Knit a Square Tips from June.

Val brought along a quilting piece she has just finished. It's a glass window design based on Rennie Macintosh which is truly stunning. She spent the evening working on her Japanese quilting.

Monika was back after her visit to Poland and she brought in with her a lovely tea cosy which she stitched. During the get together Monika worked on squares for our charity.

This beautiful baby cardigan was done by Ada. Again she was just using up her left over yarn. She also had another baby cardigan which just needed some flowers stitched on it. The rest of the evening was spent knitting squares for our charity.

The hat, scarf and gloves were knitted by Elaine for Linda's shoe box charity. It's a pity the photograph doesn't show up the lovely sparkles. Elaine used up the rest of the yarn to knit some squares.

Not a finish but I had to take a photo and show it off. Aileen brought with her an unusual cross stitch kit. It will eventually make a door stop. Once it has been stitched it is filled with rice. Can't wait to see it finished although it might be a bit too heavy to bring in.

We all like to see what others are working on. If it is something a little bit different we especially take an interest. The above photo shows Monika and Magdalena being shown Val's Sashiko squares.

Here you can see Donna teaching new member Stephanie to crochet squares. Stephanie has finished the crochet edging round the baby cardigan she was knitting. She just needs some ribbon to finish it off and then will bring it in for a photo. Donna was working on crochet squares for the charity and using it to teach Stephanie.

Last week I mentioned that June suggested knitting the squares in diamonds. It gives a better edging and means you don't have to worry about tension. Here you can see June knitting two squares at the same time. She would do three if the needles were long enough.

I decided to give this method a go and photograph how you measure the 8". Start off with one stitch then increase to two. After that increase at the start of every row until the bottom edge is 8" (as shown above) and then being decreasing at the start of every row.

Here are a couple of photo's of all the squares we received over the last few weeks. Quite a few people were knitting them on Tuesday night. Myself, Janette, Margaret, Helen, Elaine, Linda, Ada, June, Donna and Monika all had squares on the pins.



Lastly we have a celebrity in our midst. Donna has had a photo and letter printed in this months Simply knit. I will scan in both at some point over the next few days so that everyone can see.

Donna - March Member of the Month

1. Tell us about yourself.

I am 27 and I am a Maths teacher in a high school in Cardonald. I will be married this summer.

2. Where/when did you learn to knit and crochet?

I was taught by the Rowan rep in the Glasgow John Lewis. She fought me to do both. I learned to crochet first about 2 years ago and to knit 1 1/2 years ago.

3. What project are you most proud of?

The little soft toy animals I did about a year ago using Snowflake yarn and the Snowman. Especially since knitting is not my strongest and it was in Snowflake which was difficult.

4. What was your biggest knitting disaster?

It was a hat I tried to make with rowan soft lux. I didn't have a pattern for one so I made it up. I tried it loads of times but it always ended up really loose and would have blown off with a gust of wind, it's still lying unfinished.

5. What other crafts do you do?

I also do cross stitch which was my main craft. I have also done some card making but I don't do that too often.

6. List of favourites

Favourite yarn - I love most yarns by Rowan.

Favourite product - my crochet hooks.

Favourite designer - Carol Meldrew

Favourite store - Hobbycraft

Favourite online store - Amazon for the books.

Favourite colours - I love pastel colours

Favourite craft book - 200 crochet squares which I use all the time and Knitted Icons

7. What project would you love to do?

I really want to make a large throw with crochet squares. I am working on this at the moment on and off. I also want to knit the Beatles from Knitted Icons.

8. What do you listen to or watch whilst crocheting?

I usually have the music channels of and soaps. I love Saturdays for the omnibus' which I can have on whilst crafting.

9. What advice do you give to other knitters or crocheters?

Give it a go. Knitters see crochet as too difficult but it's not. Also it is very easy to unpick if you make a mistake (Donna is giving a crochet class in Gartmore).

10. What is your favourite non craft book?

I love Harry Potter. I also like Lisa Jewell.

