2022

March update

Dear Readers

One thing has gladdened my heart this month, so please read Clubline on Page 10. There’s a young boy in Prestonpans, not far from Edinburgh, Leith and Musselburgh who is passionate about learning to machine knit. One slight problem is that his learning curve has started on a somewhat elderly Passap Duo 80. Do you, or does anyone you know, live in the area and knit on one of these machines? I’d love to find an experienced knitter within reasonable travelling distance to help him. I’ve spoken to his father at length and we’ve tried all the usual lines of enquiry, but drawn a blank. I’m hopeful, therefore, that my letter will reach a wider audience.

I’ve also wondered if someone in the area might have a punchcard machine that’s no longer used, to get him a bit more up-to-date? We may grind to a halt with the Duo 80, but could we help to satisfy some of his passion for our craft by donating an unwanted Brother or Knitmaster punchcard machine and showing him how to use it? Obviously a weekly commute from Land’s End to Prestonpans is out of the question, but could one of you living not too far away offer any help, please? His family has a farming background, so pure wool is his yarn of choice. Have you any cones of wool you could give him to try? It’s rare to find such enthusiasm in one so young and I’d like to do all I can to help. One day he’ll perhaps become a famous knitwear designer and we’ll all be so proud of helping him onto the first rung of the ladder. If you think you can help or have any other ideas, do please get in touch with me.

I’d now like to mention the group of textile artists based in the East Midlands and known as The Living Threads Group. Their 20th exhibition is to take place just before Easter at Trent College in Derby Road, Long Eaton. For inspiration in fabric and thread, it would make a lovely day out. The dates are 30th March to 8th April and the venue is the Obolensky Building at Trent College, Derby Road, Long Eaton, NG10 4AD. Opening times are 10.00 am to 4.00 pm and admission is £5. There are daily demonstrations, free parking, a Textile Artists’ shop and refreshments. Find out more at www.livingthreadstextileartists.com

This month we’ve reached another milestone, as we celebrate our 36th birthday. Whilst I can take some of the credit, we’re still going strong because of your fantastic support. Despite two years of lockdowns and a worldwide pandemic, we’ve kept our craft going so please accept my very sincere thanks. It’s now time to turn to Page 30 and immerse yourself in this month’s wonderful selection of joyous colours and patterns brought to us by Alison Dupernex. With Spring on the way, it really is time to knit happy!

NEXT ISSUE – May 2022

Subscription copies sent out Thursday 7th April

On sale Thursday 14th April

Ask your newsagent to reserve a copy or order a subscription now!

April 2022 (Issue 291) with Alison Dupernex, Bill King and Nina Miklin

Our full-colour April 2022 issue has gone out to subscribers and our cover design is a Nina Miklin classic and special yarn offer. We’ve our usual selection of patterns for standard, LK-150, mid-gauge and chunky machine and there’s a real mix including designs from Alison Dupernex, Nina Miklin and Anne Baker at Karabee. We’ve punchcard ideas for knitting lace and Part 2 of our Show & Tell series, sharing methods and techniques developed over a lifetime spent machine knitting. Bill King has a ‘light-bulb’ moment and explains how to loosen up fabric to cross some mind-blowing cables. We’ve the exceptional talent of Susan Guagliumi offering lots of free help and advice and Joan Lafferty lends a helping hand to all newbies starting out as machine knitters. Sally-Ann Carroll highlights the floral prints ‘in bloom’ for Spring and Summer’s key trends and latest looks. Our mail order shop has been restocked and we always have help and advice in Dear Anne plus news, reviews and club details for ideas and inspiration.

March 2022 (Issue 290) with Alison Dupernex and Bill King

Our full-colour March 2022 issue has gone out to subscribers and our cover design is a mini jumper dress with a cowl neck to keep us warm in effortless style. We’ve more patterns than usual and there’s a real mix including an Alison Dupernex design combining classic and contemporary styling for all age groups. Tiny dancers will love our wrapover cardigan, that’s perfect for ballet lessons or dressing up fun. We’ve a techniques feature and punchcard ideas for knitting tuck stitch on single and double bed machines, along with four classic tuck and stocking stitch designs in ten sizes from 87 to 132 cm, 34 to 52 in (finished 140 cm, 55½ in). Bill King tries a racking technique used and loved by our predecessors and we’ve the exceptional talent of Susan Guagliumi offering lots of free help and advice. Sally-Ann Carroll highlights the key trends and latest looks for the new season and Passap knitters have a step-by-step guide to knitting a pair of socks in just over an hour on Duomatic and E6000 machines. Ruth Horrocks shares some great ideas for knitting gorgeous novelty hats for the young and young at heart and we always have help and advice in Dear Anne plus news, reviews and club details for ideas and inspiration.

February 2022 update

Dear Readers

Wherever we live, keeping snug and warm is the order of the day at this time of the year and I’ve been glad of a few extra layers. My chunky knits have served me well, but they’ve seen better days and I need something new in my wardrobe. We’ve a couple of really nice designs this month and the man’s sweater on Page 22 is gorgeous. I’d have to hand tool some garter stitch for the woman’s sweater on Page 16, or perhaps cheat? In all my years, I’ve never known a machine knitter follow any pattern to the letter and I’m no different! I’m very tempted, but I know I need a quick and easy alternative, so I’ll see what it looks like with the needles arranged for a 3×1 mock rib. The colour variations in the yarn are lovely, so my even faster option might be to simply knit it in stocking stitch and use the purl side as the right side. There’s a very good size range but if you need a bit of extra ease anywhere, don’t forget you can take the tension up a bit and then gradually reduce it for the main part.

