Emma Vining Hand Knitting: The Knitting & Crochet Guild Convention & AGM 2015: Part One

Tuesday, 7 July 2015

The Knitting & Crochet Guild Convention & AGM 2015: Part One

What great weekend we all had at the K&C Guild Convention! All of the delegates were very impressed by the University of Sheffield facilities. We were looked after very well, from fixing plumbing late at night to sorting out return trips to the station during the Sheffield Sky Ride road closures. There are so many highlights from our two days that I have split them over two posts.

The Guild's theme this year is Afternoon Tea and there was a lovely display of tea related items from the Collection. Some of these will be on display at Shows over the next few months.

KCG Collection
Photo by Emma Vining

After introductions and dinner on our first evening, we were all treated to an entertaining and informative talk by Kerry Lord of Toft Alpaca. Kerry took us through her journey from her English Literature degree to her successful business, Toft luxury yarns. Her clarity of vision for the business is very impressive. Kerry illustrated the high level of skill required during all phases of producing the luxury Toft yarns by describing in detail how she achieves colour blending with natural Alpaca fleeces. We all fell in love with Kerry's Edward's Menagerie Collections and were very lucky to preview the first copy of Kerry's new book, Edward's Menagerie: Birds. The crochet birds are fabulous and I love the descriptions of each one, written by Kerry in her very distinctive style. I know I am not the only one planning a trip to see Kerry at her wonderful studio and shop!

Kerry Lord's new Book

Two of Ed's Animals by Toft Alpaca

Our day on Saturday began with an excellent presentation by Meg Boyce. Meg is a student at Huddersfield University and has been working with the Guild Collection Team at Lee Mills. Meg took us through some of her research and her responses to the Collection. She also introduced the concept of using Forensic Science methodologies to find new ways of looking at the Collection. Her work with the huge number of knitting needles in the Collection has resulted in some beautiful artwork that will shortly be produced as cards for the Guild to sell. I will definitely be buying some!

Pence Jugs by Meg Boyce

Meg showing her smallest Pence Jug

Meg's Knitting needle inspired artwork

Meg's beautiful knitted response to the Guild Collection

Barbara Smith's presentation was all about beautiful Fair Isle items that we have in the Guild Collection. Barbara is the Publications Curator for the Guild Collection and I particularly enjoy how she links images, patterns and items together to show the social history behind the designs. Beginning with the classic 1922 fair isle sweater worn by the Prince of Wales at St Andrews, Barbara showed how this type of image began appearing in adverts for knits and yarns in the 1920s. Barbara's other examples of Fair Isle in the Collection took us through the decades and ended with the sweater that was recently "Visibly Mended" by Tom of Holland. You can read more about all kinds of knitting and crochet on Barbara's fascinating blog.