Cable Gram Blog
MKG Member Profiles: Deepa
Welcome to our new column where we feature some of the great members of the Guild! For our first post, we're featuring the vibrant and amazing Deepa! If you want to be featured in a future column (or have a member to suggest) reach out to Jess Dahlberg!
Name: Deepa Nirmal
Ravelry ID: deeni
Instagram (if applicable): n/a
Years Knitting: Lots! Learned as a kid but got back into it after her mother passed away.
Years in the Guild: Joined in 2016
- What is your favorite Guild benefit?
All aspects. I really enjoyed some of the demos and classes we’ve done, like the one on natural dyeing (lecture & hands on). I really enjoy the hands on stuff and love that we have a group of people with that much expertise. Always enjoy the show and tell -- easy to be inspired by expertise and hopefully inspiring others. The competitions are great too -- I’ve learned a lot from the constructive criticism during judging!
- Are you a swatcher?
Very seldom. I have a very consistent gauge, know my own gauge for weights and needles. Tend to not swatch. Maybe for expensive yarn, or tricky construction. Never done a fingering sweater -- would do it then since that’s an epic amount of work and I wouldn’t want it to come out wrong.
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Favorite place to knit?
Have bag will travel! No watching TV without busy hands either.
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Do you knit mainly for yourself or for others?
As time has passed, I have became more cautious for knitting for “muggles” (non-knitters). Handknit items are expressions of love, but not everyone speaks that love language. I make a determination if the recipient will really love it and take proper care of the item. Babies are always fun and easy though! Generally family, friends, and other knitters. I really admire people who do charity knitting. Not quite in that phase myself, but maybe one day.
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What yarn weight do you use most? What color(s)?
Huge sock yarn stash -- I knit a lot of shawls. Sweaters tend to be DK yarn and up. Really enjoyed some of the lace projects lately. Haven’t done true cobweb yet. Very varied in colors. Really like colorful things -- gravitate towards more colorful. Haven’t done speckled yarn, but really eclectic otherwise.
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What project are you itching to cast on?
Over a 1000 items in my queue. Going to decide on a small project for the fair (graciously, she offered to knit my little one an Ironheart sweater! It won a third place ribbon at the Fair!). Never tried designing, but perhaps interested to start trying!
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What's a new skill or technique you've learned lately?
I’m always looking to learn new skills and techniques. Patty Lyon’s ssk. Icelandic bind off.
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What's a new skill or technique you're hoping to learn this year?
Maybe brioche. Tried for the Flames hat a while back, but it was a humbling experience! Didn’t go very well -- I didn’t give it the proper attention!
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Any knitting goals for 2019?
Project monogamy. Finishing sweaters. Pretty good about not abandoning a project -- goal for 2019. No new UFOs. 2020, going to look at the UFO pile. Finish or frog.
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It's the middle of winter, how many hand-knit items can you be found wearing?
A lot. Hat, scarf/cowl, mittens, socks. Sweaters. This winter I made a concerted effort to wear handknit sweaters.
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Coffee or tea?
Tea. I grew up drinking Indian teas, Assam and darjeeling. Loose leaf only and it has to be properly brewed. Cut out the sugar sadly, but still need milk.
Yarnover 2020 Teachers
We are proud to announce the teachers and speakers for Yarnover 2020!
Alissa Barton
Michele Lee Bernstein
Olga Buraya-Kefelian
Jeane deCoster
Mary Lou Egan
Gretchen Funk
Franklin Habit
Susanna Hansson
Kyle Kunnecke
Melissa Leapman
Keith Leonard
Patty Lyons
Sarah Peasley
Jill Wolcott
Andrea Wong
Friday Night Dinner Keynote Speaker - Franklin Habit
Sunday Minnesota Knitters' Guild Meeting Speaker - Susanna Hannson
Yarnover 2020 is April 24th - April 26th, 2020 at the Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West in Plymouth, MN.
Watch the Yarnover page for more information. The full brochure will be available in early November. Make sure to join the Guild or renew your membership by December 31, 2019 for early bird registration.
2019 MKG State Fair Winners
Congratulations to everyone who took home a ribbon at this year’s state fair.
