The Minnesota Knitters' Guild

Member Login

  • Forgot your password?
  • Home
  • Get Involved
    • Service Knitting
    • Volunteer
    • Join or Renew
  • Who Are We?
    • Cable Gram Blog
    • Calendar
    • Knitting Groups
    • Leadership
  • Free Resources
    • Organizations
    • Yarn
    • Yarn Shop Directory
  • Donate

Cable Gram Blog from January 2021

Jan '21 Meeting Wrap-Up

Posted in News by Kathy Lewinski on Jan 21st, 2021

Service Knitting 2021

At this month's meeting, we kicked off our service knitting campaign for 2021 by meeting our three new community partners.

Hats and Mittens collects and distributes hats and mittens to those who need them in the 7-county metro area (though that area is expanding). They can use hats and mittens in sizes from babies to adults. They do tend to get a lot more hats than mittens, so if you are a mitten knitters those would be really appreciated. While they can use all sizes, they do have a need for items that fits ages 12 -15 years. They can except items made from any fiber.

Hats for the Homeless knits, collects, and distributes hats in the Twin Cities area. They need simple adult hats made for warmth. Hats need to be long enough to cover the ears and those that double over the ears are best. Hats that are knit with worsted yarn in a tight gauge. They prefer darker colors without a pattern or embellishments. There are free patterns on their website and they also highly suggest The Minnesota Hat. Acrylic yarn alone is not warm enough, so they suggest using washable wool, acrylic/wool, or other wool blends. 

The Range Center helps people with intellectual/developmental disabilities to build skills and self-esteem in Northeastern MN. They can use all items hats, mittens, fingerless gloves, scarves, and lap blankets. This is your time to have fun with color and patterns, but please use washable fibers. Clients get to pick their own items and having fun things to choose from can be a highlight in someone's day.

We will have drive up drop-off days at the Textile Center throughout the year with the first being in April. You will also be able to pick up yarn to use for service knitting on those days. If you can't make a drop-off day, you can send items to us care of the Textile Center (address is here). We are also planning on having drop-off days at other locations around the state, stay tuned for details on that!

Service Knitting Thank You Gifts

This year we want to thank those of you who use your time and talents to help with our service knitting with some small gifts. We have curated a set of progress/stitch markers and as you donate more items through 2021 you will receive more parts of the set.

When you make a donation, we will keep track of how many items you donate. When you reach the levels below you will receive a marker. 

  • 5 items - sheep
  • 15 items - yarn
  • 25 items - scarf
  • 35 items - mittens
  • 50+ items - a custom Minnesota Knitters' Guild logo marker. (These will be awarded at the end of the year as we will have them made based on how many we need.)

Online Auction

Thanks to everyone who participated in our online auction. All the lots were sold and there was quite the bidding war on some! The Guild made just over $2,000 to use towards our service knitting and other activities. Because of the positive response, we will have another online auction later in 2021 as it is a way to include our members who live outside the Twin Cities. 

Sunday Knitting Brunch

Our next Sunday Knitting Brunch is Sunday, January 31st 11:00am - 1:00pm. This is a purely social knitting get-together. We plan to continue them every other Sunday through at least February. Find the Zoom link in the calendar. 

Upcoming Meetings:

February Annual Meeting

Our February 16th meeting is our required annual meeting. We will give a brief overview of how the Guild did in 2020, including financials and some goals for 2021. Our annual report will be available on the website after the meeting.

We'd also love to see how our members did in 2020 and invite you to submit a photo of the project you are most proud of from 2020 for the slideshow. Please email a picture, name of the pattern (if there is one), yarn used, and why you are proud of this project. This can be something that was a challenge for you, something that was sitting in your WIP for years, a first sweater or other items, etc... Email your submission to Nikky.

March Meeting

Our March 16th speaker will be Kim McBrien Evans who will speak about size inclusive knitting. Her yarn company Indiogodragonfly Yarns will be featured in our 6:30 trunk show before the meeting.

April Meeting

Our April 20th speaker will be Sarah Schira of Imagined Landscapes.

Programming Committee Members Needed

Do you like our monthly Newsletters? We do too! But they're getting to be too much work for one person to put together each month!

We're starting a Programming Committee and we need your help! This committee will help come up with monthly programming ideas and compile components of the monthly Newsletter. If you're interested, email Jess.

Featured Designer - Lindsey Fowler

Read all about this month's featured designer. She has some wonderful patterns that use up all those mini skeins you got in your holiday countdown calendar!

Prizes

We awarded prizes to eight random members who renewed or joined by the end of December 31, 2020. All the prizes will be purchased from local fiber related vendors, many of who have been Yarnover vendors.

Ada Vanderwiel - Knitting/Crochet Notions Bag from Becka Rahn

Susan Bathory - Yarn Bowl from Blue Room Pottery

Shirley Nygaard - Stitch Marker Set from Blue Room Pottery

Maressia Twele - Project Bag from Crafty Like a Monkey

Kristine King - Shawl Pin from Knitter's Journey

Heather Hart - Stitch Saver or Crochet Hook Set from Stunning Strings Studio

Zoe Cohen - Equivalent 2 skeins yarn from Lavender Lune Yarn Co.

