Out with the old and in with the new! At Kaipara

Check out the photo album on my Facebook page for all the pics  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150347239809016.350235.743569015&type=1&l=2e864acf14

Term 4 starts tomorrow

Knitting at Orewa - Estuary Arts Centre - starts Wednesday 19th October.  I am starting evening classes again as the weather is warming up so I hope we'll get more people along.  This term both classes will focus on Christmas.  I will bring a range of patterns and ideas - feel free to share.  See you there - bring friends!

Have a look at the latest article on Suite 101 - guess who wrote it!

And yes, the message is there - can you guess what I am planning for 2012?
http://jennifer-kipfer.suite101.com/knitting-a-new-yarn-a392104

Our fame spreads!

Check out Wendy Craig's article in this online magazine, Suite101 to read about knitters stretching the boundaries - she's also included us!
http://wendy-craig.suite101.com/knitting-as-outdoor-art-knit-art-moves-up-and-out-a389915

Great times at Kaipatiki HUB

Lots of fun every Monday morning at Northcote Hall, corner Rodney Road & Queen St.  All welcome.

I'm back! Here's my new artwork

Hi all - sorry for the absence.  Been busy, but not  posting.  Anyway, here is my latest artwork that I've produced for the 'Made in New Zealand' exhibition opening Thursday 22 September.  I used recycled lighting materials, fibres sourced both locally and commercially and utilised techniques of various knitting and crochet styles.  I call it "Koru Bling" as it combines the organic aspects of the traditional koru while incorporating glimpses of the shiny bling within it.

Kaipatiki Knitters - Monday mornings

Look at this wonderful environment!  We are knitting pinkly in preparation for Highbury's 'pink' day on 14th October.  We meet here every Monday morning from 10am til 12.30pm - all welcome.  :)

Lovely warm times - regardless of the weather

What a lovely bunch we are!  Even though the temperatures have been downright nasty, our Wednesday group is such a great lot of supportive, cheerful people!  Today's session was really great - lots of sharing and laughter. We have agreed to use whatever we need to for our foundations for the Kaipara pieces - drainpipes, etc are proving difficult to source - apparently there is a lot of excellent recycling of pvc pipe offcuts in the building trade - great stuff.
Anyway, we seem to have at least 2 themes happening - we will be making a bit of an enchanted garden, and also something to reflect our local areas.
There is also the opportunity for artists to make items for the Estuary Art Centre's next exhibition, NZ made - see their website for more information:  http://www.estuaryarts.org/
Keep up the good work.  :)

New venue for Wednesday evening classes

Our Wednesday night classes will now be held at flat 1 (the front one), 60 Riverside Road, Orewa.  Please park in the student carparking area 2 doors down on the same side, or in the onstreet parking opposite.
See you there.

Term 3 has started

Hi all, and welcome to this term - a very warm welcome to Heather, who is 'new'.  It was wonderful to see Natasha and her beautiful new baby boy for a visit and a cuddle too.

There are some wonderful ideas for our pipes and tubes installation at Kaipara in October, with some people already starting work.  The idea is to use plastic plumbing pipes as a base for covers which incorporate knitting in some way, but that represent us and/or our places in our communities.  Each person may prefer to do one pipe, or to work with a group. The pipes come in a range of sizes and we are sourcing these now.  More about this as we progress.  It would be great to include examples from other communities around NZ - let me know if you are interested at kipfers@xtra.co.nz

The Monday morning group at the old Northcote Point War Memorial Hall in North Shore is building momentum.  10.30am to 12.30pm each Monday.  Everyone welcome.

And we're up and running again!

Hi all
Abject apologies to those who turned up last week - I thought I'd managed to communicate to everyone.  We are DEFINITELY starting classes this week.  I have already started down at the old war memorial hall in Northcote Point on the North Shore - Mondays 10.30am, if you want to join us.  Lots of fun and laughs.  Just starting, and we are looking to spin some new groups off from this one.

Orewa groups are raring to go.  We will be discussing the new installation for the Kaipara Sculpture Gardens, and the rest of term 3 - I will add the course outline here.  Lots of fun coming here soon!

Oh, and if you want to learn to crochet, or to take your crocheting to the next level, just let me know - there's a small group starting to meet semi-regularly on a Friday morning at the Estuary Arts Centre in Orewa.

Watch this space for news of some kids sessions through primary schools soon.  :)

TERM 3 STARTS WEDNESDAY 3RD AUGUST

I know there's been some confusion (and it's of my making!) but we will definitely be starting classes again on Wednesday 03rd August and not before.  The classes will continue to be tied in with secondary school term times for the rest of the year.
See you all soon.  :)

This just in . . .

The visitor numbers to the Estuary Arts Centre for our exhibition were the highest since September 2009.  There were 2,323 people through the doors.  Well done us!!

End of term trip to Kaipara Sculpture Gardens

On Wednesday 06th July we took a trip to the Kaipara Sculpture gardens to see how our work was faring and to show some of the group who had not been involved in the original installation.  I also wanted to have a look at the proposed area for our installation for the 2011/12 period - to go in at the end of October.
We managed to get 7 people there and, although the weather was brisk and a bit windy, the rain held off and the sun even came out for a while for us.  It was a great outing and we booked in advance so we could get the option of having lunch provided.  Lovely - farmstyle sandwiches, homemade lemony muffins and fresh fruit, with a nice hot cuppa as well.

Next step is planning the new installation - the local press 'The Rodney Times' has already run an article about it, so I expect to be inundated with requests for inclusion.  Watch this space!

Packing out

Well, we did it!  Knitcetera at the Estuary Arts Centre has been a huge hit, with many visitors returning and bringing friends.  We will have a rundown of statistics next month.  Over the coming 2 days we will be packing out - anyone who has items in the exhibition will need to uplift them anytime Saturday afternoon until 4pm or from 9am til 1pm on Sunday.  I'll be there.  :)

Workshops

A couple of fantastic workshops - crochet with Jennifer and Sharleen - I taught a very beginning beginner, and Sharleen took more experienced crocheters out of their comfort zone!  Very successful, with another session next Friday.  Newcomers are also welcome.

