Residential Courses - 2011
Below are the details of the remaining residential courses on offer this year. For full details including accomodation, directions and booking form use the link on the right to download the brochure.
Metropolitan Machine Knitting Centre
If you have booked for one of our Courses or plan to we would like to tell you a little about travelling to Metropolitan and available accommodation so that you will feel welcome and relaxed for your visit.
Metropolitan Machine Knitting Centre is set in the tranquil surroundings of rural Cheshire and yet it is only two miles from the Historic Town of Nantwich, six miles from Crewe Station and eighteen miles from Chester. An excellent Taxi service runs from Crewe Station. Transport is not so readily available from Nantwich so if arriving by Train we would advise that you use Crewe Station.
Should you be travelling by Coach you would come to Nantwich and we would assist in arranging transport from there as we are not on a regular Bus route.
Travelling by Car from the North on the Motorway leave at Junction 18 through Middlewich following the signs for A530 for Nantwich. Stay on this road for approx. 7 miles and as you approach Nantwich you will come to Alvaston Roundabout with signs for Nantwich and Chester. Follow the Chester (A51) sign which is the Nantwich By-pass. Reaseheath Roundabout - again follow Chester sign - now the A51. You will pass Reaseheath Agricultural College on your right. Approx. 100 yards further on is a cross-roads. At the cross-roads turn right, signpost Poole and Wettenhall. Proceed along this road for one mile (it seems further as it is rural) and we are the 4th property on the left.
Travelling from Chester and North Wales follow the A51 towards Nantwich and turn left at the traffic lights signpost Stone.
At the next cross-roads - approx. 200 yards - turn left, signpost Poole and Wettenhall. Proceed along this road for one mile and we are the 4th property on the left.
Travelling from the Whitchurch direction, after passing Nantwich Station turn RIGHT at the island and follow the road round past the Morrison Store and then follow the A51 Chester signs until you leave the built up area. You will then see Reaseheath Agricultural College on your right. Approx. 100 yards further on is a cross-roads preceded by a sign for The Pinfold. At the cross-roads turn right, signpost Poole and Wettenhall. Proceed along this road for one mile and we are the 4th property on the left.
Accommodation
There is an excellent choice in the area. We are an Accredited Camping and Caravan Club Site enabling you to combine your visit with a family holiday. £7.50 per. night with electric hook-up. Shower and toilet facility.
Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast
Cheshire Farm Accommodation offers you the chance to stay on a working Farm for one night or many more. On each of the Farms you will be offered a warm Cheshire welcome. Some of the Farmhouse Accommodation do not cater for evening meals which can prove inconvenient if you do not have transport or prefer not to go out at night. Meals are supplied at Lunch time as part of the Course fee. We are able to arrange light evening meals at an extra charge in The Pinfold Tea Room. These meal times give an opportunity for a social end to the day.
Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast Accommodation
Henhull Hall is to be recommended and is approximately 1 mile from us.
Contact - Joyce Percival on 01270 624158
New Farm is a High Quality purpose built Bed & Breakfast property (single storey) opened in 2007. This is approx. 4 miles from us
Contact the Rowland family on 01270 528213
Hopley House has been recommended by Ladies on the Course and is approx. 6 miles from us.
Contact the Reade family on 01270 526292
Hotel Accommodation
The Boot & Slipper is an Olde Worlde Inn approximately 4 miles from us. All the rooms are en suite with every facility available. This has proved very popular and has the advantage of a Dining Room for full meals and snacks.
01270 528238
Alvaston Hall Hotel, Middlewich Road, Nantwich. No children allowed. 01270 624341
The Peacock Hotel, Crewe Road, Nantwich.
01270 624069
Hunters Lodge, Sydney Road, Sydney, Crewe.
01270 539100
CALENDAR OF EVENTS & COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
THE PINFOLD, POOLE, NANTWICH, CHESHIRE. CW5 6AL
Tel: 01270 628414 * Fax: 01270 610038
email: metromachineknit@btconnect.com
www.metropolitanmachineknitting.co.uk
Carol Hocknell - Passap Week
Mon March 14th to Fri March 18th
10.00am to 4.00pm
Fee: £225.00 inc. VAT
Ref:CH523
Take this opportunity to explore your Passap machine and complete a garment (perhaps for the first time). This Course is planned to help Machine Knitters gain confidence and continue to produce garments they are delighted with. We do have some machines to work on but anyone able to bring their own machine would be most welcome. This does have the added advantage of getting to know your own machine and it’s own little quirks!
