News Desk

The Guild's Camp will be held at Kurri Kurri Conference Centre on the October 2009 long weekend (Oct 02-05). An exciting programme is being organised, including workshops by Pru Mapstone, Kris Howard (Socks on Two Circulars), Yvonne Fazzolari (Intro & Advanced Crochet), and Techniques for Achievement Certificate. The Executive Committee is finalising details. Details and application form will be in the April 09 Newsletter. Enquiries to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Members and non-Members welcome.

Received via e-mail from Wendy Dennis:

It's March already this year and time to think about joining in for a day of spinning & knitting fun

Wendy Dennis

Coordinator 15th International ‘Back to Back’ Wool Challenge 2009

DATE:  On or before Sunday 7th JUNE 2009

In September 2009, the Australian Textile Arts & Surface Design Association (ATASDA) will be running a workshop with international textile artist Adrienne Sloane at Dence Park in Epping, NSW.

Adrienne's workshop will help participants develop a personal language of forms by experimenting with knitting fundamentals to uncover the enormous possibilities of 3D knit. By manipulating stitches and solving knitting geometry, participants will learn to 'think knit' exploring the use of non-traditional materials and cover a range of dimensional techniques to help create shape and stability. There will be opportunity to work on specific sculptural projects to innovatively incorporate these ideas. For inspiration, Adrienne will present images of artists' work that use knitting techniques as a means of creative expression. This workshop is for students with strong fundamental knitting skills - a must - and a knowledge of crochet is a plus - who want to escape the tyranny of pattern knitting. Students should be prepared to learn to think about knitting in a whole new way as they learn to problem solve structural dilemmas while gaining a greater appreciation of knitting as an art form. This is largely a process-orientated workshop.

Cost: $270. (ATASDA members only.) More details are available on the ATASDA website.

An updated Membership Form is now available. The convenors have been updated to reflect many groups' recent Annual General Meeting election results. A few groups also have new meeting times/locations.

If you use a feed or RSS reader, you'll be happy to know that you can now subscribe to feeds of Knitters' Guild news and calendar events. (Calendar feeds can even be limited to location or category!) Just navigate to the page you want to follow, and the feed should be auto-detected by your browser and an RSS icon should be displayed near the address bar. You can then click on the icon and subscribe to the feed.

And if you have no idea what RSS is... Just put your hand up and the webmaster will be happy to come conduct a workshop for your group!

As of the January Executive meeting there are still a great many members yet to renew for 2009. The final payment date is 20th February 2009. Members are reminded to renew prior to that date, otherwise the $12 joining fee will be charged once again. As per the August 2008 Executive meeting minutes regarding boundaries – "the boundary has been defined by the Executive based on members telephone numbers. IE, if a members home telephone starts with a ‘9’ or an ‘8’ then they will be charged a metropolitan fee. All other members will be charged a country fee." Please see the Membership page for more information.

In 2008 the Inner City group doubled their membership and consequently found their existing venue getting a bit cramped! A search was then conducted for a new home for the meetings. In February 2009, the perfect location was found... at Customs House Library at Circular Quay. The meeting room is large and well-equipped, and the location is well-serviced by public transport. We hope to see you there soon!

New location: Customs House Library, 2nd floor meeting room, Circular Quay, Sydney [map]

New time: 11am on the second Saturday of each month (starting March 14th)

There are several knitting-related charity drives on at the moment to support the Victorian Bush Fire Appeal. Please consider donating to one of them.

• Knitters' Charity Raffle. This Australian knitter has amassed a huge collection of knitting-related items (wool, books, gift certificates) that will be raffled off. Every $10 you donate to the Red Cross Appeal earns you a ticket. So if you need any more motivation, check it out.
• OzBushfireAppeal Etsy Shop. Crafters from Australian and around the world have donated beautiful handmade items for this shop. All items have free International Shipping, and all proceeds go the Australian Red Cross.
• Possum/Joey Pouches. WIRES carers are in need of knitted pouches and sewn linings to keep injured and orphaned marsupials safe and warm. (Pattern details at that link.)

Please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you know if anything to add to this list!