SMKG Blog

This Month

Birthdays

Happy December Birthday to:

• Su Fennern
• Sharon Kaminski
• Patti Locicero

Happy January Birthday to:

• Marcia Graciosa
• Heidi Skeen

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

December Meeting Minutes

• Members were reminded to sign up to knit at Magic at the Mill, December 19-23, 5:30-8:30 PM.
• Membership forms were distributed for 2023. (Membership is $30/year, paid by either cash or check; payments will be deposited in January.)

After greetings and introductions, Janet B introduced our Aran knitted scarf fashion show. After modeling the scarfs where each knitter told the yarn used, group photos were taken. We also passed around the hats knit by Kathy G who creatively used the Aran patterns each month to design a different hat.

All previous monthly patterns and other information can be found on the Guild’s Aran Learn Along web page.

December Show & Tell Patterns

• Ariose Socks by Lisa Schmidt (Ravelry link)
• Arctic Chill hood and double cowl by Grace Rose (Ravelry link)
• Basketweave slippers (Ravelry link)
• One Row Scarf by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
• Santa hat (Ewe Ewe Yarn)
• Simple Cable Shawlette by Lisa Overby (Ravelry link)
• Bosc Pear Shawl by Tetiana Otruta (Ravelry link)
• Terrazzo sweater, top-down (PetiteKnit)
• Christmas Elf mitts (Willow Yarns)

Thanks to Kitty C. who worked up the pattern for the crocheted headband Marcia brought to a recent meeting.

Upcoming Events

2023 Learn Along – Mini Sweaters

The 2023 learn-along will be making tiny sweaters, showcasing various types of sweaters (top down, bottom up, shrug, cardigan). Su agreed to make available patterns for these. Joyce A. will provide a model of the first sweater, and Su will explain the annual project. A sign-up sheet will be circulated for those willing to knit models for the following months.

January Meeting – Chevrons

Our guild member Cindy B. will introduce and demonstrate the Chevron stitch. Please bring self-striping or plain yarn in DK or Worsted weight with needles sized 5-9. Before the meeting, cast on 16 stitches and purl the first row. Cindy will explain the pattern row. If we have time, we’ll try a second pattern, so please bring enough yarn, needles and supplies.

Coral Reef Project

Check out the Coral Reef Project on the Salem Millstream Knitting Guild website, including a selection of patterns – both knit and crochet. You can also visit Coral Knit Fiber Arts and click on “The Community Coral Reef Project” for more information and inspiration.

Other Events

• Stitches Expo at Home (Virtual) January 13-15, 2023
• Red Alder Fiber Arts Retreat February 16-19, 2023
• Rose City Yarn Crawl, February 23-26, 2023

This Month

Birthdays

Happy November Birthday to:

• Sue Munson
• Ellen Nordal

Happy December Birthday to:

• Su Fennern
• Sharon Kaminski
• Patti Locicero

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

November Meeting Minutes

We enjoyed learning about button holes! Copies of the November handouts are linked below. Su Fennern used a YouTube video as “projectionist and teacher” for four different button holes. We also have a list of websites for the kitchen towel patterns.

• Knitting Buttonholes for you Cardigan
• Blocking and How To
• Where to Purchase Blocking Tools
• Buttons Written Instructions – Suzanne Bryan
• Kitchen Towel patterns

Election Results:

President – Sharon Kaminski

Secretary – Judith Bither

Continuing as Treasurer – Debbie Juul

Thank you, ladies, for volunteering!

Dues:

After a discussion about the cost of meeting at Willamette Heritage Center now charging $15 per hour, the group decided to reserve the room for three hours: 9:45 AM – 12:45 PM. This allows for more set-up and time after the meeting, but our meeting hours will remain 10 AM – 12 PM.

Dues will now be $30 per year. Membership forms will be available at December Meeting—people can pay with check or cash. Remember, nothing will be deposited in the Guild account until after January 1, 2023, because of the Department of Justice Report we have to file.

Other Topics

We still need members to sign up for Magic at the Mill, December 19-23, each night from 5:30 – 8:30 PM.

We have a charity to knit hats and scarves for Breast Cancer survivors. Joyce Cook will be the contact point.

