Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue number seven. This is a fortnightly publication for you to share experiences, engage with our extensive range of activities and learn more about Eye Matter’s objectives for its members. If you would like to contribute an article to a future edition, please contact: fiona@eyematter.org.uk
This edition includes:
Eye Matter Spotlight.
- The Blind Knitter.
The problem of longitude and our discovery of Sonification.
Congratulations Suzie – winner of RNIB’s Volunteer of the year for Eye Matter
Future events
- Eye Matter Sports Day Saturday 22nd June
- We still have tickets available for.
Future on-line events
Eye Matter Spotlight.
The Blind Knitter.
By Fiona Musgrove.
Ruth Hollingshead, from the Isle of White (AKA ‘The Blind Knitter’), is a totally blind knitter. Initially her Nan taught her the skill of knitting, over 40 years ago and she then progressed to crochet learnt from her mother-in law 30 years ago. The ‘Blind Knitter’ Facebook page provides a platform to discuss ideas, knitting styles and demonstrate how to produce garments without sight. Ruth also volunteers for her local sight-loss charity, where she often reassures people on the verge of losing their sight, how they can still continue to enjoy needle craft. She explained that once learnt knitting and crochet continues as a muscle memory action by people as they had for many years not used their eyes to perform these tasks whilst watching television or reading a book.
Her preference is to use either Double Knitting yarn, or Aran weight yarn. For the Double Knitting yarn, she normally uses a 4 mm needle or crochet hook. Whereas, for the Aran weight yarn Ruth utilises a pair of 5 mm needles. There are so many different varieties of needle sizes which relate to the weight of the wool, or the size of the piece being created. Needles can also vary in length and shape (circular needles are used for socks and leg warmers). Knitting needles are now produced in a selection of materials, including, wood, aluminium, bamboo, steel, carbon fibre, plastic and even glass. It is easy to pick up needles from charity shops or on Amazon. Last year, whilst working with some exceptionally chunky yarn Ruth had to use 15mm needles and recalled “it was rather like knitting with rolling pins!”
Ruth’s favourite crochet stitch is called a ‘Bubble’ or ‘Popcorn’ stitch. It is achieved by working three or four times in the same stitch, and then moving on. She explains that this creates a sort of bubble in a straight line which is very effective. In contrast, her preferred knitting stitch is the “old fashioned” ‘Moss’ stitch. She enthused about it creating a really nice flat piece of work that Hass an even stretch in all directions.
An equally old-fashioned children’s wooden abacus is used to count the rows by sliding the balls backwards and forwards.
She has experimented with a range of yarns including, acrylic, cotton, silk, Yak, Marino, camel, and eucalyptus! However, Ruth’s favourite is alpaca, she has an alpaca farm nearby on the Isle of Wight who provide a lovely range of soft baby alpaca yarn. Inspiration for her unique garments comes from either the type of yarn purchased or matching a colour to an outfit. Sometimes the initial ideas simply come from her family describing either a pattern, or style they have seen on television. She says that many knitting and crochet YouTube videos are too visual or confusing without clear audio description for her to follow. There are, also, not many audible knitting patterns available so she has learnt to invent her own unique designs. Ruth has also developed a way to size her own clothes by wrapping them around herself and making the adjustments.
To celebrate her 50th birthday (last year) she bought some rather
expensive llama and alpaca yarn to create a calf length coat in granny squares of different shades of pink and purple. Ruth laughs as she admits that it is rather heavy to wear and is topped with a large, distinct collar which was subsequently dubbed, “hideous” by her son. Despite his remarks Ruth enjoys wearing it out on family outings!
If you would like to find out more about ‘The Blind Knitter ‘:
Instagram: blind.knitter
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Blind.Knitter
The problem of longitude and our discovery of Sonification.
By Fiona Musgrove.
On Saturday 18th May 36 members and volunteers attended a special visit to the Greenwich Royal Observatory. This included a talk about the history of the location, its importance in maritime development and a multi-sensory exploration into space.
Today we take for granted the ability to be aware of our location (at anytime) with our Smart phones but, many years ago this was achieved by studying the sun, moon and stars. Over the years astronomers and various countries battled with the need to have a more efficient way to measure time and be able to calculate longitude as maritime travel increased.
