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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

:)