Judy Ellis - Mini-Skein Set from Stunning Strings Studio

Door Prizes 

Nomad Knits Issue 8 (Washington) - Christine Caldarale

Lindsey Fowler Pattern - Andrea Zukor

Lindsey Fowler Pattern - Becky Huerta

Trippin' With Dixi Trunk Show code - Susan Boinis

Textile Center Fiber Arts For All

The Textile Center will be hosting an in person and virtual Fiber Arts for All festival February 21 - 27th. The event will feature interviews, talks, workshops, and an online auction. Watch for details in the Textiles on the Town newsletter and on the Textile Center website. 

 

 

0 comments

Designer Spotlight: Lindsey Fowler

Posted in News by Melissa Mintern on Jan 11th, 2021

January spotlight series is Lindsey Fowler.  Her designs go from child to adult and so who doesn't love a mommy and me pair of socks. Lots of cozy colorful knits to get us through this gray winter. 

Did anyone get an advent calendar of yarn this year? Check out her new great cowl Spice Blend

Does anyone else think this other cowl might be a great combination with the MinneSNOWta hat that Kathy gifted to the members?

Lindsey designs are a ton of fun. You can find her on Ravelry and on instagram @larkspurknits. She also has her own website.

Let us know what you think. Any Desginers you'd like to see highlighted? Please email Melissa Marketingdirector.mkg@gmail.com

0 comments

Monthly Yarn Store Spotlight Series: Yarnology

Posted in News by Melissa Mintern on Jan 11th, 2021

Basic yarn store info:  Yarnology, 65 East Third Street, Winona
We're currently open Tue + Thu -- Noon to 6 pm, Wed + Fri + Sat -- Noon to 4 pm
We allow only 6 customers in the shop at a time (both to allow room for distancing and so that we can do our best to assist) 
 
Tell us about your team: Kelly is the creative genius of our lead team--she literally wakes up in the middle of the night with amazing ideas for window displays and shop samples. Ingrid is the warm, perceptive heart of the shop--she's likely to remember not only your name, but also what you were working in last time you stopped in. Gaby specializes in "back of house"--she makes sure the bills are paid and loves to pack the online orders. 
 
What yarn do you stock that you feel doesn't get the attention it deserves:  We are known for stocking some amazing European yarns that are hard to find (La Bien Aimee, Biches et Buches, etc.)--and we're very proud of that. But a yarn company that I feel doesn't get the attention it deserves is Minnesota's own Blue Sky Fibers. They offer a breathtaking array of yarns, topnotch design and marketing materials, and are some of the kindest, most generous people in the industry.
 
What class offerings do you have coming up: While we are not offering classes during the pandemic, we have figured a way to give a bit of guided help for customers who've gotten stuck in the middle of a project. We offer a very limited number of 10-15 minute appointments on Wednesdays and Fridays before we open. Both the customer and the Yarnologist stay masked and distanced, but we have seating for two set up with good lighting and tools--and it's often just enough to get people back on track.
 
Are you offering virtual classes: We decided not to offer virtual classes during COVID, as so much of the fun in teaching a class is in the proximity. We do encourage people to look for online classes offered by many of knitting's "rock stars"...like those offered via Vogue Knitting Live, for example. Now is a wonderful time to take a class from your favorite designer.
 
Do you have any upcoming trunk shows or other events: We are in the midst of our 2021 Sweater Challenge, which is lots of fun. It's good to make a commitment out loud to that you are really going to start and finish a sweater. The Challenge officially began Jan 1--but you are welcome to cast on later--and the goal is to bind off by Feb 28. Any yarn, any adult sweater pattern, just go for it. We love the camaraderie and the fact that, even though we're knitting apart, we're also knitting together. Go to the website for more information on signing up.
 
What is your favorite sample: Oh, wow. This is such an unfair question to ask of a yarn shop owner! Yarnology is a shop that loves samples--so we have a LOT of them. It is lovely to be able to try a thing on before you decide to knit or crochet it, isn't it? I guess my favorite sample at this moment is the Wave of Change Jacket (by the talented Denise Bayron). Kelly knit it using Biches et Buches Le Gros Lambswool and, for me, it achieves the perfect balance between rustic and sophisticated.
 
Do you offer a MKG discount or a frequent buyer club: We offer a 10% discount to MKG members and have a Reward Card system for everyone. We keep track of your dollars spent and send out a $20 gift card in the mail when you reach the mark--no punch card in your wallet.
 
Other than shopping, what are the best ways we can help support your yarn store: We very much appreciate it when people take the time to like, follow, and comment on our social media posts. The algorithms are always in flux, but having a strong base of active followers helps us get our message seen in a broader way. Also, think about joining our Ravelry group and going to our website--both to browse and to sign up for our emails. We are minimalists when it comes to mailings, so never worry about being deluged.
 
