Magdalena - November MOTM

1. Tell us about yourself.

My name is Magdalena and I am 31 from Poland. I moved here about 2 1/2 years ago. I really enjoy living here. I used to be a dancing teacher but I actually wanted to be a physics teacher. Right now I enjoy being a housewife and raising my three children.

2. When did you learn to knit?

My mum tought me to knit when I was four or five and then my aunty tought me to crochet. When I was seven or eight my dad tought me embroidery. I have learned something from everybody.

3. What has been your proudest achievement?

Suzanna's Christening dress (pictured above). It was done in two nights. My mum was nervous and waiting for the phone call to go out and buy a dress. It is the finest wool I have ever worked with.

4. Biggest disaster?

My biggest disaster is probably that I have so many unfinished projects. I am always starting new ones. My mum brought back this beautiful yarn from a holiday. I was itching to get my hands on it so that I could make something with it. Finally my mum gave it to me. I knitted so many things with the yarn but was always unhappy with it so would unravel it and knit up into something else. Eventually I knitted a jumper I liked and gave it to a friend. The first time they wore it it got ripped. I call it cursed wool. I have also knitted many jumpers that didn't fit or in the end I didn't like the design.


5. What would be your ideal project?

I would love to crochet lace for my daughters wedding veil. Or even to be able to shorten my project list. I would also love to knit a fine lace shawl or table clothe. Something that could be passed down and would eventually become and heirloom.

6. List of favourites;

favourite colours - I love all colours apart from mustard/brown. I love playing with colour and one is never enough.
Favourite yarn - I love blends. There is a polish wool which is 50% merino and 50% acrylic. If feels just like cotton. I like anything that seems to knit by itself
favourite patterns - I don't use patterns
Favourite designer - again I tend not to follow designers but make things up as I go
Favourite online shop - There are 2 Polish ones. interfox.com (which sells the yarn I love) and zamotan (which means tangled) which has a great choice in colour.
store - none but one day I will open my own as shops these days are either too expensive or don't have the range. There is a small shop in the west end which is lovely and has lots of local yarn but it's expensive. I couls spend all day there.
favourite book - Debbie Bliss - natural baby knits or knits for little angels. It's simple with great photo's. I also love a blog which reads like a book. It's sew soul mama which is updated every day and is mostly about crafts natural and organic.



7. What other crafts do you enjoy?

All of them. With hobbycraft openning I have discovered more. I love beading, crochet, quilting and cooking. I wish I could also paing. I would love to build a home from scratch. I can't buy when I know I could make it myself.

8. Any hints/tips for other knitters?

When something has to be sewn leave a long tail when casting on and use it for stitching. It saves a lot of weaving. If you can avoid seems do everything you can.


9. What do you like to listen to or watch whilst crafting?

I would rather have something on TV. Movies like Pride and Prejudice. Films I can see women at work (crafting). I also love romantic comedies. I love Meg Ryan as she always has great jumpers. I also like Stargate and West Wing.

10. What non craft books do you enjoy reading?

A lot of polish. My favourite authors are Joanna Chmielewska (like Agatha Christie but more down to earth). I also like Andrzey Pilipiuk and Andrzey Sapkowski which are more like fantasy fiction. I also love Harry Potter and Orson Scott Card.

Getting Ready For Christmas

All was quiet at this weeks group. Probably recovering from the autumn challenge the week before. Although I do know that Ginnie was working and Val, Janette and Carol were at their quilting gathering. There were no finished projects to photograph. However, I did decide to take a photo of Linda's project which you can see above. It's a Santa sack for her daughter and is an ongoing project she has been working on since her daughter's first Christmas (she is now 12). Each year Linda stitches a new motif to represent the year. So part of the fun isn't just openning the gifts inside but looking to see what her mum has stitched. There are designs on there to represent her favourite toy that year or the fact she started school and even to show that she started dance lessons. I think this is a lovely idea and something she can keep when she is older.

