Ipswich Knitterati

New Poster

2010-01-21T15:30:00.003Z

Here's the new poster for the group (it's A4 size), hopefully copies will be popping up all over Ipswich !! If you would like some copies to distribute let me know, also have a smaller A5 flyer version. Thanks to Lois's other half for the brilliant piccie - very talented chap :-)

Your favourite FO of 2009

2010-01-02T13:46:00.003Z

Happy new year to all
I thought it would be fun for us to post up our favourite FOs of 2009
This is mine

Its Stick Snail from Donna Wilson's book Knitted Odd-Bod Bunch

Potential New Venue

2009-10-30T11:33:00.003Z

Due to the unpopularity of Isaacs and the steady decline in numbers over the last few months, those of us remaining have decided to take the "bull by the horns" and look into find somewhere new for us to meet, that may address the negatives at Isaacs that put people off coming.
Last night a small group of us tried out the Brewery Tap, just a few yards down the road from our old stomping group at the Ship Launch Inn.
We all thought it was very nice and comes pretty high up in our requirements, namely:
Good parking
Comfortable atmosphere
Good lighting
Cheap (no admission or hiring fee)
Friendly staff
Not too busy and trendy - one of the major negatives of Isaacs seemed to be the walking through the busy throng of "young things"
So in order to make a decsion and decide on a venue where we can hopefully grow as a group and be at for many years, we would like as many people as possible to come to another test drive on Thursday 12th November (our normal meeting fornightly at Isaacs will continue for time being - next one 5th Nov).
Based of what we all think we'll either carry on at Isaacs or move to the Brewery Tap, so if you want to be able to have a vote please try to make it down there on the 12th.
Once we have decided on our home for the group, we intend to do a major poster campaign. Groups evolve over the years, and peoples lives do change, but we want to make sure that all those potential members who are wondering where we are, can join us.
Hope to see you on at 7:30pm the 12th at the Brewery Tap, get in contact if you need any details on how to find it etc..
Thanks

On my ipod

2009-07-17T11:01:00.003+01:00

On my ipod nano I listen to lots of podcasts related to knitting and I thought it might be fun to share my thoughts and recommendations here from time to time.

I recently came across a video podcast called LetsKnit2gether which is of a very high quality and has some very interesting articles. I just finished watching one about Bijou Basin Ranch who own yaks and produce blended wool from their animals. The interview was beautifully filmed and recorded and you could clearly see the quality of the product.

What I like about this podcast is how close you feel to another culture which shares our love of knitting. Cat who is the presenter takes us with her as she visits yarn stores and fibre festivals and does so in a way that makes you feel part of what you are watching.

I would thoroughly recommend this video podcast which you can download through Itunes or you can watch on your pc at their website which you, hopefully, will find by using the link above.

If you have some podcast recommendations then don't be shy about sharing them as I would love to know what you are listening to.

(posted by Teresa)

New courses in Ipswich

2009-06-05T13:17:00.001+01:00

Hi all
Emma left a comment on an earlier post here about some new courses that she is running with Su of Purl and Co and I thought you would all be interested;
Hi
This is not really anything to do with your request for ideas for KIP day (although they sound great!) but I am involved in running Learn to Knit and Learn to Crochet workshops in July (with the lady who used to run Purl and Co in Ipswich) and I wonder if you know anyone who would be interested? You can contact me via emma.magnus@virgin.net.
Her blog is here for more info

World Wide Knit in Public day 2009

2009-05-15T13:49:00.002+01:00

Hi all
Have just seen that its world wide knit in public day on 13th June. Do we want to try and get together as a group somewhere? If anyone has any ideas then give me a shout :-)
the website is here

the knitting noras

2009-04-24T08:15:00.003+01:00

One of my friends, Vicky, over on Ravelry (Crobbles) is involved with the Knitting Noras which is a group of knitters from Bolton trying to raise money for the Christie Hospital. Sadly and poignantly their co-founder Sarah Richards was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2008 and very recently passed away.

The group has had publicity in Simply Knitting, Knitting, Let's Knit and the just out Rowan May newsletter if you want to read more about them.

They are selling calendar's with artfully posed nude pictures based on the Women's Institute Calendar Girls idea. The calendars can be pre-ordered from www.theknittingnoras.co.uk and you can get more information about their progress at http://nakedknitting2010.blogspot.com .

