1

PRESIDENT

Jocelyn Meline

PO box 1508

Mount Barker SA 5251

0408 894 362

Jos.meline@bigpond.com

VICE PRESIDENT

Shirley Hooper

10 York Street

Valley View SA 5093

(08)8264 0723

shirleymh@tpg.com.au

SECRETARY

Jill Rashleigh

1358 Grand Junction Road

Hope Valley 5090

(08)8395 9077

jill@rashleigh.id.au

NEWSLETTER EDITOR

Gillian Gittins

5 Acorn Place

Blakeview SA 5114

0479 127 984

gilliangittins@adam.com.au

COMMITTEE

Sigrid Burford 08 8337 5488

Gillian Gittins 0479 127 984

June Kelly 0428 510 986

Joylene Turner 0414 675 835

Patricia Clark

WEB PAGE

www.knittersSA.info

MKASA

ACCOUNT DETAILS

BSB 105-135

Account number 065312940

Mail the relevant forms to

Rita Divine

ONE-OFF ADVERTISING

“Wanted to Sell/buy” adverts:

$5 for non-members

Free for members

CORPORATE ADVERTISING

Quarter page $25 annual fee

Half page $50 annual fee

TREASURER

Rita Divine

PO Box 228

Modbury North SA 5092

08 8264 8377

rpdiv1@bigpond.com

Issue No. 117

FEBRUARY 2019

DEADLINE FOR MAY NEWSLETTER ITEMS

15th APRIL 2019

Please send items for the Newsletter to

Newsletter Editor GILLIAN GITTINS

gilliangittins@adam.com.au

NEWSLETTER

Greetings to

South Australian Machine Knitters. I hope the New Year is finding you well and creative.

Unfortunately I have not achieved my wishes of spending more

time knitting, but maybe later this week I’ll start the machine

knitting part of a yoke jumper that I’ve hand knitted.

This news letter has information about the upcoming workshops

at the end of March and early April, with Angela Mc Gregor.

They will be held in Adelaide and Port Pirie. I hope to see some of

you then. There will be another workshop with Dianne Chambers

in July. These workshops are being held as we will not be having

a camp at Victor Harbor. The Melrose Camp is booked for

October again.

We would love to include more news and information in the

newsletter about what our members are doing and knitting.

Patterns and projects are welcome. Send them to Gillian Gittins.

We would also like to hear from clubs about any changes to their

meeting arrangements or memberships, (particularly should

members pass away).

If anyone is interested in learning how to judge machine knitting,

we are planning a day with Wendy Smith in March. There is no

obligation for anyone to become Judges at all the shows, so come

along if you’re interested.

Cheers for now,

Jocelyn

2

We achieved last year’s goal of a show entry per member of the association! That is, we had

roughly the same number of entries as members on the data base. While some members put in

nothing, others put in lots, and so we achieved the numbers, and increased the displays in the

shows.

Gawler Show more than doubled its entries from the previous year. Members from Whyalla and

Port Pirie, and members from Smithfield and Ingle Farm topped the list, with most members from

those clubs submitting more than one entry, and some entering in other sections—like quilting,

embroidery, spinning and weaving, etc., as well as machine and hand knitting and crochet. We

had a lot of new people entering in the Gawler Show, and they were pleasantly surprised.

Well done, members.

Can we do even better this year? Can we set a higher goal, and see what we achieve? I know

all sorts of things get in the way of show knitting. I even told family members— “You’ll get this

after the show!” and they were ok about it. I’m hoping to start earlier this year with show knit-

ting—that’s my goal.

We could also encourage our children and grand-children to have a go. Marilyn Smith’s eleven-

year-old grand-daughter entered two items in the Junior machine knitting section of the Gawler

Show, and did very well. Her Girl Guide Unit also entered six items in the Junior Handicrafts

groups section and the junior groups section of machine knitting. They did very well, too.

It would be good to see and increase in entries in other country shows, too, so that the machine

knitting section stays alive in all shows.

Let’s see if we can break our record and have more entries than members on our membership

data base. For those interstate members, we would love to hear how you fared with shows as

well, so we can add your show entry numbers to our grand total.

This year’s goal:

One or more items for a show.

We did it!

3

MARGARET FISHER

16-03-41—19-08-18

I would like to advise that my mum (Margaret Fisher) passed

away suddenly on 19 August 2018 while on holidays in the UK.