The only good thing about it being quieter is that we could all listen in easily to conversation on each side and we could all see what everyone was working on. Dawn Marie had finished the throw she had been working on previously. She had even given it to her friend but forgot to bring it in first or take a photo. She is going to take a photo of it for us the next time she sees her friend. She is now working on a lovely crochet baby blanket using variegated yarn. Her mum was knitting a lovely scarf using that pom pom yarn. Her first attempt at using it. She started it that night and was half finished before she left. Elaine was crocheting a scarf using hot pink cotton. It's a gift for a friend (who almost spotted it when visiting recently). Isabel was working on little doll shoes to take over to her granddaughter. She is going over to visit her grandkids again in January. Roberta was crocheting a blanket. She decided to do it in two halves as when working on the first half it became too heavy to work with. She is using two strands of yarn in white and red. Joyce (who was unwell) worked on a sweater. She was using a lovely purple variegated yarn which gave the sweater a fair isle appearance. Julia was working on her lovely pink sweater which seems to be coming along. Gillian was crocheting a lovely blanket. Margaret was working on a blanket too. This one was in cream and involved stitching knitted motifs on top of the squares. Magdalena was working on a lovely red sweater for Adam. Speaking of which Adam was brought along to visit us as well as her daughter and older son by her husband. Adam just turned a year old on Monday and he ran to the group (and then proceeded to run away again). Hard to believe he was still crawling amongst us a few months ago. Lastly I was working on a pair of red socks for a friend.

I also interviewed Magdalena for the last member of the month for this year. I will post her interview at the end of the week. The first interview of 2010 will be our sock lady Ginnie.

A reminder that Tuesday will be our last day until January. I promise to bring along mince meat pies as a treat.

Autumn Challenge 2009

Very little knitting got done on Tuesday night as we held our second and last challenge of the year. Our Autumn challenge had a celebration theme. It's a theme which can be open to interpretation which is why it was chosen. Our group came up with a wide range of ideas which showed all the different talents within. And when I say talent I really mean it. As I had no entry this time I was chosen as one of the judges. Not a task I relished as choosing winners was difficult. You will see why when you see the photo's. Thankfully I had help from a friend of Ginnie's. Joyce came along specifically to judge and even brought along a prize. I even believe she has been volunteered to judge in future challenges (I on the other hand will ensure to have an entry).





Same with our Spring challenge there were two categories. One for adaption and one for original.


Socks made by Ginnie titled "Bells and Bunting". "For me, flags and bells are the things that symbolise celebration - so these socks have both! They are also made from silk and a merino wool/ silk mix for extra luxury!" They were knitted on four needles using silk and silk/merino wool.

Margaret knitted the above nativity scene titled "The birth of Jesus". She used wool, foam board, toy stuffing and straws. The pattern for the characters was by Alan Dart. The barn she did herself.

Ada knitted the above dolls titled "Carol Singers at Christmas". She used wool and stuffing from pillows. This gives the dolls a more solid appearance (a good tip for anyone making knitted toys. Buying cheap pillows and using the stuffing is actually cheaper than buying toy stuffing).

This photo frame was decorated by Magdalena. She said "Every important moment, every celebration is worth taking a photo. So there is a photo frame". She did it by crocheting lace and sewed with beads then stitched onto a padded frame.

Alison stitched the above card for a friends Wedding. The Wedding is taking place next May which makes the challenge functional too. Someone else did that too which I think is a brilliant idea. She used a cross stitch kit.

Isabel created the above cake (not edible sadly). It's is called a Christmas celebration cake and was knitted using wool.

Linda stitched the above cushion. She said, "this celebrates the tradition of Christmas the toys, the colours." She used very simple beginners quilting. I believe that Linda used the challenge as an opportunity to learn a new craft.

Val did the above design. She said "A rose, or any flower, is used in celebration; I am always being asked to arrange flowers for weddings, birthdays, anniversary's, etc." She did a pastel study of a celebration rose.

Helen created the above scrapbook and she was another entrant who used the opportunity of the challenge to make a gift for someone. It's to celebrate the 50th Birthday of a great friend and is titled "Scrap-booking extravaganza". She used both imagination and love to put it together.

