Jean - December Member of the Month

1. Tell us three things about yourself.

I support the Glasgow Warriors, I love rugby. I used to have a newsagent shop and the most stressful thing I have ever had to do was this interview.

2. Who taught you your first craft?

I learned to knit at school as no one in my family knitted. I have been hooked ever since.

3. What finish are you most proud of?

My silversmithing. All the jewellery I am wearing is my own make.

4. What has been your biggest crafting disaster?

When I was pregnant with my first son I attempted to knit a pair of bootees. I used a size 5 needle and the finish could have fit a 6 year old.

5. What other crafts do you do?

I also do beading, silversmithing, knitting, felting and crochet.

6. List of favourites;
Favourite yarn - New lanark 100% wool for felting
Favourite designs - bags
Favourite colours - green and purple although not always together
Favourite shop - Yarncake on Queen Margaret Drive, I think it's good to give these shops business to keep them going.
Favourite craft book - crochet for dummies

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

Knit socks.

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

I like listening to music like Bob Dylan.

9. What advice would you give to a beginner?

You never believe when you start something how it's going to end up. So keep at it and you will be amazed by the end product.

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

Sewing. I got the sewing machine back out the other day. I had actually bought it for my daughter originally.

11. What are you working on at the moment?

I am knitting an aran cardigan for my granddaughter. I didn't bring that with me as I like something easy when gabbing. So we are also working on these squares to make a throw.

Janice - November Member of the Month

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

I am currently doing the discovery award, I'm a Clydesider which is a volunteer for the Common Wealth Games, I was with the air cadets for 5 years even though I hate flying. I have been up in two seater planes thanks to that.

2. Who taught you your first craft?

I learned to knit at school. We had to knit a teddy bear. Everything else has been self taught as my mum didn't do any of these things.

3. What finish are you most proud of?

The t-shirt quilt. I had figured out how to do it before seeing these things on the Internet. Once I was finished I swore I was never doing another quilt that big.

4. What has been your biggest crafting disaster?

Someone bought me a spitfire cross stitch. I got lost doing it and it's still lying there unfinished.

5. What other crafts do you do?

Quilting, sewing and cross stitch.

6. Your list of favourites;

Favourite yarn -  DK
Favourite desgins -  aran
Favourite colours -  creams and purples
Favourite shop - the habidashery down at the forge market
Favourite online shop - ebay
Favourite craft book - essential sampler

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

I want a big patchwork quilt for myself. I have started already and have a few squares done. Got quite a few to go.

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

CSI

9. What words of advice would you give a beginner?

If at first you don't succeed try youtube. Or try here which is even better (knitting group).

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

Crochet, it was actually my intention to learn when I first started coming to knitting group. I would also like to learn to knit socks.

11. What are you working on at the moment?

I am working on some patchwork. Doing the squares for that big quilt that I want.

Kathleen - Member of the Month

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

I used to go jiving, I loved dancing. I did three years of hairdressing in the evenings. I also used to be a cook with the fire brigade. I did that for a long time but I am now an auxiliary nurse.

2. Who taught you your first craft?

Jean taught me how to seed bead. Before that I taught myself to knit as my mum didn't knit. I learned to crochet not that long ago from watching youtube and from people here at the group.

3. What finish are you most proud of?

My crochet - all my crochet hats because I desperately wanted to learn when the kids were young. As soon as I learned how to do it I wanted to tell the world.

4. What has been your biggest crafting disaster?

An aran jumper I started for my daughter when she was little. She is now 42 and I found it the other week still unfinished.

5. What other crafts do you do?

Jewellery, seed beading, I also love DIY. I did everything in my caravan. I covered the seating laid the carpets and the tiles.

6. Your list of favourites

Favourite yarn - I love double knit. I double it up when I knit with it to make it chunky
Favourite designs - lacey
Favourite colours - pinks, purples, and white
Favourite shop - Bargain Wools
Favourite online shop - ebay. I am forever on there ordering patterns.

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

I would like to crochet a cardigan set for my granddaughter. Just now all I make her is the hats. I would like her to have a full set.

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

I like to listen to the football. I have lived in a house full of boys. I also like Judge Judy, Corrie, Mrs Browns Boys. Anything that has a bit of lightness to it.

9. What words of wisdom would you give a beginner?

Keep at it. I was determined with the crochet - took me 30 years but I got there. Try the squares first.

