If we missed your birthday or have you in the wrong month, please let us know!
May Meeting Minutes
A group went to Ewethful Fiber Farm and Mill in Halsey, while the rest of the group met at the Willamette Heritage Center and enjoyed some knitting and good conversation.
Judith shared her Ripples Make Waves hat by Casapinka. It’s a beautiful hat, and the pattern is free, but she encourages everyone to donate the price of a pattern to a charity doing work in Ukraine. Charity suggestions are included in the pattern.
Aran Learn Along
The Aran Learn Along continues. Su Fennern is leading the Salem Millstream Knitting Guild (SMKG) in a year-long Learn Along of Aran knitting stitches, in the form of a sampler scarf. Each month, we get a new stitch. May was the Irish Moss Stitch, and June is the middle neck ribbing section. More information and all the monthly patterns are on the Guild’s Learn Along page.
Upcoming Events
June Meeting
Join us at the Willamette Heritage Center on June 11 from 10 a.m. to noon on the first floor of the Mill building.
This month, we’ll learn techniques to help make things for the Coral Reef Project. Marsha Graciosa will share with us how to knit little things. She has made many little gnomes and animals and will share with us her secrets to connect arms and legs to bodies.
Kathy Goebel will show how to knit corkscrews (wiggly worms). They are often used as decorations on top of hats. She will also show us how to make a knit rose that can be used for a flower on a hat. The knit rose just so happens to look like it could come from under the sea.
Please bring things to show that you have made for the Coral Reef Project. Also, if you have found a great different pattern for something let us know. Also bring some yarn and needles, so you can try out some of these things.
This is a call out that the Black Sheep Gathering Workshops Committee is seeking volunteers for this year’s festival, which will be held June 24-26, 2022 at the Linn County Fairgrounds and Expo Center in Albany, Oregon.
Please spread the word to your local fiber groups and ask anyone who is interested to contact Joyce Arthur at blacksheepworkshops@gmail.com.
Here are the days and times volunteers are needed:
Set up day – Thursday, June 23
10 AM – 2 PM
2 PM – 6 PM
Friday, June 24
7:45 AM – 10 AM
10 AM – 12 PM
12 PM – 2 PM
2 PM – 4 PM
Saturday, June 25
7:45 AM – 10 AM
10 AM – 12 PM
12 PM – 2 PM
2 PM – 4 PM
Shifts are approximately 2 hours; the most critical time slots are the first morning shift and mid-day when students are checking in for their classes.
As you know, Black Sheep Gathering is entirely run by volunteers— so it’s especially important to have plenty of help — and it’s easier and more fun the more people we have. We so appreciate you!
I hope you will join us at Black Sheep Gathering this year, and please consider volunteering if you can. Thank you so much!
For 2022, Su Fennern is leading the Salem Millstream Knitting Guild (SMKG) in a year-long Learn Along of Aran knitting stitches, in the form of a sampler scarf. Each month we get a new stitch, and April was the 4 Stitch Cable. In January, information was shared on “How To Work Cables.” More information and the monthly patterns are on the Guild’s Learn Along page.
Upcoming Events
May 14 Field Trip!
May’s program is a field trip to Ewethful Fiber Farm and Mill in Halsey, Oregon. May’s Aran Learn Along Pattern Stitch 5 will be provided in advance, so you can get started on the Irish Moss Stitch when you’re ready. Cindy Barrick has provided research on this stitch that will be included with the pattern instructions. Cindy will be visiting Ewethful Fiber Farm and Mill where she can share other information she might have gained.
For members who will not be going on the field trip, come join us at the Willamette Heritage Center in our normal room, regular meeting time 10:00 a.m. to noon where we will work on the Aran Learn Along Stitch Pattern 5 Irish Moss, or previous stitch patterns, or whatever you might be working on. It’s time to knit and chat.
You can visit the Guild’s website if you have missed a meeting or you are a new member to access all the monthly patterns for the Aran Learn Along.
June Meeting
We’ll be meeting on June 11 from 10 a.m. to noon on the first floor of the Mill building at Willamette Heritage Center. Hope you can join us!
