SMKG Blog

Events, Meeting Minutes, News

February 2022 Minutes

Salem Millstream Knitting Guild

This Month

Birthdays

Happy February Birthday to:

  • Joyce Cook
  • Patty Scruggs

Happy March Birthday to:

  • Mary Blossom
  • Lynda Hoodward
  • Ginny Mahoney

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:

The Learn Along stitch for May is Irish Moss, which is being researched by Cindy Barrick.

Events, Meeting Minutes, News

January 2022 Minutes

Salem Millstream Knitting Guild

This Month

Birthdays

Happy Birthday decorations over purple, pink, and green yarn balls and a pair of straight knitting needles

Happy January Birthday to:

  • Marsha Graciosa
  • Kathy Howald
  • Patti Togioka

Happy February Birthday to:

  • Joyce Cook
  • Susan Hawkins
  • Patty Scruggs

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.

If you have questions, please contact Su Fennern.

January Board Meeting

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.

Show & Tell

Bring along your projects to share!

March Meeting

Our March meeting will be at the Willamette Heritage Center (aka Mission Mill) on March 12, 2022 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Community Coral Reef

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.

knitted coral reef parts in multi colors
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.

Events, Meeting Minutes

December 2021 Minutes

Salem Millstream Knitting Guild
Happy New Year 2022
Happy New Year!

This Month

Birthdays

December birthdays

Happy December Birthday to:

  • Pam Dixon
  • Su Fennern
  • Sharon Kaminski
  • Patti Locicero
January birthdays

Happy January Birthday to:

  • Marsha Graciosa
  • Kathy Howald
  • Patti Togioka

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

Salem Millstream Knitting Guild YouTube Channel

When David Altman came in November, he graciously allowed us to record his presentation. The files are too large to email, and it took us a while to figure out the best way to share with everyone across so many devices. We finally settled on YouTube.

Teresa created a YouTube channel for the Guild. You can find it by going to YouTube and searching for Salem Millstream Knitting Guild.

The presentation was split into two files, so you’ll need to watch both to see the whole thing. Here are direct links to the videos:

Enjoy!

December Meeting Minutes

A number of people brought yarn, books, and patterns to our “Knitting Stuff Swap,” and Su brought along an amazing amount of yarn that has been donated to the Guild. We also had a Sock Yarn Ornament “Make and Take” – instructions are available in case you missed it.

Mark Twain School Project

The project resulted in 359 hats, mittens, and scarves given to 284 students. The leftovers were shared with another school. Tia brought some pictures and a lovely card signed by the kids for us to see at the meeting. Because of privacy laws, we can’t share all of that in the newsletter, but here’s a pic of some of the work waiting to be given to the kids. Way to go, Guild!!

mittens hanging on a tree and hats arranged on the floor around the tree, in a school classroom, with a decorated snowman in the background
hats and mittens waiting to be donated

Upcoming Events

January Meeting

Location Adjustment at the Willamette Heritage Center

As some of you may have heard, we found out that our group exceeded the capacity of t​he room we were meeting in, so the Guild could not continue meeting there. Thankfully, Janet and the staff at the Willamette Heritage Center were able to work it out and find another space for us. We’ll be meeting on the first floor of the Mill building in January. Thank you, Janet!

Aran Stitch Learn Along

The directions for the first Aran stitch pattern, Basket Stitch, will be handed out at the January 8 meeting.

The scarf has a bottom border of seed stitch, and the two side borders consist of six stitches each worked in the Hatch Stitch pattern. We will be practicing both of these stitches. If you are not familiar with working a cable, we will be covering a simple cable stitch.

Supplies to bring:

  • Yarn – Aran weight
  • Knitting needles, the appropriate size for the yarn – generally a size U.S. 6
  • Cable needle

For reference, Su shared several documents at the December meeting, including background on Aran knitting, a supply list and resources, and a pattern calendar for each month of the year. The calendar still has two openings. Please consider signing up to do a quick search on something unique and special about the stitch.

If you still have questions about the Learn Along, please contact Su Fennern.

