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.

Magdalena - November MOTM

1. Tell us about yourself.

My name is Magdalena and I am 31 from Poland. I moved here about 2 1/2 years ago. I really enjoy living here. I used to be a dancing teacher but I actually wanted to be a physics teacher. Right now I enjoy being a housewife and raising my three children.

2. When did you learn to knit?

My mum tought me to knit when I was four or five and then my aunty tought me to crochet. When I was seven or eight my dad tought me embroidery. I have learned something from everybody.

3. What has been your proudest achievement?

Suzanna's Christening dress (pictured above). It was done in two nights. My mum was nervous and waiting for the phone call to go out and buy a dress. It is the finest wool I have ever worked with.

4. Biggest disaster?

My biggest disaster is probably that I have so many unfinished projects. I am always starting new ones. My mum brought back this beautiful yarn from a holiday. I was itching to get my hands on it so that I could make something with it. Finally my mum gave it to me. I knitted so many things with the yarn but was always unhappy with it so would unravel it and knit up into something else. Eventually I knitted a jumper I liked and gave it to a friend. The first time they wore it it got ripped. I call it cursed wool. I have also knitted many jumpers that didn't fit or in the end I didn't like the design.


5. What would be your ideal project?

I would love to crochet lace for my daughters wedding veil. Or even to be able to shorten my project list. I would also love to knit a fine lace shawl or table clothe. Something that could be passed down and would eventually become and heirloom.

6. List of favourites;

favourite colours - I love all colours apart from mustard/brown. I love playing with colour and one is never enough.
Favourite yarn - I love blends. There is a polish wool which is 50% merino and 50% acrylic. If feels just like cotton. I like anything that seems to knit by itself
favourite patterns - I don't use patterns
Favourite designer - again I tend not to follow designers but make things up as I go
Favourite online shop - There are 2 Polish ones. interfox.com (which sells the yarn I love) and zamotan (which means tangled) which has a great choice in colour.
store - none but one day I will open my own as shops these days are either too expensive or don't have the range. There is a small shop in the west end which is lovely and has lots of local yarn but it's expensive. I couls spend all day there.
favourite book - Debbie Bliss - natural baby knits or knits for little angels. It's simple with great photo's. I also love a blog which reads like a book. It's sew soul mama which is updated every day and is mostly about crafts natural and organic.



7. What other crafts do you enjoy?

All of them. With hobbycraft openning I have discovered more. I love beading, crochet, quilting and cooking. I wish I could also paing. I would love to build a home from scratch. I can't buy when I know I could make it myself.

8. Any hints/tips for other knitters?

When something has to be sewn leave a long tail when casting on and use it for stitching. It saves a lot of weaving. If you can avoid seems do everything you can.


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

I would rather have something on TV. Movies like Pride and Prejudice. Films I can see women at work (crafting). I also love romantic comedies. I love Meg Ryan as she always has great jumpers. I also like Stargate and West Wing.

10. What non craft books do you enjoy reading?

A lot of polish. My favourite authors are Joanna Chmielewska (like Agatha Christie but more down to earth). I also like Andrzey Pilipiuk and Andrzey Sapkowski which are more like fantasy fiction. I also love Harry Potter and Orson Scott Card.

Getting Ready For Christmas

All was quiet at this weeks group. Probably recovering from the autumn challenge the week before. Although I do know that Ginnie was working and Val, Janette and Carol were at their quilting gathering. There were no finished projects to photograph. However, I did decide to take a photo of Linda's project which you can see above. It's a Santa sack for her daughter and is an ongoing project she has been working on since her daughter's first Christmas (she is now 12). Each year Linda stitches a new motif to represent the year. So part of the fun isn't just openning the gifts inside but looking to see what her mum has stitched. There are designs on there to represent her favourite toy that year or the fact she started school and even to show that she started dance lessons. I think this is a lovely idea and something she can keep when she is older.

The only good thing about it being quieter is that we could all listen in easily to conversation on each side and we could all see what everyone was working on. Dawn Marie had finished the throw she had been working on previously. She had even given it to her friend but forgot to bring it in first or take a photo. She is going to take a photo of it for us the next time she sees her friend. She is now working on a lovely crochet baby blanket using variegated yarn. Her mum was knitting a lovely scarf using that pom pom yarn. Her first attempt at using it. She started it that night and was half finished before she left. Elaine was crocheting a scarf using hot pink cotton. It's a gift for a friend (who almost spotted it when visiting recently). Isabel was working on little doll shoes to take over to her granddaughter. She is going over to visit her grandkids again in January. Roberta was crocheting a blanket. She decided to do it in two halves as when working on the first half it became too heavy to work with. She is using two strands of yarn in white and red. Joyce (who was unwell) worked on a sweater. She was using a lovely purple variegated yarn which gave the sweater a fair isle appearance. Julia was working on her lovely pink sweater which seems to be coming along. Gillian was crocheting a lovely blanket. Margaret was working on a blanket too. This one was in cream and involved stitching knitted motifs on top of the squares. Magdalena was working on a lovely red sweater for Adam. Speaking of which Adam was brought along to visit us as well as her daughter and older son by her husband. Adam just turned a year old on Monday and he ran to the group (and then proceeded to run away again). Hard to believe he was still crawling amongst us a few months ago. Lastly I was working on a pair of red socks for a friend.

I also interviewed Magdalena for the last member of the month for this year. I will post her interview at the end of the week. The first interview of 2010 will be our sock lady Ginnie.

A reminder that Tuesday will be our last day until January. I promise to bring along mince meat pies as a treat.