Quiet Night

Linda came in with a finished scarf done in a lovely fluffy yarn. She is now looking for a hat pattern to use with the rest of the yarn. If anyone has any ideas let us know.

I finished the sparkly socks I had been working on and the throw for my sister. The yarn for the socks is by Paton's and is called Morocco. There are about five colourways but John Lewis holds this one and a lovely pink. I was then working on another pair of socks. This time in green and for a friend.

It was a fairly quiet night. Val, Carol and Janette go to the quilting gathering every third Tuesday of the month which was Tuesday there. Julia's husband is a photographer and he was out in the Trossachs. Being such a lovely day of course Julia went with him. Dawn Marie and her mum Moira were also not there as Moira has a chest infection. Hopefully she will get well soon. And our Monika was visiting in Poland.

We did though have a new member who has promised to come along again next week. Stephanie is a knitter and was knitting a lovely yellow child's cardigan. She decided to come along as the border was to be done in crochet and wasn't sure how to do it. Donna, our crochet guru, was more than happy to help out.


Donna, between lessons, was working on her second fingerless glove. Isabel was working on a lovely scarf. Elaine was also working on a scarf in a sparkly deep pink. Magdalena was working on a sweater for Adam. She managed to get most of the second side done that night. Joyce was working on a baby blanket. Lots of babies in the family are due. Roberta was working on a baby cardigan. Alison was working on her cross stitch of a house. Sheena was working on her cross stitch of a Geisha girl. Aileen was working on a cross stitch of a teddy bear. Ginnie was working on a pair of socks in lovely oranges, blues and greens. Margaret was working on baby mitts and bootees.

June was working on squares for the charity. She is doing hers a little different than the others which is actually a great idea. Instead of casting on all 42 stitches and knitting straight up she casts on one and increases. Basically knitting in a diamond shape. I am going to try this out myself and then post some more information on it.

This months member of the month is Donna. I will be posting her interview in the next few days.

Something New

These lovely bed socks were knitted by Linda. Unfortunately you can't see the rib pattern due to the angle of the camera. However, this makes them look like they will be extra cosy and comfy. Also our Janette suggested you can mix and match. Linda was working on a scarf for her shoe box charity.

Another pair of socks but these ones were knitted up by Ginnie. The pretty yarn is by Panda and is made of Soy. They are beautifully soft. Ginnie was working on another pair of socks in the same yarn but this time in green.

This lovely little girls cardigan was knitted by Ada. Again as a way of using up her yarn stash. The buttons are actually from the Early Learning Centre and very much suit the cardigan.

This scarf was also done by Ada. She was watching a craft TV show which showed how to make a scarf or trim using a loop method. It was a piece of wood with to columns at each end. The yarn was wrapped round the columns in a figure of eight pattern five times then secured before repeating. Once finished you shake out the loops and get something similar to this. Ada didn't have the product the TV show were advertising but wanted to try it out so instead used a dolls high chair. It made for a lovely effect.

Our Val was back which was lovely to see. She was working on a Japanese Shashiko quilt. The square she was working on was in a beautiful bright blue and the stitching was in white which really stood out. Donna finished her first fingerless glove and then made a start on the second. Look forward to seeing it finished as the pattern is lovely. Isabel was working on a lovely scarf. Julia was working on her pink top. Helen and Laura were working on squares for our charity. Alison was working on her cross stitch of a house. It's quite a big design but you can really see it growing each week. Joyce was working on a baby cardigan (told you she would have finished the shawl, sadly she didn't bring it along for a photo). Janette was working on a lovely quilt for her foster niece. I was working on a pair of socks.

Next week I will be interviewing Donna for our February member of the month.

Our First New Letter

Ada has another finish to show us this week. She knitted this lovely sail boat jumper. It's a pattern she has had for years and decided it was time to knit it once again. The jumper isn't for anyone in particular. Ada is just trying to use up all the spare yarn she has lying around. She is now working on another baby jumper.

