Cable Gram Blog
September '21 Meeting Wrap Up
We had such a wonderful State Fair Review this year! It was so interesting to hear about all the projects everyone entered. Since we were virtual, we were also able to see things from the Carver and Washington County Fairs and the Indiana State Fair. There is so much talent in this guild!
"No Fair" Awards
We will be hosting a scaled down version of our "No Fair" Awards as part of the October meeting. Submission are due Tuesday, September 28th. There is even a category for your non-knitted items this year! See all the details in the premium book.
Mystery Mini Skeins Sale and KAL
All of our Mystery Mini Skein sets sold out in the first week! Thank you to everyone who purchase one (or multiples). Don't worry, even if you didn't get one of our sets, you can still participate in our Mini KAL starting Dec. 1st. You can find the basic details here, but we'll have more plus lots of project suggestions in the coming months.
Donation Drop-Off Event
Our next drop-off date for service knitting donation is Sunday, October 24th from 11am - 2pm in the Textile Center parking lot. For more details on donating see our calendar.
"The Good Stuff" Online Auction
Like last year, we've saved up the best of the donated yarn for an online auction. This year we have over double the lots of gorgeous yarns in every weight. There is everything from single skeins to sweater quantities from Noro, Cascade, Madelinetosh, Blue Sky, Rowen, and more with opening bids starting at $10 or lower. The auction will open at 9pm on November 16th and members will receive a link after the November meeting.
Library Update
Here are the latest periodicals and books added to the library
- pompom #38 Roots & Branches
- Nomadic Knits #10 Texas
- Shetland Wool Adventures Journal #2
- Rowan #70
- Laine #12, Autumn 2021
- Mystic Shawls 2 by Anna Dalvi
- Ancient Egypt in Lace & Color by Anna Dalvi
- Knits from Around Norway by Nina Granlund Saether
- Knit Hats with Wooly Wormhead
- Geometric Knit Blankets by Margaret Holzmann
- Ready - Set - Raglan from pompom
- Take Heart by Fiona Alice
- Moon and Turtle by Kiyomi and Sachiko Burgin
- Magical Woodland Knits by Claire Garland
- Unobtainables by Allison Sarnoff and Heatherly Walker
- Modern Mending by Erin Lewis-Fitzgerald
Shetland Wool Week 2021 and Shetland Wool Adventures Journal #3 are both on order.
If you have any questions or suggestions of items for the library please contact our librarian Anne, librarianmkg@gmail.com
Designer Spotlight
Our designer of the month is Kacey Herlihy. You can read all about her here.
Micro-Grant Requests
Are you a Guild member that lives outside of the Twin Cities area? Would you like to plan a knitting related event for people near you? The Guild has funds set aside for that purpose! There are more details and a form to apply on our blog.
Door Prize Winners
Kacey Herlihy Pattern - Sharon Wussow
Kacey Herlihy Pattern - Cindy Anderson
October Meeting
Our October 19th meeting will feature Laura Bellows of Jūl Designs as both our speaker and trunk show. Laura will be helping us learn how to wear all those beautiful shawls we knit.
Mystery Mini Skeins Sale & KAL
Our Mystery Mini Skeins are SOLD OUT! But you can still join the KAL starting in December. See all the details below & stay tuned for more as we get closer.
Everyone needs a little mystery in their lives! Help support the Guild and take a chance on one (or more!) of our Mystery Mini Sets. For those who like a little hint in their mysteries, we've grouped the skeins into some themes that might help you pick. (Remember these were made from lots of random donated yarn, so the themes are pretty loose.) 
Each set contains 5 fingering weight mini skeins each weighing 20g. Each set is $20 which includes the cost of shipping, US orders only please. Skeins will be sent out by the end of October. Proceeds help support Guild activities such as hiring speakers, buying prizes, etc... throughout the year. You can purchase sets HERE. We have 39 sets to sell and the sale will go until we sell out or October 4th, whichever comes first.
The MKG Mini KAL
Let's celebrate our minis with a KAL! Starting December 1st we'll be knitting and spotlighting patterns to showcase your minis. Join in and share your final project at the February 16th, 2022 Guild meeting. We'll give $25 gift certificates to the yarn store of the winner's choice to the best project as picked by our members and one random winner from all the entrees.
Here are all the details...
1. KAL starts December 1st 2021. Take a picture of your mini set before you start knitting with it!
2. You do not need to use one of the Guild's mystery mini sets to participate, but make sure to photograph the minis you are using.
3. Knit any project that uses at least two minis.
4. You can use as many minis as you like (don't feel limited to 5!) and two other base color yarns. For example, you are making a shawl and have a base color that uses more than 100g and use minis as the pops of color.
5. Join in the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Ravelry. Use the hashtag #MKGminiskein
6. Send pictures of your finished item and your mini skein set for our February 16th Guild meeting. (details to come)
Designer Spotlight: Kacey Herlihy
IMPORTANT: Some users report experiencing migraines and seizures when accessing Ravelry due to their site redesign. Links in this blog post direct to Ravelry pages and are spelled out accordingly. If you are prone to either of these issues, please proceed with caution when clicking the Ravelry links.
