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October Minnesota Knitters’ Guild Meeting

October 18, 2022 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Blond woman wearing a knit hat with rossimine flower details

Estonian Inlay/Roosimine with Tanis Gray

Join Tanis Gray virtually hosted by the Minnesota Knitters’ Guild and learn the art of Estonian Inlay, or Roosimine, in this hat workshop! Originating from the western Estonian island Muhu, this stranding technique has been used for centuries to embellish knitting. Sharing similar characteristics of stranded colorwork, intarsia, and embroidery, this beautiful technique adds texture and color to your knits. We’ll be making the 2-colored version without the braids, but 3 colors may also be used for the Roosimine technique if desired. We will also cover blocking and finishing techniques, and get a great foundation started on a hat pattern in DK weight yarn!

Level: Advanced Beginner – no previous colorwork experience necessary

This meeting is a workshop and will use a hat pattern to demonstrate the technique. The materials needed and homework are listed below. You are welcome to sit-in and learn about Roosimine without doing the hands-on portion.

Materials needed to participate:
• MC: 1 Hank Emma’s Yarn Simply Spectacular DK (3.5oz/100g ea approx. 255yds/233m, 100% superwash merino, 25% nylon) OR equivalent DK weight yarn
• CC1 (and optional CC2): 1 or 2 Minis Emma’s Yarn Simply Spectacular Smalls (.7oz/20g ea approx. 50yds/46m, 100% superwash merino, 25% nylon) OR OR equivalent DK weight yarn (NOTE: The CCs will be held doubled, so please wind accordingly)
• Size US 6 (4mm) 16” Circular Knitting Needle
• Size US 7 (4.5mm) 16” Circular Knitting Needle
• Size US 7 (4.5mm) DPNs
• Tapestry Needle
• Stitch Markers
• Post-It Notes
• Copy of A Short Reprise Hat Pattern found on Ravelry or TanisKnits.com

Homework:
(NOTE: Some Guild Members have learned the Estonian Braid technique previously. Feel free to add that in as written if desired, but it will not be taught during this workshop. See pattern for details.)

• With smaller circular needle using the Longtail CO technique, CO 100 sts in MC. Join into round being careful not to twist, pm for bor.
• Rnds 1-10: [k1tbl, p1] to end of rnd.
• Switch to larger circular needles.
• Next Rnd: [K10, M1L] to end of rnd – 110 sts.
• Insert optional 2-Colored Estonian Braid here if desired.
• Knit 1 rnd in MC.
• Next Rnd: K45, pm, k19, pm, k46.
• Next Rnd: knit to first marker.

Photo of Tanis Gray wearing a hand knit green hat and sweaterTanis Gray believes that we are stronger together. When we respect each other, listen, learn, and educate, we can lift each other up and thrive as humans. All are welcome here, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, age, religion, or crafting style.

A graduate of RISD, Tanis lives in Northern VA with her Mechanical Engineer husband and two children. She has been in the creative field for many years, including roles at Martha Stewart, HBO, Focus Features, Hungryman Productions, and as the Yarn Editor at Vogue Knitting/Sixth & Spring and co-editor of Knit.1. She has worked on projects with Warner Brothers, Lucasfilm, and Disney.

With over 600 published knitting designs in her portfolio, her work has been featured in many major publications and books worldwide. Tanis had her own regularly-featured TV spot on PBS’ Knitting Daily TV with Vickie Howell and has taught multiple online Fair Isle classes for Craftsy. It is her goal to help anyone who wants to learn how to knit accomplish their fiber goals. She is also a firm believer in using bright colors in knitting and wholeheartedly agrees with Ru Paul, who said, “Life is about using the whole box of crayons.”

She is the author of Knit Local: Celebrating America’s Homegrown Yarns,  Capitol KnitsKnitting ArchitectureCozy Knits,  From Mama, with Love3 Skeins or Less – Fresh Knitted AccessoriesWanderlust – 47 Modern Knits for Bohemian StyleModern Baby Knits, Gradient Knits, Knitting Magic: The Official Harry Potter Knitting Pattern BookKnitting the Galaxy: The Official Star Wars Knitting Pattern Book, Knitting Magic: More Patterns from Hogwarts & Beyond, and Knitting with Disney

Tanis is a proud member and volunteer webmaster of the Creative Knitter’s Guild, Martha Washington Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), and the Washington DC Chapter of the Mayflower Society. She volunteers at Sanctuary for Families, Project Knitwell, and local Scouts troops teaching crafts and knitting. Certain pattern proceeds are donated to The National Center for Transgender Equality, The Trevor Project, NAACP, The Union of Concerned Scientists, Doctors Without Borders, Friends of Notre Dame, and Project Semicolon.

Tanis is an avid quilter, cross stitcher, photographer, enjoys Sashiko, hiking, Sudoku, cycling, jigsaw puzzles, baking, crewel work, and spoon carving.

She has won first place nationally for the American Heritage Award and the National Women in the Arts Award numerous times for Fiber Arts.

 

 

 

Details

Date:
October 18, 2022
Time:
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Event Category:
Event Tags:

Venue

Virtual Via Zoom

Organizer

Minnesota Knitters’ Guild
Email
website@knitters.org
View Organizer Website

Headshot of Roxanne RichardsonRoxanne 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.

Currently Open

Marketing Director

The marketing director position is currently open. For more information contact the Guild President, president@knitters.org

Kelly

President

(Term 1, Year 2)

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)

Kendra

Secretary

(Term 1, Year 1)

Kendra lives in the Twin Cities and learned to hand knit from her mother in middle school. In the last few years, she has also learned crochet and machine knitting. Kendra enjoys knitting items to donate and challenging herself with new techniques. She prefers knitting in the round with colorful yarn. (she, her, hers)

Rose

Treasurer

(Term 2, Year 2)

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

Service Director

(Term 1, Year 3)

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

Membership/Programming Director

(Term 2, Year 1)

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

Technology Director

(Term 1, Year 2)

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

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)

A photograph of hands knitting green yarn against a black background.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. 

Anne

Librarian

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)

Thyra

Newsletter Editor

I grew up watching my mom knit. She tried to teach me as a kid and I never enjoyed it, but after finishing college I found myself with extra time and no hobbies. In the last 20 years I have dove in all the way and love to learn new and challenging techniques. As my fiber love has grown, I have also started raising sheep in order to go from sheep to sweater. I love interacting with the sheep who have big personalities and learning to process and spin the wool has been a great adventure.

Meg

Vice President

(Term 1, Year 2)

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)

Get Bentz Farm LogoOur 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.

Midwest Machine Knitters' Collaborative logo

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

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)