We were entranced by the knowledge of our guide Paul as he explained how this was eventually solved by a humble carpenter (from the North of England) and consequently, we still use his invention of the bio-metric strip today in many of our electrical items. John Harrison (1693-1776) in a career spanning over 40 years, revolutionised maritime travel and saved countless numbers of lives in his discovery of measuring longitude. He developed four variants from 1735 resulting in a smaller pocket watch product which measured time to an almost perfect accuracy. His designs were subsequently released as a pamphlet allowing copies to be manufactured. The principle idea was to align local time (anywhere in the world) with Greenwich time to calculate longitude. A universal agreement was eventually agreed in USA (1884) denoting Greenwich Mean time as the centre of time.
Twelve prominent astronomers have lived with their families and worked at the Royal Observatory since 1675. We were able to wander around the various telescopes and using Seeing AI read some of the display information. One of the highlights was a multi-sensory show within the Planetarium. Developed with a partially sighted Astro-physics Fellow, Dr Nic Bonne (based at Portsmouth University) who will be doing an inspiring talk for Eye Matter on the 6th of September, the film provided access to space using ‘Sonification’. This process allowed visual images to become aligned with specific sounds. The glittering stars above us suddenly appeared as a multitude of distinct pitched sounds determining their unique sizes. Our spinning Earth was presented with different sounds for land mas compared to water and then it was placed within the Solar system which was defined by using different instruments such as a flute, piccolo and clarinet.
“Truly incredible” said one member. Another added, “the experience allowed me to understand through sound how many stars there must be in the sky”.
Congratulations Suzie – winner of RNIB’s Volunteer of the year for Eye Matter
Despite the drizzle outside our Suzie sparkled as she received the prestigious Volunteer of the Year trophy (for her outstanding delivery of activities for Eye Matter members), at the RNIB See Differently Awards on Tuesday 21st May.
In front of over 200 specially invited guests in the ballroom of eight Northumberland Avenue, London and announced live on social media, Suzie was selected from hundreds of nominations to recognise her dedication to enhancing the lives of people with sight-loss.
For more information about Suzie and the other winners please click here:
The photo below shows Richard Simpson (Eye Matter member) dressed in a dark suit between award winning Suzie Simons dressed in a long pale pink dress and Eye Matter Trustee Rachel Bowden in a dark dress. They are all swathed in pink lights at the RNIB event.
Future events
All our events are accessed here
Here are a few highlights:
Eye Matter Sports Day Saturday 22nd June £10
Islington Sports and Tennis Centre.
Volunteers are available to escort from Caledonian Road tube station.
This event offers a range of sports and activities including vi tennis, football and cricket. Eye Matter is proud to also introduce the new game of ‘Showdown’ which is a cross between air hockey and table tennis.
A scrumptious lunch is provided in the park.
Please don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to have some fun with friends.
We still have tickets available for:
Eye Matter Sports Day Saturday 22nd June £10
Sailing Wednesday 17th July £5
Henry Moore Studios and Gardens Thursday 25th July £27
The Constituent Wednesday 31st July £22
London Zoo Wednesday 21st August £3
UK Hailsham Activity holiday 26th August to 29th August £309.60
Fiddler on the Roof Saturday 31st August £15
Sailing Wednesday 4th September £5
Come from Away Wednesday 9th October £18.20
TINA The Tina Turner Musical 16th October £39.50
Future on-line events
Keep up to date with our activities here.
Save the dates
1st September GDIF Stratford Park
4th September Sailing
7th September Dance City North Greenwich GDIF
9th September choir practice restarts
10th September
Calling all visually impaired women who are still menstruating! We invite you to be part of an exciting study for FlowSense, an innovative device designed by Muna Daud for accessible menstrual health management. Join us to learn about the incredible journey and design inspiration behind FlowSense. Your participation will help create a product that aims to improve menstrual care for visually impaired women everywhere!
21st September visually impaired group grief workshop session to be held in Kings cross Sommerstown Hall 2pm to 5pm with refreshments £5
26th September Confidence Building Workshop with Vic Hogg and Steve Reed £5
Join us for a fun-packed session that consists of various drama games and creative exercises to boost confidence and improve interactive skills– and are guaranteed to make you giggle!
9th October Come from Away at the New Wimbledon Theatre £18.20
16th October TINA at the Aldwych Theatre £39.50
5th November Sight Village at Kensington Town Hall
30th November Eye Matter Singers’ Concert in Kings Cross
The Eye Matter singers are starting rehearsals on the 9th of September for this wonderful Christmas show. If you are a musician or a singer and would like to do a performance, please contact Suzie.
12th December Eye Matter Winter Extravaganza £40
9th January 2025 Robin Hood Panto at the London Palladium £17.50
For more information or to book your place contact Suzie
Suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject [Name of event].