New Home

There have been difficulties with some authors getting their posts onto this blog, for some time. The solution chosen is for the blog to move to a new address. So please join us just up the road, at ......


                   Close Knit


It's the same gang, still knitting!

Cancelled

 Meetings of Close Knit have been suspended for the summer.
  Details will be posted when it re-convenes.

Next Meeting

Our next meeting is Friday 3rd January. This is usually the busiest of the year, with people relieved to get away from the usual bustle of life, and the frantic activity of the Christmas and  New Year round. We will convene at 6.30 pm, as usual.

Change...

The Yarnshop that Jacqui has posted (below) is wonderful. We walked in, to be greeted warmly by the ladies within. Good start. There is a fabulous array of yarns. Some of which are spun and dyed especially for Fiddlesticks. The 'ooooh-ing' started as soon as we got inside. Go and have a look -it's well worth it. (yes, of course I bought something!)

It was Close Knit on Friday night, and the last one to be held at the Friends (Quakers) Meeting House in Bath Place. A jolly affair, with eighteen members present. Four of those were new members, so welcome Barbara, Christa, Emma and Suella. Here are a few photos of members, all knitting hard.

From next month, 5th March, we move to a new venue.

York House, 27, Cannon Street, Taunton.

It is almost opposite the entrance to the Cannon street car park.

Here's a photo of the lovely yarn shop that Linda and I discovered in Honiton on Saturday. It's called Fiddlesticks and is conveniently located next to a very yummy deli in case all the purchasing makes you peckish!

Baby surprise jackets and shawl

I am now addicted to knitting the baby surprise jacket. I thought I had finished with four but found a fabric warehouse in Sturminster Newton - Hensons which sell wool and cheaper buttons. I bought 40 teddy bear buttons and more wool! I finished the forest canopy shawl but decided not to block it as I think it looks better scrunched. The leaves go all square when it is blocked. I have another skein of cobweb yarn and want to do another shawl but preferably one without holes as I keep forgetting to do yarn over needle! Any ideas for patterns gratefully received as I have trawled the internet without success - including Ravelry.

KTOG 3

The East Dartmoor Tea Shop Knitters are running KTOG again this year.
Sunday October 18th, 1 pm-5 pm
Ilsington Village Hall
Entrance £1, children free.
Workshops, S&B Cafe, Stalls, Raffle, Exhibitions.

Knitting - And Crochet!

At long last - the sleeveless sweater I was making, as a 'Thank you' for the Yoga session which Karen ran for us. The colour is not good in the photo. It is really a lovely deep Teal. The yarn is Mirasol miski. Gorgeous!

We had a really good turn-out at the last meeting. Eighteen members, including four new ladies, had a go at Beth's crocheted shopping bags. Great fun! She WILL be making a return visit.

And we had Amber's cup cakes, Denise's cheese scones, lemon Chelsea Buns, and an Apple cake. Yum.

Welcome Kate, Judith, Denise, and Bryony.

Fibrefest

Next weekend is 'Fibrefest', at Coldharbour Mill, 22nd and 23rd August. Those who went to the last one, in 2007, will remember what fun it was. This time it is actually being held in the Mill and adjacent areas, not a field up the road.
There will be a Ravelry stand, with various things going on. There was talk of a yarn swap, but I'm not sure. We had discussed meeting up, and the Ravelry stand may be a good place to meet. There is a good chance a little knitting may take place there.
Remember to wear your Ravelry badges!
I look forward to seeing some of you there......I will doubtless be seen spending a small fortune on yarn!

Knit In Public Day

Here, finally, are the pictures to prove that we did Knit In Public as promised. Quite a good turn-out, considering how little publicity I provided.Coffee for Gossip in action.(Lisa in the reddish t-shirt).

We are quite the League of Nations, you know. (L>) Ramona (Canada), baby L, Andi (U.S.A.).

Raffle and Notice board.

Knitters at work! L to R> Ellie, Suzanne, Sue B, Wendy, Pam, and Isabelle. There were others, but not caught on camera.

The raffle went well, and made £53 , which was sent to Barnardos Childrens Charity. Thanks to everyone for the support.

You may be interested to know that Hayes Wools have taken delivery of the following;

Lantern Moon -a selection of Needles, and Needlecases etc.

Mango Moon - Zing Strings

Aslan Trends Yarns

World wide Knit in Public Day

Above is a photo of the wonderful prizes that were donated for the Raffle. Barnardos childrens charity will be the recipient of the raffle entry money, so we are hoping for enthusiastic support.

Dave at Hayes Wools has been very generous, as usual. Monkton Elm Craft Centre kindly gave a beautiful book.

I hope to see as many members as possible....I know we have visitors coming from elsewhere. 'Coffee for Gossip' will also be there-at least we can get a decent cup of Tea/Coffee!

The Big Lunch

Anyone interested in doing this on 19th July? The idea came from The Eden Project - take a look at their website for info. Similar to the outdoor picnic mentioned last month. I also picked up the following from The Eden Project and thought this would be a use for my French Knitting output - a cord for flags. We could make some Close Knit flags to go with our banner.