Tunisian knitting was a hit.  We learned:  Casting on, basic tunisian, joining in another colour, flattened 'stocking-stitch' style stitch, and casting off. Well done to all - some tricky manoeuvres there, but we made it.  A special mention for Ann who came all the way from Ponsonby!  Maybe I'll run some workshops on your side of the bridge soon.

Cable class

Today's classes on knitting cables went very well, although the original sample sheet I provided had a typo, telling people to cast on the wrong number of stitches - not a good start, and a timely reminder to always to check it out by knitting a sample myself.  Thanks Sian for remembering my lesson from last year and reminding me that I had downloaded a simple pattern for an Irish Hiking Scarf (although I think you're allowed to wear it while doing other things too!)
Well done all - the cream Aran wools look lovely knitted like this and hopefully everyone will continue to knit so they finish their scarves.
We don't expect to see Natasha now until after her baby is born (next Thursday).  Best wishes and keep in touch.  :)
We are planning a trip to the Kaipara Sculpture Garden on Wednesday 06th July for our end of term day session.  More about this soon.

Knitcetera is a hit!!

I keep bumping into people who are thrilled at the exhibition and what is has to offer.  Almost every person has said "It's nothing like I expected - it's wonderful"!!  Low expectations.?  Stereotypes around knitting and the 'old ladies' who do it?  Whatever they initially thought, people are thrilled - as am I - at the variety, the creativity, the wonderful examples of fun, frivolity, expertise and design on show.
It's not too late - the exhibition doesn't end until 3rd July - and then parts of it will head south to North Shore, where there will be more Knitcetera moments, and another group starting to think outside the traditional scarf, sweater & babyclothes 'square'.

Today (Sunday) my lovely daughter-in-law, Shelley, with her friend and neighbour Sandra ( a pseudo-Grandmother to Hayley) brought my grand-daughter Hayley to see the exhibition.  Hayley will be 2 at the end of August.  She was entranced with the spiders, the 'dollys', the birds, etc, etc.  Just gorgeous to see and hear her totally absorbed in everything.  She is certainly bright - a fish was "fsh - shark!", and when we left she sat in her carseat waving, saying "goodbye spiders, goodbye dollies, goodbye fishies, goodbye Rusty (the Director's dog), etc, etc" through everything she had seen.  So cute!
I am now making a list of all the things I want to knit for her birthday!

Knitting with beads

Our lesson today was using beads in knitting.  There are various techniques, but the most secure one consists of stringing the required number of beads on the yarn, using a needle or a needle & thread, then moving the beads into the stitches as they are required to knit the pattern.  Some of us found there was a rather large hole behind the bead and it could slip through.  We are experimenting with slipping the stitch before the bead, then knitting into the back of the one behind it, or with purling that stitch, etc.
I think the consensus is that it is good to know how, but it may be easier to just embroider them onto the finished garment.  Having said that, Natasha's effort has worked out the best so far - I MUST remember to take my camera next week.
Natasha may or may not be with us next week - she's ready to 'pop' anytime soon - her due date is in 2 weeks, but as it's her third, we all know that means it could be very soon.  We welcome back to Barbara Cotton after her sad time in Australia.
Sales of items in the exhibition are going well - anyone want to knit more little sock-wool birds - all 6 of Elaine's have sold!
Remember - Saturday is our Knitting in Public day - we are attending the Estuary Arts Centre from 9am to 4pm - anyone is welcome to join us.  If you can't, just take your knitting to wherever you are and knit there!  Worldwide Knitting In Public week started last Monday and finishes on Sunday!

Politics of yarnbombing!

Sir Ed's scarf has disappeared already.  Such a shame - but I long ago realised that liberating yarn bombing meant that it didn't belong to me any more.  Some people just need to connect with a piece in a much more personal way - hopefully it's gone to a good home!

Yarnbombing in Orewa

Today is International YarnBombing day 2011.  Look what happened at Hillary Square in Orewa!!

Knitcetera is ON!!

Well done all of us.  A great start to a wonderful exhibition.  See you all on YouTube soon!
Congratulations to our raffle winners:  http://www.estuaryarts.org/knitcetera---june2011.html
Ist prize - Jan Maguiness from out daytime knitting course (maker of the exquisite pansy and flower tea cosies).
2nd prize = Jean - Wednesday volunteer at Estuary Arts Centre

The exhibition

I am Sooo tired!  The exhibition is in place and, although it is not officially open until 6pm tomorrow evening, we have already had quite a large number of people through the doors.  Knitterati visited today and a great time was had by all.
I am SO proud of all of us!

Just about all done!

Well, what a full on day!  Thanks so much to Christine and Sharleen for their invaluable help today.  And of course to Sian - my right hand 'man' - the place is looking fantastic!  By the time the Knitterati group arrive just after lunch tomorrow it'll be all systems go!

D-Day!

Hi all - we are about to start gathering everything to set up Knitcetera at the Estuary - so exciting!  I have lists for cataloguing everything and people are making decisions over what to charge if they want to sell stuff.
We are collecting everything we need today and only starting to display the bigger items. I have been awake most of the night working out systems for cataloguing and of course displaying.  Sian and I will be working all day tomorrow to get everything done - we intend to have it basically finished by lunchtime Wednesday - we are having a visit Wed afternoon from the Knitterati group from Kumeu, so want to have everything in place by the time they come.  Thanks for all your offers of help - we will play it by ear, so talk to people when they arrive to drop their stuff off.
And, to everyone - both involved and interested, remember to come to the opening if you can - it's 6pm Thursday 09th June.  Free - have a wine and some nibbles, talk to the artists and other like minded craftspeople.  Our roving videographers might ask you a question or two - don't be shy!  (Well, if you'd rather not, that's ok).

