CLUB NEWS
BAIRNSDALE CLUB Update 7/12/2023
Bairnsdale Machine Knitters have been quite productive of late, some very beautiful garments have been made as well as blankets and Christmas Decorations. We will have our Christmas Break Up at the Grand Terminus in Bairnsdale and start again next February. Merry Christmas and best wishes to everyone on Committee and thank you for the wonderful work you do.
Bairnsdale Machine Knitters have been quite productive of late, some very beautiful garments have been made as well as blankets and Christmas Decorations. We will have our Christmas Break Up at the Grand Terminus in Bairnsdale and start again next February. Merry Christmas and best wishes to everyone on Committee and thank you for the wonderful work you do.
BALLARAT MACHINE KNITTERS UPDATE 11/06/2024
We have added another new member to our Club, welcome Helene and at our last meeting some of us travelled to Raglan to look at Norma's craft room. We are enjoying visiting member's places and seeing the results of our various craft pursuits. Amelia has made great progress with her Passap machine and Janette, who will be at the Sheep and Wool Show, assisting on a stall, is building up her stock of socks (hard to say). Norma also has been learning to make tube socks on a 3D printed machine from Amelia. Rosemarie, a newbie machine knitter has completed her baby cardigan, the Sheila Briggs/Judy Bawden pattern. Well done.
We have added another new member to our Club, welcome Helene and at our last meeting some of us travelled to Raglan to look at Norma's craft room. We are enjoying visiting member's places and seeing the results of our various craft pursuits. Amelia has made great progress with her Passap machine and Janette, who will be at the Sheep and Wool Show, assisting on a stall, is building up her stock of socks (hard to say). Norma also has been learning to make tube socks on a 3D printed machine from Amelia. Rosemarie, a newbie machine knitter has completed her baby cardigan, the Sheila Briggs/Judy Bawden pattern. Well done.
BENDIGO/ELMORE CLUB UPDATE 11/06/2024
In April members of Bendigo Elmore Machine Knitters hosted the AGM at the Golden Hills Motel in Bendigo. As well as committee members there were visitors from other clubs including Kyabram and North East Victoria. After all official business was taken care of everyone enjoyed a light lunch and the opportunity to have a chat. Jan King then did a very quick demonstration of short row Icord bindoff before everyone headed home, some possibly via the Bendigo Woollen Mill.
In April members of Bendigo Elmore Machine Knitters hosted the AGM at the Golden Hills Motel in Bendigo. As well as committee members there were visitors from other clubs including Kyabram and North East Victoria. After all official business was taken care of everyone enjoyed a light lunch and the opportunity to have a chat. Jan King then did a very quick demonstration of short row Icord bindoff before everyone headed home, some possibly via the Bendigo Woollen Mill.
BRUNSWICK/RESERVOIR NOVICES, MINIMALISTS & ZOOM CLUB UPDATE: 9/4/2023
You would be forgiven for suspecting that this group had faded out of existence. Regular Zoom sessions were suspended for the Christmas /New Year season and have not yet been resumed.Good intentions for the future:
Resume Zoom sessions, Create some content, Blog, YouTube or whatever medium is accessible, showing simple techniques on simple machines, and the care and maintenance of those machines.
Tie Zoom discussions to knitting and related content, whether created within our group or accessed elsewhere. Continue to provide opportunities for in-person collaboration and skill sharing. Thank you to Denise Chevalier for ongoing excellent assistance to new and returning knitters.
Explore, create and knit clothing designs that support particular life activities or needs.
And of course we will continue to consider obscure and unusual machines, processes and projects whenever they come to our attention.
You would be forgiven for suspecting that this group had faded out of existence. Regular Zoom sessions were suspended for the Christmas /New Year season and have not yet been resumed.Good intentions for the future:
Resume Zoom sessions, Create some content, Blog, YouTube or whatever medium is accessible, showing simple techniques on simple machines, and the care and maintenance of those machines.
Tie Zoom discussions to knitting and related content, whether created within our group or accessed elsewhere. Continue to provide opportunities for in-person collaboration and skill sharing. Thank you to Denise Chevalier for ongoing excellent assistance to new and returning knitters.
Explore, create and knit clothing designs that support particular life activities or needs.
And of course we will continue to consider obscure and unusual machines, processes and projects whenever they come to our attention.
CAMBERWELL CLUB UPDATE 2/03/2024
Our first day for 2024 began on 29th January. We usually meet on the 4th Monday of the month commencing in February but as January had 5 Mondays we commenced a month early. Our topic was “casting on and casting off” with all its variations. Our Show N Tell was excellent, as always. The Program for the year was distributed with a special workshop day for the G Carriage and another TBA. Each of these workshop days will be held on a 5th Monday. We will complete the year in November as our Christmas Breakup.
