Cable Gram Blog
Get Involved, Volunteer!
Looking for ways to be more involved with the Guild or the knitting community as a whole? The Minnesota Knitters' Guild keeps a running list of opportunities on our Volunteer Page and in our Ravelry group.
Here are some of the current openings...
- Shepherd's Harvest Festival - Come share your passion for knitting at Shepherd's Harvest Festival May 12-13, 2018! Sign up to volunteer for a shift and receive FREE ENTRY into the Festival for the day!
- Volunteer at Yarnover - Various volunteer positions are still open for Yarnover including manning the Guild table, greeting Marketplace guests, helping vendors, and tear down. Sign up here.
- Volunteer at a Guild Meeting - We always need members to help set up and sign members and guests into meetings. Sign up is open for May and June meetings.
- Teach at Ebenezer - Do you have a passion for knitting and aging adults? Ebenezer is looking for two teachers to continue their popular weekly “Tight Knit” class for residents. This class currently meets on Wednesday mornings for 1 1/2 hours and has a dedicated following of 10-15 diverse adults with varying abilities. Due to the size of class two teachers are preferred and a stipend is available for this position. If you are interested in this opportunity, please reach out to Christine Mangold at cmangol1@fairview.org or 61
2-879-1418. - Demo at the Let's Make Booth at the American Craft Council Show - The Textile Center and several fiber guilds will facilitate a hands on experience in the Let’s Make creative space found in the center of the American Craft Council exhibition hall. Instead of watching demonstrations, you will help visitors try their hand at weaving, kumihimo braiding, arm knitting, and other fiber techniques. This is a chance to help others learn while you share your passion for fiber arts. Questions/Comments? Contact Marjorie Fedyszyn at mfez515@gmail.com
- Join the Guild Governance Committee - Want to get involved but can't commit to regular meetings? We are looking for volunteers to support our Board activities. If you are interested or would like to know more, reach out to Amy Hawley, President: presidentmkg@gmail.com.
- Join the Guild Service Committee - Want to help facilitate the Guild's service knitting? This committee is for you. Meetings will be held virtually. Contact Dawn at servicemnkg@gmail.com
- Join the Social Media & Content Committee - This committee is another great option for people who would prefer to "meet" via email. We are looking for content curators to keep our social media channels current and fresh, photographers for our meetings and events, and contributors for our blog. Duties will vary based on the position. Time commitment: 1-2 hours per week. If you are interested in any of the above or would like to know more, reach out to Kate Westlund, Social Media & Technology Director: socialmediamnkg@gmail.com.
Coming soon we will announce opening to volunteer at Shepherd's Harvest in May.
2018 Great Guild Getaway Design Contest
The Minnesota Knitters’ Guild wants you to show off your knitwear designer skills! We are looking for a pattern for the Lavender Lune yarn that will be given to everyone who attends the Guild’s Great Guild Getaway in September of 2018. 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 mini skein bundle. The pattern should be workable by an adventurous beginner.
Appropriate items for this collection include: shawls, stoles, scarves, mittens, gloves, fingerless mittens, hats, socks, cowls and wraps.
Yarn Details: Five mini skeins of 4ply fingering weight yarn that is 75% superwash merino and 25% nylon. Each skein is 92 yards for a total of 460 yards. The colorway is pictured below and called Winter Sunset.
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 15th, 2018
Winner Announced: June 1st, 2018
Sample and Pattern in Editable Format Due: August 3rd, 2018
Great Guild Getaway Dates: September 27th – 30th, 2018
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. 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 September 27 – 30th, 2018. 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 October 1, 2018. 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.
- 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 mini skein bundle of the Lavender Lune 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 choses 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.
Stitch N' Pitch with the Twins 2018
** April 5th - Stitch N' Pitch 2018 is sold out! **
On Sunday, June 10th, join the Minnesota Knitters' Guild for an afternoon of baseball and knitting! The Twins will be taking on the Los Angeles Angels at Target Field at 1:10pm.
MKG has 60 tickets in the Great Clips section, this section is on the main level in right field. All the seats are stools with backs and have a small table (drink rail) in front of them. We'll be enjoying the game, knitting, and playing Twingo for prizes.
Tickets will go on sale this Friday, March 23rd at 8:00am and can be purchased here. Last year tickets sold out quickly, so don't miss out.
How much: Tickets cost $40.00. Each ticket is loaded with $10 worth of credit that can be used to buy food and drinks at the game.
Who: Guild members are welcome to bring non-Guild members with them.
Deadline: Tickets are on sale through Friday, May 11th or until they sellout.
What to bring: Weather appropriate clothing, sunscreen, and your knitting, of course!
Refunds: Refunds are not available. If you find you can't make it, you can give the ticket to someone else.
Tickets: We will have physical Twins tickets. You will be contacted about delivery of those tickets closer to the date.
If you have any questions, contact Kathy at membershipmkg@gmail.com
Yarnover Registration Closes 4/13!
