Category: Meeting Minutes

Meeting Minutes

December 2024 Minutes

Salem Millstream Knitting Guild

This Month

Birthdays

Happy December Birthday to:

  • Kitty Crawford
  • Su Fennern
  • Patti Locicera
  • Heather Sly-Haley

If we missed your birthday or have you in the wrong month, please let us know!

December Meeting Highlights

Guild Business: Sue Culbertson volunteered, and we voted to elect her as Treasurer. We still don’t have a Secretary yet.

Program: Tips and Tricks

Members shared many tips, tricks, and tools they use to make knitting projects easier and more fun.

Upcoming Events

January 2025 Meeting

The presentation for our January meeting will be Leann Bleakney from Silver Falls Fiber Company.  Leann is a one-person shop, dyeing yarn and fiber for spinners and other hand crafts. Leann is an avid knitter and spinner, and she tries not to go a day without doing both!

As we are starting a new year, it is time to pay the annual dues of $30.00 for 2025. Visitors may attend two meetings before joining. There will be time set aside for our new Treasurer, Sue Culbertson, to collect the dues. We use this money to rent our room monthly, cover correspondence, purchase business cards, printing, mileage for presenters, or for a speaker. You can bring cash or a check made out to Salem Millstream Knitting Guild, or you can mail the dues to P.O. Box 3444, Salem, OR 97302. Please fill out a form for either renewal or application for membership to accompany your payment.

Other Events

Meeting Minutes

November 2024 Minutes

Salem Millstream Knitting Guild

Newsletter PDF version

This Month

Birthdays

knitted chocolate cake with partially knitted scarf and ball of yarn on top any buttons, thread, and other stitching notions scattered around

Happy December Birthday to:

  • Kitty Crawford
  • Su Fennern
  • Patti Locicera
  • Heather Sly-Haley

If we missed your birthday or have you in the wrong month, please let us know!

November Meeting Highlights

Program – Emotional Support Chickens

It was all about ESC (Emotional Support Chickens). Knitters brought chickens of all sizes they had knit for this knitting craze. Many had given their chickens as gifts but had taken photos of them. So, we had a PowerPoint presentation to learn all about our brood. It was an entertaining program.

Collage of four sets of Emotional Support Chickens in various groupings

Guild Business: We had no volunteers to become Secretary or Treasurer next year, so we didn’t have an election.

Show & Tell

  • Kathy Goebel shared a Gramps cardigan and a cable hat in Lion Brand Wool Ease yarn
  • Sue Culbertson shared a Garden cardigan in a light sage green with yarn she got from a yarn shop in McMinnville
  • Sandy Galbraith shared a knitted lace Denim Tee top
  • Mary Joos shared a cardigan sweater and the book she got the pattern from the book Ziggurats

Upcoming Events

December 2024 Meeting

This month, on December 14, please bring some knitting tips that you have found useful. We all have little things that help us. Be prepared to share a few words about a tip that helps you.

I always use the saying, “King Philips Purple Knickers.” (You will have to come to the Guild meeting to find out what it means.)

Or, do you have websites that you like? What is your favorite feature of Ravelry? I am always looking up stuff. Anything you could pass on to help other people.

It is time to pay dues for the 2025 year. Due to regulations by the State of Oregon, we don’t deposit the money until January, but you can bring your check or cash ($30) anytime. We use this money to rent our room monthly, cover correspondence, purchase business cards, printing, and mileage for presenters, or for a speaker. Please send dues to P.O. Box 3444, Salem, OR 97302. Forms for both renewal and application for membership are included in this newsletter for your convenience.

Other Events

Meeting Minutes

October 2024 Minutes

Salem Millstream Knitting Guild

Newsletter PDF version

This Month

Birthdays

Happy October Birthday to:

  • Joyce Arthur
  • Janet Bubl
  • Nelda Gill
  • Diane Williams

If we missed your birthday or have you in the wrong month, please let us know!