Knitting Help

Hi all! I am knitting a cable tank top and have run into a part of the pattern I don't understand. I'll bring it along next Friday to the knitting group, but was hoping to keep working on it through the week.

I just divided for the neck, but am unsure how to do the decreases for the next part. I don't understand the part where it says "dec 1 st at armhole edge of next 10 rows, then on foll 3 alt rows, then on foll 4th row and at same time dec 1 st at neck edge of 2nd and every foll alt row."

At this point I am on the RS of the knitting and have turned the work from the neck side towards the armhole side.

Does that mean I should dec 1 stitch on RS and WS of the armhole edge of the next 10 rows, then only on the alternate rows for the next 3 rows? I feel like that would make the armhole side decrease at a very sharp angle.

I read it to mean this:
Row 1 dec 1 st at armhole edge
Row 2 dec 1 st at armhole edge dec 1 st neck edge
Row 3 dec 1 st at armhole edge
Row 4 dec 1 st at armhole edge dec 1 st neck edge
Row 5 dec 1 st at armhole edge
Row 6 dec 1 st at armhole edge dec 1 st neck edge
Row 7 dec 1 st at armhole edge
Row 8 dec 1 st at armhole edge dec 1 st neck edge
Row 9 dec 1 st at armhole edge
Row 10 dec 1 st at armhole edge dec 1 st neck edge
Row 11
Row 12 dec 1 st at armhole edge dec 1 st neck edge
Row 13
Row 14 dec 1 st at armhole edge dec 1 st neck edge
Row 15
Row 16 dec 1 st at armhole edge dec 1 st neck edge
Row 17

Is that right??

Thanks for your help! :)

New Knitting Campaign

I have picked up some leaflets from Yandles Hobby & Gift Shop which I will bring in on Friday. They are having a knitting campaign until October 2009. Collecting handmade items that will be packed into shoe boxes in November. Hats, mittens, scarves, puppets, bags, beads, boxes and more. More information can be found at www.samaritanspurse.uk.com

If anyone wants to contribute, I am happy to collect and take on to Yandles.

Festivals and stitches

This is a card I made recently, for a Birthday. Yes, I'm quite pleased with it, but the reason I am showing it, is to flag up this site;
http://www.vogueknitting.com/
There is a very good stitch library, which it is possible to download from (free). This stitch is 'snowangel'. (But I have adapted it slightly).

I think it is time to start making a note of the Festivals and Fairs that are going to take place this year. Please add to the list as you hear of them, or let me know, and I will.
Wonderwool Wales will be taking place on 25th and 26th April, at the Royal Welsh Showground.
Fibrefest is 22nd and 23rdAugust, at Coldharbour Mill, Uffculme, Devon.
I would like to arrange a visit to Devon Fine Fibres at their Organic farm near Bampton, but would like to know the level of interest first. You can visit Lesley's blog, and get a feel of the farm. (http://devonfinefibres.wordpress.com/).

New ideas for knitting!

Jac sent this link to me:

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/4305406/Knitters-turn-to-graffiti

So where should we start in Taunton then...?!

Oxfam blanket

On Friday,I recieved a letter from Sarah Blakemore, of Oxfam. With the letter, she had included a postcard of the blanket for Maternal mortality. It (the blanket) was huge. Something like fifty feet wide by two hundred and something feet long!
I will, Of course, bring letter and picture to the next meeting, but I was so pleased to receive them, that I had to share it immediately.

More baby hats!

Here's a couple of hats I knitted for a friend's. She was 5 weeks premature so needed little hats! I'm not sure she looks especially pleased about having to wear them though!

Well, It's been a pretty thin summer for the Blog. Many of us have had a 'gone off it' moment. And, of course everyone has been busy. So, a few things from me;

This morning I recieved a letter from Oxfam, re :the squares for maternal mortality. I will bring it to the next meeting, but you may like to know that Sarah Brown will be recieving the petition on WEDNESDAY 17 SEPTEMBER outside Downing Street, and adding her own square.
The 40m blanket will be displayed at LAWRENCE HALL, RHS HALLS, Greycoat St, London,
2 -5 pm the same day. We are invited to attend. The tone of the letter suggests that Oxfam are trying to get as many people as possible to the display.

Tutley Mutley, a fellow Raveller, has flagged up an event being staged by the Knitting group that she belongs to. The group is the Tea Shop Knitters, and the event is KTog 2. There will be stalls run by Yarn Shops, Workshops (which will be charged extra, but nominal) and TEA AND CAKE. Sounds wonderful. All this will take place in Bovey Tracey, on Sunday 19 October.
This is advance notice, and I will blog more details as I have them.

And I have finally finished Nicky's waistcoat. Yaaaaaay! Not as nicely 'finished' as I would have liked but, hey, we live and learn.

French Weir

A reminder, Ladies. On Sunday we will be knitting at the French Weir Park Fun Day.

Sunday 10th August - 10-4
French Weir Park FREE Entry
Lots of Activities ( some free )

So, bring your knitting and join us .Some of us will be knitting hats for the premature baby units at local Hospitals.