Hearts of Gold

Iris Rowe has designed and knitted these small hearts to help bring comfort to families who have not been able to see a loved one before they die. The original message asking for help appeared on Saturday 4th April on the BBC news website.

MACHINES This pattern is suitable for all standard gauge machines.

MATERIALS Any suitable 4-ply yarn in Pink (see Laura’s note at end). Polyester toy stuffing.

MEASUREMENTS Height is about 5 cm, 2 in.

TENSION Tension dial setting approximately 6.

TO KNIT Push 16 needles to working position. Using Pink make a woven or automatic closed edge cast on. Knit 3 rows. Increase 1 st at each end of next and every following alternate row until there are 30 stitches. With carriage at left, push 15 needles at right of centre 0 to holding position and set carriage to hold. Place marker at both ends of next row. Decrease 1 inside stitch on next 4 rows. 11 stitches remain. Break yarn then using a bodkin, thread end through stitches and release from machine. Return 15 needles at right to working position. Re-join yarn. Place marker at both ends of next row. Decrease 1 st at left on next 4 rows. Break yarn then using a bodkin, thread end through stitches and release from machine.

MAKING UP Pull up stitches at top of heart and secure. With right sides together, join seam up to markers. Complete other side in the same way. Join back seam and turn right side out. Stuff lightly, pull up stitches and secure.

Brighter Futures This original message asking for help appeared on Saturday 4th April on the BBC news website. It reads:- “Nurse Laura Kirby-Deacon wants people to send small handcrafted hearts to give to patients who contracted Covid-19 and their families. Laura, who works as a sister at the Great Western Hospital’s intensive care unit in Swindon, said the hearts could bring comfort to families who have not been able to see a loved one before they die. She said it was important to use clean yarn and seal the hearts in a taped bag, such as a freezer bag or bin liner. She also asked for the bags to be dated because 72 hours must have elapsed before they are safe to use. Laura urged anyone wanting to post hearts to send them to Brighter Futures at the GWH, Great Western Hospital, Marlborough Road, Swindon SN3 6BB.” The BBC link is www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-wiltshire-52165537/laura-kirby-deacon-says-the-hearts-will-help-those-who-lose-loved-ones

Knit a heart for Covid-19 patients

On Saturday 4th April, we’ve just seen the following message on the BBC news website asking for our help.

Laura Kirby-Deacon says the hearts will help those who lose loved ones

Nurse Laura Kirby-Deacon wants people to send small handcrafted hearts to give to patients who contracted Covid-19 and their families.

Laura, who works as a sister at the Great Western Hospital’s intensive care unit in Swindon, said the hearts could bring comfort to families who have not been able to see a loved one before they die.

She said it was important to use clean yarn and seal the hearts in a taped bag, such as a freezer bag or bin liner.

She also asked for the bags to be dated because 72 hours must have elapsed before they are safe to use.

Laura urged anyone wanting to post hearts to send them to:

Brighter Futures at the GWH, Great Western Hospital, Marlborough Road, Swindon SN3 6BB

The link is https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-wiltshire-52165537/laura-kirby-deacon-says-the-hearts-will-help-those-who-lose-loved-ones

Current update

Dear Readers

As we all tried to navigate the unknown of the coronavirus situation, it became very clear, incredibly quickly that we had to follow the government’s advice. Therefore, it was with a heavy heart and great sadness that I cancelled this year’s Nottingham Show. Shortly after, of course, West Park Leisure Centre received the order to close its doors with immediate effect.

Many knitting clubs have called to say that they’ve decided to suspend their meetings and our Clubs Directory list gives you all the contact details, should you have any queries. Michelle Ferguson has told me that The Scottish Machine Knitters have cancelled their Spring Workshop on Saturday 18th April. For the most up-to-date SMK details, please visit www.scottishmachineknitters.org.uk

Many of the companies who support the magazine are following the Government’s Public Health England advice on Covid-19 and have closed their shops to the general public. However, a large number are currently working online as normal and continuing to dispatch orders until they’re advised otherwise. With so many of us spending more time at home, perhaps a little more knitting will be done and mail order is always a reliable and excellent option.

