June 09 meeting

Around twenty members braved the cold and wet weather to meet up this month.

Our machines must have been working overtime as we had a huge show and tell as you will see from the photo’s included.

Apologies if your garment isn’t pictured, it was hard to keep up with everything that was being shown. Anyone who thinks machine knitting is a dying craft just needs to look at the pictures to see just how wide and varied a garment that can be made on even the most basic of machine.

Eleanor reminded us that the NSW MacKnit association subscriptions are due to be renewed by 30th of June.

If you haven’t yet received your renewal form, or you would like to join you will find an application form here.

MembershipFormA5

For a list of future knitting related events that you can print off, please click here.  FutureEvents A5

Robin volunteered to give the demonstation this month.

Armed with plenty of knitted squares to give to each member along with some yarn and a needle, we were all encrouraged to have a go whilst Robin walked us through the art of Swiss darning (also called duplicate stitch or knitting stitch embroidery)

Here are a couple of samples members completed after the demonstration.

Thanks to Robin for the time spent getting everything ready for this demonstration.

Show & Tell

It’s hard to know where to start this month, there were so many items brought in,

Baby garments, scarfs, dresses, skirts, jumpers & cardigans, sleeveless tops and even a tea cosy were just some of the items brought in.

Examples included intarsia, mixed knitting and quilting were all there to be seen.

Here are a few items that I managed to photograph, they are listed in no particular order

May’s morning tea

This month we had a morning tea to raise money for cancer care.

Members were asked to make a hat to donate to cancer care, we ended up with 34 hats and one scarf.

Unfortunately I forgot to bring my camera along so had to make do with the camera built into my phone which is not as good.

Eleanor had a request from a final year student who needs the services of a machine knitter that could make some intarsia items for her. If you know of anyone who may be able to assist with this request please see Eleanor.

There is a workshop on in Brisbane on Friday 24th July for Passap knitters, the demonstrator will be Anne Baxter from New Zealand. This will be her only workshop in Australia so if you which to attend we can give you the details if you email the blog.

MacKnit association will be holding a skirt steaming day on Saturday 4th July at Epping creative centre the demonstrator will be Jan Richards. The cost is $30 including lunch, the cost is being subsidised by Mac Knit. For more information again email the blog.

There is a creative weaving course at the Epping centre Dence Park on 25th and 26th July cost $125.

June 10th to 14th sees the craft and quilt show at Darling Harbour, visit www.craftfare.com.au for more information.

Show and tell this month included hats, blankets and even a tea cosy.

These three pictures show the range of style and colour of hats that members made for cancer care.

Eleanor brought in a baby blanket and tea cozy that she has made, the blanket looks a little washed out and the photo doesn’t do it any justice at all, sorry Eleanor.

The tea cosy was machine knitted and hand manipulated on the machine using snowball yarn. I’m sure you will agree a fantastic result.

And finally Shosanna brought in a lovely tuck blanket in yellow, once again the photo doesn’t do it justice.

April 09

We had over thirty members turn up for Aprils meeting, it was terrific  to see such a strong turnout.

Eleanor brought us up to date with what has been happening locally in the world of machine knitting, including the results of the Sydney Royal Easter show – machine knitting entries.

Carol Bright was the overall winner with a lovely purple cardigan, in the childrens and babies wear category Dorothy Welch took home third prize.

There were over 15 entries in the machine knitting category, one of the judges this year was Helga Guyot.

Helga also happened to be the demonstrator at this months meeting, sharing with us lots of tips and suggestions for making life easier when machine knitting. As always Helga is extremely knowledgeable about her subject and as well as demonstrating she is able to take questions and answer any queries we have along the way without losing track of what she is doing!

For this months show and tell Roybn brought in a hand knitted baby jacket including leg warmers and a hat.

Roybn also had time to machine knit a scarf in chenille 

A new member Lorna brought in two items she had made on her passap ‘pink’ machine, one was a pair of heel flap socks and the other was a lovely lace scarf complete with beads on the edging.

And finally John brought in a multicoloured and patterned ladies jacket that he is currently working on, here modeled by Margaret.

March 09 meeting

Machine Knitters Association of NSW

now has an offical home on the web.

Please checkout www.mkansw.org.au for all the latest happenings with the association.

We could not have asked for a more pleasant day weather wise for this months meeting, which as ever was very well attended.

