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Put simply: the Minnesota Knitters’ Guild is a group of 500+ people who knit, even if just a little.
Our members range in age from pre-teen to well into the golden years, have knitting abilities that span the entire spectrum, and live all over the world (but, you guessed it, primarily in Minnesota).
Our mission statement is to promote interest, appreciation, education, and fellowship in the art of knitting.
Membership is open to all who are interested in the purpose of The Guild, no matter their age, race, ethnicity, citizenship status, socioeconomic status, religion, gender identity, or political persuasion. We hope that you join us!
The Guild was founded in 1985 by a small group of women who were passionately dedicated to the art of knitting. They held monthly meetings at the College of St. Catherine (St. Kate’s). The first meetings were very similar to those have today. There was a short business meeting followed by a knitting or fiber related program with lots of opportunities for fellowship in between. The MKG library was a suitcase full of books purchased with Guild money and hauled to every meeting by the MKG librarian.
As the years went by, the group grew; it was incorporated as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) with the State of Minnesota in 1997.
In addition to the regular meetings, a day-long knitting workshop, Yarnover, was first planned and held for members and knitting enthusiasts in 1986. Yarnover began with local teachers offering classes; participants received a popular “goody bag” or knitting-related items, along with a thick syllabus of all class materials and instructions, so they could learn about more than just the class they were attending. Eventually the format evolved to include a keynote speech from a known knitting teacher. Now Yarnover is an event featuring many nationally known knitting instructors and designers; it attracts knitters from well beyond our Minnesota borders.
In 2001 the Minnesota Knitters’ Guild’s meetings moved from St. Kate’s to the newly opened Textile Center in Minneapolis. Membership in the Textile Center gave us a link to the greater fiber community, as well as a permanent place to house our library collection of knitting books and magazines. We are still meeting at the Textile Center today.
Our history is rich with enthusiasm and sharing of more than just knitting. Members can recall times when their only access to the Guild’s library books and magazines was during monthly meetings, when we hoped it wouldn’t rain on the summer picnic at Minnehaha Park (nowadays we hold it indoors),and how snowstorms — in back-to-back years! — didn’t keep members away from the annual holiday party or “spring” tea. We are a reflection of the energy and hard work of past members, and the ideas and enthusiasm of new and future members. And in the end we are the same now as when we started: a group of people whose love of knitting moves us to get together, share and learn.
As a card-carrying member, you get:
Complimentary entry to lectures by renowned textile artists and experts.
Priority registration and member pricing for events such as Yarnover and the Great Guild Getaway
Door prize drawings at our events
Free access to the Textile Center Library, the largest circulating textile library in the nation
Exclusive discounts at local yarn stores throughout the state
Connection to a larger knitting community (in-person and digitally!)
Access to recordings of past meetings
Free patterns
And more!
The Minnesota Knitters’ Guild in-person meetings are in Minneapolis on the third Tuesday of each month from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Textile Center.* Our meetings are currently virtual via Zoom due to Covid. We plan on continuing a portion of our programming virtual, especially in the winter, in the future.
Parking, biking, and public transportation information.
*Some meetings, like our Members’ Appreciation Picnic in July and our Annual Tea in February, don’t follow this rule. We communicate that as best we can via this website, our various social media channels, and our member newsletter.
Monthly meetings can draw anywhere from 40 to 100 members depending on the programming, whether or not there’s free food, and, let’s face it, the weather.
Virtual meetings often open with a 30 minute trunk show from a dyer or other fiber-relate maker. This is followed by our featured programming. Programs range from special events like our annual picnic (when in-person) to demonstrations by wonderful local talent to presentations by internationally renowned knitters. After a break, where members can chat in smaller breakout rooms, the MKG Board presents current and up-coming Guild activities and business. At in-person meetings, the business section and the main presentation are usually in reverse order
Guests are welcome to “try out” a meeting before committing to paying dues. If we are hosting a speaker, we asks guest to reserve a ticket and make a donation if they wish. We hope if you’re new you’ll consider joining us! (And we hope if you’ve tried it out before you’ll re-join us!)
If you have any questions, contact our Membership Director at membershipmkg@gmail.com.
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.
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.
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.
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
Currently Open
Marketing Director
The marketing director position is currently open. For more information contact the Guild President, president@knitters.org
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)
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.
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.)
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.
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.
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)
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)
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)