Workshops for the exhibition

We have put together a programme of workshops.  These will cost $20, unless otherwise stated, and the cost will include materials.

Knitting a square

Covers casting on and off, plain and purl stitches and combinations to form different patterns, ideas for using squares to make: blankets, toys, garments.

Ideal for beginners through to experienced knitters.

Thursday 16^th June   10.30am to 12.30pm

Thursday 23^rd June  10.30am to 12.30pm

Thursday 30^th June  10.30am to 12.30pm

Knitting a picture

Choose a pattern or graph your own, then knit using 2 or 3 colours using both Fairisle and Intarsia techniques.

You will need to be able to knit and purl.

Sunday 10^th June   2pm to 4pm

Tuesday 21^st June  2pm to 4pm

Crochet for all levels

Jennifer Kipfer will teach new crochet enthusiasts the basics, including making a curlicue to add to the Seagardens Aotearoa installation, while at the same time Sharleen Greer will teach more experienced crocheters who want to take their craft to a higher level.

Friday 24^th June    10.30am to 12.30pm

Friday 01 July      10.30am to 12.30pm

 Tunisian knitting

Using a long needle with a crochet hooked end, learn basic techniques for making blankets, rugs, bags and more. 

Saturday 25^th June    10am to 12pm

High tea at the Estuary

Buy or bring your drink and join Sian Wray and Jennifer Kipfer to start to knit a cupcake, a sandwich and an asparagus roll.

Saturday 25^th June     2pm to 4pm

Freeform Knitting & crochet   $50   Full day

Join award winning freeform knitter and crocheter Jennie Eade to begin your bagmaking experience.

By the end of the day you will have started your bag and will be able to finish it in your own time at home.

You will need to bring:

 size 4 knitting needles,  scissors,

small balls or hanks of complementary coloured  and textured dk weight wools,

a crochet hook, a darning needle, a bag frame (wool & bag frame available from Spotlight). 

Some other materials will be available for purchase from Jennie.

Saturday 02^nd July  9am to 12pm, then the same day 1pm - 4pm


We'll also have people available almost all the time the exhibition is running for informal and spontaneous sessions on whatever people want to learn - including hyperbolic crochet and troubleshooting - bring your item for some advice and assistance.  Or just join us with some work to sit and chat in a convivial atmosphere!

Knitting Socks and sharing ideas

Today's lesson centred round the knitting of socks.  Christine is starting to knit using 2 needles - if the pattern works out, we'll all try.  The rest of those who wanted to have started to knit a sock on 4 double pointed needles - dpns.  Much fun, awkwardness and, finally some progress.
We looked over some very old pattern books and laughed at the range of items to knit - anyone for long johns? Knee warmers?  How about a balaclava for those chilly nights?
Barbara D is making wonderful progress with the big chair - she has really struggled with a poorly-written pattern, but now has adapted it to her own version and it is growing fast.  Mary G returned again and is finished with hats - for now!  She is knitting an exquisite red cardigan.  Jennie's producing a range of children's vests and Jan M has finished her pansy-covered tea cosy.  I thought I had taken a photo of that and of Natasha's petal tea cosy tonight, but they have not appeared on my camera!  However I have a couple of great pictures - Robyn's felted handbag is gorgeous, and the second photo is of Natasha - not long ago a very inexperienced knitter and crocheter - teaching Elona how to make a starfish for one of the exhibition exhibits!  Exciting.
Dale is continuing with her little crocheted cotton 'pots' and has also made a beautiful pink, flower embellished headband.  Robyn has produced yet more quirky canvasses about knitting - we all love her take on things!
Next week's class will include a walk around of the newly installed exhibition, and a lesson in hyperbolic crochet as we will be adding pieces to Seagardens Aotearoa.

Getting exciting now!

Our exhibition is starting to create a buzz!  Estuary Art Centre's new Administration Co-ordinator, Debra, has invigorated the website and already we are starting to get new people for the classes, while I got a call from one of the Centre's volunteers today to book in for a guided look at Knitcetera towards the end of the month.  The Orewa Girl Guides are also coming through. I am compiling the calendar of workshops and we will be having some fun!  Jennie Eade will take a freeform bagmaking class, Sharleen Greer will be teaching crochet to people who want to take their work to a more advanced level, while I will do sessions on hyperbolic crochet - the Seagardens Aotearoa installation will form part of our exhibition.  Sian and I will be taking a "High tea at the Estuary" session, knitting cakes and sandwiches, and I'll also present Tunisian knitting and flowermaking workshops.  There may be more!

Knitting with cotton

Had some fun today experimenting with knitting using cotton.  It's a very unforgiving medium, but fun to try something new.  We have several different string bag patterns, mostly based around using dpns (double-pointed needles) or circular needles, but I managed to find at least 2 that are knitted using 2 needles, one one to crochet.
Lorraine is knitting an old-fashioned cotton dishcloth.  It looks great in basket stitch, which Natasha is also using - just to experiment at the moment while she also finishes her lovely 'petally' tea cosy.  Speaking of tea cosies, Jan M's 2 are gorgeous!  Sian and I have been scouring the op shops to get some decent-sized and shaped teapots to display them on - we're doing well, with 6 already, plus one that Berenice has kindly lent us.

No new photos tonight - I took my camera but forgot to use it today - too busy and too pre-occupied with new things.  Robyn's knitted panel "Orewa Beach to the Estuary" is gorgeous now it is finished, and Kaywin's felted butterflies will look wonderful in our garden display.  Her lined tunisian bags are also lovely.  So little time now - Barbara D and I nearly went mad trying to translate a very complicatedly written pattern for her aran chair - we're adapting it as we feel our design will look much better - and be a lot easier to knit.

Missing those who couldn't make it to today's sessions, but we trust you're all keeping up the good work!