Our first day for 2024 began on 29th January. We usually meet on the 4th Monday of the month commencing in February but as January had 5 Mondays we commenced a month early. Our topic was “casting on and casting off” with all its variations. Our Show N Tell was excellent, as always. The Program for the year was distributed with a special workshop day for the G Carriage and another TBA. Each of these workshop days will be held on a 5th Monday. We will complete the year in November as our Christmas Breakup.
GEELONG CLUB UPDATE 4/8/2023
For our July meeting we decided to try some new techniques, rather than the tried and true for a change. Here is the result. Margaret tried her hand at some entralac, Mandy tried some beading, Pat did some Fairisle she had never attempted before, Norma did a scarf in English rib in a beautiful bamboo yarn, and Roma did some lovely work utilising the magic cable and a new pattern stitch was utilized in the beanies. Roma tried her hand again at the crochet buttons. It was a good meeting even though we were down some members due to school holiday absenteeism. The Geelong girls would like to thank all the clubs who post all their beautiful work in the newsletters. It is an inspiration
For our July meeting we decided to try some new techniques, rather than the tried and true for a change. Here is the result. Margaret tried her hand at some entralac, Mandy tried some beading, Pat did some Fairisle she had never attempted before, Norma did a scarf in English rib in a beautiful bamboo yarn, and Roma did some lovely work utilising the magic cable and a new pattern stitch was utilized in the beanies. Roma tried her hand again at the crochet buttons. It was a good meeting even though we were down some members due to school holiday absenteeism. The Geelong girls would like to thank all the clubs who post all their beautiful work in the newsletters. It is an inspiration
KOO WEE RUP CLUB UPDATE 11/06/2024
At our April meeting Anna demonstrated the Cricut machine and it was appreciated as Anna comes all the way from Bright.
At our May meeting Sheila demonstrated 7 different ways to shape and join raglans, some of these joins have other uses such us joining blankets together. Also since I demonstrated, Jackie has used one of the joins to join ponchos. I hope you will see the results in the next newsletter.
Sheila
At our April meeting Anna demonstrated the Cricut machine and it was appreciated as Anna comes all the way from Bright.
At our May meeting Sheila demonstrated 7 different ways to shape and join raglans, some of these joins have other uses such us joining blankets together. Also since I demonstrated, Jackie has used one of the joins to join ponchos. I hope you will see the results in the next newsletter.
Sheila
KYABRAM CLUB UPDATE 11/06/2024
Kyabram Club had a luncheon to celebrate 50 years of machine knitting. The club began 50 years ago in Kyabram by Betty Evans. Betty owned a sewing & knitting shop. The group began when everyone that bought machines needed help in getting started in knitting. So once a month Betty would have a workshop at the store so that she could teach everyone how to use their machines. From there the group continued to meet once a month. Lois Henderson remembers going to Betty’s shop and learning how to knit sideways & shadow pleated skirts. After Betty closed the shop to retire, the meetings were changed to afternoon get togethers at her home in Rushworth. The group grew. And other areas had their own groups. Every now and again we would get together for a day out and meet with The Numurkah, Shepparton & Elmore groups. After a while, we went to individual homes as Betty was going blind. But it did not stop her from knitting. With the help from her husband Richard (Dick) she was still knitting & selling garments right up until she passed away approximately 18 years ago. Dick was the maintenance man for our club. He would repair whatever damage we did to our machines. (Knitting & Sewing) He passed away a few years after Betty. I joined the group when I was approx. 20 years old but did not always go to all meetings due to work commitments & having children. But through this group and The MKAV workshops & seminars, I have learnt so much and would not be able to knit what I do today if it wasn’t for them. Our club has kept going and even through COVID, we found ways of getting together. Although we only have a small group of members, we all enjoy getting together once a month, helping each other with knitting problems and learning new techniques. Show & tell is always fun and seeing what everyone is making.
