A national charity dedicated to hand knitting, machine knitting and crochet, and custodians of our h
Operating as usual
We had a great open day Collection last Saturday. The Collection volunteers hosted over 30 visitors who dropped by to see where we are and what we do. Lots of interest which is wonderful. So this is the end of the process, garments being packed into boxes (identifying pictures on the outside) and lots of acid free tissue paper on the inside. Huge thanks to the team!
Highlights of the donations meeting collection this morning. All offers of donations are considered by a meeting of collection volunteers. These are a vintage angora tam, the first example of a lockdown project in double filet crochet (a KCGuild project), and an amazing ‘Where the wild things are’ model made by a machine knitting group
The Guild’s Collection team use a variety of ways to record our objects; labelling and accessioning all items that are to become part of the Collection, recording important details about materials, technique, construction and provenance, and logging these digitally.
This logging of objects was once done in a spreadsheet but the IT team and the Collection team have been working hard this year to move our catalogue online. This new resource is able to be widely shared and searched by anyone. Watch this space for details of how to access it, we’ll be sharing it with you soon!
This is just a fragment of our Collection housed at Britannia Mill.
Here you'll find around 2,500 textile objects dating from 1826 to present day (all hand or machine knit or crochet, or a combination!), over 50,000 pattern leaflets (some have been digitised and are available to Guild members) plus other books and magazines, and a multitude of tools, yarn samples and shade cards.
If you'd like to see more of the Guild Collection, come and see us on Saturday 12 November for our next Open Day - we'll be there 10am-4pm, it's free to attend and you can just drop in (no need to book). Members and non-members welcome.
The Stylecraft yarn sale is on the same day, so make a day of it and visit both!
For details of how to get to Britannia Mill, please visit our website >> https://bit.ly/3NHpv6Q
Please note the Collection is on the First Floor, and access is via steps and stairs with no disabled access.
Hello! We’re the Knitting & Crochet Guild; a national charity all about hand and machine knitting and crochet in the UK. We’re here to share knowledge and skills, encourage creativity and preserve the heritage of our crafts.
Our collection is made up of c2,500 textile objects dating from 1826, over 50,000 pattern leaflets plus other books and magazines, a plethora of tools, yarn samples and shade cards.
The Guild is run by a team of dedicated volunteers all over the UK, doing everything from running our branch network, behind the scenes work to keep our IT going, producing our quarterly journal ‘Slipknot’, caring for our collection, to moderating our social media profiles and many, many more tasks – far too many to list today. We wouldn’t be here without them.
We’ve also recently rebranded and will be rolling this out over the coming weeks and months. We hope you like it!
To find out more about the Guild, member benefits and how to join, please visit our website >> https://kcguild.org.uk
There’s a drop in open day at the Collection. Saturday 12 th November. We’ll be there between 10am and 4 pm. Come and have a look round and see what we do!
There’s a glimpse of our new branding behind the handwriting, launch coming soon! And there lots of other stuff happening in Slaithwaite that day including the sale🧶
More for machine knitters this week at the Collection. We’re sorting through the boxes and finding some wonderful items from the 1970s and 80s when it was so popular. There’s a range of techniques in these pieces from embroidery with ribbon, beautiful buttonholes, very clever construction and beading. The garments vary from jumpers to jackets and two pieces.
Machine knitting is an integral part of the and today two of us volunteers (which we all are) were unpacking those boxes ready to be checked against our catalogue. These are just some phone shots of some very 70s-80s pieces. Lots of batwing sleeves, rainbow stripes and punch card motifs . Also Dorset buttons in the first garment. .
Some treasures from a box called ‘Decorative Panels’ being catalogued today collection. An eclectic selection. filetcrochet
Wow this is just gorgeous
This time last week our convention attendees were descending on the Hayes for a weekend full of inspiring talks and informative workshops. For many people the best part was meeting in-person again, or perhaps seeing people face to face they’d only met on Zoom before.
Each of our keynote speakers gave us a truly inspirational story and food for thought that then kept us talking for days.
Our member-led workshops provided a wonderful array of topics and learning opportunities.
Evenings were spent at the ‘show and tell’; chatting and crafting in the bar; or attending one of the fringe events.
If you missed this year’s convention, check out the highlights in our stories on Instagram for a glimpse of what went on.
The Knitting & Crochet Guild convention is an exclusive member-only event. To find out more about becoming a member, please follow this link >> https://kcguild.org.uk/membership/
Hello all, our new monthly Knitting and Crochet Group starts this Saturday (24th September 2022) at Knit Happens Bodmin
So whether you’ve been knitting or crocheting for 2 months or 20 years, all are welcome, to come along meet, chat, knit, crochet and get inspired with cake and a cuppa. Just bring along your current project and spend a couple of hours with others and we look forward to seeing you there.
