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Timeline
Sept 1985
Over 270 members
Within months of forming, Macknit had over 270 members as they prepared for the Sydney Machine Knitting Seminar to be held in August 1986. Members were issued with a badge which was designed by Bob Carter, who was the lecture supervisor for the seminar. "The light blue is the stylised map of NSW; the letters within the dark blue cone nof yarn are M.L.A which is "Machine Knitters Association". The colour scheme of light and dark blue, I am sure you are all aware, are the official colours of New South Wales - 'the premier state."
February 1985
Macknit began
Prior to Macknit, in November 1981 there was a group of women who started working on the first NSW Machine Knitters Seminar to be held in Sydney. Inspired by having visited seminars in other states (eg. Adelaide in 1981). The committee formed and continued to work on running the Sydney seminars. In February 1985 at the general meeting, the committee agreed to formalise to an association and Macknit was born. There were existing machine knitting clubs throughout NSW and the Association became a way for them to communicate and work collaboratively together with the common goal "to promote machine knitting". The first newsletter was published in June 1985. Click on the photo to read the first newsletter.
Sept 1985
Fundraising fashion parade
Over 500 peole attended one of Macknits fundraising events in Dapto. The funds were to help cover costs of the upcoming seminar. Diane Chambers, in conjunction with Knitting Concepts, ran a Singer demonstration and evening fashion parade with many people modelling their own creations.
Dec 1985
Knitters Knotes was born
Melanie surplice of Gymea Bay, was the creative member who won the newsletter naming competition, which was announced in the 3rd issue.
April 1986
First AGM
Macknit held it's first AGM on the 19th at the Transport Club, Regent Street, Sydney.
29-31 Aug 1986
Sydney Seminar
This was the first year that Macknit was in charge of the NSW Machine Knitters Sydney Seminar. It was held over 3 days at the B'nai B'rith Centre, 22 Yurong St, East Sydney. Numbers were limited to 300. Part of the seminar was a knitting competition with categories in Day Wear, Evening Wear, Double Bed Garments, Instarsia Garments, Punch Card Garments, Babies Wear and Novelty Knitting. Across the days was also 2 fashion parades, art raffle, lectures, displays, a mini trade fair. Attendees came from all over NSW as well as Queensland, South Australia, Canberra, and Auckland NewZealand. Click on the image to read the seminar report.
Nov 1987
First Delegates workshop
In an endeavour to broaden Macknit's horizonz and, in keeping with member's wishes who didn't live in Sydney, the committee went regional and Appointed volunteer Delegates in various areas of NSW (and one in Queensland) to strengthen machine knitting across the state. by the end of 1987, the Delegates hosted their first combined workshop which they had been preparing for the past 6 months, to share with each other what they had learnt, to then take back to their areas. By September 1989 the following regions were supported by: Coffs Harbour Region - Sue Norton Newcastle Region - Fae Mason & Shirley Fox Orange Region - Judy Munro Central West Region - Althea Lutz Canberra Region - Beth Kirley Holbrook Region - Dorothy Bowd Kaima Region - Sue Bennett and Joan Flemming Dalby Region (QLD) - Andra Swann Sydney Metropolitan Region was covered by: Frenchs Forest - Fran Ellis Wahroonga - Bev Stevens-Jones Canley Vale - Beth Adams Berala - Fay Butcher Earlwood - Anne Kenny Oyster Bay - Pat Murphy Carlton - Phyl Toose
Nov 1989
Delegates magazine
The annual seminars were attended by hundreds and had a delegates notebook. Althea Lutz decided to convert the notes into a useable form, without the demonstrations, so she could take pass it onto others in her local machine knitting club. This became the Delegates Magazine. Click on the image below to read the first publication.
1988
First regional workshops
For the first time, Macknit presented two workshops in regional NSW to extend support of machine knitting out of Sydney. Bathurst and Blayney were the locations and it became the 'talk-of-the-town'. Many locals first heard about the Association, and became members. Advertising in the local newspapers proved effective. The regional workshops were: Jul 28th - Holbrook & Albury Aug 28th - Canberra Sep 3&4 - Dubbo
22 April 1990
John Allen returns
After a successful tour in 1987, the Australian Wool Corporation sponsored a second tour of John Allen, Lecturer in Machine Knitting, Royal College of Art, London. He authored several books including "The Machine Knitting Book" and Treasury of Machine Knitting Stitches", and published articles in Machine Knitting Monthly magazine. Macknit hosted 'A general day with John Allen including hands on demonstrations'. This was the second workshop that Macknit used video equipment to help project machine knitting demonstrations onto a big screen for attendees.
August 1990
Incorporation
Macknit finally received incorporation after first passing a resolution at the AGM in September 1986. Several versions of names were submitted and after an objection to "NSW Machine Knitters Association" by another organisation, the name "Macknit" became the incorporated name.
March 1991
almost 450 Members
Macknit reached just under 450 members by March 1991. The Annual Seminars and regional workshops were key activities that resulted in new members. The connection across members can be seen in the March 1991 newsletter with updates and support offered for regional members suffering from recent floods and fires.
