Anthea - September Member of the Month

1. Tell us three things about yourself that we might not know.

I am an opera singer by training. I grew up in South Africa. I first moved to the UK when I was 21.

2. Who taught you your first craft?

My gran taught me to sew Barbie clothes even though I didn't have a Barbie (I didn't like them). My mum taught me to knit around the same time when I was 6.

3. What finish are you most proud of?

It's a tie between the aran crochet blanket and the crocodile crochet stitch bag that I did for Carina.

4. What is your biggest crafting disaster?

A dress I made as a teenager. I got the darts all wrong and so it was lopsided. I still wore it with pride.

5. What other crafts do you do?

cardmaking, scrapbooking, sewing, knitting, crochet, paint, draw and cross stitch.

6. List of favourites.

Favourite yarn - stylecraft
Favourite designs - aran crochet. I like the cabling.
Favourite colours - purples
Favourite online store - deramores
Favourite craft book - crochet masterclass

7. What would you like to achieve in the future?

Make a free form crochet garment. A dress. I don't know where to start though.

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

It varies. I have eclectic taste. I usually have spotify on and it can have anything from classical to more modern.

9. What words of wisdom would you pass on to a beginner?

YouTube is your friend.

10. What craft would you like to learn in the future?

I would like to learn some of the old crochet techniques that aren't used now. I would also like to learn weaving.

11. What are you working on at the moment?

I am working on a shawl. I got the pattern from ravelry and the yarn at a craft fair. I struggled to pick which colours to go for. The yarn is called Moonlight by James C. Brett.

Celebrating Finishes!

First of all an apology to Margaret. She knitted these beautiful baby cardigans. A few weeks ago she gave them to Helen so that they would go to the Hospice charity shop in Baillieston (who were delighted with them). However, I forgot to post the photo on the blog. This time it was my fault and the photo hadn't done a disappearing trick.

We are also celebrating finished projects again. Helen came up with a fantastic idea. Every time someone has a finish they are handed a raffle ticket. At the end of the month a ticket is drawn and they can pick out something from a lucky dip. So Tuesday night everyone was handed out raffle tickets. The prizes aren't big but some of them might be pretty and some might be useful. It's just nice to show appreciation for everyones talent now and then.

Margaret had a couple of finishes again on Tuesday. She is clearly preparing for winter. The cross stitch was actually a kit that Roberta was giving away. Margaret likes Santa's and immediately pounced on it. It looks good in the boxed frame. She also knitted these gorgeous mitts for her youngest. The yarn is chunky and super soft. She then spent Tuesday working on another Christmas cross stitch. This time a snowman.

Stephanie had a few finishes herself. She knitted up these beautiful baby items. All of which are off to the Hospice charity shop in Baillieston. The shop has actually asked to pass on their thanks for everyones generosity. They have loved all the baby clothes and the customers having been ooing over them too. Stephanie (along with June) was knitting scarves in an unusual yarn. Hopefully it won't be long before I can get a photo to show it off.

A friend of Helen's is expecting. She doesn't know the sex of the baby yet. So Helen is being prepared and is planning on knitting for both. This lovely baby boy cardigan is the first of many. Helen spent the evening working on some socks which will be a Christmas gift for another friend.

Fran finished this gorgeous baby blanket. Done in crochet and set off with a ribbon edging. It's more stunning in person and the yarn is lovely and soft. Helen decided that since Tuesday was the first night of giving out raffles it should also be the first night of selecting something from the lucky dip. Fran had the winning ticket and won herself a cross stitch pin cushion.

I had a couple of finishes too. I stitched this frog prince which was a kit that came with a book. I glued it into a hoop and attached some ribbon so that it could be hung from a hook. The socks I finished the week before. It's from the large spools of yarn from Roberta. These socks are for my sisters Christmas. I spent Tuesday interviewing Anthea and knitting up socks using yarn hand dyed by the lovely Lisa.

Look out for Anthea's member of the month interview in the next few days. I have added a new question. Magdalena suggested that we start listing what people are working on. This is something that was done back in the early days. However, with over 30 members I could be there all do. What I will do though is take some 'works in progress' photo's during evenings where there are few finishes. Not all, but a few.

Show and Tell

Last Tuesday we had our show and tell which was a lot of fun. It was just an opportunity for people to bring in some finishes that they are proud of. At the end we had a we raffle just to celebrate. No judging involved. Just a fun way to see what everyone likes to do.

I have a confession to make and I feel so rotten about this. I got home to discover that there were a few photo's missing. I think it must be my camera at fault because there are two photo's missing that I specifically remember taking. They are of new members too. The lesson to learn here is to look through my photo's as I go. I feel bad because one of those new members was so reluctant to have her finish on display (it was beautifully knitted too). I apologise and please don't let that put you off joining in anything else.

These photo's are just in order of my notes so that I don't get mixed up.

Margaret was first with this cross stitch of a swan. This is her pride and joy as it's her first large cross stitch and she loves swans.

This was stitched by myself. I did this about 10 years ago. It was my first large cross stitch with beading and my first time stitching on anything but aida.