Magdalena also had a finish for us last week. She finished these beautiful baby booties on the night. The have a little elastic round the cuffs to ensure they don't fall off. Magdalena was also working on a lovely stripey jumper for her youngest son Adam.

We also had Joyce working on a baby shawl. No doubt she will have that finished in a few days. No one understands just how fast this talented lady knits until they see her. Every week she has a new project. Elaine was working on another scarf using the navy sparkly yarn from last time. Aileen was working on a lovely Disney cross stitch. Sheena was also working on cross stitch. Hers was a lovely Geisha design. Janette was knitting a cosy cap for the Sunday group charity. Julia was working on her pink top (and Aunty was also along for a visit). Dawn Marie was working on her crochet baby blanket. Donna was working on the lace fingerless gloves. She has almost finished the first one. Ginnie was working on a pair of socks with a lovely purple yarn from the States. Margaret was working on a little baby jacket. Helen, Laura and Monika were all working on squares for our knit a square charity. Helen finished ten premature hats to be sent to Haiti and the lady doing the collecting managed to collect over 80 items.

We also had two members back for the first time in our new venue. Isabel was back after visiting her grandchildren in America. June was also back after spending time with her daughter who just had a little girl, Annalise. It was great to see both back as it wasn't the same without them.

Ginnie has been working hard over the last few weeks. She has produced our first newsletter which was handed out to everyone on Tuesday. It contained book reviews, information on Gartmore, an article on last years charity, a list of things to look forward to this year and and I was also interviewed for it. Ginnie hopes to produce this once a month so don't be surprised if she asks for book reviews or other articles from you. It was well layed out and everyone enjoyed getting it. If you didn't get one let us know.

Ginnie also put together the Spring challenge. This years challenge is called "My Favourite Things". The title speaks for itself but there are now a few restrictions to the challenge due to our lack of space. The entry must measure 21cm by 29.7cm which is the same as a sheet of A4 paper. It can also be no more than 3cm deep. This will just make it all the more challenging. The judging date is 25th May. I always look forward to seeing the different things everyone comes up with. This one I will be even more interesting I think. If anyone did not receive a Spring Challenge info sheet let us know.

On Tuesday I will also be bringing along more info sheets on the charity and Gartmore should we have any more takers for either.

Sister group celebrate being 1

Our sister group celebrate their 1st birthday on Sunday (doesn't time fly). They will be having a party in Cafe Wander 10am to 1pm. If you want to go along and help celebrate all they ask is you contribute £1.

Julia - February Member of the Month

1. Tell us about yourself.


I was born in Garrowhill in 1954 and when I was 15 I was diagnosed with MS. Spent a lot of time off school. I worked in Belvedere hospital after school. In 1976 I married my high school sweetheart Richard and in 1983 my son John was born.


2. Where did you learn to knit?


I learned to knit from my mum. I had a knitting family. I was in primary school at the time so I was probably 8 or 9.


3. What is your proudest achievement?


That would be Dolly (pictured above). I thought I would never get her finished.


4. What was your biggest disaster?


I started to knit a jumper and jacket set I saw in a magazine. It was very intricate and had an Aztec band. The same design made a border around the jacket. It required using a circular needle. I attempted the circular needle and couldn't do it so I tried to used normal needles. It's the only thing I gave up on.



5. What would you love to knit in the future?


I would love to knit a Christening shawl.


6. List of favourites;
favourite colours - pink or pastels. I'm quite a pastel person.
favourite yarn - baby double knitting.
favourite book - to be honest I use individual patterns rather than books.
favourite designs - I love Icelandic and lace designs.


7. Do you do other crafts?


I have tried crochet, rug making. tapestry and painting. After I took MS and was off school so much my mums friends all came round to teach me all sorts of crafts.

8. Any advice for other knitters?

Don't give in too easily because when it does work out you get such a sense of achievement.

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

I usually have the television on and watch things like Midsummer Murders. Something that you can easily follow whilst knitting.

10. What is your favourite non craft book?

Wild Swans, it's a generational novel set in China. Also any Maeve Binchy.