Dear Readers
Just a quick note to let you know that the October issue has been printed and subscription copies will go out this week. The magazine is officially on sale on Thursday 9th September. I'm now back in the office after visiting Joan Lafferty and Carl Boyd in Cornwall. Once I've caught up, I'll update the website for you all to see.

Make a Diary Date that next year's Nottingham Show is 3rd April 2011.

In MKM this month we extend a very warm welcome back into the machine knitting fold to Alice Wilmshurst. Readers of her Knitting Machine Journal and Passap Knitting Machine Journal will know how her life changed dramatically when she lost her husband Bert almost a decade ago. I sent her some tickets for the Chepstow Show at the beginning of June and after we’d chatted for a while, I was delighted that she agreed to join the MKM team, especially to look after all our Passap and Pfaff knitters. She’s never forgotten all her old readers and I know she’d be thrilled if some of them would get in touch with her again. I hope that many of you will feel able to send in contributions to her, much as you did in the past. It’ll take a while for her to get back into her stride and ‘Alice’s Corner’ can grow in the coming months.

We’ve had a bumper postbag for Dear Anne this month and letters are still coming in about an on-line club. The general consensus seems to be that there’s already enough out there for knitters who like to use their computer in this way. The idea is not shelved, just put on the back burner for the time being. Through MKM, I’ve always tried to keep the craft going and never set up in competition. So, we’ll let the GMK and other groups keep you well supported for the time being.

One thing I’ve had to do is ask Jo Newton to come up with a 24-stitch version of Heidi Cleary’s Cute Kids motif on Page 22 of the July issue. The phone calls started almost immediately from readers who didn’t want to do an intarsia pattern, but would love to knit it as a single motif. Jo started work on it as soon as she came back from holiday and it's all ready for Picture Parade in the September issue. It’s always reassuring when I have your feedback - good or not so good. I’ve always said that constructive criticism helps me get the contents of the magazine right for you all.

On the subject of holidays, I’m taking a short weekend break at the beginning of August to go down and see Joan Lafferty in Bude. We plan to look over the cards received for the little competition we set to mark a couple of dates in our lives and I’ll bring you the winners in the October issue. Don’t forget that July is a ‘five week’ month, so you’ll have to wait a bit longer for your September issue. Until then, happy knitting.

NEXT ISSUE
September 2010 - Issue 152
Subscription copies sent out Thursday 5 August
On sale Thursday 12 August

Taunton Machine Knitting Club is organising three days of workshops and a lecture by Denise Musk from 1st to 3rd October 2010. The event will be held at Hatch Beauchamp Village Hall - 10.00 am to 4.00 pm on Friday and Sunday and from 11.00 am to 4.00 pm on Saturday. The programme for Friday includes a Slip Stitch 'hands-on' workshop. On Saturday it's a Mixed Media Lecture and on Sunday there will be a Mixed Media 'hands-on' workshop. Participants need to bring their own knitting and sewing machines. Details of local bed and breakfast accommodation can be provided. The cost of the workshops is £25 per person and the lecture is £14 per person. This may reduce if a sufficient number of people attend. For more details, contact Taunton MKC on 01460-78295 or e-mail

The Slip Stitch 'hands-on' workshop investigates slip stitch, especially petal slip stitch and other related highly textured fabrics. Participants must bring their own knitting machine, table and accessories.

For the Mixed Media 'hands-on' workshop, Denise Musk says that this will be challenging for anyone not familiar with using their sewing machine in combination with machine knitted fabric. However, it does stimulate individuals to try out new techniques. It's essential that a sewing machine is in full working order and that the operator knows how to thread and use it, as there will not be time for Denise to set up machines which the user does not understand. Participants must bring their sewing machine, threads, accessories and so on. Village hall tables will be available.

During the Mixed Media lecture, Denise will show garments made over the last few years using many combinations of machine knitting, crochet, machine embroidery, fabric painting, embellishment and other relevant textile crafts. Denise also invites knitters to raise any topical related subject for general discussion. This is not a 'hands-on' workshop, but is sure to be of great interest. For more information about Mixed Media, see page 7 of the August 2006 Guild of Machine Knitters' Newsletter and pages 13, 20 to 23 of the August 2009 Newsletter.

Carl released two new patterns at the Bournemouth Show and both were very well received at Machine Knitting LIVE! They have today’s classy look with flattering three quarter length sleeves.

The first is a Flower Trimmed Sweater in Yeoman Sport to fit bust sizes from 82 to 112 cm, 32 to 44 in with 10 cm, 4 in ease. The trim is made in next-to-no-time with full instructions included and it’s also detachable for easy after care.

