KCG AGM 2024

Well, time is gradually healing my mood, though grieving for a friendship so cruelly dropped will take a little longer. So... work is tricky at the moment, as I teeter between anger and avoidance, distrust and pity. But my sleep has improved and I guess time will cure all in the end, one way or another. I get more independance to travel to work with better music (and I actually get in on time now, which I prefer!) so I'm focussing on the positives! I did accidentally talk myself into getting a new laptop, although in terms of RAM it's identical and so far it's refused to let me install anything on it beyond Teams and Outlook so I'm not hopeful! 

I took a friend down to the annual Knitting and Crochet Guild AGM weekend, this year in High Leigh Hall, Hoddesdon. The drive down was ok until we got to the M25 and the A roads in London during rush hour. I had forgotten the insane and impatient car drivers seem to congregate further south! Anyway, we made it with about half an hour to spare before the opening meeting and then off to the dining room for a very nice dinner (I had beef curry). The after dinner speaker was Vicki Haffenden - alas we were both very tired so made directly for bed afterwards, which is when I discovered I'd be using my ensuite without a lightbulb! 

Saturday morning we had a keynote speaker, Sue Maton, and then the AGM. After lunch, I had a class with Vicki all about holding position - we had a two-sided handout but alas I could really have used instructions for some of the samples she'd brought. It was interesting, but I may skip machine knitting classes next year because I'm not sure I learnt anything new (I managed to mess up anyway!). We were interrupted by enthusiastic crafters wanting to pick over the yarn amnesty (leftover knitting and croche items donated to raise funds for the Guild). After dinner another talk by Lily Kate France. Again we were too tired to hang around for drinks, which is a pity.

Sunday morning (having slept badly) I did a quick walk around the lake, after being waylaid for various other reasons. It's a very nice site (though I never did find the cave!). After checking out and loading up the car, we had a show and tell which was amazing - so much inspiration! After lunch I had a go at "lacis crochet" with Helen Jordan, a very interesting circular crochet pattern that would make amazing shawls, and after lunch there was a raffle. I didn't win anything but I was quite relieved because a few of the prizes were tickets to Ally Pally and I've already got a ticket for that! All too soon it was over - we decided to take A roads back, which may or may not have been a good idea. At one point the heavens opened so heavily that people were pulling off the road. I kept going (but slowly) and after twenty scary minutes we were back in full sunshine. Yep, it's definitely autumn!

Current mood: moody

Knitting and Crochet Guild Convention 2022

TLDR: a review of this year's KCG AGM and some thoughts on the funeral of the Queen. 

Well, it was a long wait to attend my first KCG convention, but it was definitely worth it. The Guild of Machine Knitters merged with the KCG before their convention in 2019, but too late for many of us to be able to attend I think as it was mostly sold out (I ended up leading a class in machine knitting). Luckily for me that year was at Warwick uni, so I didn't need to find accomodation. We were to convene in Leeds in 2020 and had to cancel our hotel bookings when COVID started to close everything down, and last year everything was done online for the same reason. 

I spent the morning packing what felt like the kitchen sink into the car - in reality, one knitting machine, one stand, a box of patterns and machine parts to donate, a big bag of garments. I think I might sell the Toyota stand on, the legs are in exactly the wrong place for the Brother clamp positions - we nearly ended up with the machine in our laps at one point! A few items I've popped onto the UK KM sales group on Facebook (which ended up not being taken out of the boot). I also packed several projects to knit on or sew up, correspondance to catch up on, the laptop, a toolbox, the DSLR which I ended up not using and my suitcase of course. Phew! I left immediately after a quick lunch and got to the venue in good time. I do need to start ignoring Mrs Garmin, the smallest amount of slower traffic and she has a tizzy and advises me to leave at the next exit, very often quite some way from the destination. The M1 was fine traffic-wise for a Friday, I wasn't in any hurry!