We have no April birthdays listed on our roster! If we missed your birthday or have you in the wrong month, please let us know!
March Meeting Minutes
Hooker’s Corner
We had a presentation from Catherine, owner of Hooker’s Corner in West Linn. She shared how she started dyeing yarn, her flight from the Paradise fire in California, and moving to Oregon. Of course, she brought lots of beautiful yarn for us to purchase. If you missed it, check out her store.
Aran Learn Along
We began our next section of the Learn Along with pattern #3, Blackberry. We heard the history of the stitch from Sandy and got started on it.
In case you missed it, we have a Learn Along page on the website with all the information you need to get started.
Support for Ukrainian Designers
You’re undoubtedly aware of the current situation in Ukraine. If you’d like to support a designer living in Ukraine, Ravelry’s filter function allows you to view and purchase patterns by designer country. There are sweaters, hats, socks, mitts, toys and much more in the more than 3,000 patterns in the list.
If you’d like to see other ways you can help Ukrainians – and others in crisis – you can visit the Red Cross website. If you’re considering donating to a charity, please take a moment to read this AARP article on how to make sure a charity is legitimate. It includes a handy list of Do’s and Don’ts to help spot a scam and make sure that the gifts you provide fulfill your good intentions.
Upcoming Events
April Meeting
Coral Reef Project
We’ll be meeting from 10 to noon Saturday, April 9. We’re pleased to have Christine Wertheim from the Coral Reef Project. We’ll be in the Dye House for this month, so there will be room for lots of guests!
Janet Bubl and Su Fennern put together a handy one-pager with a link to project information and links to 15 knit and 15 crochet patterns. We now have a new Community Fiber Coral Reef page on our website with all of this information. Thanks, Janet and Su!
Coral Knit Fiber Arts is creating an installation which will allow people to walk through an underwater fiber art world. They welcome donations of healthy and bleached corals, underwater creatures, and items knitted and crocheted from reclaimed and recycled plastics. The goal is to emphasize the beauty and diversity of the undersea world while educating about climate change and pollution by maritime plastics.
A group meets in Lincoln City at the Lincoln City Cultural Center every second Saturday from 10-4. The deadline is August 1, 2023. They hope to display the reef at a number of locations throughout the Pacific Northwest starting at the Lincoln City Cultural Center in September 2023.
You can visit Coral Knit Fiber Arts and click on The Community Coral Reef Project for more information, patterns, and inspiration. All techniques and skill levels welcome! Tag your projects on social media #pnwcommunitycoralreef.
Aran Learn Along
For 2022, Su Fennern is leading the Salem Millstream Knitting Guild (SMKG) in a year-long Learn Along of Aran knitting stitches, in the form of a sampler scarf. Each month, we get a new stitch, and April is the 4-stitch Cable. In January, a handout was shared on “How to Work Cables.” You can locate this information on the Guild’s Learn Along page if you need a review.
Reminder: the Hatch Stitch borders and the 6 rows of garter stitch before and after each new stitch continue with pattern #4.
With Christina Harness’s presentation of the Coral Reef Fiber Project, April’s pattern is being provided in advance. You are more than welcome to get started on your cables, just print out the April pattern from the Learn Along page. There will be copies available at the April meeting for members without home printers.
May 14 Field Trip!
We’re taking a field trip to Ewethful Mill in Halsey. Bring your own lunch. There is room for us to sit and knit after the tour. Tours cost $10 for members and $15 for guest. Sign-up and payment will be in April.
You also may want to take a side trip to some of the area yarn shops. A quick Google search found these two — if you know of any others nearby, please share:
If we missed your birthday or have you in the wrong month, please let us know!
February Meeting Minutes
Knitting Ergonomics
Ellen Nordal gave a fantastic presentation about knitting ergonomics – how to enjoy our pastime without injury. Her presentation notes are posted. Thank you, Ellen!
Learn Along
We continued working on our Learn Along with pattern #2, Tree of Life. In case you missed it, we have a new Learn Along page on the website with all the information you need to get started.