Worldwide Knit in Public - KIP

Click here to find a KIP near you on the worldwide website.  We are there for Saturday 18th June this year.  :)

email me for patterns

Sorry - have had to remove patterns as they kept coming up in the link address.  Anyone interested in learning how to make any of the items featured here, drop me a line - by email or on this blog as a comment and I'll respond.  :)

Knitting in the round sessions

We had some fun with this - all agreed that the 4- double pointed needle (dpns) option is the best.  The circular needles are awkward, especially if you have one of the more inflexible types.  Number one tip: ALWAYS be extremely careful not to twist the work as you join it.  Once the initial join is made, then you can do what you like, it will just push back to the right way round.
Robyn brought a whole bag of incredible additions for the exhibition.  Today's other photo is of Trudi's work-in-progress - a miniature table & chair.  Gorgeous!

Girl Guides' session

Sian and I, accompanied and assisted by Sian's daughter Emma, attended the local Girl Guides last night and taught a session on knitting.  Most of the 21 girls had never knitted before, but they were great!  We covered casting on (start as you mean to go on, I always say!) and basic straight knitting.  We had some samples of a little mobile phone cover and I had typed out the wee pattern for that and a little purse.  They were really enthusiastic and by the end of an hour, all were knitting!
There were a few left-handers, so we were 'mirroring' what we did, and they all managed to form the loop, knit 14 cast on stitches on, then knit several rows.  I have sent them all off with a pair of knitting needles, a ball of wool and the pattern - although it is more for inspiration than for the actual instructions.
We are returning next week to help them finish off, sew up and - if time permits - to make a little flower for embellishing.  They are interested in coming along to the exhibition and the leader said she may organise an outing so they can come along.  If so, I can put on a workshop for them - such fun!

Mummy's poppies

In 1934, when my mother, Esther Hollander, was 15 years old, she painted her poppies picture.  For the exhibition I have constructed a knitted homage to her painting.  (Thanks to Sian for making the cornflowers for me).  I am so proud of it - hey Julie, send me a photo of Mummy's daffodils and maybe I'll try that next - later!

Busy, busy, busy

Excellent work this week - all working well and enjoying our contributions for the exhibition.  Well done all who came out in the ghastly weather!  We've started leaving some of our finished work in the storage shed at the Arts Centre.  Some great things happening.  Keep watching for more and more updates.  Well done to Elona for persevering with the swatches to make absolutely certain the gauge is right before starting your cardigan.  It's so easy to neglect this step in our impatience to start, only to have the end result be a big disappointment.
Welcome back Edith & Gillian, from your travels.  Christine is probably our most prolific artist!  Her large birds are amazing - see the photos.  Elaine has produced a basket of exquisite sock-wool birds, and Alison's cushions are providing inspiration for many.
We need to decide on process to list for the pieces we are happy to be sold - it would be good to do that quite soon.  Carry on the GREAT work!

Back with a hiss and a roar!!

What an amazing lot of talent!  We brought together quite a few of the items we have crafted towards the exhibition today.  WOW!!!  Check out the new photos here.  It's a great big countdown now, looking at the publicity as well...  More here soon.
Elaine's wee sock birds are exquisite and we now have a basketful.  Edith is back with a vengeance, bringing shells, sea creatures and veges!  I need to take a lot more photos - will do that later in the week.

Term 2 - countdown to the exhibition

Hi all - we had our first classes yesterday.  Everyone is still keen, and most productive.  We have decided to just have the afternoon and evening classes this term - combining the two daytime ones, as a few people have indicated that they are not always able to come, so there is room for all in one session.  We will start that next week - I will email, as well as ring those without email.
No new photos yet, but some great things happening.  Christine's pictures are just beautiful - she will have a lovely display in the exhibition.  Natasha's blue and white baby blanket is amazing - especially since she was an absolute crochet beginner just a few weeks ago.  Robyn continues to produce inspirational pieces - her Orewa landscape is one of my favourites to date.
While we are on the exhibition countdown, we are also continuing with specifically themed lessons, with knitting in the round on the agenda for next week.  I will post the full course outline for this term soon.
Next week we will be labelling all completed items to date and allocated a position for each.

Holidays

Well, a few people turned up at my house last week and I'm expecting more tomorrow.  We are busy, busy, busy.  We need more insects please, and perhaps some more leaves, using Sian's wool - she is keeping the pohutukawa tree the same colours.
I have been given another big box of yarn - have spent most of Easter weekend knitting, naturally.  One of the bundles was for a jersey this person (thanks Sue!) gave me - she had started knitting a mohair jersey for a small adult/large child.  Had knitted half the back.  I have finished it!  Felt it was the least I could do to say thanks for the rest of the wool.  I hope she has a niece, friend, etc she can give it to - I suspect she started it years ago when her daughters were kids - they are all grown up now.  (Sound familiar?)
Anyway, I've also worked on my 'poppies' piece - it's almost finished, and I have a few butterflies on the go - a bit fiddly, but next I want to make a huge one, using about 8 strands of dk - will post a photo when I do it.
Counting down now to the exhibition.  I've just started to feel a bit of urgency!
Keep up the good work!  :)  And check out what our knitting friends in the north got up to this ANZAC day!  Go to matayarnas.wordpress.com

Lesson 10 - final for term 1

Although this is the final class for term one, we are continuing in the school holidays - I will be welcoming any and all knitters/crocheters to my home at 1/60 Riverside Road in Orewa all day and evening both Wednesdays.  Please park in the 'Students carparking' area just past the roundabout coming from the beach - we are the second house past that - with the wooden fence.
Patrick is on standby to man the coffee machine!
Today's sessions were even more inspiring, if you can believe it!  Scroll down to see the new photos.
On 11th May - the 2nd class of term 2 - we will be bringing all the work we have completed so far to do a stocktake of all the little details we need to to finish, take some photos for the booklet, and generally start the countdown in earnest.  I am not the least bit stressed ... yet!

We talked today about a range of things - what we will do after the exhibition (!), and all sorts of great ideas for Knitcetera as an entity.  See more about this later.  I think we have enough to do at the moment - although I have a LOT of ideas up my sleeve.