The convention was at the Hayes Conference Centre, which was a large country house converted into a fairly extensive conference campus. It was a German POW camp at one point, and someone commented that perhaps they were still the same beds? They were a little firm but fine by me - I was surprised there wasn't a tv in my room, but then again I had the laptop and no time nor need for tv anyway! I never sleep well in strange places for the first few nights, so holidays are always fun but exhausting and short weekends even more so. Dunno why I thought I'd need things to do, apart from knitting a few more rows on the purple poncho, I spent most of my time catching up with friends old and new. 

We all got a little goody bag containing a skein of beautiful yarn from Knit McIntosh, the proprietor James giving us a moving and passionate talk about his past issues with mental health and how knitting and colours brought him out of it on the Saturday, alongside some interesting medical information from his partner Dr Thomas Ernst FRCP. They were lovely chaps and were both wearing very lovely coloured sweaters, I never got a chance to ask what colourways as they left straight after their talk to go home, but they were gorgeous raspberry and burgundy respectively. There was also a hardback notebook to launch the KCG's new branding (the website is next apparently). We started with a lovely welcome talk and most of us got to examine the Gladys Jeskin sampler, a strip of 899 handknit samples which is so long we only managed to unwind it across four rows of the room before we had to start winding it back - it's kept on a garden hose reel and the Guild have been examining and cataloguing it based on her notes. 

I won't go into a blow by blow account of the weekend because I'm not the best witness - I was assisting Alison teaching machine knitting for both workshop slots, so I can't comment on the other workshops. Suffice to say I wish I could have temporarily cloned myself for the weekend, because they all sound amazing - 3D granny squares, tunisian crochet, cables, latvian mittens, shetland lace knitting, visible mending (we taught a tuck lace scarf using mohair, more on that later) were just day one, beginner's crochet, double filet crochet, crochet mandalas, fearless steeks, lace knitting for beginners, how to teach a craft (we taught hand manipulated techniques on the machine) were day two. My sneaky plan is to create enough machine knitters so that one day I get to attend as a punter, not a tutor! Hey, I can dream eh?

We also had a talk by Lorna Hamilton-Brown MBE, the creator of amazing magazine covers with fine gauge machine knitted intarsia - 3 rows a day for months! What patience! The closing talk was by Professor Sandy Black who did a lovely slideshow based on her new book, Classic Knits of the 80s. I do wish the days of colour would come back, we need some cheerfulness in the world right now!

Our first class went quite well - at least two students came away with mohair tuck lace scarves, and because we weren't sure about the end needle selection setting, they both got a slightly different scarf because the pattern was worked over a group of 5 needles and a single one, which would be treated as an end needle if end needle selection was activated. Some weren't quite so lucky as the mohair snapped. I think they got the idea, and the goody bag yarn would be perfect for this with more time and less pressure. The hand-manipulation class went ok but there was more to get through than we had time for. Well, there are so many techniques you COULD teach for that class, that could be a week on its own really, which is why I love machine knitting so much. 

The venue was good, the food was good (but I learnt to snaffle dessert early after missing out on chocolate orange cake) but the wonderful company and the amazing show and tells (some of which later went on to be displayed in one of the rooms) were my highlight I think. Lots of money was raised by the yarn amnesty (I resisted!) and there were lots of lovely raffle prizes, though I didn't win anything. Someone brought an entire shop's worth of crochet tools and books, so I did pick up three books on tunisian crochet (the Annie's Crochet / Annie's Attic range) because it's a technique I'd like to explore more. 

It was so lovely talking to fellow knitters after such a long time apart, and there were so many inspiring garments on display. I was quite sorry to pack up and go really, I'm sure I could happily have enjoyed a few more days in the company of such creative people. Well done to all at the Guild for a well organised event. I've uploaded my pictures here, hope you enjoy them!