Guild Business
Members voted to accept changes to the By-laws and Procedures made by the Board. We also distributed and received back signed Hold Harmless Agreements.
Upcoming Events
Community Coral Reef
You’ll see under our upcoming events below that Christine Wertheim from the Community Coral Reef Project will be meeting with us during our April Guild meeting at the Willamette Heritage Center. We’ll be in the Dye House, so there will be room for lots of guests!
Coral Knit Fiber Arts is creating an installation which will allow people to walk through an underwater fiber art world. They welcome donations of healthy and bleached corals, underwater creatures, and items knitted and crocheted from reclaimed and recycled plastics. The goal is to emphasize the beauty and diversity of the undersea world while educating about climate change and pollution by maritime plastics.
A group meets in Lincoln City at the Lincoln City Cultural Center every second Saturday from 10-4. The deadline is August 1, 2023. They hope to display the reef at a number of locations throughout the Pacific Northwest starting at the Lincoln City Cultural Center in September 2023.
You can visit Coral Knit Fiber Arts and click on The Community Coral Reef Project for more information, patterns, and inspiration. All techniques and skill levels welcome! Tag your projects on social media #pnwcommunitycoralreef.
March Meeting
We’ll be meeting from 10 to noon on Saturday, March 12 on the first floor of the Mill building at Willamette Heritage Center. Hope you can join us!
Our presenter this month is Catherine from Hookers Corner in West Linn. Karen Lemmon spotted her yarn at the Farmers Market. Catherine will tell us about her move to Oregon. She started dyeing yarn, and it grew into a business. Catherine will bring some of her yarn for sale and is able to take credit cards.
Aran Learn Along
We’ll be moving on to the next section of the Learn Along: Pattern #3 – Blackberry. Sandy Galbraith has done the research, so we’ll get to hear about the history of the stitch.
If you’re missing any of the hand-outs, they are available on the Learn Along page of the Guild’s website.
Show & Tell
Bring along your projects to share!
April Meeting
We will have Christine Wertheim from the Coral Reef Project. We will be meeting in the Dye House, so there is room for you to bring friends. This presentation will be inspiring for knitters, crocheters, and yarn lovers. The creativity and planning will be interesting to all. Open to all.
The Learn Along stitch for April is Cable, and the history is being researched by Marcia Smith.
May 14 Field Trip!
We’re taking a field trip to Ewethful Mill in Halsey. Bring your own lunch. There is room for us to sit and knit after the tour. Tours cost $10 for members and $15 for guest. Sign up and payment will be in April.
You also may want to take a side trip to some of the area yarn shops. A quick Google search found these two — if you know of any others nearby, please share:
If we missed your birthday or have you in the wrong month, please let us know!
NOTICE: If you have not paid dues for 2022, you will be taken off the mailing list for the next SMKG newsletter. Guests are generally taken off the mailing list 3-4 months after the last meeting attended. We hope you’ll consider staying with us!
January Meeting Minutes
Learn Along
We kicked off the Learn Along in our January meeting. In case you missed it, the following PDF files have all the information you need to get started.
The Board met for a brief time after January’s meeting to discuss potential changes to the By-Laws and Procedures. We also discussed the need for a Hold Harmless agreement. We will be discussing these documents during the February meeting. The next Board meeting has not been scheduled.
Knitting Guild of America
Last month, Nelda Gill mentioned that she had spent some time looking at the web site for The Knitting Guild Association, and we though some of you might be interested, too. Membership is available for individuals, and benefits include access to training classes, a quarterly education journal for knitters called Cast On, and the potential to obtain a variety of knitting-related certifications.