October Meeting Highlights

Program – Test Knitting

This is just one example of the many exquisite knits shown at our October meeting on “Being a Test Knitter.” This was knit by Su Fennern. Her partner presenter, JoEllen Kay, brought a whole suitcase full of fabulous knits. Both women have been “test knitting” patterns for many years for various designers from around the globe.

Also, it was reported that our Guild has donated 256 hand-knit hats to children kindergarten through high school so far this year! Well done, and keep up your amazing knitting. Thanks to Margaret and Sue for bringing us this project for the Assistance League.

Show & Tell

  • A lot of samples of test-knitted items
  • Cindy Barrick knitted another Tin Can Knits hat, the Antler Toque out of Cascade 220 Superwash.
  • Robin Roukis showed a cowl she knitted using camel and silk yarn that she spun!
  • Marcia Smith showed a car trash can that fits into your car’s cup holder and can hold two small balls of yarn, each one coming out from a different side.
  • Patty Scrubbs showed a yarn ball holder that fits over your wrist so you can stroll, dance, etc. and keep knitting.
Antler Toque by Tin Can Knits

Upcoming Events

November 2024 Meeting

In addition to electing a secretary and treasurer for 2025–2026, we will see photos and share stories of knitting “Emotional Support Chickens.” If you have photos of knitted chickens you have given away, send them ASAP to this email. If you have others living in your home, bring them to show. As always, bring other recently finished items to share for Show and Tell.

Other Events

Meeting Minutes

September 2024 Minutes

Salem Millstream Knitting Guild

Newsletter PDF version

This Month

Birthdays

September birthdays

Happy September Birthday to:

  • Teresa Furnish
  • Judy Ozalan
  • Debbie Paxson
  • Marcia Smith

Happy October Birthday to:

  • Joyce Arthur
  • Janet Bubl
  • Nelda Gill
  • Diane Williams

If we missed your birthday or have you in the wrong month, please let us know!

September Meeting Highlights

Judith presented the story of how a tiny yarn shop was saved—bought by a group of 20 women, mostly retired, who turned it into a thriving destination yarn shop.

photo of Lofty Lou's Yarn Shop
Lofty Lou’s Yarn Shop

Show & Tell

  • Cindy Barrick knitted another basic hat with the Chevron Seeds pattern in green Cascade 220.
  • Sara Amend and Diane Williams knitted Emotional Support Chickens for the 2024 State Fair.
  • Carol Jones knitted a Nebula sweater in a lovely dark blue alpaca/silk.
  • Sandy Galbraith knitted a Carolyn’s Choice sock out of Cast On Magazine in Kitty’s light teal green sock yarn
  • Sandy Galbraith and Marsha Graciosa won Blue Ribbons (!) from the State Fair for their lacy scarf (Sandy) and Mitered Square Blanket (Marsha)

Chemeketa Community College hosted a Wellness Fair for their employees on September 17. Su Fennern and Joyce Arthur spent the morning handing out 300 little gift bags of goodies and info about the health benefits of knitting as well as promoting our Knitting Guild.

Upcoming Events

October 2024 Meeting

What is a test knitter? Typically, test knitters are just knitters who love to knit! Most of the time they’ve not taken a class on how to test knit, nor do they have a textbook that tells them what to look for when test knitting a pattern.

Test knitting can also help you learn new techniques, push your knitting boundaries, and get you to complete a project within a specific time frame.

Come learn how JoEllen and Su started their test knitting ventures. Have you heard about sample knitting for trunk shows, yarn companies, or designers? Bring your questions! Others who may be “closet” test knitters are welcome to join in!

Positions Available

The Guild has annual elections of Board members every November. This year there are two positions available for two year terms: Treasurer and Secretary. The Board also appoints a Program Coordinator. Thank you, Marcia for bringing us so many fun and interesting programs these past two years. If you have questions or interest in any of these positions, please contact the President, Joyce Arthur.

