New generations at knitting . . .

Last week's Wednesday group hosted 3 (count them!) 3 knitting babies - lovely.
Today at Kaipatiki we were relocated due to a major flood following a burst pipe, but that didn't stop Koewyn learning some new crochet moves!

Clarifying what we're doing

Hi all - the 2 groups are going really well now and I am being asked to do demos at other sites around town.  Just to clarify - at present the Monday group - Kaipatiki knitters - is very much a creative social group with a touch more knitting than other things, but those other things now include (although are not limited to): crochet, sewing, embroidery, design, community development, gossip, eating, laughing, sharing, tea/coffee supping, saving the planet/ruling the world!  These sessions are free and include provision of some donated materials.  We meet every Monday (except public holidays) at the Community HUB on the corner of Rodney Road and Queen Street, Northcote from 10am til 12.30 or thereabouts.  I am the designated "Knitter in the room" and am usually in attendance to help if necessary, but others are also skilled and willing to assist.
Our next project is a 'Hands on knitting session' at the Birkenhead Library's outdoor area - pink couches and all - more about this later.  The Birkenhead Primary School 'Knitwits' are also interested in being involved in the upcoming Estuary art exhibition in November (see below).
Orewa's Estuary knitters are more focussed on knitting, although we are starting to branch out a bit, with some crochet, beading, etc creeping in slowly.  Sessions are $5 and are held on Wednesdays during school term times from 12.30 til 2.30pm at the Estuary Arts Centre in the Western Reserve, Hibiscus Coast Highway in Orewa.  The Cafe is open then and members of our group, which is growing all the time, are welcome to order food and drinks which may be served in the Education Room.  While I facilitate that group, and have a folder of suggestions and more formal lessons, others here are also very able and willing to help anyone who needs it.  This group is focussing on a mini-exhibition at the Estuary Arts Centre in November.  At this stage we are looking at a theme of "Recycling/transforming the square".  We also already have an installation at the Kaipara Garden Centre's Sculpture Garden just out of Kaukapakapa.

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

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.

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.  :)

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!

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!

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!

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).

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!

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!