Items for Sale and Request for a Hat Repair/Recreation
Knitting machine and supplies for sale
Hi, My name is David Imel and I was given your Guild’s info in hopes that you could help me. I lost the love of my life to cancer in September and I have just now started going through all her knitting and sewing things, she used to do a lot of knitting, both by machine and by hand and in the last few years just concentrated on her sewing. I am hoping that someone in your group would be interested in buying some of her things, I live in Albany if someone wants to come and check it all out. I have researched a lot of her things on the internet to help with pricing and want you to know I am not trying to make top dollar for her things, I would take a reasonable offer in hopes that it would go to someone who would put it to good use. Here is a list of the things I know I have right now:
Knitking Electroknit KH 965i
Brother Rib Attch. KR850
Stand for the Electroknit
Brother Color Chg. KHC820-A
Knitting Computer KC-III
Knitking KH910
Brother Pro Wool Winder Super Jumbo KA7197
Brother Sewing Machine CS6000i (was her backup machine, only used a couple of times)
I have approx. 71 cones of yarn, some have been used a little, most were imported from the U.K., here’s a list of what’s there:
Bramwell 4 ply acrylic
Yeoman Panama acrylic
Forsell 4 ply Super Wash Wool
Forsell Thistledown Silk (Lambswool/Silk)
Denys Brunton Designer Yarn (cotton/acrylic)
Jagger Bro. Lambswool
Bonnie Triola (cotton)
Collins & Aikman
If anyone is interested please leave a message on machine, I don’t always answer the phone if I don’t know the caller.
(Contact Board member for contact info)
Spinning wheel and drum carder for sale
Good afternoon, I have a spinning wheel in excellent condition and a Fricke drum carder on a stand that I am interested in selling. I don’t spin anymore so I thought I would sell them. I thought you might have an idea of someone who might be looking for a wheel and carder? Thanks for any help you can provide. Sincerely, Cindy Kimball
(Contact Board member for contact info)
Request for a hat repair/recreation
Jeanne Bond-Esser’s dog ate holes in her favorite hat, and she’d like to pay someone to figure out a pattern and knit a replacement – or two! She’s sent some photos and it appears to be a tam style hat in reverse stockinette. She’d be happy to meet with anyone interested so they can work with the damaged hat as a pattern or maybe even repair it. (Contact Board member for contact info)
Upcoming Events
February Meeting
We’ll be meeting on February 12 from 10 a.m. to noon on the first floor of the Mill building at Willamette Heritage Center. Hope you can join us!
Aran Learn Along
We’ll be moving on to the next section of the Learn Along: Pattern #2 – Tree of Life. You’ll need to bring:
Yarn – Aran weight (a light color makes it easier to see the stitches)
Knitting needles, the appropriate size for the yarn – generally a size 6
Cable needle
Contact Su Fennern if you have any questions.
Guild Business
Please review the SMKG Bylaws and SMKG Procedures; we’ll be taking a vote to accept them at the February meeting. You need to be present in order to vote. We also need all attendees of Guild meetings/activities to sign and return the SMKG Hold Harmless form. If you have any questions about any of the documents, please contact one of the Board members.
If you’re interested in the Coral Reef project and a road trip to the coast – read on! A Facebook group called Crocheting & Knitting in Pacific Northwest has plans to meet at the Eugene Textile Center in Eugene on Saturday, February 26 from 10-3. They also meet in Lincoln City at the Lincoln City Cultural Center every second Saturday from 10-4.
Coral Knit Fiber Arts is creating an installation which will allow people to walk through an underwater fiber art world. They welcome donations of healthy and bleached corals, underwater creatures, and items knitted and crocheted from reclaimed and recycled plastics. The goal is to emphasize the beauty and diversity of the undersea world while educating about climate change and pollution by maritime plastics.
The deadline is August 1, 2023. They hope to display the reef at a number of locations throughout the Pacific Northwest, starting at the Lincoln City Cultural Center in September 2023.
The Community Coral Reef Project
You can visit Coral Knit Fiber Arts and click on The Community Coral Reef Project for more information, patterns, and inspiration. All techniques and skill levels welcome! Tag your projects on social media #pnwcommunitycoralreef.
We had 15 members and a guest at our May meeting. It was the highest attended Zoom get-together!
This Month
Birthdays
Happy May Birthday to:
Cindy Barrick
Val Boudreau
Kathy Goebel
Happy June Birthday to:
Sue Tyvoll
Guild Business
The Board voted for the Guild to no longer sponsor an annual retreat. If an individual is willing to sponsor and organize a retreat, we would welcome volunteers.
