The Willamette Heritage Center has always been a place where stories are shared, the past is preserved, and our community comes together.
But today, we find ourselves at a critical point—one where your support can make all the difference.
Without an immediate increase in our community’s support, the programs, experiences, and preservation work we provide and you value will face significant reductions in the months ahead.
We need your help now not only to keep the stories alive and the experiences meaningful for all, but to continue with our regular daily operations as well.
Every contribution, whether $50, $500, or $5,000 will immediately make a direct and urgent impact.
We need your help today to ensure:
Our historic buildings remain protected.
Students continue learning, and families keep exploring together.
Our spaces remain vibrant centers for community connection and celebration.
If we missed your birthday or have you in the wrong month, please let us know!
Meeting Highlights
President Arthur thanked all that helped during the 2025 State Fair and gave the following info:
There were six judges and six clerks working with the judges: Beverly Davis, Connie Geist, Sandy Galbraith, Kathy Goebel, Patty, Scruggs, Sue Teal, and Janet Bubl.
Volunteers helped on Wednesday getting all items into the display cases. All items were in the cases by noon from the crew of Sue Teal, Sue’s sister Dorothy, Sue’s niece Angie, Kathy Goebel, Sue Culbertson, Margaret Fizer, Tia Purdy, Janet Bubl and Weisha Mize.
Before the fair and after the fair were the intake days and the outtake days. Su Fennern and Janet Bubl provided assistance here.
Of course, one cannot forget Patrick – one very impressive knitter and spinner.
During the fair there were 13 Guild members who came and demonstrated during the fair: Michelle Sanguinetti, Kathy Goebel, Janet Bubl, Genevieve Tickner, Marsha Graciosa, Su Fennern, Sandy Galbraith, Kathy Wilhelm, Sara Amend, Julie Bither, Janet Kington, Debbie Paxon.
Guild Business
The supply of Guild business cards is very low. Joyce shared that this is everyone’s Guild, and asked if anyone would like to design a new card. Several comments were made as to keeping the current card; why change something that doesn’t need to be changed? and a few other remarks. We will reorder more cards.
Service Projects
As of September 5, Margaret delivered to Operation School Bell 80 hats that, with the 30 already there, put the count to 110. The first week they filled 50 orders and gave out 26 hats to grades 1-3 students. Head Start had not submitted their orders at that time.
Last year, the Guild knitted about 350 hats, and all were used. Other figures from last year: 305 pre-schoolers (includes Head Start) were provided services; 1,396 elementary students were provided services, that includes grades K, 1, 2, and 3 (OSB does not give hats to the 4th or 5th graders); 1,687 secondary grades 6-12 were provided with services (they don’t get hats either); 922 homeless were served, and are included in the number above. Total services were provided to 3,388 students.
During school year 2024-25, the Assistance League gave out 219 food and laundry vouchers for homeless, with deodorant and shampoo for the secondary students.
Assistance League has “The Great Snack Attack” – this is snacks for 49 school sites – 34 elementary, 9 middle schools, and 6 high school. These are packaged snacks given out by the school. It’s another way to get food to all students.
The Oregon State Mental Hospital Museum received a yarn donation not appropriate for making Watch Caps. They asked if the Guild could use the yarn, and yes, we can for making baby blankets and a hat. We received 30 large skeins of yarn. The yarn company Premier has a blanket pattern, but the hat pattern is too big. A smaller hat pattern was developed, and members received both patterns with a skein of yarn. There are nine skeins of yarn that still need to be knitted up. Please contact Su to get a skein and patterns.
Donation Numbers
Assistance League hats collected at the September meeting: 59 (total 169)
Baby items collected at the September meeting: 11 (total 107)
Watch Caps collected at the September meeting: 8 (total 75)
Show & Tell (sorry, no pictures taken)
Judith Bither modeled her recently completed sweater that she finished with no pattern. Lovely work!
Kitty Crawford modeled her pink pullover summer top made with cotton and silk, a lacey patten.
Alex Starling knitted a brioche shawl by Helgo Land. Wonderful colors!
Linda Hoodward wore her crocheted top made from yarn that she purchased at last year’s Quilt Show sale.
The meeting was adjourned, and the Swifting Party began, with Joyce wishing all to Have a Ball! President Arthur contributed six very large boxes of skeined yarn for members to wind into cakes and take home with them. Many members had brought their own swifts and ball winders, and lots of skeins were turned into workable cakes of yarn.