Some news has come in that’s too late for the main magazine, so let me tell you Liz Holness has been in touch to say Fleet Knitting Club is to start meeting again, but at a new venue. It’s a larger and more airy room, so there’s plenty of space for social distancing. It’s been two years since the group last met, so they’re looking forward to getting together again from 1st February. The new venue is Fleet Methodist Church at 72 Reading Road South, Fleet, Hampshire GU51 7TF. Meetings are on the first Tuesday evening of each month, from 8.00 to 10.00 pm and everyone is welcome. If you’d like more details, call Liz on 01252-676276, email liz.holness@ntlworld.com or visit www.fleetknittingclub.blogspot.com

One thing not to miss is The Wool Cabin’s update on Page 28. King Cole Opium, in plain colours and the stunning Palette multi shades, is on sale this month at just £3.50 a 100g ball. The RRP is £4.99, so it’s a huge saving and it slides through mid-gauge and chunky machines. The cover design on last December’s magazine only needs six balls for the largest finished size of 112.5 cm, 44½ in. With free local delivery and mail order, I guess the offer is while stocks last so call Jason on 07553-847483 for availability.

Next month will be our 36th birthday magazine and despite two years of lockdowns and a worldwide pandemic, we’ve kept our craft going. It’s a huge achievement, for which we should all be immensely proud so until then, knit happy, Anne

NEXT ISSUE – April 2022

Subscription copies sent out Thursday 3rd March

On sale Thursday 10th March

Ask your newsagent to reserve a copy or order a subscription NOW!

February 2022 (Issue 289) with a star-studded cast including Milissa Ellison Dewey, Alison Dupernex, Susan Guagliumi and Bill King

Our full-colour February 2022 issue is on sale and our cover design looks great with jeans and trainers, with waist-pleat trousers and a jacket or paired with tracksuit bottoms for the perfect Hygge look. There’s a real mix of designs this month, for all ages and abilities including an Anne Baker Karabee Design plus four designs from Alison Dupernex. We’ve a full-length step-by-step feature for knitting socks on a circular machine from Milissa Ellison Dewey and Bill King stretches our machines and imagination beyond comprehension! We’re honoured to have the exceptional talent of Susan Guagliumi in the magazine, offering lots of free help and advice and Sally-Ann Carroll has some stylish season-stretchers to perk up our tired winter wardrobes. You’ll love our new Show & Tell series, sharing techniques developed over a lifetime’s machine knitting and Passap knitters have a perfect winter gilet to knit. There’s always help and advice in Dear Anne plus news, reviews and club details for ideas and inspiration.

All change

Leicestershire Machine Knitters are able to meet up again, but not in their usual room on Wednesdays. There’s no proper ventilation and, as no other room is available, monthly club meetings will now be held on the third Tuesday from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm. They’ll also continue their monthly Zoom meetings at 7.00 pm on the first Thursday through the winter. The venue is still West End Neighbourhood Centre, Andrewes Street, off Hinckley Road, Leicester LE3 5PA. The secretary is now Susan Marlow and she’ll pass on full details if you email susanmarlow47@btinternet.com

Meet and greet

Members of Crossgates MKC in Seacroft, Leeds have a new venue, day and time. They now get together once a month on a Tuesday afternoon from 1.00 to 3.00 pm. Their meeting place is Wellington Hill Residents Association in Ringwood Drive, Seacroft, Leeds LS1 4HR. Susan Baddams is your contact and she’ll be pleased to give you full details if you email Susie_anne@live.co.uk

More please!

Terri Dutton called with the welcome news that a new monthly meeting has started. Members already meet weekly on Tuesday afternoon from 2.00 to 4.30 pm and now there’s a get-together at the same time on the first Saturday each month. Visit The Yarn Barn, 362a Hoylake Road, Moreton, Wirral CH46 6DF. Email theyarnbarn362@gmail.com for full details.

Facetime

Jean Richardson has sent a happy letter to let us know that meetings have started again and she writes:-

Hello Anne

I thought I’d drop you a line to let you know that our Bromsgrove Machine Knitting Club has started face to face meetings again each month. We’ve also settled into our new venue in Finstall Village Hall. At our first get-together for over eighteen months, we were lucky to have two new ladies join our club and we offered a warm welcome to them and enjoyed tea and cake! We’d lots of knitting and crochet items for our Show & Tell and this was a lovely way to re-introduce people to the club. Since then we’ve looked at various methods for knitting socks for the colder weather and at a future meeting there will be a demonstration of ‘twisted stitches’. It’s hand-tooled and produces more of a texture than ‘big brother’ cables. We’re all looking forward to a more normal year in 2022. I believe that if Covid-19 has taught us anything, it’s that time spent knitting and crafting in general gives us a feeling of well-being… maybe because we’ve had more time to appreciate our crafting. Happy knitting everyone and best wishes, Jean

Bromsgrove is such a friendly club and members meet on the 3rd Thursday each month from 2.00 to 4.00 pm. The venue is Finstall Village Hall, 27 Alcester Road, Finstall, Bromsgrove B60 1EL. You can email jmr543@btopenworld.com for more details.

Time for tea

Let’s now go to Reading in Berkshire for news of Berkshire MKC. Members now get together on the first Thursday of the month from 7.30 pm. They’ve a lovely meeting place at The Tea Room in Woodford Park Pavilion, Woodford Park, Haddon Drive, Woodley, Reading, RG5 4LY. The new contact is Philip Massey. Do email Philip at bkmc.info@gmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/berkshiremachineknittingclub for lots more information.