Minnesota Knitters’ Guild Rosettes
(Btw, we do not pick these winners, the fair judges do.) Each of these people also won a year’s membership to the Guild
Best Sweater - Ruth Ener
Best Afghan - Suzanne Ross
Best Hat - Susan Rainey
Best Mittens - Kathy Lewinski
Best Shawl - Kendra Holmes
Best Hand Knit Item - Elizabeth Kro
And the rest of the winners...
Afghan, one piece, 2700 - 3800 sq. in
1 Suzanne Ross
Afghan, made in strips or modules sewn together, 2700 - 3800 sq. in
1 Suzanne Ross
Bedspread, min, size 3801 sq. in.
2 Suzanne Ross
Lap robe, min. size 1444 - 2699 sq. in.
1 Sarah Villanueva
2 Lucy Norman
3 Kim Laberge
4 Sharon Knutson
5 Suzanne Ross
Shawl or stole, heavy weight yarn, 16 in. or more in width
1 Anna Sorgert
2 Robin Westacott
4 Tracy Pokrzywa
Shawl or stole, medium weight yarn, 16 in. or more in width
1 Amy Roos
Stole (rectangle), lightweight yarn, 16 in. or more in width
2 Amy Roos
4 Lucy Norman
Shawl, fine weight yarn, 25 in. and over in depth from neckline
1 Elizabeth Kro
2 Elizabeth Watkins
3 Marilyn Thompson
4 Amy Roos
Shawlette; fine weight yarn, up to 25 in. in depth from neckline
1 Kendra Holmes
2 Susan Rainey
3 Kristi Peterson
Mittens (includes fingerless gloves), texture
2 Bonnie Esplie
3 Stephanie Showalter
Mittens (includes fingerless gloves), color pattern
1 Kathy Lewinski
2 Shira Burton
4 Bonnie Esplie
5 Delia Lam
Scarf, heavyweight yarn, less than 16 in. wide
1 Robin Westacott
Scarf, medium weight yarn, less than 16 in. wide
2 Sarah Villanueva
4 Kelly Auer
Scarf, lightweight yarn, less than 16 in. wide
5 Jennifer Holmseth
Cap or hat, plain
1 Susan Rainey
4 Bonnie Esplie
5 Kelly Auer
Cap or hat, texture
1 Susan Rainey
2 Delia Lam
5 Anna Sorgert
Cap or hat, color pattern or intarsia
3 Anna Sorgert
5 Rebecca Anspach
Socks, solid, texture
5 Julia Reimer
Socks, open work
2 Anna Sorgert
5 Rebecca Ganzel Thompson
Socks, color or intarsia
2 Kelly Amoth
3 Katie Block
4 Peggy Mann Rinehart
Socks, plain or ribbed
1 Denise Stanley
2 Katie Block
3 Delia Lam
4 Kelly Amoth
Child sweater, dress or suit, texture, size 3 - 12
3 Deepa Nirmal
Adult sweater, plain pullover
2 Anna Sorgert
4 Susan Rainey
Adult sweater, plain cardigan
1 Susan Rainey
5 Paula Knutzen
Adult sweater, texture pullover
1 Peggy Mann Rinehart
4 Anna Sorgert
5 Frances L Cummins
Adult sweater, texture cardigan
1 Evelyn Davidheiser
2 Jody Ford
3 Jeanne Burns
4 Karen Lehman
Adult sweater, limited use, texture pullover
1 Peggy Mann Rinehart
Adult sweater, limited use, texture cardigan
4 Anna Sorgert
Adult sweater, color pattern pullover
2 Jay Katzenberger
Adult sweater, color pattern cardigan
1 Shira Burton
Adult sweater, limited use, color pattern pullover
1 Delia Lam
2 Kathy Lewinski
3 Kendra Dauenhauer
5 Anna Sorgert
Adult sweater, limited use, color pattern cardigan
3 Tracy Pokrzywa
Adult sweater, intarsia
2 Steph Emerich
Adult jacket/coat, outerwear
3 Susan Rainey
4 Anna Sorgert
Sleeveless sweater or vest, plain or texture; color pattern or intasia
3 Abbie Kenyon
Cowls
4 Umo Udo
Cape or poncho
2 Stephanie Showalter
Holiday sock
2 Denise Stanley
3 Mary Hamre
Not otherwise specified, wearable
2 Evelyn Davidheiser
Not otherwise specified, not wearable
1 Grace Lintner
4 Denise Stanley
Sweepstakes, afghan knitting
1 Suzanne Ross
Sweepstakes, hand knitted articles
1 Elizabeth Kro
Dick and Juanita Boniface Award - best item made from all wool
2 Jody Ford
StevenBe Award - Best Afghan
1 Suzanne Ross
StevenBe Award - Best Original Design Afghan
1 Suzanne Ross
In Garment Making…
Infant or Toddler Afghan, knit, no larger than 42 in. x 42 in.
