Wool against Weapons Skill Share and Project Launch

Published on Saturday 11th January 2014

Knit, Natter and Stitch steam into 2014 with our first Event - Wool Against Weapons Skill Share and Project Launch!  On Monday we were all in the pink!

With record numbers attending, some 41 people were armed with their pink wool and raring to get going on this exciting new project. I had to climb the stairs to capture all you beautiful people through my Canon lens!

An awesome start to the year and with members dotted around the room to help teach, refresh and guide we all got to knitting or crocheting our pink scarf panels, which will be joined together and sent off to Wool Against Weapons HQ to be attached to other pieces to make up a 7 mile peaceful protest later this summer.
Our panels need to measure 60 x 100cm and with the help of a good stock of pink yarn and the packs produced for the project, we are well on our way.

Our efforts as always are supported by gorgeous cake, which this week featured Lesley Venneker's Lemon and Poppy seed cake, a Victoria Sponge with Eleanor's homemade Damson Jam (I just had to make one too it was rude not to) and Terri Henry brought along her divine Chocolate cake. There was some yummy oat flapjacks too, although the baker escaped me? We are working on this project with Women Without Boundaries and Emma Phillips and Alison Bancroft who joined us for the evening.

It wouldn't be KNS without some Natter, did you know our favorite inspirational blogger Lucy, of Attic24 now has a column in Simply Crochet? we oohed and aahed over the subscriber issue that made it into KNS on Monday - a reason to subscribe all on its own we feel. Check out Lucy's sweet and colourful blog at http://attic24.typepad.com/

My favourite project on the tables this week was this thoughtful Christmas gift our junior member Katherine made her sister, featuring a pack of cards and some touching reminders - Don't you just love it?

Now don't worry if you missed Mondays event, come along and we will get you started on any project of your choosing - we are a skillful and lovely bunch! See you all soon.

Happy Stitching,

Sarah Gates

Wowser! Happy New Year 2014 KNS fans!

Published January 5th 2014

Happy New Year to all the KNS Fans and Members! As we remember with fondness the fun and excitement enjoyed in 2013, we look forwards to NEW and BIG things in 2014!
Already there are some awesome events and projects planned for our third year of Knit, Natter and Stitching so don't go anywhere.

2013 - Some memories!
In February, we all dusted off our UFO's, Unfinished Objects. For one evening only those projects were reclaimed from our lofts and the bottom of our boxes and worked on during this unique session. Jennifer won first prize with her unfinished Cross stitch sampler from the 1970's and Barbara came in second with her long suffering yellow baby blanket. The cupcakes with flying saucer toppers were a delight!

In March, Crochet Relief hit KNS, with a huge Crochet skill share. Each of us making Red Noses for Comic Relief and our huge bake sale, fee's for the evening and other donations raised an epic sum of £78.02 for Comic Relief!

In June, Sue Myhill lead a demo of stitching proportions. Demonstrating how to transfer designs onto fabric and different embroidery stitches, inspired by her skull and rose piece.

In July, Jennifer Cooper got us all hooked on Stampin with her Big Card swap demonstration. So much so that we ended up keeping our own designs and not swapping, ha ha. We used different die cuts, inks, stamps, papers and decorative gems to create beautiful designs!

To celebrate our 2nd Birthday in September we really went to town with our SANDS Fundraising evening. During the summer we had recruited local craft shops, all our members and other locals into knitting blankets for SANDS Always Loved and Never Forgotten memory boxes. KNS welcomed the Mayor of Milton Keynes Brian White, to open our event, enjoyed a massive cake sale, presented our 47 baby hats, 50 prem hats and 16 blankets to Jane and Megan from MK SANDS and crafted along to the sounds of the Disciples of Gonzo Street Ministry our live band for the evening! We raised £145.50 for SANDS!

During October, our members enjoyed a number of Pottery Session with the community spirited Andrew McDermott. Such beautiful and thoughful pieces came out of our sessions with Andrew, much laughter, talent previously unknown and best of all new friends!

We polished off our year of crafting with a superb carvery dinner together, much merriment and laughter was enjoyed - us friends and members together enjoying our speciality Nattering!

 During 2013 our youngsters claimed their own Craftivist group, currently working on a project of supreme awesomeness! We are all so proud of their achievements, their responsible behavior and developing skills!

As we start the New Year we kick off with our Wool Against Weapons Skill Share project launch! already members have sourced their pink wool and warmed up their elbows to get their knitting on! lots of information for this event is available on our Facebook page and our website events page www.buckspoint.org.uk/kns
Monday 6th January - KNS - New Bradwell Community Centre- 7:45- 10PM

In 2013 we raised £223.52 for much needed causes! What can we go in 2014? What were your favourite moments of 2013 - I invite you to share them with us on Facebook "Knit, Natter & Stitch New Bradwell" or here in the comments!

Happy Stitching?
Sarah Gates