If you have a machine knitting problem or question you’d like help with, there will be plenty of experienced knitters to ask.

New to the craft? this is the perfect day to come along make new friends and find out all about machine knitting.

It starts at 10am and it’s at the Epping creative centre 26 Stanley Street Epping NSW 2121.

The sock workshop that was held a few weeks ago was a great success, Lorna did a great job showing us the various ways to make socks (and slippers) on our machines. There were quite a few machines set up for anyone to have a go on a machine that was familiar to them, we had standard gauge, bulky, Bother, Singer and even Passap machines set up on the day. The committee members and volunteers worked tirelessly to keep us all fed and watered throughout the day  – thanks to all involved.

It’s important to attend these workshop if we wish them to carry on, it takes a lot of time and energy to put them together and it’s really only worthwhile if enough people attend. Not to mention the tips and tricks you can pick up along the way!

Talking about workshops, you will see from the calendar that Tony Bennett has a series for workshops coming up soon, if you haven’t bought your ticket yet please contact a committee member.

June’s Epping meeting

Over 20 members braved the cold weather to attend this months meeting, with Margaret giving us a demonstration on a firmer stockinet band, a loopy scarf and a lace border in rib from notes given by Jean Ford.

At next months meeting Jan will be giving us tip on sideways knitting.

The show and tell photo’s have not disappeared, I’m just working out the best way to display them – watch this space.

Time to move on to some of the other shows around, and there are plenty to choose from.

Gosford show – any entries can be given to Bev at this weeks meeting.

Hawksbury show go to link here and then Schedules > Craft

http://www.hawkesburyshow.com.au/show.asp

St Ives show – entries by 12th May

http://www.agshowsnsw.org.au/index.cfm?show_id=1369 (then click on the craft pdf)

Remember if you cannot drop off / pick up your entry to any of the shows, please mention this at the next meeting and someone will be able to assist.

Show and tell

There are a lot of show and tell pictures taken over the last few months that have not been posted yet.

I am currently looking at another way to view them. I’m thinking that a link to the side that takes you straight to them might be a better way to go.

I’m also working on a pdf that documents the steps I took in changing an LC2 lace carriage for a Singer (Silver Reed / Knitmaster) and ‘converted’ for use on a fine gauge machine. Will post it here soon.

Royal Easter show

- online entries must be made by Wednesday 9th February

there are four classes for machine knitters:

CLASS 130 - Babies’ or Children’s wear. One article. Prize 1st $50

(Shank Buttons and/or ribbon ties are not permitted in baby’s wear)

CLASS 131 - Cape, Bolero, Shrug or similar. One article. Prize 1st $50

CLASS 132 - Adult garment. One article. Prize 1st $50

CLASS 133 - Contemporary Mixed Media article. Minimum 70% to be machine knitted. One Article. Prize 1st $50.

ENTRY FEE:  $10.00  ONE ENTRY ONLY PER CLASS.

Cash Prize for the best Exhibit in Machine Knitting Classes 130 to 133, supported by Macknit Inc. Prize $100

Please note that you only have to fill in the online form by the 9th – the garment(s) do not need to be delivered until the week of Monday 26th March

Click on the link below to get started.

https://www.myras.com.au/res/OnlineShowEntries/(S(sjzerl2xcdm1chebzj2e0455))/Login.aspx?dir=ArtDefault.aspx

The next meeting of creative machine knitters will be on Thursday 17th February and this month the demonstrator will be Helga Guyot who will be showing us shaping.

NSW Machine Knitters Association

AGM will take place on Saturday 26th February 2011 at Burwood RSL Club at 9.30 am.

Buy, Swap & Sell

Sunday 27th March at Epping creative centre. Our second FREE knitting day with machines and accessories to try and use. Tea & coffee provided, bring your own lunch.

Saturday 4th June at Epping creative centre. Sock making with hands on various machines including Passap with Lorna Roache.

Saturday 30th July at Epping creative centre. Tony Bennett from WA for a workshop.

As Helga’s demonstrations are packed full of information, advice and tips, it was felt that there wouldn’t be enough time to have show and tell this month and it was ‘carried over’ to next month. As a reminder next month is the biggest morning tea, please see last month’s post for more information about it.

Before Helga got started, Elanor brought us up to date with all things machine knitting locally. The St Ives show is on the 15th and 16th of May and any machine knitting entries need to be in by the 7th May so there is still time to enter something.