The scarf most people are contributing to is growing by the week - Sian estimates we have around 30 metres to date - fantastic.  It is truly a piece of art, with many different stitches, colours, textures, embellishments - a real joy.  After the exhibition we will review what it can be made into for the future.  Some suggestions are: parts can be made into scarves for wearing.  We can sew them together to make blankets, we can display it elsewhere.  Who knows - we may come to a community centre or school near you.

We have enough leaves for the pohutukawa tree, thanks - I never thought I'd be saying that!  The main things we are concentrating on now are fishy things, and insects.  Oh, and that reminds me - have heard from Glenys - Seagardens Aotearoa is DEFINITELY going to be part of Knitcetera - so exciting!

Lesson 9 - looking at Easter... and continuing

I started a little chick in an egg as an Easter idea.  Christine is knitting a rabbit.  Apart from that, we didn't get very 'Eastery'!  Everyone's far too focussed on the exhibition.  Barbara D brought along her magnificent scarecrow!  She insists he's not finished yet, although it's hard to see how he can be improved.
Jennie's roses are looking stunning, as her arty scarves with matching hats.  Elona's flowers are a definite work of art, and Natasha's baby blanket is so cool.  Trudi's finished her pumpkin - it's gorgeous.  She's onto mushrooms now.  Sian showed us the amazing pohutukawa flowers she has designed - we need to keep making leaves for the tree - Sian will provide the wool.  She will do the flowers - no photo yet - I'll save that one!
Many are contributing to the fast-growing scarf, with all sorts of embellishments, colours and textures, and we are also now making insects, etc.  Keep the leaves coming - I think we'll probably have enough flowers soon.
We're still having fun!!  Not as many people came this week - just as long as you keep knitting, people!

The weather was very cold today - a south-westerly blowing straight off the estuary, brrrr.  And now, with daylight saving finished, it's very dark very early.  A great lot of people are coming to these classes though - all three groups are great fun, and very productive too.

Today I handed out a sheet for each person to give me a little 'blurb' about themselves and their experiences of knitting and crochet and their attitudes towards knitting as art.  This info, along with a photo of each, will go into a booklet for sale (to cover costs) during the exhibition.  I'll also email the form so those who weren't there today (if they have email) also have a copy.

Lesson 8 - continuing

Once again, I am amazed at the diligence and ability in these classes.  We are well on our way to having a wonderful exhibition.  Counting down now - I am putting together a list of workshops to advertise for the daytimes during the exhibition, and we are all purposefully working towards our 'to do' list.
Keep those flowers coming - remember now, if you are making i-cord stems to have wire inserted so they can stand up in the 'garden' you need to cast on 5 stitches, so the opening is wide enough.
We are STILL waiting delivery of the bugs and insects book from Amazon, as is the library!  In the meantime, keep up the leaves, flowers and other things.  Sian's praying mantis is looking amazing, and we have ladybird, butterfly, caterpillar and bee patterns if you want them.
A couple of new photos today - we did a little bit of yarnbombing outside the education room.  A lovely scene, with the Estuary, the Tai Chi class and the 'dressed' trees - (just a pity about the ugly prefabs next door).

More connections discovered tonight - we all know someone...  scarey.  Lovely fun and laughter - keep it up.

Counting down

Things are getting exciting as we look at the details for the exhibition.  We have a couple of new knitters who will be starting soon - the more the merrier!  Sharleen's group are enthusiastic and may even arrive en masse to one of our classes to share what they are doing.  I've been going around the Arts Centre and working out how to hang things and where it will all go.  We will have 3 days to play around and get it right, so hopefully that will be enough!
I have ordered a book (for a change!) '75 birds, butterflies and little beasts to knit and crochet' - it should arrive very soon.  When it does we will be working on those, in all sizes as we need small ones for the 'garden', medium sized versions for the sculpture garden area and very big ones for the wall near the big window where my monster spider web will go!

Barbara D brought parts of the scarecrow she is making for the sculpture garden - he's looking wonderful.  Gillian's monster handbag looks like it will be another highlight.
Our session this week will be a bit of light relief as we tie new pieces to the trees outside the Centre, as well as continuing with our ongoing pieces.  For those who want to do some more of the other things we have learned, I will bring my tunisian hooks and the patterns for you to try.  And of course more wool!

New input for the exhibition

Yesterday I met with Sharleen Greer from Warkworth.  Wow!  - in every sense of the word.  Sharleen has had crocheted and sewn articles accepted for local and national competitions, with her Barbie dress that was in the WOW - World of Wearable art awards being a special highlight.  She has been teaching freeform crochet, especially the Pru Mapstone-style bagmaking, and she co-ordinates local knitting, crochet and yarnbombing groups.  So exciting!  We 'clicked' immediately - kindred spirits!  She is going to be involved in 'Knitcetera' and is also going to carry the message to her group next week, so they can plan some items to include too.  The most exciting part of the discussion was that she will allow her range of knitted and crocheted wearable art to feature. Fantastic.

Lesson 6 - scarves

We learned this week that scarf knitting need not be boring!  We tried a range of techniques, focussing on chevrons and entrelac.  There are really no limits to the patterns, designs, lengths, twists and turns for scarf-making.  The chevron design was frustrating when in a group of laughing, chatting knitters!  But we have now worked out the easiest version of this very effective design:


CHEVRON:  Cast on a multiple of 13, plus 2 extra (so you will need either 15, 28, 41 or 54sts) The pattern is based on only 2 rows, ROW 1:  K2, Make 1 [M1] (by lifting the loop in front of the next stitch and knitting through the back of it), k4, sl 1, k2 tog, psso, k4, M1.  Repeat all this until you get to the last 2 sts, k2.  ROW 2:  Either knit or purl, depending on the effect you want - garter stitch - knit; stocking stitch - purl.  THAT'S IT!
Watch out for - the way you make your stitch.  If you knit into the front of the picked up loop it will form a little hole.  Although, so long as you always do the same thing, this makes a lovely pattern.  You can also M1 by knitting into the front then the back of the next st.
And we found - especially when distracted - it's easy to just sl 1, k1, psso (pass the slipped stitch over) rather than knitting the 2 together in the middle.  You'll only realise you've done this when you get to the end of the row and have stitches left over!

