Tag: art

Meeting Minutes

March 2026 Minutes

Salem Millstream Knitting Guild

This Month

Birthdays

Happy March Birthday to:

  • Jackie Budge
  • Lynda Hoodward
  • Amelia Van Hook
  • Carol Whitney

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

Guild Business

Co-President Westley Starling welcomed all members. There were no guests acknowledged, although the sign-in sheet noted guest Zara Elliott was in attendance.

Treasurer Sue Culbertson gave the treasurer report as follows:

  • Beginning Balance: $1,797
  • Income: + $1,140
  • Expenses: – $ 565
  • Ending Balance: $2,372

Sue stated that we have 39 returning members and 6 new members, totaling 45 members. She added she was still taking any outstanding dues.

Westley asked for May 2 Sheep to Shawl volunteers to represent the Guild and demonstrate knitting at this free annual family event exploring the magic of wool fiber processing. A volunteer sign-up sheet was available for three shifts – four knitters per shift. See the WHC Sheep to Shawl webpage for more event info.

Secretary Margaret Fizer and Treasurer Sue Culbertson asked for any members interested in selling their knits at the November 7 Fiberarts Sale to see them after the meeting. 

Secretary Margaret asked members who has not received the Newsletter/Minutes to let her know after checking their junk email folder. 

Kitty Crawford, Program Committee Member, and Treasurer Sue Culbertson updated us about the May 9 Michele Bernstein Brioche Pastiche Class.

  • 13 members are signed up. A total of 18 is needed to finance the program.
  • Brioche pattern will be included in the class at no charge.
  • Class Supplies: Worsted weight yarn – light color 100 yds. and dark color 100 yds. Size 6 circular needles 16”or 20”, stitch markers, row counter or pen and paper.   
  • Projects: Small hat = 72 stitches, Large hat = 78 stitches, Cowl = 96 stitches.
  • Homework: With dark colored yarn – long tail cast on stitches for desired project listed above. Join in the round, being careful not to twist. Next, knit 1 round. 

Member Janet Kington stated the Oregon State Button Society will have its Annual Show and Sale titled ‘Beach Button Bonanza 2026’ on May 1 and 2 at the Best Western Hotel in Keizer.  There is free admission and parking. There will be large collections of antique, vintage & studio fashion buttons. See www.oregonstatebuttonsociety.org for more info.

Sunshine Coordinator Tia Purdy shared a message from Leann Bleakney, member and owner of Silver Falls Fiber Co., inviting members and guests to knit at her studio at 503 N 2nd Street in Silverton on March 21 at 2 p.m. For questions, contact her at 503-381-5243.

Program co-chair Judith Bither stated April’s program would be Knitting Learning Stations. She asked that members write topics of interest and give to her at the meeting’s end.

Westley introduced a Service Project for members’ consideration.  The Salem Soup Squad provides meals and harm reduction items to the Salem community. They are in need of adult size hats to give their guests. This will be discussed at the April meeting.

March Service Project donations:

  • HOPE: 4 baby items
  • OSB: 27 child hats

Show & Tell

  • Marsha Graciosa proudly showed her sharp turquoise and white brioche hat made of Cascade 220. It is a soft but thick hat sure to keep you warm and be in fashion.
  • Kitty Crawford modeled a striking royal purple vest made of Berroco Modern Cotton from a pattern called Admit. This pretty vest can be worn over a shirt in the fall/winter or by itself in warmer weather. Find the free pattern on www.berroco.com.
  • Tia Purdy needed another person to help her unfold her absolutely gorgeous Porto Blanket by Purl Soho. (Free pattern on Ravelry.) Tia started the blanket at Christmas time with some doubts that her 2,187 yards of DK single cone merino wool could be knit without knots. She took the intricate pattern, knitted, and no knots resulted. She held up a tiny plastic bag that contained the hard-to-see plum size remainder of her yarn from that single cone. Tia, congratulations on a no-knot knit!
  • Sisters Margaret Burden and Emily Markus took over the stage with their creative fingering hat and shawl combos. Each sister interpreted the Labyrinth Shawl – 2026 Rose City Yarn Crawl MKAL pattern by Lis Smith differently.  One sister used seven colors and the other two colors (one solid and one gradient). Beads embellished the shawl at bind-off. A hat, knitted by using one element of the shawl pattern, completed the unique look. The shawl pattern is available for purchase on Ravelry.
  • Sandy Galbraith honored St. Patrick’s Day by wearing her lovely variegated green Celtic Knot Looped Scarf. She also presented a sweet Ella Rue Rustic Silk Speckled Yarn No Place Like Home Scarf for our viewing. It was a variegated lavender and smooth as can be. Sandy stated it was simple to knit after you figured out the pattern. 

