Our Triangle Machine Knitters held their monthly meeting this morning at our usual site at a church in Raleigh. We had about 15 people present.
We showed off our NC State Fair entries and our winning ribbons. We showed off our other finished projects and unfinished projects too.
We discussed how much fun we had had at the Knit-in and made plans to book a site for next spring, after we email the members who were not at the meeting so they can have input to our planning.
We discussed the Comfort Dolls that LuAnne was collecting for sending to Africa. We had knit some flat pieces to be the dolls and LuAnne's church ladies were going to assemble them and stuff them and take care of getting them to those in need. Read about them here: http://www.creativestitchonline.com/pattern.html
Some of us, specifically Elizabeth, had knit some toiletry bags for distribution to the homeless near the church where we meet. She had also gathered some toiletries to stuff the bags with.
We also had the program we had planned for, which was a measuring meeting. Peggy talked to us about the body measurements needed to make a well fitting garment and handed out papers with this info on it. She gave each of us a new tape measure and we measured each other and recorded our measurements on the papers. I can't tell you what anyone wrote, because we pledged "any measurements mentioned in this room, stays in this room!"
We reminded everyone of our holiday party next month at RaeAnne's house.
After this fun meeting, 5 of us went out to lunch at our regular lunch spot, a Chinese buffet, which is Americanized and also has ingredients for tacos!
We love getting together and talking knitting!
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Our Knit-in
A lot has been going on in and around Raleigh. Last weekend between 10 and 15 of the Triangle Machine Knitters attended a Knit-in at a local camp, which is used for autistic people in the summer. The ten of us stayed overnight in a bunkhouse, some in private rooms (7x7) and others shared a big bunk room with 16 bunk beds (but only 3 of us stayed in that room so it was sort of private, ha,ha).
Meanwhile we had arrived on Thursday to set up our knitting machines in the dining hall. We brought meals to share throughout the weekend. Some of our knitters set up their machines, but decided to drive home nightly. Those folks mainly lived nearby, while those of us who slept over were 1-2 hours from home. The last of us left after lunch on Sunday after cleaning up the kitchen, bunk areas, and dining hall where we knit and ate.
We knitted, talked, helped each other, saw how other types of machines worked (or did not work as the case may be). I shared my "expertise" with the garter carriage with one knitter who had an 860 machine which needed special serrated rails to use the gc. I had read of such things, but never seen them before. We worked it out. I knew how to program a punch card machine, so I did not have to learn that part.
The next day I helped two knitters with 970 machines learn to use their gc's. It was easier for me since I had used a gc with a 970 at my home before then. (Another knitter sort of audited my "classes" and went home after the weekend and finally got her 930 to knit pattern, used her gc for the first time and was successful!!)
I was not the only person helping others. Some brought yarn winders, irons, ironing pads, an office copy machine, various knitting magazines to browse or to take home. We even had some yarn for sale.
There were some problems with static, knitting falling off machines, and nothing seeming to work right, but we had a great time.
We have been doing this once or twice a year for the last 3 or 4 years. We are debating trying out a new location, but we love the time learning together without the distractions of everyday life.
Meanwhile we had arrived on Thursday to set up our knitting machines in the dining hall. We brought meals to share throughout the weekend. Some of our knitters set up their machines, but decided to drive home nightly. Those folks mainly lived nearby, while those of us who slept over were 1-2 hours from home. The last of us left after lunch on Sunday after cleaning up the kitchen, bunk areas, and dining hall where we knit and ate.
We knitted, talked, helped each other, saw how other types of machines worked (or did not work as the case may be). I shared my "expertise" with the garter carriage with one knitter who had an 860 machine which needed special serrated rails to use the gc. I had read of such things, but never seen them before. We worked it out. I knew how to program a punch card machine, so I did not have to learn that part.
The next day I helped two knitters with 970 machines learn to use their gc's. It was easier for me since I had used a gc with a 970 at my home before then. (Another knitter sort of audited my "classes" and went home after the weekend and finally got her 930 to knit pattern, used her gc for the first time and was successful!!)
I was not the only person helping others. Some brought yarn winders, irons, ironing pads, an office copy machine, various knitting magazines to browse or to take home. We even had some yarn for sale
There were some problems with static, knitting falling off machines, and nothing seeming to work right, but we had a great time.
We have been doing this once or twice a year for the last 3 or 4 years. We are debating trying out a new location, but we love the time learning together without the distractions of everyday life.
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