Board Meeting

The Board will be having a meeting after our January meeting to discuss various business items.

February Meeting

Our February meeting will be at the Willamette Heritage Center (aka Mission Mill) on February 12, 2022 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Join the Community Coral Reef

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.

closeup photos of knitted coral reef pieces in many colors
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.

Events, Meeting Minutes

November 2021 Minutes

Salem Millstream Knitting Guild

This Month

Birthdays

Happy November Birthday to

  • Terri Brown
  • Mary Mocklin
  • Sue Munson
  • Ellen Nordal

Happy December Birthday to

  • Pam Dixon
  • Su Fennern
  • Sharon Kaminski
  • Patti Locicero

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

November Meeting

We met in person on November 13 at the Willamette Heritage Center (aka Mission Mill) in a room across from Teaselwick Yarns.

Program

We had a guest speaker – David Altman from Willamette University. He was very engaging and talked about knitting and crocheting in history and the various functions of the fiber arts. We have a copy of the presentation slideshow and a recording of the presentation on YouTube, which David gave permission for us to share.

Update on Mark Twain School project

The school will be able to provide 359 hats, mittens, and scarves to 284 students before they go home for Christmas break. The teachers were very moved by all the donations. Any leftovers will be shared with another school.

Welcome, Guests!

We had a few guests in November – Linda and Judith. Another guest – Pippin – shared a couple of cute dolls she had knitted. We hope to see you all again soon!

Membership Renewals

You’ll be receiving membership renewal forms soon. If you’re not sure if we have your correct mailing address, please let us know ASAP!

Show and Tell

So many awesome projects were shared! There were shawls, sweaters, scarves, hats, and socks. Marsha G. was inspired by the Coral Reef Project and made some items from the patterns on the site.

knitted coral reefs in white, red, green, dark gray, and hot pink
closeup of knitted coral reefs in white, red, green, dark gray, and hot pink
The Community Coral Reef Project

One of the other items that caught my eye was Cindy’s bright colored Wind Mills Hat. Mostly, it caught my eye because she noted that the bright colors were intended to bring cheer. Who couldn’t use more cheer as the days get shorter and darker?

partially knitted Wind Mills hat on circular needle
Wind Mills Hat by Maria Godinho

November Board Meeting

The Board met on November 16 to discuss various topics, including welcoming Marcia Smith as our program coordinator! She’ll be working hard to set up our program for 2022 and is already working on some ideas. Please share your ideas with her (or any Board member). We’d also appreciate knowing if you can lead a discussion or teach a class on the topic or know someone who can.

During our November meeting, the idea of switching weekends for our monthly meeting was briefly discussed. The Board continued the discussion and determined that there were more downsides to upsides to changing the weekend, and we will not be pursuing a date move. We’re going to keep meeting the second Saturday of each month.

Guild Flyer

Su Fennern created this Guild flyer that will be offered to local yarn stores. Feel free to print it and share it or email it to your contacts that might be interested in joining us. Su will be bringing some copies to our December meeting.

Upcoming Events

December Meeting

Join us for a “stuff swap” and a make-and-take at Willamette Heritage Center (aka Mission Mill) on December 11 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Knitting Stuff Swap

Need to make room for your incoming Christmas presents? Have some accessories, books, yarn, etc. that you don’t need any more? Bring it along and let it go home with someone else.

Su will be bringing yarn that has been donated to the Guild for you to take home if you’d like. You can use it for charity knitting, the Coral Reef Project, or just about anything else you’d like to make!

miniature knitting project on toothpick needles inside a clear glass ball ornament
Sock Yarn Ornament Make and Take

Teresa Furnish will bring almost everything you need to make these glass ornaments, including the ornament, yarn, and toothpick “needles.” You can’t knit with the “needles,” though, so please bring a set of sock needles size 2.5 or 3.0 mm. (We have a couple of spare sets, but not enough for everyone. If you can bring extra, it would be appreciated!) If you have a preference for the color of yarn in your ornament, you may also want to bring 7-9 yards of sock weight yarn.