November Show & Tell Patterns

• Market Bag by Gretchen Tracy (Ravelry link)
• Headband on hair tie
• Knitting Tours – Northern Ireland – headbands
• Glenties Cowl by Lisa Sisk (Ravelry link)
• Mitt Envy by weezalana (Ravelry link)
• Gnome Ornaments by Taffleberry Lane (YouTube link)
• L’Enveloppe by Sally Melville (Ravelry link)
• Wave Motif by Reynolds Yarns (Ravelry link)
• Sitara Shawl by Stacie Rasmussen (Ravelry link)
• Beacon Shawl by Sarah Lehto (KnitPicks)
• Terrazzo sweater, top-down (PetiteKnit)
• Suzanne Bryan videos (YouTube link)

Upcoming Events

December Meeting – Aran Learn Along and End of Year Show & Tell

The Aran Learn Along has come to an end. Even if you haven’t finished your scarf, please bring it so we can all see your lovely work. For those that have a finished scarf, please wear it and show it off.

Keeping in the spirit of wearing and you have a scarf or shawl that you can’t figure out how to wear it – bring it.  There must be someone from our group that can figure it out. If not, we’ll Google it!!

Even if you know how to wear all your scarves and shawls but you finished one during 2022 that you really like, bring it for showing. Many of you have knitted critters, hats, sweaters, and whatever; let us see your handiwork. And give you some compliments.

All previous monthly Learn Along patterns and other information can be found on the Guild’s Learn Along web page.

Coral Reef Project

Check out the Coral Reef Project on the Salem Millstream Knitting Guild website, including a selection of patterns – both knit and crochet. You can also visit Coral Knit Fiber Arts and click on “The Community Coral Reef Project” for more information and inspiration.

Other Events

• Magic at the Mill December 19-23 at Willamette Heritage Center in Salem, Oregon
• Stitches Expo at Home (Virtual) January 13-14, 2023

This Month

Birthdays

Happy October Birthday to:

• Janet Bubl
• Nelda Gill

Happy November Birthday to:

• Sue Munson
• Ellen Nordal

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

October Meeting Minutes

Debbie Juul showed us how to use a Tunisian crochet hook. We worked on making little pumpkins with this method. It was a lot of fun. Thank you, Debbie!

October Show & Tell Patterns

• Aleï Scarf (Ravelry link)
• Peipponen Shawl (Ravelry link)
• Lacy Hitchhiker Shawl (Ravelry link)
• Tunisian Crochet Shaker Dishcloth
• Vanilla Reversed Socks (Ravelry link)
• Gansey Hat or Gansey Hat (Ravelry links)
• Baby sweater, top-down
• Witch, etc
• So Faded sweater, top-down (Ravelry link)
• Luna Lace Cashmere Scarf Kit – Goat Knoll Farm
• Cabernet Tee – Kis Designs (Ravelry link)

Aran Learn Along

This is the last and the 10th stitch in your Aran sampler scarf. The only thing left after this stitch is binding off. There are several ways to achieve this, and information will be provided for some different bind-offs. Thank you, Nancy Campion, for finding interesting facts about the Ladder Stitch.

All previous monthly patterns and other information can be found on the Guild’s Learn Along web page.

Upcoming Events

November Meeting

The wonderful button hole! Join us at the Willamette Heritage Center on November 12 from 10 a.m. to noon to make and discuss button holes. We will have time for people to try eyelet, three row eyelet, horizontal, and vertical. We will watch a YouTube video that Su Fennern will be using as “projectionist and teacher.”

Please bring a knitted swatch of 2×2 ribbing done over 32 stitches and 8 rows. (Cast-on 32 stitches, then P2, K2 all rows.)  Use worsted weight yarn on size 6 or 7 needles. Bring scissors, yarn needle, etc.

You will have to wait until next year to learn about how to make buttons and choose the right button.

Trivia question to ponder: Why are there buttons on the outer side of a blazer?

VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

November is Board elections. Please come to the meeting and support our candidates.

Coral Reef Project

Check out the Coral Reef Project on the Salem Millstream Knitting Guild website, including a selection of patterns – both knit and crochet. You can also visit Coral Knit Fiber Arts and click on “The Community Coral Reef Project” for more information and inspiration.

Other Events

• Stitches SoCal November 10-13 in Pasadena, California
• Magic at the Mill December 19-23 at Willamette Heritage Center in Salem, Oregon
• Stitches Expo at Home (Virtual) January 13-14, 2023

This Month

Birthdays

Happy July Birthday to:

• Deborah Juul
• Marjory Lange

Happy August Birthday to:

• Sandy Galbraith
• Kathleen Hold
• Tia Purdy

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

July Meeting Minutes

Wanda Jenkins presented about drop spindle spinning. She showed many different types of drop spindles from many different countries and some over 100 years old. She gave everyone an opportunity to try out the Jenkins Turkish spindle. They come in a variety of different sizes and different types of wood.