Eleanor , brought us up to date with the various shows that have been taking place around the state and once again reminded us that there were plenty of shows coming up to take advantage of and enter something in a competition.

For a more comprehensive listing of what’s on and where, you can get more information at the MacKnit site (see link above).

We had a couple of members do very well at the Canberra Royal show.

Dorothy was awarded 1st prize in the special challenge – Astronomy category, as well as 2nd place in the baby and child up to 4yrs category.

Not only was Barbara awarded 1st prize for her entry in the designer wear, including evening and wearable art.

She was also awarded overall champion. 

Many congratulations to both.

This months show and tell

Rachel brought a jumper made from Bendigo wool,

Margaret has been busy using up yarn from her stash to make this jumper and matching hat, along with a scarf.

 

 Robyn was busy making hats from 4ply sock yarn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jan brought in one of her latest creations.

As you can see it’s a brightly coloured fairisle jacket, complete with side pockets.

Jan also gave some of us a bit of an impromtui demonstration how to troubleshoot a problem another member was having with her Brother 965i

I’ll finish this month with some photo’s I took whilst Jan looked ‘under the hood’ to check for common problems that can cause mis-patterning.

Meeting dates for 2009

Creative machine Knitters meet at Epping creative centre (Dence park)

Stanley Road, Epping NSW on the third Thursday of each month except December.

July 16th

August 20th

September 17th

October 15th

November 19th

For more information please contact us at

MachineKnitters   AT gmail DOT com

February 2009

Welcome to a new year of creative machine knitters weblog, although the year actually started off with the January meeting I’m only now getting around to updating the weblog.

February’s meeting was very well attended with lots of members eager to pay their subscription for another year.

The committee have managed to maintain the same price as last year at only $20 for the year instead of $40, which is really fantastic value so if you have been hesitating about joining you really have no excuse. 

As a relativity new member myself, the group is very friendly and extremely talented and knowledgeable.

There has never been a better time to improve your machine knitting skills, so if you can please come along.

Looks like its going to be a busy year craft wise.

There is a craft show in Sydney called craft fest which is on at Sydney Olympic Park March 6th til 8th.

For more information check out www.craftfest.com.au

Kia Ridge weekend is also on again this year, 13th to 15th November at Tahmoor, more details soon.

MacKnit Association of NSW

The MacKnit AGM is on Saturday 28th February.

The Della competition theme this year is soft furnishings, submissions to be handed in at the quarterly AGM.

Machine Knitters Association of Victoria are hosting a seminar on 22nd and 23rd May.

For more information and bookings please visit MKVic’s website www.mkav.org.au

It was announced the Helga (Guyot) will be coming along to our April meeting to give us an inside to tricks and tips of the trade.

Helga also has spaces available for some of her weekly classes.

2 spaces available for her Monday group, using 1 Singer machine and 1 Brother machine and 3 spaces available for her Friday group using Singer machines. The cost is $10 per meeting which includes use of the machine, classes which last 2 to 3 hours are hands on with guidance.

If you wish to take your knitting to the next level please contact Helga on 02 9878 4510 for more information. 

CastleHill Show

The CastleHill show is on again this year, 20th and 21st of March.

If you wish to submit an entry for this years show, written submission are to be in by Friday March 6th costs are $3.00 per entry.

There are lots of categories, including babywear, shawls and even a machine woven section.

Eleanor has kindly offered to drop off (and pick up) any entries by the 15th March.

So if you have any project that you would like to submit please e-mail the blog or contact Eleanor.

For more information about the show go to  www.castlehillshow.com.au/CHS/chs.pma/chsHome?OpenPage

Last year there were very few machine knitting items submitted, so if we wish the craft to continue please support the show by submitting something if you can. There’s a very good chance of winning if not being placed!

We also had a new member join us this month, welcome Helen.

Show & Tell

Rachel brought in three baby jackets that she has made for her stall later in the year, 

Barbara brought along a skirt that she has been working on,

Black is a little difficult to photograph, here is a more detailed picture.

Conitnuing with the theme of three different letters from the alphabet each month, whereby a member is encouraged to bring or show something to do with the letter.

This month was D,E and F.

Lorraine showed us an example of ‘Fish scales’ that she has been working on.