Join the Community Coral Reef

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 knitted coral reef project
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.

Events, Meeting Minutes

October 2021 Minutes

Salem Millstream Knitting Guild

This Month

Birthdays

Happy November Birthday to

  • Terri Brown
  • Mary Mocklin
  • Sue Munson
  • Ellen Nordal

Happy December Birthday to

  • Pam Dixon
  • Su Fennern
  • Sharon Kaminski
  • Patti Locicero

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

October Meeting

The meeting on October 9 was held in-person at Willamette Heritage Center (Mission Mill) from 10 a.m. to noon. We sat in tables near the register for Teaselwick Yarns, and Tracey even gave us candy. It was I Love Yarn Day, so Janet and Su both came prepared with some fun trivia.

It was great to see people’s projects in person. Members shared sweaters, hats, mittens, and a two-at-a-time sock that had been placed in time-out for being difficult. (Haven’t we all been there?!)

YouTube Podcast/VLOG

Looking for something to watch while you knit in the coming months? The Ewethful Fiber Farm & Mill has a YouTube channel with a couple dozen episodes called Being Ewethful. You can find them by searching on YouTube or just click this link.

Charity Knitting Opportunity

If you’re looking for a new way to share your knitting and care for others, take a look at this article that Patty Scruggs shared from The Knitting Space newsletter: Knitters Create Gloves for Kids, Adults with Limb Differences.

Knit for a Unique Fit is a Facebook group that helps people with limb differences connect with knitters from all over the U.S. Stellan Sparks is one such boy, and having received his customized gloves from a knitter in Atlanta, he was super happy – he wore them every night for two weeks straight!

photo by Tak Sparks

Sad News about a Local Yarn Store

Soft Horizons Fibre at 412 E 13th Ave in Eugene is closing its doors. The following was posted on the store’s Facebook page on October 16:

🍂Time goes by and as the seasons change, so do our lives. Our thoughts reflect upon the past while we anticipate our future. Since there is no immediate family member or friend to carry on the Soft Horizons traditions it is with mixed emotions that I feel the time has come to retire and open the door to discover my “new horizons.” While I will truly miss the shop, I relish the opportunities that await me.

All of us at Soft Horizons would like to thank you for your dedicated support, friendship, and patronage for almost 42 fabulous years. We hope to see you soon!

10% off ALL Malabrigo, baskets, and alpaca teddy bears
20% off ALL other yarns, needles, notions, and accessories
40% off ALL in store books and patterns
Our garment sale continues as well as our “back room bargains.”

Soft Horizons Fibre

Join the Community Coral Reef

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.

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.

Upcoming Events

November Meeting – In Person!

We will be meeting at Willamette Valley Heritage Center (aka Mission Mill) on November 13 from 10 to noon. The address is 1313 Mill St SE in Salem. We will meet in the area by Teaselwick Yarns. Hope to see you all there!

We are excited to have a presentation by David Altman. He teaches a course at Willamette University about knitting culture and provided the following summary of his presentation:

“During the last decade, knitting, crocheting, and the fiber arts in general have experienced a remarkable increase in popularity in the U.S.  In part, this is because activities such as knitting have the ability to play many roles and serve diverse functions. Knitting can be practiced as a craft, and it can also be a medium for art and fashion. Knitting can be used to express political views, and it can also simply be a way to relax. And these various facets are not mutually exclusive. For example, if I am knitting a sweater with an American flag on the front, I may be partaking in craft, political activism, and leisure all at the same time. The goal of this talk will be to discuss. the impact and value of knitting through a multidisciplinary approach, exploring its significance through the lenses of history, fashion, politics, and science.”

Events, Meeting Minutes

September 2021 Minutes

Salem Millstream Knitting Guild

This Month

Birthdays

Happy October Birthday to

  • Janet Bubl
  • Nelda Gill

Happy November Birthday to

  • Terri Brown
  • Mary Mocklin
  • Sue Munson
  • Ellen Nordal

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

September Meeting

We met on Zoom on September 11 and learned ways of joining yarn while working in the round. Su Fennern put together a handout on how to select needles and join the yarn. Marcia Smith found some YouTube videos for us to watch. In case you missed the meeting, here are the links:

Announcements

  • Marcia Smith has stepped forward to serve as our program planner. Thank you, Marcia!!
  • Thank you to all who made donations for the Mark Twain School’s Christmas Tree project!