Today has been more subdued, as we have been watching the funeral and committal services for her late majesty Queen Elizabeth II. I'll admit I was grateful for an unexpected extra day to decompress after the weekend, and during some of the procession bits between the two services, I did have a bit of a sort out of the craft room looking for some Designaknit notes. I didn't find them, but I did establish a bit more order in there than before and found lots of things I'd forgotten I'd acquired. The weather in London and Windsor appeared clement on the tv, it's turned cold and damp here since lunchtime. I got a bit tearful, watching the coffin sinking slowly in St George's chapel. I'm glad the royals get a private burial afterwards - all of the public events must be very wearing on them at this sad time. Most of us just get 45 minutes at a church, then 20 minutes at the crematorium, and the latter feels somewhat of a production line. 

Next week's job is to start tackling all the knitting stuff stored in the attic, and to get rid of things or sell them on to someone who will use them. 

Current mood: inspired yet subdued

KCG AGM and Convention 2019

So this weekend I was mostly doing this - exhibiting machine knitting on Saturday:











Many thanks to the Leicestershire and Long Buckby machine knitters for the loan of machines, clothes rail and items for the exhibition. Also, thanks to the N and W Yorks club for their William Morris inspired blanket (first picture, used as tablecloth).

On Sunday, ably aided by the lovely Trish (standing, right hand side), I taught seven keen students the rudiments of machine knitting:



The Radcliffe centre is a lovely conference facility on the Warwick university campus. Sunday lunch was lovely, the coffee was fab and there was an ample supply of biscuits, cakes and cookies on both days. It was an honour to be invited, and I hope to see more machine knitting and machine knitters next year.

Current mood: tired - the house currently looks like a knitwear explosion. To be tidied up tonight! :)

Some finished objects

It's too long to fit in the viewfinder, haha! Leftover yarn became the fringe. A belated photo of a lovely soft crochet scarf.





More CSM socks. According to Ravelry these were started in April, but they've been hanging off the CSM for quite a while. Taken off before transporting the machine to Portsmouth for the Guild AGM (1.5 pairs made that day, they need making up and in one case rehanging and re-toeing!)

The AGM went off ok but there wasn't a great atmosphere - two secret ballots later, and two of the three newly-elected directors immediately resigned. What was that all about? Shockingly immature behaviour IMHO but there you go. We had a nice jaunt to Hayling Island (not much there) and Bognor Regis on the Sunday - and the sun came out! Got beaten at crazy golf (of course) and had fish and chips on the seafront. Yay!

Event report: Guild of Machine Knitter's AGM 2016

Well, it was the annual AGM again and this year it was near Lincoln, so I'd agreed to pick up P at her place en route. When I called, L had also arranged to meet there and as I had worked out the total fuel costs were £15 for the return trip (it pays to think of these things) we decided I'd do the driving - fine by me - I spend 90 minutes on the M6 every day anyway.

We got there without incident, but had to wait in the entrance for a few minutes whilst one of the displays was sorted out - health and safety first! As soon as we were in, I located the first aid box and found (what I thought) were the keys for it. Neither fitted and I somehow managed to drop one into the waste bin in my haste. A quick walk around and it turns out the Guild always brings their own kit. A locked first aid cabinet! Whatever next? What's more important - the price of a bandage or someone's life? Sheesh! Anyway, that being settled I was free to wander about and look at all the displays and the challenge entries. I immediately dicovered that my fancy-pants DSLR camera was (a) dead as a doornail battery-wise - I have 3 batteries, you'd think I'd remember to charge one of them and (b) empty of SD card anyway. D'oh! Luckily, I still carry my little compact Nikon everywhere with me. There were two displays by Bradford College and Derby University. The picture above is from the latter, alas I did not think to get a name, so if you recognise your work please email me and I'll edit this post and credit you*. Bradford gave a short talk on their course, which is a flexible study textiles course (an HNC I think) and I was very interested because it sounds like something I might like to do. They cover all textiles not just knitting so had some lovely weaving on display also. Rob of Smartco was there and has designed replacement handles - £25 but very sturdy - and I meant to go back and buy one but it slipped my colander mind until much later. There were some lovely challenge entries - my favourite was a jumper made from lots of leftover sock yarns plus black. I didn't see the overall winner until later - a beautifully dressed bear with the theme of the poem "When I am old I shall wear purple". I thought the bear was a bought one, a Steiff or somesuch, but no, she made the bear also! The knitter is local to me, too. So well done!

