February MKG Meeting Wrap-Up!

Photo of a woman with long grey hair holding knitting needles.

Welcome to the end of bitter cold days, an additional hour of sunlight and the promise of spring! Our February speaker, Margaret Holzmann, was inspiring with her amazing blanket designs and story. Margaret shared what inspires her and how she translates this into her design process. She currently has two KAL – one for Safe at Home blanket, and one for the Flower Show blanket. Go to either her  website www.theknitwit.org, or her Ravelry site to see if this is something that you would like to participate in! The MKG library has one book, Geometric Knit Blankets to Knit (30 designs), which was checked out the day after the meeting by a MKG member! If you would like to reserve this book, email nmambi@textilecentermn.org for notification when it is returned. In her designs she combines construction techniques to enable colorwork without using intarsia or fair isle. She likes to design larger things, such as sweaters and especially blankets.

MKG Knit Along with Marion Bulin

Thyra Nelson, our Marketing Director has set up a great knit along with designer Marion Bulin with two patterns that are great for stash busting – as well as beautiful! Here is the information on Ravelry to join the MKG group and post your progress.

Ravelry: mabuli             Forum: KAL with Marion Bulin

Shawl pattern: 24Skeins
Discount Code: Minnesota 24 skeins
Cowl pattern: Just Back and Forth

Yarnover 2025: Volunteers needed!

A volunteer is needed to be the point person for the 2026 Yarnover event.

What does this mean? The individual (or a team) would be the person(s) on Friday afternoon and Saturday to answer questions, ensure that the event is going smoothly, clear up issues and enable the attendee experience at Yarnover 2026 that our members expect. This allows all the chairs of the individual committees to focus on execution of their areas. We have a committed and experienced group that is currently planning and will be at the event for their portion of the event (marketplace, volunteers, registration, Friday Night Activity, Saturday Bingo night, teacher liason) and need someone to be the person on site to see the big picture and ensure that things are going smoothly.

Questions? Please email president@knitters.org

Meg Duncan

President, Minnesota Knitters Guild

Service Knitting Updates for 2025!

New service knitting partners were announced at our January meeting:

  • Kaitlyn’s Kloset
  • Mental Health Resources
  • Aspirus St Luke’s
  • The Little Heart Project

We have found great partners who will continue to ask for a wide assortment of items for the MKG members to knit – from babies to adults, the same wide range of items. For pattern ideas, check out the patterns that are on the MKG website under service knitting.

Yarn Store of the Month: Leading Men Fiber Arts

leading-men-fiber-arts-logo

We are excited to feature Leading Men Fiber Arts as our March yarn store of the month. You have likely met Steve and Andy at many local fiber events throughout Minnesota and Iowa. Their hand-dyed colorways are inspired by the theatre, pop culture and nature. Leading Men Fiber Arts was established in August of 2013 in Clinton, IL where they have a dye studio. They specialize in semi-solid, variegated, speckled and gradient yarns.

They have expanded to a storefront where they carry many different yarns as well as their dyed creations. It is located next to the dye studio at 704 N Side Square in Clinton IL. You can always shop online and make sure to join their frequent shopper program so you can earn points toward free yarn shop.

Meet Steven and Andy at local events:

  • Shepherd’s Market, Iowa City IA – March 1st
  • Heartland Fiberpalooza, Winterset IA – March 22nd
  • YarnCon, Chicago, IL – April 5th & 6th

Check out their color of the month club or Designers in Residence for the Cast of Characters Mini Skein Club.

Remote Member Knitting Meetings

Coffee maker and cup

We’d like to help our members who aren’t in the Twin Cities get together in person! If you live in the Dubuque, IA, area please email Jean Gross at vicepresident@knitters.org.

Do you live more than 90 minutes from the Twin Cities and can coordinate an in-person gathering in your area? We would love to start knitting groups for those in outstate areas! Email Jean at vicepresident@knitters.org  Jean will help coordinate knitting groups and meetings!

 

Sip & Knit at Venn Brewing 

drawing of a pint of beer, coffee cup, donuts, yarn, and knitting needles.

 

Come and join us March 1st from 10:00am to noon for coffee, beer, donuts, and crafting with friends!

Food & Drink: Venn has espresso drinks, coffee, tea, soda, and juice, as well as beer for purchase. You can bring in your own water. The Guild will be bringing donuts. You are welcome to bring other food as well.

