Tag: knit and natter

Posted in Uncategorized

Knit and Natter: 4th December

Posted on by Jackie B

There were more lovely projects on show at Friday’s online Knit and Natter session, which is organised by the social prescribing teams at GP surgeries here in Northumberland. Our big news this week is we’ve had a write up in the UK national knitting press! This follows a request for more information about the group from Simply Knitting magazine.

Meanwhile, back on Zoom, we shared what we are working on. I won’t repeat my current and recently completed projects from yesterday’s post, but fellow knit and natterers are keeping very busy…..

Christmas knits continue with this cute little snowman….

…and a pair of Christmas angels.

This Fair Isle project is getting bigger. I absolutely love the duck egg/teal colour combination here.

If my memory serves me correctly, this next project is a baby jumper. The central panel with its lacy design is just gorgeous.

One of our recently joined members has taken knitting up again after a break and though it took her a while to get hold of needles and yarn during lockdown, she is now steaming ahead with charity knits including these two lovely baby hats.

The

The crocheted elephant that was still in pieces last week is now all done, complete with pink toenails! I think we’ve all fallen in love with him/her, especially having seen him come together over recent weeks.

One of the ladies from the Berwick group joined us on Zoom for the first time this week. She is a keen spinner too. I loved being able to talk to her and her husband (who is also a spinner and joined us briefly). Since I started spinning in September this is the first time I’ve actually had a conversation about my new obsession to a fellow enthusiast! They told me about some great sources of equipment and supplies. She is taking part in a Mystery Knit Along which has been organised by the Macmillan Cancer Support charity. In return for a donation to the charity, sections of a pattern were released gradually over 4 weeks. As the project is well underway now I don’t think it would be spoiling the mystery too much if I show a screenshot of her work on this.

Click on the link above if you’d like access to this lovely pattern by donating to a very worthwhile cause.

I think this was one of the best supported sessions we’ve had since the Zoom group got underway. It’s such a friendly group and I always look forward to Friday lunchtimes and seeing what everyone’s been up to.

Posted in Uncategorized

Knit and Natter 27th November

Posted on by Jackie B

We had another lively meeting of Online Knit and Natter on Friday. Having completed this Christmas stocking tree decoration…..

…this member is continuing with her waterfall front cardigan. Isn’t this a lovely shade of pink?

We’ve had more gorgeous colour work from Lorna. She’s finished this cowl……

…and made a pincushion….

… but has now begun this.

I’m crocheting a horse!

And we mustn’t forget the elephant in the room!

Even his toenails are taking shape!

Posted in Uncategorized

Knit and Natter 20th November

Posted on by Jackie B

Some great projects were in progress at the Zoom Knit and Natter Group on Friday. This colourful crochet blanket is now finished and the bold diagonals look great.

For a complete change, this group member is now moving on to pink patchwork hexagons.

Also completed this week are some Christmas Tree decorations.

The Christmas stocking and tree have now been decorated with sequins. You can never have too much glitter hanging on the Christmas tree!

We’ve seen our beginner knitter’s grey stocking stitch rectangle get longer and longer over the last few weeks. We talked about how that is now big enough to become a cosy cowl. She’s going to check out some You Tube videos before she casts off and sew the ends together.

Speaking of cowls, look at this colour work one, knitted in the round. Lovely isn’t it?

I’m working on a soft toy – can’t say much yet as it’s a gift.

Our newest member has been given some yarn and needles and has completed this lovely baby hat. She’s now on to another – they are to be donated to a hospital baby unit.

This Zoom group is an amalgamation of two knit and natter groups from Alnwick and Berwick run through GP surgery social prescribing. With hopeful news about COVID vaccines this week, we were speculating about the future. When we go back to our separate face-to-face groups and cafes reopen we could perhaps arrange a halfway meet. 2021 has so many possibilities.

Posted in Uncategorized

Knit and Natter 13th November

Posted on by Jackie B

We had another fun session at Friday’s Knit & Natter on Zoom. Some newly completed projects were on show, including Santa’s washing line (above) – It’s brilliant – down to the Y-fronts!

With that finished this clever knitter is now concentrating on Christmas tree decorations.

The maker of this stunning Fair Isle Headhand kindly modelled her work for us.

Her original plan was to make it even warmer by adding a fleece fabric lining , but the double layer of knitting is proving to be quite warm enough. She’s had some requests to make more of these and was working on one in a lovely teal colour with the design in black.

The crochet baby blanket is coming on well, in a beautiful variegated yarn in soft pastel lemon, lilac and white.

I’ve was working on baby items too, but I’ll share that in a separate blogpost once the baby and her mum receive them.

Our new knitter’s work is still getting longer and neater.

There was an elephant in the Zoom Room too, or at least its feet!

When he’s complete, he will look like this.