Mum had been a member of the Machine Knitters Association

for many, many years, being a member of the Committee from

2005—2007, President in 2007 and, for many years, the Editor

of the Newsletter. Mum knitted her own clothes, and made

beautiful knitted suits, jumpers and she would also knit me

vests and dresses and make blankets for her sisters in the UK.

Mum was looking at going back on a regular basis to the

Smithfield Club, after an absence due to other interests.

Mum thoroughly loved the outside life of Australia, either in her

garden or camping where she was also a member of a camping club, of which she still was an

active member, for over 20 years. Mum thoroughly enjoyed

camping with this camping group and attended their monthly

meetings in the parklands, sharing stories. For the last 18

years Mum also spent a lot of time with the grand children and

loved taking them camping.

Even though mum didn’t attend the Knitting Club over recent

years, she still kept in touch with a couple of the ladies. Mum

still liked to potter on her machines, even undertaking a corre-

spondence course on how to use the E6000 and subscribing to monthly Knitting Magazines from

UK and USA. Mum loved her Passap Machines, and I have recently found out how much she

loved knitting by sorting through all the 40 plus machines,

wool, machine accessories and books she has.

Mum attended many camps over the years, at Melrose and

Victor Harbor and apparently was a demonstrator. Mum even

travelled to New Zealand and UK to attend seminars.

To you fellow knitters, Mum passed away in front of her own

knitting that she gave her sister in Wales, so even though she

was overseas she was still in front of her knitting work

representing Adelaide. (Wang Wang and Fu Ni). Mum will be

sadly missed by all, especially on how suddenly and

unexpected her passing occurred.

I personally would like to say a big thank you to Sue Whyte

who has assisted and supported me over the last few months

with her valuable knowledge, friendship and time, as well as

sharing knitting stories with me. I would also like to thank Jill Rashleigh who has assisted me

with pricing information, and Shirley Hooper who assisted me by looking at a Brother machine.

Gillian (Jill) Horn (Margaret’s daughter)

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PAYNEHAM MACHINE KNITTING CLUB

The club held its end of year break-up party on December 4th. Most members were able to attend brought

some knitting for a small display. A lucky draw was held and was won by Roumi Ganev who scored a

Spotlight voucher.

After tucking into the plentiful buffet, members then talked and participated in several quizzes run by Jill,

to end the afternoon.

The Club will resume its meetings on Tuesday 6th February and then the following 1st Tuesday of each

month, at the Payneham Community Centre, Payneham Road, Payneham.

Meetings start at 12.30 when members have a cuppa and some lunch. The meeting proper opens at

1p.m. and goes until about 3 p.m.

We have a general discussion and then show and tell, afterwards there is usually a demonstration by one

of the group. Hoping that everyone comes back to the club refreshed and full of ideas for demonstrations

to hold throughout the coming year and that they have been busy knitting over the break.

Any knitters are quite welcome to join.

Secretary, Rita Divine.

MEMBER UPDATES

WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS

(in 2018)

Melissa Ryan, Debbie Sherman, Patricia Williams

VALE

2018

Joy Fenton, Margaret Fisher, Joy Taylor, Margo ven Hoek, Bette Schulz

CLUB NEWS

DUCK SOAP HOLDER.

Wendy Smith.

Small amount of 4 ply Acrylic Yarn: Approx 2 metres eyelet lace.

WOCO over 32 sts. Knit 1 row, increasing 1 st both ends, repeat 5 times. (42Sts) *Hang lace,

pull all needles forwards, close latches, knit 1 row. Knit 3 rows, increasing each end every row*.

(48sts) Repeat * to * twice more. (60sts). [Hang lace as above, Knit 1 row. Knit 3 rows] four

times. (Bring 22 sts both ends to Hold, leaving 16 sts in centre. Knit 12 rows on these stitches

for head. Decrease to 8 sts. Leave long length of yarn, and take through these stitches, using

Garter Bar or Waste, take off one side, and fold over to place on opposite side, knit through, knit

1 row tension 10 and latch off. Sew down head, and stuff with fibre fill. Sew approx 1 cm at tail.

Attach beak and eyes.