Other Events

Events, Meeting Minutes, News

August 2024 Minutes

Salem Millstream Knitting Guild

Newsletter PDF version

This Month

Birthdays

Happy August Birthday to:

  • Debbi Juul
  • Joellen Kay
  • Carol Kleckner
  • Marjory Lange
  • Marian Thomas
  • Joan Welsh
five colorfully decorated cupcakes in a row, with the letters of Happy Birthday spelled out in lit candles, two or three candles poked into each cupcake

Happy September Birthday to:

  • Teresa Furnish
  • Judy Ozalan
  • Debbie Paxson
  • Marcia Smith

August Meeting Highlights

As is our tradition, we held our August meeting at Silver Falls State Park. And as usual, it was a beautiful sunny day, where we dined at the café and then knit outside in the shade of the majestic trees. Next year we will coordinate carpooling to encourage more members to attend.

photo of Silver Falls fir trees, looking across the yard from the café towards the lodge cabins.
Person walking included for scale

Fun at the Fair!

Our Knitting Guild was very involved in the Oregon State Fair again this year, with members setting up the displays of knitting, crocheted, felted, sewn, and stitched creations. We also had a demonstration table where many of us took turns knitting, greeting visitors, and answering questions. Our table drew many people because of the “emotional support chickens” knit by a couple of members. Our Guild President, Joyce Arthur, was the coordinator of this entire part of the fair. Great job, Joyce! The last day is Labor Day, so you still have time to come by to relish the talents and treasures of Oregon.

photo of a display table at the Oregon State Fair with seven Emotional Support Chickens in various colors, facing in different directions

The “emotional support chickens” drew visitors to our table.
photo of a display case at the Oregon State Fair with many hats in various colors, arranged in various groupings on three shelves

Another attractive display case highlighted our service project of hats sponsored by the local Assistance League.
photo of Marcia's mitre-square multi-colored blanket hanging in a display case with a blue ribbon pinned and hanging in front of it

Marcia Graciosa won a blue ribbon for her hand-knit blanket!
2024 logo of the Oregon State Fair

Upcoming Events

September 2024 Meeting

We are back at our usual place at the Willamette Heritage Center from 10 AM to noon. Our program is the story of how a tiny yarn shop was saved—bought by a group of 20 women, mostly retired, who turned it into a thriving destination yarn shop. (I know, because I was one of those women! — Judith Bither, Secretary) A PowerPoint with photos will highlight this story.

We also have Show and Tell time to let everyone see what you have been working on. For more information, contact us at SalemKnitters@outlook.com.

Other Events

Events, Meeting Minutes, News

July 2024 Minutes

Salem Millstream Knitting Guild

Newsletter PDF version

This Month

Birthdays

Happy July Birthday to:

  • Debbie Juul
  • Joellen Kay
  • Carol Kleckner
  • Marjory Lange
  • Marian Thomas
  • Joan Welsh

Happy August Birthday to:

  • Sandy Galbraith
  • Kathleen Holt
  • Larin Lightner
  • Tia Purdy
  • Genevieve Ticknor
  • Tricia Yates

July Meeting Highlights

Our July meeting was a lot of fun as we celebrated “Christmas in July.” Members were very generous with the yarn and yarn-related “gifts” donated. The following thank you was submitted following the meeting:

At our July Meeting, Sue Culbertson and Margaret Fizer (aka The Hat Ladies) received 83 hats for the SMKG Service Project–Operation School Bell Hats for Head Start to 3rd Grade. This is in addition to the 80 we currently have.

The Hat Ladies are so grateful to our members for their kind hearts and beautiful knitting.Each hat is unique and our School Children will love them.

Keep on knitting! – Margaret Fizer and Sue Culbertson

five photos of many many hats in various colors and styles, arranged in a circle around a big red bow
So many hats!