I'll put some info re entrelac here later - it's a lot more complicated, although has a rhythm, so once you learn that, you're away.

Some more photos today - some fantastic work happening.  And we had some great ideas too - watch this space!

Lesson 5: Flowers

Brilliant lessons this week.  We started by learning how to make i-cord.  This looks like the tail of French Knitting and is made on dpns (double pointed needles).  The usual size is 3, 4 or 5 stitches.  The main thing to remember is that the work is NEVER turned.  You knit the stitches, then slide them to the other end of the dpn, then pull the wool firmly across the back of the stitches, then knit again, as before.  Then of course, just to confuse everyone, we added a little leaf - knitted in the traditional way, by turning the work at each row!  Much laughter, but some lovely work ensued.

Next, we made little windmill-shaped flowers with separate petals, knitted one after the other, keeping them joined at a central stitch.  We discussed whether nature makes 6-petalled flowers, and it seems - according to several - that flowers are always odd-number petalled!  Anyway, we made a variety of flowers, with 5, 6 (yes!), or 7 petals.  All looked great.  The texture and size varied greatly, depending on the fibre and needles used.

Some people then managed to crochet a simple rolled rose-type flower.  See instructions and examples.  I have also included another simple knitted rose pattern.  And this week, I have again managed to post some photos!  Scroll right down to see some fantastic work so far.  We have some wonderful things appearing for the exhibition.  Keep it coming, I say.  :)

Planning the exhibition

Counting down to the exhibition at the Estuary Arts Centre in Orewa.  The opening is Thursday evening, 09th June and the exhibition closes Sunday 03 July.(Not quite a month, I realise!)  We are discussing each specific area of the centre with ideas for what people will produce to fit each space.  People have some wonderful ideas, and all are very busy on something or other!  As well as those enrolled in my knitting classes on Wednesdays, there are also others interested in participating - individuals and groups.  It's so exciting and I am keeping in touch with people and setting up times, etc for discussing what they will provide, when and where it will be displayed.
One of the interesting things will be how to display these items - it would be too expensive to frame or similarly treat most of the pieces, so we have to be creative in our display as well as in the overall design.
The spaces are each quite different, presenting some wonderful opportunities to do different things in each area, and in some places, a range of things.  I will take some photos regularly now to demonstrate what will go where - as I make the final decisions.  I am very happy with the overall fluidity of the process - it is very much a collaborative work now.  Keep it up all you wonderful people!  It's great how everything is coming together and the spaces that lend themselves to a specific treatment just seem to let us know - and I am planning accordingly.
For those who are unsure what to make now - remember to check in with me - but as a broad guideline, we need:  fish, birds and related seaside items for upstairs; bugs, butterflies, etc for the wall high up in the cafe; rectangular and/or square pieces for the small windows up the stairs; flowers, leaves and insects for the 'garden' Sian is organising downstairs; table embellishments and 'food' for Barbara D's afternoon tea setting.
All the weekly samples will be being used in a 'knitting circle' exhibit in the main foyer, and other items are able to be incorporated in some of the other areas.  All suggestions and ideas still being gratefully accepted and discussed as possibilities - keep them coming!
I want to reassure everyone - I am writing everything down and keeping a record of it all - as if you even doubted it!  :)

Blankets for Christchurch

Check out this link:  http://www.facebook.com/BlanketsForChristchurch  It's a group in South Auckland.  They are asking for 20cm x 20cm squares in knitting or crochet of any style to be made into blankets to send to Christchurch.  What do we think?

This week's email: 04 March 2011

Hi all

I hope you are practising the crocheted granny squares!  If you’ve checked out the blog you’ll see I visited the local Spinners & Weavers’ group meeting this week and was amazed to find they are also learning to crochet the same square as us!  The other thing you’ll see is that I managed to delete the photos on my camera before I downloaded them – duh!  Will sort that out with a LOT more next week.  I have refined the granny square pattern and will include it here.

Our next lesson, on Wednesday 09^th March, will be ‘flowers’ – of all kinds.  If anyone has patterns, books, examples of flowers either knitted or crocheted, please bring them along to share.  I will have some patterns for you and we will practise some simple ones on Wednesday.  I think we can safely say that Barbara Dobson, who attends our morning clases, is our resident flower expert, but others are learning well too – and Sian’s sunflowers are becoming a real feature.

Remember Olek – the crocheter who covered the New York bull on Wall Street in her pink ‘camouflage’?  Check out what she’s just done with flowers at this site http://www.boweryboogie.com/2011/02/olek-hoists-yarn-flower-atop-358-broome/ and click on this one to see the Ladies Fancywork Society’s work in Denver http://handsindelight.com/2010/07/14/crochet-graffiti-in-denver/

If you want to investigate some flower patterns before Wednesday, click here http://www.squidoo.com/flowerknittingpatterns and scroll down to click on ones you fancy.  This is also a brilliant site:  http://knittingpatterncentral.com/directory/flowers.php and here is one with a range of crocheted flower patterns:  http://www.allcrafts.net/crochet/crochetflowers.htm

See you next time,

Jennifer J

Serendipity

How's this for a laugh - talk about coincidence:  I popped in to the gathering of the Spinners & Weaver's group at the Whangaparaoa library today to update them about the exhibition and they showed me what they'd all been learning recently - crocheted granny squares!  The same pattern as ours - they are one step ahead though, learning how to put them together with one continuous seam.  Great stuff.
I spoke to them about the possibility of their running some workshops during Knitcetera.  They were interested in sharing some spinning, and yet another different form of knitting - broomstick knitting.  Wonderful!

The Tunisian knitting is also very popular - as evidenced by yesterday's lessons - so I will definitely do one or two on that.

