Monday, November 15, 2010

Yahoo Spoolknitter Competition



Yahoo Spoolknitter
Christmas Character/Doll Competition

The Yahoo Spoolknitter group are having their
last competition for the year and the
prize for the winner is a
fabulous Bracelet Jewelry 
Spool Knitting Kit
which is very
generously donated by our
wire spoolknitter extraordinaire -
Sharon Hessoun
... author of ...
Wire Knitting on a Spool.
Do check out her website -

 
Should you wish to
enter, you must become a
member of our spoolknitter group
on Yahoo - link in right hand column
of this blog.
The photo above shows
  all that the lucky winner
will receive and it
also includes the CD of Sharon's book -
Wire Knitting ... on a Spool.
Once you have joined us, all of the
details for the competition will be found
in our Files section.
Competition closes midnight December 2nd!

**********






Tuesday, October 19, 2010

BUYER BEWARE!



I have been a collector of 
spool knitters for a number of years
now. While I would still consider
myself an amateur/novice collector, there are
still some things you
should notice that would make a lot
of sense when it comes to buying
vintage spool knitters.

I have seen over the past months,
so called vintage spool knitters being
sold on the internet. Yes, they have
that old look about them, but did
they start out originally as spool knitters?

I have in the past spoken of recycling
items like salt & pepper shakers, skittles, or perhaps
turning skipping rope handles into spool
knitters. This is all well and good and I
accept this alternative ... I have done
this myself and have stated
exactly what they had been in
as "past life", purely for my
own collection,
.... but I do not accept
those being sold under false pretences
as unique, rare and very old spool
knitters.

There is one seller in particular who makes
this claim on certain
listings, and I question this seller as to how
often he/she seems to continually find these 
supposedly rare and very old
spool knitters.

I notice things like the centre core of
the spool knitter as being newly drilled.
The diameter of the core is unusually
larger than normal. While the nails
have been stated as being oxidized, this
is easy to do yourself and nail them
into the top. If the piece is so old then,
wouldn't there be more wear at certain
areas of the so called spool knitter?
The area around the base of
the nails for instance, and also
around the spool knitter where it is held.
Some of the 'so called' spool knitters have
unusual extras or protuberances
like noses, ears, etc.,
so these should be showing signs of wear.
One of these were the chef salt shakers
(Salty and Peppy)
that are very easily recognized.... there are
so many of these that have been made.
The hat had been painted a different colour
which is also so easily done yourself.
The base of the "spool knitter" has
the recognizable concave which is
commonly found in salt & pepper
shakers.
These are individual pieces also and
do not have a box.

I just want to say to be very aware
when it comes to buying - if they sell
at a low price, then that is fine and as it
should be with its
"past life" noted, but if the buyers do not
know and the piece sells for an
astronomical price, then that is absolutely
absurd. 

Serious collectors, please be aware of this,
 ask the seller lots of questions.
Read the descriptions carefully and check
out all of the photos, ask the seller for lots
more photos.
You do not want to pay ridiculous prices
for a salt shaker!

Please do make comments to me about
this - as I do want to know your thoughts too!



..........
=========



Saturday, October 16, 2010

Strickliesl Magazine



Strickliesl Magazine
Lena Special


A brand new German publication is now available
on the internet (Ebay).
Strickliesl (or Strickliesel,
or Knitting Liesl (spoolknitter)) is a 
Lena Special and is full of spool knitting
patterns both practical
and novel,
to suit just about everyone.
Spool knitting is becoming more
popular as so many more of us are
exploring different textile methods.
Don't forget that you can combine
spool knitting with many other crafts and
also add embellishments to
your creations. 


҉҉҉҉҉҉



           




Tuesday, October 5, 2010

When looking on the internet ............



Knitting Nancy could appear in the least
likely of places, or maybe that is
'images' of Knitting Nancy.
I found this recently when
looking on the internet.
I thought that you may be interested
 

 You will have to scroll down the page
just a little to Maddy Fraioli and her
needle punch rug -
"My Good Friend Nancy"
You can click on her photo
to see a larger version.

This is one I have that is similar ...


=========





Monday, September 27, 2010

Knitting Nancy gets a Makeover

 (before and after)

Knitting Peter
I had been wanting to give the Spear's Knitting Nancy of
the 1970's, 80's, and 90's a makeover for quite some
time.
(Knitting Nancy is the product name given
to the spool knitters by Spear's Games)
 I have a large number of these common boring 
and hideous bright pink-faced Knitting
Nancies in varying degrees of condition, the one
that I have painted here had had an accident with
nail polish of all things! ... and it had been purchased
for next to nothing.
In the 1920's - 30's, there were both female and
male form Knitting Nancies made by Spear's
of Germany and UK .... the male was called
Knitting Peter (Strick-Peter).
I quite like how he turned out in light
blue top with dark blue pants.
I also like his little expression on
his face!

 Here is the original Spear's
Knitting Peter (right)
of the late 20's/30's.
Don't the two Peter's
make a nice family
photo!!
                                                                        





°°°°°°°°







Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Spoolknitting Box


The prize for the winner of the current Yahoo
Spoolknitter Group Competition is this sweet 
hand-painted wooden box to hold your
spoolknitting accessories in.
It has a wood cut-out of Knitting Nancy
on the front!
The poll is now on to find our winner!
Link to the Yahoo Spoolknitter Group can be found
in the right-hand column of this blog.
Maybe we will see you there!

(Sept 13 ... now closed, but
we will be having more competitions!)


+_+



Thursday, August 12, 2010

Anchor Arista



A fabulous booklet to look for if you are interested
in jewellery/necklace designs is the Anchor Intermezzo.
There are five different designs to make using
the Anchor Arista threads.

Below is an Anchor Arista Jewellery kit
- others are available.


There is a necklace and matching ring to
make from the kit.

You can look at the Coats Anchor website for these booklets and
jewellery kits plus some beading sites also have them.


~~~~oooo~~~~