Janice is proud of this finished quilt as it was so awkward to do. Due to the geometric pattern everything had to be done right for it to work.

Helen is proud of these recently finished Sashiko pieces. She took her time thinking them out. She liked the style because it's not meant be done fancy. Unlike embroidery there is no fuss.

Stephanie brought some her knits out from her box. A lot of hard work went into these and a lot of new patterns and different yarns were used.

Noreen knitted these beautiful little bootees to hang on the pram. She knits these and sells them for charity.

New member Maureen made these gorgeous hats. This was her first attempt at doing crochet. She even adapted the pattern so that it became a sun hat.

Esther knitted this beautiful baby jacket. She actually didn't want it displayed. Noreen had to sneak it in.

New member Lesley knitted this beautiful cardigan. She altered it so that it used a raggling and she gave it a crochet border (which really sets it off).

Linda made this for her daughters first Halloween (she's now 16). She didn't have a pattern and the spots are all hand stitched because she had no spotty fabric.

Elaine brought along Rosie and Jim. These were her first knitted dolls which she had made for her daughter. She had to rescue them a few years ago when her daughter almost threw them out.

Donna crocheted this gorgeous shawl. She loves granny squares and was looking for a pattern which was a variation of the granny square. She also treated herself to some fancy yarn to make it.

New member Agnes had brought along these beautiful bracelets. Agnes is a beader rather than a knitter and almost didn't come to the group for that reason. Luckily her friends talked her into it knowing she could do her beading too. She enjoys challenges and different types of beaded jewellery including pieces for weddings.

One of the missing photo's was of a baby cardigan by new member Pamela. It was beautifully knitted up on variegated yarn. She enjoyed knitting it because it's all boys in her family and it was a nice change knitting for a girl. The pattern also involved no sewing which she loved.

Audrey had also brought along a lovely owl teddy/cushion which she had knitted up. It was her first time knitting an owl and has since knitted a few more (I tried to take him home but she wouldn't let me).

Everyone who took part got a raffle ticket and there were a few wee prizes. Dawn was my lovely assistant and pulled out the tickets. One of those prizes I had made special. The lovely Lisa designed this gorgeous crochet hook especially for the group. It even has knitting needles and a crochet hook out the top of the ball of yarn. Maureen was the lucky winner which was apt since she had crocheted the sun hat.

Again my apologies for the missing photos. I promise to do better in future. Meanwhile we have September's member of the month interview on Tuesday. The lovely Anthea has volunteered for that so look out for it.

Demo Time - Plastic Bags.

Before she went on holiday, Magdalena had been doing some crochet with plastic carrier bags. It had us all curious. Five minutes before home time she tried to explain to us how to cut up the bag in preparation. Not easy in just five minutes. So now that she is home she kindly gave us a wee demo.

We all brought bags and scissors so that we could join in. It involved the cutting away of the bottom and handles and then folding.

It was then cut much like you would cut to make a Chinese lantern. Magdalena then demonstrated how to ensure that you end up with one long strand of carrier bag.

It really does work. You can see Magdalena here rolling up her now carrier bag yarn.

Everyone managed it successfully too.

You can see here our hard work paid off. I will say though that if you want the full carrier bag to ensure that it isn't torn somewhere before hand. Otherwise you end up with a smaller ball (voice of experience here).

Elaine started working with it straight away. It has quite a nice effect. You could also collect other bags to give it a striping effect.

We had some finishes too. Our youngest member had her very first finish. You can see Amilee here proudly showing off a lollipop she made with her craft kit.

Janice has been growing some tomatoes and brought some of them along for Helen. Margaret has also been growing tomatoes but they don't last long enough to be brought in.

Janice also finished this lovely baby jacket. Everyone has liked it so much that there are a few people planning on knitting one up.

One of our newer members, Audrey, had been wanting to knit socks. She is primarily a cross stitcher but she does knit too. As I was already teaching sock knitting a few others and a different pattern I was only able to talk her through a few bits with Dawn helping her with the rest. Not that she needed it. From me all she needed was some advice about the heel and a week later there was a pair of finished socks. They look fantastic. Looking at the toe you wouldn't know this was a beginner. Very impressive!

Carolin is going on her Caribbean cruise soon and has just finished a smaller bag to go with her beach bag. She used the same flip flop fabric and adorned it with buttons. Unfortunately her sewing machine went to sewing machine heaven in the process but it didn't stop her from getting it finished.

Jean also had a finish. She made this lovely card for me. Knowing my love of camper vans it was perfect. Thank you Jean!

Roberta has been busy knitting up baby hats. Well, the first three were done in crochet and look lovely. I especially like the flower. The rest are little preemie baby hats.

I also had a couple of finishes. I stitched this little owl hanging. It came free with a magazine and was supposed to be a keyring. However, I decided that I wanted it as a little hanging instead and I chose not to stuff it. I also finished my last pair of mosaic socks. These ones are for my dad.

Next week we have another busy one. We are having a show and tell. Just a fun way for everyone to bring along finishes they are proud of and let us all have a nosey. There will be no judging as it's just for fun but there will be a raffle with some prizes.