Hello Sheffield!!!

There will be a new knitting club starting on the 17th January, to continue every Thursday evening from 7.30-10pm. It will be held in the Cocoa lounge, 462 Ecclesall Road. Everyone is welcome to come and go when they please and we don't expect everyone to know how to knit. We are all willing to help each other out and lend a needle or two!!! It is a chance to try something new, be creative, make some friends and have a cup of tea!

Hope to see you there

love Anne and Kate of Cocoa

A knit in at a chocolate shop? I shall just have to go and fan myself for a while. Are there calories in the smell do you think?

Sounds lovely!

Heaven has just fallen into Sheffield. Chocolate, knitting and an evening out all in one..... I feel quite faint ...... I may have to break into a smile .... Just for the icing on the cake does it have coffee as well ??????

Mmmm-mmmm, this sounds good!
There's no calories in the smell, W4B, just as there aren't calories in broken biscuits...

Mmmm-mmmm, this sounds good!
There's no calories in the smell, W4B, just as there aren't calories in broken biscuits...

It sounds like an ideal Birthday treat for me, so I will be there!

It sounds like an ideal Birthday treat for me, so I will be there!

But your Birthday's on the 15th does it still count? And you lisaH, don't you go lately celebrating too :suspect::hihi:

But your Birthday's on the 15th does it still count? And you lisaH, don't you go lately celebrating too :suspect::hihi:

Yes, but I am not celebrating on my own, sad sap that I am!

I don't think that I can come on the 17th as I think my other half is out that night.

I really fancied coming to this - knitting and chocolate - who can resist. But I have been talked into trying tap dance out :suspect: Which is going to be ermm... interesting :confused:

I'll come along, don't need persuading when there's chocolate involved.

I hope someone may be able to give me advice (if not here then where eh?!)

I have a few skeins of wool at home that were spun for me as part of an event I organised, from Shetland sheep on a local site.
I finally washed it yesterday (:gag:) and now it is dry!

Problem is I have never knitted (knat?) in my life. It isn't even wound into balls. I don't know where to start!
I quite fancy giving knitting a go, but don't know what this wool would be good for, how to wind it...help!
If I came along here one night could I get some advice? (Can't make it this week but will try next)
The wool is au naturel and beautiful - I will post a picture when I get organised! Thanks!

I hope someone may be able to give me advice (if not here then where eh?!)

I have a few skeins of wool at home that were spun for me as part of an event I organised, from Shetland sheep on a local site.
I finally washed it yesterday (:gag:) and now it is dry!

Problem is I have never knitted (knat?) in my life. It isn't even wound into balls. I don't know where to start!
I quite fancy giving knitting a go, but don't know what this wool would be good for, how to wind it...help!
If I came along here one night could I get some advice? (Can't make it this week but will try next)
The wool is au naturel and beautiful - I will post a picture when I get organised! Thanks!

Can you get to The Wool Baa in Sheffield? Jill is all the help you need! ;) :D

Thanks I will try that!

I would like to learn but am afraid of wasting it as I suspect I will not be very good - I shall throw myself upon her mercy!

This could be the start of a whole new hobby for me - how exciting!

As a new Forum member does one have to say they are coming? I would love to join the group and start knitting again after a very, very long break.

Beckelina,
If you know how much yarn you have and roughly what thickness you have then it will help you decide what you can do with it. You can do this with no special equipment except a tape measure and a pencil so you can be all prepared when you step into the wool shop. Take one of the skeins, if it's been twisted back on itself open it out until it's a circle (don't untie anything), stick a finger in each end of the loop of the skein and straighten it out. If you put one finger at the start of the tape measure then the other finger will be pointing at half the length of the skein (inches will probably work better). You now know how long that skein is (they probably will be all the same length). If you then count the number of strands in the skein (don't untie anything) then the number of strands times the distance from one end of the skein to the other times two is the yardage you have. You can either do the same thing with all of the skeins or if they look similar then weigh them. You then have your total yardage.

If you want to work out what thickness it is (four ply, double knit, chunky) then you need to work out the wraps per inch, for which you need a pencil or the handle of a wooden spoon. There's a link here (http://www.woolfestival.com/articles/WPI.htm)that shows you how to do it and what it means.

The usual beginner project is a scarf, if you don't have enough for that you can buy something in a colour you like that's about the same thickness and knit stripes. A big stripe of colour and a short stripe of the white will make it go a long way.

I finally washed it yesterday (:gag:) and now it is dry!


