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Cable Gram Blog from November 2020

Give to the Max Day Wrap Up...

Posted in News by Kelly Amoth on Nov 29th, 2020

This year the Knitters’ Guild participated in Give to the Max Day for the first time, which is Minnesota’s annual day of giving for nonprofits and schools. The response from members, family, and friends and their support of the Guild was overwhelming and amazing!

Our campaign was all about growing our #TightKnitComMNity, so we are using funds raised through our Give to the Max Day effort to create a new mini-grant initiative. These mini-grants will allow individuals and knitting groups to create their own community-led programming. Whether funds are used in the short term for online programming or in the long term for in-person activities, we believe the Minnesota Knitters’ Guild has a role in facilitating the growth and expansion of our wonderful community. More information about how to apply for these mini-grants will be posted on our website at a later date. 

Another added benefit to the Guild’s participation in Give to the Max Day is that our page on Give MN will remain active year round, which will allow the Guild to collect donations online, which we previously have not been able to do.

And now for the numbers...

Number of donors: 142

Number of states represented: 20

Average donation: $31

Highest donation: $200

Amount raised: $4,481.55

 

 

Thanks to everyone who made this year’s
Give to the Max Day such a success!

 

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November Meeting Wrap Up

Posted in News by Kathy Lewinski on Nov 24th, 2020

Thanks again to everyone who joined in on our November meeting! If you missed it, read our recap below, or log in to your MKG account and watch the recording here.

We started the evening with a virtual trunk show from Knitty Vet. We didn't just get to see beautiful yarn, but also learned a lot about natural dying. You can shop her beautiful yarns and dye kits here.

 

 

The trunk show was followed by a very inspirational talked on visual mending with Ann Weaver. We learned the basics of darning, duplicate stitch (Swiss darning), and knit patches. I think everyone was ready to go darn socks by the end of the hour. 

Ann kindly shared these mending resources with us. If you would like to learn more about mending and transforming knitwear, Ann will be teaching at Stitches At Home.

 


 

In other Guild news...

  • It's time to renew your membership for 2021. You can check and see if you need to renew by signing into knitters.org and going to Renew My Membership. That page will tell you how long you are paid through. We will have a special prize drawing of knitting related items from small businesses in January for those who renew by December 31, 2020. 
  • Our new bylaws have been approved. Thanks to everyone who took the time to read them and comment. They will be posted on the website soon.
  • Online Silent Auction December 15-19
    Get ready to browse and bid on beautiful skeins of yarn during our online silent auction that will open after the member meeting on December 15th and close on Saturday, December 19th. We have over 40 yarn lots to shop;  from unique single skeins to large lots for that special sweater or blanket.   Each item will have a clear photograph with comprehensive descriptions. Items will be mailed to the successful bidder following the holidays. 
  • Service Knitting Partners for 2021
    I'm excited to share that our service partners for 2021 have been confirmed.  We will be knitting adult and child hats, mittens, fingerless mitts, and lap blankets for:
    • Hats for the Homeless: serving the Twin Cities
    • Hats and Mittens.org: serving the seven county metro
    • The Range Center: serving adults and children with disabilities in northeastern Minnesota
    Representatives from the three organizations will join us at our January member meeting to share information on the mission of their organization and those they serve. 
  • Give to the Max Day We were blown away by the donations to our Give to the Max Day campaign! The official day was Thursday, November 19th, but you can still give $5 and 5 minutes: donate $5 on our GTMD page and take 5 minutes to share what you like about the Guild. (If you'd like to donate to the Guild without going through Give to the Max, please email our treasurer Rose, treasurermkg@gmail.com.)
  • Door Prizes Instead of announcing door prize winners at the virtual meetings, we will now email the winners afterwards. Prizes will only be be given to Guild members only. This month's winner are...
    • Kate Crandall won a shop code to November's trunk show presenter, The Knitty Vet.
    • Katie Block won a shop code to last month's trunk show presenter, The Kinetic Knitter.
    • Dyan Venters and Shira Burton both won a pattern of their choice from this month's featured designer, Vanessa Smith.
  • Designer Spotlight this month is Vanessa Smith. You can read more about her here. 

 

 

Thanks, all! We'll see you all December 15th!
Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving. 

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Meet Your Board - Melissa Mintern

Posted in News by Kathy Lewinski on Nov 10th, 2020

As a new term starts for our board and we welcome new board members, we thought it would be nice to know a little bit more about them in a series called Meet the Board.


Melissa Mintern - Marketing Director

Hey everyone. I'm one of your newer board members, Director of Marketing, Melissa Mintern. You might wonder how the lady in Washington DC ended up on the board for the MKG and it's a long story so buckle up.

I started knitting in 2009. My best friend from high school started knitting and we lived very far away from each other. She stayed in our home state of NC and I had joined the Air Force and moved to San Antonio, TX. When she picked up knitting, I thought it might be a nice thing for us to share long distance. So as in all things, I asked the internet how to knit and it showed me the way.
 
My first project was a basketweave scarf that mostly resembled a tie that would never keep a human warm and has since found its way to a goodwill somewhere. I kept on and lots of people got lots of scarves from me. Eventually my best friend put her knitting down to never be picked back up, but I was a goner. I was a sometime knitter and definitely a knitter with a lowercase k for a long time. Then I got a new job in Washington DC and knitting saved my life. I found a yarn store and a teacher and I cranked out so many hats that there's not a head in my family that can claim to be cold. And then I made a sweater and socks. I started attending real knitting classes that were not YouTube, a few retreats, and tada!! Knitter with a capital K. I had found my people.
 