Upcoming Events
Next Meeting
Elections will be held during the October Meeting. The following positions are open: President, Vice President, Program Coordinator, and Community Events Coordinator. Position descriptions will be sent out to all Guild members shortly.
Due to the Salem Fiberarts Guild’s Annual Weavers Sale on Saturday, November 8, there will not be a monthly Guild meeting in November. Members are encouraged to attend the sale and show and knit some items. The sign-up sheet for the November 7 & 8, 2025 sale was passed around for demonstrators to sign up. There are spaces available both days and both morning and afternoon times. The sign-up sheet will be available at the October 11 meeting.
If we missed your birthday or have you in the wrong month, please let us know!
Meeting Highlights
President Joyce Arthur welcomed guests Joan Welsh, Jan McMatton, and Trish Andersen, plus wished Happy Birthdays to those listed above.
President Arthur thanked Tia Purdy for her excellent step-in as president of our July Meeting.
A sign-in sheet was circulated for demo knitters at the State Fair. You will receive free admission to the Fair, plus a free parking ticket. Contact President Arthur or Su Fennern.
Guild Business
The Oregon State Fair is approaching, with President Arthur organizing the knitting displays and judging. SMKG will have a display case of our Service Projects set up by Sue Culbertson and Margaret Fizer. August 20 is the date to help put knitted items in the cases. Let President Arthur know if you would like to help.
Oregon State Fair 2025 – Salem Millstream Knitting Guild displays
Service Projects
Su Fennern gave an extensive report on two Service Projects: Oregon State Hospital Watch Caps and Salem Hope Pregnancy Center.
OSH Watch Cap Project has received 79 knitted caps, with SMKG donating 67 knitted caps through July. At the museum, OSH has sold 19 caps. OSH sales began with 60 kits, and now 20 have been sold, plus Wild Knits has sold 20 kits more. Thirteen kits remain at Wild Knits, with four remaining at OSH. Three kits were given away by OSH.
Hope of Salem – SMKG has provided 13 blankets and 83 different items, such as hats, sets of sweater/hats, socks, booties, finger mitts, etc. Total items through July is 96.
Margaret Fizer reported on our third Service Project: Assistance League’s Operation School Bell. This is the second year of the project, and she explained its importance. SMKG has knitted 110 hats as of August. Our goal is 375 hats, which would match the 350 donated last year.
Donation numbers:
Watch Caps for OSH Mental Health Museum: 67
Hope Pregnancy Center: 96 items
Operation School Bell: 110 items
Show & Tell
Judith Bither showed a very handsome white rabbit dressed in a snappy blue vest, and it had a paw full of carrots. Sara Amend knitted the fella for a young member of Judith’s family.
Genevieve Ticknor showed a lovely and functional mesh/lace bag she knitted from SMKG’s “Christmas in July” yarn. She stashed her knitting in the bag, but it could be used in many other ways.
President Arthur thanked everyone for coming and dispersed members to knit under the trees outside the Big Leaf Market, for a very pleasant experience.
Upcoming Events
Next Meeting
The next Guild meeting will be Saturday, September 13 at the usual location – Willamette Heritage Center, first floor of the Mill Building.
President Arthur reminded members there will be no meeting in November, as the Fiber Arts Sale is held that day at the Heritage Center. Elections of SMKG Officers will thus be in October.
December’s Guild Meeting with be an Ornament Exchange – $15 or less. Bring your ornament wrapped to extend the surprise.
If we missed your birthday or have you in the wrong month, please let us know!
Meeting Highlights
Guild Business
President Joyce Arthur could not attend today, so Vice President Tia Purdy presided over the meeting. V.P. Purdy welcomed our guests, Margaret Burden and Kathy Willams, and our newest member, Emily Markus.
Hold Harmless forms should be signed by each member. Su Fennern mailed forms plus a SASE to members who have not signed. Please see Su if you have any questions.
V.P. Purdy noted that the Salem Fiberarts Guild sale will be November 7-8, 2025. Our meeting is on November 8. It was suggested / agreed by members that we will skip our November Guild meeting.
V.P. Purdy asked if members would like the December meeting to be an Ornament Exchange. It was agreed by the membership, that would be a good and fun idea. Ornaments can be handmade or bought. Please wrap for the ultimate surprise. 🙂
Christmas in July is today! V.P. Purdy stated all are welcome to “shop” after the meeting. Su Fennern encouraged all to take donated skeins for our Watch Caps Service Project.