Lovely job isn't it! (:gag:)

I will probably have shrunk a bit when you washed it but before washing each hank will have been 2 yards long.

If you want to start a bigger project and need more wool to make it up just let me know and I will get a bit more spun up for you, we have washed all the fleeces and I'm in the process of spinning some of it laceweight. It looks quite impressive even if I do say so myself.

Good luck with the knitting

As a new Forum member does one have to say they are coming? I would love to join the group and start knitting again after a very, very long break.

Hi there and welcome to the group:) The Cocoa Lounge knitting club isnt anything to do with the forum (so I dont know what the protocol is here - Im just guessing turn up if you fancy it), but I think a few of our members have been tempted by the thought of both chocolate and knitting in the same place.

The forum 'unofficial' meets are normally on the last Wednesday of each month to be held at the Wool Baa in Hunters Baa. If you could say beforehand for these if you wanted to come that would be great so that we can make sure space etc is catered for. These meets are usually published a couple of weeks before the event and will be found in one of the stickies close to the top.

In addition one of our forum members sometimes does an open house normally on a Sunday so watch out for those too - I try and make these sticky for a couple of weeks before the event too. Peakwools open house events are well worth a visit as she sells some very nice and more difficult to get hold of yarn:)

Lovely job isn't it! (:gag:)

I will probably have shrunk a bit when you washed it but before washing each hank will have been 2 yards long.

If you want to start a bigger project and need more wool to make it up just let me know and I will get a bit more spun up for you, we have washed all the fleeces and I'm in the process of spinning some of it laceweight. It looks quite impressive even if I do say so myself.

Good luck with the knitting

Cheers woolspinster, I can't believe I left it in my house so long, considering all the muck that came out!
It has turned out a lovely mixture of colours and I'm determined to do something with it that will do justice to the sheep and all your lovely hard work x
I'm glad you're finding a use for the rest of it... I'm definitely going to keep my eye out for more fleeces from Wharncliffe come the spring.
I'll let you know how I get on with the knitting!

Beckelina,
If you know how much yarn you have and roughly what thickness you have then it will help you decide what you can do with it. You can do this with no special equipment except a tape measure and a pencil so you can be all prepared when you step into the wool shop. Take one of the skeins, if it's been twisted back on itself open it out until it's a circle (don't untie anything), stick a finger in each end of the loop of the skein and straighten it out. If you put one finger at the start of the tape measure then the other finger will be pointing at half the length of the skein (inches will probably work better). You now know how long that skein is (they probably will be all the same length). If you then count the number of strands in the skein (don't untie anything) then the number of strands times the distance from one end of the skein to the other times two is the yardage you have. You can either do the same thing with all of the skeins or if they look similar then weigh them. You then have your total yardage.

If you want to work out what thickness it is (four ply, double knit, chunky) then you need to work out the wraps per inch, for which you need a pencil or the handle of a wooden spoon. There's a link here (http://www.woolfestival.com/articles/WPI.htm)that shows you how to do it and what it means.

The usual beginner project is a scarf, if you don't have enough for that you can buy something in a colour you like that's about the same thickness and knit stripes. A big stripe of colour and a short stripe of the white will make it go a long way.

Thanks Wool4brains for the info - I reckon I will try a scarf as that can't go too wrong - can it?!

Hi there and welcome to the group:) The Cocoa Lounge knitting club isnt anything to do with the forum (so I dont know what the protocol is here - Im just guessing turn up if you fancy it), but I think a few of our members have been tempted by the thought of both chocolate and knitting in the same place.
<snippitty>

tempted? by chocolate AND knitting together? no! surely not! tempted? us? whatever would give you that idea (says PT, who can resist everything but temptation)

In addition one of our forum members sometimes does an open house normally on a Sunday so watch out for those too - I try and make these sticky for a couple of weeks before the event too. Peakwools open house events are well worth a visit as she sells some very nice and more difficult to get hold of yarn:)

ooh! shivers with anticipation... Peakwool's Garage Of Wonder! (TM) it is a sight to behold!! *Shivers*! what bliss!!

*PT also adds her knitty welcome*

Thanks for the info didn't realise the difference between the different groups. Will go on Thursday and hopefully manage an occasional Wednesday but a difficult night at the present. I think I've been to Peakwools as I bought some lovely stuff off eBay to think about machine knitting socks. I collected it as it was so near where I used to live.
Having fun winding the hanks into balls so that I can start knitting. No hank holding thingy on eBay tonight

If you need I have a swift that you can come round and use. One of the best contraptions I have bought. Look forward to seeing you at a meeting and welcome to the Forum.

well, sadly I won't be able to get tonight, much as I wanted to.