Cost £3.00. Open to both guild members and non-guild members (you don’t need to be a member of the Guild to come along to the group) and we look forward to seeing you there.
This weekend we gather for our first in-person convention since the pandemic. This has been a long time in the planning and we have a fantastic line-up of keynote speakers and workshop tutors. It’s a chance to get together, talk about our crafts, hear from others, meet like-minded makers, and breathe.
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Our keynote speakers are Guild Patron Lorna Hamilton-Brown, Professor Sandy Black, James McIntosh and Dr Thomas Ernst FRCP and our workshops range from beginners’ crochet to steeks in Fair Isle, to machine knitting a tuck-lace scarf. There really is something for everyone!
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Image 1: Lorna Hamilton-Brown
Image 2: Professor Sandy Black
Image 3: James McIntosh
Image 4: Dr Thomas Ernst FRCP
This week's 'branch of the week' is Devon! They meet monthly on a Saturday, 10am-3pm, and focus on crochet and hand-knitting. There's a £3 charge to cover room hire and refreshments.
Contact Branch Coordinators Mary and Elizabeth for dates (their contact details are on the branches page of the Guild website >> https://bit.ly/3d6YA6x).
As part of Heritage Open Days, the Guild Collection at Britannia Mill will be open for visitors!
Come along on Tuesday 13 September and see the history of the Guild in our timeline display. Drop in between 10am-4pm; the event is free to attend and there’s no need to book.
Please note the Collection is on the First Floor, and access is via steps and stairs with no disabled access.
Information on how to get to Britannia Mill, Slaithwaite can be found on our website.
Members and non-members welcome.
https://kcguild.org.uk/events/
The Directors and members of the Knitting and Crochet Guild would like to express their deep sadness at the news of the death of our beloved Queen. It is good to know that, amid the enormous responsibilities and duties which she carried out with such grace and devotion for more than 70 years, she found time to engage in our craft, as this photograph from 1940 illustrates. We also offer our deepest sympathy to all the Royal Family.
We further note with gratitude the fact that our new King is an active and committed supporter of the Campaign for Wool, and look forward to his continuing influence in this important area as he begins his reign.
Photo: © Royal Collection Trust
Hear the Knitting & Crochet Guild’s Textile Archivist, Angharad Thomas, speak about the Collection, it’s authenticity and sustainability, at the ‘Creativity, Authenticity and Sustainability in Knitted Textiles’ conference (8-9 September).
The hybrid conference, run by the Fleece to Fashion project at the University of Glasgow, is being held in-person and online. Find out more and book free online tickets; it’s a great line up - you won’t be disappointed! https://bit.ly/3enOKNO
Our next Branch of the Week is Truro, Cornwall. The group focus on hand-knitting and crochet and all are welcome, from complete beginners to experts.
The Truro branch meet at The Hall for Cornwall, Back Quay, Truro:
- On the first Wednesday of the month 6.30-8.30pm.
- In person on the third Saturday of the month; by Zoom other Saturdays, 2.30-4.30pm.
There is a small fee of £2 to attend the sessions. To find out more about the group and their meetings, head over to the 'branches' page on the Guild website for Branch Coordinator Anna's email and the link to their Facebook group.
https://bit.ly/3RkBFU9
Our first Branch of the Week is also a new branch! The Bodmin branch in Cornwall is a monthly Saturday morning group at Knit Happens Bodmin, welcoming hand knitters and crocheters of all abilities.
Their aim is to meet up with like-minded people to knit and crochet together, chat with new friends, share and learn new stitches and skills, plus enjoy all things woolly. Please note: the branch meets in an upstairs area with stair access only. So unfortunately it is not accessible to wheelchair users.
The group meets on the fourth Saturday of the month, 10am-midday, and their first meeting is on 24 September. £3 fee.
For more information, follow their page >> https://www.facebook.com/knittingandcrochetguildbodmin
Did you know the Knitting & Crochet Guild has a network of branches all over the UK? They all meet in different locations, at different times and frequencies, and are run by our volunteer Branch Coordinators. Each branch has its own personality, crafts they focus on and an independent programme of talks and workshops.
Most branches are free to attend (or low cost, usually to cover room hire). Anyone can attend a branch session - you don't need to be a member of the Knitting & Crochet Guild and it's a great introduction to the Guild, to find out if it's a good fit for you.
We're going to be sharing a 'Branch of the Week' each Monday, so you can get to know a little bit more about each of our branches and find like-minded makers near you!
To search for a branch near you, head over to the branches page on our website >> https://kcguild.org.uk/sharing-knowledge/guilds-groups-and-other-resources/kcg-branches/
As part of Heritage Open Days, the Guild Collection at Britannia Mill will be open for visitors!
