Handknitters Guild of SA: Amber learns of the joys of hand knitting in the Adelaide City region of South Australia
On the first and third Saturday of each month, in the Unley RSL Hall a group of women with a lot in common gather for a knit and a natter… and there's always plenty of both. Welcome to the Handknitters Guild of South Australia - a group of people who just love to knit and crochet.
There's plenty of knitting knowhow here - collectively there are hundreds of years experience between them.
Margaret: "I've been knitting since I was 7 when my auntie taught me. It's just so relaxing and you can do it anywhere - on the bus, anywhere you go. It's pretty handy."
Wendy: "I began knitting when I was 4. It was the blackout in London so we had to learn to do something at night. "
Here, terms like skip, pass, slip one knitwise, cast off, slip one purlwise are commonplace. To the uninitiated it sounds like a foreign language but it's second nature to these dedicated knitting fans.
"I do all types of knitting - I thought I was a good knitter until I came here and see all these beautiful things that the other women have made I've got a long way to go."
Hand knitting has been a tradition for generations with many a youngster learning their craft under the watchful eye of their mother, big sister, auntie or gran. It's always been a social activity and after slipping in an out of fashion over the last century or so it's enjoying a revival.
Maureen: "You find here that certain people will knit certain things, there's two or three members who are always knitting socks, someone's always knitting scarves."
June: "I only knit socks for fellows who wash them by hand."
The guild's patron is former South Australian Senator, Rosemary Crowley - who laments her unsuccessful bid to have knitting allowed in Parliament.
Rosemary Crowley, Patron: "I think knitting is a wonderful skill and the women here are amazing. I've learned so much from them - it's like a gift and they are all instinctive teachers. When I even begin to ask a question about 10 people are there to give me an answer…"
Jumpers, cardigans, beanies, dolls clothes, kid's clothes, tea cossies, rugs, scarves - they're all here. And if you want to see them for yourself, the Handknitters Guild is holding a special exhibition on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 May 2010 as part of History Week. It will be at the Unley Senior Citizens Centre at 18 Arthur Street - that's just behind the Unley Shopping Centre. It's open from 10 until 4.30 and will include displays and demonstrations.
For enquiries about the exhibition or the Handknitters Guide and their meeting times contact Wendy Harvey on 8232 9939. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au
Handknitters Guild of SA Exhibition
Sat 22 - Sun 23 May
10am-4.30pm
Unley Senior Citizens Centre
18 Arthur St
UnleyHandknitters Guild of SA
Wendy Harvey
Ph 8232 9939Published 16th May 2010