Also submitted for the newsletter was the following, sent by Su Fennern, Events Coordinator:

Another wonderful fiber event, Black Sheep Gathering, was held in Albany, OR, at the Conference Center June 28-30, 2024. Members from our Guild spent time talking with visitors from just right around here to ones as far away as Germany. Yes, the lady from Germany came just for the Gathering.

There was no doubt that the show stopper for our table was the Emotional Support Chicken. Thanks to Heather and Marsha, who shared their beloved chickens. Almost all the times when someone would pick up the chicken, they would stick it under their arm. We did have one young lady ask if she could touch the chicken and then she took it, put it under arm, and off she went. Mom was right on her tail and directed her to return it to the table and say thank you.

Our goal for attending these local fiber festivals is to share about our Guild and to get more members. We won’t know right away if we gain new members from our presence for at least 2 to 3 months or longer.

Thanks to the following members that spent time sharing information about our Guild: Joyce Arthur, Su Fennern, Sandy Galbraith, Kathy Goebel, Marsha Graciosa, JoEllen Kay, Ellen Nordal, Debbie Paxson, Heather Sly-Haley, and Marian Thomas.

The Magic at the Mill yearly event has a change in the dates. For 2024, Magic will happen Friday, November 29 – Monday, December 2 (not as close to Christmas as it has been in the past). The Guild will have an informational table at this event. More to come on this.

closeup photo of a sheep's face and neck with a white fleece, with other out-of-focus sheep in front and behind

U.S. Olympians Wear Oregon Wool

photos of U.S. Olympic team uniforms 2024: top photo: five teammates in navy blue; bottom photo: five teammates tin white with "USA" across the middle

If you’ve been glued to your TV the past week like the rest of us, you can be proud to know those snazzy Summer Olympics ceremony outfits worn by the U.S. athletes were crafted by designer Ralph Lauren from wool sourced from Oregon sheep!

As has been the case for the previous three Winter Olympics and Paralympics, the wool comes from Imperial Stock Ranch and Shaniko Wool Company, based in Maupin. It all started in 2012, when Ralph Lauren reached out to ranch leader Jeanne Carver after he’d caught flak for producing U.S. Olympic Team ceremony outfits overseas. The ensuing partnership enabled her to launch Shaniko, a farm group that markets and sells sustainable wool. Carver was herself an athlete at Oregon State University in the 1970s, competing in volleyball and track.

Upcoming Events

August 2024 Meeting

We are having our annual gathering at Silver Falls State Park. If you didn’t get your reservation in, no problem—come anyway and order off the menu.

Our short business meeting will be at 11:30. Check your email for the flyer with all the details.

— Judith Bither, Secretary

Other Events

Events, Meeting Minutes, News

June 2024 Minutes

Salem Millstream Knitting Guild

Newsletter PDF version

This Month

Birthdays

Happy June Birthday to:

  • Nancy Campion
  • Carol Jones
  • Sue Tyvoll

Happy July Birthday to:

  • Debbie Juul
  • Joellen Kay
  • Carol Kleckner
  • Marjory Lange
  • Marian Thomas
  • Joan Welsh

June Meeting Highlights: A Visit to Goat Knoll Farm

On a sunny June 8, fifteen of us gathered at the Goat Knoll Farm in Dallas, Oregon, to meet the couple running the farm. Linda and Bob invited us right into their home, where they shared the history of their 50-acre farm and answered our questions. Linda had some of her yarn for sale in both kits and skeins. Some were 100% cashmere and others 50/50 cashmere and Shetland blends. All the fiber is raised right there.

We took a stroll down to the barn to view the animals, where we met about 30 goats (including an adorable and friendly 4-month-old named Snowball), numerous sheep, one llama, one extremely friendly barn cat, and two very large guard dogs. Over 100 pounds each, the dogs live outside 365 days a year to guard the flocks. There are also pigs living at the farm.