Both Barbara and Lorraine also gave us a (D)emonstration of a couple of techniques  

Another member also brought in a baby blanket that she has been working on, although it didn’t turn out quite as she had planned I’m sure you will agree that is is very nice indeed.

 

Next months letters are G, H & I

Some suggestions given include, an example of garter stitch work, a hat, intarsia, a garment etc so thinking caps on.

And finally there is now additional information for members only. If you are a member please click on the members only link on the right hand side, you will be asked for a password, please enter the password to gain access.

If you don’t yet have the password please e-mail the committee or myself.

 

Septembers show and tell

There’s no need to pack away the knitting machines for the year just because were heading to spring and summer. There is still plenty to do as we are reminded by one of our members this month.

These lace shorts and long trackies are made with 4 ends of 2/20 cotton.

  

 

Jill brought in a couple of baby blankets made on her Passap using 2 ends of cashmillion in navy and white.

 

Lois has been busy practising on her machine by making this baby jacket, made in a tuck stitch.

 

Barbara has been busy again this month, this time making scarfs and shawls. 

Here’s a selection Barbara brought in to show us.

The beige one was made on her Passap for 1212 rows, the purple one has one needle has left out of work, there is also a thread of lurex mixed in as well.

 

This months demonstration was entitled, making the perfect swatch.

Eleanor took us through the various methods and steps involved and reminded us of why we should put the time and effort into making and measuring the swatch. 

Here are a couple of samples that she brought in.

Thanks Eleanor, it was good for both new and existing knitters to be shown how easy it is to make a swatch that will save us all time and give us the confidence to make a garment that will actually fit the recipient.

 

 

 

 

 

August meeting

Once again we had a good turn out with a few new faces.

Eleanor reminded us that the NSW Machine Knitting Association have organised a weekend at Kiah Ridge (near Picton NSW) from Friday 31st October until Sunday 2nd November.

If you can’t make it for the whole weekend, there are still places available to attend two workshops on Saturday 1st November. For more details please email the blog.

This month like many others we had plenty of items for show and tell.

Ruth brought these alpaca scarf’s that she made on her Passap machine.

  

Margaret brought in a lovely blanket made from 1 end of pure wool in a tuck stitch using both beds of her Passap machine. 

Margaret also bought in a couple of hand knitted items.

Including this mitred shawl,

and scarf.

 

Leslie has also been busy, making this blue cardigan out of acrylic.

 

Jan brought in this 2 colour Jacket made from wool and lurex on her Brother machine using a garter carriage, so there are no floats on the back. As you can see there is a great deal of detail in this garment no wonder it took nearly six weeks to complete!

Jan also let us know that her husband has now started servicing garter carridges, so if your carridge is in need of some tlc please contact Jan at jan_rich@optusnet.com.au for more details.

And lastly a member brought in this fair-isle hooded jacket, complete with lining.

The jacket is made from 2 strands of 2 ply 100% pure wool from Bendio and the lining is 1 strand of 1 ply 100% merino.

July’s show and tell

This month Barbara brought in some scarfs that she had made and then felted.

    

The scarfs were knitted over 42sts, in stocking stitch using the complete ball. Then foam balls were attached using little bands. The scarfs were then soaked in luke warm water for 2 hours and put in the washing machine on hot for 5 minutes. They were then left to dry for approximately 3 days before the bands were removed and the balls released.

 

Barbara also brought us in this hand knitted scarf, knitted in triangles made from sock yarn.

Leslie brought in this handy little tool that her DH made for her.

It’s amazing what you can do with an old needle and toothbrush. I’m sure there must be more knitters that have come up with inventive solutions to tricky problems when machine knitting.

Lorraine brought in a green cardigan with zipper, made from 5ply Bendigo wool.

  

 

Margaret brought in a lovely mohair shawl that she knitted on the bulky.

 

 

Robyn brought along this hand knitted wrap for us to see.

 

 

And finally this is a scarf that Eleanor brought in.

  

Thanks once again to all who bring in their creations for show and tell and allow them to be photographed and put onto the blog.

Dates for 2008

Creative Machine Knitters meet at Epping Creative Centre

(Dence Park), Stanley Road, Epping.

On the third Thursday of each month

 

The meetings for this year will take place on the following dates.

January 17th

February 21st

March 20th

April 17th

May 15th

June 19th

July 17th

August 21st

September 18th

October 16th

November 20th