The pink toenails are crocheted (like the rest of him) then sewn in place). He’s going to be amazing!

We were also joined by Evie the cockapoo. She’s adorable, though is not showing any interest in leaning how to knit or crochet just yet!

Have you been involved in any online knitting activity recently?

Posted in Uncategorized

Knit and Natter 6th November

Posted on by Jackie B

Friday’s ZoomKnit and Natter at Alnwick Medical Group was as lively as usual and we were joined by a new member as well as a new member of staff.

Our existing members showed off what they’ve been working on over the last week – I carried on spinning alpaca fleece. I’ll not post any more pictured of that here but I will share some cropped screenshots from the session.

Last week one of the Alnwick members showed us the start of her knitted “Santa’s Washing Line”. She’s completed more of Santa’s laundry.

She also showed us this Christmas tree decoration knitted from a selection in this book illustration- she explained that the candy canes are held rigid with a bendy drinking straw.

Aren’t the colours in this crocheted blanket great? It looks really cosy. The maker of this explained that it is worked diagonally.

The co-ordinator of The Berwick Group (the two knit and natter groups have combined online) has been knitting head bands in various colours using a Fair Isle design. She intends to line these with fleece fabric to make them warmer to wear and stop the wind whistling between the stitches! I want one! – it would stop my hair blowing about too.

Our

Our new member introduced herself – we are going to send her some patterns as she’d like to try some charity knits – something the group does a lot of. Unfortunately it’s harder to access the donated wool and needles from the surgery at the moment as we are in lockdown, but we gave her some ideas where to get some.

Jane, who co-ordinates the Alnwick group and is a new knitter has added to her first knitting project. She says the garter stitch is getting neater as she does more. Scarf length soon!

We also met Andrew, Jane’s colleague in the Social Prescribing Team. He can knit and was taught by his mother who made this lovely bobble hat.

All too soon our hour was up – another great catch up and some great projects. The group meets on Zoom every Friday at 12 noon for about an hour and is open to all patients of the Alnwick Medical Group – no social prescribing referral is necessary.

Posted in Uncategorized

Knit and Natter 30th October

Posted on by Jackie B

We had our weekly knit and natter session on Zoom yesterday. There may only have been five of us but what a variety of projects were being worked on…..and great conversation as usual.

People are already starting to think of Christmas decorations and are raiding all their knitting and crochet books for ideas. Pictured below one of several snowflakes, crocheted from a fine white yarn. They will be starched and pressed, then attached to a string or ribbon to make a garland to decorate the Christmas tree or elsewhere in the home.

One of our Alnwick-based members is making “Santa’s washing line” , complete with tiny pegs holding Santa Claus’ clothes out to dry. She’s just finished knitting his trousers. I’m really looking forward to seeing this when it’s finished.

I’ve been working on my spinning. I really need to work out what I’m going to knit with all this!

This beautiful crochet baby blanket is nearing completion. It’s going be so cosy.. One of the downsides of Zoom knit and natter is that you can’t touch the projects – and sometimes you just want to feel how soft they are.

The fifth member of today’s session has begun a hat, knitted in the round. This lovely moss green yarn forms a deep ribbed edge to the hat – the main part of it will be worked in a Fair Isle design. I’m looking forward to seeing which other colours will be used in the pattern.

In no time at all the hour was up and the session came to an end. We’ll be back online next Friday.

Have you done any social knitting this week?

Posted in Uncategorized

Knit And Natter Is Back!

Posted on by Jackie B

Over the last few weeks the group have started to meet again online, using Zoom. Of course it is very different this way, but it’s been lovely to reconnect with some of my knitting friends. The group was set up as part of our local GP practice’s Social Prescribing initiative and is one of several activities set up to support patients that may be isolated or could benefit from some social activity, though it is open to all.

It is months since I wrote a Knit and Natter post. The group at Alnwick Medical Group last met in early March and the following week I had to post that it was cancelled until further notice as the COVID pandemic started to take hold.

Our group has joined forces with a similar one from the Berwick area to go online, so we’ve been meeting at 12 every Friday for the last few weeks. As well as sharing what we’ve been making and swapping patterns, it’s also been a great way to pass on information about other activities that may interest our members. For example our local Age UK branch recently produced a pack full of things to do in isolation, from puzzles and craft activities to online virtual gallery and museum tours.

Of course there’s some great knitting going on which you can see in the picture above. (clockwise from top left) . One of the group organisers has taught herself to knit and is perfecting her garter stitch – her work is growing rapidly as she gets neater and quicker. I’m busy with some brioche handwarmers. The pretty pink knitting is going to be a waterfall front cardigan. The gorgeous baby cardigan has just been completed by one of the group – she shared a photo from her phone. Finally our Berwick organiser shared a Book Club recommendation (she’s actually working on an amazing blanket at the moment).