5

CLUB NEWS

INGLE FARM CLUB

meets in the hall of the Church of the Holy Redeemer,

on the corner of Roopena Street and Montague Road,

from 10:30a.m. until approximately 2:00p.m.,

on the second Monday of each month,

—except when that day falls on a public holiday—

(This year March and June have public holidays falling on the second Monday of the month.)

SMITHFIELD CLUB (Japanese machines)

Meets in the Elizabeth Downs Guide Hall

Coleman Road, Elizabeth Downs

From 10:30 am until approximately 2:00 pm

on the first Monday of each month, except when that day falls on a public holiday.

This year October has a public holiday falling on the first Monday of the month.

SMITHFIELD PASSAP CLUB

Meets at the same address from 10:30 am until approximately 2:00 pm

on the fourth Monday of each month, except when that day falls on a public holiday.

This year April has a public holiday falling on fourth Monday, but there are five Mondays in that month, so

the meeting day can be sent forward to the fifth Monday, if the members so decide.

ST MARY’S MACHINE KNITTING CLUB INC

Members meet once a month at

Clovelly Park Community Centre, York Avenue, Clovelly Park SA

3rd Monday of the month (Jan to Nov)

—except when a public holiday falls on this day—

10.00am to 2.00pm (All machines)

Beginners and experienced knitters all welcome!

Contact the Secretary (Jill Rashleigh) for further information.

Tel 8395 9077 or Mob 0408 379 992

Email jill@rashleigh.id.au

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DIANE CHAMBERS is coming back in July 2019. Put the dates on your calendar

now—Saturday 20th July (Payneham) and Tuesday 23rd July (Port Pirie). More

details will be in the next newsletter.

ANGELA McGREGOR WORKSHOPS

Angela will be visiting South Australia in March/April 2019 and conducting two workshops, one in

Adelaide and one in Port Pirie.

Her workshop is titled “Bubble and Squeak” and is a mixture of knitting ideas with lots of patterns

included. Colour and yarn mixing is very important.

There will be a limit of 25 people per session, so book in early to avoid missing out.

WHEN: Saturday 30th March 2019 at Payneham Community Centre (Payneham Road) Tuesday 2nd April 2019 at Port Pirie Club Rooms (Old Railway Station) COST: $30 for members and $40 for non-members TIME: 9.30 for 10.00am start – finishing around 4.00pm LUNCH: BYO lunch – morning tea will be provided. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

REGISTRATION FORM FOR ANGELA McGREGOR WORKSHOPS

NAME ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ADDRESS …………………………………………………………………………………………… POST CODE ……………..TELEPHONE ………………………………………… EMAIL ………………………………………………………………………………………………… WORKSHOP (Please circle) PAYNEHAM 30th March. PORT PIRIE 2nd April FINAL DATE FOR PAYMENT AND REGISTRATION—to be received by Friday 15th March METHOD OF PAYMENT:

Cheque or money order made out to Machine Knitters Association of South Australia Inc. and sent to:

The Treasurer , Machine Knitters Association of SA,

PO Box 228, Modbury North SA 5092

OR

Pay by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) BankSA BSB 105-135 Account 065312940 AND post or email the receipt and form to the Treasurer.

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JUDGING MACHINE KNITTING

A workshop is being held to train people interested in judging machine knitting

at shows held around the state.

Wendy Smith will be conducting this one day workshop. She is a very experienced judge who has been judging at the Royal Adelaide

Show and country shows for many years. WHEN : Saturday 23rd March 2019 at Wendy’s home

1 Fergusson Bowl, Craigmore, SA 5114 COST : : $ 10.00 (to include notes) TIME : : 9.30 for 10.00am start – finishing around 3.00pm LUNCH: : BYO lunch

Participants will need to bring three machine knitted garments, preferably with some faults or flaws plus pen and paper.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

REGISTRATION FORM for JUDGING WORKSHOP NAME ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ADDRESS………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… POST CODE………………………………………TELEPHONE……………………………………………………….. EMAIL ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… FINAL DATE FOR PAYMENT AND REGISTRATION 28th February 2019

METHOD OF PAYMENT Cheque or money order made out to Machine Knitters Association of South

Australia Inc., and send to:

The Treasurer, Machine Knitters Association of SA, PO Box 228, Modbury North SA 5092

OR Pay by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)

BankSA BSB 105-135 Account 065 312940 AND

post or email the receipt and form to the Treasurer.