Upcoming Events

October Meeting – In Person!

We will be meeting at Willamette Valley Heritage Center (aka Mission Mill) on October 9 from 10 to noon. The address is 1313 Mill St SE in Salem. We will meet in the area by Teaselwick Yarns. Hope to see you all there!

October 9 is also I Love Yarn Day – so bring yarn to knit, yarn stories, and other yarn trivia to share.

I Love Yarn Day isn’t just an event for the purpose of increasing the popularity of knitting and crocheting as a hobby. Working with yarn is an activity that can be vital for improving health. There are studies that show it has multiple health benefits, from increasing confidence to reducing the conscious experience of stress and it’s very beneficial for keeping hands and fingers flexible. A 2019 study found that 97% of people that worked with yarn said it helped them to slow down and relax. What other health benefits are there for working with yarn? How does yarn make your life better?

Knitting Retreats

Knitting retreats at Alton Collins Retreat Center are starting up if anyone is interested. Dates are October 8-10, 2021, and February 18-20, 2022. Interested parties can contact Kimberly Wood-Soldana at rovingtoknit@gmail.com.

Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival (OFFF)

The Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival is cancelled for October 2021 but will be planned for a future 2022 date.

Events

September Meeting Update

Salem Millstream Knitting Guild

The Guild Board decided to be cautious and change our Saturday, September 11, 2021 meeting to a Zoom Meeting instead of an in-person meeting.  We hope to have an in-person meeting in October.  We hope to see many of you on Saturday Zoom.

The program will be “The many ways of joining yarn while working in the round”.

September Meeting – September 11, 10 AM – Noon on Zoom

Join our Zoom meeting using your computer, tablet, or smartphone.

Call into the meeting (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.
  • Meeting ID: 824 8888 6533
  • Passcode: 021396

Resources to help you use Zoom:

Zoom video tutorials: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/206618765-Zoom-video-tutorials

YouTube search results for “using Zoom”: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=using+zoom

Zoom’s support page: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362033-Getting-Started-on-Windows-and-Mac

Events, Meeting Minutes

August 2021 Minutes

Salem Millstream Knitting Guild

This Month

Birthdays

August birthdays

Happy August Birthdays to:

  • Sandy Galbraith
  • Kathy Holt
  • Tia Purdy
September birthdays

Happy September Birthdays to:

  • Teresa Furnish
  • Lisa Kirk
  • Jenny Morton

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

August Meeting

On August 14, a small group of us braved the potential for high heat and smoky air and enjoyed some knitting time at Willamette Valley Heritage Center. The smoky air did not appear, and we enjoyed blue sky and a pleasant temperature under the trees by Mission Mill.

August Board Meeting Minutes

The Board has updated the Guild member roster. If you are a member and would like a copy of the roster, or if you would like to become a member, please email us. Thank you!

Treasurer Report

Currently, the Guild’s bank balance is $1,756. In July, 15 members attended the trip to the Alpaca farm at a cost of $285. Each person in attendance paid $5, for a total of $80, and the remainder of $205 was paid by the Guild.

Other

Don’t forget to get your donations of hats, gloves, etc. for Mark Twain School to the Guild by October 29. If you’re in need of yarn for the project, let one of the Board members know, and we’ll find some for you.

Speaking of donations, we are seeking someone who would be willing to coordinate donations on behalf of the Guild going forward. We’re already covered for this year’s Mark Twain School project but would like someone to step into the role on an ongoing basis. Mostly this involves collecting donations and keeping a tally. Please let us know if you’d be willing to serve in that capacity.

