Instructor: Lorilee Beltman
Skill Level: Intermediate
Knitters must be comfortable working in the round at a small circumference as for a mitten or sock, without assistance. DPNs, two circulars, or Magic Loop are all fine. Some experience with two handed color work is a plus but not necessary.
Description:
Stranding color vertically in your knitting offers new possibilities where many colors can be worked at once! We will learn how to introduce strands of contrasting color to our work, how to work with them so they are user-friendly, and how to adequately anchor the stitches without overdoing it.
Once you learn the tricks in class, the technique is easy to execute and repeat. Everyone can do it.
The beauty happens in creative applications. We will work the technique into a colorful cable or a lace pattern, student’s choice to make a pair of wrist warmers or a phone/glasses case.
Class demonstrations are done in both English and Continental styles.
Included in Class:
Digital handout Colors That Climb:Cables & Bobbles (will be emailed approximately two weeks prior to class)
Supplies Needed:
Homework
Instructor: Beth Brown-Reinsel
Skill Level: Intermediate
Knitters must be proficient with double pointed needles, Magic Loop, or working with two circular needles.
Description:
The Norwegians believe if one’s pulse is kept warm, the whole body is warm and therefore wristers are popular in Scandinavia and the Baltic.
Using wristers as a template, some of the beautiful knitting methods of Latvia will be studied in this class. Knit one of a pair of wristers to learn the following techniques which can be applied to mitten cuffs, sock tops or sleeves: a scalloped cuff, the herringbone braid and many subtle and beautiful variations of the half-braid. A traditional motif is incorporated in the main part of the wrister, as well as a picot edge at the end.
Additional techniques to be discussed include yarn dominance, knitting with two yarns, and setting up the knitting for color changes in the braids..
Included in Class:
Supplies Needed:
Homework:
Instructor: Cecelia Campochiaro
Skill Level: Advanced Beginner
Students must be able to cast on, bind off, knit, purl, increase and decrease without help, and should be able to read their knitting.
Description:
This workshop is about textured stitch patterns in which both sides look the same. The class will touch on a range of topics including one-row patterns, sequence knitting, how reversible patterns are created, how to use charts for flat knitting or knitting in the round. As a bonus, we will also discuss some reversible selvedges that make nice finished edges.
You will have a chance to swatch a couple stitch patterns to get a feel for two different approaches to creating reversible textures. These patterns can be used for scarves, shawls, blankets or anything where you want both sides to look the same.
If you have ever wanted to know how to use stitch dictionaries, this class will be a good introduction.
Included in Class:
Supplies Needed:
Homework:
Instructor: Romi Hill
Skill Level: Advanced Beginner
Description:
Are you unsure what exactly to do when a pattern says, “pick up and knit stitches?” How to make it all look even? Where to pick them up?
No worries, my knitting friend! I’ve got your back. Join me, Romi Hill, as we set up our knitting to make picking up stitches easier to do, and then pick up and knit in all those pesky little places: on the diagonal, perpendicular to your existing knitting (think button band,) and along the cast on edge to knit in the opposite direction!
Included in Class
Supplies Needed:
Homework:
Instructor: Margaret Holzmann
Skill Level: Advanced Beginner
Knitters should be comfortable with basic knitting skills, including a knitted cast-on, knit stitch, and knitted bind-off. Familiarity with decreases (k2tog, ssk, cdd) and picking up is helpful. All techniques will be demonstrated in class.
Description:
In Portals, students will be introduced to the foundations of geometric knitting through a bold, graphic design featured in Margaret Holzmann’s book The New Color Work (December 2025). Known for transforming simple stitches into striking visual statements, Margaret shares techniques that allow knitters to create complex-looking fabrics using approachable, logical methods.
Techniques taught include geometric knitting methods, shaping, pick-up-and knit, and modular assembly. Finishing techniques include three-bind-off for shaping, invisible end-weaving, mattress stitch for garter stitch, and a demonstration of knitting backwards on wrong-side garter stitch.
Included in Class:
Supplies Needed:
Homework:
Instructor: Bristol Ivy
Skill Level: Advanced Beginner
Experience needed: knitting, purling, increasing, decreasing
Description:
Brioche is an easy stitch that creates a lush, drapey, warm fabric. In this class we’ll learn the basic principles of working brioche flat, identifying and fixing mistakes, and increasing and decreasing in pattern.
Included in Class:
Supplies Needed:
Homework:
Instructor: Laura Ricketts
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Knitter must be very comfortable with casting on, knitting and purling in the round, and doing color work.
Description:
The Sámi are Scandinavia’s only UN-recognized indigenous people and have a culture rich with fiber traditions. In this class, students will be introduced to Sámi mittens and some of the more difficult techniques while creating several swatches: right and left leaning slyngborden (knitted braid,) three ways to do right and left leaning slyngborden cast-ons (in two and three colors,) and a 4-strand, round braid with tassels.
Included in Class:
Supplies Needed:
Homework:
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 2)
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.
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.
Judy
Yarnover Committee Chair
From one of her mother’s friends, Judy learned to knit a pair of “paputki,” which are simple Polish house slippers. Somehow this gave her the confidence to knit her boyfriend a cabled pullover sweater for Valentine’s Day which was graciously accepted and has lived in the bottom of the bottom drawer of said boyfriend’s dresser for fifty plus years. Though she has made a few sweaters since then, she mostly knits blankets, scarves, hats and toys.
Thyra
Marketing Director
(Term 1, Year 2)
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.
Maria
Technology Director
(Term 1, Year 1)
Maria learned to knit from her grandmothers nearly 20 years ago and knit off and on through her teenage years, but really got hooked during graduate school. Since then, she has embraced the "never not knitting" mentality and has been spotted knitting on backpacking trips, on a seaplane, and at concerts to name a few. She has also just taught herself to spin. Maria is a recent transplant to the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats, and they enjoy hiking, running, and embracing the Minnesota lake culture.
Nikky
Programming Director
(Term 1, 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 2)
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.)
Meg
Membership
(Term 1, Year 1)
Meg learned to knit in Bloomington, Indiana at the age of 7 or 8 when her Aunt Anneke who worked in a local yarn shop had to take her along to work. Now a St. Paul denizen, she follows in the tradition of her grandmothers Pauline and Cornelia as a passionate knitter of sweaters. She loves colorwork, bright yarn and meeting new members. Meg is an extrovert and is always happy to connect!
Kathryn
Treasurer
(Term 1, Year 1)
Kathryn taught herself to knit in grad school, which is a terrible time to pick up a highly addictive hobby! She has since taken many classes, learned from master knitters and explored numerous techniques like brioche, double knitting, bead work, and more. She always has at least four projects on the needles but mysteriously, her yarn stash never seems to go down. Her favorite projects are shawls and socks. In addition to knitting, she does some crochet, tatting, spinning, and weaving. She was inspired to volunteer for the Guild after her first Great Guild Getaway and is excited to give back to this community of incredible knitters!
Kendra
Secretary
(Term 1, Year 3)
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 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)
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)