Elaine made the above tree decorations. Elaine said, "my entry of Christmas tree decorations is to celebrate Christmas - but also to celebrate the fact that I have learned two new crafts since joining the group." She used wire, beads, swarovski crystals, ribbon, sequins, wool and bells.

Dawn Marie entered the above card (I love the little stand). Dawn Marie said, "The celebration of the end of the summer and the gorgeous colours Autumn brings." She used card, design paper, die cuts, stamps, primacolour pencils and sansodor.

Another cake and this one very different (still not edible though, lol) was made by Donna. She said, "we often celebrate special occasions with a cake. My cake is celebrating Christmas with a mini stocking and tinsel, birthday with a candle and wedding with the brides bouquet." She knitted the cake and mini stocking and crocheted the candle.

Sheena designed and stitched the above. She said, "Christmas is an important celebration and this is to celebrate Christmas and winter." She used coloured beads and dark blue material.

Sheena also stitched the above. It is titled "Merry Christmas". Sheena said, "Stocking brimming with presents is a common theme at Christmas". She used a cross stitch kit.

Aileen created the scarf above. She said, "This scarf is a celebration of fashion. The dark background and bright warm colours are designed to contrast and bring a reminder of summer to a dark winter outfit!" She hand painted the silk scarf from an original design.

Aileen is cleverly wearing her second entry. She said, "This dress is a celebration if fashion and the festive season. I intend to wear it to a Christmas party next month." It was hand sewn from a roll of fabric and decorated with black ribbon trim and copper and red discs which were adapted from a necklace.

Here is a photo of all of our entries on display.

And here are our winners. Winner of the adapted category was Monika who made the witch doll. She won for originality and for the detail she used. She said "I made a Halloween witch that is my celebration of Halloween. She is carrying an eco-friendly bag for life with the Halloween theme. That means she is celebrating life and by using the bag for life she will help protect the environment and making her life and our life a celebration." She based the pattern on Tilda and is mostly made from old clothes. The bag is made from fleece and the doll was both hand and machine stitched.

Carol won the prize for the original category. She said "The wallhanging is made to celebrate 2009 being the 30th anniversary of the Quilters Guild of the British Isles. The colours that are used in the Quilters Guild logo are purple and turquoise hence versions of these were used for the two background fabrics. Then a silvery pearlised white is used to depict the 30 'pearls' for the 30th anniversary which is denoted by gift of pearls." Carol hand stitched circles of fabric into squares and then stitched each square together. This is known as Japanese folded patchwork.

As you can see everyone put so much work into their entries. Both Joyce and myself had a difficult time choosing winners. If we could have everyone would have won. Big thanks to Joyce for helping out and she might even come back again to lend a hand next time.

Gillian - October Member of the Month

1. Tell us about yourself.

I am over 21 and I like a challenge. I like working with the public. I have worked in retail, trained as a secretary, hairdresser, cook and worked with animals. I have a close affinity to animals. I have two horses, a German Sheppard, a Russian Terrier and I will soon be getting a cat.

2. Where/how did you learn to knit?

M mum taught my brother and I when I was four. I didn't always have wool so used string to practise. Same with crochet. First thing I remember finishing was a bright orange teddy when I was five. I have been knitting on and off for years. When we moved to Ayrshire we got snowed in and only had 2 Icelandic jumpers mum had started. Ever since I have always had something on the pins.

3. What are you most proud of?

I am most proud of the last baby shawl I did (photographed and blogged a while back). It turned out the best out of the six I have done and took the least amount of time to finish. Started in January and was finished by Easter. Biggest project was an Aran which I had to spin and knit. Took about four and a half months. I also knitted socks for Paul O'Grady

4. What was your biggest disaster?

A palm tree Jersey made by bought wool. The weight brought the length down and turned out I was allergic to the green dye.

5. What is your next challenge?

I have a Rowan book filled with throws. There are two designs done in brown and cream. It is 40 by 39 squares. I also plan to hand spin the yarn for it. It's a big job.

