2020 Speakers
December 10, 2020 (Webinar)
Lori Patterson of Abstract Fiber
Understanding Yarn Through Hand Spinning
Hand spinning your own yarn is positively the best way to understand yarn. And when you understand yarn you can genuinely make your knitted projects truly your own. In this talk, Lori will provide a clear roadmap for learning about hand spinning yarn and how it can help you get to know your yarn that much better.
For some resources that Lori provided: click here
November 12, 2020 (Webinar)
​Kay Hopkins of Knit for the Soul
Top Down Sweaters for a Perfect Fit
Kay strives to design simply elegant knitwear that is fun to make and to wear. She's a big fan of seamless and top-down designs so that they can be tried on for that perfect fit as you go and to prevent unfortunate fit surprises at the end. She'll share a bit about how she got started, how she does it, and some stories along the way.
October 8, 2020 (Webinar)
Michele Lee Bernstein a.k.a. PDXKnitterati
Blocking: It's Magic!
Do you block your knits? Should you? Learn how to make your knits look their best! Steam blocking and wet blocking will be discussed during this presentation.
September 10, 2020 (Webinar)
Renate Yerkes a.k.a. Elephino PDX
Selbuvotter: The Iconic Mittens of Norway
How did these humble hand warmers come about and go on to become a great Norwegian tradition and national treasure?
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How has this knitting tradition made room to include knitters across the globe?
August 13, 2020 (Webinar)
Lorilee Beltman shows us how to add color to cables
Lorilee be joining us to give us a little tour of her studio and show us how to add color to knitted cables. She'll show us many samples that use Colors That Climb or Vertically Stranded Colorwork. These contrasting colors are knitted in as you go. After seeing some inspiring samples in lace, stockinette, and other fabrics, we will focus on cables. She'll show us several examples to add color to cables, then she'll show us how to do it.
​You'll be able to learn a lot by just watching. But, if you'd like to knit along with Lorilee during the meeting, please prepare the homework swatch.
July 9, 2020 (Webinar)
Mary Mortensen discusses Stranded Knitting Techniques
Stranded knitting includes several traditions (Fair Isle, Scandinavian) and is used in very modern designs as well. Mary will discuss the traditions and techniques, including steeking, charts, and color dominance.
June 11, 2020 (Webinar)
Cheryl Murray talks Cast-ons, Bind-offs: Basic and Beyond
Are you stumped if a pattern calls for a specific cast on technique? Are you constantly battling too-tight bind-offs? Are you in a cast-on/bind-off rut? Come explore several alternative methods for beginning and ending your projects.
May 14, 2020 (Webinar)
Luigi Boccia talks about designing & launching a new yarn
Luigi Boccia is co-owner and operations manager of Brooklyn Tweed. Luigi manages and develops every aspect of Brooklyn Tweed’s business operations and growth strategy. He loves working with designers, ranchers, and skilled textile workers in the USA to create the very best yarns and patterns. Luigi will take us behind the scenes at BT and describe how a new yarn is developed.
April 9, 2020 (Webinar)
Meaghan Schmaltz a.k.a. The Unapologetic Knitter
The Shape of Things: Creating Inclusive Designs.
Back by popular demand, Meaghan Schmaltz, a.k.a. The Unapologetic Knitter, will present The Shape of Things: Creating Inclusive Designs. With a focus on grading garments for the knitting industry, Meaghan will share the importance of representation and focus on the challenges and the rewards of creating an inclusive portfolio of knitwear for every knitter!
Meaghan’s past (and present) careers have been about precision and have generally been technical in nature: landscape architecture, wedding planning, bookkeeping, and now technical editing of knitting patterns with a strong focus on garment grading and brioche knitting. Meaghan’s YouTube brioche tutorials, created over 3 years ago, still get thousands of views each month: https://youtube.com/theunapologeticknitterknits
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Meaghan’s journey from a hobby knitter, to a designer, and now a technical editor seems like a natural progression for someone who loves precision and sharing knitting knowledge!
March 12, 2020
March's meeting was cancelled due to COVID-19
February 13, 2020
​Yvonne Cutright shares her life as a knitter.
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Yvonne learned to knit as a Brownie and has been knitting "full-time" since making her first practice sock in junior high. A former elementary school teacher, Yvonne has taught knitting classes in shops, guilds, and at home. To hone her own skills, she has taken classes around the country, including the Craft Council Advanced Knitting Program as well as their Instructor Program. When TKGA first began, Yvonne was a member of the Publishing Committee, taught classes at their knitting events, and wrote and taught a Color Theory Class (before computer classes) as a long-distant class. In the '80s, Yvonne became a member of the Professional Designers Guild. Currently, Yvonne makes sweaters and custom garments for private clients and friends, creates knitting patterns, and develops new material for classes. Yvonne can be found teaching in Portland and beyond.
January 9, 2020
​Debbi Stone will talk to us about gauge, fabric and ease.
​​Having learned to knit and crochet at an early age from both of her grandmothers, fiber arts have always been an important part of Debbi's life. Her designs can be found on Ravelry at The Stitches Of My Life Designs where she goes by the name of cockeyed, for obvious reasons. She also collaborates on designs with Marcy Vandale under the label Adventure Du Jour Designs, all of which can be found on Ravelry as well. Along with designing, Debbi teaches knitting and technology classes at local yarn shops in the Portland area. She also has partnered with Stephanie Pearl-McPhee and co-hosts the 3 Strung Along knitting/spinning retreats each year held at The Resort at Port Ludlow in Port Ludlow, Washington where she teaches as well.