Ed and Wanda Jenkins make beautiful Turkish spindles and other items, which are available on their website, Yarn Tools.

Aran Learn Along

Su talked about the Diamond stitch as the next stitch in the Learn Along. More information and all the monthly patterns are on the Guild’s Learn Along page.

Some Show & Tell projects shared:

• Liana Shawl
• Shaelyn Shawl
• Hitofude Cardigan
• Mouse by Arne & Carlos
• Sea Cucumber
• Basketweave Baby Blanket
• Bosc Pear Shawl
• Window Cat

Upcoming Events

August Meeting

Join us for a picnic at Silver Falls Park for our August 13 meeting.

At the August meeting, we will be off-site at Smith Creek Village (formally known as Silver Falls Conference Center). Don’t forget to RSVP to Marcia Smith no later than August 11.

Our next Aran Learn Along stitch is the Trinity Stitch. Member Ginny Floyd found some interesting facts about the Trinity Stitch that have been included in the pattern. If you have any questions, please contact Su Fennern or bring them to the picnic. More information and all the monthly patterns are on the Learn Along page of the Guild’s website.

Looking forward to seeing how everyone’s scarf is coming along. There are only three more stitch patterns remaining!

Coral Reef Project

Check out the Coral Reef Project on the Salem Millstream Knitting Guild website, including a selection of patterns – both knit and crochet. You can also visit Coral Knit Fiber Arts and click on the “The Community Coral Reef Project” for more information and inspiration.

Other Local Events

• Trailing of the Sheep Festival October 5-9 in Sun Valley, Idaho
• Bead & Creative Arts Festival October 8-9 in Portland, Oregon
• Oregon Flock & Fiber Festival (OFFF) October 15-16 at the Linn County Expo Center in Albany, Oregon

This Month

Birthdays

Happy June Birthday to:

• Nancy Campion
• Karen Lemmon
• Sue Tyvoll

Happy July Birthday to:

• Deborah Juul
• Marjory Lange

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

June Meeting Minutes

We met at the Willamette Heritage Center and learned techniques to help make things for the Coral Reef Project.

Kathy Goebel showed us how to knit corkscrews (wiggly worms). They are often used as decorations on top of hats. She also showed 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.

Aran Learn Along

Su talked about the middle neck ribbing section of our Learn Along scarves. More information and all the monthly patterns are on the Guild’s Learn Along page.

Upcoming Events

July Meeting

Join us at the Willamette Heritage Center on July 9 from 10 a.m. to noon on the first floor of the Mill building.

At the July meeting, guest presenters Ed and Wanda Jenkins will present drop spindle spinning and talk about different spindle types. They make beautiful Turkish spindles, which are available on their website, Yarn Tools. They will bring some spindles along for people to try.  If you have your own spindle, you may want to bring it so we can see the different styles. We will have time to try spinning and then time to shop the fine wood items the Jenkins bring.

Our Aran Learn Along scarves are half finished, and we will be moving to the stitch after the neck, which is the Diamond Stitch.  Karen Lemmon will present on the Diamond Stitch. More information and all the monthly patterns are on the Learn Along page of the Guild’s website.

We will have updates on our picnic at Silver Falls Park for our August 13 meeting.

Coral Reef Project

Check out the Coral Reef Project on the Salem Millstream Knitting Guild website, including a selection of patterns – both knit and crochet. You can also visit Coral Knit Fiber Arts and click on the “The Community Coral Reef Project” for more information and inspiration.

Other Local Events

• Trailing of the Sheep Festival October 5-9 in Sun Valley, Idaho
• Bead & Creative Arts Festival October 8-9 in Portland, Oregon
• Oregon Flock & Fiber Festival (OFFF) October 15-16 at the Linn County Expo Center in Albany, Oregon

This Month

Birthdays

Happy May Birthday to:

• Cindy Barrick
• Kathleen Goebel

Happy June Birthday to:

• Nancy Campion
• Karen Lemmon
• Sue Tyvoll

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.

Check out the Coral Reef Project on the Salem Millstream Knitting Guild website, including a selection of patterns – both knit and crochet.

Su will also talk about the neck area of our Learn Along scarves. If you need help using doubled pointed needles or magic loop let us know.

Other Local Events

• Black Sheep Gathering June 24-26 at the Linn County Expo Center in Albany, Oregon
• Oregon Flock & Fiber Festival (OFFF) October 15-16 at the Linn County Expo Center in Albany, Oregon