3 Suzanne Ross
3-piece ensemble, knitted, infant or toddler
2 Bonnie Esplie
In Handicrafts…
Puppet, hand, single or pair
1 Karen Lehman
Toy animal or figure, made by exhibitor of yarn, under 15 in.
3 Tracy Pokrzywa
4 Rebecca Anspach
Toy animal or figure, made by exhibitor of yarn, over 15 in.
2 Mary Block
In the Work of Senior Citizens…
Knitted baby bonnet
1 Susan Rainey
Knitted scarf
1 Susan Rainey
2 Karen Lehman
Knitted, not otherwise specified in above classes
3 Karen Lehman
Beadwork, any other (lace shawl with beading)
2 Susan Rainey
If you see any others we have missed let us know.
Remember our State Fair Show and Tell is September 17th!
Great Guild Getaway 2019
Join us for a long fall weekend of knitting, relaxation, good company, and beautiful Minnesota scenery at Camp Knutson in Crosslake, MN October 11th - 13th, 2019.
Registration costs between $180 - $250 and includes:
- Lodging for two nights (single or double occupancy) (Note: Each attendee in a double will need to register separately.)
- Five meals
- A goodie bag with fun knitting items including two 50gm skeins of custom-dyed fingering yarn by Lisa Hanesworth of Abacus Dyeworks and a pattern designed by our very own contest winner Christine Petterson
- A marketplace to purchase yarn will take place on Friday evening
Add on a relaxing massage and/or a dye class with Sam from Lavender Lune. Bring your own natural yarn to dye or purchase some from Sam. (Both of these options have an extra charge.)
Enjoy these free activities:
- Bingo for knitting-related prizes.
- A drop spindle spinning mini-class (Please bring a drop spindle if you have one. A few will be available for use and roving will be supplied.)
- Knitting swap/sale (Bring yarn, tools, books, or finished items you no longer want to sell or swap to other GGG attendees)
- Knitting, laughing, and chatting around the fireplace.
Registration opens Saturday, August 17th. Guild members, an email went out today with the registration link and password.
Single rooms, massage times, and spots on the dyeing classes are limited, so make sure to register right away!
Questions? Email eventsmnkg@gmail.com
Great Guild Getaway Design Contest Winner
Congratulations to Christine Petterson, the winner of this year's Great Guild Getaway Design Contest.
Christine is an avid knitter as you can see by all the amazing projects on her Ravelry page. For the Great Guild Getaway she designed a shawl that is what she calls a "travel-friendly pattern," easy to memorize without being boring thanks to changes in color or stitches. Perfect to work on while sitting around the fire chatting with other knitters.
Everyone who attends this year's Getaway will receive a copy of the pattern and the custom Campfire yarn that inspired it. The Great Guild Getaway is October 11th - 13th at Camp Knutson. Registration opens Saturday, August 17th. Watch your emails for registration details coming soon.
Textile Center Guild Wall
The Minnesota Knitters' Guild is currently featured on the Guild Wall at the Textile Center. Our theme is knitting at the Minnesota State Fair.
The wall features projects by Guild members that have won ribbons at past fairs. (Just a few of the many. many winners, as last year alone Guild members won eighty-two ribbons!) We've also included a little history of knitting at the fair in the display. You can see it at the Textile Center until August 20th.