Gail Says... » Shows & Events

A new world knitting record!

Gail Lipscombe — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:18:30 +0000

OK, it’s official: I’m a champion! Well, me and 255 other knitters. We all braved the cold early morning in Martin Place, Sydney today to knit squares to make blankets for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment at Prince of Wales Hospital and establish the world record for group knitting in the process.

My mum, who has successfully battled cancer on three fronts over the years, couldn’t get to the event today, as she has the ‘flu, but I was there to fly the flag for her — or wield the knitting needles, at least. However, she’s going to be knitting up a storm at home for the cause.

If you , too, couldn’t make it to the event today, but would still like to be a part of this good cause, you can knit squares for blankets at home, plus scarves, wraps, hats or any other garments to help alleviate the chill sensations experienced by patients as they undergo chemotherapy treatment.

To give you an idea of what is needed, we knitted 10-inch squares today using 9mm needles and 8ply wool — you’ll need to cast on around 30 stitches if you’re a knitter with average tension.

All completed items can be sent to the following address up until July 1:

New Idea Knitting Event
Pacific Magazines
35-51 Mitchell St
McMahons Point NSW 2060

Knitting world record attempt

Gail Lipscombe — Thu, 21 May 2009 14:11:42 +0000

New Idea magazine is rallying Sydney knitters to attempt to break the world knitting record for the number of people knitting simultaneously. The event is in support of breast cancer sufferers.

The attempt will be made on Monday, June 15 in Martin Place, Sydney. Knitters need to assemble at 7.30am, when they can check in and collect their goody bag, containing wool, needles and a book of knitting patterns, courtesy of Spotlight, plus a copy of New Idea and a recipe book. Knitters will be making 10-inch squares and need to knit continuously for 20 minutes to break the record.

Squares knitted on the day will be made into blankets and given to women undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer at the Prince of Wales Hospital.

You can download an information pack and find a link to register to be part of the record attempt here. There’s also an address where you can send knitted items to if you can’t make it on the day.

If you can’t make it on the day, you can still send knitted items (hats, scarves & wraps/blankets preferred) to New Idea at the following address:

New Idea Knitting Event
Pacific Magazines
35-51 Mitchell St
McMahons Point NSW 2060

The event is a great chance to meet other knitters and help a good cause at the same time — and how often do you get the chance to be part of a world record?

Sydney Craft Show

Gail Lipscombe — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 03:12:03 +0000

Having dabbled in all sorts of crafts over the years, I thought it was fitting to kick off this blog with a roundup of a new craft show, Craftfest, which will be setting up camp in most capital cities. I attended the Sydney show at Olympic Park on Sunday, March 8 with two of my crafty friends, all three of us veteran consumers on the craft show circuit – we even used it a great excuse to go on a girls’ weekend to Melbourne, because there would be different exhibitors there.

Craftfest show in Sydney

This show is a new addition to the circuit, stepping into the breach left by the long-running February Stitches and Craft show at Rosehill Race Course, which had to be abandoned last year due to the outbreak of Equine Flu in NSW. Craftfest was definitely smaller than the Rosehill show, but well worth the visit.

In coming posts, I’ll cover some of the exhibitors I bought stuff from.

You can sign up to the site for free. Members get access to cool, printable craft projects and discounts on show entry and selected purchases, plus you get a free bag to store all all the loot you buy on the day.

Click here to find out when there will be a show near you.