 
In DC I lived with my sister, Trina. She didn't care for knitting but she liked embroidery. Together we started a video podcast called Knitches Get Stitches. She has since moved to China to serve our country in the State Department and so alas the podcast has fallen to the wayside.
 
 
Last year I decided to attend Yarnover as my yearly retreat and I loved the energy I felt from the Knitters' Guild. And so when they asked for volunteers I was eager to pitch in a help. For my regular job (the one that enables me to buy more yarn) I do a lot of marketing training and so the Marketing Director seemed like a nice fit for me.
 
I travel to MN fairly frequently since my friends live there but you may not ever see me at a meeting, but know that I'm always available by email or phone. I feel so lucky to be a part of this fantastic organization and I hope you all don't mind having me around for awhile.
 
You can find Melissa at marketingdirector.mtg@gmail.com, Instagram, and Ravelry.
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Monthly Yarn Store Spotlight Series: Yarn Harbor

Posted in News by Melissa Mintern on Nov 9th, 2020

Yarn Harbor
4629 East Superior Street
Duluth MN 55804
218.724.6432



Store hours: Monday - Saturday 10am-5pm Sunday 12-5pm

Covid  Policies: We have a six customer limit in store, we require
masks worn above your nose and under your mouth for proper coverage,
we ask you to sanitize your hands upon entry. There is hand sanitizer
available at different places around the shop.
We have a no contact pick up area for phone or online sales. We also
ship to your door.
Our inventory is now online for your shopping pleasure
We do have a reward program where you are rewarded for your fiber
purchase and given a birthday yarn discount.

If you decide to shop in store, you will be greeted by another who is
passionate and knowledgeable about the craft. We do our best  to help
with your project questions you may have or if you would like help
finding the right yarn for the project, we have your back. Mondays is
question and answer day on our Instagram page as well so feel free to
post your question with us there in the story's.

We carry a beautiful selection of Icelandic from Lopi yarns, Jamison
of Shetland, Quince and Co,an American sourced and dyed yarn, Peace
Fleece to name a few. We also feature a number of regional indie
dyers, Three Irish Girls Yarn, Lavender Lune, Alive with Purpose, and
Stitch Together Studio.
As well as Knitted Wit, Frabjous Fiber, Sweet Georgia and Urth. Did I
mention we carry Malabrigo? Rasta, Rios, Mecha, Sock, Mechita, Arryo,
Dos Tierras.
So many to mention, you can see all the brands on our website.

Every knitter loves a bag or three.. Frost River is a local pack/bag
maker using waxed canvas. We feature a few styles and make them ours
with a Yarn Harbor leather patch. We also carry a nice selection of
laminated cotton bags from Ely, MN made Grey Duck Bags. We also carry
locally hand made Lake Superior Beach Glass Stitch Markers, exclusive
to our shop.

Some of our traditions are Friday the 13th sales. All yarn is on Sale
13% off on Friday the 13th....
We honor voters on election day Nov 3rd with 15% off yarn as well as
celebrating I Love Yarn Day with a Staff Picks Sale.
Warm up the City Events happen around Thanksgiving. We are collecting
winter accessories now through November 20th. On saturday November
21st we will yarn-bomb the city of Duluth with these donations. Each
one has a label attached saying "We are not lost. I need a good
home.If you need me take me home with you."



We are one of the hosts of the Fiberside Chats. The chats are brought
to you on Zoom, these are one-hour sessions with special guests
joining us to give a peek into their world. These designers and
creators will discuss their unique path, creative processes, latest
projects—or whatever is inspiring them now. There will also be a Q&A
session, giveaways, and other fun surprises for those who join! Patty
Lyons is this week and Mary Jane Mcelstone as well as Kate Atherly are
upcoming guests.

We have started zoom classes with the CocoKnits Sweater Workshop. They
have been selling out within hours so they keep on coming. I will be
starting a learn to knit series as well as a colorwork Christmas
Stocking coming soon. We are not offering in store classes at this
time.
We are also starting guided KALS. Keep an eye out.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Yarn Harbor! Happy
Knitting....
yarnharborduluth.com
wool@yarnharborduluth.com

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Designer Spotlight: Vanessa Smith

Posted in News by Melissa Mintern on Nov 9th, 2020

 

November's Featured Designer: Vanessa Smith

The first time I saw the Indira Cowl, I spent 3 hours trying to see if i could make it with any of the yarn in my stash. Between the color used for the sample and the luxurious texture, it was love at first sight.

Vanessa Smith creates patterns that are all luxurious with texture. It speaks to my knitter's heart. No miles of stockinette here!

Vanessa is a Pacific Northwesterner currently living in Olympia, Washington. After a friend showed her how to cast on and complete a knit stitch, she taught herself everything else on the internet. As such, she has a whole section on her website with video tutorials for anyone else who may need some help!

 

Her sweaters currently go up to a size 53in bust. She has lots of gorgeous shawls, hats, mitten and cowls.

Give her Ravelry site a glance and we're certain you won't be disappointed! You can also find her on instagram @VanessaSmithDesigns.

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