 
Is there anything else you'd like us to feature? ie: are you committed to providing extra benefits to employees? are you involved with a local charity? are you committed to being green?: We are committed to keeping everyone (most especially our talented Yarnologists) safe during the pandemic. To that end, our hours are shortened, our gathering spaces temporarily removed, and our capacity in-shop is reduced. On the flip side, we continue to be as full-service as we can be and are able to offer short bursts of shopping assistance, blocking/finishing services, and a lovely on-line shopping experience. We hope customers are willing to work with their LYS to make things work.
 
0 comments

Sunday Knitting Brunch

Posted in News by Kathy Lewinski on Jan 6th, 2021

Feeling a little isolated this winter and missing your in-person knitting groups?

Join us for our first Sunday Knitting Brunch on Sunday, January 17th from 11:00am - 1:00pm.

Grab your favorite morning beverage and catch up with other knitters at this virtual meet-up hosted by Guild President Kathy Lewinski. This is a purely social gathering and there will not be any planned programming, but feel free to bring questions about your current projects or knitting related topics in general. 

  • Zoom Meeting link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87206673375 Meeting ID: 872 0667 3375 You will be put into a waiting room when you first join in. Note: you do NOT have to pre-register as you would with our monthly meetings.

  • Join in anytime in the two hours and stay as long as you wish.

  • Some of us have decided to use this time to work on sweaters, but you are welcome to work on any project you wish.

  • If the group is too big, we will split into smaller break out rooms for easier discussion

  • We will schedule future Sunday meet-ups based on interest.

Questions? Email Kathy.

0 comments
Join the Guild today!

Get the most out of your love of knitting! Membership benefits include pre-registration for Yarnover, organized public service projects and camaraderie with fellow knitters. Annual dues are $30.

Join
News Archives
  • 2021

  • January (4)
  • 2020

  • December (6)
  • November (5)
  • October (5)
  • September (6)
  • August (7)
  • July (4)
  • June (5)
  • May (1)
  • April (3)
  • March (4)
  • February (1)
  • January (2)
  • 2019

  • December (4)
  • November (3)
  • October (2)
  • September (1)
  • August (2)
  • July (2)
  • June (1)
  • May (3)
  • April (3)
  • March (1)
  • February (5)
  • January (3)
  • 2018

  • November (1)
  • October (2)
  • September (3)
  • August (2)
  • July (1)
  • June (3)
  • May (3)
  • April (4)
  • March (5)
  • February (3)
  • January (10)
  • 2017

  • December (10)
  • November (3)
  • October (1)
  • September (3)
  • August (4)
  • July (2)
  • June (1)
  • May (1)
  • April (7)
  • March (4)
  • February (1)
  • January (11)
  • 2016

  • December (6)
  • November (3)
  • October (2)
  • August (1)
  • May (1)
  • February (2)
  • January (2)
  • 2015

  • October (1)
  • August (2)
  • July (1)
  • June (2)
  • April (1)
  • January (1)
  • 2014

  • December (1)
  • November (2)
  • May (1)
  • April (2)
  • January (1)
  • 2013

  • December (4)
  • November (1)
  • October (1)
  • September (2)
  • July (1)
  • March (1)
  • February (2)
  • 2012

  • December (3)
  • October (1)
  • July (1)
  • May (2)
  • April (4)
  • January (3)
  • 2011

  • December (1)
  • November (1)
  • October (1)
  • July (1)
  • June (2)
  • May (2)
  • March (2)
  • February (3)
  • January (3)
  • 2010

  • December (5)
  • November (5)
  • October (13)
  • September (8)
  • August (6)
  • July (2)
  • June (4)
  • May (3)
  • March (1)
  • January (1)
  • 2009

  • September (1)
  • April (2)
  • February (2)
  • January (5)
  • 2008

  • November (1)
  • September (1)
  • June (2)
  • May (1)
  • April (1)
  • March (1)
  • February (1)
  • 2007

  • October (1)
  • September (2)
  • August (3)
  • July (1)
  • May (1)
  • April (5)
  • January (3)
  • 2006

  • December (2)
  • September (2)
  • July (2)
  • May (1)
  • 2005

  • November (1)
  • October (6)
  • September (4)
  • June (1)
  • May (2)
  • April (6)
  • March (1)
  • 2004

  • December (4)
  • October (1)
  • September (3)
  • June (2)
  • 2003

  • November (3)
  • October (1)
  • September (1)
  • April (1)
  • 2002

  • December (1)
  • September (2)
  • July (1)
  • April (1)
  • March (1)
  • January (1)
  • 2001

  • December (1)
  • September (1)
  • August (1)
  • July (1)
  • June (1)
  • Contact Us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Photo Disclaimer
Ravelry Facebook Instagram Twitter
© 2010-2021 Minnesota Knitters' Guild, All rights reserved.
Site Developed by Ryvon Designs