Lesson 4 - crochet & Tunisian

What a fantastic lot you are!  We had some fun today - again.  Some people struggled, but the results have been brilliant!  Most of the people in all three classes chose to try the granny squares - despite the pattern being challenging!  I have rewritten the pattern and will post it here as well as including it with this week's email.

BASIC GRANNY SQUARE TO CROCHET

To start:    Ch4, join with a slip stitch to form a ring.

Round 1:   Ch3, 2dc in ring, ch2, (3dc in ring, ch2) 3times for corner. 

Join to top of starting chain with a sl st.

Cut yarn & tie off.

Round 2:   Join new colour at any ch2 space.

Ch3, in same space work 2dc, ch2, 3dc (this is your starting corner).

Ch1, (in next ch2 space work 3dc, ch2, 3dc, ch1) 3 times.

Join to top of starting ch with a sl st. 

Cut yarn, tie off.

Round 3:    Join new colour at any ch2 space. 

Work starting corner as before = Ch3, in same space work 2dc, ch2, 3dc .

Then *ch1, 3dc in next ch1 space, ch1. 

In next sp work 3dc, ch2, 3dc (corner). 

Repeat from * 2 times more. 

Ch1, 3dc in next ch1 space, ch1

Join to top of starting ch with a sl st. 

Cut yarn, tie off.

Round 4:   Join new colour at any ch2 sp,

Work starting corner as before = Ch3, in same space work 2dc, ch2, 3dc . 

Then *(ch1, 3dc in next ch1 sp) 2x. 

Ch1, work corner in next corner space = 3dc, 2ch, 3dc. 

Rep from * 2x more, (ch1, 3dc in next ch1 sp)2x, ch1.

Join to top of starting ch with a sl st. 

Cut yarn, fasten off.

  

For a larger square, continue to work around the piece in the established pattern, which is 3dc, 2ch, 3dc in each corner and 1ch, 3dc, in each space at the side of the square, with 1ch between the last 3dc group and the corner group.  Make one more 3dc group between corners in each round.

Some people tried the tunisian knitting - also known as tunisian crochet, afghan knitting or tricot.  It's so much fun - we must revisit it sometime.

Everyone is working away at the things for the exhibition with some great work happening - so exciting!!

Lesson 3 - Fairisle and Intarsia

Fantastic lessons today.  Everyone a great time, charting patterns for a sample of both fairisle and intarsia techniques, then knitting them.  Most are still a work in progress, but one or two finished small examples.  Fairisle is when the wool is carried across the back of the work as you knit a repeating pattern.  Intarsia is used for a separate picture or pattern in an expanse of plain colour.

Here is the email people on the course have received:  Hi knitters!

Quite a challenging lesson this week.  Remember to pre-plan.  Use graph paper (knitters graph is wider than it is long, but you can use maths graph.  Just remember that the finished article will be slightly different).  Scroll to the bottom of this page to see knitters graph paper.  With both techniques, there are some important points to remember:

·         Very simple patterns are often the most effective

·         Very contrasting colours look great

·         Always carry the strands of different colours over the top of the previously-used colour

·         Consider writing your pattern out as numbers, rather than working directly from a graph

·         Use stocking stitch

·         In fairisle, twist yarn around that you are using every 2 or 3 stitches

·         Keep your work very loose

·         If it starts to annoy you – have a break!

We realised that intarsia is for decoration, but fairisle, because it doubles (or more) the thickness of the knitted piece, is a way of making clothing warmer.

The next two lessons will concentrate on crochet, including Tunisian, with an emphasis on both squares and flowers.  We’ll have some fun and be able to finish items quickly, with elements being able to be combined to make larger works.

Some beautiful and fun work happening already – the bags some of you have made are gorgeous, and Edith has brought along a cute little container with a lid she made, using plarn from bread bags!  Excellent.  Gillian and Sally are going great guns with their sea creatures and others have all sorts of things happening.  Scroll down to see new photos to the right.

Keep up the good work during the week, although  remember, if it’s not fun, do something else!

Some thoughts

This is some info I sent out as an email to those on my courses, and others interested.
*  Fantastic lessons this week - everyone is so enthusiastic.  Great to see.

I have a list from each group of things - patterns, books, etc - to bring to the next sessions, so I'm busy finding those.  

The attachment today is an outline of how to make yarn from t-shirts [SCROLL DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR THIS] - I know the demonstration was a bit rushed and you may not have had a chance to give it a go yourself, so here's the run-down.  It's a great way to use up old t-shirts!  If you experiment a bit, they're all different weights, so it can be a challenge to knit or crochet, but also quite effective.  

I have been knitting with some t-shirt yarn and it has really highlighted a flaw in my technique!  I obviously push the point of the crossing needle with the tip of my left thumb - ouch!  It's very bruised and sore today.  Think I'll put that aside and try wool for a while.

Thanks for your thoughts on the exhibition - I'm still open to new ideas!  Will be meeting with 2 different groups of school children next week and I plan to base what they do around the basic square.  I'll share my ideas with you next lesson.

Our next lesson is Fairisle and Intarsia.  These techniques are ways of making patterns, pictures, etc in your knitting.  You will be knitting a small piece to highlight each of these techniques, but first - you will be using knitters' graph paper to plan your piece.  It's a lot of fun, and I find I tend to knit quicker when I'm doing this as I want to see the effect as it grows and changes.

Have a great week and I'll see you on Wednesday!
Jennifer

Knitcetera

Lesson 2 - Recycling

Today's was the first full-on lesson.  The morning group enjoyed some of the recycling ideas, although they are mostly doing their own things.  Some beautiful work coming along here. Jennie's hats are great - so different.  Must get some photos.
Barbara and Sian have been working on pieces of what will become a very long scarf - looking good.  Again - I must remember my camera each week.