Help a Local Family Pay for Their Adoption
We were recently contacted by the Page Family of Bloomington, MN about a fundraiser they are working on to pay for their international adoption. This summer the Page's welcomed 10-year old "Amelia" from Columbia into their home in the hopes of helping her find an adoptive family. In the end, they decided they wanted to adopt her themselves. "Amelia" is back in Columbia now and the Page's are working through the steps to make her part of their family. These steps will end up costing them an estimated $53,000! So, they are trying to get creative about how to raise the money. You can read more about their story here.
One of their ideas was to auction off hand-knit Christmas ornaments. This is where we come in, as they need help knitting ornaments. While this is not an official service project for the Guild, we thought it was one our members and other knitters might enjoy.
You can knit any Christmas ornament you want and there are lots of patterns out there! The Pages have asked that the ornaments be knit in Christmas or "girl" colors. For our members, Kathy has posted a collection of some her Christmas ornament patterns on our exclusive patterns page that can be downloaded for free.
Ornaments can be dropped off at our October 24th Service Knitting Drop-off Day at the Textile Center from 11am - 2pm. If you have items you want to donate, but cannot make the drop-off, we can put you in contact with the Pages.
State Fair Photos
We know many people have chosen not to go to the State Fair this year, but would still like to see some of the knit items on display. Here are a few pictures sent to us from folks who have gone and kindly sent them to us. You can also view some videos of the cases on Susan's Instagram. There are over 70 pictures here, so this is a very long post!
Thanks to Janet, Susan, and Carrie for their photos!
MN State Fair Winners 2021
Congratulations to all our members who won ribbons at this year's MN State Fair! We can't wait to see all your entries at our State Fair Review in September. The State Fair Show & Tell is going virtual this year. We will be putting together a slideshow before the meeting, so we need you to submit photos of your entrees.
To have your projects featured in the slideshow: Email Nikky at membershipmkg@gmail.com Use the subject line: State Fair Items
Please include:
- Your name
- Project/pattern name
- Designer
- Yarn used
- Your notes about the project
- Judges’ comments (if you have them)
- Photo (don’t forget the photo!)
Deadline is September 12 (end of day). A limit of 5 items per person. Only hand knit items.
Since we are virtual this year we are excited to be able to include people from out of the Twin Cities and MN in this year's review. If you have entered a hand knit item in a county fair or another State Fair, you are also welcome to share those with us.
Let's see who won the Minnesota Knitters' Guild Rosettes. Each of these winners will get a year membership to the Guild as well as their ribbon.
Class 9068 - Sweepstakes - Susan Rainey
Class 9069 - Best Overall Shawl or Stole - Alison Heussler
Class 9070 - Best Overall Mittens - Shelley Balfe
Class 9071 - Best Overall Hat - Joy Malm
Class 9072 - Best Overall Afghan - Amy Schoen
Class 9073 - Best Overall Sweater, Coat, Sleeveless Sweater, or Vest - Linda Mcshannock
Class 9074 - Best Overall Socks - Shelley Balfe
Class 9075 - Best Overall Gloves - Rebecca Anspach
Now on to the rest of the winners!
NEEDLEWORK
Class 290 — Afghan, one piece, 2700-3800 sq. in.
2 Sue Ellen Riese
Class 293 — Lap robe, min. size 1444-2699 sq. in.