The Scarf Trimmed Sweater is in Metropolitan’s Metro 4-ply crêpe in the same size range. The lovely neckline is knitted in two sections and is easy to assemble during making up. For more information about Carl's designs, please visit http://www.carlboyd.com/

Authentic and genuine woollen yarns spun in Scotland since 1798 now available to buy online to domestic machine knitters, hand weavers and hand knitters.

Please visit http://www.knitrennie.com to see our full range of greasy cones for machine knitting and weaving and our washed 50g balls for hand knitters.
Enjoy!

JC Rennie

Once again Machine Knitting Monthly invites you to join us at Bournemouth School for Girls, Castle Gate Close, Castle Lane West, Bournemouth BH8 9UJ on Saturday 6th March 2010 from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm.

Buy tickets.

The school is on the A3060, Castle Lane West. Once you reach Castlepoint Shopping Centre on the right, continue straight. East Way is first left and Castle Gate Close is second left. Everything is on one level so disabled access is easy. Organised by machine knitters for machine knitters, Machine Knitting LIVE! really is a friendly event that welcomes everyone. This year we’ve some new exhibitors, so please make every effort to support the show.

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ACCESSORIES
Metropolitan will have a room bulging with all the extras you need and do visit the Hague stand for spare parts plus PDB Electric Yarn Winders and the 125g Yarn Twister, as well as a super range of machine knitting accessories. A linker is a necessity for serious machine knitters and Hague Manual and Electric Linkers are second to none.

ADMISSION
Pay on the door if you wish and entrance is £6 for everyone or save £1 by sending for an advance ticket. Children are admitted free as long as they are supervised throughout.

DESIGNERS
You’ll find most of our top designers at Machine Knitting LIVE! We look forward to welcoming Ann Brown with her Posh Frocks, Elaine Cater and Nina Miklin. In addition, we’ll also have talks and demonstrations throughout the day. Newcomers this year will be Anne Baker, whose Karabee designs have been so popular in the magazine and Erica Thomson. Erica’s amazing knitting with wire is very popular, as are her books and expert knowledge of overlockers. Carl Boyd and Fiona Morris make a welcome return. One sad note is that Hilary Belton may not be able to come this year with Busy Bee patterns. Her mother, Barbara is frail and it’s difficult for Hilary to get away.

EXHIBITORS
As we go to press, we hope to welcome the following exhibitors:
Anne Baker with Karabee designs
Ann Brown and her Posh Frocks
Arnold Bennett (The Button Man)
Bunglebee Yarns with King Cole & Yeoman
Elaine Cater designer patterns and books
Clair Crowston and her designer patterns
DesignaKnit with Metropolitan
Forsell Yarns with Undy Yarns
Guild of Machine Knitters
B Hague & Co with linkers and PDB twisters
Heathercraft pre-owned machines and accessories
Beryl Jarvis
Machine Knitting Monthly
Metropolitan huge selection of machines, books, accessories and yarns including Metro Crêpe
Nina Miklin with luxury yarns and patterns
Fiona Morris with designer patterns and yarn
Silver Reed machines and accessories at Heathercraft, Metropolitan and Undy Yarncrafts
Erica Thomson with wire knitting and overlocking
Undy Yarncrafts bring their shop to the show, including lots of novel ideas
Uppingham Yarns with a wide range of yarns

FASHION SHOW
We hold a club fashion show in the middle of the day and entrance is free. The compere is Beryl Dowell and she brings members of the Rayleigh Club as our models with lots of new club garments.

FIRST AID
In case of difficulty, members of the Talbot Division branch of St John Ambulance will be on hand. They also organise the Left Luggage point and your donations to their fund-raising efforts are always much appreciated.

MACHINES
There will be new and pre-owned fully guaranteed knitting machines with a wide range of accessories at very affordable prices. If you’d like to find out more about buying and using a machine and be given free advice from long-established and highly reputable companies, the experts will be on hand from Heathercraft, Metropolitan and Undy Yarns.

REFRESHMENTS
The school’s caterers will provide drinks and refreshments at very reasonable prices. We use the school dining room, so there’s lots of seating available.

TRANSPORT
Parking again is right outside the door in the school’s playground and we reserve spaces for disabled travellers just by the entrance. Coaches and mini-buses usually drop knitters to leave the driver free to look around Bournemouth. The main bus route is on the road right outside the school.

YARNS
You’ll find lots to tempt you from Bunglebee Yarns (including King Cole and Yeoman), Metropolitan (including Metro Fine French Crêpe), Nina Miklin, Riverside, Undy Yarncrafts (including Forsell) and Uppingham. So you’ve no excuse; you should have used up all the dreary, dull cones on charity knitting or given them away by now! Please make every effort to join us this year because the craft really needs your support if it is to survive.

Anne