We’ve had quite a few requests to have a fair judge come speak to the Guild. We have not been able to find anyone who feels comfortable speaking about their time as a judge, but we have been given the opportunity to submit written questions about fair judging.
Please submit your questions below and we will compile them. We may not be able to have every question answered.
Help the Guild enter the decorated tree category at this year’s MN State Fair.
It’s May and that means it’s time to start thinking about your entries for this year’s Minnesota State Fair. Here are some of the basics of entering & tips from past winners.
Learn about this month’s featured Yarn Shop – Northfield Yarn in Northfield, MN
Done & drying! After the number of times I ripped out & redid the ribbing on this, it better fit perfectly.
Pattern is Summer Striped Sweater 1 and the yarn is Tynd both from woolfolk_yarn
#knitting #mkgshowandtell #sweaterknitting #mnknitters #instaknit #knittersofinstagram
#FOFriday : I have a new pair of socks.
Pattern: #DownTheRabbitHoleSocks by flockfibre
Yarn: the self-striping is merino/nylon by whitebirchfiberarts in colorway “Zombies on the Half Shell.” I used a mini from emmasyarn in colorway “Very Berry” for the heel.
As you can see from the toes, the sock with the left leaning twist (on my right foot) used a tad more yarn than the other. I don’t know if I picked up more stitches along the heel flap, or the left leaning twist used a bit more yarn than the other, or if I just was knitting at a slightly different gauge. But as my husband said, no one will notice when I’m wearing shoes.
#Knitting #KnittersOfInstagram #Knitstagram #HandknitSocks #MKGShowAndTell #SelfStripingSockYarn #SelfStripingSocks
Loving how these colors are working together 😍 (swipe to see the individual yarn balls)
🧶
Project: #nightshadesocietysweater
Designer: #dragonhoardyarn
#Yarn: #rowankidsilkhaze #chesterwool donegal 4 ply
#LYS: #woolbath from my recent #rowantreetravel Knitter’s Tour of British Breeds
🧶
#knittersofinstagram #knitting #knit #knittingaddict #knittingpattern #knitworthy #knittersgonnaknit #knitstagram #fiberart #fiberarts #knitwear #knitted #knitoholic #knitandbehappy #knittinglove #wool #yarnlove #knittersoftheworld #knittinginspiration #handknit #nevernotknitting handmade #mkgshowandtell
It’s June! I never shared my May updates!
At the beginning of May, I finished this very special top secret gift knit! Lee, the coordinator of my academic department — a super knitter and all around superstar — was retiring, so I organized my other colleagues to co-create this rainbow shawl! Everyone picked a color. Then, one of my colleagues came with me to theyarnery to pick out colorways in rowanyarns Felted Tweed that fit the bill. Then, I designed the shawl, using some westknits tricks I learned from the two shawls I’ve knit before.
Finally, the most fun part: I got each of my colleagues to knit some stitches into the shawl! This involved 10 different secret meetings in my office, and a little bit of teaching on my part. Everyone did great!
The kicker: when we finally gave Lee the shawl, she turned around and gave us each a pair of hand-knit mittens! Can’t make this stuff up.
Anyhoo, before gifting the shawl, I gave it a little photoshoot.
Yarns: Rowan Felted Tweed, held with Knit Picks Gloss Lace in the colorway “Hawk”. The i-cord border is 3 strands of Gloss held with 1 strand of Make it Tweed.
Other knits pictured: Everyday Lined Hat by bayronhandmade and the Flax Sweater by tincanknits.
Image descriptions:
Slide 1: short video clip of a Black woman in a purple beanie, a light brown sweater, and blue jeans. She’s holding up a rainbow-striped triangular shawl as it blows in the wind. She’s smiling until the last second, when she suddenly looks off camera and makes an exaggerated expression of concern, as if she heard a weird noise (she did).
Slide 2: a photo of the same woman in the same outfit, now standing near a fence with her dog and wearing the rainbow shawl around her neck like a big bandana. The tip of the shawl reaches the top of her pants.
Slide 3: same as Slide 2 except now with a black jacket over it and the shawl folded in half before being worn bandana-style.
Slide 4: a close-up photo of the shawl, folded such that the i-cord bind-off edge is facing itself. It is clearer that a thin gray yarn is being held with the more colorful yarns, and that the i-cord edge has little rainbow flecks in it.
It’s almost a sweater! Just one sleeve, the collar, and hem to do. Current hem is coming off to make it longer.
The pattern is woolfolk_yarn Summer Stripes Sweater No 1 and the yarn is Tynd.
#knitting #sweaterknitting #mkgshowandtell #mnknitters #instaknit #knittersofinstagram
Soldotna Crop
I loved knitting this. The color work pattern is beautiful, plus no floats to catch. I’m already planning a second and I’m thinking of neon…
📝Soldotna Crop by boylandknitworks
🧶 bellafilatostudio ‘ash,’ spunrightround ‘denim,’ and trilogyyarns ‘melon’
📷 knits.by.amanda
#knitting #knittersofinstagram #soldotnacrop #memademay #mnknitters #fofriday #knitspiration #colorworkknitting #shareyourknits #mkgshowandtell #knitknitknit
Purple. It’s a vibe. 💜
📝#VibesTee test by tifneilan_handknits
🧶4 colors of singly ply linen by lavenderluneyarn
Beribboned Eyelets knitted with Soft Serve from stranded.yarn.and.coffee
#mkgshowandtell
When in Rome
It’s drapey, has just a pinch of lace, and is perfect for summer. I've worn this top so many times since I finished it a few weeks back.