1 Stephanie Daily
5 Shira Burton
Class 294 — Shawl or stole, heavy weight yarn, 16 in. or more in width
1. Amy Roos
4 Deepa Nirmal
Class 295 — Shawl or stole, medium weight yarn, 16 in. or more in width
3 Amy Roos
5 Peggy Mann Rinehart
Class 296 — Stole (rectangle), lightweight yarn, 16 in. or more in width
4 Amy Roos
Class 297 — Shawl, fine weight yarn, 25 in. and over in depth from neckline
4 Amy Roos
5 Susan Rainey
Class 298 — Shawlette; fine weight yarn, up to 25 in. in depth from neckline
5 Christine Petterson
Class 299 — Shawlette, medium weight yarn, up to 25 in. in depth from neckline
2 Christine Petterson
4 Delia Lam
Class 300 — Mittens (includes fingerless gloves), plain
3 Deepa Nirmal
Class 301 — Mittens (includes fingerless gloves), texture
5 Shira Burton
Class 302 — Mittens (includes fingerless gloves), color pattern
2 Katherine Lewinski
4 Shira Burton
Class 303 — Scarf, heavyweight yarn, less than 16 in. wide
4 Anna Sorgert
5 Bonnie Esplie
Class 305 — Scarf, lightweight yarn, less than 16 in. wide
1 Susan Rainey
Class 306 — Gloves
1 Rebecca Anspach
2 Amy Roos
4 Bonnie Esplie
Class 307 — Cap or hat, plain
2 Kelly Auer
4 Ann Barrett
5 Bonnie Esplie
Class 308 — Cap or hat, texture
1 Shira Burton
2 Susan Rainey
5 Anna Sorgert
Class 309 — Cap or hat, color pattern or intarsia
2 Rebecca Anspach
3 Susan Rainey
4 Bonnie Esplie
Class 310 — Socks, solid, texture
2 Christine Petterson
3 Bonnie Esplie
4 Kristi Peterson
Class 311 — Socks, open work
2 Ann Barrett
3 Christine Petterson
Class 312 — Socks, color or intarsia
5 Kelly Amoth
Class 313 — Socks, plain or ribbed
2 Kelly Amoth
Class 316 — Child sweater, dress or suit, texture, size 3 - 12
1 Elizabeth Nee
2 Peggy Mann Rinehart
Class 317 — Child sweater, dress or suit, color pattern or intarsia, size 3 - 12
1 Delia Lam
2 Alla Hale
3 Elizabeth Nee
Class 318 — Adult sweater, plain pullover
1 Kristine King
3 Elizabeth Nee
Class 319 — Adult sweater, plain cardigan
1 Kristine King
Class 320 — Adult sweater, texture pullover
1 Linda Mcshannock
3 Peggy Mann Rinehart
Class 321 — Adult sweater, texture cardigan
2 Elizabeth Watkins
Class 322 - Adult Sweater, limited use, texture pullover
1 Alla Hale
3 Susan Rainey
4 Kristine King
Class 323 - Adult Sweater, limited use, texture cardigan
1 Susan Rainey
3 Delia Lam
Class 324 - Adult Sweater, color pattern pullover
3 Lucy Norman
Class 325 - Adult Sweater, color pattern cardigan
1 Susan Rainey
2 Alla Hale
3 Kristine King
Class 326 — Adult sweater, limited use, color pattern pullover
1 Alla Hale
3 Kristine King
4 Anna Sorgert
Class 327 — Adult sweater, limited use, color pattern cardigan
1 Deepa Nirmal
Class 328 — Adult sweater, intarsia
3 Kristine King
Class 329 — Adult jacket/coat, outerwear
1 Katie Block
2 Susan Rainey
3 Anna Sorgert
4 Deepa Nirmal
Class 330 — Sleeveless sweater or vest, plain or texture; color pattern or intarsia
2 Susan Rainey
5 Stephanie Emerich
Class 331 — Cowls
1 Elizabeth Nee
2 Stephanie Daily
5 Stephanie Emerich
Class 333 — Knit bag, felted
4 Christine Petterson
5 Ann Barrett
Class 335 — Knit item, wearable, felted
3 Ann Barrett
Class 336 — Holiday sock
3 Ann Barrett
Class 337 — Not otherwise specified, wearable
1 Ann Barrett
Class 338 — Not otherwise specified, not wearable
2 Kristine King
Class 340 — Sweepstakes, hand knitted articles
1 Susan Rainey
Class 9060 - The Yarnery Award for best child size garment
1 Delia Lam
Class 9064 - A Sheepy Yarn Shop Award for best adult jacket/coat, outwear
1 Katie Block
Class 9066 - Ingebretsen's Scandinavian Gifts Award for best sweater of traditional Norwegian Design
1 Delia Lam
Class 9076 — Penelope Knitters "We live to knit and knit to rip." Rosette for winner of cap or hat, texture
1 Shira Burton
Class 9078 — StevenBe Award for best original design
1 Alla Hale
Class 9084 — Northfield Yarn Award for best multi-colored sweater
1 Susan Rainey
HANDICRAFTS
Class 681 — Doll, character type (fairy, elf, mermaid, imaginary character, etc.) single, 8 in. or over
3 Carrie Ohnstad
Class 682 — Doll, character type (fairy, elf, mermaid, imaginary character, etc.) single, under 8 in.
1 Katherine Lewinski
Class 690 — Puppet, hand, single or pair
1 Karen Lehman
GARMENT MAKING
Class 453 — Bonnet or cap, knitted infant
1 Ann Barrett
Class 456 — Dress, hand knit infant
2 Ann Barrett
Class 459 — Afghan, knit, no larger than 42 in. x 42 in.
3 Ann Barrett
Class 464 — Sweater or jacket, knitted infant1 Susan Rainey
WORK OF SENIOR CITIZENS
Class 937 — Knitted baby sweater
1 Peggy Mann Rinehart
4 Susan Rainey
Class 940 — Knitted adult vest or sweater
1 Susan Rainey
3 Kristine King
Class 941 — Knitted scarf
2 Bonnie Esplie
3 Susan Rainey
Class 943 — Knitted, not otherwise specified in above
3 Bonnie Esplie
BEE AND HONEY (These results have not been published online yet, so these are the winners we know)
Class 108 Any craft artwork; stenciling, drawing, etc
3 Katherine Lewinski
Class 109 Wearable
2 Susan Rainey