machines.

Looking out of the window, the views are breath-taking as I sit and knit. If you come this way on holiday and suffer withdrawal symptoms, there are loads of caravan parks around as well as B&B at our local country hotel. We’re still in the process of getting the outside sorted, but we’ll be up-and-running very soon. If any reader would like to pop in then please ask them to contact me for more details.
Best regards
Joan Fielding-Browne, Redhead Cottage, Clovenfords, Galashiels, Selkirkshire TD1 1UG.
Tel 01896-850734
Email joan@gregorygreen.com
Website www.gregorygreen.com
Website www.littleknittingfairy.co.uk

Midwest Machine Knitters Collaborative (MMKC)

We’re holding an event open to all machine knitters : MMKC Founders’ Fest Seminar with MaryAnne Oger, Sandee Cherry and Carole Wurst demonstrating The date is Saturday and Sunday, 25th and 26th July 2015 at the Textile Center of Minnesota, 3000 University Avenue SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414 USA. For Registration and additional information those interested can go to our website: http://www.midwestmachineknitters.org/events/foundersfest/ or contact us at mmkc.mn@gmail.com.

MMKC was founded by Dee Kupka, Jane Niemi and Maria Ann Youngs : kicking off our organization in December 2011. Our focus is to provide fun, interest, appreciation, education, inspiration, and camaraderie in the art of machine knitting. Many thanks! Dee Kupta

If you don’t like something change it; if you can’t change it – change the way you think about it.
Mary Engelbreit

Spring fashion car Boot-ique fair coming to Plymouth

Each car boot will aim to offer consumers a unique experience in styling, demos, new spring collections and collaborations. From exclusive vintage pieces to making your own bath bomb, the event will be truly one-of-a-kind. Joining the Drake Circus retailers will be Plymouth College of Art, who will be showcasing items from their #livemake campaign and demonstrating the art of dress-making from the boot of a Mini! St Luke’s Hospice will also use one of the cars to sell stylish vintage pieces. The charity Car Boot promises to be packed with some hidden gems.
Greg Lumley, Centre Director, Drake Circus said: “We are passionate about bringing the very best shopping and exciting experiences to Plymouth. We are really looking forward to the car Boot-ique event in our centre and the unique interactive fashion experience it will offer.”
Nicola Critchley Head of Business Development and Retail Operations St Luke’s Hospice said: ““You can pick up some really beautiful items in our charity shops and we are delighted at this opportunity on Wednesday 27th May to showcase pieces which will compliment up-to-the-minute high street fashions in such an unique way.”
Adam Crawford Manager Lush said: ““This is a fantastic opportunity to be creative with our product and give customers an unforgettable experience. We will be teaching customers how to make their very own personalised bath bombs out of a car boot which we know will be a super fun activity! We are really looking forward to seeing the creative ideas that the other stores have come up with put into action.”
Drake Circus will also be offering lucky customers the chance to win a £200 Drake Circus gift card each day simply enter via Facebook Twitter or Instagram for your chance to win. For more details please visit www.drakecircus.com

Boot-ique retailers schedule
Wednesday 27th May
Next – occasion wear; Primark – festival; Lush – make your own bath bomb; Ann Summers – swimwear; Plymouth College of Art – live dress-making demos; St Luke’s – vintage gems
Thursday 28th May Oasis – V&A collaboration; Next – occasion wear; Primark – festival; Lush – make your own bath bomb; Plymouth College of Art – live dress-making demos; Ann Summers – swimwear
Friday 29th May Top Shop & Top Man – vintage styling and make-overs; Satori – HD brows and nail art; Oasis – V&A collaboration; Next – occasion wear; Primark -festival; Plymouth College of Art – live dress-making demos
Saturday 30th May Fat Face – day trip and holiday wardrobe; Top Shop & Top Man – vintage styling and make-overs; Primark – festival; Next – occasion wear; Satori – HD brows and nail art; Plymouth College of Art – live dress-making demos

Drake Circus has over 70 of the UK’s top brand names including Marks and Spencer Primark Mothercare Next Superdry and Topshop. The shopping centre is located in the centre of Plymouth and is easily accessible by car with over 1 200 parking spaces and by public transport. Drake Circus is open daily 9.00 am to 6.00 pm; Thursday 9.00 am to 8.00 pm; Sunday 10.30 am to 4.30 pm. Drake Circus is home to Shopmobility which provide powered scooters and manual wheelchairs if required during visits. For further information visit www.drakecircus.com or find on Twitter @drakecircusplym or Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Drake-Circus-Shopping-Centre

Diamonds and Oak

Feeling fortunate to have everything they need, they asked those who would like to give them a gift to donate money towards the Framework Knitters Museum. They’ve both been linked to the textile industry throughout their careers and are now Trustees at the Museum. After starting a knitwear business, Audrey went on to advise larger women on what suited them, launched Pretty Big magazine, hosted fashion shows at Harrods and House of Fraser stores and had her own weekly show on QVC.

Andrew has also had a distinguished career in textiles. He’s a Chartered Textile Technologist, Fellow of the Textile Institute, a Chartered Colour Chemist, a Fellow of the Society of Dyers & Colourists and a Livery Member of the Worshipful Company of Framework Knitters. They’re both still working on the Museum’s behalf and Museum Manager Paul Baker said, “It is inspiring to have people such as Andrew and Audrey involved in the museum and I know everyone is eternally grateful for the work they do and especially for this amazing act of generosity”. For more information about the Framework Knitters Museum including opening times visit www.frameworkknittersmuseum.org.uk

Calling Northumberland

It’s a big county and I would have expected that there would be a few people interested in machine knitting. I know that there’s a club South of the Tyne but are there any North of the Tyne? Best wishes, Peter Robinson
We know from our subscribers that a number of you knit in that part of the country so if you organise a club, or get together to knit ‘n’ natter, then please let us know and we’ll spread the word.