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PLATING ON YOUR 860/850 BROTHER MACHINE JANUARY 2019 Jill Rashleigh

Machine : Brother KH860 with KR850 Ribber

Yarn : 2 ends of cashmilon in contrasting colours

Pattern : 1:1 rib with ribber plating feeder installed after casting on.

NOTE: Follow the instructions in your ribber manual to change the regular ribber feeder for the plating feeder. You might need to remove the connecting arm from the machine to move one of the yarns into the back plating feeder. I found that SS3/3 was fairly loose and you might need to come down a point or two, depending on your machine. I have used grey and white in my hat and there is not much contrast. The effect is much more pro-nounced with strongly contrasting yarns.

NOTES Baby Hat Adult Scarf

Circular Cast on for 1:1 rib

Row 1 SS 1/1

Row 2 SS2/2

Row 3 SS3/3

100 stitches 100 stitches

Insert plating feeder

Move 1 thread into the back feeder and leave 1 thread in the front feeder

Knit SS3/3 80 rows 750 rows

Cast off Waste and/or take Waste or loose

Finishing I-cord tie to top

Size 25cm stretches to 45cm circumference

18-20cm in height

25cm in width 175cm in length

Weight 15gm Approx 140gm

Plating can be fun.

While I have used plating on my Brother 860 as

Jill suggests, I accidentally discovered, when I

was doing basic plating on an Empisal push-

button with ribber, that the ribbing was also plat-

ed automatically, with no special attachments.

Interesting!

On the right are samples of plating with racking

and plating with hand-tooled cabling done on

the ribber-bed.

The racking was faster, of course.

—Gillian

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PASSAP SUMMER TOP October 2018 Jill Rashleigh

Machine : Any Passap (Technique 1002/138 on E6000)

Yarn : 3 ply equivalent (Estilo, 2 ends of 2/28)

Pattern : Based on pattern by Grace Howard in KM Digest Vol 3, No 6

Size : Adult size fits Size 12-18

Width : Stretches to 124cm

Length : 60cm NOTE *

Sew across top to create shoulder/neck/shoulder line to suit. Can slope shoulder line if liked.

NOTE *This garment was not long enough in the armhole for me and too high up on my neck. I added stocking stitch bands each side (picked up 46 stitches each side of front on Brother machine and knitted 34 rows at SS4 and joined to back) to create a square armhole.

Directions Adult 18” Doll

Tubular Cast On N/N 1½, CX/CX 2¾, N/N 3/3 90sts both beds 28 sts both beds

Knit in Full Needle Rib N/N 3/3 40 rows 10 rows

Change to N/AX<- 4/4 with all pushers up on front bed in 1 up 1 down formation and knit

200 rows 40 rows

Increase 1 stitch (and pusher each end) Every 4 rows x 8 Every 2 rows x 3

You now have the following stitches 106 sts 34 sts

Knit in pattern 112 rows 34 rows

Change to Full Needle RibN/N 3/3 and knit 10 rows 8 rows

Cast off loosely

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MAVIS JONES

I could say I founded the Port Augusta Club in early 1970.

After it had been running for two years we held a big seminar

and 70 people attended. I joined MKASA at the time of the

seminar, and registered the Port Augusta club in about 1972

I bought my first machine second hand when my children

were small. I can’t remember the model. I started knitting

by going down to Port Pirie where I had a few lessons with

Jenny Pizzey who suggested that we started something at

Port Augusta. My niece also went for lessons with Jenny

Pizzey. We had four lessons at the TAFE.

At first we used rooms at the TAFE for our club meetings. We paid rent to the TAFE. When

TAFE needed the rooms, we met at the Salvation Army hall, but they suffered a lot of break-ins,

so we moved to a shed at my place.

We had to renovate the shed. Isobel Miller came and helped. My husband, Milton, put a ceiling

in what was to be the club room. Isobel and I held the ceiling panel up with brooms while Milton

nailed it up. Another lady, I can’t remember who it was now, donated some lino for the floor.

The floor wasn’t quite level, but the lino covered it. We held a barbecue for everyone who

helped get the shed ready.

I had a shop and sold sewing machines and knitting machines. Our club also put out a newslet-

ter.

