News Desk

Welcome to our first workshop for 2017.  Something a little different.

We are taking bookings through TryBooking.com. Please click on the link below and you will be taken to TryBooking to complete your order.

Cancellation Policy
The Guild will issue a full refund for cancellations advised to us 14 days or more before the date of the event. However, please note that bookings are transferable. Should you wish to transfer your place at an event to another member, please advise the Workshop Convenor at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

June 22-26 saw the 2016 Craft & Quilt Fair being held at the Sydney Exhibition Centre, Glebe Island.

Various treasures for the knitter and crocheter were there to be found, including new Guild retail member Australian Alpaca Barn.

We had enthusiastic volunteers...

.. and prize-winning items on display ...

Fireworks Scarf & Dorset Buttons

Here is a taste of some of the workshops we are running over the Camp weekend.  Full details of all these will be on the website in the next few weeks so you can decide what you’d like to attend before bookings open in the middle of January.   Details of any skills/materials/homework required will be posted before bookings open. We’ll be holding three workshop sessions – Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning – with a mix of 3 hour workshops, 1.5 hour workshops and talks/demonstrations.

An Introduction to Lace Knitting (Tutor: Nikki Suttor)
Basic lace knitting techniques for those who haven’t tried before (or have tried and given up!)

Crocheting a Mandala (Jane Downey)
Learn to crochet a colourful mandala, changing colours almost invisibly.

Intermediate Lace Skills (Jenny Howatson)
For those who have now mastered the basics of fine knitting and yarn overs, a step up to the next stage.

Knitting Modular Socks (Evol King)
Use your left-over sock yarn to make colourful socks in small modules.  Knitted flat.

Knitting the Continental Way (Krista Thompson)
A useful skill which may speed up your knitting and help with colourwork.

Knitting with Beads (and a crochet hook) (Nikki Suttor)
Use a crochet hook to work beads into your knitting.

Learn to use a Drop Spindle (Lara Nettle)
Spin your own yarn and understand basic yarn construction

Learn Broomstick Crochet (Jane Downey)
A fun way to crochet and create a different look

Make your own buttons – The Dorset Crosswheel Button way (Pat McGregor)
Make a Dorset button to match your knitting or as a feature or brooch

Photographing your knitting (Wendy McDougall)
Show off your knitting to its best advantage in your photo album or social media page

Shadow Knitting (Clare Hacker)
Create an item which reveals an image when viewed at a different angle

Stranded Intarsia Lace (Merrin Marks)
Create blocks of colour on a lace background (without distorting the lace)

Tunisian Crochet for Beginners (Sara Aylett)
An introduction to the basic techniques of Tunisian Crochet
AND our Guest Tutor, Norah Gaughan, will be teaching two workshops:

Knitting 2-sided cables
Learn how to knit two different types of 2-sided cables

Make it your own – Cabled Hat
Design a cabled hat without the hard work part. Choose from a variety of different cable charts designed for the class, and learn how to complete your hat by following prewritten design templates for a beanie, slouchy hat or beret.

Norah will also be giving a talk on Designing with Geometric Shapes - sweaters based on large easy to knit and easy to wear shapes.

Annual General Meeting

Today was the Guild's AGM.  We congratulate new president Cynthia Mulholland and the incoming committee on their appointment and wish them the best of luck.  The Guild would also like to express its gratitude for the hard work, dedication and countless hours put in by the outgoing committee in their advancement of the Guild.  In addition 6 new life members were elected; Sunny Bidner (Northern), Jill Francis (Epping), Ruby Hancock (Northern), Evol King (Clarence Valley), Merrin Marks (Blacktown) and Jeanette Sell (Mudgee).

Sunny Bidner  - Ruby Hancock - Evol King - Merrin Marks - Jeanette Sell.

High Tea

Celebrations for the Guild's 30th Birthday continued with High Tea at the Radisson Blu.

Congratulations to Joanne Brooker (Blue Mountains) on winning the envy-inducing lucky door prize of Cleckheaton Superfine Merino donated by Australian Country Spinners.  Other prizes were donated by the The Wool Inn and Bendigo Woollen Mills. And everyone received a gauge ruler from Ann Budd.

As you can see, the website has undergone a major overhaul.

• ·         The whole look is updated.
• ·         Streamlined Home page.
• ·         Much easier to see all the different facets of the Guild at work.
• ·         Great advertisement for the Guild.

 Biggest changes have been made to the membership system.

• ·         Renewing has been made much more streamlined.
• ·         Receipt is available as soon as the renewal is processed.
• ·         Automatic reminders to help during the busiest time of year.
• ·         Wear and tear on the membership secretary will be greatly reduced.

 Calendar

• ·         The calendar now incorporates Google Calendar
• Soon individual groups will find it a lot easier to update their own calendar.

 From a technology standpoint

•  Functions much better on tablets and other devices
• Updated software
• Easier to keep up-to-date

It’s a work in progress, as it should be.  There is nothing worse than a static website.  As the Guild grows, the website should grow with it.

A great time was had by everyone at the Penrith Knitpicks Yarn Tasting.

We got to see (touch, play with) some of the delicious range of KnitPicks Yarns, catch up with people from different groups, play games and have afternoon tea.

Knit Picks Yarns

Fingering Weight

Palette-100% Peruvian Highland Wool               Stroll - 75% Merino Superwash 25% Nylon

Sport Weight

Wool of the Andes - 100% Peruvian Wool         Hawthorne Sport - 80% Superwash Wool 20% Nylon

DK Weight

Swish - 100% Superwash Wool Merino

Yarn Competition

For those who were feeling up to the challenge there was a competition to knit or crochet the most amazing item from Hawthorne Sport in a short space of time.  Caroline from The Entrance group won for her stunning necklace.

Christmas is coming. Get ready with this fabulous crochet Christmas Wreath.

We are taking bookings through TryBooking.com. Please click on the link below and you will be taken to TryBooking to complete your order.

Unfortunately this event has had to be cancelled.

Cancellation Policy
The Guild will issue a full refund for cancellations advised to us 14 days or more before the date of the event. However, please note that bookings are transferable. Should you wish to transfer your place at an event to another member, please advise the Workshop Convenor at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

To celebrate our 30th Birthday (Happy Birthday to us!) we are hosting a wonderful day of everything fibre.  On Sunday, 9 October 2016 we hope you can join us at the Sisters of Mercy Convent in Singleton, the heart of the Hunter Valley, NSW between 10am and 4pm.
 
There will be workshops, demonstrations, retail vendors, food, music and even a place to sit, socialise and practice your craft.
 
The Singleton Visitors Information Centre have organised accommodation packages for anyone who wishes to make a weekend of it and soak in the sights of everything the Hunter Valley has to offer from wine to chocolates and everything in between.  Contact them via their website: www.visitsingleton.com or by phone:  1800 449 888 or by email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 
If you would like to have a stall or give a demonstration or be involved in any other way, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 
Lock the date in now, it’s going to be a great event you won’t want to miss!