( Machines optional but preferable)
Erica Thomson – Overlocking
Mon March 28th & Tue March 29th
10.00am to 4.00pm
Fee: £90.00 inc. VAT
Ref:ET524
Are you afraid of your Overlocker? I was too, until I attended one of Erica’s Overlocking Courses. Now I am as confident as you could be after just two days with Erica. You will be amazed how your confidence will grow with each passing hour with Erica’s expert supervision. Make your purchase (or planned purchase) of your Overlocker one of your best decisions. Strictly limited numbers so early booking is advised.
( Overlocker required unless you have not yet purchased )
Daphne Ashby - Special Sewing Day
Thursday April 28th
10.00am to 4.00pm
Ref:DA525
We call these the ‘Special Daphne Sewing Days’. Although Daphne has retired she continues to inspire us. For further details of these wonderful days you need to contact us between 10 & 4 on 01270 628414.
Carol Hocknell – DesignaKnit for Beginners or Refreshers
Thurs May 5th & Fri May 6th
10.00am to 4.00pm
Fee £90.00 inc. VAT
Ref:CH526
Do you feel a bit lost with DesignaKnit working on your own. Come and spend a couple of days getting to grips with it without thinking of interactive knitting. The programme is so clever, so useful and so easy to use once you get started.
(Computers optional but preferable)
Closed for Annual Holidays
We close on Saturday May 21st at 4pm
We re-open on Monday June 6th at 10am refreshed and excited at the prospect of the Courses which are taking
place during the second half of the year.
Carol Hocknell - From Start to Finish
Mon June 13th to Fri June 17th
10.00am to 4.00pm
Fee £225.00 inc. VAT
Ref:CH527
Suitable for most makes of Japanese machines. This Course has been designed for complete beginners or fairly new knitters, to help Students to knit one of their first garments successfully. Perhaps you have trouble with sizing, pattern knitting or just lack confidence. Some times it is just a matter of having some uninterrupted time to knit! Joan Richards, a superb Designer writes patterns especially for this Course so not only may this be your first garment you may also be wearing a haute couture garment by the end of the week.
Contact us if you want to know more.
( Machines optional )
Iris Bishop – Hands on Workshop
Mon June 27th to Fri July 1st
10.00am to 4.00pm
Fee £225.00 inc. VAT
Ref:IB528
An opportunity to work with Iris on an individual basis. This Course is hands on experimenting with single and double bed fabrics in preparation for textiles and garments. You may wish to work on a garment Iris has designed or you may prefer to experiment more with the fabrics designed by Iris. With Iris’s guidance this will as usual be a most successful and enjoyable Course. Japanese Machines only. Single or Double Bed.
( Machines required )
Erica Thomson – Overlocking
Tue July 19th & Wed July 20th
10.00am to 4.00pm
Fee: £90.00 inc. VAT
Ref:ET529
Are you afraid of your Overlocker? I was too, until I attended one of Erica’s Overlocking Courses. Now I am as confident as you could be after just two days with Erica. You will be amazed how your confidence will grow with each passing hour with Erica’s expert supervision. Make your purchase (or planned purchase) of your Overlocker one of your best decisions. Strictly limited numbers so early booking is advised.
( Overlocker required unless you have not yet purchased )
Carol Hocknell – DesignaKnit for Beginners or Refreshers
Tue July 26th & Wed July 27th
10.00am to 4.00pm
Fee £90.00 inc. VAT
Ref:CH530
Do you feel a bit lost with DesignaKnit working on your own. Come and spend a couple of days getting to grips with it without thinking of interactive knitting. The programme is so clever, so useful and so easy to use once you get started.