Vicky is a very encouraging and helpful knitting friend on Ravelry so do look her up there or visit the Knitting Nora's site. I hope you might be tempted by the idea of a knitting related calendar which will make someone a very interesting gift!

Fine Cell Work Exhibition

2009-04-08T11:54:00.004+01:00

Fine Cell Work is an exhibition coming here in the Town Hall Galleries in Ipswich from 14th to 25th April 2009. I went to see it at Layer Marney Towers where Kaffe Fassett gave a talk explaining what it was all about. Prisoners are being shown how to embroider which is encouraging them to spend their time in both a theraputic and productive way that has a financial value too. The items, which are mostly cushions like the one in the photograph, are for sale and the proceeds go towards expanding the programme and buying materials.

I have found that there are some very strong opinions about the idea, ranging from utter horror to complete belief that creativity can be a healing and reforming process.

If you are interested go and have a look and I would love you to leave a comment here to see what you think of the idea and the work.

(Teresa)

destash night

2009-03-13T12:49:00.002Z

We are having a destash night on 26th March so bring along anything yarn related you dont want.

You can bring it to give away or make a charge for it, its up to you!!

A new era!

2009-02-27T13:10:00.003Z

Last night was our first time at Isaacs and I have to say I was impressed. We had a private room which was useful as the bar was very busy and the manager seemed genuinely welcoming. There were a lot of us, 17 I think, and we fitted in the room quite comfortably. I hope we will continue to be happy there, as long as we keep spending at the bar I don't see why not :-)
Again, everyone was knitting(and crocheting)some fab stuff. There were socks and shawls, crocheted scarves and Sandie brought a fab felted bag made from a recycled hand dyed tank top she had made some years before. It was gorgeous!

Farewell to Purl&Co

2009-02-15T14:50:00.003Z

Last Thursday was our last meeting at Purl&Co before it closes :-(
We all had a great time with lots of lovely nibbles and cakes :-) as you can see!
More new members joined us so the group is going from strength to strength and we had a good turnout despite the poor weather.
See you next time at the new venue!

Pattern links

2009-02-14T20:33:00.002Z

I have put a list of free knitting pattern sites on the blog, its on the right hand side if you scroll down a bit!
Let me know if there are any more out there :-)

Venue decided!

2009-02-14T20:12:00.001Z

OK so the poll didnt have a clear winner so lets go for a new place altogether!
Our new venue will be Isaacs on the docks. We can use their car park in the evenings, its on the docks one way system after the Lord Nelson bend on the left or theres always Fore Street pool or Slade Street.
I will try to do a map if I can work out how!!!

Venue decision

2009-02-06T12:06:00.001Z

Right all
I cant make a decision as both options have pros and cons so its down to you!
I have put a poll up which will close before next Thursdays meeting so get voting
If anyone wants another option to be added give me a shout
Lois x

Another busy night

2009-01-30T13:12:00.003Z

Well, it was a whirlwind last night! Another really busy meeting with loads of people(including me-oops!) doing some shopping in Su's half price sale. Nearly everyone came up the stairs with bulging green bags!
We had more new members, Laur and Lesley learning to knit and Lynn showing some lovely crochet. There was much discussion about a possible new venue and also sadness at the shops imminent closure. However, Su has some exciting plans for the future so a reborn Purl and Co is possible?
The meeting seemed to go by really quickly and I didnt get much knitting done, especially as I left my yarn at home!
The next meeting is going to be our last at the shop so we are having a farewell party. Feel free to bring along cakes etc
See you in a fortnight :-)

Another Knitterati baby

2009-01-21T20:30:00.001Z

Katherine had a baby girl, Sofie on 7th January
big congratulations to her and her family :-)

Sad news

2009-01-21T20:27:00.003Z

Sadly, Su has decided that she is going to close Purl and Co. This will be a great loss as it is a lovely shop and we dont have another like it in the area. Unfortunately, competing with online retailers must be very hard and this must have been a tough decision for Su to make. We all hope she will continue to come along to the knitterati group
If anyone has ideas for a new venue give me a shout

One for Clive? ;-)

2009-01-16T20:29:00.004Z

I saw this on Ravelry and thought of our Clive!