Service Projects
Our three service projects are featured on the back table. Please sign the sheet if you donated a knit to help others. Janet Bubl suggested that members visit the OSH Museum of Mental Health to see the exhibits and displayed hats. Hope RUN 2025 will be August 9, 2025 at Minto Brown Island Park, benefitting Hope Pregnancy Clinic. Register online: https://hopeforsalem.org/resources/display/hope_run.
Donation numbers:
Watch Caps for OSU Mental Health Museum: 3
Hope Pregnancy Center: 5 hats, 1 baby blanket, and matching sweater and hat
Operation School Bell: 22 hats
Show & Tell
Ginny Mahoney displayed a gorgeous ivory knitted quilt/bed topper that was unfinished due to the knitter being in Memory Care. There was yarn, but no pattern. The family requested a member complete the quilt, with pay. If interested, see Ginny.
Sara Amend convinced herself to knit precious Sock Puppets for first year babies. She passed around a few of her creations to the joy of everyone.
Diane Williams knitted clothes for a tiny teddy bear. S/he was adored with a vest, pants and hat with pom-pom plus a blanket to match. Everyone enjoyed the pass-around.
Marcia Graciosa sent around her Hope donation: the softest baby blue blanket.
Upcoming Events
Next Meeting
The August Guild meeting will be Saturday, August 9 at Silver Falls State Park at the Big Leaf Market and Grill in Sublimity. All are urged to come for lunch and knit afterwards.
If we missed your birthday or have you in the wrong month, please let us know!
January Meeting Highlights
Guild Business
President Joyce Arthur asked for Secretarial nominations, but none were received.
Su Fennern discussed plans for the fall Salem Fiberarts Guild Annual Sale. A huge board noting participating members’ names was displayed. Su asked participants to note their craft item on the board. She will discuss more details at future meetings.
Marcia Smith asked for a volunteer to become the Program Coordinator.
Su Fennern presented three potential Service Projects: Knitted Knockers, Hope Pregnancy Clinic, and the 50th Anniversary of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest Hats. It was decided to vote for two of these projects. Towards the meeting’s end, Tia Purdy motioned for Hope Pregnancy Clinic and the Cuckoo Nest Hat to be our Service Projects for 2025. Heather Sky-Haley seconded. Members approved without dissent.
Sue Culbertson and Margaret Fizer bestowed thank-you notes to members who knitted hats for the Operation School Bell 2024 Service Project. Special acknowledgement and a gift certificate with beautiful flower bouquet were given by President Arthur to Debbie Paxson, who served as Treasurer for four years, and Marcia Smith, who served as Program Coordinator for three+ years.
Judy Ozalan and Marcia Graciosa completed year-end auditing of the Guild’s finances.
Show & Tell
Kitty Crawford showed two creations of a sparkly Art Deco Polish-style crocheted shawl and a dramatic black lace boatneck top.
Sara Amend demonstrated a clever tape measure marker that flows along as you knit to measure length.
Sandy Galbraith showed-off a thin neck light that could help you see knit stitches easier.
Program: Leann Bleakney from Silver Falls Fiber Company
With no future business or member comments, President Arthur introduced our speaker, Leann Bleakney from Silver Falls Fiber Co. She delighted us with her story of how she became a one-person shop, dyeing yarn & fiber for spinners and ice tie-dying clothing. She is in the process of opening her store at 503 N 2nd St. in Silverton, across from Trinity Church. Come visit!
Upcoming Events
February 2025 Meeting
For our February 8 meeting, we will have David Altman from Willamette University presenting on the history of knitting.
If we missed your birthday or have you in the wrong month, please let us know!
October Meeting Highlights
Program – Test Knitting
This is just one example of the many exquisite knits shown at our October meeting on “Being a Test Knitter.” This was knit by Su Fennern. Her partner presenter, JoEllen Kay, brought a whole suitcase full of fabulous knits. Both women have been “test knitting” patterns for many years for various designers from around the globe.
Also, it was reported that our Guild has donated 256 hand-knit hats to children kindergarten through high school so far this year! Well done, and keep up your amazing knitting. Thanks to Margaret and Sue for bringing us this project for the Assistance League.
Show & Tell
A lot of samples of test-knitted items
Cindy Barrick knitted another Tin Can Knits hat, the Antler Toque out of Cascade 220 Superwash.
Robin Roukis showed a cowl she knitted using camel and silk yarn that she spun!
Marcia Smith showed a car trash can that fits into your car’s cup holder and can hold two small balls of yarn, each one coming out from a different side.