MacKnit has organised an event to be held on the last Saturday in May with workshops by Nancy Marchant and Margaret Ryan, the day costs $35 and more information can be found on the Macknit website www.mkansw.org.au

Since we don’t have any photo’s to show this month I thought I’d mention the Magi-Clip that I recently found.

Whilst trying to find a suitable way to file and organise the ever growing collections of old (and new) machine knitting magazines, I found the Magi-Clip made in Denmark.

Basically it is a plastic spine that you fit the magazine though and then you can put the plastic spine into any A4 style folder, thus securing your collection of magazine within folders.

I found the local supplier, Stationery World in Melbourne. The Magi-Clip come in packs of 10 and are $13.85 per pack. Postage to Sydney for three packs (30 spines in total) was $10.00

I have no affiliation with either Top-print or Stationery world, but thought others may find them as useful as I.

For more information please visit www.stationeryworld.net.au and search for Magi-Clip

We were reminded of the Diane Chambers workshop at Burwood on 25th March, and also that Helga will be the guest demonstrator at next months meeting in April. Helga is always worth seeing and I would expect another large turn out next month.

Our demonstration this month given to us by Raechel, was on trimmings and shell edgings.

We were also reminded that we will be having another cancer council morning tea during the May meeting. It would be appreciated if everyone could bring a plate, an item to donate to charity and $5.00 to give to cancer council.

As Macknit was hosting a stand at this years Royal Easter Show on Good Friday, volunteers were being looked for to be on hand to answer any questions relating to machine knitting during the day.

We had so many items for show and tell this month there wasn’t enough time to photograph everything, I’m sorry if I missed yours out.

Eleanor showed us a baby blanket she has been working on for a friend. I’ve snapped both the front and back to show what it looks like in reverse.

Margaret brought in a couple of jumpers that she has been working on,

There were also quite a few garments that various members brought in that had won prizes at recent shows, below are just a few of them.

And finally….

It will take me a little while to upload all the photo’s that I have please bear with me.

You are invited to the Macknit Social Day  at Dence Park.

DATE: Saturday 8th August 2009

PLACE: Epping Creative Centre, Dence Park,

26 Stanley St., Epping.

COST: Two dollars

TIME: 10 am  -  2pm

• Dealers with yarns etc.

• Morning tea and delicious lunch

• Excellent company

There are tables available on which to sell your own knitted garments.  Cost is $5 per table.  Ring Barbara (9876 4147) or Carol (4774 1472) to book.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Once again Eleanor brought us up to date with knitting events both recent and up coming, reminding us that there is a Passap workshop on Tuesday 28th July at Fay Butchers in Sydney.

Topics to be covered include necklines and start to finish, cost is $45 including lunch. For more details and how to book, please visit the MacKnit website.

Another month with lots of show and tell. Examples of machine knitting, hand-knitting and garments with both! Again the items brought in were varied from blankets to baby outfits and even unique one off’s. As you would expect all using various yarns, colours and techniques ranging from double bed jacquard to weaving and even some crocheting thrown in.

Before I list the photo’s, if anyone has a favorite pattern, hint or tip that they would like to share with other members. Please e-mail me and I’ll put it in the members only section.

Audrey brought in this very delicate scarf that she made on her bulky using kid mohair in lilac knitted over 700 rows.

Margaret, mentioned that the top she brought in was just a plain top. When you look at it, it’s actually very detailed. It’s a black top made with wool and boucle and the front edges are trimmed with crocheted ribbon. Unfortuantely the flash makes it look grey, but in actual fact it’s black.

Margaret also brought in a sleeveless top in red.

Larrisa made a complete babies outfit on her Brother machine using a mock moss stitch, complete with leggings.

Lorraine went sock mad this month, making four pairs in total on her Singer machine, two for wearing out and the other two for wearing in bed!

Jill brought in a personalised baby blanket made on her Passap machine.

And another baby blanket this time by Robin, made on her Brother machine.

Robin also brought in a range on childrens garments including a lovely blue and white hat which I forgot to photograph! Sorry Robin, however these are the others items that she made.

Eleanor brought in a work in progress a woven garment in triangles.

Another Margaret brought in a sleeveless top in black but once again the flash doesn’t do it justice.

And lastly an example of a cut and sew neckline, made on a Passap machine.