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Yarnover is a community building and educational event run by volunteers from the Minnesota Knitters’ Guild (MKG). It is a weekend of fiber fun with knitting classes, a marketplace, and other events and activities
Yarnover is the third weekend in September, please refer to the Yarnover homepage for exact dates and times.
Yarnover is hosted by the Minnesota Knitters’ Guild. It is planned and run by a small group of dedicated volunteers. You can join the Yarnover Committee or volunteer to help during Yarnover weekend. To get involved, contact our Yarnover Chair at yarnover@knitters.org.
While we hope you will consider joining the Minnesota Knitters’ Guild, you do not need to be a member to attend Yarnover. Guild Members do receive early access to class, event, and/or activity registration. A list of all membership benefits is available here. You can join the Guild anytime before registering.
April and early May were becoming very busy for local knitters with the Twin Cities Yarn Shop Hop, Local Yarn Store Day, and Shepherds’ Harvest.
Opening Night Social and Sampler – Member $37.50/Non-member $43 (includes a casual pizza dinner)
Yoga for Knitters – $5 (Must be attending the Friday Night Social and Sampler.)
3-hr Class – Member $90/Non-member $100 (includes lunch)
6-hr Class – Member $180/Non-member $200 (includes lunch)
Yarnover Game Night – Member $25/Non-member $30 (includes popcorn)
Payment is accepted online through knitters.org only via Paypal or credit card.
(Note: Some classes may have a materials fee payable to the instructor. Please check your class description.)
The Minnesota Knitters’ Guild is offering Yarnover Grants for 2023. Each grant will cover the cost of either two half-day or one full-day Yarnover class of the recipient’s choice. These grants are for those who would like to increase their knowledge and skills in the art of knitting, but are not in the position to afford the cost of attending Yarnover. Visit this link for more details and to apply. Applications are due March 17, 2023.
Registration for Minnesota Knitters’ Guild members will open Saturday, March 25th at 8:00am CT.
Registration for non-members will open on Saturday, April 22nd at 8:00am CT.
If you are interested in a class that is full, please contact membership@knitter.org to be added to a waiting list. Waiting lists are first come first serve and do not guarantee a seat in the class.
Please contact Nikky at membership@knitters.org
Cancellations on or before July 21, 2023 will receive a full refund less a 20% processing fee. No refunds will be given for cancellations or no-shows after July 21, 2023.
Registration may be transferred to another person with notice given to membership@knitters.org, but we will not be able to change food choices after August 21, 2023.
Please contact Nikky at membership@knitters.org
Yes! If you just want to add a class or the Friday and Saturday night activities to your Yarnover registration, just register for the additional items through the registration form. We will connect the two registrations together for you. Make sure not to register for a class at a time you are already taking one.
Because most classes require attendees to come prepared with supplies and do homework ahead of time, we are not able to do same day registrations. We also need to give the venue final numbers for attendees and meals a month before Yarnover.
Yarnover fees cover teachers expenses and fees, room rentals, food, supplies, and other costs associated with hosting the event. If there is any overage, it is deposited with general funds of the Guild. Yarnover is completely run by volunteers.
Yarnover is at the Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West in Plymouth, MN.
With 15+ classes, the Marketplace, and areas for lunch and entertainment, Yarnover takes up a lot of space! That, coupled with rental and catering costs, decreases the scope of available hotel options for Yarnover. Working with our current location affords Yarnover the space we need, at costs that allow us to keep registration reasonable and provide plenty of free parking.
Yes, Yarnover has a block of rooms available at the group rate of $121.00 a night.
To book online visit the Crowne Plaza website. When reserving a room under Rate Preference pick Group Rate, then enter code XC5.
To book by phone call 1-855-914-1303 or the hotel directly at 763-559-6600 and ask for the Minnesota Knitters’ Guild Yarnover room block.
The group rate closes on September 1, 2023.
Yes, the hotel has free parking. All parking is self-park.
All of the areas in the hotel used for official Yarnover activities are accessible, including ramps and/or elevators. The hotel has accessible guest rooms. There are 17 accessible parking spaces at the front of the hotel and an easy drop off point at the front door. Please contact the hotel directly for further information about accessibility.
With 15+ classrooms, the Marketplace, and areas for lunch and entertainment, Yarnover takes up a lot of space! All of the areas in the hotel used for Yarnover activities are accessible, including ramps and/or elevators. For those that may use an assistive walking device, we recommend bringing it with you. There are seating options throughout the venue that can be used to rest between Yarnover event locations.
While a virtual option has been considered, the decision was made to keep Yarnover as a completely in person event for several reasons:
The Yarnover Committee looks at every teacher suggested to us on the Yarnover survey and in person, as well as teachers that contact us directly. Here are some of the criteria we look at when partnering with teachers each year.
Contact our Yarnover Chair, at yarnover@knitters.org
Yarnover invites past vendors as well as recommendations we receive throughout the year to join our Marketplace. Interested vendors can reach out to Yarnover directly at yarnovervendors@knitters.org
While we would love to have the Marketplace open extra days (Friday evening and/or Sunday morning) , it is not possible at this time. The increased costs for venue space would also require raising registration fees.
Contact our Yarnover Vendor Coordinators directly at yarnovervendors@knitters.org
Yarnover is a private event and people who mistreat or disrespect other people will be removed and not allowed for the duration of the event. Yarnover/Minnesota Knitters’ Guild reserves the right to permanently ban attendees and guests who do not comply with the code of conduct, including for future events put on by the Minnesota Knitters’ Guild.
HARASSMENT
Disorderly conduct includes (but is not limited to) any behavior that is illegal, unsafe, disruptive, discriminatory, or causes excessive discomfort to our attendees or guests.
PROHIBITIONS
Drugs, weapons, and items that can be mistaken as weapons are expressly prohibited. Backpacks and other similar containers are subject to search and may be prohibited.
LIABILITY
You assume any and all risks occurring before, during, or after Yarnover. You release the Minnesota Knitters’ Guild and the hotel and their agents, licensees, assignees, and their respective affiliates and representatives from any related claims.
YARNOVER TERMS OF USE
All Event attendees and guests are required to adhere to this Code of Conduct.
ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY
Yarnover has a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY for harassment of any kind. If a person engages in harassing behavior, Yarnover staff will take prompt action in any form they deem appropriate, including expulsion from Yarnover with no refund. Our policy applies to EVERYONE at the convention. Exhibitors, attendees, speakers, guests, professionals, press, staff, volunteers, and security are all subject to our anti-harassment policy and will be held to the same standards and disciplinary action.
At this time there are no vaccine or negative test requirements to attend, teach, volunteer, or vend at Yarnover. Masking is not required, though we ask that everyone respects the choice of those who choose to mask.
We will offer color-coded lanyards for those who wish to indicate their level of comfort with interacting with others. We ask that all attendees respect the social distancing indicators of other attends.
This is our COVID policy as of 1/27/2023. Yarnover and the Minnesota Knitters’ Guild reserve the right to update it based on any masking or vaccine requirement changes from the city, state, or federal authorities. We will follow all masking requirements based on community transmission.
At this time, no 2023 teachers require masking in their classroom. If this changes for a class you are registered for, you will be notified.
We offer gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and vegan options which can be selected at the time of registration. Allergies to a common ingredient (such as peanuts) can be communicated to us at the time of registration as well.
Please contact the Yarnover Chair yarnover@knitters.org
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)