You have just four weeks left to register for Yarnover 2018! Registration closes on Friday, April 13th.
While half the classes are already sold out, there are still seats available in many more great classes. There are also tickets available for the Meet the Teachers dinner on Friday, April 27th with keynote speaker Bristol Ivy.
Here is a list of classes that have openings. Most only have 3 or 4 seats left, so don't miss out!
Estonian Style - Denise Bell - Learn the techniques to make the nupps and starflowers that are unique to Estonian lace knitting.
Wrapped in Warmth - The Shetland Full Hap Shawl - Denise Bell - Chose your colors, swatch and learn the basics of modern Hap Shawl construction.
Start with the Finish in Mind - Gwen Bortner - Learn how to make the right decisions from start to finish of a project for a great finished garment and how to fix problems before it's too late.
Charts Made Simple - JC Briar - Learn how to read charts, making sense of symbols and using them to keep your knitting on track, and to minimize mistakes.
Crazy Cool Cables - Melissa Leapman - Explore unusual cables from a dramatic two-color panel to a beautiful Celtic swirl and more.
Shape Up! - Patty Lyons - A new class from a Yarnover favorite. Learn how to make increases and decreases look good when working in stitch patterns such as lace or a cables.
Reading Between the Lines: What Your Sweater Pattern Doesn't Tell You - Patty Lyons - Learn the secrets hiding inside each knitting pattern to better understand sweater shaping, yarn substitution, yarn amounts, and when and how to change a pattern.
Knit to Fit and Flatter - Sally Melville - Learn what styles and patterns will flatter your shape, how to make decisions for a personalized fit, and how to best wear your finished items.
Fixing Mistakes in Lace Knitting - Brooke Nico - Learn how to fix mistakes in your lace knitting without ripping back 100's of stitches.
Double Knitting Off the Grid - Alasdair Post-Quinn - Learn double-knitting increases and decreases that make your colorwork almost look like it was embroidered on the fabric.
Introduction to Stranded Textural Colorwork - Lars Rains - Learn to combine basic stitch patterns with stranded colorwork to create the Bohus effect, curated gradients, and more.
Knitting Refinements - Roxanne Richardson - A great looking project isn't just about the finishing, it's also about what you do when you cast on and work your project.
Mock Cables - Roxanne Richardson - Learn how to create the look of cables with just increases and decreases. No worrying about changing gauge, using extra yarn, or cable needles.
Yarn Substitution Made Easy - Carol Sulcoski - Learn how to master the mysteries of yarn substitution.
Dropstitch Openwork - Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton - Learn the Dropstitch Openwork method that allows you to work columns between open geometric shapes in your knitting without breaking your yarn.
Knotty Knitting - Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton - Use knots to create a textural element to your knitting. Add color and different yarns for even more interest.
Visit the Yarnover page to register or the brochure for more information.
New Parking Available!
The Textile Center has alerted us of new parking arrangements that take effect starting today, March 1, 2018. Please take note so that you don't get towed!
- In the lot directly behind the Textile Center.
- In the NEW lot at 3018 University Ave. SE, just 2 doors east
Look for bright green signs.
DO NOT PARK
- In the lot next to the back of the Textile Center (behind Best Care Home Health off Sidney Place).
- In the lot next to Nest Care (formerly Nano Systems off Sidney Place)
ADDITIONAL PARKING
- Surface pay parking lot located 1 block north at the corner of 29th Ave and 4th Street SE at 2813 4th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414. The cost is $3 for 12 hours.
- Hourly street parking is available on University Ave (north side of Textile Center) and Arthur Ave (west side of Textile Center).
- Limited street parking is available in the Prospect Park neighborhood. Please obey the posted parking signs.
Don't forget the Green Line Light Rail Prospect Park stop is just out front. Also feel free to use our Ravelry group to set up carpools to meetings.
Yarnover 2018 Design Contest Winner - Cori Eichelberger
Last year's Yarnover attendees told us that they would love to receive an official Yarnover pattern at future conventions. So, we decided to show off the talents of our members and held a contest to design the pattern.
The winner is Cori Eichelberger with her Minnesota Connection Wrap. The twisted shawl was inspired the interconnectedness of the knitters she has met through the Guild and by attending Yarnover over the years.
All registered Yarnover attendees will receive a free copy of the pattern at the event. Stop by the MKG booth to see the finished sample. The pattern will also be available for free to all Minnesota Knitters' Guild members on our pattern page after Yarnover.
Cori Eichelberger is a former high school English teacher to at-risk students, whom she also taught to knit. She has spent 20 years teaching beginning knitting and technique classes and co-authored the knitting book: Minnesota 52: 16 Knits Inspired by the Road, with her friend Megan Williams, under the KnitCahoots brand. Her 50 Shades of Sweaters and Shawls classes are extremely popular at yarn stores and retreats throughout the United States. Cori is known as a color lover and by the name Irocknits which is Cori spelled backwards. She lives in southwest area of Minneapolis with her husband and a large chocolate labradoodle.