Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a secret collection of wool that you have bought 'on special' or couldn't resist because of colour or texture? Do you collect patterns from magazines etc. that you hope to knit one day? Do you have a collection of UFOs (unfinished objects)?

If you can honestly answer yes to any or all of the above questions, then the Guild is for you. You are not alone! There are many like-minded people in the Guild. However, we can help you to get organised and ease your conscience at the same time. Every serious knitter has at least 3 projects going at the same time: one non-thinking piece for in front of the TV; one that presents a modest challenge; and one 'Shh, go away, don't talk to me!' degree of difficulty.

Q: I'm a good knitter. Why should I join the Guild?

A: We set out to make all good knitters into excellent ones. Through the syllabuses of our Achievement Certificates in knitting and crochet you will learn techniques that will take your garment from 'home-made' to 'professionally finished'. We also offer friendship with like-minded people.

Q: I can't knit very well. I wouldn't be good enough to join the Guild, would I?

A: Yes, you would! We accept all levels of knitters, even raw beginners. All you need is the desire to learn and we will take you from there.

Q: Why do my jumpers never turn out the way they look in the picture? Why are they sometimes too big or too small?

A: There are many reasons for these problems, not the least of which is neglecting to do a tension square. This is the first and most important step to take before commencing any garment and allows you to swap and change your needles or the types of yarn if necessary.

Q: Why should I knit when I can buy 'handknits' so cheaply?

A: Because you will finish with an original quality garment. Certainly, still buy the plain garments and the cheap fashionable ones, but something you have attempted yourself, with a degree of difficulty, is a much more rewarding and lasting experience, especially if you use a good quality yarn.

Q: Are commercial garments that bought with a 'handknitted' label actually handknitted?

A: In the majority of cases - NO, they are NOT. The manufacturers have found a loophole that allows them to be advertised this way. They are, in fact, made on a small domestic knitting machine, 'hand framed' and 'hand operated.'

Q: Where have all the wool shops gone?

A: Competition has caught up with most of them. However, there are still some good ones around. Many knitters these days buy through Australian mail order. The Guild has a number of retail members who stock a variety of Australian wool. We certainly encourage you to buy Australian.