Upcoming Events

September Meeting – September 11, 10 AM to Noon (see Zoom info below)

The Guild Board decided to be cautious and change our Saturday, September 11, 2021 meeting to a Zoom Meeting instead of an in-person meeting.  We hope to have an in-person meeting in October.  We hope to see many of you on Saturday Zoom.

Knitting Retreats

Knitting retreats at Alton Collins Retreat Center are starting up if anyone is interested. Dates are October 8-10, 2021, and February 18-20, 2022. Interested parties can contact Kimberly Wood-Soldana at rovingtoknit@gmail.com.

Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival in October

The Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival (OFFF) is scheduled for the weekend of October 23-24, 2021 at the Linn County Expo Center in Albany, Oregon.

Zoom Info

Join our Zoom meeting using your computer, tablet, or smartphone.

Call into the meeting (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.
  • Meeting ID: 824 8888 6533
  • Passcode: 021396

Resources to help you use Zoom:

Zoom video tutorials: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/206618765-Zoom-video-tutorials

YouTube search results for “using Zoom”: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=using+zoom

Zoom’s support page: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362033-Getting-Started-on-Windows-and-Mac

Events, Meeting Minutes

June and July 2021 Minutes

Salem Millstream Knitting Guild

This Month

Birthdays

June birthdays

Happy June Birthdays to:

  • Nancy Campion
  • Karen Lemmon
  • Sue Tyvoll
July birthdays

Happy July Birthday to:

  • Debbie Juul
August birthdays

Happy August Birthdays to:

  • Sandy Galbraith
  • Kathy Holt
  • Tia Purdy

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

June Minutes

In June, Su Fennern welcomed us to her spacious yard. It was nice to see Guild members in person! Some of the ladies brought knitted and crocheted items for donation. The collection resulted in:

  • 31 hats
  • 5 scarfs
  • 2 hat and mittens sets
  • 1 pair of mittens
some of the items gathered at the meeting

Thank you very much to all who contributed. If you have items you’d like to donate, please let one of the Board Members know or email us and we’ll arrange how to get them.

Our visiting vendors – Leann Bleakney of Silver Falls Fiber Company and Tonie Young of Butterfly Fiber & Yarn – sent a thank you note to Su. You all made a great impression on them!

“Hi Su,
Thank you for having Leann and I yesterday, it was nice to get out and see people! Plus they seemed to like our yarn 🙂
I had a great day and was surprised at how much I sold, it gave me a confidence boost that I needed. You have a wonderful group of ladies, they were all nice and I really enjoyed speaking with so many of them. Anytime you want us back we’ll be there!
Tonie”

July Minutes

In July, some of the group took a trip to the Alpacas at Marquam Hill Ranch in Molalla.

I heard that it was a great time, and some of the attendees gave us permission to share the following photos with you. Lovely ladies with adorable alpacas!

Upcoming Events

August Meeting – In Person!

We will be meeting at Willamette Valley Heritage Center (still Mission Mill to some of us) on August 14 from 10 to noon. The address is 1313 Mill St SE in Salem. We will gather on the front porch for announcements and whatnot, then people can spread around the grounds to knit. There are tables on the grounds that we are welcome to use, and we can visit Teaselwick Wool, too. Although there is a restaurant on the premises, the most recent information we have is that it will not be open until 4 pm, so you may want to bring your own food and drink. At the very least, you’ll probably want water – it’s supposed to be hot out.

Future SMKG Meetings

We’ll be meeting back in the clubhouse at Terrace Lake at 2120 Robins Lane SE in Salem. Looking forward to seeing you there starting on September 11, 2021.

Knitting Retreats

Knitting retreats at Alton Collins Retreat Center are starting up if anyone is interested. Dates are October 8-10 and February 18-20. Interested parties can contact Kimberly Wood-Soldana at rovingtoknit@gmail.com.

Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival in October

The Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival is scheduled for the weekend of October 23-24, 2021 at the Linn County Expo Center.

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.

Events, Meeting Minutes, News, Tips

May 2021 Minutes

Salem Millstream Knitting Guild

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.

Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival in October

The Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival has settled on the weekend of October 23-24, 2021 at the Linn County Expo Center.

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.