Getting There: The Blue Line 46th Street Station is just outside the brewery. It just down Hwy 55 from Minnehaha Falls and the Grand Rounds bike path. There are Venn specific parking spots to the north of the building and on-street parking.

You can also park at the Fort Snelling Park and Ride and take the Blue Line north

Volunteers for the MKG Marketing Team

Volunteers are needed to help Thyra Nelson with social media posting for the guild. Are you creative and enjoy social media? We need you!

email marketing@knitters.org or president@knitters.org  – we will answer any questions or provide more details.

Knitting Around Town in March:

drawing of a sheep knitting

 

Textile Center: in the library or open room # 5: Fridays: March 7th and March 14th from 1:00 to 4:00 pm

Weber Park Public Library / Community Room: Saturday, March 8th from 12:30 to 2:30 pm

Roseville/Ramsey County Public Library: Tuesday, March 25th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, hosted by Betsy Reed

Check the calendar at the MKG website for directions, updates and additional locations and times!

Thank you to all who have attended and brought your service knitting projects!

 

There are so many upcoming opportunities for our MKG members to engage directly with each other – keep your eye on the calendar for additional upcoming events! The Fiber Art for All event this last Saturday had over 1500 people attend for guild demonstrations, purchasing lovely crafts at the Makers Market, and hanging out. Thank you to the volunteers who were busy all day long answering questions and being ambassadors for the MKG! I look forward to meeting new members at our upcoming in person events. If you are looking for a weekly knitting group, please do not hesitate to reach out to a board member for assistance.

Knitting Minnesota together for over 40 years!

Cheers,

Meg Duncan

President, Minnesota Knitters Guild

 

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Our spinning demonstrations are sponsored by Get Bentz Farm. 

Theresa Bentz of Get Bentz Farm, Northfield, MNAfter 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.

Jean

Vice President

(Term 1, Year 1)

Jean Gross has had an interest in all things fiber since, at the age of 5, her mother gave her fabric scraps to keep her occupied. She is fluent in knitting, crocheting, tatting, embroidery, sewing, quilting and spinning, thanks to her mother, Janice, and grand mother, Clara. But Jean’s favorite thing to do with fiber is help others to explore its possibilities. She has taught at the Iowa State Fair, Des Moines Library, Freedom for Youth, the Des Moines Knitting Guild, Shepherds Market, local yarn shops and also teaches privately. Jean has served on several non-profit boards including FiberSmiths of Iowa and the Des Moines Knitting Guild. Jean lives in north central Iowa with her husband, Dave, and faithful canine, Rolo. She has published several knitting patterns.

Email Me
jtgross

Andi

Newsletter Editor

Andi (she/her) learned to knit from her mom over 40 years ago. She remembers going to MKG meetings in college when they were held at St. Kate’s, her alma mater. She knit on-and-off again for a while, and really dove back into the craft in 2015. She is also a quilter. She enjoys traveling and her husband is happy to stop at a yarn store or to look at sheep while on vacation. She and her husband live in the St. Paul area, both enjoy their respective crafts, and also going to the State Fair multiple times a season.

Email Me

Open Position

Yarnover Committee Chair

The Guild is currently looking for a new Yarnover Chair. If you are interested or have any questions, please contact our president Meg, president@knitters.org

Email Me
Ravelry

Thyra

Marketing Director

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.

Email Me

Melissa

Technology Director

(Term 1, Year 3)

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)

Email Me
oneoftheminterns

Nikky

Membership/Programming Director

(Term 2, Year 2)

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.

Email Me
FroggyGirl72

Deb

Service Director

(Term 1, Year 1)

Deb learned to knit in the early 1980s as a happy by-product of Hill Street Blues fandom. For a couple of years, she and a gaggle of other students met weekly to watch the show, and one of those friends was always knitting. As it is with so many knitters, that friend was enthused to teach someone else. Deb has been knitting ever since and particularly enjoys playing with colorwork and knitting sweaters. She is constantly astonished at the skill, enthusiasm, and generosity of MKG members. (she, her, hers) (See our Service Knitting Page for more information about our current projects and donation process.)

Email Me

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.

Email Me

Rose

Treasurer

(Term 2, Year 3)

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.

Email Me
tobel

Kendra

Secretary

(Term 1, Year 2)

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)

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Meg

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)

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finchgirl

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)

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katbaro