Thanks to ruby_stitches for having a great spot to take FO pictures 😂.
📝When in Rome Tee by this.bird.knits
🧶 lavenderluneyarn single-ply linen ‘moth to a flame’
#knitting #knitting_inspiration #knittersofinstagram #wheninrometee #summerknits #summerteemal23 #nevernotknitting #fofriday #mkgshowandtell #handknit #memademay2023 #memademay #newpattern #mnknitters
It’s release day for the #MullItOverPullover! I had the opportunity to test this top-down, yoke sweater. This was such a relaxing and fun one to knit!
Small details like fisherman’s rib and eyelets adorn the collar, cuffs, and hem. I used two strands of fingering held double throughout which helped prevent any pooling from the variegated yarn.
If you plan to make your own, check out the #mullitoverpullover hashtag to see some of my fellow testers!
📝 Mull it Over Pullover by tifneilan_handknits
🧶 MC: Butterfly Kisses on two different bases by tippytreeyarns
CC: Long Johns on Berry Fingering by woolberryfiberco
Roxanne Richardson is a knitting communicator who lives in Minneapolis. Her YouTube channel explores a variety of knitting-related topics, including knitting history and techniques, and she writes technical knitting articles for Interweave publications. She’s a certified master hand knitter and certified knitting teacher, and she can’t wait to answer your burning knitting questions.
Bonnie Swierzbin
Marketing Director
(Term 1, Year 1)
Bonnie comes from a long line of makers, so between their sewing and her own knitting, her Barbies had loads of one-of-a-kind dresses. She loves to buy yarn and knit while she travels, so she has a yarn stash the size of Cleveland and memories imbued with knitting; she can tell you exactly what baby sweater she was making on the overnight ferry from Rab to Split, Croatia, in 1985. When she isn't knitting, Bonnie is dyeing yarn and vintage textiles, embroidering, and making felt or silk paper vessels. She's happiest when she is learning a new skill or knitting technique. (she, her, hers)
Kelly Amoth
President
(Term 1, Year 1)
A visiting friend from Seattle taught Kelly the very basics of knitting (a twisted loop cast on and just the knit stitch) in 2008 before flying home. Turning to the internet (thanks knittinghelp.com!) Kelly taught herself through a lot of trial and error. Uncontent to keep knitting the scarf she’d started as her first project, she jumped into knitting a pair of striped mittens for her non-knitter, but very knitworthy, twin sister. Twelve years later the mittens are still in her sister’s glove box, and Kelly is usually horrified when she pulls them out and sees the mistakes she made using double pointed needles for the first time. Kelly loves knitting socks and is thankful for the many months of cold weather when she gets to exclusively wear her handknits. (she, her, hers)
Kelsey Sorenson
Secretary
(Term 1, Year 3)
Kelsey learned the knit stitch from her grandmother in middle school, and filled in the gaps enough to make lots of scarves for quite a few years. She began expanding her skills in college and is always looking to learn more. Kelsey is drawn toward projects that are seamless or include stranded colorwork. (she, her, hers)
Rose Tobelmann
Treasurer
(Term 2, Year 1)
Rose learned to knit from her mother at the age of ten. She started knitting on the ends of small paint brushes. She continued to knit off and on through her teenage and young adult years and became a more avid knitter after taking a Norwegian sweater knitting class through community education. Today, knitting has become a passion and she knits for charity, herself, and her family her stash. She enjoys meeting other knitters and learning new techniques.
Open Position
Programming Director
(3-year term)
This position is currently open. If you are interested in volunteering for the Guild board, please contact our president, Kelly, at the email me link below.
Betsy Preston
Service Director
(Term 1, Year 2)
Betsy never had patience for knitting, until she found herself spending a lot of time at little league games and waiting for the last kid to emerge from the locker room after swim practice. With her background in graphic design, stranded colorwork has a natural appeal. Not to mention the practicality of an extra layer of warmth. Betsy has recently begun publishing her original hat and cowl patterns, which are available on Ravelry. (she, her, hers) (See our Service Knitting Page for more information about our current projects and donation process.)
Nikky Heidel
Membership Director
(Term 1, Year 3)
Nikky was first introduced to knitting in 2012 when her visiting sister-in-law taught her the basics of casting on and the knit stitch. A few weeks later, she learned how to purl from her mother-in-law. From there, it quickly became a passion and she has taken on each new project with a desire to expand her skill and discover new techniques. She loves a good mystery (knit-a-long) and knits way more shawls than a single person can wear in a month.
