Who are we?

Just some people who knit, even just a little.

Is there a skills test to join?

We never took one, so why should you?

Is there anyone else like me in the Guild?

Probably. We take anybody.

1. We range in age from about six years old into our golden nineties, so any age is fine.
2. We live all over the world, so your place of origin is not an issue.
3. We've noticed that men have two hands, too, so gender won't stop you.

Where are we?

The Minnesota Knitters' Guild meets in Minneapolis on the third Tuesday of each month from 7 to 9 PM at the Textile Center (3000 University Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN ).

The Northern Lights Affiliate of the Guild meets in Duluth on the third Wednesday of each month from 6 - 8 PM at the Portman Community Center (4601 McCullock St. Duluth, MN ).

So what's the catch?

We do admit, we'll charge you $30 / year.

For that, you get:

• The newsletter.
• The racy 'Members-Only' section of the knitter.org website.
• Free access to the Textile Center's huge library of fiber books and patterns.
• Pre-registration to Yarnover, which is the Guild's day-long fiber fair of classes and shopping.
• Other knitters to hang with.

Oh boy, oh boy, can I volunteer to do anything? Anything at all?

Ha! Fooled you. Nobody asks this one. But they should.

Because where else can you sit around a table all day with other people and knit? That's pretty much what our volunteers do.

Infrequently Asked Questions

How long has the Guild been around?

The Twin Cities group was formed in 1985.

The Duluth branch, since February 25, 2004.

What is the point of the Minnesota Knitters' Guild, exactly?

Wow. Such a philosophical question!

Well, our official mission is 'to promote interest, appreciation, education and fellowship in the art of knitting.'

Unofficially, our mission is to hang with other people who like the same thing we do, namely knitting. We also exist to nosh at the annual tea in February and to eat again at our annual picnic in July and also to drink coffee and tea at our other meetings.

And we exist to knit, of course.

We can come up with more reasons, if necessary.

How large is the group?

We have over 600 members.

Whoa. That's a lot of people. How do you pack everybody into the meetings?

We solved that problem by scattering our members all over Minnesota, the Dakotas, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Canada and the rest of the world. Only about 80 people ever make it to the monthly meetings.

Questions No One Ever Asks

What year were you incorporated with the State of Minnesota?

1997. We warned you!

I'm fascinated. Where were the first Minnesota Knitters' Guild meetings held?

The College of St. Catherine, which, of course, is now called St. Catherine University, but which is still, as you know, informally known as St. Kate's. I'm assuming no one will ever read this far. Seriously, if you read this, send us an email. No one will believe it otherwise.

Wow. I can't get enough of this stuff. Where was the first Knitters' Guild Library?

You won't guess this one. It was in a suitcase that the Librarian had to haul to every meeting. The Librarian's job is definitely more fun now.

I'm on the edge of my seat. Really. What did those pioneer women do during their monthly meetings?

The same thing we do today: some business-type stuff followed by a knitting or fiber related program with everyone whispering during the whole thing while they knit.

When did we move our meetings to the Textile Center?

2001. Maybe you should go knit something instead of reading this.

Who used to drive 150 miles one way to attend Guild meetings in Minneapolis and then would drive 150 miles back to Duluth?

Alice Adams

Who got tired of driving 150 miles one way to attend Guild meetings in Minneapolis and then turning around and driving 150 miles back to Duluth, so she started the Duluth branch of the Guild.

Alice Adams

How many people were at the first Northern Lights meeting in Duluth?

25

Where in Duluth was the first Northern Lights meeting held?

The basement of the Chester Creek Café.

What did everyone have to eat?

A simple meal of soup and bread.

Was the soup hot?

Yes.