Yarnover 2023 Shawl Contest Voting

Wow, did we see some amazing knitwear at this year’s Yarnover. It is always so inspiring.

Now, it’s your turn to pick your favorite of this year’s Yarnover Shawls. There will be three winners: best use of texture or lace, best use of color, and one randomly picked winner. The ballot is at the end of the post. Voting ends Friday, October 13th at 11pm CST. The winners will be announced at the October 17th MKG meeting.

Yes, we started the numbering at 92 rather than waste paper and print new entry sheets 🙂

92. Joan U.  PatternShetland Hap  Yarn – Jamieson + Smith

Square Shetland Hap shawl in browns

93. Angella C  PatternMontbretia  Yarn – Jaggerspun Heathers

Woman posing in green hand knit shawl

94. Allie C  PatternEmiliana

Woman modeling a blue and white hand knit shawl

95. Barbara M.  PatternAs You Wish  Yarn – Various stash

Woman modeling a black, white & grey hand knit shawl

96. Alice A  PatternIn the Pink

Woman modeling a yellow and teal lace shawl

97. Barbara R. PatternPainting Honeycombs – Big  Yarn – Berrocco & Noro Garden Silk

Woman modeling multi-colored shawl in a honeycomb design

98. Diane A  PatternDoor County Sunsets  Yarn – Concept by Katia Polynesia Gradient

Woman modeling a hand knit shawl

99. Irina B  PatternDiana Lace ShawYarn – North Light Fibers Forever Lace

Woman showing blue lace shawl

100. Ursula M  PatternMallorn  Yarn – Jaggerspun Zephyer and quilting thread

Woman showing a green lace shawl

101. Laura H.  PatternLunation Shawlette  Yarn – Blue Sky Fibers Skyland

Woman modeling a scarf with the cycles of the moon knit on it

102. Kim J  Pattern – Her own design  Yarn – Recycled Linen by Trendsetter Yarns

Woman showing multi-colored shawl

103. Linda J  Pattern – Eyes on U  Yarn – Uneek Urth

Woman modeling a green and brown hand knit shawl

104. Pattern – Shawlette (I think this is correct) Yarn – Imagine Sundara Yarn  and Malabrigo Knitter’s Palette

Woman modeling a purple scarf with fringe

105. Nancy K.  Pattern – Undersea Adventures Châle (modified)  Yarn – You Soxy Thing and Fuzzy Thinking

Woman modeling a grey and purple shawl

106. Phyllis P.  PatternChevron Shawl  Yarn – Forbidden Fibers

Woman modeling a hand knit shawl

107. Michelle D. Pattern – Aurora Cabin Shawl  Yarn – Life in the Long Grass singles

108. Cindy A  PatternWinter Lights Shawl  Yarn – Garn Stories

Woman modeling blue, green & white hand knit shawl

109. Barb F.  PatternPapillon 

Woman modeling a purple hand knit shawl

110. Mary E.  PatternWaiting for Rain  Yarn – Marabrigo Sock Azules

Woman modeling hand knit blue shawl

111. Betsy B.

Woman modeling purple shawl

112. Kristi S.  PatternPressed Flowers  Yarn – Malabrigo Tosh DK and Queensland Collection Sunshine Coast

Woman modeling brown shawl with flowers

113. Petra C.  PatternSand and Sky  Yarn – Alize Metallic

Woman modeling blue and tan hand knit shawl

114. Barbara S.

Woman modeling grey hand knit shawl

115. Susie W.  PatternMoonwhistle Shawl  Yarn – Blue Sky Fibers and Spincycle

Woman modeling green & brown shawl

116. Cate C  Pattern – Knitrino?

Woman modeling large purple shawl

117. Deb K.  PatternMake a Million  Yarn – Done Roving Gradients and Malabrigo Sock

Woman modeling a blue, green and yellow hand knit shawl

118. Lynn R.  PatternMaryland Road Trip  Yarn – Baah Yarns

Woman modeling a multi-color hand knit shawl

119. Jared H.  PatternStormborn  Yarn – Malabrigo Macheta

A man modeling a green lace wrap shawl

120. Leslie K.  PatternMosaic Musings 

Woman modeling a yellow and orange hand knit shawl

121. Melinda T  PatternReconstructed Shawl  Yarn – Yarnaceous Fibers Salta

Woman modeling a hand knit shawl in muted rainbow colors

122. Jean G.  PatternShells (I think this is correct)  Yarn – Fiber Curio & Sundries Silk & Alpaca

Woman modeling a lace shawl with a lace shell pattern

123. Marilyn T  PatternJaali Crescent  Yarn – Schopel wool and leftover sock yarns

Woman modeling a multi-color hand knit shawl

124. Katherine PR  PatternYara Mosaic Shawl  Yarn – Rios

Woman models a hadn knit shawl in shades of brown

125. Alayne L

woman models light blue hand knit shawl

126. Shauneen L  PatternButchart Gardens  Yarn – Handmaiden Fine Yarn Sea Silk

Woman models a hand knit shawl

126. Jodi H  PatternRakish ShawYarn – Wild Barn Yarn from Harvest Hill Acres

woman models brown & cream shawl

128. Kym D  PatternSlipstravaganza

(Kym’s picture from Yarnover was unfortunately unusable, so we asked her to take one a home.)

A woman models a black and white hand knit shawl

129. Mel O  PatternMaan  Yarn – Plucky Knitter Crew

Woman models a hand knit shawl

130. Jenny L  PatternWiddershins Shawl  Yarn – Yeti yarns witching hour and honey pot and Minoaur

A woman models a hand knit blue shawl

131 Megan K  PatternBirds of a Feather  Yarn – Lavender Lune Merino and Mohair

A woman models a pink & white shawl

132. Heidi J  PatternSlip Stitch Party  Yarn – Blue Sky Fibers

A woman models a multi-color hand knit shawl

133. Desyl P  PatternJoyous  Yarn – Life in the Long Grass

A woman models a coral hand knit shawl

134. Rose P  PatternNyushashiki  Yarn – Lion Brand Nuboo/Truboo

A woman models a hand knit lace shawl

135. Michael S  Yarn – Fiber Optic Merino

A man models a shawl in purple, pink and white

136. Louise P  PatternIn the Pink  Yarn – Hand Spun Jacob

A woman models a hand knit lace shawl

137. Ellen R  PatternMultnomah Shawl  Yarn – J Knits Superwash Light Sock

A woman models a hand knit orange shawl

138. Kathryn B  PatternHappenstance  Yarn – Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock

A woman models a hand knit blue shawl

139. Brenda L  PatternMedley

A woman models a pink & gold hand knit shawl

140. Deborah N  PatternFabulosity

A woman models a multi-color hand knit shawl

141. Mary C  PatternMoonlit Summer  Yarn – Stunning Strings Studio Supersport

A woman models a hand knit shawl

142. Tiffany P  PatternGarden Variety  Yarn – Emma’s Yarn

A woman models a hand knit lace shawl

143. Elizabeth N  PatternSpectrum  Yarn – Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock and Fiber Optic Kashmir

A woman models a mutli-color shawl

144. Lynn S  Pattern – Original  Yarn – Zauerball Crazy

A woman models a mutli-color hand knit shawl

Voting is now closed.

Recent Posts

Show & Tell

[instagram-feed]

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)