Program: How to Get the Most Out of Ravelry

For our March program, co-President Westley Starling and member Lisa Wilson did about the impossible.  These experts condensed the gigantic Ravelry website into bite-size pieces that members could understand and incorporate into their knitting lives.

Lisa started with the Profile Section that essentially defines who you are as a fiber arts creator. You can include favorites plus finished projects and connect with other users. 

Westley continued with Pattern Browser. There is an extensive search engine that allows you to filter by style, weight, gauge and size. A brain hat was found in one search. 

Lisa then talked about Favorites – bundled or single. This feature lets you organize and save patterns/projects… bundled or not. Lisa had quite a few delightful bundles. 

Westley’s turn now. Purchasing on Ravelry can be anywhere from a simple pattern to a yarn stash and in-between. He mentioned that PayPal’s “buy it now… add to cart… purchase” system was useful. You can use a credit card, but payments go through PayPal. 

Lisa went on to the wonders of the Project Notebook which is a place to keep track of projects with yarn, needle, photo and pattern details. Projects can be placed in your “Queue” to think about, decide a start date or put them into hibernation, an ever-popular spot. 

Westley commented further on documenting your projects… mainly your finished ones. You can put all the details you want in the section plus write how you modified your pattern, if you liked it or if you would never do it again. The Yarn Database is where you can search different yarns, fiber content and patterns down to the minutiae. 

Lisa tackled the Stash Management Section. This essentially is a place to track what your stash contains.  You can make photos, add a detailed fiber description plus pick a pattern that would work-up well with your selected yarn. 

Westley rounded out the program with Community. You can get to know others from your hometown or worldwide. There are groups, events, yarn talk plus anything you want to create. 

Questions were taken. The program ended with great applause and thanks to our awesome presenters.

Next Month

Our next meeting is April 11, 2026 at the Willamette Heritage Center at the Mill in Salem. The program will be Knitting Learning Stations, a hands-on session inspired by member feedback. Small-group stations will offer tricks and tips for improving your knitting or learning something new. Knit a stockinette sample of 20 stitches at least 4 inches long to work on techniques. It’s a relaxed, collaborative way to refresh your skills and welcome spring with creativity!

Other Events

Meeting Minutes

February 2026 Minutes

Salem Millstream Knitting Guild

This Month

Birthdays

Happy February Birthday to:

  • Sue Culbertson
  • Margaret Fizer
  • Patty Scruggs

Old Business

Co-President Westley Starling welcomed all Guild Members and Guests: Kim Bailey, Zara Elliot, Jeani Shriver, with Debbie Turner & Lori Paltridge – who both joined.

Co-President Janet Bubl mentioned that several members are at Red Alder Fiber Arts Festival in Tacoma and that our future Brioche speaker, Michelle Bernstein, was presenting there.

Janet continued with information for our Brioche Pastiche Workshop that will be held on May 9, 2026 from 1-3:30pm at WHC Education Room.

Registration forms are available at our meetings and on the Salem Millstream Knitting Guild website under 2026 May Calendar.  Deadline for registering is April 24, 2026, with accompanying fee for members of $35 and for non-members $50. Registration is limited to 25 people, and Treasurer Sue Culbertson will take registration forms and fees, which will be held until we are assured of 25 registrants. Posters with info and the QR code are available, if you can post them in places with interested parties. Janet thanked Judith Bither’s friend, Jamie, for the attractive poster and registration design.

DUES: Treasurer Sue Culbertson is collecting dues of $30 from all new and renewing members. If there is a member in need of sponsorship, please let Sue know, as a sponsorship is possible, and no one should be excluded for this or other reasons. Janet mentioned that attending two meetings as a guest is our policy, and after that, attendance should be by membership only.

Janet stated that the Willamette Heritage Center (WHC) has a new exhibit, “Echoes of ‘76,” and is starting a Speakers Series this year. There is a new café opening in April – Lively Station. She mentioned that the Education Room was a fitting place to meet and appreciated the reasonable fee. WHC brochures and membership info are available at our meetings.

Last month’s speaker, Dawn Franke, with assistance from daughter Amelia Van Hook, brought their Franke Goat Soaps for us to purchase.

Service Projects

The Service Projects Review was introduced by Co-President Westley Starling. The Asstistance League’s Operation School Bell (OSB) Service Project was presented by Sue Culbertson and Margaret Fizer. They explained the OSB request process: A school counselor makes a request to OSB for new clothing, and then orders are filled. The knitted hats made by Guild members is included with all pre-K to 3rd grade orders. The hat becomes a gift, as it’s the child’s alone and not a hand-me-down. A simple hat pattern made with 20” circulars and 8.5” height is available on our website under ‘Service Projects’. Hats are collected at each Guild meeting.