At the mo, I am not up to hobbling on my sticks, (my strength and balance are rubbish at the mo) and the building isn't accessible, so I can't go in the chariot as I had planned.

Big thank you to the Coca girls for a lovely evening and absolutely fantastic hot chocolate. Thank you to everyone in the downstairs group for making me and my friend so very welcome. It was so lovely to sit chatting without a 'used electron' in sight. Still got along way to go with number one sock but hope to be on the difficult bit by next week. Thanks again

is this chocolate and something else to do???????? on this thursday? got t:loopy:he chocolate bit in my head but duh??&&**^?

Gladly echo mgknit's message. A wonderful evening and great company.

Hi,
I would like to come along to some of your meets, i'm quite new to knitting n would like to learn more do i have to let you know if n when i'm comming or just turn up?
hope to see you soon

Hi Suey,
I've been to the Thursday night one for the last couple of weeks and had a lovely evening. Just turn up, drink tea or the delicious hot chocolate, chat and knit a bit. Some of the ladies there are very experienced knitters while others are on their first ever project so its great for getting help and encouragement. You can buy chocolates to take home too if you want - our house is becoming addicted to the chilli chocs.

Hope to see you there.

Finally got myself along to Cocoa last night. It was certainly worth the wait . brilliant atmosphere, good company and far too much chocolate (although I did manage to leave them a bit more space for more by taking a bagful home with me (yes Wheezy, I paid for it....:D)

Finally got myself along to Cocoa last night. It was certainly worth the wait . brilliant atmosphere, good company and far too much chocolate (although I did manage to leave them a bit more space for more by taking a bagful home with me (yes Wheezy, I paid for it....:D)

Brilliant atmosphere? Good company? It sounds like no other place on earth! Tell me, were you looking for Hostess Tips? :suspect: ;) :D

the article in the telegraph has left me eager to pop along. will have to get my thursdays sorted!
sue

Oh yes, the article in the Telegraph with the photo that included at least one Forum member.

I've found the article online here (http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/features/Duo-set-up-a-haven.3899566.jp)

hello, is this knitting group still in action??

Yes very much so, every thursday 7.30pm -10pm.

Not only in action but absolutely brilliant. Chocolate and Knitting. OMG!!!!!

I really have to drag myself to one of these meetings....someone make me go!

I really have to drag myself to one of these meetings....someone make me go!

Lady G, get yourself to Cocoa!!

nice one thanks ladies, and possibly gents ;).....

i'll be down in a couple of weeks

knitting and chocolate? i thought it didn't get better than knitting and cake but i was wrong!! xxxxx

Hey Cocoa ladies!! I can't believe I have only just discovered your knitting club!!

I am a student at Sheffield University and I run a small Knitting Society there, which is suprisingly popular amongst the young folk!
I usually run beginners sessions every 2 weeks or so in the Union building where I teach people the basics.
During one of these sessions last night I mentioned my discovery of your club and unsurprisingly all the girls were very interested!

So basically, I just want to double check that this wonderful club still takes place on a Thurs night, and also to let you know that a few of us intend to pop down next week. None of us are particularly experienced and some have only just had their first taste of knitting but they are all eager to learn and eat chocolate in the process!

I look forward to seeing you next week

Emma

The knitting group does indeed meet every Thursday in the delightful surroundings of the the Cocoa Lounge. It serves wonderful hot chocolate and there's always a selection of herbal or unusually flavoured tea available. There are usually a few experienced knitters who are happy to help the rest of us.

After Christmas the Cocoa girls are taking a couple of weeks holiday and the shop will be closed (apparently everyone's had enough chocolate over the festive season) so hopefully we'll see you down there before the hols.

Or, as an alternative, I'd like to call everyone's attention to this (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=418848) thread... I'm not trying to hijack or anything, but for those who may prefer beer to chocolate :)

Knitclub is back on again this Thursday (22nd) after the Christmas break for its first birthday/anniversary so look forward to seeing you there to celebrate (by knitting and eating chocolate, you know, for a change!!).

knitting and chocolate!!! its on the same night as my running club :( running will have to share :) will the club be on on the 19th of feb?

Should be! Huge snowfalls permitting!
See you there.