Patty Scrubbs showed a yarn ball holder that fits over your wrist so you can stroll, dance, etc. and keep knitting.
Antler Toque by Tin Can Knits
Upcoming Events
November 2024 Meeting
In addition to electing a secretary and treasurer for 2025–2026, we will see photos and share stories of knitting “Emotional Support Chickens.” If you have photos of knitted chickens you have given away, send them ASAP to this email. If you have others living in your home, bring them to show. As always, bring other recently finished items to share for Show and Tell.
Other Events
November 29 – December 2, 2024 – Magic at the Mill, Willamette Heritage Center, Salem, OR
If we missed your birthday or have you in the wrong month, please let us know!
September Meeting Highlights
Judith presented the story of how a tiny yarn shop was saved—bought by a group of 20 women, mostly retired, who turned it into a thriving destination yarn shop.
Lofty Lou’s Yarn Shop
Show & Tell
Cindy Barrick knitted another basic hat with the Chevron Seeds pattern in green Cascade 220.
Carol Jones knitted a Nebula sweater in a lovely dark blue alpaca/silk.
Sandy Galbraith knitted a Carolyn’s Choice sock out of Cast On Magazine in Kitty’s light teal green sock yarn
Sandy Galbraith and Marsha Graciosa won Blue Ribbons (!) from the State Fair for their lacy scarf (Sandy) and Mitered Square Blanket (Marsha)
Chemeketa Community College hosted a Wellness Fair for their employees on September 17. Su Fennern and Joyce Arthur spent the morning handing out 300 little gift bags of goodies and info about the health benefits of knitting as well as promoting our Knitting Guild.
Upcoming Events
October 2024 Meeting
What is a test knitter? Typically, test knitters are just knitters who love to knit! Most of the time they’ve not taken a class on how to test knit, nor do they have a textbook that tells them what to look for when test knitting a pattern.
Test knitting can also help you learn new techniques, push your knitting boundaries, and get you to complete a project within a specific time frame.
Come learn how JoEllen and Su started their test knitting ventures. Have you heard about sample knitting for trunk shows, yarn companies, or designers? Bring your questions! Others who may be “closet” test knitters are welcome to join in!
Positions Available
The Guild has annual elections of Board members every November. This year there are two positions available for two year terms: Treasurer and Secretary. The Board also appoints a Program Coordinator. Thank you, Marcia for bringing us so many fun and interesting programs these past two years. If you have questions or interest in any of these positions, please contact the President, Joyce Arthur.
How long has it been since you’ve been to the Oregon State Fair? It’s back in full swing from Friday, August 26 to Monday, September 5, 2022.
Joyce Arthur, a member of the Salem Millstream Knitting Guild, is the chair of the Needlework and Clothing Division. Would you consider spending a few hours sitting and knitting with Joyce and others? If so, you won’t have to pay admission or parking fees. All you need to do is contact Joyce by Thursday, August 25 and let her know what day or days of the fair you would like to come, and she will do the rest. It is fun to go to the fair!
After all, Creative Living is an air-conditioned building, and who doesn’t need a place to relax and knit after walking around the fair and seeing all the wonderful exhibits, all the animals, and the many vendors.
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!
This month we had Meredith from Springtime Farms as our speaker. She spoke to us about her alpacas and how she moved them cross country to Oregon and loves it here. Her animals are totally grass fed and she tries to find ways to use all of the fiber, even the parts not the best to knit with. She brought her yarn and her Snuggly Toes to sell us. I bought a few skeins of the dark brown and am going to try making my own felted snuggly toes.
October is here and with the longer dark evenings we start to pull out the heavier yarns and cuddle up on the couch and knit, knit, knit. But we should learn about how to keep our arms, hands and back in good shape while doing this so come to the October meeting to hear from Chiropractor Colleen McDonough. She was our speaker once before a few years ago and gave us wonderful information on how to stay healthy.
However, Colleen was just given notice she will have to be deposed for a lawsuit and it could be on the 12th. If so we will book her for early next year. Our meeting then would be to discuss what we want as a guild moving forward. So come prepared to discuss what you want to learn next year, and who you would like to have as speakers. Also have your show-n-tell and knitting with you. We will have knitting and sharing and just time together.
We will also have the drawing from those that contributed to our charity. Let’s see who wins Robbins awesome Purple Shawl!
Our historic buildings remain protected.
Salem Millstream Knitting Guild 
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