Member Beth Mauer presented information about Hope Pregnancy Clinic. She requested members make baby hats, blankets and booties that will be shared as a gift to Mothers who come to the Clinic. Many young mothers’ hearts are warmed by the gifts.  A baby sizing chart is available on the website under “Ways to Give.”  Baby items will be collected at each Guild meeting.

February Service Project donations:

  • Hope: 27 baby items
  • OSB: 23 child hats

NOTE:  If there are any other Service Projects that members would like to bring before the Guild, please contact Co-President Janet Bubl or Westley Starling.

Show & Tell

  • Kathy Wilhelm showed off a fashionable and soft triangle shawl called the Bonnie Slide by Taiga Hilliard. Kathy knitted the shawl with Madelinetosh fingering ultramarine violet wool and Fae Mohair -colorway of green, blue & purple by Ritual Dyes out of Portland. She also showed off her Melt the Ice Badge. Both patterns are on Ravelry.
  • Tia Purdy previewed her almost completed Thrummed Headband from the February 7 class at Leann Bleakney’s shop, Silver Falls Fiber Co. Tia stated the next class is February 21.  The headband’s front is highlighted in cobalt blue Cascade yarn, and its back is a pillowy lime-green felt.
  • Judith Bither sported her lovely red Melt the Ice Hat made of the softest Dromedary/Merino yarn using the pattern on Ravelry, and a size U.S. 8 needle can be used to get a larger hat than the pattern describes. Many members are knitting this hat. Judith mentioned that stores are out of red yarn.
  • Westley Starling wowed Guild members and guests with the reversible and double layered Elf-burgh Hat made of Noro Silk Garden Yarn. The designer is Ysolda Teague, and the pattern is on Ravelry. This no-seam hat is knitted from the top of one crown to the other as a long tube and then folded.  It’s an amazing knit.
  • Heather Sly-Haley gave us a project to complete if you are flying for 4.5 hours and not interested in the in-flight movie… it’s called Quick Ombre Hat from Ravelry and designed by Emily Dormier. Heather knitted the hat with her special Italian sage green and cream worsted wools that she bought in Florence last year. Very stylish and special.

Program: Hand-dyed Yarns with Ann Woods from A Skeiner Darkly

Ann Woods, Dyer and Owner of A Skeiner Darkly, presented how her interest in hand-dyeing yarn led to her current business. She displayed beautiful and interesting dyed yarns for us to see, touch and purchase, plus she explained how each skein was brought to life and named.

She reviewed the techniques of dyeing she uses to make yarn variations of solid, semisolid, speckled and pastel yarns. She discussed all the intricacies of dyeing wool: dye powders, dunking, immersion, twisting, sprinkling, lifting out, vinegar washes, pour-over dyeing and assigned pooling, etc. Ann mentioned drying after dyeing takes anywhere from 24 hours to three days.     

Ann passed around a wonderful hat from the Ravelry pattern Happy Clusters. The knit used her cluster-colored yarn to make the hat a showstopper. 

Ann is a practicing ophthalmologist and also has an interest in Sci-fi. She shared with us that she names her yarns with Sci-fi themes such as “Imperial Guard,” “Hyperspace Expressway,” and “Alderaan Twilight.”  This prohibits boring yarn names. You can find her unique and chic yarns on Etsy and in Salem at Skein and Scribe at 3989 Commercial St SE, which offers needlecrafts, books, coffee, and pastries. She invited all to visit the shop. 

Next Month

Our next meeting is March 14, 2026 at the Willamette Heritage Center at the Mill in Salem. Westley Starling will do a presentation on how to get the most out of Ravelry.

Other Events

  • March 5-8, 2026 – Rose City Yarn Crawl, Portland, OR
  • May 2, 2026 – Sheep to Shawl, Willamette Heritage Center at the Mill, Salem, OR
Meeting Minutes

April 2025 Minutes

Salem Millstream Knitting Guild

This Month

Birthdays

drawing of balls of different colored yarn, a pair of straight needles, and the words Happy Birthday written above

Happy April Birthday to:

  • Judith Bither

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

April Meeting Highlights

Guild Business

President Arthur welcomed guests – Beth Maurer’s daughter Grace and Amelia Van Hook’s father – and announced that there is still an opening for Program Coordinator. Vice President Tia Purdy took a few minutes to add that this is not just a one-person position; two people could work together to make the job easier. Think about having two friends and all the fun times you would have going places to check out new stores, events, places for field trips, etc.

November Fiberarts Guild Sale: Sue Culbertson and Su Fennern talked about tags that each item being sold will have. The tag will have two parts: the top part attached to the item that the purchaser will take to the cashier for payment, and the bottom part that the knitter will keep. Information on the tag will be the seller’s name: First name and first letter of last name. Each seller will be given a number, in case they choose not to use their name. The tag will also have a description of the item and the price.

