Recently, the Guild has received quite a few requests from community groups for knitting supplies for beginners. These requests come from school groups, veterans’ groups, libraries, etc…

We will use some of the money that was made at December’s silent auction to fill some of these requests, as well as, supplies we already have on hand, but this is also a great time for you to clear out those knitting items you no longer use. We are looking for…

• 10” straight needles in size 7, 8, or 9
• Worsted-weight washable yarns, partial skeins are ok for this purpose

If you can help, please either drop items off at the Textile Center Library, a Guild meeting, or contact Dawn at servicemnkg@gmail.com. You can also contact Dawn with any questions.

The Minnesota Knitters’ Guild wants you to show off your knitwear designer skills!

We are looking for a pattern for the Abacus Dyeworks yarn that will be given to everyone who attends the Guild’s Great Guild Getaway on October 11 - 13, 2019. If you’ve never designed before this is a chance to give it a try, and if you done lots of designing, this is a chance to show the Guild what you’ve got.

Pattern Requirements: We are looking for a pattern for a one-size fits most, wearable accessory that uses the GGG two-skein bundle. The pattern should be workable by an advanced beginner to intermediate knitter.

Appropriate items for this collection include: shawls, stoles, scarves, mittens, gloves, fingerless mittens, hats, socks, cowls and wraps.

Yarn Details: Two 50g skeins of Abacus Dyeworks Authentic Sock, 75% merino/25% nylon/polyamide, 463 yards total for both skeins. The special Getaway colorway is pictured below and called Campfire. 

The two skeins include one of the multicolor and one of the ash grey.

Prize: 
$200 
or 
Free registration for the Great Guild Getaway 
(Registration includes a double room for Friday and Saturday night as well as meals. Any additional classes, services, or purchases incurred during the Great Guild Getaway will be at winner’s expense.)

Deadlines: 
Submissions Due: May 21, 2019 
Winner Announced: June 18, 2019 
Sample and Pattern in Editable Format Due: August 2, 2019 
Great Guild Getaway Dates: October 11 - 13, 2019

Submission Requirements: One paragraph written description, sketch of design, and designer contact information. Also include a swatch or a picture of your swatch showing any special knit textures or patterns using a yarn of similar weight. (See an example of a submission on Ravelry.) Patterns should be original and not be previously published anywhere.

Submissions can be emailed as a pdf or word document to membershipmkg@gmail.com or delivered in person to Kathy Lewinski at the April or May Guild meeting.

Rights: The Minnesota Knitters’ Guild will give printed copies of the winning pattern to all attendees of the Great Guild Getaway October 11 - 13, 2019. The pattern will also be available as a free pdf download in the members only portion of the MKG website in perpetuity. The designer retains the copyright to the pattern and will have the right to distribute or sell it wherever they wish starting November 1, 2019. The designer is responsible for guaranteeing that their pattern is original and does not break anyone else’s copyright. Any copyright issues that arise are the designer’s responsibility.

Other Information:

• You must be a current member of the Minnesota Knitters’ Guild to enter the contest.
• Members of the Minnesota Knitters’ Guild board or the Great Guild Getaway committee are not eligible to win.
• You are not eligible to enter if you have won a Minnesota Knitters’ Guild pattern design contest in the last year.
• Kathy Lewinski will be available at the April meeting to answer questions and help with submissions.
• Submissions will be judged by members of the Getaway committee for originality of design, general appeal, how they meet the pattern requirements, and effective use of the yarn.
• All decisions are final.
• The Guild will provide a two-skein bundle of the Abacus Dyeworks yarn in the Getaway colorway or similar in June to the winner to knit a sample of the pattern.
• The Guild will provide tech editing of the pattern (tech editing by aersknits), assistance with pdf creation, photography of sample if needed, and printing of the pattern for the Great Guild Getaway. If the designer chooses to use their own tech editor, graphic designer, or photographer, it will be at their own cost.
• The sample will be on display at the Great Guild Getaway. The sample will be returned to the designer after the Great Guild Getaway.

Please email Kathy Lewinski at membershipmkg@gmail.com with any questions.

Looks like we are going to be snowed in again this week, so Guild member Anna Sorgert has kindly given MKG members a free new pattern!

The Uffda Hat will keep you challenged with its cabled twists and unique top-down construction and then keep you warm when you do head back out into the winter weather. Find the pattern on the Members' Area under Exclusive Patterns.

Free patterns! Just another great perk of joining the Minnesota Knitters' Guild!

In light of the difficult but necessary conversations currently happening on social media around racism in the broader knitting community, we as a board felt compelled to make a statement.

First of all, we would be remiss if we didn't acknowledge some of the BIPOC folks on Instagram (including but by no means limited to @su.krita, @thecolormustard, @ocean_bythesea, @astitchtowear, and @tina.say.knits) who brought this topic to light in such a major way this past week. Thank you.

We want the Minnesota Knitters' Guild to be a place where everyone feels like they belong. We also know that intentions are simply intentions; there's more work to be done.

We commit to going beyond passively pointing back to the words of an existing inclusion statement. Part of this means doing all we can to make sure each member and guest feel warmly welcomed at each of our programs, and part of this means actively seeking out and supporting BIPOC speakers, teachers, designers, and vendors.

As a starting point, we are gathering input and suggestions with a brief survey found at this link.

We commit to keeping this conversation open and ongoing. It is our hope in 2019 and beyond that our community becomes more inclusive, making us all stronger and better as a whole.

Our ears are open.

Sincerely,

The Minnesota Knitters' Guild Board