News

Fingers crossed

I’ve recently obtained a Brother 836 and can’t wait to use it, but worried about jamming it up. I’ve enrolled on a college course, but the one I’ve joined doesn’t start until the autumn. Can anyone help? I tried to call the number in the listing for Harrow but it doesn’t accept incoming calls. Please can you help? Thank you so much and fingers crossed! Kind regards, Jeanette Foster

Changing times

Would you make sure, please, that any of your readers who are interested in membership of KCG contact our current treasurer, Tricia Basham and her details are given below. Thanks very much, Elspeth May, Director, KCG. Knitting & Crochet Guild, Unit 4 Lee Mills Industrial Estate, St Georges Road, Scholes, Holmfirth, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire HD9 1RT.
Tricia Basham, Treasurer, KCG
Tel 07905- 796563
Email treasurer@kcguild.org.uk

Penny competition

The squares start and end on waste yarn, so they can be adjusted. Each Christmas the club holds a competition and the winner chooses the charity to support the following year. Pat Wright was presented with her trophy by Cllr Eve Martin. For 2014 she’s chosen Barby Keel Animal Sanctuary, Charity No. 1095382, so members will knit a blanket with animal motifs. They’ll also fund raise by selling small knitted items and holding a raffle. If you’d like to know more about Priory Knits, call Sue Castro on 01424-437468 after 6.00 pm or email her at sue@1066.net

Congratulations

On the Carbery Club stand, we were delighted to meet and talk to many machine knitters thinking of returning to the craft, as well as to new recruits. The sheer numbers of people attending the two speakers’ talks showed the enthusiasm there is for new designs and techniques. It was so refreshing to see how Denise Musk’s garments were so well received and admired. Fiona Morris’ talk also was much appreciated by those of us wanting to improve our knitting skills. So please accept a huge thank you, Anne, for once again giving us a show to remember. Best wishes, Joy Hopkins, Carbery MKC
Thanks so much for your kind words, Joy and I’m pleased to let you know that Denise is soon to join us as a contributor. Ed

Little Acorn Knitting Club

We meet every second Friday of the month at Seaford Baptist Church at 2.00 pm. We often have speakers with hints and tips and next month (on May 10th) we have Sue Castro
giving a demo on punch lace. Any new member would be most welcome to our friendly group. Thank you.

Packed full of Spring patterns

Now I must pay tribute to three friends of machine knitting who have passed away. Many of you will remember Doris Coutts as a founder member of the Sandown Club on the Isle of Wight and a regular contributor to both To & Fro and MKM. Her knowledge of machine knitting was immense. A founder member of Perth Knitting Club has also died. Peggy Rourke was an Area Representative for the Scottish Machine Knitters and she will be hugely missed. Finally, we remember Eileen Langford, Treasurer of the Guild of Machine Knitters, who has also died. Eileen played an important role in the Guild and, together with Peggy and Doris, they will all be greatly missed. We send our sincere condolences to members of their families, as well as their many friends.

Tony Bennett is coming over to the UK later this year and he’ll stop off at Metropolitan to open this year’s Dream Week on 2nd September. He’ll then return a couple of weeks later on 16th September for a week of hand’s-on tuition. Last year Tony was awarded WA Wool Designer of the Year and he’s lectured to fashion and textile design students at Perth’s Western Australian Central Institute of Technology. He’s run Dormani Designs for almost 20 years and gives talks about machine knitting as well as fashion trends. He also runs workshops for machine knitters. He’s travelled extensively in Australia and across to New Zealand, sharing his creativity, flair and expertise with many machine knitters. He fits in regular Down Under reports for us and it will be a pleasure to meet him in September.
Inevitably places are limited, so please book as soon as you can to avoid disappointment.

My other news is that Carol Hocknell and I have made a diary date to repeat our very successful At Home at Metropolitan. The date is 6th October 2013 from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm and again places are strictly limited. As last time, we’ll arrange demonstrations throughout the day, provide a Ploughman’s Lunch and Cream Tea and we’ll print further details as they develop. Having accepted the kind invitation to teach at Dream Week in September, help to run our At Home in October and keep the flag flying for Alan Hunt’s Nottingham Show on 14th April, my year is filling up fast. Until next month, happy knitting!

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Nottingham Machine Knitting Show

Alan Hunt has retired from running the show and asked Anne Smith to organise it, so that this prestigious northern event will continue. As Harvey Haddon has closed for several years for total refurbishment, Alan has found the West Park Leisure Centre in Wilsthorpe Road, Long Eaton, Derbyshire NG10 4AA as a new venue. This year the show is on Sunday 14th April. Those who’ve attended the Nottingham Show before know that there’s plenty of room, ample car parking, catering facilities and easy access. It’s just 1½ miles from Junction 25 on the M1, the best remaining show for machine knitters in the North of England and one that shouldn’t be missed.