Kyabram Club had a luncheon to celebrate 50 years of machine knitting. The club began 50 years ago in Kyabram by Betty Evans. Betty owned a sewing & knitting shop. The group began when everyone that bought machines needed help in getting started in knitting. So once a month Betty would have a workshop at the store so that she could teach everyone how to use their machines. From there the group continued to meet once a month. Lois Henderson remembers going to Betty’s shop and learning how to knit sideways & shadow pleated skirts. After Betty closed the shop to retire, the meetings were changed to afternoon get togethers at her home in Rushworth. The group grew. And other areas had their own groups. Every now and again we would get together for a day out and meet with The Numurkah, Shepparton & Elmore groups. After a while, we went to individual homes as Betty was going blind. But it did not stop her from knitting. With the help from her husband Richard (Dick) she was still knitting & selling garments right up until she passed away approximately 18 years ago. Dick was the maintenance man for our club. He would repair whatever damage we did to our machines. (Knitting & Sewing) He passed away a few years after Betty. I joined the group when I was approx. 20 years old but did not always go to all meetings due to work commitments & having children. But through this group and The MKAV workshops & seminars, I have learnt so much and would not be able to knit what I do today if it wasn’t for them. Our club has kept going and even through COVID, we found ways of getting together. Although we only have a small group of members, we all enjoy getting together once a month, helping each other with knitting problems and learning new techniques. Show & tell is always fun and seeing what everyone is making.
MALVERN EAST CLUB UPDATE 11/06/2024
Warm welcome is extended to other machine knitters to attend our club, at my home. We meet each month at 10a.m. with lots of chatter, show & tell of past month's machine knitting, and lunch. A discussion and/or demonstration of the topic of the month, sometimes both, follows lunch. It is an excellent social get-together, even though we are a small club in numbers.
Attendance at our May workshop was up on March one, which is encouraging. We welcome back Elizabeth Kauer: hope you are able to finish your garment at home soon, loved the edging you plan to use. Top-down garments was our topic. Several members were able to achieve the idea, such as having the sleeves joined as they are knitted. Someone joined the sleeve inside out and she typed the notes!
Another re-knit next month. Other machine knitters claimed they knitted top-down garments, e.g., scarf or beanie, I give them a tick for clever thinking. Alison and Liz had more completed of their garments, well done. Many thanks again to kitchen staff; although we made these duties simple, there are some things to be done still. Big Thank You. See you at our June meeting and July workshop.
Elaine
Warm welcome is extended to other machine knitters to attend our club, at my home. We meet each month at 10a.m. with lots of chatter, show & tell of past month's machine knitting, and lunch. A discussion and/or demonstration of the topic of the month, sometimes both, follows lunch. It is an excellent social get-together, even though we are a small club in numbers.
Attendance at our May workshop was up on March one, which is encouraging. We welcome back Elizabeth Kauer: hope you are able to finish your garment at home soon, loved the edging you plan to use. Top-down garments was our topic. Several members were able to achieve the idea, such as having the sleeves joined as they are knitted. Someone joined the sleeve inside out and she typed the notes!
Another re-knit next month. Other machine knitters claimed they knitted top-down garments, e.g., scarf or beanie, I give them a tick for clever thinking. Alison and Liz had more completed of their garments, well done. Many thanks again to kitchen staff; although we made these duties simple, there are some things to be done still. Big Thank You. See you at our June meeting and July workshop.
Elaine
MOONEE PONDS NEWS UPDATE 11/06/2024
We canceled our May meeting at the Pascoe Vale Uniting Church Hall as quite a few of our club members were heading to the MKAV Live-In Weekend at Ballarat. The Ballarat venue had a pleasant ambience that made us feel welcome and ready for a weekend of good knitting, good food and good company. The participating Moonee Ponds ladies got together to pose for a photo, by a pond, before continuing with their knitting. I’m looking forward to next month’s show and tell. Angela |
NORTH EAST CLUB NEWS UPDATE 11/06/2024
Our recent workshops have been well attended and all members are making great progress in learning new skills on their machines. For our Double-Day Workshop in April we had 11 attendees which was fantastic. One new guest who travelled from Benalla for assistance with setting up her machine and learning the basics. This is so important for beginners to be able to see how to cast on (in all the various ways!) and also casting off, as this can be a real stumbling block to getting past this hurdle and progressing further into knitting a garment. For the May Workshop we had seven attendees. It was lovely to welcome another new attendee join us for our May workshop – Ruth’s granddaughter Zoe – she was interested and keen to learn machine knitting. We hope that we have “inspired” her to learn more and enjoy the art of machine knitting. Charmane, Ruth, Nicole and Lesley ventured to Ballarat to join other MKAV members for the Live-In Weekend Retreat in Ballarat. The weather was spectacular, quite unlike Ballarat, especially for this time of year with sunny days & crisp evenings. The Mercure was a brilliant venue, so much room to spread out and knit. Meals were fantastic and accommodations very comfortable. All in all – a magnificent weekend of machine knitting. It was terrific to catch up with friends and meet the new members of Ballarat Group, well done to Norma for getting this group up & running! Big thanks to Barbara & Sherrill for organising the Retreat.