Fancy a new project Clive?

A busy night!

2009-01-15T22:13:00.003Z

Our first meeting of the new year turned out to be very busy indeed, we had to have a 2 storey group with a select few choosing the calmer atmosphere of the shop and others having a natter round the table upstairs.
We had several new members come along. It is good to see new people coming to the group and we hope they soon become regulars :-)
I really enjoyed catching up with everyone as it seems like ages since I got to a meeting. Everyone was knitting such fabulous looking projects, loads of socks in progress as usual as well as fingerless mitts, baby bootees and a gorgeous throw among many other things. Also Dr Sara was able to help Ivy with a shaping problem on her fantastic looking Colinette coat.

Happy New Year!

2008-12-31T13:54:00.000Z

I hope everyone has had a great Christmas and is looking forward to the year ahead
Have fun whatever plans you have for celebrating the new year tonight and see you in a couple of weeks!

Christmas get together

2008-11-23T13:50:00.002Z

Sue has offered to have a Christmas party for us on the 18th December. She will provide refreshments and mince pies as well as giving us 10% off any purchases that night!!!. Sounds great! She needs to know numbers by our next meeting(4th December).
We also thought it might be nice to have a show and tell that night, so bring along anything you have made throughout the year and share it with everyone

2008-11-23T13:48:00.001Z

Thanks!

2008-11-23T13:45:00.002Z

A big thanyou to everyone who gave me yarn to make spiders at the library for Halloween. They turned out really great and we had loads of people making them. These were the 2 my boys made :-)

Ooops!

2008-09-02T14:03:00.001+01:00

I made a mistake when adding the list of meetings and got all the dates from September onwards wrong, oh dear! The list is now correct and well done to Clive for spotting the error.

Knitterati on tour

2008-08-04T21:12:00.001+01:00

We had our birthday picnic on Sunday and despite the wet weather we had a lovely time. We did get a bit wet and decamped to the bandstand but we all made the best of it and even managed to get some knitting done in between eating lots of cake!
Many thanks to all who made it and bought lots of lovely nibbles. Maybe we will make this an annual event

2008-08-04T21:10:00.000+01:00

2008-08-04T21:09:00.000+01:00

2008-08-04T21:05:00.003+01:00

Stanley modelling Gwens latest knit hot off the needles!

2008-08-04T21:05:00.001+01:00

2008-08-04T21:04:00.001+01:00

2008-08-04T21:02:00.000+01:00

Ivy, Clive and newly-wed Sarah deep in knitting mode

2008-08-04T21:01:00.001+01:00

Sharon and Luke getting an al fresco bottle! and Evan and Alistair in between eating cake!

The Knitterati in action

2008-08-02T10:25:00.001+01:00

A lot of knitting and chatting taking place at Purl & Co on Thursday evening!

2008-08-02T10:21:00.000+01:00

Happy knitters Sharon, Lois and Fran with Sue in the background.

Welcome

2008-07-18T09:32:00.000+01:00

I just wanted to say a big warm welcome to all the new members who have been to the group the last couple of meetings. It is great to see new faces and meet new people. I hope you all enjoy the group as much as the regulars do

Good Luck Sarah and Lewis

2008-07-11T11:14:00.000+01:00

I am sure we all want to wish Sarah and Lewis well for their wedding today! I hope they have a lovely day today and a fabulous honeymoon
See you in a few weeks Sarah, enjoy :-) hope you got that bunting finished :-)

Summer Picnic

2008-07-06T13:41:00.000+01:00

We are having a picnic to celebrate our 2nd birthday as a group. It will be on Sunday 3rd August at 2pm. Meet at Henley Road gate of Christchurch PArk Ipswich, opposite the Ipswich School

Ipswich Knitterati

2008-06-13T10:50:00.001+01:00

This is the new name for the group :-)

Last nights meeting

2008-06-06T09:35:00.000+01:00

A big thanks to Sue for letting us use her shop to meet at. It was a lovely meeting last night, very relaxed. More thanks to Irene for the fab cake and to Anne for sharing her sock knitting skills and for her time in writing an easy pattern. I didnt get very far with mine but am going to persevere
See you all next time

Next meeting

2008-05-23T20:45:00.000+01:00

The next meeting, on 5th June will now be at Purl and co. The time will be 7.30-9.30 and all are welcome
see you there

another new member?

