Ginnie - January Member of the Month

1. Tell me about yourself.

I am originally from Surrey and have lived in Scotland for 20 years. I am a trainer in leadership and development work in Universities. I have three brothers, three sisters, fourteen nieces and eight great nieces and nephews. I am also owned by two cats, Kitty and Billy.

2. Where/when did you learn to knit?

My mum taught me to knit when I was four or five. I started with a kids set I got for my birthday. My mum cast on ten stitches for me and I ended up with twenty seven. The first thing I finished was a teddy bear that I made in school. The first garment I made was a pair of mittens covered in cables. Meant I didn't have to knit fingers (below is the first pair of socks Ginnie knitted).

3. What has been your biggest success?

Finishing my first double bed hand stitched quilt.

4. What was your biggest disaster?

The quilt was also my biggest disaster. I used the wrong type of wadding so it is more like a duvet. I can't wash it as it won't even fit in the machine. It's even too big to be take to the dry cleaners.


5. What other crafts do you do?

Mainly quilting but I think I have done everything. I have tried spinning, weaving, jewellery making, lace, tatting, etc. I even have an o level in pottery.

6. Your list of favourites.

Favourite yarn - Lorna laces Shepherd sock wool. It has great definition
Favourite product - my proknit symphonie needles.
Favourite pattern - anything in a sock really
Favourite designer - I really like sock designer Cookie
Favourite shop - I love getknitted, both it's online store and actual store. It's like a warehouse and the online store has great service.
Favourite colour - I like all colours apart from pale yellow through to mustard. I can't wear it.
Favourite book - The one I am building myself. It's a folder which I have filled with sock patterns from magazines I have collected over the years. I also love the Mason-Dixie books as they are a good read.



7. What big project/challenge would you like to do?

I bought the pattern and all the wool to knit a tunic dress. It is done in 20 colours on 2.5 needles and knitted vertically. Each colour is done in a couple of stripes and you can't carry the yarn on. It means a lot of loose ends to weave in. Might be a while before I do that one.

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

I have the worlds largest collection of film on DVD. I also like to listen to audio books.





9. What would be your one piece of advice to other knitters?

Try socks.

10. What is your favourite non-craft book?

Man Who Was Magic by Paul Gallico. It's a kids book which is no longer in print sadly. It's about believing in yourself and making things happen.

A day for Crochet

Crochet has been on the rise in popularity over the last six months and Donna has been our guru for most of it. Here she is having finished her lemon baby blanket. We have all been admiring it as she has worked on it between other projects over the last few months. I love the pattern. She has also taught Elaine, Linda and Isabel how to crochet. Watching her crochet has also encouraged myself and Margaret to learn too. Dawn Marie is also a fellow crocheter and has used Donna's expertise from time to time. We even have a new member, Josephine, who brought along a crochet blanket she is working on.

This is Monika with the mouse she started last week. Her name is Matilda and she demanded a red bow which Monika made for her on Tuesday night. Monika's sun has suggested that Matilda is given a family of about 12 but Monika has decided to move on to make other toys.

I posted a photo of Dawn Marie's mum the other week with her finished scarf. Not happy with it she decided to unravel it and do it again. Now it's much longer and she is much more happy with it.

I also have a correction to make. Elaine is knitting a scarf for her daughter but not in white. It's deep purple. Not sure how I managed to mix that up as it's quite a vibrant purple. Once she has finished the scarf she is going to add some beading. Linda was working on a top using the same sparkly purple yarn from last week. Helen decided to redo her second sock and so was working on a baby cardigan instead for a friend of the family. She finished it on Tuesday but just needs to add buttons. Margaret was working on her white sampler blanket and brought along some of her finished squares to show everyone. Ginnie was working on red and black socks which she is hoping to finish in time to give out this week. Alison was working on a cross stitch kit of a train. All that needs done is the backstitch which she hates doing. It's the only thing she is bringing along with her so that she does it (was a Christmas present for her dad). Dawn Marie was working on a scarf using crofter yarn which looks like fair isle all knitted up. I was working on a purple throw for my sister.

As I mentioned before Ginnie, our sock lady, is member of the month. I will post her interview later this week.

First Week Back

Tuesday was our first night back after the Christmas break and in our new home. The staff in Starbucks at the Glasgow Fort were very welcoming. It was good to be back and to see so many faces turn up. There were even a number of finished projects brought along.





This beautiful quilt was done by Val. It was a Christmas present but she borrowed it to let us all see it. I'm glad she did. The different fabrics together are striking and the pattern itself is gorgeous. Val was working on her Japanese quilting in green, white and black. It actually looks like it won't be long before she will have another finish.




Monika has been busy with her dolls and made the reindeer and the cat. Both are adorable and I particularly like the dungarees on the reindeer. She was working on a mouse on Tuesday which I look forward to seeing.

The knitting finishes were done by myself. I knitted a pair of socks for my sister and another pair which went to my mum. The blanket I was working on before Christmas and was able to get it finished. This is going to my neice. I then made a start on a bag from Simply Knit.

There were a number of other projects on the go. Both Elaine and Linda were working on scarves. Linda was using a lovely purple, sparkley yarn and Elaine was using white for her daughter. Magdalena spent a little time on the shawl kit she won at our 1st birthday party. Janette was working on a scarf using yarn which was generously donated to the Sunday group by an American lady. Ginnie was working on a pair of socks using two different yarns in red and black. Helen was also working on a pair of socks in blues and greens. Margaret was working on a sampler blanket from the magazine "Knitter". Alison was working on a train cross stitch kit. Aileen was also working on a cross stitch kit and Sheena was working on a long stitch project. Donna was crocheting a lemon baby blanket and knitting some baby clothes for friends. Laura was working on a Tunisian crochet project. There were more on the go but I'm afraid the only way for me to remember everything is to start writing everything down.

Unless work comitments get in the way our sock lady will be the first member of the month this year and will be interviewed next week.

Also, if you are on facebook please become a fan of our group. Here we are here.

Some 2009 Finishes

Everyone will know by now that Borders has sadly closed their doors. Which has meant that we have had to find ourselves a new home. For the moment we can be found at our usual day and time in Starbucks at the Fort. They have kindly loaned us some space.

I have yet to post our last get together in Borders. For that I apologise. Here however are everyones finishes that they brought along that day. As you can see there are quite a few of them.

Monika saw how everyone loved her witch doll and so made this lovely monkey. His arms and legs also move. At the last get together she was working on a reindeer. Look forward to seeing what she did over Christmas.

Our talented Gillian knitted the above fingerless gloves and sweater. The sweater she is giving away as it's a little big for her.

These little stars were done by Dawn Marie using crochet. She made these ones for someone else in the group.

The above sweaters were done by Ada. They really are lovely. I love the design in the first one.


Dawn Marie's mum decided to have a go at using the pom pom wool which has been so popular in the group. She knitted this lovely scarf with it.

Fingerless gloves are quite popular and Linda also finished knitting a pair using a lovely cable design.

Lastly this is a pair of socks knitted by myself for a friend.

As I said a lot of finishes last time. I am looking forward to seeing what everyone has been up to over Christmas and hope that everyone can make it to our new home.

We're Back!

Just to let you all know that we will be back next week. Starbucks at the Glasgow Fort have given us a new home. They are letting us use an area at the front. So hope to see you there at our usual time.