When I was 60 the Port Augusta Council made me put in a parking area. That was when I de-

cided to close the business down and carry on just as a club. Now I’m 84 and our club has

closed as well.

In my younger days Isobel and I went to events at Port Pirie and Melrose. We went to the Mel-

rose camps on the Saturday. Neither of us go any more.

Now I’m trying to teach my twelve year old grand-daughter to machine knit. I’m still machine

knitting vests for premature babies. I also crochet and hand-knit.

I like a newsy newsletter. I like to know what’s going on in the world of machine knitting.

……..0000000……..

This profile of a machine knitter was compiled when Mavis and I had a chat over the phone. I

apologise to Mavis if I have made any mistakes when writing the information down.

I’m hoping to publish as much club history, especially of the early days, while people are still with

us, and the clubs are still functioning. Please consider telling us about your life as a machine

knitter, even if you don’t do it any more, and tell us about your club, even if it has had to close.

There used to be a lot of clubs, but we are now down to eleven.

Quite often I hear about the passing of members a long time after the event, or when I get a

newsletter returned to me. Please forward information about your club members who have died,

when it happens, and if possible, a short note about them, and their contribution to machine knit-

ting and your club. If I’m not notified, then I can’t acknowledge it.

—Gillian

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FOR SALE

BROTHER KH260 and KR260 with manuals

BROTHER Intarsia Carriage Model KA2600

Bullky Gauge Punch Cards

BROTHER KR 820 and EMPISAL KH 820

with manuals

Box of weights plus miscellaneous items

Marion Nelsons Basic Pattern Cards

(5 boxes)

Chunky Set 1,2,3,4 and Sideways Knitted

Chunky

Collection of 20 Machine Knitting books

All in excellent condition

Offers considered

Kay Walker Flagstaff Hill

(k_wokka@yahoo.com.au)

Phone: 7127 3320 or 0417 088 636

FOR SALE

Brother Electroknit KH 910 in a wooden cabi-

net with a KR850 ribber, plus an Intarsia Car-

riage KA8210, a Transfer Carriage KA8300, a

Colour Changer KRC830 and a Knit Leader

KL116.

$400 ono.

Contact Alan Miller on 8339 8115

or 0411 392 010

(or Kathy on 0421 341 513 after 15th February)

FOR SALE

Margaret Fisher’s estate

There is a huge range of different

brands of knitting machines and

accessories, knitting tables,

books, yarns, materials, including

Actil squares, some beautiful fur-

niture and a caravan for sale.

For more details and to arrange a

suitable time to meet, contact

Margaret’s daughter

Jill Horn,

0418 859 098.

Over the years we have had lots of patterns

submitted. Most of them have been for

“Japanese” machines.

Do you have any patterns that have been writ-

ten for the bulky machines, the LK150, or the

Passap, that we could use? (We have copy-

right restrictions)

Have you discovered tips or techniques for

doing things that make knitting or finishing

garments easier?

Are you able to tell us something about the

older, or long-time members of your club?

Have you had any new members?

Have you successfully altered a hand-knitting

pattern for a machine-knitting?

Have you spun, dyed and knitted your own

yarns?

Please tell us.

A big Thank you to everyone who helped by

sending me contributions.

—Gillian

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SUE WHYTE 6 BELINYA COURT MODBURY NORTH

SA 5092

3,4 ply DK SHAMAL.

2,3,4 ply SUPERWASH PURE WOOL

4 ply PURE WOOL

4 ply RUTLAND TWEED PURE WOOL

3 ply NATURELL

3 ply VELVETEEN

70% ACRYLIC 30% COTTON

For special prices

Phone Sue (08) 8263 7003

Country ladies use “OFF PEAK”

Phone 8294 7441

2 BYRON STREET, GLENELG

(Off Jetty Road)

Knitting Yarns

Knitting Machine Specialist and Tuition

Sewing & Knitting Centre

Sales & Repairs to all makes of machines

Email:

barb@barbssewandknits.com.au

IS YOUR MEMBERSHIP

CURRENT?

?

Please check to make sure your

membership is current for 2018.

If not, this will be your last newslet-

ter.

Membership lapses automatically

six months after the AGM.

If you are unsure whether you have

paid, please email either Rita Divine

or

Gillian Gittins

email and payment details are on the

front page of this newsletter.