After the formalities of the AGM, where I was "sworn in" to join the committee, the awards were presented. Alas, a lot of the winners were not present which is a pity.

After lunch, our main speaker, Lorna Hamilton-Brown MBE gave us a fascinating talk on her work. She makes amazing sketches, and also knits pictures which look like photographs. She was very funny and engaging and I don't think anyone wasn't transfixed by her work. She's also done an interesting short film about machine knitting which I will link to from this blog when it becomes available - it ought to be required viewing for any muggle who thinks machine knitting is in anyway cheating or easier than other crafts. We had our little fashion show - I was wearing my striped coatighan, because what with the carpal tunnel, all the recent dressmaking, and the humidity, I've not really been anywhere near my knitting machines in weeks. As luck would have it, it was chilly enough that I'm glad I brought it. You've got to love the British "Summer"!

All too soon we were packing away - as my first immediate responsibility as a committee member, I was asked to cut the Guild sign down outside. I dropped it straight into a waiting ant's nest. Oh dear - sorry ants! All in all a lovely day, I only wish it had been twice as long. Someone (Lorna?) reminded us that in 2018 it's the Guild's 20th anniversary, and discussions are already afoot about it (although it's early days yet). Watch this space!

More photos here

Current mood: sick - yes, I came down with the tickly cough/throat bug that has been going around at work this evening. So just don't ask me to sing. :)

Edit to add:

* It's the work of Katie Louise Mills

Yeah, yeah...

See, this is what happens when your stash hits certain (ahem) levels and you decide to try not to acquire any more because you're planning on redecorating your craft room and thus going "cold sheep". You go to the annual Hobbycraft show at the NEC (to help out on the Guild of Machine Knitting stand) and buy... a coat, instead... they also had a lovely blue one, but at the price I could only afford one. Well, my current winter coat, though perfectly sound, is now a bit on the big side - my "mid season" coat, a lovely black corduroy with silver lining, has a propensity to lose its buttons so much that it spends more time waiting to be mended than it ever does being worn, and I recently donated my rain coat to charity. So this coat replaces three - yep, it's amazing how one can justify almost anything! I did also buy a small handbag from a charity craft stand and a crochet hook case. Not one scrap of yarn, though! To be honest, there were only 4 yarn stands anyway (plus a few other stands where they had a small amount of yarn). Part of the thing hardening my cold sheep resolve is that I'm only just knitting up some yarn I picked up this time last year... :)

We had lots of lovely machine knit samples and garments on display on the stand, and lots of interested comments.







Himself got back from a week's snowboarding, sporting a lovely bruise on his thigh where he fell off the draglift. That, and he somehow managed to headbutt a pint of beer whilst laughing, so has a black eye and a small cut. Yup, definitely the start of a drinking problem... :)

Current mood: amused

Guild AGM, West Kingsdown

Had a fun day at the annual Guild AGM, apart from a minor detour (the satnav took us to a cul-de-sac about a mile early) and a major downpour on the way home - only lasted for the M25 bit though. Very achey since, a 4 hour spell in the car is clearly bad for my poor back.

Some pictures here of the competition entries - I especially liked the jumper with the scottie dogs. Bought some very nice buttons but resisted the yarn.

Guild AGM - photos

Just a selection of photos from the Guild AGM.


Patriotic bunting on Beryl Jarvis's stand - this is double-bed jacquard.


I loved the texture on this one, although it didn't win anything.


More entries.


More photos here