It’s business here as usual and I hope to stay that way. If the situation changes, I’ll let you know on the website and you can always email with any queries. Our printers remain open and Royal Mail is still delivering, so the May 2020 magazine will be sent out as usual next week. The readers who may be affected are those buying their copies in local outlets, as small shops have now been ordered to close. If you buy your magazine this way, I can always send a copy from the office.

As we all work together to protect ourselves at these unprecedented times, I’d like to thank you all for your continued support. As others in a similar situation, I’ll carry on mailing orders until notified otherwise and I’m only an email away if you need my help. Stay safe and look after one another.

Nottingham Show 2020 is cancelled

With growing concern over the current Coronavirus (COVID-19), heeding the health advice and using common sense, we feel the most sensible decision is to cancel this year’s show on Sunday 5th April. We’re sorry to disappoint exhibitors and visitors, but feel this is a prudent decision in these uncertain times.

April 2020 new subscriptions

NEW SUBSCRIPTION If you select a new subscription, no money will be taken with your order and it will start next month with the May 2020 magazine, to be mailed out to subscribers on Thursday 2nd April. If you’d like to start with this April issue, you need to order a Subscription Bundle.

SUBSCRIPTION BUNDLE If you select a subscription bundle, you pay for our current April 2020 magazine and we’ll send you a copy straight away. Your magazine will then be mailed direct from the printer on the first Thursday of each month and the May 2020 issue goes out to subscribers on Thursday 2nd April.

April 2020 – our new issue

Our full-colour April 2020 issue has been sent to subscribers and is on sale 12th March. Our cover design is a quick ‘n’ easy sweater in King Cole Opium, which glides through LK-150 and chunky machines and we always show you how to knit all our designs on standard gauge machines. We’ve a 4-page pullout of Nina Miklin frills and trims and the launch of the stunning new book from Alison Dupernex, with reader saving of 20%. You’ll never knit drab beige again after opening up her radiant book. Sally-Ann Carroll helps us and our knits look our very best for a special occasion and Bill King’s space cables are amazing. Claire Newberry finds an exciting new feature in DesignaKnit 9 and Joan Lafferty shows us how to knit intarsia with an ordinary carriage. We always include news and reviews, letters, club details and this time we’ve a taste of spring and summer to come, with techniques and designs from Susan Guagliumi.

March 2020

Our full-colour March 2020 issue is now on sale, with over 10 designs. Our cover design is a 4-ply lacy cardigan with a wide size range from bust 71-76 cm (28-30 in) to 112-117 cm (44-46 in) and we always show you how to knit all our designs in a different yarn on standard gauge machines. Sally-Ann Carroll tells us the colours, prints and styles for Spring and Summer knitted wardrobe and Bill King combines all needle rib and tuck for one of his favourite looks. Helen Lewis has fun with a bit of ‘make do and mend’ reconstruction for a new Spring jacket and we’ve a Phyllis Moran multi-design for all Passap machines. Claire Newberry begins a series of tutorials for DesignaKnit 9 and Joan Lafferty breaks every tension rule in the book! We always include news and reviews, letters, club details and great reader offers on new craft books from Search Press. There are great bargains this month, with all the books under £10.

Machine Knitting LIVE! Bournemouth 2020 is on Saturday 3rd October

Bournemouth School for Girls will, once again, welcome us all to Machine Knitting LIVE! Bournemouth School for Girls is in Castle Gate Close, Castle Lane West, Bournemouth BH8 9UJ and the show opens from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm. The school is on the A3060 (Castle Lane West) and once you reach Castlepoint Shopping Centre on the right, continue straight. First left is East Way, then take the next left turn into Castle Gate Close. Everything is on one level so disabled access is easy. If you want to bring a non-knitting friend, Castlepoint is a good dropping off point for shopping and free parking.

Unless something comes up at the last minute, most of our exhibitors join us every year and our 2019 exhibitors included Andee Knits who brought her shop to the show. She had machines and accessories, books and patterns, spares and yarn. Anne Croucher is our machine expert and she holds a Knit Clinic to help with any problems. Ann Brown brought a selection of her designs and garments. Rob Fountain had used machines and accessories plus spares, bits and bobs. Bill King had his machine and lots of samples to show you what to do and how to do many of his Masterclass techniques. David and Jason Hampson brought The Wool Cabin to the show with not-to-be-missed bargains on packs of quality yarns at knock-down prices. Designers Elaine Cater and Nina Miklin brought their designs, books and patterns and Fleet Knitting Club set up displays and demonstrations. Nick Traylen had a huge selection of coned and balled yarn from Uppingham Yarns and Anne had Machine Knitting Monthly current magazines, back issues, binders and Anjo Patterns.