Melissa Mintern
Technology Director
(Term 1, Year 1)
Melissa has been knitting for 15 years. She loves socks and sweaters. She is a new member who hopes to use her marketing background to lift up the MKG. While she isn't local to MN, she really loves the atmosphere created by the Guild. Melissa and significant other Al enjoy traveling, wherein Al graciously offers to drive so Melissa can knit in the passenger seat. (she, her, hers)
Anna Turk
Yarnover Committee Chair
While Anna learned to knit at some long-forgotten point in time, her commitment to the craft really began her freshman year of college. Sitting still has never been Anna’s strong suit, and giving her hands something to do while chatting with friends or watching movies in the dorm brought a sense of calm during this new chapter of her life. Once the sense of calm wore off (and no one else needed a scarf), she began trying new techniques, patterns, and projects, and until 2018 was primarily a self-taught knitter. After being intimidated early in her crafting, Anna feels strongly about creating a welcoming environment within the fiber community for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. She enjoys knitting and fiber traveling, test and service knitting, a good challenge (knitting or otherwise), and is likely to have at least 3 WIPs at any one time. She is also learning to spin and ply her own yarn! (she/her/hers)
Project HandWork is an exhibit of photos by photographer Christopher Dykes. Using flash, a backdrop, and the infinite human variety, Christopher is collecting a series of images of hands at work in the fiber community. Manicures, hangnails, tattoos, wristwatches, cheap yarn, expensive silk, easy socks and exquisite lace all show the human diversity and the compulsion to create.
Yarnover attendees may have their hands photographed for a $50 sitting fee. Each sitter will receive an edited photo via email. The sitting fee goes to Help In Crisis, his local domestic abuse shelter.
Laura Haave
Great Guild Getaway Committee Chair
Laura learned to knit in 2003 by taking a four-week class during MIT's annual January Independent Activities Period. The class project was a striped hat knit in the round, and since that time, Laura has been a big advocate of 1) helping other adults learn to knit for the first time, 2) hats as a manageable first project, and 3) circular needles for everything. She enjoys thinking about knitting and planning her next project almost as much as she enjoys actually knitting. Laura is highly motivated by knit-alongs and loves to knit in community. (she, her, hers)
Jess Dahlberg
Newsletter Editor
Jess learned to knit in middle school and attempted (but never quite finished) a few garter stitch scarves. Years later, she picked up crochet with her best friend in law school and eventually fell back into knitting. Ever since then, she's been a daily knitter (commuting time for the win!) and has never looked back. She enjoys knitting gifts for friends and family and loves trying new techniques. (she, her, hers)
Meg Duncan
Vice President
(Term 1, Year 1)
Meg grew up surrounded by makers. Her mom, a master quilter, former Home Ec teacher, and 4-H club leader in Duluth, taught her to sew, embroider, and cook. She won a trip to the State Fair as the Dress Review Princess at 13! Another MKG member taught her to knit continental style 15 years ago. Meg can’t sit still and NOT be knitting, embroidering, rug hooking or sewing. Favorite thing to knit? Mittens! She loves taking classes and learning new things – absolutely amazed and inspired by all the amazing knitters in the guild! (she, her, hers)
Our spinning demonstrations are sponsored by Get Bentz Farm.
After growing up in the city and suburbs, the owners of Get Bentz Farm felt a need to be closer to nature and to be more connected to where their food came from.
In 2014, they found a farm house for sale and later that year they decided on and purchased their first two Icelandic sheep.
Once they had a good size flock they began marketing the amazing meat and wool. Initially, they found that many mills in the area do not process dual coated long wools, which slowed down their growth in yarn, but they did find a great market for wool filled bedding products and batting for spinning.
Today, they have a variety of yarns, batting and roving as well as finished products like dryer balls, sheepskins, and wool bedding. Most recently, they opened their own Get Bentz Wool Mill as well as their own line of yarn – Badgerface Fiber.
Mona McNeely been a certified Iyengar Yoga instructor since 2016 and has studied yoga since 2002.
She has three grown kids and two, almost three, grandchildren. Her grandma taught her to knit when she was seven. She picked it up again in her early 20’s and hasn’t put the needles down since. She is also an avid spinner and has woven her share of rugs. In her spare time, she volunteers at a non-profit called We Can Ride where they use horses as therapy for people with disabilities. She also works full time as a Treasury Analyst for a fairly large company. Somehow it all balances out.
The Midwest Machine Knitters’ Collaborative (MMKC) is a Minnesota based fiber guild established in 2011. We envisioned the Collaborative as a way to connect with other machine knitters who like to think (and knit!) outside the box. MMKC provides a forum to promote fun, interest, appreciation, education, inspiration, and camaraderie in the art of machine knitting. We welcome all levels of experience, as this is the best way to learn and inspire. We will all become better knitters through collaboration. https://www.midwestmachineknitters.org/
Kathy Lewinski
Webmaster
Kathy has always been into crafts, but didn’t teach herself to knit until after college. She really got hooked while living in San Francisco when a friend opened a knitting store. To pitch in, Kathy started knitting up fun (and odd) things for window displays, as well as teaching classes. In the last couple of years, she has started designing her own knitting patterns (many of them available for free on Ravelry!) with toys and mittens being her primary obsessions. (she/her/hers)
