|
Post by sandrainsydney on Jul 7, 2014 7:01:49 GMT
|
|
ragdall
Global Moderator
Posts: 1,685
|
Post by ragdall on Jul 13, 2014 14:53:04 GMT
What fun! I've seen videos demonstrating using ones arms to crochet or knit (don't remember which), but never with a group of people working together on one piece.
Start new topics as often as you wish. It can be difficult to follow a topic when there are many pages to look through.
|
|
|
Post by sandrainsydney on Jul 14, 2014 0:12:29 GMT
I was watching the machine in action over the weekend, & it looked fun - wot a shame I never took a pic of the action or the finished pieces. They had 2 sessions daily & the resulting 2 pieces, one in one yellowish yarns, the other in blues looked good hanging on the wall. The yearn looked like french knitting & I assume each day's work undone to use the cord the next day.
|
|
ragdall
Global Moderator
Posts: 1,685
|
Post by ragdall on Jul 15, 2014 6:25:00 GMT
Sandra, How nice that you could see the technique in action. I remember having a bought knitting spool when I was a child. It was painted a deep red and produced a nice round hollow cord, but took a very long time to do so. We also made some knitting spools from empty thread spools and small brass nails with rounded heads that I believe were called brads. I don't remember what the spools were called here. I don't remember hearing the term "French Knitting". My ten year old granddaughter brought along this gadget when she was here overnight at the end of May: It's about six inches (15 cm) in diameter and looks like a very large knitting spool. In the photo it's upside down to display the product.
|
|
|
Post by jennieg on Jul 15, 2014 6:49:26 GMT
Way back in the day when I was a child sadly I didn't learn French knitting, but had friends at school who could do it - the tool in those days was a wooden cotton reel with four (I think.......it's been a very long time) short nails hammered in round one end. The yarn was 'knitted' over the nails to make a long skinny tube which could be sewn together to make various items. Pot holders were popular, I seem to recall.
|
|
|
Post by sandrainsydney on Jul 15, 2014 9:34:38 GMT
|
|
|
Post by jennieg on Jul 16, 2014 6:19:31 GMT
Yes, the cotton reel was usually a 'Sylko' brand one! But the girls I new didn't have anything fancy like a crochet hook, they used a straightened hairpin or bobby pin. It worked just as well.
|
|
|
Post by sandrainsydney on Jul 16, 2014 8:12:16 GMT
As mum did not crochet we probably used a hairpin, too.
sandra
|
|
ragdall
Global Moderator
Posts: 1,685
|
Post by ragdall on Jul 16, 2014 14:42:10 GMT
I'm sure that I used a hairpin too. There were always lots of those around as my mother's hair was long and she wore it pinned up.
Sandra the Superblue's Giant Knitting Nancy does look like lots of fun for everyone. What a great idea! I'm amazed at the results the little girl had from the homemade knitter using pencils and a cardboard tube. What a great idea that was! I'd love to try it myself but I already have too many projects on the go. (Not all are crafts).
rags
|
|
|
Post by sandrainsydney on Aug 21, 2014 10:23:10 GMT
wandering around a well-known site I found a link to Inner west women's shed Inner West Women's Shed Inc. is a registered not for profit association in NSW. Founded in April 2013 to enrich women's creative lives. Men's sheds are everywhere - here's a bit of background to those who don't know them - Wikipedia on Men's Sheds movement Men’s Sheds originated from the shed in a backyard scenario, where a man would go and carry out tasks, such as restoring furniture or fixing lawn mowers. The first Men’s shed was Lane Cove Community Shed, which was founded for “Shedless” men. The Shed also encouraged social activities and friendships, while providing vital health information to its members. Since then a number of articles supporting Men’s Sheds have been published, stating they help increase the length and quality of life of elderly males.[4] Men’s Sheds are non-profit organisations that originated in Australia, to advise and improve the overall health of all males. However they have expanded their remit to anyone regardless of age. In many ways they parallel the growing Hackerspace movement which has similar aims and mechanisms, albeit Hack/Maker spaces are more explicit about their inclusion of all ages and genders. They normally operate on a local level in the community, promoting social interaction and aim to increase the quality of life. There are over 900 located across Australia, with thousands of active members.[1] Men’s Sheds can also be found in Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland, Finland and Greece. So it was good to see that women have taken over the idea! even tho women have always had their craft/knitting/whatever groups Check out the pics of the work of the Women's shed members. There are also links to other projects around the world.
