Our programming committee, headed by Angela Blackstone, is excited to announce that the following speakers will give presentations to the Guild this year. This year’s theme is A New Take on Tradition
- May 8, 2012 Laura Nelkin’s presentation will focus on how she takes inspiration, technique and function into play as she designs. She will show a progression of her work how she builds, explores, and refines knitting concepts while she designs new patterns. This talk will be fun, fast paced, and contain tips and tricks for designing and learning new techniques.Laura has been knitting for about 8 years, five of which she spent as the Design Director for Schaefer Yarn. Now, as an independent knitwear designer, she loves to work with beads and incorporates them in most of her designs. She loves to travel and teach knitting techniques and when she not designing or knitting, she spends time gardening, and enjoying time with her family.
In the past, the Kitchener-Waterloo Knitters’ Guild has been proud to have presented, among others, the following guest speakers.
- Kate Atherley spoke about “Now, Where Was I?”, reading our knitting, finding and fixing mistakes.
- Laura Chau discussed issues of designing shaped knitting and the kinds of effects that are made by different pattern choices.
- Fiona Ellis spoke about the process of creating the designs in her new book, Inspired Cable Knits: 20 Creative Designs for Making Sweaters and Accessories, and displayed the sample garments.
- Anne Featonby gave a slide show and talk on the subject of Fair Isle knitting myths and truths. She also demonstrated steeking a Fair Isle sweater knit in the round.
- Gayle Bunn gave a slide presentation of her design work and showcased sample garments and accessories from her new crochet book, Total Crochet Fashions.
- Maureen Mason-Jamieson gave a detailed explanation of modular knitting and presented a showcase of garments and accessories created using modular techniques.
- Julia Bryant presented a showcase of unique and colourful garments and accessories created using Tunisian crochet techniques.
- Julie Schilthuis, of the Needle Emporium, gave a preview of trends in fibres and knitwear for the coming seasons.