Come along on Tuesday 13 September and see the history of the Guild in our timeline display. Drop in between 10am-4pm; the event is free to attend and there’s no need to book.
Please note the Collection is on the First Floor, and access is via steps and stairs with no disabled access.
Information on how to get to Britannia Mill, Slaithwaite can be found here on our website >> https://kcguild.org.uk/our.../visiting-britannia-mill/
Members and non-members welcome
A special donations meeting for some Jean Moss pieces. All lovely but this denim knit jacket is a tour-de-force. The collection team is looking forward to showing these at trunk shows and open days.
Did you know… Lorna Hamilton-Brown, Knitting & Crochet Guild patron, designed the ‘Unity’ patch for the Team England 2022 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony outfit athletes wore last night?
The kit was produced by Great British Sewing Bee judge and fashion designer Patrick Grant’s Community Clothing, in collaboration with a team of English creatives. The outfit features a modern take on the country’s traditional red and white with a workwear jacket inspired by Birmingham’s industrial heritage.
Team England athletes were able to style their own look for the Opening Ceremony. A series of patches can be added to the chore jacket, a unique concept in team uniform which aims to celebrate the diversity of the team.
Team England President, Denise Lewis OBE said: “Every stitch, seam, button and badge has been discussed in detail and so I hope each and every member of Team England wears it with pride. Knowing that the look and feel of the Official Opening Ceremony wear has been approved by the athletes and produced for the athletes highlights just what Team England is about.”
The other patches were designed by Beth Cordukes, David Vincent, George Groves, Daxa Odedra and Laura Smith.
The collection is featured in an exhibition in Huddersfield, part of the festival. Each box features a piece from the with samples made in response to these. plans to do more work with the collection as part of her masters work
What will you be doing for World Wide Knit in Public Day tomorrow? The Woolly Weekend in Dilham has a great lineup of activities including sheep-shearing demos, crochet, knitting, spinning, weaving, felting, sewing, dyeing and other rural crafts.
The North Norfolk Knitters Branch will be there, and Rita Taylor will be demonstrating how to knit a gansey.
Indulge in a day of knitting and crochet talks and workshops with the Bath branch of the Knitting & Crochet Guild! They’re delighted to be hosting their first Regional Day on Saturday 11 June to coincide with World Wide Knit in Public Day.
The programme includes:
- Knitwear designer Emma Vining and researcher Alice-Marie Archer talking about edgings for shawl design and knitting soil-less cultivation systems respectively
- A knitting surgery hosted by knitwear designer Mary Henderson
- A group project, ‘Social Knitwork’, led by textile artist Lou Baker
- Knitting and crochet workshops with Clare Griffel and Armelle Lovegrove respectively
- Learn to knit and/or crochet sessions for beginners, with hooks, needles and yarn to keep and take home
- A raffle with wonderful prizes generously donated by , , and
- All attendees will receive discount codes to use at and
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The day runs 10am-4pm and is being held in central Bath.
Book your ticket here >> https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/332368351687.
Tickets £10 / £15, members and non-members of the Knitting & Crochet Guild welcome. Ticket sales close on Thursday 9 June at midday.
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Image - one of Alice-Marie Archer’s knitted forms for use in hydroponics
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So this is how to make knitting needles. This chart (blueprint) sets out all the various sizes of knitting needles. It is dated 1975 and is from the Abel Morrell factory in Redditch, England. Such a fascinating piece of knitting history
The Knitting & Crochet Guild is run entirely by volunteers. It's a massive task and truly a team effort, so THANK YOU to all our volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes.
From our Patrons and Board, to the teams who produce ‘Slipknot’ and ‘Across the Needlebed’, the membership and IT teams, the Convention working group, the individuals who respond to enquiries, the Collection team, our Branch Coordinators, and social media moderators; we couldn’t do it without you.
It’s Volunteers’ Week and we’re taking this opportunity to say thank you to the many, many volunteers who keep the Knitting & Crochet Guild running and to share a few volunteer profiles throughout the week.
Stephen has recently started volunteering as our Board Secretary. His pronouns are he / him, is neurodiverse and a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Stephen has been making across multiple crafts over 20 years, including crochet, knit, weave, cross-stitch, ceramics, and stained glass, to name a few. He’s attended crafting conventions for over 15 years although normally those around London. It was during one of these he saw a Guild stall in the ‘Marketplace’ and spoke to two ladies – after which the pandemic hit. He attended one or two online sessions with branches in London. Following this he joined the Guild and worked with one of the Board members regarding the EDI Policy. He later saw the advertisement for volunteers to help out and decided to put his name forward to help.
If you’re interested in volunteering for the Guild, do check out the ‘volunteering for the Guild’ page on the website (link in bio).
Part 1st Floor, Britannia Mill, Britannia Road, Slaithwaite
Huddersfield
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