|
|
ragdall
Global Moderator
Posts: 1,685
|
Post by ragdall on Aug 21, 2014 12:01:21 GMT
There is soooo much on that site! It looks as if they all have a good time and they produce some beautiful things. I wonder if those colourful blocks will be pieced together into a quilt?
|
|
|
Post by sandrainsydney on Aug 26, 2014 2:30:55 GMT
baaaaah - click for video & photos Two Tasmanian farmers have found what they hope to prove is the world's woolliest sheep. Peter Hazell said he had no trouble capturing the animal, which was wandering with its vision obscured by wool in scrubland on his property in Tasmania's Midlands on Sunday. "He couldn't see very well because of the wool over his face, so I snuck up behind him and grabbed him," he said. "Then Netty and I went and got the ute and put him in the back and brought him into the yard." Despite never having been shorn, the six-year-old merino ram was immediately dubbed Shaun the Sheep, after the popular kids' television program. Netty Hazell said the sheep's avoidance of the shearing shed had been weighing it down, with Shaun carrying an estimated 20 kilograms of fleece. "It is the heaviest sheep I've ever lifted," she professed. "I just couldn't believe it, I just could not believe a sheep could have so much wool." Shaun's tag suggested he was from a farm on Tasmania's east coast, meaning he had spent the past six years wandering across the state, no doubt in search of a haircut. Mr Hazell said it was amazing the sheep survived for so long in the wild. "Because usually they get cast and can't get up, or they get fly-struck or the hot weather gets to them," he said. The world record for fleece-yield is held by a New Zealand sheep named Shrek. The Hazells plan to take the clippers to Shaun in the next few days and see if he can take the title. But despite the wool's length Ray Peters, who is a sheep judge, said it had held up surprisingly well. "I thought it would be almost impossible for a sheep to go that long and have such good wool on him," he said. Mrs Hazell said she would enter the fleece in country shows. "There's three or four good jumpers in there," she said. And although matted, "it's surprisingly good-quality wool", Mr Hazell added. ----------- jumpers = sweaters/pullovers
|
|
ragdall
Global Moderator
Posts: 1,685
|
Post by ragdall on Aug 28, 2014 1:26:46 GMT
Thanks for sharing this, Sandra. It will take a hefty shearer to tip that boy up to be shorn. I wonder how he will react to losing all that weight at once?
|
|
|
Post by sandrainsydney on Aug 28, 2014 2:18:41 GMT
|
|
|
Post by sandrainsydney on Aug 28, 2014 7:37:24 GMT
Shawn is shorn - but not with a normal close clip!After six years on the run, it was well and truly time for Shaun to be shorn. The woolly wonder was discovered hiding in scrub on a farm in Tasmania's midlands at the weekend and finally faced the barber this morning. There were fears it could be a fatal fleecing, so the shearer made sure it was not too close a shave. Shaun took his first haircut surprisingly well and the shearer described him as a true gentleman after the 20-minute job. The sheep's new owners, Peter and Netty Hazel, had a rug on standby to keep him warm after losing several jumpers' worth of wool. The fleece-yield was weighed but the Tasmanian animal failed to take the title from the New Zealand record holder, Shrek, whose fleece weighed a whopping 27 kilograms. Shaun's fleece weighed in at just under at 23.5kg. Mrs Hazel said she was just pleased Shaun has been relieved of the load. "He will go to our spoilt paddock and probably do a few guest appearances around the state," she said. The fleece will also tour the state agricultural show circuit. check out the photos
|
|