6. Favourites.

Favourite colours - green, cream and pink

Designers - Depends; Debbie Bliss, Kaffe Fassett but his are two time consuming

Pattern - I like most and have no real preference. I do like arans and shawls

shop - woolfest - it has pure wool can't buy in shops. I also get fleeces from there.

Online - I have never bought anything online. I am just getting into the Internet

Magazine - yarn forward/spin off - both are informative and technical

yarn - blue faced Lester and possum, alpaca, Shetland natural fibres

book - don't really have a favourite. I like a variety

product - my needles

7. Any tips for other knitters?

If you make a mistake just rip it out and start again. Don't get frustrated. Ask for help if you need it.

8. What other crafts do you do?

I have tried my hand at jewelry making, bead work, sewing, spinning, clipping horses for shows and winters, cooking.

9. What do you watch/ listen to while knitting?

I watch CSI, home show, Grand designs and educational programmes. I also like The Hour, Kim and Aggie, Antiques Roadshow. I like the discovery Chanel's

10. What is your favourite non crafty book?

I love the Harry Potter books, all of them.

Worth the wait

This beautiful wall hanging was made by Carol. Carol is one of our talented quilters. Here she used Japanese quilting and it was she who taught Val this method. This involves stitching triangles from circles of fabric. These triangles are then stitched together and they create this beautiful hanging. As you can see the pattern on each side is slightly different making it the perfect double sided wall hanging. She is now working on another project using Japanese stitching in bright pinks and black. I can't wait to see how that turns out.

Sorry for being away again. Work and holidays have kept me away. I have Gillian's interview from last month all done and will post it tonight. Tomorrow we have our autumn challenge. I can't wait to see what everyone has done. As a reminder our theme is celebration. Borders are actually closing at 7pm for their annual stocktake. However, Starbucks and Borders are allowing us in to use our usual space on the provision that we turn up before 7pm. This is really good of them.

Has been weeks since I have seen everyone. Hope everyone is well and look forward to seeing you all tomorrow.

Cuteness!

Again apologies for my absence. I blame work for keeping me away. I did miss one evening but have yet to upload images from my camera from the last one. I can show you these photo's though. Magdalena brought along little slippers she knitted for Adam. I would have taken some photo's of them myself but she had taken the ones above and I couldn't resist asking her to send me a copy. How cute are they? The yarn is lovely and soft and they are sure to keep him warm. As you can see Adam has been taught by us all well. How to pose with lovely knew knitted items.

I have a few more finishes but I will add them to the post from this weeks get together. I can tell everyone though that the items we all made for premature babies have been handed in. The Princess Royal Maternity hospital has a unit for premature babies and it was handed in to them two weeks ago. They were very grateful and happy to receive the items. Thanks everyone for all your hard work.

Our little group not so little

Our Helen was back and without her crutches. Great she is feeling better. Although her daughter, Laura, is still unwell. We all send our best wishes Laura. Helen knitted the above scarf and finished it off on the night. The yarn is so pretty. Would wear this on a night out. She has finished her throw but has just to stitch it together.

How pretty is this jumper? Magdalena knitted this for her little girl. I love rainbow stripes in knitting and it looks lovely on this jumper. Magdalena was worried that her little girl will quickly grow out of it but I'm sure Adam will be wearing it in a few years.

Another lovely finish done on the night. This is the throw Elaine has been working on for her daughter. It will look lovely in a girls room. Plus the yarn is so soft and pretty.

Donna brought along her cross stitch all finished and framed. Looks so pretty in its frame. This is going to a friend of Donna's who is expecting. Donna was next working on a cross stitch bookmark.

Our little group has grown quite a bit over the last month. We have had maybe five or six new members who seem to be coming regularly. I thought it was time to add some group photo's. The above photo doesn't really show how large our group is since we were missing five members but we still were struggling for space in our little corner.

The last photo shows how much we help each other out. Donna and Roberta are helping out Dawn Marie with her blanket. Help like this happens on a regular basis. There is always someone there who can give a hand when stuck. We have a couple of members who started coming along because they needed a help with a project or wanted to learn something new. It's nice to see and a shame I don't get to photograph it very often.