KIP 2012

KIP 2012

Thursday, May 26, 2011

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!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

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!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

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.  :)

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

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!

Monday, May 16, 2011

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!

Thursday, May 12, 2011

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!

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

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!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

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.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

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.

Irish Hiking Scarf

Irish Hiking Scarf pattern

approx. 350 yards of worsted weight yarn
size 8 US needles and a cable needle or one double pointed needle
(Feel free to use chubbier yarn and/or larger needles to make a giant scarf. It will look just as lovely!)
Finished size, approx. 5 ½” x 55”
Cast on 42 stitches.
Row 1. (WS) K2, P2, K2, P6, K2, P2, K2, P6, K2, P2, K2, P6, K2, P2, K2
Row 2. (RS) K4, P2, K6, P2, K2, P2, K6, P2, K2, P2, K6, P2, K4
Row 3. (WS) repeat row 1
Row 4. (RS) repeat row 2
Row 5. (WS) repeat row 1.
Row 6. (RS) repeat row 2.
Row 7. (WS) repeat row 1.
Row 8. (RS) K4, P2, C6F, P2, K2, P2, C6F, P2, K2, P2, C6F, P2, K4
Repeat these rows to desired length, ending on row 7. Bind off.
Key:
C6F = Slip 3 sts. onto a cable needle and hold to front of work. K3, then K the 3 sts. off cable needle.
All content and photos are © Hello Yarn. All rights reserved. These patterns are for personal and non-profit use only. This means you can knit for yourself,
for a gift, for charity, or for a charity auction/sale. You can print out the patterns for friends, if you wish, as long as you print straight from my site so the
copyright information is intact. You may not sell items made from these patterns for profit or give these patterns away in your store to sell yarn.
Visit www.helloyarn.com for more patterns.
Photo courtesy of Allison Gray. You can visit her at http://kniterrant.blogspot.com

Seagardens Aotearoa

Large Seagardens Aotearoa piece


FOR THE EXHIBITION

FOR THE EXHIBITION
Edith's veges

















Detail of Gillian's seascape

Christine's stilt

Sally's work

Edith's toadstools

Well done Christine!

Kaywin and Jan's bunting

Scarecrow

Jennie's roses

Elaine's birds made with sock wool

Gillian's monster flower

more fruit from Sally

Sally's veges

Gillian's starfish -back

Edith's fish

Sally's dolphin

Sian's flower

Gillian's paua

Robyn's sunset-inspired piece

Robyn's sunset-inspired piece

Jennie's hats

Barbara T's crochet