2008-05-23T20:43:00.000+01:00

Sharon has had her baby, a boy called Luke Michael on Monday 19th May. you can see him on her blog at http://shazzastitching.wordpress.com/
Many congratulations to Sharon and Simon

Sock knitting night

2008-05-09T13:38:00.000+01:00

Anne is going to do an evening on sock knitting for us using Dk yarn. This will be on the meeting on 5th June. Bring along any yarn you like and some 3.25dpns and have a go :-)

Venue change

2008-05-07T09:33:00.000+01:00

As from 19th June we will be meeting at Purl and Co on Silent Street, Ipswich.
The times of the meeting will also change to 7.30-9.30. There will also be a charge of £2 per person. Hope this suits everyone :-)
Lois

New venue?

2008-02-21T19:46:00.000Z

Jonny told us last week that he is moving to a new pub, The Swan at Woolpit, probably in June. He did say we were welcome to change venue to there, but it is probably too far for us to travel. So, if the Ship doesnt get new tennants or the new tennants dont want us, we had probably better start thinking about a new venue.
If anyone has any ideas then let me know
Lois

Christmas meal

2007-11-12T16:33:00.000Z

This has been arranged for 6th December
Anyone who wants to come should email me or leave a comment here
If you need a menu just ask :-)
Hope to see everyone there, Stanley permitting of course. i may even bring him along

Welcome to our newest member

2007-09-27T12:21:00.000+01:00

All of us would like to welcome our first baby, Stanley, who arrived at 2.02am on Saturday 22nd September weighing 7lb9oz.
Congratulations to Lois and the rest of the family.
Under the circumstances we are not expecting to see Lois in The Ship with the rest of us tonight.

Forest Canopy Shawl finished!

2007-09-12T09:35:00.001+01:00

It is done! Just in time as well!

Cake night!

2007-08-31T08:41:00.003+01:00

Jonny did us proud with a fab chocolate fudge cake which as you can see everyone enjoyed :-). It was a great night and I hope to see you all soon after the baby is born. Have fun!

2007-08-31T08:41:00.001+01:00

2007-08-31T08:40:00.003+01:00

2007-08-31T08:40:00.001+01:00

2007-08-31T08:39:00.005+01:00

2007-08-31T08:39:00.003+01:00

2007-08-31T08:39:00.001+01:00

Some new things!

2007-08-19T21:28:00.000+01:00

Just a few things I acquired or finished this week!

The dishcloths were from my swap on Angel Yarns Forum, they are wonderful!

Finally sewn up the mittens and hat, although the mittens look like baby arm warmers, they are so long!

My bag I was knitting on Thursday. Took a week to knit, need to sew it up now. The fabric will be the lining, when I get round to doing it!

Glint from Kim Hargreaves. All purchases should be sent like this! Tissue paper, ribbon, it was like Christmas opening it!

Last nights meeting

2007-07-20T13:15:00.001+01:00

It was nice to see everyone last night, especially after I couldn't come the time before. Sorry if I wasn't very sociable! I was concentrating very hard on learning to crochet, with the lovely Nadia's help and this is what I did.

Its the edging to my lace cardigan. The pattern was from Debbie Bliss' book Alpaca Silk 2 and the yarn is her Alpaca Silk DK. It is lovely and so soft and warm, I love it!!!

Yarn update

2007-07-13T16:27:00.000+01:00

My sock yarn arrived yesterday from Yarn Yard, look at this :-

And here is my new knitting storage bag for the lounge! I love it, keeps me knitting all nice and tidy! Current projects only!

anniversary meet up?

2007-06-18T09:24:00.000+01:00

Hi all
Its our first anniversary as a knit group on 3rd August and I was wondering what we wanted to do to celebrate. My thoughts were to ask Jonny at the pub to make us loads of cakes ;-). Also we could do a daytime meet up/ picnic maybe at the weekend.
I am on holiday that week though, but if you want to do something the week after I am happy to arrange it
Lois

2007-06-14T12:51:00.001+01:00

This is what I bought on Saturday at NDS. They are all Blue Faced Leicester dazzle DK and are lovely and soft. DS2(who's hand is in the photo) obviously loved them too :-) They are going to be baby leggings

Some baby things I have finished

2007-06-13T13:30:00.003+01:00

This is the dress I made from Debbie Bliss' Baby Knits for beginners book for a friend who is having a girl next month

2007-06-13T13:30:00.001+01:00

A stripy jumper for my baby, due in September. Pattern is from Louisa Harding's Natural Knits book and is done in Patons Diploma Gold

Next outing?