Speaking of volunteers, we need people to volunteer to be officers in the future. Also, consider other needs you might be able to fill, and let the Board know.
We want to encourage people to get together in small groups outside of the Guild meetings. If you would like us to share about your knitting get-togethers in the newsletter, let us know.
Reminder that Tia Purdy is collecting hats and scarves for a Christmas tree program for the kids at her school. Their colors are black and orange, and their mascot is a fox. Sue Fennern shared an adorable fox scarf and provided a link to the pattern. The tree goes up in November, so you still have time to contribute and make a child cozy and happy. Contact Tia or any of the Board members to deliver your items.
Program – Socks and Heels
Wow! What a fun program Su put together for May. We had seven members share about socks. Thank you to Cindy Barrick, Mary Blossom, Val Boudreau, Sandy Galbraith, Kathy Goebel, Kathi Holt, and Marcia Smith. We enjoyed pictures of socks and different sock heels and how to replace the toes of socks when they wear out.
Some patterns were shared including the Van Dyke pattern from Toe-Up Socks in a Box by Wendy D. Johnson and David’s Toe-up Sock Recipe. I’m sure there were more, but I was so busy looking at the pictures and listening to everyone that I didn’t get them written down! Fortunately, Su captured a whole bunch and included them in the attachment titled, “Sock Resources and Pattern Lists.” She also put together a list of “Sock heels” that lists dozens of heels and some places you can find instructions and tutorials. Not satisfied with a good amount of information, she added two more – “Parts of a Sock” and “Leg Diagram.”
Huge thanks to Su Fennern for putting together the program and following up with so much great sock info!
Su’s Tips and Tricks
As you may have noticed, Su put together a lot of information about socks for the program this month. She topped it all off with a page of fun facts and tips. Open the attachment titled “Sock-Heel Tips” and enjoy.
Member Spotlight: Debbie Juul, Guild Treasurer
Who do you knit for? Myself, family, friends, and some charity knitting.
How long have you been knitting? I learned when I was in elementary school, but once I learned to crochet, I preferred that. I started knitting scarves and easy stuff in my late 40s, then took some classes, and now knitting is my first choice.
Do you have a particular knitting skill (i.e., socks, brioche, lace, etc.)? Not really.
What is your favorite knitting pattern? I have an easy hat pattern I like. It is my go-to if I just want to keep my hands busy but not think too much.
Do you have a favorite designer? No
Is there a finished object that you’re most proud of? I just finished my first top-down sweater, which I had to frog several times for various reasons. I was pretty sure when it was finally done, I would never wear it due to my experience making it. But I persisted, recently wore it, and I like it.
What got you started knitting? My sister taught me.
What are you working on right now? I am crocheting a blanket for a friend of my daughter’s. I have no knitting projects on needles at the moment.
How many works in progress to keep going at a time? Not more than 3.
Do you participate in any other fiber hobbies? Crocheting. I used to do cross stitch and crewel work.
What (else) do you do when you’re not knitting (job, other hobbies, volunteer work, etc.)? I do taxes and accounting work. I like to volunteer at my church and at UGM. Of course, I haven’t been able to do much of that in the last year.
Upcoming Events
June Meeting – In Person! Yes, you read that correctly!
For our June meeting on Saturday, the 12th, we’ll be meeting in person in Su Fennern’s beautiful yard at 6383 Inspiration Lane SE in Salem. Not only do we get to meet in person, but we get to shop, too! Su has arranged for Leann Bleakney of Silver Falls Fiber Company and Tonie Young of Butterfly Fiber & Yarn to bring their lovely yarn. They are both yarn dyers, but they use different methods. We couldn’t find a website for Leann, but you can visit the Butterfly Fiber Etsy shop for a sneak peak of Tonie’s yarn. Su is also planning to set up a swift and ball winder for anyone who needs it. Here a few details for you to be aware of:
The sellers will stay at Su’s from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and you’re welcome to come at any time and stay as long as you would like.
