Dear Readers
Each year I’ve to finish this issue in the middle of December, so let me tell you about one or two things which may slip through the net. Sadly, Jo Newton, a dear friend and well-known name in machine knitting has decided to close both her website and design business. Jo’s intarsia designs captivated many of us for years. She was a frequent exhibitor at shows and a highly-respected, major contributor to most magazines including MKM. For a short time, her books will still be available, but you need to be quick. If you’d like any of them, send me an email with your phone number and I’ll ask Jo to call you before she finally hangs up the ‘closed’ sign.
I must also let you know about two recent bereavements and the first is a designer knitters will remember from Modern Machine Knitting days. It’s Terry Armitstead, who was a major contributor back in the early 1990s. He was a popular club speaker, often joining forces with Jane Huntingford. They’d talk about intarsia motifs, garment patterns and geometric designs for punchcard and electronic machines. Terry really could squeeze everything possible from (what looked like) an ordinary, rather boring stitch pattern. I’m certain Terry’s collection of samples was second only to Bill King!
My second bereavement is someone known to most machine knitters in Northern Ireland. ‘Old hands’ who’ve read the letters in Dear Anne over the years, will recognise the name Joan Wilson. Joan was 103 and will be very sadly missed by everyone who knew her. She’d been machine knitting since 1955 and I’ve kept in touch with her since 1986, when I first published the magazine.
Joan started with an early second-hand Passap, progressed to a Silver Reed SK840 electronic and knitted on everything from every manufacturer in between. With advancing years she’d moved into a care home. There was no room for her machines, but not long before her 100th birthday, she’d an LK-150 set up and was learning to knit on it. As she put it: “I need to keep my brain working”! In both our younger days Joan would often scold me, but always in a constructive way to help me improve the magazine for all machine knitters. It’s been my pleasure to remain in touch with a woman who will have inspired more of us than she ever realised. Joan kept her love for machine knitting right up until the end. She was still knitting clothes for her great grandchildren. I send my sincere condolences to everyone who knew both Terry and Joan. They both died in loving, peaceful surroundings.
Joan’s letters were always beautifully hand-written and this month I can think of no better way to sign off than how Joan ended every letter to me. “I’ll be glad to hear from you. All the best healthwise and good luck otherwise.” I send you all my very best wishes and hopes for a happy, a healthy and a prosperous year ahead.
NEXT ISSUE March 2025
Subscription copies sent out Thursday 6th February
On sale Thursday 13th February
Ask your newsagent to reserve a copy or order a subscription NOW!