We always have excellent displays and demonstrations from local knitting clubs Carbery in Christchurch and Ringwood, with some wonderful ideas to inspire us.

Last year we had a break with tradition and warmly welcomed Guest Speaker Sally Butcher. Sally is a prolific knitter and she runs a monthly knitting club in Bodmin. Her main focus is on all makes and types of Japanese machines and she talked about the huge presence of machine knitting on the internet. She told us how they set up the Beginners Group, talked about what they try to achieve and displayed some of their designs. She also brought a laptop, to show us photos of many interesting projects completed. Having set up one of her machines, she talked to everyone during the day whilst sitting and knitting.

The School Canteen opens all day with hot and cold meals, snacks and drinks.

Do come and join us and tickets will be on sale on the website very soon.

February 2020

Our full-colour February 2020 issue has over 12 designs. Our cover top has a matching jacket that’s perfect for mid-gauge and chunky machines. There’s a wide size range from bust 71-76 cm (28-30 in) to 112-117 cm (44-46 in) and we always show you how to knit all our designs in a different yarn on standard gauge machines. Sally-Ann Carroll gets our Spring and Summer wardrobe one step ahead of the game and Bill King tells us how to bring shape into a garment using a simple machine-knitting technique. The final part of our series on colour changers looks at double jacquard variations and Fay Butcher helps all Passap knitters to reduce their stash. If you need some Boho Chic, we show you how to yarn-bomb a child’s chair and there’s masses of help for Silver Reed LK-150 knitters. We always include news and reviews, letters, club details and great reader offers on new craft books from Search Press.

January update

Dear Readers

As this magazine arrives at the beginning of January, we’ll welcome in the New Year with piles of sprouts replaced by even larger mounds of Easter eggs in the shops! We always have to go to press very early with this issue, so let me remind you of one or two things which may slip through the net.

The first is the very welcome news that a new club is starting up in Scotland. The Dunfermline Machine Knitting Club’s first meeting will be Thursday 30th January from 6.00 to 8.00 pm and thereafter on the last Thursday of each month. The venue is Fife College, Dunfermline Campus Media Centre, Room 7.10 and it’s open to all levels of experience. You don’t need to have a machine and you can just drop in to discover what machine knitting is all about. If you have a machine, you’re more than welcome to take it with you. It’s going to be a relaxed group, aimed at teaching and sharing in a warm and friendly atmosphere. If it’s within travelling distance, you’ll need to know more so email buttonmouse01@gmail.com for all the details. Naturally, we’ll add the information to our Clubs Directory next time, along with other recent changes and we do wish them every success.

In Newsline last month, we told you about Susan Guagliumi’s video class that’s available for streaming. It’s a companion to her book Open Spaces: Machine Knit Eyelets, Ladders and Slits. With all the decorations packed away for another year, January is always a good time to take on something new. Don’t forget that Susan is offering a huge 20% discount to all MKM readers until 31st January 2020. If you want a more flexible option, sections are also on offer along with the original video for Hand Manipulated Stitches at a bargain price and also with a 20% reader discount. If your January magazine was thrown out with all the papers to make way for visitors, don’t worry, you’re not alone! Just give me a call and I’ll let you have full details, as it’s a one-time offer that’s not to be missed. You can also visit guagliumi.com for everything you need to know, as well as find lots of free downloadable patterns, instruction and videos.

Finally, we’ve had a hurdle or two to jump over, but plans are now in place for our 2020 shows. Bournemouth takes place on Saturday 3rd October and Nottingham’s date is Sunday 5th April. West Park Leisure Centre now has new owners and undergone significant alterations, so we’ve a different path to tread and we’ll need to make a few small changes for this year’s show. Do give me a call for the most up-to-date information.

Now the visitors have gone for another year, it’s time to turn the ‘temporary’ guest bedroom back into a knitting room. So, until next time, let’s all enjoy a happy return to machine knitting.

NEXT ISSUE

March 2020

Subscription copies sent out Thursday 6th February

On sale Thursday 13th February