If you want to shop the best selection, you’ll want to come early. As indie dyers, Leann and Tonie’s stock is limited.
Bring money if you plan to shop – checks, credit cards, and cash accepted.
You need to bring your own chair and food and drink.
Consider carpooling with other members to avoid overcrowding the parking spaces.
Bring knitting! 🧶
Although current guidance from Oregon Health Authority allows everyone to meet outdoors without masks, it also strongly recommends that people who are not vaccinated and people who are at high risk of severe COVID-19 disease continue to wear masks and physically distance in outdoor crowded areas and large gatherings. We don’t think we’ll be at all crowded in Su’s lovely yard, but please show respect to anyone who prefers to wear a mask or keep their distance. We’re so excited to meet in person!! Also, if restrictions or guidelines change, we’ll let you know as soon as we know!
July Meeting
Program and location details will be shared at a later date.
Do keep in mind that holding OFFF is still tentative, as the safety of our visitors and vendors is our highest priority. We will ultimately be heeding the guidance of the CDC and the State of Oregon as to whether or not we can hold this event.
We had 14 members and a guest at our April meeting.
Guild Business
Business included a discussion about the Guild Board members and roles that need filled. Please be thinking about ways you can help keep the Guild functioning and let Janet Bubl know if there’s a role you’re interested in filling in the coming years.
Reminder that Tia Purdy is looking for donations of hats and scarves for a Christmas tree project at her school. Please feel free to reach out to Tia or the Board if you have any questions.
Program – Where’s Your Stash?
Our program was facilitated by Marcia Smith and included people sharing about their yarn, pattern, and tool storage. One nice thing about the Zoom format for our meetings is that we got some peeks into some of our fellow members’ yarn rooms. We saw baskets, pretty yarn-filled bookshelves, bins, books, and binders. It was a lot of fun!
Su’s Tips and Tricks
After the meeting, Su shared a document with important tips about organizing and protecting our yarn stashes. We’ve invested time and money in our stashes, and it’s worth the effort to keep all the lovely yarn safe and accessible.
Show and Tell
During show and tell, Cindy Barrick shared a lovely knitted Christmas ball from a pattern she found on a blog – www.arnecarlos.com. If you visit, you’ll need to scroll back a few entries to see the Christmas balls, but there’s plenty more to see, as well.
Upcoming Events
May Meeting – May 8, 10 AM to Noon (see Zoom info below)
We’ll be discussing all sorts of things about socks! Su Fennern sent out questions and is putting together a program that will include Kathy Holt sharing about repairing our precious hand knit socks.
May 11, Newsletter Deadline
If you’d like to share an upcoming event, pattern, or other news with the Guild members, please email Teresa at SalemKnitters@outlook.com. Deadline for newsletter content is the first Tuesday after our monthly meeting. We look forward to hearing from you!
Zoom Info
Join our meetings using your computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Click the link below and follow the instructions. Your device needs to have audio and video capability.
The meeting ID is: 826 2206 6475 (but you shouldn’t need it if joining the meeting this way).
Call into our meetings (audio only)
Dial +1 253 215 8782 (Note: this is a Tacoma number, which is the closest available for Zoom users in Oregon. You could be charged for the call depending on your phone plan.)
You will need both the meeting ID and the Passcode.
The Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival (OFFF) is tentatively scheduled for October 16-17, 2021, at the Linn County Fairgrounds in Albany, Oregon instead of the Clackamas County Event Center. More information is available on their website. A final decision will be made in early July.
Wild Knits Salem will be hosting “Local Yarn Store Day” on Saturday, April 17. Local Yarn Store Day (LYS Day) is a TNNA program designed to drive traffic to local yarn stores. LYS Day has brought thousands of ‘yarnies’ from across the U.S. and Canada to go to their local shops to see the exclusive, unique products created specifically for LYS Day. Think of it as an international Yarn Crawl!
Wild Knits is still limiting the number of people in the shop, so please do a quick headcount before entering.
Salem Millstream Knitting Guild 
You must be logged in to post a comment.