2007-06-12T15:47:00.001+01:00

Well, there has been a lot of talk about another outing as the one to NDS went so well.
The Yarn Gallery at Flempton has been suggested as has a meet up with the Colchester Group.
I think we can arrange something for July (so its after payday and I might have some money!) so let me know what you think
Lois

new blog

2007-06-12T15:33:00.000+01:00

This is going to be fun, I know that I am going to enjoy reading our blog.

I have enjoyed looking at the various other blogs ours is linked to and find the whole "blog thing" quite fascinating.

Your pictures are really good Lois, I just wish that I had remembered to take my camera along too.

The indigo dyed yarns were to "dye" for :>) and I just know that I shall be going back for some of those. Yes it was very hard trying to decide which yarn to buy as it was all so covetable.

See you soon,

Irene

w.i.p. I have started spinning again after our visit and am still knitting my hemp top, finishing off some socks for my mother and knitting another bear.

Natural Dye Studio photos

2007-06-11T19:20:00.007+01:00

close up of mohair loop yarn

2007-06-11T19:20:00.005+01:00

Irene, Bearium and her mum and Fran

2007-06-11T19:20:00.003+01:00

Daisy winding skeins

2007-06-11T19:20:00.001+01:00

straining the weld, I think!

2007-06-11T19:19:00.003+01:00

the audience! Cherrypie, Ann, Isobel, Lois and Irene

2007-06-11T19:19:00.001+01:00

the dyeing room

2007-06-11T19:18:00.003+01:00

2007-06-11T19:18:00.001+01:00

2007-06-11T13:36:00.007+01:00

2007-06-11T13:36:00.005+01:00

various yarns after being dyed

2007-06-11T13:36:00.003+01:00

2007-06-11T13:36:00.001+01:00

dyeing the yarn indigo

2007-06-11T13:35:00.005+01:00

2007-06-11T13:35:00.003+01:00

2007-06-11T13:35:00.001+01:00

2007-06-11T13:34:00.006+01:00

all the yarns after being dyed with weld and indigo. Amanda was hoping for a vibrant green which didn't happen today but the results are still lovely

2007-06-11T13:34:00.005+01:00

skeins hanging up to dry

2007-06-11T13:34:00.003+01:00

2007-06-11T13:34:00.001+01:00

more lovely yarn, the blues are my favourites!

2007-06-11T13:33:00.007+01:00

2007-06-11T13:33:00.005+01:00

2007-06-11T13:33:00.003+01:00

2007-06-11T13:33:00.001+01:00

what a fantastic shop, so many lovely colours. I had a real hard time choosing

2007-06-11T13:32:00.001+01:00

Isobel, Ann and Cherrypie shopping

2007-06-11T13:31:00.001+01:00

Sharon shopping!

Great outing

2007-06-10T15:37:00.000+01:00

Thank you Lois, firstly for setting up this blog, great idea! and also for arranging the visit to Natural Dye Studio. It was great fun and really enjoyed it!

I have emailed the photo's that were taken to Amanda and she is going to use some on her website, which is great. I found it all so interesting how she dyes the yarn and makes the different colours!

Really looking forward to seeing what we all make with they yarn we bought! Here is a picture of my purchase :-

first post!

2007-06-09T15:13:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone!
Well, I have managed to set up the blog for the knit group!
We had a great trip out to the Natural Dye Studio at Hollesley today. Sharon took loads of photos cos my camera ran out of batteries! so they will follow later.
Amanda who owns the studio showed us dyeing which was very interesting. I thought it would take a long time to dye wool but it was very quick.
Her shop was filled with lovely squishy things and we all spent loads. She had such a lovely range of colours we had a hard time choosing what to buy!

I am sure we will do some more group outings later in the summer as this one went very well