It was a very enjoyable outing. If you would like to view their luscious products, they will be at the Black Sheep Gathering June 28-30 at the Linn County Fairgrounds.

two photos of goats, one llama, and sheep in barns at the Goat Knoll Farm

Upcoming Events

July 2024 Meeting

It’s Christmas in July! If you have any patterns, knitting books, needles, notions or yarn to pass along, please bring them. This is a time to share some of your treasures that you no longer need or can use. The only catch is, if no one claims it, you take it home.

Speaking of sharing, the other part of our gathering is for each person to share a knitted item, tool, pattern, technique, etc. with the group. Have you learned a new way to cast off or cast on? Have you discovered a tip or trick for a difficult task? Any new “must have” tools, such as a knitting light, new needles, a luscious new yarn? It would be great if everyone would bring something to share with the group!

Other Events

Events, Meeting Minutes, News

May 2024 Minutes

Salem Millstream Knitting Guild

Newsletter PDF version

This Month

Birthdays

Happy May Birthday to:

  • Cindy Barrick
  • Kathy Goebel

Happy June Birthday to:

  • Nancy Campion
  • Carol Jones
  • Sue Tyvoll

May Meeting Highlights

We started with a summary of Sheep to Shawl from Su Fennern. Members from our Guild put on their raincoats, pulled on their waterproof shoes, and welcomed visitors to the 38th Annual Sheep to Shawl event at the Willamette Heritage Center on Saturday, May 4, 2024. The annual event drew hundreds of people who watched the live sheep shearing, duck races down the Mill Stream, tasted Dutch oven cooking, watched blacksmithing, saw many different fiber artistic demonstrations, plus the making of an item from getting the fleece from the sheep prepared and cleaned, spinning the fiber into yarn, and weaving the resulting item—thus the name Sheep to Shawl.

There was a display about this year’s Guild Service Project—hats for 3rd graders for the Operation School Bell through the Salem-Keizer Assistance League.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the following Guild members:
Joyce Arthur, Cindy Barrick, Judith Bither, Janet Bubl, Kathy Goebel, Marsha Graciosa, Debbie Juul, Cheryl Kleckner, Debbie Paxon, and Diane Williams.

These ladies shared items that they had made, shared information about the Guild, and answered all kinds of questions.

Chicken Program

Heather Sly-Haley presented a fun and interesting program introducing knitted emotional support animals. She showed us two she had knit: a chicken and a seagull.

Before the pandemic, chickens were not allowed to be emotional support animals, as they were considered to be livestock. As backyard flocks have increased, so has the attachment to chickens. They have now been approved as an official emotional support animal. These fiber versions are a lot easier and less messy to care for!

These were knit flat and then stuffed and sewn together. Some put weights in them; others add fragrance. Using rice as the stuffing allows them to be warmed in a microwave. There are even kits available for knitting your very own pet!

Patterns are available on Ravelry and come in a variety of styles.

photo of one Biscotte Brioche sock in red (main color, solid heel and toe, with variegated black/brown/white/grey in between the brioche ribs)

Show & Tell

We looked at Cheryl Kleckner’s Biscotte Brioche Socks that she knitted for her husband from Premier (no wool) sock yarn.

Upcoming Events

June 2024 Meeting

We are taking a field trip to Goat Knoll Farm in Dallas, Oregon.

If you would like to carpool, meet at the Mill. We’ll leave there at 10 AM.

Bring a lunch to picnic. We’ll feed the animals (goats, sheep, and alpacas), and yarn will be available to purchase. Check out their website to learn more about this lovely place.

Other Events

Events, Meeting Minutes, News

April 2024 Minutes

Salem Millstream Knitting Guild

Newsletter PDF version

This Month

Birthdays

Happy April Birthday to:

  • Judith Bither

Happy May Birthday to:

  • Cindy Barrick
  • Kathy Goebel

April Meeting Highlights

We had a great time exploring the Coral Reef that will remain on display until June 22. We were all “wowed” by the colorful beauty of the underwater display created entirely with fiber that was knitted, crocheted, or felted.

photo collage of images from the knitted and crocheted coral reef installation at the Willamette Heritage Center

Part of the group also enjoyed the short film on the history of the Mill. You can support this historical treasure in our community by being a member of the Willamette Heritage Center for $40 a year. That gives you free entrance to all activities and a discount in the gift shop.

