What's New?
A new product? Your latest venture? Plans for a lecture tour or exhibition? Whatever is happening, if it's of interest to other knitters, we'd like to hear about it! So don't keep it to yourself - email us!
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March '08
NOTTINGHAM SHOW
If you live in the North, why not join us at Nottingham this year? The Nottingham Machine Knitting Show is on Sunday 6th April 2008 from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm.
The venue is still the Harvey Hadden Sports Centre in Wigman Road, Bilborough (NG8 4PB if you have Sat Nav) just five miles from Junction 26 on the M1. It’s a large hall, with lots of space for both exhibitors and visitors. Over 40 exhibitors will bring yarns and machines, patterns and accessories and it’s a great day out. As in previous years, there’s to be a fashion show at 12.30 pm and lectures have been organised at an extra cost of £1 per lecture. As usual, refreshments will be available and there’s free parking for visitors. Admission is £4.50 in advance and £5.00 on the door. To obtain tickets and more information, please send a self-addressed and stamped envelope (together with a cheque or postal order made payable to Hush Knit Yarns, if you are ordering tickets) to:
Hush Knit Yarns
57 Burnside Drive, Bramcote Hills, Beeston, NOTTINGHAM NG9 3EF
Tel/Fax: 0115-922 3654
WOOLLY HATS
The newly branded Sailors’ Society is launching its 2008 Woolly Hat Campaign, to provide seafarers arriving in the UK with knitted hats to keep them warm during the many months they are at sea.
The Society replaces ‘isolation with belonging’ amongst some of the world’s 1.2 million seafarers, through a network of Port Chaplains stationed in almost 100 ports internationally. Last year over 15,000 hats were distributed to seafarers throughout the UK and to Russia, Antwerp and South America, with over 6,000 given as part of Christmas packages.
Woolly Hat Week 2008 runs from 3rd to 9th February and BISS hopes that as many knitters as possible will knit hats for seafarers. Patterns may be obtained by writing to the society, or downloaded from their website. We published some basic patterns for both Passap and Japanese machines on pages 48 and 49 of the July 2006 issue and for more information please contact:
Jan Webber
British & International Sailors’ Society, 350 Shirley Road, Southampton, Hampshire SO15 3HY
Tel: 02380-515950 : :
NEW WORLD RECORD
The Children’s Society has set a new world record and entered The Guinness book of records with the world’s biggest Christmas stocking. The stocking measures 32.56 x 14.97 metres (106 ft 9 in x 49 ft 1 in) and weighs the equivalent to five female reindeer.
PUT A SOCK IN IT
It’s made up of over 6,000 hand-knitted squares sent in by supporters of The Children’s Society, Co-operative staff, members and customers. The Big Stitch appeal also raised a staggering £30,000 to help The Children’s Society ensure every child has a good childhood. The Christmas stocking weighs a massive three-quarters of a tonne and is longer than three double decker buses.
The front section is made of over 6,000 knitted squares 20 cm x 20 cm. Over 25,000 metres of red wool has been used, enough to get you to and from the North Pole six times. The stocking was stuffed with over 900 presents for The Children’s Society projects. The Children’s Society has asked us to pass on thanks to everyone connected with the project including volunteers and knitting supporters.
THE DRAGON APPEAL
Tŷ Hafan the Children’s Hospice in Wales is appealing to all hobby enthusiasts to help create a square, or a number of squares, for the charity’s giant Welsh Dragon blanket.
Made up of 108,000 individual squares, the blanket will form an enormous picture of a Welsh Dragon and be assembled on the pitch of the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Squares can be created using any craft technique possible such as knitting, patchwork, cross stitch, appliqué, weaving and fabric painting. If you would like to be a part of this craft project, contact Tŷ Hafan now to apply for your squares. The charity asks for a donation of £1 per square and will issue you a colour, or colours for your squares.
Crafters are encouraged to be as creative as possible using different textures, patterns and embellishments. Once completed, volunteers will stitch together sections as individual blankets, to be auctioned off or sold. All money raised will go towards the free service Tŷ Hafan provides to over 165 children with life-limiting illnesses and their families. The Hospice also continues to give support to another 100 families who have sadly lost their children. To apply now for your squares contact Liz Rundle on 02920-672060, or by e-mailing her. Also, why not visit their website?
SHETLAND MUSUEM
Visitors to the Shetland Museum and Archives can now complete their tour of the islands’ rich culture and history with a trip to the on-site shop. The shop stocks a range of quality products inspired by and reflecting the isles’ heritage and traditions, many of which are exclusively designed for the Museum and Archives. The focus is on quality rather quantity, but that’s not to say the shop isn’t packed full of a fantastic range of products. Fair Isle fabric designs play an important feature within the shop and help to emphasise the Fair Isle collection housed within the Shetland Museum and Archives.
The shop also contains a ‘pick and mix pocket money’ section for youngsters (and the young at heart!) featuring items such as twig pencils, dragon eyes and whipping tops. The shop was designed and built by the Shetland Amenity Trust from recycled and sustainable materials, including timbers from a 19th Century German boat, which was found when dredging Hay’s Dock. For further information please contact Sita Hughson at the Shetland Amenity Trust on 01595-694688.