I couldn’t resist taking a screenshot of this cuddly pup made by one of the group for her grandson. She even got a proper collar and lead for it. He is going to be one very happy little boy!

We’ve also been asked to give information about the group to a knitting magazine who are including a a feature about us!

Of course not everyone gets on with online activities like this, but at a time when more people are having to isolate themselves through a second wave of the virus it’s great that we can carry on with a safe social activity that connects us with others who have a shared interest.

Have you been able to continue any of your social knitting activities online?

Posted in Uncategorized

No Knit & Natter Today

Posted on by Jackie B

I just had a call from Tony, the Practice Manager at Alnwick Medical Group to let me know that this afternoon’s group is cancelled. He asked me to put something on the blog.

As they haven’t received full guidelines on how the surgery should respond to latest Coronavirus guidelines it was decided to err on the side of caution and try to let everyone know not to turn up.

I did wonder if this would happen. It seems sensible to play safe. In the meantime it is up to all of us to follow the guidelines to protect ourselves and others.

It’s also important to keep a sense of perspective. There’s a lot of misinformation on social media so let’s stick to reliable sources like the NHS…and keep calm!

Hopefully normality will return before long. I’ll be staying at home practising my brioche knitting instead this afternoon.

Has the Coronavirus outbreak made you change your plans today?

Posted in Uncategorized

Knit and Natter Friday: 6th March – Knitting is Good For You!

Posted on by Jackie B

We loved looking at this big colourful haul of gorgeous knits from the Knit and Natter Group, who meet at Alnwick Medical Group on Friday afternoons. At the top of the picture are baby jackets, mostly premature size. I love the contrasting edges on the ones at the top right. We also have some beautiful blankets and premature baby clothes from a lady who loves knitting but doesn’t come to the group. The multicoloured blankets left and front are knitted in beautifully soft chenille yarn. The pink/purple baby clothes and blanket were all made out of one big ball of ombre wool. The blanket is knitted in a design of alternating stocking stitch and moss stitch with a moss stitch edge. Isn’t it effective?

We were joined by a couple of members of staff from the practice today. Of course, we can’t let anyone visit us without doing any knitting so we found them some wool and needles and got them started. One had knitted before and soon picked it up again. The other was a complete beginner and after a bit of tuition she was doing brilliantly.

They were there to gather information for Social Prescribing Day (next Thursday, 12th March. Our knitting group was set up as part of the medical practice’s social prescribing work. At the end of the session we took part in a video interview and answered questions about the knit and natter group and what we get out of it. It was interesting to reflect on why we enjoy doing what we do. From my point of view……

  • It’s good to interact with a friendly, supportive group of people with a shared interest. We enjoy each other’s company.
  • We can share skills and learn from each other. There must be several centuries of knitting experience in the group!
  • There’s a shared sense of achievement in completing a project or learning a new skill.
  • Knitting for charity is a worthwhile use of our knitting skills to help others.
  • Communal knitting is fun!

One question that really made me think was about the importance of holding a knitting group in a doctors surgery. I think it legitimises knitting as a worthwhile activity that’s good for physical and mental wellbeing. I know that those of us that knit have known this for years, but there are still people out there that consider it to be a boring solitary hobby, primarily for elderly women! Nonsense!

There are real benefits to mental and physical wellbeing

  • The repetitive action of knitting has a calming effect, lowering heart rate and blood pressure (like stroking a pet or doodling)
  • It’s a mindful activity. By concentrating on the activity of knitting you can slow down, focus on what you are doing and reduce stress and anxiety.
  • It keeps your hands moving, good for the blood supply and muscle tone in the fingers.
  • There’s always something new to learn. Learning new skills encourages the development of new neural pathways, great for maintaining a healthy brain and improving memory.
  • Knitting groups are a great way of combatting social isolation and its effects of mental and physical health.

Now that this is being endorsed by healthcare professionals maybe more people will take up knitting!

What do you think are the benefits of knitting?

Posted in Uncategorized

Knit and Natter Friday: 21 February (Part Two)

Posted on by Jackie B

This afternoon was the weekly meeting of The Knit and Natter Group at Alnwick Medical Group, which is held every Friday from 2.30-4pm in the Lower Building Meeting Room.

This week’s completed charity knits include a hat, and some baby clothes, along with my twiddle mitts. We’ve also been working on some of our own projects, including socks, a baby cardigan for a group member’s first grandchild, due in May. One of the practice staff popped in for some advice on a top-down baby jacket they are about to start, also for an eagerly awaited first grandchild. There’s always some advice available and the little pink and turquoise top in the picture is a top-down construction too, so we had an example to show her!

I’d love to hear about any knit and natter or craft groups you are involved with.