Charmane
Our recent workshops have been well attended and all members are making great progress in learning new skills on their machines. For our Double-Day Workshop in April we had 11 attendees which was fantastic. One new guest who travelled from Benalla for assistance with setting up her machine and learning the basics. This is so important for beginners to be able to see how to cast on (in all the various ways!) and also casting off, as this can be a real stumbling block to getting past this hurdle and progressing further into knitting a garment. For the May Workshop we had seven attendees. It was lovely to welcome another new attendee join us for our May workshop – Ruth’s granddaughter Zoe – she was interested and keen to learn machine knitting. We hope that we have “inspired” her to learn more and enjoy the art of machine knitting. Charmane, Ruth, Nicole and Lesley ventured to Ballarat to join other MKAV members for the Live-In Weekend Retreat in Ballarat. The weather was spectacular, quite unlike Ballarat, especially for this time of year with sunny days & crisp evenings. The Mercure was a brilliant venue, so much room to spread out and knit. Meals were fantastic and accommodations very comfortable. All in all – a magnificent weekend of machine knitting. It was terrific to catch up with friends and meet the new members of Ballarat Group, well done to Norma for getting this group up & running! Big thanks to Barbara & Sherrill for organising the Retreat.
Charmane
PASSAP CLUB UPDATE 11/06/2024
Chatter, knitting, catch ups, problem solving, demonstrations – each month brings so much to see, learn, and try. Thanks to Fone and Clasina for their preparation and demos. It always leaves us with much to try and perfect. Fone presented a beautiful jumper she had knitted and then proceeded to demonstrate the Stitch Pattern 1016 using Tech 138. This jumper has a cable look but it is not cables and looks like it has been racked. But no! All in the needle set up and pattern. A variety of looks depending on yarn, mistakes, garments. For those who do not have E6000’s they could punch a deco card or do some racking patterns illustrated in one of the Duo books. This month, Clasina reminded us about the Commercial Neckband or sometimes called a Sandwich which produces a very professional finish. Various bands can be done first before the sandwich occurs. For the new knitters something to try and for others a reminder of how to do it.
Again, Show and Tell produced many items done on various machines and using up the stash. Another great range including knits for Peter Mac.
Kerryn
Chatter, knitting, catch ups, problem solving, demonstrations – each month brings so much to see, learn, and try. Thanks to Fone and Clasina for their preparation and demos. It always leaves us with much to try and perfect. Fone presented a beautiful jumper she had knitted and then proceeded to demonstrate the Stitch Pattern 1016 using Tech 138. This jumper has a cable look but it is not cables and looks like it has been racked. But no! All in the needle set up and pattern. A variety of looks depending on yarn, mistakes, garments. For those who do not have E6000’s they could punch a deco card or do some racking patterns illustrated in one of the Duo books. This month, Clasina reminded us about the Commercial Neckband or sometimes called a Sandwich which produces a very professional finish. Various bands can be done first before the sandwich occurs. For the new knitters something to try and for others a reminder of how to do it.
Again, Show and Tell produced many items done on various machines and using up the stash. Another great range including knits for Peter Mac.
Kerryn
TEMPLESTOWE CLUB UPDATE 2/03/2024
Templestowe club organised a lunch to celebrate Vida's birthday. This was held at the Templestowe Hotel. Vida, the oldest member of the MKAV, turned 104 on the 22nd of October
Templestowe club organised a lunch to celebrate Vida's birthday. This was held at the Templestowe Hotel. Vida, the oldest member of the MKAV, turned 104 on the 22nd of October
THURSDAY EVENING ZOOM GROUP
This group began to fill part of the gap left when Covid disrupted regular Club meetings. The plan is to keep it going as an online group, open to any member, but catering particularly to members with jobs to go to, and to anyone who would be grateful to attend an MKAV meeting without having to leave the house.
The group provides a chance to show your knitting triumphs and tragedies, and tap into the collective wisdom of the assembled knitters. Lately we have been enjoying seeing Carole’s contemporary textile art pieces, made on her Passap E6000.
The group Zooms at 6pm on Thursdays. Send an email to [email protected] if you would like to be added to the invitation list.
This group began to fill part of the gap left when Covid disrupted regular Club meetings. The plan is to keep it going as an online group, open to any member, but catering particularly to members with jobs to go to, and to anyone who would be grateful to attend an MKAV meeting without having to leave the house.
The group provides a chance to show your knitting triumphs and tragedies, and tap into the collective wisdom of the assembled knitters. Lately we have been enjoying seeing Carole’s contemporary textile art pieces, made on her Passap E6000.
The group Zooms at 6pm on Thursdays. Send an email to [email protected] if you would like to be added to the invitation list.