Su Fennern passed around the sign-up sheets for the May 3, 2025 Sheep to Shawl event.

Sue Culbertson shared that the Guild had received letters from the Assistance League and Salem Hope Pregnancy Center for our recent donations.

Thank you card with photo of knitted baby hats and booties in various colors; text: Thank you Salem Millstream Knitting Guild for making and donating these beautiful handmade items! They will bless moms and babies in our area! We are so thankful for the many talented individuals and groups who share their talents, supplies and time to bless our patients.

President Arthur shared the upcoming collectable Oregon State Button Society Show and Sale May 2 and 3, 2025, held at the Best Western Hotel in Keizer.

Show & Tell

Judy Ozalan showed a cell phone cozy that she made. She will bring a few copies of the pattern to the next Guild meeting.

phone cozy in pink and brown yarn

Program: Members sharing about their first knitting projects, who taught them/how they learned to knit, and other interesting facts on knitting

  • Heather Sly-Haley shared what was supposed to have been a scarf. It didn’t make it, but can be used as a pot holder.
  • Amelia Van Hook has always been interested in knitting from watching her aunt. She received a scarf kit from her aunt and gave it as a gift. Amelia shared that some friends have called her an old lady because she knits. She embraces this!
  • Debbi Paxon shared knitted clothing that her grandmother knitted in the 60’s. There were two dresses, two outfits, with a skirt and a sweater on a cardigan, and one pullover.
  • Grace Maurer shared that her first item knitted was a scarf for her teacher. She is working on a scarf for herself using circular needles.
  • Kitty Crawford learned how to knit from her great-grandmother. Her mother and grandmother crocheted and did embroidery work. Kitty’s first projects were a crocheted afghan and a Fisherman’s sweater that she knitted in the back loop. Kitty used books and looked at pictures on how things were done.
  • Kathy Goebel learned to knit from her mother as a child. Kathy was wearing a cardigan that she knitted in the 80’s. The cardigan has cables and lace. She shared a shawl that she made using yarn purchased from a silent retreat auction. Colors were wonderful.
  • Sue Culbertson read a piece that she had written for her college project about her grandmother teaching her and seeing her gnarly fingers and comparing them with hers today. She spoke of her mentor, Mrs. Shepard, and 4-H leader and learning skills from them. She was part of a Community Quilt project that gave the quilt to the Oregon School for the Blind in 1964. All in all, she shared some of her memories of learning to knit.
  • Jo Ellen Kay shared a colorful baby bunting that she made in the 80’s that has entrelac, and she sewed in a zipper. Some day she’s hoping that a baby will use it.
  • Diane Williams shared that at her grandmother’s funeral, everyone brought a pair of mittens and covered the top of the casket with them. At Christmas time, Diane filled a box with mittens, socks, and scarves and sent it off to her eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
  • Carol Jones used to own a cottage industry called Bluebird Woolens. Carol made designs for companies such as L.L. Bean using knitting machines. She moved on to working with computers for the state of Maine and then raising sheep. In 2012, Carol started knitting with knitting needles, and she claims that knitting has been born again for her.
  • Patty Scruggs learned to crochet from her grandmother. Her aunt knitted sweaters, and she hoped that she would get one from her aunt. That didn’t happen. Patty did crochet matching sweaters for her son, husband, and herself. For some time, she knitted while watching her husband bowl. One pair of socks that she knitted for her son did not match exactly. Seems one sock was 2″ shorter than the other because she wanted to get to the foot part of the pattern. Patty knits for a Knit to Fit organization; mainly gloves for individuals with special-shaped hands.
  • Michelle Sanguinetti shared that she has learned from You Tube videos. She knits Continental style. One of her favorite designers is Stephen West. She shared a Clockwork shawl.
  • Tia Purdy shared that her great-grandmother knitted. Sometimes the great-grandmother’s knitted items were knitted really tight. She learned how to knit Christmas stockings. Tia did take a 4-H class and didn’t like it at all. Her mother has been there to provide guidance and to get her back on the right track with patterns.
Faroese shawl

Service Projects Donation Update

  • Watch Caps collected: 19 caps in March and 20 caps in April, for a total of 39 caps donated.
  • HOPE Baby items collected: 11 items such as booties, socks, two outfits that included a onesie, hat, and booties. Five sewn receiving blankets, and 10 hats for a total of 26. Year-to-date donation is close to 50 items.

Upcoming Events

Next Meeting

The May meeting will be on Saturday, May 10, 2025 at the Willamette Heritage Center. Lois Olund from Blakesley Creek Farm will enlighten us about breeds of sheep and how their fiber characteristics affect the lovely yarn we use to knit.

Other Events