Swap Night!

Tuesday there we had our swap night. We hold one of these every 4months or so. It's a good way to get rid of craft things we aren't going to use that someone else might want. Plus it's a good way to pick up something we might like. What we don't use goes to a charity shop which Roberta works in. It was mainly paper and scrapbook supplies this time round. Oh, and there are usually a wee pile of fiction books brought along.

We haven't chosen a charity this year. For the last few years one of the group has always requested we make something for a charity with a short deadline. So we thought that this year would be dedicated to lots of these. Our first one was a request from Roberta. A friend is knitting these jumpers for her church and they are then being sent to children in Africa. The patter is simple and quick. The only request is that they not be knitted in white and that any jumpers should be handed in by the end of February. These jumpers were knitted by Roberta, Margaret and Stephanie.

Roberta had a first time finish. Izzy (also pictured) has been teaching Roberta and Alison how to quilt. This is Roberta's finished attempt and it looks beautiful. I love the colourful fabrics. Plus it is backed with fleece which is very effective. Roberta spend the rest of the night working on some crochet.

Margaret also had a finish. She has spent the last few weeks knitting this lovely Aran jumper. With the snow we just got she is going to need it. She is now working on a lighter top in black.

Helen finished a pair of socks that she knitted for herself. She used the same yarn I used for socks knitted before Christmas. She likes the effect but wasn't impressed with the yarn as it was inconsistent in thickness throughout. She is more than half way through knitting a baby blanket for a friend.

I finished these socks too. Unfortunately you can't see the pattern too clearly because of the colour of the yarn. I knitted these for a friends birthday and I started another pair in purple for a friend.

Elaine had a finish at the end of the night. She was knitting this beautiful baby shawl for a friend. It hasn't been blocked yet but this was the only chance we would see it so I took a photo while I could. I love the circular pattern.

We have a Gartmore at home currently being organised, a baby shower and Gartmore itself so there are more events to come.

For Our American Friends

Isabel has just come back from visiting her grandchildren in America. They live in California and the highlight of Isabel's year is going over to visit them. One of the things she looks forward to is working on craft projects with her granddaughter and she always comes back with tales of what they worked on. This time her granddaughter gave her a project and she brought it along to show us.

These hoops were given to Isabel's granddaughter by the Scouts. The kids use them to make hats which are then given to charity.

The yarn is wrapped around the pegs of the hoops. The yarn that has first been wound round the pegs is then pull up over the second winding and over the peg. Much like a knitting nancy only on a much larger scale.

These hats are the end product. Isabel has mixed two different yarns together to make them thicker and give them that lovely speckled look. Apparently these hops can also be used to make scares and shawls too.

Magdalena had another finished project this week. This is a jumper she started working on just before Christmas. It's knitted in a lovely tweed yarn. Love how it has turned out. She is now knitting a jumper for her daughter Suzanna using variegated yarn.

Margaret got this cross stitch kit for her Christmas. She enjoyed it so much she couldn't put it down and two weeks later she had it finished and framed. She is now back to working on an aran jumper for herself.

I am actually more than a little jealous of the person receiving this beautiful crochet hook case. This was stitched by the talented Izzy. I just love the fabric she used to make it. She is now working on a lovely chunky, icelandic style jumper for a friends daughter.

Next meeting we have our first swap night of the year. Something for us to look forward to. We have also begun planning the next Gartmore at home.

We also started our first charity of the year. Looks like this year might be one of mini charities rather than concentrating on just the one. For now Roberta is collecting baby jumpers for her friends church. They are going to orphans in Africa. There is a patter available along with a pattern for a matching hat. They have to be in by the end of February. The only request is that they are not done in white.

Happy New Year!

Yes we are back and all fresh. I have lots of photo finishes for you. First of all though I hope you all had a fab New Year. Sadly I didn't write down what people were working on. We can though welcome two new members. Lyn and Fiona came along for the first time on Tuesday. Lyn was crocheting blankets for charity and Fiona was learning to crochet. Lyn also brough along lots of goodies for the group. Thank you Lyn!

I also have some fantastic news. Our Donna is expecting her first baby. This of course means that we will have a baby shower this year. Congratulations Donna!

 Our Dawn didn't make it along on Tuesday but the week before she had emailed me with this photo. Evidence that she has indeed finished knitting a pair of socks. They look fab too. Wonder if I will be able to convince her to knit more?

Anthea was lucky enough to get a Kindle for her Christmas. It's her new baby which she carries everywhere with her. So she made it this cute crochet case.

Stephanie has also been busy knitting this lovely sparkly jumper. Also, this one is not being carefully put away. It had been intended for herself but is now going to her daughter.

 Linda finished this lovely crochet blanket using variegated yarn. This one is done in granny stripes which was taught to us by Donna.

Roberta was also knitting for other people. She knitted this lovely jumper for her son. She says the arms might look too long but if she had went by the pattern they would have been too short.

Helen brought along this beautiful cushion. It's done by weaving ribbon and she was taught how to make it by Carol who ran a class at one of the quilting groups. This was very much admired by everyone.

Magdalena started knitting this beautiful lacy scarf a few years ago. It was intended for her sons Christening (he is now 3). All that had to be done was to pull in the ends. So when she came across it again she finished it off. It looks lovely.

She has also been busy with her sewing. Magdalena has made another dress for her daughter's Irish dancing.  It always amazes me to see the detail in her work. It shouldn't mind you, she is such a talented lady.

I am sure this only the start of many fantastic finishes this year. We do have some more events planned too. The first is a swap night which will take place on the 24th January.