Kate AtherleyKate Atherley is an internationally known knitting author, teacher, and editor. She has written ten books about various aspects of knitting, including a series of four about customizing projects for perfect fit and style. The combination of her university degree in mathematics, professional experience in software development and usability, and training in garment and fashion design give her a unique perspective. She lives in Toronto with her husband and their rescue dog Winnie.
Learn more about Kate at her website www.kateatherley.com and instagram @kateatherleyknits
Ana CamposAna Campos was born in São Paulo, Brazil, and now makes her home in the Witch City (Salem, Massachusetts). She is a founding member of Vogue Knitting’s Diversity Advisory Council and is committed to increasing equity and access in the fiber world.
Ana brings more than 20 years of knitting experience to her yarn shop, Circle of Stitches, and to her workshops, which she teaches across the U.S. As a teacher, her focus is on the technical aspects of knitting, and she strives to empower her students to create pieces they love.
Shana CohenShana Cohen is an architect with experience teaching technical and design studio courses in several higher education venues. She brings her experience of geometry and writing design syllabi to her pattern writing, and her love of connecting with people to her teaching opportunities.
Shana’s size-inclusive patterns are mostly modular designs and mostly garter stitch. In her patterns, Shana strives to write legible directions that allow the knitter to customize their own work. Attention is paid to maximizing yardage as well as the adaptability of styling in her designs.
While teaching, Shana loves connecting with each student and fostering the creative expression in every knitter. It is her hope that all have fun playing with color and style when working her patterns and taking her classes.
Learn more about Shana and her work at www.shanalines.com and on instagram @shanalines_designs.
Kyle KunneckeKyle Kunnecke has a not-so-secret passion for colorwork. Through his fiber workshops he provides inspiration to his students, exploring the skills necessary to continue their personal knitting journeys.
His patterns are published in books and magazines, by yarn companies, and under his label, Kyle William. His book, Urban Knit Collection: 18 City-Inspired Knitting Patterns for the Modern Wardrobe showcases projects that utilize some of the techniques he loves to share.
Learn more about Kyle and his work: www.kylewilliam.com.
Mary W. MartinMary W. Martin is a knitwear designer based in Toronto, Canada, creating innovative fabrics. She has pioneered two reversible techniques: Fission Knitting and FusionKnitting and is developing Woven Knitting.
She draws on her engineering background as she “builds” her fabric. Her computer experience was applied to creating flexible knitting notation to describe her unique use of cables. When Mary designs, it feels surprisingly like her work building financial structures on Wall Street.
Mary started designing when she was knitting chemo caps for a friend with breast cancer. She wanted to make a reversible hat for her friend but was unable to. This sparked her curiosity about whether it was possible to place cabled motifs on both sides of the fabric. Her designs reflect what she has learned about creating reversible fabrics.
Follow Mary on Instagram @marywmartinknits and her website www.marywmartinknits.com.
Bill MateyBill learned to knit from his mother, an avid knitter, at age 6 and has been knitting and designing ever since. Bill took part in organizing the first Yarnover and taught at the second and third Yarnovers. He would have taught more but his job at the time prevented it. Now semi-retired, he has time to pursue his passion for teaching.
A few highlights from his long obsession with knitting include: many Minnesota State Fair blue ribbons, teaching for the Knitter’s Guild of America, including a seminar at Yale, frequent contributor to Cast On magazine, serving on the evaluation committee for the Master Kitters Program, and teaching knitting and sweater design for a number of yarn shops and organizations.
His goal with every class is to inspire students to take what they have learned and use their new skills to create their own masterpieces. The Stash Buster class is his favorite class to teach because the possibilities for students are endless.
Xandy PetersXandy Peters is a knitting designer and teacher, best known as the innovator of the stacked stitch technique and for the Fox Paws pattern. Starting out as a footwear and product designer, he turned to knitting as a way to explore textiles and surfaces without using factory production and has since made a career out of publishing new patterns and teaching workshops. Xandy has been published in magazines such as Vogue Knitting, Twist Collective, Knitscene, Knitty, and Pom Pom Quarterly, has a Craftsy class teaching the stacked stitch technique and continues to self publish patterns on a regular basis.
Learn more about Xandy’s work at: www.xandypeters.com and on Instagram @xandypeters
Alasdair Post-QuinnAlasdair Post-Quinn, author of “Extreme Double-knitting,” “Double or Nothing,” and a handful of standalone patterns, has been working to push the boundaries of double-knitting since 2003. He lives in Cambridge, MA; aside from his self-published books and patterns, he frequently teaches workshops for all levels of double-knitting experience.
For more information about Alasdair and his work, please visit double-knitting.com.
Lesley Anne RobinsonLesley Anne Robinson is the knitting pattern designer behind Knit Graffiti Designs. She loves to create knitting patterns that focus on modern style with a flair for something different.
After graduating from the College for Creative Studies (located in Detroit, Michigan) with a degree in Interior Design and a minor in Fiber Design in 2006, she moved to New York City, where she spent several years there working as a commercial Interior Designer in Manhattan. She started knitting in college, but in 2015 began self-publishing knitting patterns.
Brioche knitting is her main passion. She fell in love with the technique and hasn’t gotten sick of it yet. Lesley loves to teach others how to knit those beautiful brioche stitches, and spends her days swatching out new brioche stitch patterns. Lesley is currently living in South Texas with her husband and two boys, designing in her small home studio, where she also films her online classes.
You can find Lesley on Ravelry and Instagram as @knitgraffiti, as well as her website, www.knitgraffiti.com.
Lisa ToppinLisa Toppin became a self taught knitter in 2008. As the first knitter in a crochet family, she was considered a bit of a knit sheep. She has been clicking along happily for more than a decade. Now, she shares what she has learned in her fiber journey as a teacher, YouTuber, and blogger.
Website: http://www.lisagtoppin.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThreeofSkeins
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/threeofskeins/
Harry WellsTeaching and knitting are passions for Harry. In 2010, he retired from being a university professor to pursue his passion for knitting professionally, teaching a myriad of classes at knitting conferences and fiber festivals on the regional and national circuit. His extensive experience in classroom presentation and course preparation makes for an organized and engaging learning experience.
He enjoys designing knitwear and accessories for both men and women, with an aesthetic that emphasizes texture and linear flow. Check out his designs and knitting blog at www.goodforaboy.com. He is Knitteryninja on Ravelry, @harrywellsknits on Instagram, and Good for a Boy Knitting on Facebook.
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.
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
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.
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)