10. What craft would you like to learn next?

Maybe bag felting. I have tried it before and it didn't go well.

11. What are you working on just now?

A pair of ugg boots. I have done the first one. Had to take it back a few times but I'm quite proud of it.

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.

Lyn - August Member of the Month

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

I was a store detective for 20 odd years. I had my own wool shop in the Savoy Centre. The cards sold at the till for charity in Hobbycraft are made by me.

2. Who taught you your first craft?

My mum taught me to knit.

3. What finished project are you most proud of?

My knitted nativity scene.

4. What has been your biggest crafting disaster?

Generally anything I sew or machine sew. I've only recently learned from Izzi.

5. What other crafts do you enjoy doing?

I like to make cards, scrapbook, make models and decopatch.

6. List of favourites

Favourite yarn - bonus DK
Favourite designs - knitted dolls
Favourite colours - blues and greens
Favourite store - hobbycraft and craft world
Favourite online store - craftsuprint
Favourite craft book - anything with altered arts.

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

I would like to become more proficient with the sewing machine - I would like to sew dolls

8. What do you like to listen to whilst you craft?

I like to listen to country music, mainly Irish country.

9. What advice would you give to a beginner?

Keep trying - don't give up (according to Esther, Lyn is the best teacher in the world).

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

I would like to be able to paint. I can draw a little but I would also like to paint.

Lisa - July Member of the Month

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

I'm a graphic designer, I have my own craft company and I have OCD in that if I am not busy I am not happy.

2. Who taught you your first craft?

My dad taught me. It was those boards with nails in them and you create picture with string. Can't remember what they are called.

3. What finished project are you most proud of?

I made a mermaid fimo crochet hook. I didn't want to part with it.

4. What has been your biggest crafting disaster?

The first time I dyed yarn I almost burned down the kitchen. I got the ratio of yarn wrong and it all bubbled over. Meanwhile I was upstairs bathing the kids.

5. What other crafts do you do?

I paint, cross stitch, illustrate, face painting, I don't think there is anything I haven't had a bash at.

6. Favourites
Favourite yarn - my own hand-dyed marino
Favourite designs - I really like old fashioned traditional designs.
Favourite colours - brights
Favourite shop - hobbycraft
Favourite online shop - wool warehouse
Favourite craft book - a conmpendium of crochet stitches.

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

I would love for the charity I work with to recreate the hook up logo with blankets. We don't have enough of them at the moment and we hope to fill a stadium with them.

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

Audio books, any kind normally but I love crime.

9. What would your advice be to beginners?

Never give up. Youtube is your friend.

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

I would like to be better at knitting.

Our Lisa has kept very quiet about her crafting business which does very well. She doesn't like to promote herself because the group is for fun. So I'm going to do it for her. All those hooks and the yarn were all done by Lisa and she sells them through the name For the Love of Yarn. You can find her here on facebook. She also has instagram with lots of yummy images, again just search for her craft company name. If you are interested in any hooks (she will do her best to do custom made designs) or yer gorgeous hand-dyed yarn just send her a message on her facebook page. I can safely say they are all fab. She had the whole group oohing and aahing over them.

Norma - June Member of the Month

1. Tell us three things about you we might not know.

I am a qualified swimming teacher. I am a qualified hairdresser and I don't like exercise.

2. Who first taught you to knit?

Miss Thomson, my primary 5 teacher, first taught me to knit. She was a lovely woman.

3. What project are you most proud of?

My crochet blanket because I have just learned to do that.

4. What has been your biggest crafting disaster?

When the kids were young we tried to make paper mache pig which they would use as banks. I got them all excited at the idea of painting them. I hung them on the pulley to dry overnight. When we got up the next morning the balloons were still on the pulley but the mache had dropped down onto the floor.

5. What other crafts do you like to do?

I like knitting, crochet, cross stitch, card making and cake decorating.

6. Your list of favourites;

Favourite yarn - wools that are different
Favourite designs - anything with bright colours
Favourite colours - pinks, lilacs and cream
Favourite shop - hobbycraft and bargain wool
Favourite online shop - ebay

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

I would love to be able to crochet more than granny squares. Would like to crochet hats and things.

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

Paul Weller. I also like to watch cookery programmes.

9. Any words of wisdom to beginners out there?

Don't give up - just keep trying.

10. What craft would you like to learn next?

Different kinds of crochet such as Tunisian crochet.