(Computers optional but preferable)
Carol Hocknell - Passap Week
Mon August 8th to Fri August 12th
10.00am to 4.00pm
Fee: £225.00 inc. VAT
Ref:CH531
Take this opportunity to explore your Passap machine and complete a garment (perhaps for the first time). This Course is planned to help Machine Knitters gain confidence and continue to produce garments they are delighted with. We do have some machines to work on but anyone able to bring their own machine would be most welcome. This does have the added advantage of getting to know your own machine and it’s own little quirks!
( Machines optional but preferable)
Erica Thomson - More practical and decorative ideas with your Overlocker
Mon Oct 3rd & Tues Oct 4th
10.00am to 4pm
Fee £90.00
Ref:ET532
For Students who have completed the basic Course with Erica or who feel fairly confident with the basics.
Learn more on rolled hem, frilly edges, wire edged ribbon, flatlock, gathering, blanket stitch, wrapped edges and lots more. Use fancy threads and knitting machine yarn to make fancy yarns and braids and even create fabrics. Find out how to use any extra feet you may have for your Overlocker.
( Overlockers required )
METROPOLITAN
KNITTERS DREAM WEEK 2011
Monday September 5th to Friday September 9th
Fee £360.00 Ref:DW343
Begins on Monday at 2.00pm and ends on Friday at 12.00 noon
Lectures & Workshops during every day
Evenings & Accommodation at
Hunters Lodge Hotel, Crewe, Cheshire. CW1 5LU
Fee covers all Tuition by the experts in the Machine Knitting World and Dinner, Bed & Breakfast at one of the most reputable Hotels in the Country.
Hunters Lodge also have the facility to accommodate you for the Sunday prior and/or the Friday after the Dream Week for Dinner, Bed & Breakfast at an extra cost of £52.00 per night should this suit your travel arrangements better. Please tick the enrolment form if you require any extra nights when you book.
A MACHINE KNITTERS DREAM
A whole week to Machine Knit
Bring a non knitting Friend if you wish.
Cheshire has so much to offer for sightseeing.
Machine Knitters Dream Weeks have been thoroughly enjoyed by all. There were so many stories to tell. The shared laughter, the concentration and so many happy memories. So much was learnt, so much was said and so much was done during a week which went all too quickly.
ALL Lectures chosen by YOU and arranged in advance.
Many Lectures and Workshops to choose from with Tutors confirmed so far :-
Iris Bishop, Bill King, Erica Thompson and Ann Brown.
The only Rooms now available have a double bed. For
Single occupancy add £20.00 supplement for the week.
All en suite with colour TV, free sky channels, radio, hairdryer, direct dial phone, trouser press, free wi-fi & coffee/tea making facilities.
Book Now.
YOU may win a FREE Holiday. Book before Jan 31st 2011 to be in the draw for the FREE place.
Carol Hocknell – Knit with DesignaKnit
Mon Oct 10th to Fri Oct 14th
10.00am to 4.00pm
Fee £225.00 inc. VAT
Ref:CH533
Many Machine Knitters own both a knitting machine and DesignaKnit but have not taken the plunge to knit interactively. This Course is intended to design and then knit interactively for perhaps the first time. Once you have knitted this way you will go on to use the DesignaKnit programme over and over again.
( Machines/Computers possibly required)
Daphne Ashby - Special Sewing Day
Thursday October 20th
10.00am to 4.00pm
Ref:DA534
We call these the ‘Special Daphne Sewing Days’. Although Daphne has retired she continues to inspire us. For further details of these wonderful days you need to contact us between 10 & 4 on 01270 628414.
Carol Hocknell - From Start to Finish
Mon Nov 14th to Fri Nov 18th
10.00am to 4.00pm
Fee £225.00 inc. VAT
Ref:CH535
Suitable for all makes of machine. This Course has been designed for complete beginners or fairly new knitters, to help to knit one of their first garments successfully. Perhaps you have trouble with sizing, pattern knitting or just lack confidence. Some times it is just a matter of having some uninterrupted time to knit! Joan Richards, a superb Designer has kindly agreed to write patterns especially for this Course so not only may this be your first garment you may also be wearing a haute couture garment by the end of the week. Contact us if you want to know more.
( Machines optional )