 In the afternoon, all got right into the recycling session.  We made "plarn" - plastic yarn out of shopping bags and some pretty coloured kitchen tidy bags Sian had found at the local $2-type shop.
Check out this 2min 30sec YouTube clip on how to make plarn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdTm2V4ssvY
  Some beautiful work happening here - all are using different colours or colour combinations and it's amazing the variety we're seeing.  Photos soon - There will be a real range.  We had some hilarious conversation about the things we could make from plarn, although at the moment we are sticking to the bags!  (Anyone for plastic pants?)  We did think they'd be very useful for school swimming stuff.  Must make sure we're not using bio-degradable plastic - I think it's made from cornstarch - very annoying!
The pattern says to use size 13 & 15 needles, but we found the best size is about a 5 or 6 mm.  Some of the evening group had some difficulty with cutting the strips a bit narrow so they kept breaking, and a couple found it just so much easier to crochet than to knit.
Lots of variety here, with Keitha choosing to make a smaller bag (cute), or others just a sample square.  It'll be interesting to see what turns up next week!

I demonstrated cutting t-shirts into continuous strips to make a knittable yarn, and again someone tried crocheting and found this very effective, although we will need a lot of t-shirts!  Luckily the local op shops have cheapos - must make sure I get along to the "fill a bag for $1" days.  Click here for a tutorial on making t-shirt yarn.  Such fun!  http://www.craftpassion.com/2009/05/recycle-tutorial-making-of-t-shirt-yarn.html

We had some great "show and tell" - have to get a photo of Sian's incredible bag for our exhibition raffle - just brilliant.  And Robyn has made a piece to hang on one of our trees, inspired by the sunset over Orewa estuary - lovely.  Barbara and Jennie's hyperbolic crochet pieces will be added to the Seagardens Aotearoa exhibition next week.

We also discussed more ideas for the exhibition and people are making good use of my library - I now have around 200 knitting and crochet books.  I am working on siting them at the Arts Centre so they are more accessible.

WE ARE HAVING FUN!!

Learning

I have been alerted to this article:  about the benefits of knitting.
So true!  The article references the Shetland Isles - I'm sure I read somewhere that the cancelled classes are being reinstated due to to public concern (call that 'uproar'!) However, in reading through submissions in the public consultation regarding the possible closure of some small local primary schools, knitting has featured, but there is a subtle shift away from its recognition as a traditional need in terms of educational value, with some people asking for funding to come from the arts rather than education.  Sadly I think this is not resolved and will see some protracted discussions before it is.  Meanwhile, traditional knitting is not being taught in a number of the schools.

On the home front, I have sent an email to the teacher at the local school who contacted me last year about her lunchtime knitting & crochet group, so I expect to be visiting them soon.  In preparation for that I have ordered some dinky knitting needles designed for children.

The Course

Although each course is different as it is an organic thing - evolving and changing in response to the individual needs of the people who attend, this is the basic outline I have designed for term 1, 2011.

The main focus for each session is in bold. This is intended as a basic outline - session content may vary depending on individual needs of preferences.

Lesson 1: Welcome and introductions. Outline course and exhibition. Report on progress to date. Copyright. Video clips - knitting; yarnbombing; knitting as art. Floor plan of the Art Centre and overview of ideas to date for the June exhibition.

Lesson 2: Recycling. Using t-shirts, plarn (plastic yarn we will make using plastic shopping bags) and other reusable fibres. Sharing ideas for additions to the exhibition, we will fill in a table of who will do what, where and when. A guide only - this needs to be fun, not work!

Lesson 3: Intarsia & Fairisle. An explanation using examples of the difference. Making our own pictures - designs using graph paper. Trial samples, including gauge samples. Ideas for the future.

Lesson 4: Crochet & Tunisian Knitting. How to. Examples. 'Seagardens Aotearoa'. Review of progress to date. Using various tools, sizes and variations. Finding your comfort zone. Right and left-handed work.

Lesson 5: Flowers, stems, brooches. Other embellishments. i-cord. French knitting. size variations. A range of fibres and materials.

Lesson 6: Scarves. From easy to very complicated - crochet, circular needles, etc. Chevron, ribs, moebius, cables, entrelac.

Lesson 7: Joining pieces. UFOs - unfinished objects. (Everyone has them!) Various methods. Overview of progress towards exhibition. Finalised timeline.

Lesson 8: Double-up and other 'different' forms of knitting. A bit of fun. Also, yarn bombing/storming in the Western Reserve - an expedition. Also, start to record vignettes of finished work for the exhibition.

Lesson 9: Easter patterns. Because we can! Chicks, eggs, etc. Show and tell re exhibition pieces. Identify gaps.

Lesson 19: Final session for term 1. A wrap up and review of the past term's work. This session will be on 13th April.

What do you reckon? Are we having fun, or what?

Starting ...

Hi all

Today marks the start of this blog about the fun and adventures of 'Knitcetera'. I am an avid knitter, convenor and teacher of groups of knitters young and old in and around Orewa, a small seaside town north of Auckland, New Zealand.

Wednesday 09th February 2011 saw the start of several classes at the Estuary Arts Centre, Orewa. Classes will be held in ten-week blocks there each Wednesday, the first at 9.30am til 11.30am, the next at 12.30pm til 2.30pm and the third will start at 7pm and end at 9pm. People may attend any of these sessions - I will be teaching the same theme each day to each of the three classes.

This week saw an introductory session where I outlined the background to these courses, handed out a course outline and showed pictures and video clips of things knitting - especially some wonderful, fun ideas from YouTube.

I have been granted funding to pay for hiring the Estuary Arts Centre for the whole of June this year to mount the KNITCETERA exhibition, and planning for this started in my 2010 classes. Early this year I placed an advertisement in our local community newspaper and received application from over 30 people! To date now there are 22 people for the daytime classes - I am leaving it to them to attend whichever they wish - morning or afternoon - and there are 10 enrolled for the evening group. So exciting!

The two groups are quite different - those in the daytime seeming to be more socially oriented, with those in the evening more keen to learn new skills. Time will tell!

More later - I will post regularly, including the course outline and ideas, details of the lessons and our planning and progress towards the exhibition.

:)