Show & Tell

Heather Sly-Haley did a great job showing each item and asking the creator for comments on the pattern and yarn.

photo of Wanderlust Lace Shawl in pink yarn
photo of Leaf Kimono Top in gray yarn
photo of Terrace Wrap in gray fingering weight yarn
photo of Forget Me Knot sock and cover of Charming Colorwork Socks book
photo of Horse Banner Fingerless Mitts

Upcoming Events

May 2024 Meeting

Our May 11 meeting will feature our very own Heather Sly-Haley. She’s going to introduce us to current trends in the knitting world. For instance, did you know you can knit an emotional support chicken for yourself or a special someone? Plus, answers to questions you never know you had!

Other Events

Events, Meeting Minutes, News

March 2024 Minutes

Salem Millstream Knitting Guild

Newsletter PDF version

This Month

Birthdays

Happy March Birthday to:

  • Lynda Hoodward
  • Ginny Mahoney

Happy April Birthday to:

  • Judith Bither

March Meeting Highlights

Program: Nålbinding

Our guest was Paco Hadley, who shared a PowerPoint on the ancient fiber art of nålbinding. In addition to his presentation, he showed us many of the pieces he has designed and created as he’s practiced the craft.

Nålbinding (depending on the source, it’s Danishor Norwegian for “binding with a needle”or “needle-binding”) is even older than knitting or crochet, but the finished fabric can resemble that made using these methods of working yarn. Examples of nålbinding from many thousands of years ago have been unearthed in Scandinavia, Egypt, South America, and in Viking settlements in Europe, yet the craft is still in use in many countries today.

The technique uses lengths of yarn (rather than a continuous strand) and a single needle. This “nål,” which is several inches long with a hole near one end, is often broad and flat and historically made from bone or wood. It is threaded with the yarn and passed through loops in a specific sequence, forming a an elastic fabric that can be crafted into textiles and items of clothing. There are hundreds of nålbinding stitches available.

Show & Tell

Show and Tell projects: maroon watchcap with folded ribbing and cables, a mulberry cowl and beret, and a dark blue shawl with small yellow flowers
  • Judy Ozalan showed her finished October Hat by Kelbourne Woolens in Cestari Traditional targhee/columbia
  • Sandy Galbraith showed her finished Salunga Beret by Heather Zoppetti and Altitude Cowl by Jenjoyce Design (Ravelry links)
  • Kitty Crawford showed a blue crescent shawl with yellow flowers, in which she used Dawn Baker’s Float pattern for the flowers (Ravelry link), in yarn from A Chick That Knitz.

Upcoming Events

In partnership with Coral Knit Fiber Arts, the Willamette Heritage Center is headed under the sea with a walk-through, “underwater” PNW Coral Reef Project textile exhibit. Community-made crocheted and knitted creations feature healthy and bleached corals and marine animals. The display, on exhibit through June 22, showcases the beauty and diversity of the undersea world while engaging in a conversation about the health and importance of the world’s coral reefs. Back on the surface, explore artifacts and stories documenting the long history of connection between Mid-Willamette Valley residents and businesses and the sea.

April 2024 Meeting

The program for our April 13 meeting will include half of us viewing the Coral Reef Project while the other half watches a movie on the rich and diverse history of the Willamette Heritage Center. Several of our Guild members knitted parts of the Coral Reef.

Other Events

  • April 5, 2024 Spring Gala – Willamette Heritage Center at the Mill
  • May 4, 2024 Sheep to Shawl – Willamette Heritage Center at the Mill